tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24747842197917687012024-03-05T10:53:59.895+05:30Live, Love and Laugh !I have always been passionate about Life, Love and Laughter! I would like to see a world full of Laughter and Happiness. However Utopian the idea may sound, what is wrong in trying to be happy and spread happiness?Govind Rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04086203944345086402noreply@blogger.comBlogger170125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474784219791768701.post-67432298223752735582018-06-03T21:39:00.001+05:302018-06-03T21:39:05.822+05:30History and India: A Country Not Respecting Its Heroes Deserves Its Villains<a href="https://www.myindiamyglory.com/2018/06/03/history-and-india-a-country-not-respecting-its-heroes-deserves-its-villains/">History and India: A Country Not Respecting Its Heroes Deserves Its Villains</a>: A community, a state or a nation that does not respect its history will never be taken seriously and will remain a third world country forever.Govind Rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04086203944345086402noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474784219791768701.post-16525462612128794342015-03-30T12:40:00.000+05:302015-03-30T12:40:59.951+05:30The Psychology of AAP: The Perpetual Agitators !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's becoming quite clear now as to what makes Aam Aadmi Party tick. This party was founded riding piggyback on a popular movement called India Against Corruption (IAC).<br />
<br />
The whole meaning of this movement was agitation. It attracted people from all walks of life and ONE MAN found his mojo in life after changing professions and generally doing nothing but wander around in search of easy fame.<br />
<br />
Thus the AAP was formed with people who had different aims on their personal agendas. But the binding force was their love for agitation, unrest and anarchy.<br />
<br />
The whole movement believed everyone and everything with this country was wrong and all that was needed was an agitation to scare the rulers to set things right.<br />
<br />
Even they could not have visualised such a popular support for the movement in the Capital. But once they tasted success, the goal became larger and the people (at least one man) became ambitious.<br />
<br />
The result was a resounding rejection at the National level followed by an extraordinary acceptance in Delhi. The margin as well as the magnitude of victory was blinding and the party had just begun.<br />
<br />
But what next ?<br />
<br />
For the people whom agitating was the only weapon in the armour, the nitty gritty of administration had started to take a toll. They were in complete disarray with absolutely no idea about what to do.<br />
<br />
It was like the one trick pony that could perform just the one mad rush it had learned all life. And the pony was now asked to run at the Delhi derby with the whole race course open for it to run. But the pony new nothing about the race. All it knew was the mad dance.<br />
<br />
There was a need to agitate. There was a need to rebel and do the mad rush. The urge was unsuppressable. It was like a man's inability to suppress diarrhea. And thus came Anna Hazare again to the rescue of the perpetual agitators.<br />
<br />
But the response of the people to Anna and to the agitation against the land bill was less than lukewarm. In fact it was a downright cold and clammy flop show.<br />
<br />
So now, the agitators had no target body to agitate. There was no support on the ground for the agitation, except from the Adarsh Liberals and the media.<br />
<br />
But popular movements need more than rabble rousers and media. It needs a cause, a reason and a purpose the people could relate to. That was missing this time, unlike the IAC movement.<br />
<br />
When the restless rebels don't find a target for their rebellion, a sustainable cause for the unrest, they need a catharsis. They need to purge the urge to splurge their overflowing Rebellion.<br />
<br />
And THAT, the insatiable urge to agitate is the reason for the implosion within Aam Aadmi Party. It's like a pack of wolves not finding a prey to attack and hence fighting and biting one another.<br />
<br />
The men with diarrhea are all over the Delhi administration. They can't control their urge and there's no water in Delhi. That's why all the shit happening with no holds barred catharsis of the perpetual agitators.<br />
<br />
Though it's hurting Delhi, hurting the image of the party, in the long run; it is for the benefit of people. The people will know the truth. If you hanker too much for free meals, all you'll get is diarrhea.<br />
<br />
A lesson learned should not hurt us !<br />
Dr. Punned-it</div>
Govind Rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04086203944345086402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474784219791768701.post-36202751761647084302015-03-27T14:07:00.000+05:302015-03-28T13:20:07.234+05:30The Divine Idlee !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">From
childhood to teenage to middle age, my likes and tastes have changed a lot over
the years. I was a diehard Vishnuvardhan and Amitabh Bachchan fan during
childhood. I believed nobody could ever be better than these two. Stepping into
teenage, Kamal Haasan was my favorite. As for Cricket, Kapil Dev had replaced
Gavaskar and Boris Becker became the greatest sportsperson in the world in 1985.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A few years
later in the medical college, I came to realize Stephen Edberg and Andre Agassi
were better all court players than Becker and Chiranjeevi danced better than
Kamal. Nagarjuna was better looking than any hero in India by then. My favorite
heroines too changed from Sridevi to Madhuri to Manisha Koirala to Aishwariya
to Deepika.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Moving to
present, my all-time favorite actor is Mohanlal, who I believe is the finest
actor this country has seen to date. My favorite Cricketers changed from Azar
to Dravid and Kumble to Rahane. I am today, a Roger Federer fan on the verge of
changing loyalties to Rafa.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">With such
paradigm shifts in tastes, I might be considered a fickle and untrustworthy
person with no sense of loyalty. But no, I can prove that I am a stable and
sensible guy. In all these 45 years, at least one of my tastes and loves has
never changed. That is my god and my love, The Idlee !<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Being the
atheist that I am, I have but one god to believe in. That is Idlee. The
delicious, melting in mouth, omnipresent, omnipotent and wholesome Idlee. I am not
a bigot or fundamentalist. But I don’t respect people who don’t respect Idlee.
I consider them racist and misogynist and anti-human. I don’t even find it
necessary to explain why I think so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">From the
small home-run mess on the borders of Agumbe forest to Fun mall in Chennai,
from my maternal uncle’s small hotel in Karkala to Annapoorna in Coimbatore,
from the Damodar temple canteen in Jambawali in Goa to the Nizam’s Institute of
Medical Sciences canteen in Hyderabad; wherever I have gone, it is Idlee that
has nourished me, sustained me and enriched me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Idlee is one
of the more balanced foods in the world. This is not me talking, but a
scientific fact. It has rice for carbohydrates, ured for proteins and very
little fat. Add the Sambar and Chutney and we have the necessary fats and vegetables.
What more do we want ? Weekday or weekend, summer or winter or monsoon, for me,
any day is Idlee-day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Idlee also
is the most enriching food that makes intelligent people. Look at Mokshagundam
Vishveshwarayya, Sir C. V. Raman, Sreenivas Ramanujam and a host of
intellectual giants are Idlee eaters from childhood. Karnataka alone has the
largest number of Jnaanapeeth award winners. What is the secret behind so much
of Jnaan or wisdom ? Idlee, what else ?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We just have
to look at Rahul Gandhi to understand what all Pizzas and burgers and no Idlee does
to a man. The only time he talked sense was when he visited Chennai and had
Idlee for breakfast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Those who
don’t believe me should try this and then talk. The famed filter coffee that
the South Indians love, tastes a hundred times better when we sip it to wash
down the melting hot Idlee-sambar down our esophagus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I can never
get tired of Idlees. Though I voraciously loved Idlee, I never took part in any
Idlee eating competitions. These Idlee eating competitions are utter nonsense
and a huge insult to Idlee. Idlee can’t be swallowed merely to win a silly
trophy and a measly cash award. Idlee is savored, chewed down with utmost care
and affection and is generally revered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On a
particularly lovely evening during my teenage, I had polished off about 28 to
30 Idlees at one go, while enjoying my favorite book of Late Kota Shivarama
Karanth, one of the three quarter dozen Jnaanpeetha award winners from
Karnataka. Well, Karanth and Idlee was a deadly combination. Add the torrential
rains of South Karnataka, it was heaven and that is why Idlee is divine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But Idlee is
also an extremely delicate entity. One needs to indulge in preparing it if we
have to indulge in savoring it. Those
with lesser culinary skills or no love for Idlee can butcher the entity called
Idlee. Almost all of Kerala has no love for Idlee. I can understand lack of
love, but hate ? Yes, many people hate Idlee and that is why Vivekananda rightly
called Kerala a lunatic asylum. He knew that those that don’t love Idlee can’t
be any good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Idlee
becomes thicker, harder and sour in Kerala and they call it Iddali. The
additional D makes it hard to cut, bite or digest. I don’t know the reason but
even the Udupi hotels in Kerala serve Iddali and not Idlee. The Malayalee’s
love for extra-spicy food has made them turn the wonderful, non-spicy, mild and
non-violent Idlee into Chilly Iddali, a monstrosity that can only be pitied but
not emptied from the plate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">During 2
weeks long tour of North India in 1999, I really starved for Idlee. Finally
found a South Indian hotel in Manali and ordered for my beloved breakfast. When
the waiter served the Idlee, one of them fell down on the floor unfortunately.
But fortunately it jumped up with the same speed and sat back in the plate. It looked
and jumped around like a small white Rugby ball and perhaps tasted like one
too. Never dared to bite a Rugby ball because I have not much ball-biting
qualities a la Shahid Afridi.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Coming back
to Kerala Iddalis, there are some immensely believable stories about why Tippu
Sultan could not conquer Kerala below Malappuram. It is believed Tippu was
moving southwards towards Trichur. The locals realized they could not fight
against the vastly superior force of Tippu. But not wishing to surrender with
ease, they devised a plan. Thousands of Idlees were prepared in the households
and the palace and as the army of Tippu arrived, the people attacked them with
the Kerala Iddalis. Like the proverbial Boomerang, the Iddalis managed to wreak
havoc in Tippu’s troupes. The people were able to re-use the Iddlis because
after hitting the targets, they returned to their owners. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Thus the
Trichur people defeated the mighty army of Tippu with a few thousand Iddalis.
This story has not been included in the history books by our secular historians
who wanted to portray Tippu as a brave warrior. The fact is his army was
defeated by the famous Iddali-astra of Trichur. Those who suffered serious head
injuries from the Iddali-astra went back to Karnataka and their generations
down the line became politicians there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Idlee
prepared without devotion and love can be blasphemy. I have respected the
Kerala Iddali all these years because it was once used as a weapon to defeat an
invader. But this afternoon, the blasphemy called Iddali died a death when I
ordered for it in our canteen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What landed
before me in a plate were two shining white globules with a bowl of sambar and
a smaller bowl of chutney. As is my habit, I asked for two spoons. My first
poke in to the Iddali and the spoon came back, bent at the neck. I thought the
spoon was at fault and asked for a
replacement. The second spoon, then a knife and then a hack-saw and finally a
showel; all of them came unstuck and both the Iddalis remained unconquered like
Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman in the famous Chennai test in 2001. The canteen
people had not foreseen such an eventuality. Their sincere efforts to help me
ended up becoming all of us helpless.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Finally I
asked them, “How on earth did you people manage to prepare such crash-proof
Iddali ?”. They confessed the Iddali was prepared using the Vellai-Appam batter
from the previous day. Wow, now I understood why those globules were shining !
Anyway, calling them Iddali too was a shame. I suggested they rename it
Iddali-Appam. They agreed because they didn’t have much of a choice. A
Malayalam movie in the past had coined a name Doddali because the Dosa looked
like a huge Iddali. But this was altogether a new entity and thus I now have
the distinction of naming a new dish, the Iddali-Appam.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But after being
party to such a crushing insult to my god, I definitely need to go on a
pilgrimage. Hence I have decided to
visit different parts of Karnataka and Tamilnadu to do penance and reclaim the
sanctity of my religion, the Idleeism !<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Dr. Punned-it</div>
Govind Rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04086203944345086402noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474784219791768701.post-18018639638303954182014-09-22T11:39:00.001+05:302014-09-22T13:32:04.603+05:30Wah Mumtaz !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Facebook and Twitter have over the past two years, gradually weaned me off Blogger and kept me away from it for one whole year.. But honestly, I am never made for the 140 characters mad scramble and have always relished the elaborate expression of Blogging. What happened yesterday made me yearn to come back and Blog because that made me feel good, actually feel better. Well, not really, this must be the best I have felt in a long long time.<br />
<br />
<b>Mumtaz: The incredible Anseema's magnificent Mother !</b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-UE8KbKnU2muPzXQEuy3SLeKvYtmp4fTnV0PgfCb1okgj50feTwjhBMX3_YAKnyLuFEZ1PXJzBgxCDjToVRtJS4iy_RrPt7fCyKl5LLwhK7Fh5czWjAM8PU_DPS2rceUlCTETSzX0FJG/s1600/Mother+and+daughter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-UE8KbKnU2muPzXQEuy3SLeKvYtmp4fTnV0PgfCb1okgj50feTwjhBMX3_YAKnyLuFEZ1PXJzBgxCDjToVRtJS4iy_RrPt7fCyKl5LLwhK7Fh5czWjAM8PU_DPS2rceUlCTETSzX0FJG/s1600/Mother+and+daughter.jpg" height="320" width="288" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Image borrowed from the WWW</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My Sunday morning Clinic for me, is not only a means to pocket a few Dollars more. It often enriches me thanks to some relaxed and laid back interactions with my clients. It was one such afternoon yesterday. Anseema, a twenty year old final degree Commerce student was my last client for the day. She was told by some Homeopath that she had some heart disease. Both the girl and her mother looked extremely anxious. Only problem I could detect in her was she was ridiculously small for date at just a few milligrams over 30 kilos.<br />
<br />
After a thorough examination, I leaned back on my chair and told the mother and daughter, "See, this girl has absolutely no heart problem. I understand she has never been hospitalized for any illness to-date. If anyone has to find any problem with her, it has to be her weight. Even that should not matter for you people. But since your community insists on early marriages, she may need to gain about 10 kilos to be ready for marriage. No other problems...".<br />
<br />
The girl cut me off at this stage and said, "No Sir, I will not marry now. Not at all. I want to study and find a good job for myself. I will not even think of marriage till then". At this point, I turned to her mother and told, "See, in your community, most of the girls are married off early. I know a very beautiful and intelligent girl whom I knew as a child and she was married off at the age of 16 and by 17, she had become a mother. I request you to stand by your child and educate her and do not think of marriage, at least till 23."<br />
<br />
The mother looked serious, gave a deep sigh and said, "No Sir, not 23". My heart almost sank at this stage but I let her continue without interfering. She continued, "I want her to complete MBA and be a woman of her own. She will not marry before 27 and even after that, will marry when she wants to. I married early at 17 and I know how miserable it is. My child will not become another maid servant. She will live a life of dignity...!". The very affable and serene countenance of this young mother never betrayed the determination and steel within her. Absolutely stunning lady. <br />
<br />
I got up from my chair and saluted this mother, Mumtaz of the modern era. I told her, "You have made my day and I congratulate you for your conviction, courage and boldness. Please stay on course and please do remember me if you people need any kind of assistance from me at any time. I would definitely love to be there on the day of Anseema's MBA graduation ceremony."<br />
<br />
I shall never forget these two people, whom I underestimated when they walked into my consultation room. Both the beautiful women left my clinic with wonderful smiles on their faces and a surreal lump in my throat. The world needs more and more people like Mumtaz and her Anseema.<br />
<br />
PS: These names are real and I have taken their permission to mention them here because India needs to hear and know more about more such people. Whatever reach this post achieves should be a boost for the Girl-Child Education.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Dr. Punned-it</div>
Govind Rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04086203944345086402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474784219791768701.post-86009582833900367452013-06-14T13:52:00.001+05:302013-06-14T14:30:27.560+05:30Tabla, Band and the Wife of Zakir Hussain !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I see in my clinic, many an young people claiming to be from West Bengal [Waste Bengal in their language], whose names sound very much like those Bangladesh Cricketers. Zainul Abedin, Mushfiqul Rahim, Shafiul Islam are among those hundreds working in the construction sites as cheap labor.<br />
<br />
They live in extremely inhabitable ghettos surrounding the construction sites. It's extremely difficult to assess their actual motives but we have to treat them when they come with health problems. They seem to come to me because of my comfort with Hindi, which is the only language they can manage other than Bengali. This post isn't about the suspected Bangladeshi immigrants. This is about a stand out character I see very often.<br />
<br />
Many other construction workers from Bihar and UP too come to my clinic. But they mostly come in groups and are always seen moving in groups. This is a 21 year old boyish looking chap hailing from a small town in Bihar and is the only one among them, who comes alone to consult me.<br />
<br />
This is an incredibly funny character. I first saw him about 10 months ago. He had come with a complaint of stomachache. Translating our Hindi dialogues to English is a tough job. But let me try that. I have seen him many times since he first came to me about 10 months ago. I am chronicling only the important encounters here.<br />
<br />
<b>Encounter - 1</b>:<br />
<br />
Looking tense, anxious and forlorn, this handsome boy walks into my clinic and asks, "<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Doctor Saab, Hindi maloom ?</span></i>" [Doctor, know Hindi ?] I replied, "<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Nahin</span></i>".<br />
<br />
He looked dejected but said, "<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Lekin idhar sab bolte hain ki aapko maloom hai</span></i>" [But people here say, you know Hindi]<br />
<br />
I replied with a smile, "<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Chalo yaar aapke liye Hindi bhi bol denge !</span></i>" [OK, will speak in Hindi for you]<br />
<br />
His face lit up and he said, "<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Bach gaya. Kya Doctor saab, daraa diya. Idhar koi Hindi bolta nahin, ulta humen daraate hain ki Malayalam seekho. Malayalam naam theekse bol nahin sakte hum</span></i>" [I'm saved, What Doctor, you scared me. Nobody speaks Hindi here and they want us to learn Malayalam. I can't even pronounce the word Malayalam properly]<br />
<br />
He introduced himself as Zakir Hussain from a small village in Bihar. He is one of the seven kids of his father from two wives. Being the oldest, he had to fend for his family. He flunked in class 7 and did odd jobs in his native place for five years before he was sent here by one of his uncles for a better pay.<br />
<br />
I asked him jovially, "<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Kitne bachche hain ?</span></i>" [How many kids ?]. He replied "<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Saat</span></i>" [7]. I asked, "<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Bees saal aur saat bachche ?</span></i>" [Twenty years and 7 kids ?].<br />
<br />
He looked embarrassed and shot back, "<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Kya Doctor saab, humaara nahin. Abbu ke saat bachche hain. Apni toh nikah bhi nahin huyi</span></i>" [What Doctor saab ? My Dad has 7 kids. I am not even married].<br />
<br />
I laughed and asked again, "<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ikkees saal aur abhi tak shaadi nahin huyi. Kyaa yaar kab karoge shaadi ?</span></i>" [21 years and not yet married. When are you going to get married ?]<br />
<br />
He smiled back and said, "<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Shaadi toh karni hai. Lekin uske liye paise chahiye. Mai apni biwi ko achchi tarah rakhna chahta hoon. Paise kamaane ke liye idhar aaya hoon</span></i>" [I have to marry. But I need money for that. I want to look after my wife well. I'm here to earn money for that]<br />
<br />
So I proceeded to examine him and prescribed him some medicines for acidity and advised not to eat spicy food. He said with a very humble tone, "<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Doctor saab, kisee bhi tarah aap mujhe theek kar-deejiye. Nahin toh dawaayi khaate khaate mere poore paise kharch hojaayenge. Mai kabhi nikah nahin karpaaoonga</span></i>" [Doctor, somehow make me better. Otherwise all my money will be spent on medicines and I'll never be able to marry]. I asked him to follow up after 2 weeks.<br />
<br />
<b>Encounter - 2</b>: <br />
<br />
He came 2 months later with same problem and complained, "<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Doctor saab, mai barbaad hogaya. Mera pet poora kharaab hai. Mai mar jaaoonga. Kuch toh karo aur mujhe bachaado. Mai kunwaara nahin marna chahta</span></i>" [Doctor saab, I am ruined. My tummy has gone bad. I'll die. Do something and save me. I don't want to die a bachelor].<br />
<br />
I jokingly asked, "<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Shaadi ke turant baad marna theek hai kya ?</span></i>" [Is it OK if you die soon after marriage ?]<br />
<br />
He: <i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Kya Doctor saab aap bhi, Kuch bhi bolte hain ? Phir meri biwi ko kaun dekhega ?</span></i> [What Doctor saab, you can tell anything ? Who'll look after my wife ?]<br />
<br />
Me: <i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Agar shaadi se pehele itna pyaar biwi se hai toh apni sehad ko theek se sambhaalo. Maine pichli baar do hafte baad aane ko kahaa tha na ? Kyun nahin aaya ?</span></i> [If you have so much of love for wife even before marriage, you should take care of your health. Why did you not came after 2 weeks as I'd advised ?]<br />
<br />
He: <i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Galti hogayi Doctor saab. Iss baar maaf kardo. Ab mai sab theek se karoonga. Mujhe bachaado. Meri toh shaadi bhi nahin huyi !</span></i> [I'm sorry Doctor saab, it was a mistake. Now I'll do everything right. save me please, I am not even married !]<br />
<br />
I prescribed him medicines again and told him that he had something like an Ulcer [because he didn't understand acidity] and needed medication on long term to prevent it. I also asked him to eat light. He replied, "<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Kya light khaana Doctor saab ? Idhar sirf do cheez banti hai, Sambaar aur chaawal. Ab iss-se light kya khaayen ? Hawaa ?</span></i>" [What light food Doctor saab ? Here only rice and sambaar is available. What lighter can we eat ? Air ?]<br />
<br />
I assured him that rice and sambar was good for him and asked him to review after a month.<br />
<br />
<b>Encounter - 3</b>:<br />
<br />
He came as I was on my way home from the clinic and looked flustered. He was desperate and wanted to see me. But I could see he was not in serious trouble and asked him to come next day. He agreed and came next day. He said, "<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Doctor saab, meri toh shaadi bhi nahin huyi. Maine kisee aurat ke saath koi chakkar bhi nahin kiya. Phir bhi mere saath aisa kyun hua ?</span></i>" [Doctor saab, I am not married and I never did anything with any woman. Then why did this happen to me ?]<br />
<br />
He was on the verge of breaking down and I consoled him and proceeded to examine him. All he had was fungal infection in the groin and he thought it was a serious sexually transmitted disease. I reassured him that it had nothing to do with women and was just a matter of hygiene and sent him with a prescription.<br />
<br />
He left with a happy smile, "<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Thanks Doctor saab, mai toh socha ki barbaad hogaya. Humaara bachcha toh hoga nah ?</span></i>" [Thanks Doctor saab. I thought I am ruined. I will kids no ?]. I said, "<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ek nahin saat - aath agar tum chaho toh</span></i>" [Not one but 7 -8 if you want]. He winked and replied, "<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Nahin Doctor saab, meri biwi pareshaan hogi. Hume sirf do kaafi hai</span></i>" [No Doctor saab, my wife will be troubled. We'll have only 2]. So much love for a wife who is not even in imagination.<br />
<br />
<b>Encounter - 4</b>: <br />
<br />
The most wonderful thing about this youngster is his affable nature and ever smiling face. Remembering his famous namesake, I asked him, "<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Aap Tabla bajaate hain kya ?</span></i>" [Do you play Tabla ?]<br />
<br />
He retorted immediately, "<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Kya Doctor saab aap bhi. Yahaan beri band baj rahi hai aur aap Tabla bajaane ki baat karte hain !</span></i>" [What Doctor saab ? Here I'm in trouble and you're talking of tabla]<br />
<br />
He had loose motions since 3 days and was really troubled because I was away for 3 days. He didn't want to see any other Doctor and came every evening to my clinic when I was away. I prescribed medicines and he was better within a day. Any Doctor would've done that but try telling him that and he would quip, "<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Aisa nahin. Mujhe sirf aap hi theek kar sakte hain. Aur koi dawaa liya toh mera toh sach me band bajega</span></i>" [Not like that. Only you can make me better. If I take any other medicine, my band will be truly played].<br />
<br />
<b>Encounter - 5</b>:<br />
<br />
His latest visit was last night. He had come with a scrotal swelling suggestive of Hydrocele. He looked disgusted with himself, "<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Itnee cjhoti umr me itnee saari bimaari. Mai toh ek mareez bangaya hoon. Doctor saab kuch bhi karke mujhe phirse theek karo. Iss-se achcha marajaana hai</span></i>" [Such young age and so many illnesses. I have become a serious patient. Doctor saab, do something and make me better. It's better to die than this]<br />
<br />
I consoled him saying, "There are many kids in the world suffering from diseases like Cancer and Diabetes, who learn to live with them and even conquer the illness. Your illnesses are basically nothing. All curable and simple ones. You are lucky to be born so handsome and pretty healthy. You will be perfect by the time you are ready to marry"<br />
<br />
He looked extremely happy. His eyes were welling up when he said, "<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Aapko pata hai Doctor saab ? Mujhe har mahine 10 hazaar milte hain. teen hazaar toh idhar kharch ho jaata hai. Paanch hazaar mai ghar bhejta hoon aur do hazaar sambhalke rakhta hoon. Mai achchi tarah jeena chahta hoon. Mai koi galat kaam nahin karta aur sochta tha ki kyun mujhe hi aise bhayaanak bimaariyaan aati hai ! Lekin aapne mera dil halka kar diya. Mai zindaa rahoonga nah ?</span></i>" [Do you know Doctor saab ? I earn 10000 per month. I send 5000 to home. 3000 is spent for myself here and I save 2000. I want to live well. I don't have any bad habits and used to think why I was getting such horrible diseases. Now I am relieved. I will manage to live, right ?"<br />
<br />
It was a lump in the throat situation for me. Here is a jovial young chap with dreams of a beautiful life with a beautiful wife who is just an imagination. And he was getting emotional for once. I reassured him, "<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Tum sirf bachche nahin, bachchonke bachche bhi dekh sakoge. Koi fikr mat karo. Hamesha khush raho</i>"</span> [Not only kids, you'll even see the kids of your kids. Be happy always"<br />
<br />
He parted with a statement, "<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Mera iss gaon me koi dost nahin. Baat karneko bhi koi milta nahin. Sirf
ek aap mere liye, dost, bada bhai, Doctor saab aur himmat sab aap hai ! Jab bhi meri nikah hogi, meri biwi aur baadme mere bachche, sabko mai aapke baare me bolunga. Sab aapko yaad rakhenge !</span></i>" [I have nobody in this place. You are my only friend, big brother, Doctor and my support. Whenever I get married, I will tell my wife and my kids about you and all of us will remember you !"<br />
<br />
Touched !<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Dr. Punned-it</div>
Govind Rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04086203944345086402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474784219791768701.post-5440726713115594292013-04-19T10:28:00.001+05:302013-04-19T10:29:39.480+05:30Now who's Camilla ? My Thai Hi !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I did my little bit of research on Thailand before I boarded the Thai Economy flight on 7 April. Since it was a midnight flight, I hardly remember anything from the journey except for the cute and traditionally dressed Air-hostesses asking, "Vegettaariaan ?". Once I overcame the sleep deprivation, it was usual me; observe and find out about the place, the people and their practices. And here is what I felt about Thailand and the people.<br />
<br />
The Thai people must be the most pleasant on the earth. They are almost always smiling, laughing or guffawing when they are not giggling. I believe this is a national trait with very few exceptions.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpNoAhAWtRcb8lu3NiWIBPc76R7tzqo7whGTtXmMwB8Ek-TvSjP3flxSYjI21br60CKHUqe4m_jY7Qy5_Nc2OjD7u2Fvj0bWcwSMwSZCD2pL67NRQO96lO5IepEDhOYnfrr3UX0iio3jIj/s1600/Thai-Giggle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpNoAhAWtRcb8lu3NiWIBPc76R7tzqo7whGTtXmMwB8Ek-TvSjP3flxSYjI21br60CKHUqe4m_jY7Qy5_Nc2OjD7u2Fvj0bWcwSMwSZCD2pL67NRQO96lO5IepEDhOYnfrr3UX0iio3jIj/s320/Thai-Giggle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Typical Thai <span style="font-size: large;">P</span>eople<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>!</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Thailand was previously known as Siam and they still treasure that name. It has over come a lot of mutinies, military rulers, corruption and several changes in the constitution. Yet the people generally remain happy. They have a definite discipline in day to day life that we Indians lack as a rule. Look at this Bangkok road where the busy road has an entire left lane free. I don't know how many Indian cities can boast of such a trait.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWr7NpdrAdgNXx0vbV2q3i_qRkc7ddXQEiYLdbIQo5dJYsRZiblBuWJUV0ev5jr5kCIp06panj6tW1O70dx8f3Qv8HS60jjJ2wcxRdiU_FxqH8SCNYTEWOK-bL7IMMEOrTJ3_Fll49lVhE/s1600/Thai+Discipline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWr7NpdrAdgNXx0vbV2q3i_qRkc7ddXQEiYLdbIQo5dJYsRZiblBuWJUV0ev5jr5kCIp06panj6tW1O70dx8f3Qv8HS60jjJ2wcxRdiU_FxqH8SCNYTEWOK-bL7IMMEOrTJ3_Fll49lVhE/s320/Thai+Discipline.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Free Left in <span style="font-size: large;">the "</span>Land of the Free<span style="font-size: large;">"</span></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Thailand ranks 54th out of 56 Asian nations when it comes to proficiency in English and this doesn't seem to bother them. You tell them about their poor English and they'll giggle and thank you with a "Kop kuun haa".<br />
<br />
You walk into a 7-Eleven store and talk in English and the predominantly young crowd look at you and smile apologetically. Then they start to giggle and exchange words between themselves in their nasal twang. When you persist with English, they'll give you a pity-filled look for your ignorance of their beautiful language. And finally, they share a hearty laugh and their Thai customers join them in that. As a last resort, they'll resort to explaining to you in Thai language and you have no other option but to take whatever you want and leave without asking for anything more than what you can find there.<br />
<br />
Thai mobile networks are very nice. They'll give the tourist a free SIM-card on arrival and then keep sending them messages in unadulterated Thai language.<br />
<br />
The people here are so nice, they'll be smiling their broadest smiles even when they are busy swindling you !<br />
<br />
Thai massage, foot massage, head massage and all those massages are a must when you are in this land. They are definitely calming and relaxing.<br />
<br />
I am inclined to believe the name Thailand is actually a local variant of Thigh-land. In 9 days, I have seen more thighs than I have seen in 43 years of my life in India. 90% of Thai women are seen in shorts and short skirts and this is perfectly fine with this culture. To be honest, even ultra-short shorts can be too much in the heat out there.<br />
<br />
"Sawatdee haa" is the Thai way of wishing "Namaste". It is believed to have originated from the Sanskrit word "Swasti" meaning 'blessing'. Thai people believe in their culture and language having origins in India and Sanskrit and are proud of it.<br />
<br />
One of the ladies at the Thai massage center thought my daughter was my wife. She was obviously gossiping about the mismatch in our age. But later as an after-thought, she and asked me, "Wife ? Girlfriend ?". I replied, "Daughter". She apologized, "Oooooooooh dothaal. Sollyyyyyyyyyy. Oooooooooooooooh" !<br />
<br />
I was there as guardian for my daughter who was shooting for her Tamil movie. We were helped there in the entire process by Indo-Bangkok films, a company owned by an Indian Punjabi called Bob. They own travel-agencies, chain of Indian hotels, restaurants and they also provide logistics and man-power for visiting Indian cine-units.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN_OieI6F5Ktm_IMIrT-kA5uIsyNnYSIllbZiE3kxa4ugrRhGyKNXhzxUhthQeJzO5xhr2IXKOwnj8OQfmbNA2CjzzNbFInEfl8WaWI4k5EL7C3k5xExcYGjqvuDsu-astZkI6xo3FcwdO/s1600/Indian-Hotel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN_OieI6F5Ktm_IMIrT-kA5uIsyNnYSIllbZiE3kxa4ugrRhGyKNXhzxUhthQeJzO5xhr2IXKOwnj8OQfmbNA2CjzzNbFInEfl8WaWI4k5EL7C3k5xExcYGjqvuDsu-astZkI6xo3FcwdO/s320/Indian-Hotel.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Indian Restaurant in Pattaya </b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Population of Thailand is 94% Buddhist with less than 5% Muslims and 1%
Christians. There are very few Hindus and Sikhs. Our Indo-Bangkok Films
is owned by a Sikh Bob Singh. There is another Sikh we met in Bangkok.
That was Jyot, who speaks excellent Telugu due to his growing up in Vizag. He helped me to gain some kind of insight into this country. But the paradox about this country is that this predominantly Buddhist country has an omnivorous population. They eat everything under the Sun and under the sea and believe seaweeds are good for the skin !<br />
<br />
One of our local managers was Lucky. We never got to know her original name. She was jovial, grumpy, angry and helping all in one. She was once married to a Pakistani. After the marriage ended, she developed a special liking for Indians, it seems. Her incessant smoking reminded me of the brick kilns I used to watch on the Mangalore - Udupi highway during my childhood.<br />
<br />
Our second Thai contact was in fact the best. She was Rumrada, nicknamed Red. She is a happily plump 28 year old girl always sporting a smile and a pair of shorts with tees. She was the most proficient in English and that is why I managed to gather quite a lot of information from her. She is a Muslim. She hates marriage but loves an Indian Assistant Film Director. Her parents have given her complete freedom to manage her life and she doesn't smoke or drink. But she was totally amazed and horrified when she heard that normal Muslim girls in this part of the world can't wear shorts and can't be walking so freely like she did.<br />
<br />
Red hates the idea of anyone dictating terms to her. This is a Thai trait. This is the most liberal of all South Asian nations. In fact they also pride themselves as "Tai" or the "Land of the Free" because Thailand was the only south Asian country never to have been colonized by a European power. Thailand also is the most liberal when it comes to LGTB rights and we can see a large number of them living with very little or no discrimination. Two of the make-up artists on our unit were from this group and they were completely natural and comfortable and were treated with no difference. Also, they smoke like anyone else.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkfa5Viz-98kYkQY7rD5LSCaoLG1urd5bFtmQaWSg-ljV6eoOq2r_wRjMmPBB6YwmYo6VJvBeGcPkQSfndcz4KAo0FIf4bvtQtcDtn18QloX1gnGsoeuFdiPdFfd0AjAnOoOsKDijF521x/s1600/LGTB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkfa5Viz-98kYkQY7rD5LSCaoLG1urd5bFtmQaWSg-ljV6eoOq2r_wRjMmPBB6YwmYo6VJvBeGcPkQSfndcz4KAo0FIf4bvtQtcDtn18QloX1gnGsoeuFdiPdFfd0AjAnOoOsKDijF521x/s320/LGTB.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Everyone smokes, no discrimination !</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Thai people smoke in alarmingly high proportions. I could see men, women and LGTB smoking almost all the time. But I think their happy nature gives them some kind of protection against heart diseases because they have far lesser incidence of Ischemic Heart Disease compared to Indians. May be it is largely due to genetics but I do think the intrinsic happiness does play a role.<br />
<br />
Coming to the last part of my story, I heard lucky yell at someone, "Ajay wants to see Camilla". I was surprised about this new character on the unit and was eager to see her too. So I asked her, "Now who's Camilla ?". Lucky gave me a dirty look and pointed towards the camera !<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbS4eIhIVSYB0cYyL9fCN7eYXe4EeR-Qtppob0Co3kfNscLOFLBozKnsu6_vTs3HseikfnqvsNaNgoi5kGG41hWrYUGv2LnZhdP1I7W03Ok66oTVtX99X7e0xzh9E3ZSy_KvQuG0kWBrB/s1600/English.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbS4eIhIVSYB0cYyL9fCN7eYXe4EeR-Qtppob0Co3kfNscLOFLBozKnsu6_vTs3HseikfnqvsNaNgoi5kGG41hWrYUGv2LnZhdP1I7W03Ok66oTVtX99X7e0xzh9E3ZSy_KvQuG0kWBrB/s320/English.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>English - Thainglish !</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Thai people hate the 'R' and happily leplace it with an additional "L" whenevel and whelevel possible. They have Thulsday, Flyday and Satulday to end the week. They offel you Zelo Calolies Coke and Biliyani. They smoke as if thele is no tomollooooooooo. Even Red [Led], who's pretty good with English talks like this to hel own people, "They leave tomollooo. We have to get the passpolts and allange fol duty-flee shopping in the ailpolt" !<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Dr. Punned-it</b></div>
Govind Rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04086203944345086402noreply@blogger.com1Pattaya, Chon Buri 20150, Thailand12.9275 100.8752778000000512.6798835 100.55255430000005 13.1751165 101.19800130000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474784219791768701.post-83849638279661050752013-03-14T12:12:00.002+05:302013-03-14T12:26:10.616+05:30Mukundan Swami and his Cricket Language !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
He keeps popping up in my life like the 'breaking news' messages on
those 24-Hour news channels. He is Mukundan, fondly called "Mukunda
Mukunda" or "Dashavatharam" or "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JZLSATuIuE" target="_blank"><b>Swami</b></a>" by me and "Kuntham" by his friends as he
himself confessed. He's a class nine student in a CBSE school and only
son of his doting parents. He knows my daughter too is in class nine
and he thinks that might help him. He prefers to converse in English with me because his mother wanted him to improve his English by talking to that Doctor who doesn't speak good Malayalam.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1TmNS1kzZlD5ZGOVKg_F22niVpaUlsRvxADONWetXzrMfxVHk4QDaW49rjGNbSF5tI1wKNRuoHmyrNoquWI95ZutI2Mgr5qYTN08CEECFHmCZiQWzhK-U8rrmG89kRJ5FI3jgQQ3eHMPF/s1600/Swami.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1TmNS1kzZlD5ZGOVKg_F22niVpaUlsRvxADONWetXzrMfxVHk4QDaW49rjGNbSF5tI1wKNRuoHmyrNoquWI95ZutI2Mgr5qYTN08CEECFHmCZiQWzhK-U8rrmG89kRJ5FI3jgQQ3eHMPF/s320/Swami.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
But
he is very unlike the teenagers on the Facebook who brag about their
hitherto invisible capabilities or who warn us about their attitude. He
doesn't like the word 'Dude' being used to address a girl because his
Mom told him that is used only for boys. He is a very modest boy with
some serious issues with English language, Science and Mathematics.<br />
<br />
He
was brought to me about 4 years ago with some persistent wheezing
problems and after initiating on Inhalers, he had completely recovered
from the Asthma that used to plague him. He is fond of me because he
believes I had helped him to do what he loved the most; play Cricket !
Cricket is the only thing worth talking about and Sachin Tendulkar is
the only God for this 15 year old with a thin mustache threatening to make it's presence felt above his upper lips.<br />
<br />
One day, he drops into my
Clinic with a doubt, "Saar, egg eating help my muscle build ?". He is
from a Tambram family that still remains vegetarian. But he was
impressed by a a boy twisting Sachin's arm in an Egg ad on the TV and
wanted to know if he could be stronger by eating eggs. His Mom was not
averse to cooking eggs for him and I told him to go ahead. He is an
Eggetarian now according to himself and says, "I'll never eat chicken. I
don't like bones".<br />
<br />
His propensity to use Cricket
language for every conversation is what makes him endearing to me. When I
asked him about the Summative assessment part-1, he replied, "Saar,
Malayalam and Social like leg side full toss. I just hit six. English
always yorker. Grammar like my Grandmother. I never understand both are
very tough and strict. No this thing and no that thing. Like in-swing,
out-swing bowling. Ho, life is waste Saare. Don't even ask Max [Maths].
It is all bouncer going top of head. I will go to Max exam with a helmet.
My head goes round round seeing question paper. Science is just nonsense
Saar. Like Rohit Sharma. Everybody hates but teachers always forcing to
study Science. Believe me Saar, ninth standard boy life is very tough.
You just can't imagine...". I replied, "Yes my Dear, that is why I chose
medical graduation because ninth grade is so very tough !" He got the
sarcasm for once and gave a sheepish grin and scooted off.<br />
<br />
He is a simple boy who shares most of his happiness and sadness with me. When his mother refused to buy a mobile phone for him, he told me, "Father cool Saar. But mother noballed my mobile. Sometimes she like Steve Buckner Saar. Always against India wrong decision. I now only no mobile boy in my group. All teases me like Jadeja Saar. I feels like out of form dropped batsman Saar".<br />
<br />
When he finally got his prized mobile phone, he waved it at me and declared, "Saar, Umpire finally give right decision. I cry, cry and cry and she brought this. Mother is Sehwag like Saar. When good mood, she hit 300 and not good mood, she hit zero. Today, I feels like Sachin Tendulkar 100th 100 Saar. Paavam Mukundan now head lift and walk with friends. Saar all features like blue tooth and all is there. Look like Virat Kohli no ? Stylish !"<br />
<br />
"Saar, our neighbor one Paattiamma clean bowled today Saar. She was some sugar, pressure patient. 2 days some problem and today morning not get up only. What Saar, everybody crying and my mother also crying. She was nice, not my Hitler Paatti type. She was 92 Saar. Missed century by 8, very bad Saar. All people crying I thinks like India losted match against Pakistan Saar". This is how he reported the demise of a neighborhood lady. <br />
<br />
"Saar,
my final exams coming, please pray for me Saar" said Mukundan last
week. He added, "I don't know what this CBSE peoples doing. Old kids enjoyed life till class 9. We have board exams even in
9th. You know Saar, it is like a 5 match one day series. First is
Monday, Social. That is good. I read 1 paragraph, I write 3
page. It is good batting pitch. Then Wednesday Science Saar. That
is most terrific. It is like playing in Perth, Dale Steyn balls. I really want to take helmet to Science and Max exam Saar. Friday is Malayalam. Malayalam in my house not speak, but I manage.
After 3 day rest for horror Max next Monday. That is simbly
reverse swing Saar. Always confusing. Wednesday English.
Grammar Saar, believe me, grammar made by people hate children. Only to torture poor children. If I don't killed, I come see you Wednesday Saar. You know Saar, Sachin Tendulkar, the God failed exams because of Max Saar. Then what is my condition ?
Anyway, please pray for me Saar !"<br />
<br />
In an age where expecting innocence in boys aged 15 years is like expecting a spinner friendly track in South Africa, Mukundan is a delightful exception and I hope he manages to keep his innocence forever !<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Dr. Punned-it</div>
Govind Rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04086203944345086402noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474784219791768701.post-28579550734637419342013-01-16T23:09:00.001+05:302013-01-16T23:09:38.250+05:30Thought for Food !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Nothing in this world enthuses me as much as food. I have declared it on Facebook and elaborated it on Blogger before. But this post is all about the "Thought for Food" !<br />
<br />
I am so obsessed with food that I often end up wishing people, "Food morning" or "Food afternoon" or "Food evening" or "Food night". This reached to ridiculous levels when I typed, "Hearty wishes for Food Friday and Feaster" on the Friday before the Easter ! Some of my Christian friends were so offended by this, they Unfriended me ! It was not entirely my fault. The keyboard has 'F' next to 'G' and when I am hungry, I can make mistakes like any human being. It just is that I am hungry most of the times !<br />
<br />
I very well understand how hunger can turn people into Naxalites. Just half an hour delay in lunch break can turn me into a terrorist. My being born in a <a href="http://govindrajsblog.blogspot.in/2011/04/jevan-and-konkanis-community-that.html" target="_blank"><b>Community </b></a>that adores, worships and ritualizes food definitely has some role in my love for food. My father is a man who believes, "Every morning, we should Rice and Shine" and I don't disagree with him.<br />
<br />
It isn't as if I am a huge eater. I have on an occasion, eaten 25 idlees about 2 hours before dinner. And on another occasion, I had polished off 3 packets of Maggie noodles while reading Fimfare. These are old stories. I am a frugal eater today. I have a strict control now and seldom over-eat. I always stop when I can't stuff any more !<br />
<br />
My week goes like this. Chocolate Sundae, Gulab Jamoon-day, Orange Juice day, Breadness day, Thirst day, Fried Rice day and Saturate day ! What about my work place ? When a nurse reports about a patient having
severe itching, I asked her to administer injection Avial [Avil]. Talking of Lactate solution reminds me of Milk Chocolate.<br />
<br />
I am a law abiding person and I respect the courts. Well, I in fact adore the courts; Food Courts, especially. Though I am a complete and hopeless teetotaler, I love the bars too. They serve some of the best starters in the world. The fried cashew nuts, pea nut masala, paneer pakodas and many such delicacies make it worth going to a bar with your friends who prefer the bar over the court !<br />
<br />
I believe in the old adage, "Seven days of not eating well makes one weak". Though I admire Gandhi for many of his virtues, I could never agree with the view that "We should eat to live and not live to eat". Blasphemy is the word ! We are born with the largest sack in the body that is stomach and the largest organ in the body that is liver. Stomach has to be filled and only then can the liver work and promote digestion. This scientifically proves my long held belief that "We are born to eat; at least I am" !<br />
<br />
I am a Great fan of good food. So much so, the word Great itself inspires me on. But how ? Very simple, GR stands for my initial and rest is Eat ! So it keeps egging me on... GR EAT, GR EAT ! Now people should never blame me for my obsession with food and eating. I was destined for GR-EAT-NESS !<br />
<br />
I once won a bet with a girl as to who was taller; me or she. She had promised '<b>Anything</b>' if I won the bet and I asked her to buy me breakfast for the whole of next month. All boys who came to know of the story considered this a complete and total disgrace ! I just couldn't fathom why they felt so. I went on to relish extraordinary range of breakfast and super coffee
from Hotel Hoysala, Bellary all at her expense for the next 30 days.<br />
<br />
What am I supposed to do if I am reminded of "Pai Dosa" while watching "Life of Pi" and the movie "Fiza" sent me to Pizza Hut soon after the show ? The name "Sholay" makes me yearn for "Choley Bature" and whenever I see Vivek Mushran, I would love to savor "Mushroom Pepper and Salt". And just imagine watching a movie with title credits like <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqsZ4EmKDlM" target="_blank"><b>THIS.</b></a> Impossible !<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinZQidorOBt06fvljMrn0uVWmz9RtfGSrAxfnNG8nNT90hkCTxBF8gZ8ZO3v-UdcZVTGNMeh2ptBIvEfGfj8tz_Vn-5MrMAtAy7ug8HsS0DbagHlo64CBRiJmzSOVYW4LBkTdRj3hyphenhyphen6iXY/s1600/Avial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinZQidorOBt06fvljMrn0uVWmz9RtfGSrAxfnNG8nNT90hkCTxBF8gZ8ZO3v-UdcZVTGNMeh2ptBIvEfGfj8tz_Vn-5MrMAtAy7ug8HsS0DbagHlo64CBRiJmzSOVYW4LBkTdRj3hyphenhyphen6iXY/s320/Avial.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Title credits of a movie !</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Even though I have grown to abhor religions, I love temples for two reasons. First is for the architecture and the second of course for those exotic eatables offered there in the form of "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prasadam" target="_blank"><b>Prasad</b></a>". Some of the "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Payasam" target="_blank"><b>Payasams</b></a>" are more famous than the temples and the deities. I have never known anyone talking about the god of Ambalappuzha<b>, </b>but the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambalappuzha#Legend_of_the_Ambalappuzha_Paal_Paayasam" target="_blank"><b>Ambalappuzha Paalpayasam</b></a> is a legend !<br />
<br />
Tirupathi laddu is more famous than the temple itself. A large number of people including me, go there only for the sake of the laddu ! If the laddu is made available in counters at reasonable cost, I and many like me would leave the God to rest in peace !<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKcyy8NhvYw-31y4ZnF6qd2VguLIslaH_g1wDgRcA1sDdMRpjfHM_gw90fuynDc7D2LTOfB0-nRy_C1pY9uNDI5pDZsMy3TtCKga4csdQk8a_PUT-0rhRFaHBG0c6b2dLB-APk3h2KBSMk/s1600/Tirumala+Laddu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKcyy8NhvYw-31y4ZnF6qd2VguLIslaH_g1wDgRcA1sDdMRpjfHM_gw90fuynDc7D2LTOfB0-nRy_C1pY9uNDI5pDZsMy3TtCKga4csdQk8a_PUT-0rhRFaHBG0c6b2dLB-APk3h2KBSMk/s320/Tirumala+Laddu.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Laddu over God !</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Well, it is almost midnight now and my last grub was at 8:00 PM. If I have to "Live, Love and Laugh"; I have to catch up with something to eat. So, let me scoot and see what is there in the fridge. Thankfully Wife and Mom are fast asleep and I should be fine very soon !<br />
<br />
Food night everyone !<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Dr. Punned-it</div>
Govind Rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04086203944345086402noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474784219791768701.post-73972016254297667722013-01-13T00:11:00.000+05:302013-01-13T00:11:01.771+05:30Rape and the Indian Culture : My Sacred Left Foot !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Ever since the Delhi rape took the national media by storm, we have
had unending queue of people making an ass of themselves on the print
and electronic media.<br />
<br />
A Minister said, the girls shouldn't cross the Lakshman Rekha. If they do, they'll be kidnapped like Sita of Ramayan !<br />
<br />
A
self-proclaimed Bapu blamed the girl for the rape and prophesied that
she would have saved herself if she had begged them for mercy and called
them "Bhayya" or brother !<br />
<br />
The RSS chief says a woman has to satisfy a man and keep him happy for her to receive appreciation or some nonsense like that !<br />
<br />
As
women all over the country protest and people ask for tougher
punishments for the offenders, these people with verbal diarrhea keep
defecating through their unholy mouths. And then our Prime Minister
finally opens his mouth and says, "Theek Hai" or "It's OK" !<br />
<br />
A
couple of months ago, my 14 year old daughter was harassed and abused
by some pranksters on the Facebook. She protested and I too joined
issues. What was the reaction we got ?<br />
<br />
A lady said,
"You should not post photos on Facebook. You should not wear exposing
dresses. You should not allow boys to be friends. There are so many
security controls on Facebook. So on and on...". My daughter questioned,
"What if people abuse via messages and how am I supposed to know who is
good and who is not ?" She got a reply, "If you sleep with your room
unlocked, people will rob you".<br />
<br />
I joined issues saying,
"Facebook is not a hotel room but an open road. If some abnormal men
abuse a woman in public, isn't it our duty to stand up and question them
and stop them ? Doesn't she have the right to protest ?". The reply I
got was very enlightening. The lady said, "I thought you people have
some sense and tried to help you. But now I know you have invited this.
Serves you right !"<br />
<br />
Another man asked, "Can a 14 year
old GIRL have a Facebook account ?". Having entered modeling and cinema
field, my daughter has been active on Facebook and has maintained a
decent decorum and I keep strict vigil on her page to keep it clean. In
spite of that, some delinquents come and create nuisance.<br />
<br />
I
stopped protesting but took the direct mode of action and called those
people on the given phone numbers and gave a decent warning and cut them
off. But there always is a risk, some of these people might harm my
child in future. So I try to keep things simple and secret. What else
can a father do ?<br />
<br />
I had to elaborate so much only
because we have a mentality where people start preaching to girls how to
dress, how to behave, what to do and what not to do, where to sit and
where not to go and finally how to breathe in public.<br />
<br />
I
find it to be a humongous insult to entire 'Mankind' when people say,
"Women wearing sexy dresses instigate men to rape them". This actually
labels as every man as an entity with a tendency to rape against
instigation. A small stretch of feminine skin is enough to bring the
rapist out of a man ! This is what it means. I am NOT ready to buy this.
I can't be and I am NOT what these people are planning to brand me !<br />
<br />
We do have a whole hogwash of western influence being reason for
rapes and abuse of women. What an unadulterated blasphemy ! Let us just
look at our 'Puranas'. Let's take the God business out of them and look
at them as unchronicled 'History' or even fiction. What do we see there ?<br />
<br />
Ram
wins over Lanka and frees his wife Sita. Then he forces her to jump
into fire [Agni Pareeksha] before accepting her as 'pure'. And then what
does the duffer do ? He abandons her in the jungle when she is pregnant
just because of a drunken idiot's nonsensical and inebriated brawl. This is how history has treated women in India !<br />
<br />
A
lecherous Indra seduces the unsuspecting Ahalya by disguising as her
husband. What is the result ? The woman is cursed to end up as a stone till
she is redeemed from the curse by the 'lotus feet' of a man who himself
abandoned his wife later for no fault of hers. This is how history has
treated women in India !<br />
<br />
The Queen of Indraprastha with
five husbands gets herself pawned in a game of dice because her idiotic
husband can't quit the vice. Panchali is disrobed in the court of
Hastinapur with all elders and wise-men being witness to the horrible
act. An eye-wash opposition and then some vainglorious statements by her
husbands is all that she gets. The woman is referred to as 'Commodity'
by Duryodhan and that is not opposed by anyone in that court.
This is how history has treated women in India !<br />
<br />
Just
consider the fact; this was the plight of women belonging to Royal
families. Now imagine what would have been the life of common-woman !
"Yatra Naaryastu Poojante, Ramante Tatra Devata" - "The God's make an
abode where women are adored" says some damn scripture and then they
also say,
"Na Stree Swaatantryamarhasi" - "The woman doesn't deserve freedom" !<br />
<br />
With
this kind of history, legacy, wisdom, knowledge, literature and
religious righteousness, do we really need western influence ? Western
societies are a lot more equal and nicer to woman today than India is.
This is a fact. We boast of having had a woman Prime Minister, multiple
women Chief Ministers, woman President and many women in high places since ages. But most
of them were foisted upon the people thanks to legacy or by the power
of money or muscle. Lalu - Rabri rule is the best example for the later.<br />
<br />
Female
infanticide, ill-treatment of girl children, a clear male child bias in
a large segment of our populace are eating into the fabric of our
society. Ever since she is born, a girl is chained to a million rules
while her brother can go out and do any mischief. "You are a girl,
remember that !" follows every single girl in this country. If her
family treats her without a bias, the 'well-meaning' society is always
there to show her where she belongs; the kitchen !<br />
<br />
A
lady in her late forties, once visited us and gave us a lecture on the
need to have a 'Son' in front of our daughter. She went blah blah in
front of the 10 year old girl cuddling in my lap, "I can see you people
are unhappy because you have only a girl. You people are making
a mistake by waiting. You must pray and do poojas to beget a son as
soon as possible. This girl belongs to someone else. You must have a
Son who is the 'Kula Deepak' [Light of Family]. What is this pampering a
girl ? I will pray to God to give you people a cute boy soon".<br />
<br />
I
cut her off and said, "Auntie, THIS child sitting in my lap is the
'Kula Deepika' of my family. SHE is the one we always wanted and SHE
is the only child we will ever have. If you insist on a boy, please go
ahead and produce one for yourself. For all of my family, this child is
our world and it is beautiful only because of her !"<br />
<br />
The
lady took it badly and has never talked to me after that. Not that I
care ! But unfortunately, as long as 'women' continue to believe in this
kind of nonsense and wish and pray for a boy-child, our society will
continue to encourage rape ! <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk_8GXwO7UBjM8Ur2_YzPNqL1O4yyyK6qYpPE67sID7WIIafSAga8jnTpFxar0EvjC3wCNrQHz-fpPYRuA4RY3wAzJBMG2DSQyLWThN9s5z0WmXPKSjhFJe4_HjJ9YwDKwYd43HU4fYoxB/s1600/Rape.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk_8GXwO7UBjM8Ur2_YzPNqL1O4yyyK6qYpPE67sID7WIIafSAga8jnTpFxar0EvjC3wCNrQHz-fpPYRuA4RY3wAzJBMG2DSQyLWThN9s5z0WmXPKSjhFJe4_HjJ9YwDKwYd43HU4fYoxB/s320/Rape.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Dress Code : Only for Girls !</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Those who wear the so called bold dresses know how to carry them and how to protect themselves. The 'modestly' dressed, lower middle-class women with 'virtues and values' are the worst victims of crimes against women and not the high society women. <br />
<br />
If
wearing 'sexy' or bold costumes is what encourages rape, what about men
? Salman Khan hardly ever wears a shirt and there are so many studs
showing off their naked bodies. How about women getting turned on by
this blatant nudity ? Isn't that wrong too ?<br />
<br />
And what
about our temples insisting upon men to strip before entering the
temples ? The matter of fact is most of male nudity is disgusting. As
disgusting as what some women feel about Rakhi Sawant. But why no moral
codes of conduct for men ?<br />
<br />
All India needs is for the
people to grow up. A boy who flirts around with many women is a 'stud'
whereas a girl going out with men even as part of her job is a 'slut'.
It is this mentality that has chained us. Dress code doesn't stop rapes.
A code that treats man and woman as equal and prevents and forbids bias
from childhood alone can prevent rapes.<br />
<br />
I wind up this long but extremely passionate post with one of my Facebook updates, which came straight from the heart !<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="userContent">Capital Punishment for Rape ?<br /> <br /> Not
just right. A lot of our own Soldiers, Police personnel, Superiors in
office and even Doctors will have to be hanged till death in that case.<br /> <br /> Death by "Rope" is too small a punishment for "Rape", the most heinous crime ever; worse than murder !<br /> <br /> We must have a law amended in such way that if proved, a Rapist must be punished with...<br /> <br /> Dismemberment of the instrum<span class="text_exposed_show">ent
used for rape along with castration and then he should be divested all
jobs, degrees and privileges of life and left with just two options;
Begging for mercy or death !<br /> <br /> PS: This might sound a little
anarchic and perhaps like a medieval law. But a sick act like rape can't
be treated with kid-gloves ! Many of those dismembered beggars walking
the footpath can be a very strong deterrent for future offenders !</span></span></blockquote>
<br />
<br />
Dr. Punned-it</div>
Govind Rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04086203944345086402noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474784219791768701.post-78019162705691325202012-12-12T23:28:00.000+05:302012-12-12T23:28:39.794+05:30Tea with Salt, Some Pride and More Prejudices !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
"All generalizations are wrong", said some wise man, "including this
one !". But we all tend to generalize when it comes to what is right and
what is wrong, <u>according to us</u>. We were chatting about the nice Tea
served in our Hospital canteen. I casually told, "In certain parts of
Himachal Pradesh, they drink Tea with salt". Immediately a sister shot
back, "Ayyo God, what is that horrible taste ? Yuck. Thulasi sister gave
tea with salt to her husband on April Fool's day !"<br />
<br />
This
put me in thinking mode. It is true that most people in the world drink
Tea; with milk, without milk, with sugar, without sugar and with a lot
of flavors. But not many drink Tea with salt. But does that make it wrong ?
It just represents the taste of a population or perhaps an ethnic group.
But very heavily opinionated are we and thus we think what others do is
weird ! <a href="http://govindrajsblog.blogspot.in/2012/06/baba-gobi-manchurian-and-thanda-pani.html" target="_blank"><b>This has been discussed on this blog earlier</b></a>.<br />
<br />
People
have no problem with Jasmin Tea, Masala Tea, Lemon Tea, Orange Tea,
Iced Tea and many more flavors. With or without sugar has been accepted
without much problem. But talk about Tea with salt and a lot of people
go, "Yuck !". I questioned the wisdom of ridiculing
something without tasting. I said, "We can't say like that. Taste
differs from region to region, time to time and from people to people."<br />
<br />
The
sister gave me a lecture, "See Doctor, there is a proportion and
combination for all ingredients in everything we consume. We can't add
chillies to Payasam and we can't add sugar to Sambar. You can't prepare
chicken sambar, it has to be chicken curry. Similarly, vegetables can't
be eaten without some coconut grates. blah blah..."<br />
<br />
I
replied patiently, "Sister, you have got it all wrong. Udupi Brahmins
add jaggery to Sambar and they believe Sambar is incomplete without
that. You've never tried adding chicken to Sambar. Try that and then
decide. I agree we need proportion but combinations can vary. Many
people eat pickles with Payasam and you Malayalees eat pappadam with
Payasam. Why is that ? You need something extra to the taste, right ? We
can never say someone else has yuck taste. To each his or her own"<br />
<br />
I must admit, I wasn't quite brave and didn't taste tea with salt
when I went to Kullu and Manali in 1999. Looking
back in time, I realize I have been terribly judgmental. One of my
relatives used to eat jack fruit dipping in coffee and everyone in our
ancestral home used to ridicule his tastes and I was one of the
everyone. A little teenager I know, loves mangoes with yoghurt and her
younger brother thinks that is sick and I did agree with him.<br />
<br />
I
always wondered how could Gujarati people eat 'jalebis' first thing in
the morning and how could Malayalees start a day with 'beef and porotta'
when "Idlee - Sambar" was the only thing worth eating for breakfast ! I
also have never dared to try the Kerala pickles because they are 'damn
too spicy' according to me !<br />
<br />
Watching Fazil's "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hpwe1bwSOJM" target="_blank"><b>Kaiyethum Doorath</b></a>"
in 2002, I had passed my judgment on Shanu Fazil that this one is a
dud. I had even blamed Fazil for trying to make a completely useless son
into a star. Almost a decade later, the reinvented <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQFECDU-kCk" target="_blank"><b>Fahad Fazil</b></a> is on a roll today and being vegetarian, I hate the idea of eating crow !<br />
<br />
I
have come to understand it is extremely wrong on anyone's part to
decide what is right and what is wrong for others. Well, I am not
talking about issues like legal system and such. But generalizing 'our'
ways as right and 'their' ways as wrong is plain and simple, wrong !<br />
<br />
This
exactly is why I have come to distance myself from religions and moved
towards free-thinking. I refuse to be bogged down by people who preach
about gods and rituals. But I also refuse to interfere with their right
to do what they love to do without bothering me. If something gives
someone happiness and peace without infringing upon someone else' rights
or freedom, so be it !<br />
<br />
Satire and sarcasm are two
things I have inherited along with the A-Positive blood group. I have
often hurt people without intending to and looking back at such
instances makes me cringe. But, everyday in life is spent in trying to
rise above the superstitions, prejudices and stupidities without trading
upon the toes of others. It is tough but I think it is worth trying
than live with vainglorious pride and petty prejudices !<br />
<br />
<br />
Dr. Punned-it</div>
Govind Rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04086203944345086402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474784219791768701.post-50336870822028629782012-12-03T10:30:00.001+05:302012-12-03T10:32:49.415+05:3010 Reasons Why It Can't be "The End" on 21 December 2012 ?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The world which was supposed to end at the onset of the new
millennium got a fresh lease of life and has survived till now. It is
now programmed to end on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyPy-a7HrnE" target="_blank"><b>21 December 2012</b></a>. But will it end ? The answer is an emphatic NO !<br />
<br />
But
why ? What gives me so much of confidence to say so conclusively ?
There are hundreds of reasons. But ten most important clinching factors
alone can be enumerated in a blog-post and here are the reasons...<br />
<br />
<b>Ten Reasons why the world can't end on 21December 2012 </b><br />
<br />
1] Rajnikanth's <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epXJuQ2xlOY" target="_blank">Kochadaiyan</a> </b>hasn't been released. That means, 'The End" has to wait !<br />
<br />
2] Congress party has promised to deliver all their promises under the <u>dynamic leadership</u> of Rahul Gandhi if they win the 2014 general elections. It just can't be "The End" !<br />
<br />
3]
The exact loss to the exchequer in the 2G scam hasn't been determined.
It just can't be "The End" without arriving at the exact figure, be it 0
or those facile figures quoted by the CAG !<br />
<br />
4] Well of
course, Sachin Tendulkar has not retired because it would be selfish to
retire when the world needs him more than any time before. The writing
is on "<a href="http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/cricket-rahul-dravid-sachin-tendulkar-test-match-mumbai-kolkata-eden-gardens/1/235092.html" target="_blank"><b>The Wall</b></a>". The God has to take the call in "The End" !<br />
<br />
5] Obama has declared the best is ahead for America. If he said so, how can it be "The End" ?<br />
<br />
6]
Salman Khan has given clear indication that the Tiger wants to be tamed
by the Kat. The world has no business to say "The End" till he really becomes "Ek <b>THA </b>Tiger"!<br />
<br />
7]
My neighborhood uncle aged 87, pooh-poohed the whole issue saying his
horoscope says he is destined to live till 96 years and the horoscope
can't be wrong. That means we are safe at least till "The End" of 2021
!<br />
<br />
8] In 2010, the LIC sanctioned me a home loan for a 15
year tenure. That pushes "The End" a little farther than all other
reasons cited !<br />
<br />
9] India and Sri Lanka haven't played a bilateral ODI series for a long time now. If it has to be "The End", it has to be during one of those endless ODI series. So the wait is on !<br />
<br />
10] "The End" can't be here until India decide how "The End" of Afzal Guru will come; Dengue, heart attack or hanging !<br />
<br />
At "The End" of the day, "The End" of the days isn't here. Not so soon !<br />
<br />
So let us all relax and wait for the thing most worth waiting for: "Kochadaiyan" !<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiquRaHiFZS5isv_6zPHyMrXN5Ys3Rio4nKBKrGJJPYYqvkP2c9Y-zDjhWf6BPYTojx9T31bwDEVeOvZDuZWImk6SpKPq9YWTkIoOobVDJV9hMbvvLqunD9TPWKRHifr_tHYGdIf3ujeh5L/s1600/kochadaiyan-poster-364.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiquRaHiFZS5isv_6zPHyMrXN5Ys3Rio4nKBKrGJJPYYqvkP2c9Y-zDjhWf6BPYTojx9T31bwDEVeOvZDuZWImk6SpKPq9YWTkIoOobVDJV9hMbvvLqunD9TPWKRHifr_tHYGdIf3ujeh5L/s320/kochadaiyan-poster-364.jpg" width="319" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Not "The End" !!!</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Dr. Punned-it</div>
Govind Rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04086203944345086402noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474784219791768701.post-4480532328675017832012-11-09T13:42:00.000+05:302012-11-09T15:21:24.207+05:30Life is Beautiful but not for all !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
She laughed, she jumped, she hopped around and then she cried like a baby. I asked, "Why are you crying ?" She replied, "I fell and that is why I am weeping and now I want to see my Mom". She is here this moment and then cuddling her puppy the other moment. She emphatically declared that the lemon tea in my cup was not tea but was in fact "Drink". She even smelt the drink to confirm her verdict. Completely busy and all over the place; she is my new friend, Lakshmi.<br />
<br />
She asked me, "When are you leaving ?". I replied, "Tomorrow". "So where will you sleep ?" was her next question. "In your home" I replied. She shot back, "Oho, not possible. People like you can't sleep in my house. You have to sleep in a hotel". Quite wise for someone so young, right ?<br />
<br />
She announced, "My name is Lakshmi in school and that is my school". So I asked, "Which is that school ?". She replied, "Lakshmi Devi school". "So why are you here ?" I asked, "Why haven't you gone to school ?". Pat comes her reply in her own language, "My father has gone to bring money. He'll come back with lots and lots of money and then I'll join school after Deepawali".<br />
<br />
She rushes into her makeshift shelter at the construction site and comes back with a slate and chalk. She shows me, "A, B, C, D, E, F" and asks, "Do you know this is English ?". I reply, "Well, I know a little bit". She assures me, "Don't worry, when my Dad comes back with a lot of money, I'll give you a lot of money and then you too can learn English from Lakshmi Devi school. It's my school and this is my home" she spreads both her arms widely and gesturing towards the under construction building where I am sitting and typing now.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNeg5IBmsoRZnwYZdYJyapvmprevBK0BhU7i6dPzHSvnvdiwI7Mg-DLnKLIBZD-Q38rmAnEk8atB0m18-MxnM9gtYcquPhuf0XIDfwqRcav-zZtdHW7Z1gOwT-lOtTMmSHs7bkiWb5sPH/s1600/Photo0014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNeg5IBmsoRZnwYZdYJyapvmprevBK0BhU7i6dPzHSvnvdiwI7Mg-DLnKLIBZD-Q38rmAnEk8atB0m18-MxnM9gtYcquPhuf0XIDfwqRcav-zZtdHW7Z1gOwT-lOtTMmSHs7bkiWb5sPH/s320/Photo0014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This is Lakshmi, whose mother works at the construction site and father is an imaginary figure. He doesn't exist because he passed away when she was hardly 3 months old on a construction site. He fell down from the top of the building. Her mother doesn't know any other job and has to work in the same unsafe and in fact extremely dangerous construction sites where her husband lost his life.<br />
<br />
Lakshmi eats what is given to her by the shooting people. She hasn't seen the world outside. She is three and a half and should have been in school but is not there. Will she ever go to school ? But she has twinkle in her eyes and has enormous zeal for life that every kid is blessed with. But as she grows up, all the zeal will be replaced by disappointment, anger, dissent, and disillusionment. Life is beautiful but not for everyone !<br />
<br />
I am here in Hyderabad accompanying my teenage daughter who is pursuing her dream and passion of becoming an actor. Leaving behind my job and the air-conditioned comfort of my cozy cabin in our ICCU, I am sitting in the dusty construction site as escort to my daughter because my mother and wife couldn't go with her this time.<br />
<br />
I realized a few things. Becoming an actor is an extremely tough job and you need passion for that. I abhor the chaos. I also realized I can survive without air condition and my time-table. Life is much more intricate than the death-inspiring ICCU I am living in for almost 18 years now. It also gave me an opportunity to tell my daughter how fortunate she is.<br />
<br />
But most importantly I realized a bitter truth. There are millions of Lakshmis in India whose mothers or parents can provide them with some food, makeshift shelters and a lot of dreams. Just beautiful but completely false dreams and nothing more. Growing up in permanently changing thatches and tents, the childhood is lost in being mere time-pass for people like me.<br />
<br />
One person can perhaps make a small difference in the life of one Lakshmi or may be a few. But what happens to those million others ? I don't know ! Tomorrow I have to leave her behind and return to my fortress because that is the cruel reality. We can feel bad, we can blame the society, we can curse the governments and we can take stances. But finally we can do just a little bit to make life a little better.<br />
<br />
I believe we need to evolve a system where every little child is assured of his or her childhood, education, hygienic living, decent food and some respect and not just crumbs of food and vainglorious sympathy. We need to make a difference. Can we ? Or will we ?<br />
<br />
<br />
Dr. Punned-it</div>
Govind Rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04086203944345086402noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474784219791768701.post-82385790487328624032012-10-17T13:31:00.000+05:302012-10-17T13:34:26.843+05:30Have you ever been caught with your pants down ?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiFrUUi8wr3tDM0zPFSDQ7_MkyUhW0uhfhAT74IlOAErRjIVPiZYJajScQxGQE-b7ItMeT2Nwb0E_GqTIVsALHbpJhCwcyxXJYbhVYP69p2P5npLgSEK1hgq3hyphenhyphen5cePIlHHJ7PI64FkxHe/s1600/man-pants-down.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiFrUUi8wr3tDM0zPFSDQ7_MkyUhW0uhfhAT74IlOAErRjIVPiZYJajScQxGQE-b7ItMeT2Nwb0E_GqTIVsALHbpJhCwcyxXJYbhVYP69p2P5npLgSEK1hgq3hyphenhyphen5cePIlHHJ7PI64FkxHe/s320/man-pants-down.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Have you ever been caught with your pants down ?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">I have been !!!</span><br />
<br />
I was working in a small hospital in a place called Ponkunnam between
1996 and 1998. Early days in Ponkunnam were hilarious but nothing could
beat this !<br />
<br />
I had an urgency to go to the toilet when on a night-duty. I went to
the Duty-Doctor's resting room. I latched the room from inside as I
always did. Not wanting to get the bottoms of my pants wet, I removed my pants and
shorts inside the room and kept them on the bed. As I was walking
towards the bathroom, the bath room opened on me and there stood a cute
little nurse in front of me.<br />
<br />
Only saving grace for me was my tee-shirt was long enough to save my
'man-maryada' from being auctioned completely. The situation was like who
was more flustered, the girl or me !<br />
<br />
The situation
worsened when she couldn't open the door because I
had latched it so hard. Being on the shorter side, she was just not
able to unlatch it ! Me with the tee-shirt pulled as down as possible
was not even in a
position to pull my pants and put them on. Neither could I open the door
for her.<br />
<br />
I did the best possible thing in the given circumstances. I ordered her right back
into the bathroom and then got myself dressed and opened the door for
her and let her out and then let out a sigh !<br />
<br />
I never knew the Nurses used Doctor's resting room in that hospital.
That wicked little thing kept giving me crooked smiles throughout my
stay in Ponkunnam. But thankfully, she never went beyond that. She never told anyone else; perhaps !<br />
<br />
Post Script: Ever since, I always check if there is someone in the bathroom before I even close the door behind me !<br />
<br />
<br />
Dr. Punned-it</div>
Govind Rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04086203944345086402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474784219791768701.post-90462862046546217822012-10-15T12:36:00.002+05:302012-10-15T12:57:46.142+05:30So What is Your Attitude ?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>ATTITUDE</b>, that is what matters is what many people would like us to believe; especially youngsters. They give a long explanation about how "Hard Work", "Knowledge" and "Intelligence" don't become 100% when we add their numerical values of alphabets. But "Attitude" they say adds up to exactly 100. Some "Intelligence" "Knowledge" and "Hard work" has gone into this "Attitude" !<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbdOKLXJ6_kpqhTExA6rzaPTZDYVrel43jWeXWB2WnJxbHlEcWpaa8PuIMSFzYsn5MPSn88p1KW0p8ch4g_gxHOhFpgpQrJRVmlF425UWBoRExZs36VzVmmic_kEFterqF35ZEA6TMhHWu/s1600/Attitude-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbdOKLXJ6_kpqhTExA6rzaPTZDYVrel43jWeXWB2WnJxbHlEcWpaa8PuIMSFzYsn5MPSn88p1KW0p8ch4g_gxHOhFpgpQrJRVmlF425UWBoRExZs36VzVmmic_kEFterqF35ZEA6TMhHWu/s320/Attitude-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Click on the picture to magnify !</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
What is "Attitude" ? I see a lot of trolling on Facebook, flaunting "Attitude". Some say, "If you have problem with my attitude, that is your problem, not mine. Get yourself corrected". Some go further and say, "I don't have an attitude problem. It is the problem with people about how they look at me".<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0RnyScqO4aIn83KzCszk74PQ9KIUR-vnQ9kQcIXkl2TMzhwN97vK3TJSWyt3f2_ohDU2VHHC7IYhy7CG8_rRdSIwcPgqlwMqb2YmwUDZFaViFbRnZeWizpe5ZRqOsAj6KevBl1WOBWAaq/s1600/attitud-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0RnyScqO4aIn83KzCszk74PQ9KIUR-vnQ9kQcIXkl2TMzhwN97vK3TJSWyt3f2_ohDU2VHHC7IYhy7CG8_rRdSIwcPgqlwMqb2YmwUDZFaViFbRnZeWizpe5ZRqOsAj6KevBl1WOBWAaq/s320/attitud-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
So what is "Attitude" again ? Is it walking with a swagger with a<b> </b>couple of oranges tucked in the armpits ? Vivian Richards did that all his life. He murdered bowlers with that swagger. But his swagger didn't desert him in failure. Is it what Salman Khan flaunts in <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heIeqCxvvxE" target="_blank"><b>movie </b></a>after <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-gpaTjx6Jc&feature=related" target="_blank"><b>movie</b></a> after <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKArI7z8pvE&feature=fvwrel" target="_blank"><b>movie</b></a> ?<br />
<br />
Or is it what we see on a third of those Facebook profiles ? Youngsters with no qualification, no education, no physical attributes or anything significant to boast of, boast of "My Attitude". To me that is arrogance or simply obnoxious nature ! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-sldvF8vWQFQYMJKs8wjyXFFnYBjYQNg4WAYTAruWDqdtG6tY04iqy13MKMkshGGXYZgJ_JjRiBojNRJjGikxC0H7-a8e3-uw0yE1L-QoCaa1jrTJSNU1VGRSzPucIMv-AWV2IOqWfL-/s1600/attitud-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-sldvF8vWQFQYMJKs8wjyXFFnYBjYQNg4WAYTAruWDqdtG6tY04iqy13MKMkshGGXYZgJ_JjRiBojNRJjGikxC0H7-a8e3-uw0yE1L-QoCaa1jrTJSNU1VGRSzPucIMv-AWV2IOqWfL-/s320/attitud-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attitude_%28psychology%29" target="_blank"><b>Wikipedia</b></a> tells us that "Attitude" is an expression of favor or disfavor toward a person, place, thing, or event (the <b>attitude</b> object). Prominent psychologist Gordon Allport once described attitudes "the most distinctive and indispensable concept in contemporary social psychology.<br />
<br />
Wikipedia continues to say, "An attitude can be defined as a positive or negative evaluation of
people, objects, event, activities, ideas, or just about anything in
your environment, but there is debate about precise definitions". Whether attitudes are explicit (deliberately formed) versus
implicit (subconscious) has been a topic of considerable research.<br />
<br />
Without further quoting Wiki, I would like to add, "The definition people have given to attitude doesn't match what has been described in dictionaries". Well, some people might say, "We don't go by any dictionary meanings. We form our own meaning and that is our attitude". Blah !<br />
<br />
Attitude to me is what I have seen in some of these people. If a picture can speak a thousand words, I would like to do it with pictures ! To me...<br />
<br />
This is "<b>Attitude</b>"<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpF_uKNwsg34V3efr2qmgbrJYK2ELXczIthMF_ZyE08JbLpQcZI9L7koBZwtw_SHw3r2HASpq9NBuC7u_5IWiz31W7hqmdDWf1w-mjeOWIHpfqV46wCng3ucVWlfDM1HY84RITLCNgVRn3/s1600/attitud-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpF_uKNwsg34V3efr2qmgbrJYK2ELXczIthMF_ZyE08JbLpQcZI9L7koBZwtw_SHw3r2HASpq9NBuC7u_5IWiz31W7hqmdDWf1w-mjeOWIHpfqV46wCng3ucVWlfDM1HY84RITLCNgVRn3/s320/attitud-4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
And this is "<b>Attitude</b>"<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjaY6wDKmkjNLkOPN5jc6rA0eI5xCsgd6K9n8JBWCMFGuDy1SWmKubThrAeALW0yEWMjTxvmJ4M-_VpTfkPJabEceDCyBeFJD7ZYHPRmQ8yQvt1neLq4fDt8Rjzps7u0S0KJqTvp-bbyvj/s1600/attitud-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjaY6wDKmkjNLkOPN5jc6rA0eI5xCsgd6K9n8JBWCMFGuDy1SWmKubThrAeALW0yEWMjTxvmJ4M-_VpTfkPJabEceDCyBeFJD7ZYHPRmQ8yQvt1neLq4fDt8Rjzps7u0S0KJqTvp-bbyvj/s320/attitud-5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
And then this is "<b>Attitude</b>"<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_g6Y6ZgRjDfg2NMqcSmp96cwojxo33gxfBpmVYqxXvRieI8Az4fdn6L59L8LEKoqeVX2lTexWMYygXao6KxaIzHov7qA9GARzE7_YQbTe-JePWqU7mEDTyvzEJMVm1vyEkusbBIlTkYiU/s1600/attitud-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_g6Y6ZgRjDfg2NMqcSmp96cwojxo33gxfBpmVYqxXvRieI8Az4fdn6L59L8LEKoqeVX2lTexWMYygXao6KxaIzHov7qA9GARzE7_YQbTe-JePWqU7mEDTyvzEJMVm1vyEkusbBIlTkYiU/s320/attitud-6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Sincerely, I hope to imbibe "Attitude" from these people !<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Dr. Punned-it</div>
Govind Rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04086203944345086402noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474784219791768701.post-64434911899026613362012-09-09T22:43:00.001+05:302013-10-28T14:39:22.158+05:30My Encounters with Freedom of Speech !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of my most enduring fears has been of speeches; the long winded speeches. Right from the school days, I have suffered speeches and outlived them only because of my ability to switch off when I wanted to. On Independence day, on Republic day, on Annual Day, on Gandhi Jayanthi and then on any day when someone important kicked the bucket, we had buckets full of talk. And I used to wonder, "Are we born to suffer this ?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the earliest speeches I remember was when I was in first standard. We didn't have kindergarten in those days and we were educated in vernacular medium. The Head Master made the presidential address on the Independence day and told us all about how India became Independent thanks to the freedom struggle and the sacrifices of Gandhiji and others. I realized then and there the meaning of "Freedom of Speech" ! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ever since I have heard the same speech from different people over the years in different places in different languages with only the number changing. It was 29th Independence day during the first speech and it was 66th when we celebrated in our hospital on 15 August 2012.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not all of them were insufferable and some of them have been utterly hilarious, albeit unintentionally. There are many of those speeches and lectures I have already shared on this blog and on Facebook. I am not planning to repeat them like the Independence day speeches.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During one of the many functions 'celebrated' in our hospital, we had our Secretary making a 'grand' speech as was his wont. Talking about a senior Physician working with our hospital for over 25 years, he said, "Dr. P has been hardly working in our hospital for 28 years". I could see the smirk on the face of those who understood the gaffe. Knowing his not so warm equation with the Physician, some of them wondered, if he really meant what he said !</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thinking in own language and translating it to English can cause hilarious situations. Especially so when one has a limited command over English. A small part of a businessman's speech went like this: "We all today here added sitting to our President Sir's untimely death condemn. He was 88 years old but sudden died. I last week him saw and I think not look like dead. My hearty condoles to his family, wife, childrens, grand childrens and all family members. He was a great man. He for many many people work doing. All workers his children like..."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An old story goes like this. Field Marshal Kariyappa was fond of speaking in Hindi but his command over the language was at best inadequate. He was once proceeding to address an Independence day gathering somewhere in Hindi heartland. He asked his Hindi speaking friend, "What is the word you use for Free in Hindi ?". Without realizing the context, the friend said, "Muft". And lo, the General's [at that time] speech went thus, "Gandhiji aur Nehruji ke tyaag ke kaaran aaj hum sab MUFT ho gaye" !</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I too have given some speeches. Though I too have "Freedom of Speech", I was forced to exercise it on most occasions. My first speech was while I was in seventh standard. It was for the Republic day celebrations at school. Even in those days, I always believed mugging up was a girly thing and hated preparing written speeches and delivering them and always depended on extempore speaking. It seldom won me prizes or awards but I never changed and remain the same clumsy and unorganized speaker to date.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few years ago, our hospital all of a sudden decided to celebrate New Year and a circular was sent to all Doctors and staff to attend the function. The problem is all the Management people belong to the business class. They arrange functions late in the evening and enjoy celebrating their "Freedom of speech" at our cost. This is a form of recreation and thrill for them. But for those who live every day of their life in the hospital, we just want to get out of the place once the duty hours are over. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had a long session with everyone lecturing us about how we should work to take the fame of the hospital to another level in the new year. Finally some people wanted 'me' to talk too. Over two hours past my regular time, I was tired, hungry and seething. I really needed to punch !</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I went on stage and said, "Honestly I feel nothing changed from yesterday to today except the calender. We are the same old people one day older; some wise and some otherwise. Off late, I believe we are having a lot of new celebrations, which were not even heard of a few years ago. All these are a fad promoted by gifts and cards manufacturers and nothing more than that. I sincerely hope we will not be celebrating Valentine's day next month. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I would rather continue to work than waste time on more and more such functions.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But anyway, since I have to say this, Happy New Year to everyone. Thanks !". Nobody ever has invited me to talk !</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But that was an inside matter of our hospital. People outside didn't know my dislike for speeches. One organization </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">invited</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> me as a chief guest for a </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">function</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> because they </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">thought</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I must be a popular figure. They perhaps arrived at this conclusion by looking at my friends list on Facebook. Once there, I told the organizers, "Don't even bother to invite me to speak. I will inaugurate the function and then will sit in a corner". </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I lit the lamp with the other guests and took a corner seat on the dais. All went on fine till the 'dignitaries on the dais' took over with the hammering business. It was a marathon 155 minutes before the half a dozen wise men finished. It was almost 1:45 PM and I was almost fainting. Then someone announced in Malayalam, "Now we invite today's Chief guest Dr. Govind Raj Shenoy to come and and say two words. He doesn't like to talk much but we sincerely request Dr. Shenoy to say just two words".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had no choice now. I almost swaggered to the mike and stood before the crowd of mostly young, bored, tired, hungry and angry people. I could see the horror on their faces as I adjusted the mike to my height because my predecessor was almost 7 feet tall. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And then I said those 'two words</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">': "</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><b>ഊണ് </b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><b>കഴിക്കാം</b>" which means "<b>Let's Eat"</b> [Lunch] and walked back to my seat. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">I have no idea how the organizers must have felt but I could hear the entire crowd burst out in laughter and applause. That to date is the greatest applause I have </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">received</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"> !</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dr. Punned-it</span></div>
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Govind Rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04086203944345086402noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474784219791768701.post-75886534994490147722012-08-23T23:10:00.001+05:302012-08-23T23:10:13.917+05:302012 to 1975: Back to the Future !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A Declaration of State of Emergency !</span></td></tr>
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Friends, Indians and Countrymen,<br />
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Let me take this opportunity to welcome you all to the new India, the India of our dreams; the dreams of my family and my party. It is my privilege as well as my right to do this honor. My beloved mother-in-law did this 37 years ago and today, I stand before the country at this momentous moment to make this declaration.<br />
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It is with utmost sincerity, honesty, humility and integrity that the Government of India has decided to clamp a state of emergency with immediate effect. People have the rights to ask the reasons. But since the emergency has already been clamped, the rights have been suspended with retrospective effect and hence, no questions will be entertained. Our esteemed friend, the Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamta Bannerjee will enlighten people on this. People interested can ask her the "Questions" !<br />
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Even though the Government or I myself are not bound to give any reasons for this act, I am magnanimously volunteering to put the facts before the people. The situation demanded that the country be brought under strict laws to avoid further deterioration in law and order. Here I am enumerating some of the reasons for this drastic yet absolutely necessary measure.<br />
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1] Corruption: The BJP government of Karnataka had become so corrupt, it had crossed all limits of decency and we had no other choice but enforce emergency. Mr. H. R. Bharadhwaj will vouch for this.<br />
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2] Communal violence: Large scale communal violence has taken place in Assam due to continued presence of Narendra Modi, the Merchant of Death as Chief Minister of Gujarat. If he is not removed from public life, the minority communities will never be able to live in peace.<br />
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3] Social Nuisance Sites: Twitter, Facebook and such sites have caused enormous damage to the credibility of the Government and thus the country and thus my family. Keeping in mind the dignity of my family, these sites need to be curtailed. Henceforth, all sites will be monitored from the office of Mr. Kapil Sibal and all posts will be allowed or disallowed only after passing through security check.<br />
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4] Text Messages: Have caused large scale violence and they are extensively used to ridicule Mr. Manmohan Singh, our government and my family. This is not acceptable in a civil society. We need to teach civility to this country and hence there will be a clamp on SMS packs. Now a person can send 1 SMS per month from one phone after taking permission from Mr. Sushil Kumar Shinde the Home Minister.<br />
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5] Black money: So called activists have created bad name to the country by talking too much about black money. Our Government is determined to bring back all the black money stashed in Swiss banks but this process will take time. We need more proof and concrete proof. As soon as we get enough proof, we'll proceed with next level of action and will form a 15 member committee to probe the matter further. The committee will be given 15 years term to report to the Prime Minister with it's findings.<br />
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6] Price rise: Failed monsoon, drought like situation, spiraling crude oil prices and communal policies of Narendra Modi are responsible for the price rise. The people of India need to tighten their belts, practice frugal living like my son Rahul Gandhi does and then defeat the nefarious designs of our opponents.<br />
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7] Terrorism: My son and future Prime Minister of India Rahul Gandhi has said this before that the greatest threat to India is not the Pakistan sponsored terror but the saffron terror of the RSS and BJP pariwar. Hence all these entities will be banned and people with remotest allegiance to these organizations will be put behind the bars. Once this is done, minorities in India and Pakistan and the world over will feel secure and all terror will cease to haunt India.<br />
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There are hundreds of reasons to enforce emergency. Even though we don't have to explain, we have tried to take the people of India into confidence. The emergency will be in effect for next 12 months and can be extended beyond depending upon situations prevailing.<br />
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I hope the people of India will volunteer to abide by the emergency in the best of the interest of the country. We might not be able to generate enough space in our jails after putting all dissenters behind the bars. If need be, we'll release old insignificant convicts like Afzal Guru and Ajmal Kasab so that more and more communal and anti-national people can be jailed.<br />
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Hoping for the prosperity and progress of my party, my family and my government which alone will ensure progress and prosperity of the country.<br />
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Sincerely.<br />
<br />
<br />
Sonia Gandhi<br />
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Dr. Punned-it</div>
Govind Rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04086203944345086402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474784219791768701.post-55148252464589649712012-08-15T22:42:00.000+05:302012-08-15T22:42:32.285+05:30Happy Independence Day ?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">India is celebrating one more Independence day buoyed up by the best ever medal haul at the just concluded London Olympics. Facebook, Twitter and all other social networking sites are full of Independence day. Even the Google has acknowledged the importance of 15 August.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaGuFYue4t87TZYbcfXFUsgWbnCyukvcm5RjU4O8iXFhE9tlTvMXyeVnipG0NTd_ahr3GMCz40IlrYfvknBjaovdY0ZKCtuNsF8dqDtRnXuVI1RoGSM35gFSWkKlvSWbUTpEmlq3-TPwpW/s1600/india12-hp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaGuFYue4t87TZYbcfXFUsgWbnCyukvcm5RjU4O8iXFhE9tlTvMXyeVnipG0NTd_ahr3GMCz40IlrYfvknBjaovdY0ZKCtuNsF8dqDtRnXuVI1RoGSM35gFSWkKlvSWbUTpEmlq3-TPwpW/s400/india12-hp.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But what are we celebrating ? Let us look at the situation prevailing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">15 August: Most of us remember India's National Song "Vande Maataram" on this "One Day Maatram" !</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">People are busy exhorting countrymen and women to "Be Indian and buy Indian" from their Chinese made smartphones or American made iPhones.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is a drought-like situation in 3/4 of the country and the other quarter is flooded. Most states are already suffering severe shortage of water and electricity.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A large part of India was powerless for over 8 hours and the Power Minister gets promoted to Home portfolio.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our Prime Minister doesn't open his mouth and the Cricket Chief of Selectors can't shut his.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our loved and celebrated musicians and doyens of Cinema are in a hurry taking off heavenwards and the Netas appear to be immortal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One man is obsessed with Jan Lokpal and entire youth is busy with Poke-pal on Facebook.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Price rice is not an issue anymore. Indians seem to have resigned to their fate. We are happy to trust in Karma and carry on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our Politicians are busy making money and keeping people divided. Social activitists and Yoga Gurus are busy fasting and soft-pedaling their Political ambitions. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our Cricket players are busy playing either IPL or Sri Lanka and Tennis Superstars are busy fighting each other.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is an overdrive of patriotism on display everywhere in public and on television and then the people evade taxes by hook or crook.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then what are we celebrating ? Do we have anything to celebrate at all ?</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibCuIlwzkFOoFgvlFTqCddxVSvoUVFMvbfhiWT3AEFq6-KlRWnuIzZoNkYeaXnmdkQOm2MT6nUDorERQQHYEmRehXaYqmyUy8ra0lfhH5xfTnh_mn-xhHm5xU1RrUyn_Q1T_ixCZr_B9e4/s1600/independence-day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibCuIlwzkFOoFgvlFTqCddxVSvoUVFMvbfhiWT3AEFq6-KlRWnuIzZoNkYeaXnmdkQOm2MT6nUDorERQQHYEmRehXaYqmyUy8ra0lfhH5xfTnh_mn-xhHm5xU1RrUyn_Q1T_ixCZr_B9e4/s320/independence-day.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">What are we Celebrating ?</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, Salman Khan has released yet another movie that will break 100 Crore barrier mark within second weekend, even though he might end up in a jail for a wildlife law violation committed in the previous millennium.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sachin Tendulkar scored his 100th century. So what if India couldn't make it to Asia Cup Finals ? We have the record, right ?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">People are buying luxury cars and decking up their brides with tonnes of gold. So what if we couldn't win a single yellow metal at London. We are happy with what we have and can always blame our Politicians for everything that is wrong. We actually develop amnesia and become oblivious to the fact that it is we who elect these 'Leaders' by voting or not voting.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What if the common man can't afford a square meal ? He can now talk on mobile phones of fancied shapes thanks to "<b><a href="http://govindrajsblog.blogspot.in/2012/08/how-har-haath-me-mobile-scheme-was-born.html" target="_blank">Har Haath Me Mobile</a></b>" scheme. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">38% of Doctors and 34% Engineers in America are Indians. It makes no difference to us that we don't have Doctors in our Primary Health Centers and Engineers are actually enriching foreign countries and hoping the rupee falls further down because their hard earned Dollar becomes more precious in India.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Indian origin Sunita Williams unfurled Indian flag in space. No issues she was sent there by USA.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sherylyn Chopra brought laurels to India by becoming the first Indian to feature on the "Playboy". She also made a solemn declaration that she didn't sleep with the Playboy boss.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So much happening for the country and hence there should be no need for gloom to loom. So let us cheer up and say cheers and open the cork. Let the spirit flow !</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrSz1jIcc7KIMLiR7i7wnrULpq_6bg66gK8DMGdsLPGEc92gVH5rumjzDXYYWxaWxIKNqDni8StiL0ohryvnA-iogG5zLSFQcVXH6e9NCdqev-z6fSRx4dFZxerqvszS_AJ5phcmPed5Xa/s1600/Indians+drinking+(750x563).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrSz1jIcc7KIMLiR7i7wnrULpq_6bg66gK8DMGdsLPGEc92gVH5rumjzDXYYWxaWxIKNqDni8StiL0ohryvnA-iogG5zLSFQcVXH6e9NCdqev-z6fSRx4dFZxerqvszS_AJ5phcmPed5Xa/s320/Indians+drinking+(750x563).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Let's Celebrate our Freedom and Independence !</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dr. Punned-it</span></div>
Govind Rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04086203944345086402noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474784219791768701.post-40922356921707341612012-08-11T22:55:00.000+05:302012-08-12T00:01:38.968+05:30Didi's Revolution: Questionless Utopia in Bengal !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
After banning cartoons and arresting a cartoonist, asking questions too has become an offense in West Bengal now. Anyone who raises a question can be arrested and can be branded Maoist and put behind the bars. The 'Unquestionable' Supremo of Bengal, Didi has shown "Red Card" to Questions !<br />
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People are outraged and many outside the state are protesting. So what are the consequences ?<a href="http://www.indianexpress.com/news/man-arrested-for-daring-to-question-mamata-banerjee/987058/" target="_blank"><b> After what happened in Mamta Banerjee's fiefdom West Bengal on 8 August 2012</b></a>, the kids of Bengal are the happiest lot. How and Why ? Read on...<br />
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Didi's next steps ought to be...<br />
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<b>1] Ban Mahabharat</b>: There is a nosy "Yaksha" asking too many questions to Yudhistira in this book. That is not acceptable. So this epic must be banned or the chapter "Yaksha Prashna" must be censored out. The Ministry of Home affairs has sent a notice to the author Veda Vyasa to act immediately on this matter of face the music.<br />
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<b>2] Ban on Interviews</b>: There will be no interviews in any schools, offices, campus selections and on news channels. They involve asking questions and this sinister activity can't be allowed to happen in Didi's land.<br />
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<b>3] Ban on KBC and all it's versions</b>: Bachchan's "Kaun Banega Crorepati" will not be aired in West Bengal because Big B is always asking questions and that is not acceptable. All vernacular versions and other reality shows involving the questionable act of asking questions stand banned indefinitely.<br />
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<b>4] No Question Hour</b>: There henceforth will be no "Question Hour" in the West Bengal assembly. That hour will be devoted to finding out who all are Maoists and thus anti-people.<br />
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<b>5] Ban on appealing</b>: Bowlers henceforth can't appeal for the wicket of a batsman in Cricket matches to be played in Bengal, especially Eden Gardens. The Third Umpire referral too stands banned. The Umpire can at his own discretion, declare a batsman out. But Billy Bowden will not be allowed to Umpire in Bengal because when he raises the crooked finger, it looks like a "Question Mark" and that is blasphemous.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskzyescH_UBAzmwbirjhno3-FuNQopaI7bsVgB_JLZajlbTrUKuboI25qPUIQHEGdk18VVz6oPs1mTHL7b5ewOhVJ2vRl1N0sDQR3WY7KooHSBzfzn1q1-MweAPyN2dhs76nWpmr1uOpF/s1600/Bowden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskzyescH_UBAzmwbirjhno3-FuNQopaI7bsVgB_JLZajlbTrUKuboI25qPUIQHEGdk18VVz6oPs1mTHL7b5ewOhVJ2vRl1N0sDQR3WY7KooHSBzfzn1q1-MweAPyN2dhs76nWpmr1uOpF/s320/Bowden.jpg" width="315" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Question Mark over Bowden's Action !</b></span></td></tr>
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<b>6] Court Proceedings to change</b>: No questions will be allowed in Courts in Bengal. Both side lawyers can present their facts before the judge and then the witnesses will be allowed to depose before the court what they know. But questions will not be entertained.<br />
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<b>7] '<span style="font-size: large;">?</span>' Button to be removed</b>: All keyboards in Bengal will have the <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">'</span>?</span>' button removed. An alternative has to be arranged for the '<span style="font-size: large;">/</span>' button and the matter is under discussion. <br />
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But why should kids be happy with all this ? Sorry for the question, but I am writing this sitting safely in God's Own Country. So here is the answer...<br />
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<b>8] Say NO to Exams</b>: There will be no more examinations in Bengal. Exams involve questions and question papers. Since that is unlawful, the state education board has suspended exams with immediate effect. Henceforth children will have to just go and sign on the registry. They will be handed over "Answer Papers". All they have to do is to write "I am not a Maoist" on the answer paper and sign it or leave thumb imprint on the paper.<br />
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They can write whatever they want as long as they don't ask questions. The results of the exams will be decided by the level of Maoism in the writings. Lower the level of Maoism, higher the grades. Any kid whose writing betrays more than 30% Maoism will automatically fail. <br />
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Thus West Bengal will become the first place in the world where there will be no "Questions" but only answers. What a wonderful state for the kids, am I right or am I right ?<br />
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Oops, sorry for the question !<br />
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Dr. Punned-it</div>
Govind Rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04086203944345086402noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474784219791768701.post-30881771048140048572012-08-10T22:56:00.001+05:302012-08-11T18:36:18.292+05:30How "Har Haath Me Mobile" Scheme was born ?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A high level meeting in the Capital city of India in the first week of August 2012. Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Robert Gandhi nee Vadra, Manmohan Singh, Chidambaram, Sharad Pawar, Mamta Banerjee, Digvijay Singh, Sushil Kumar Shinde and some more people have gathered in the plush air-conditioned hall. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The subject: How to conquer 2014 and capture <b>Power </b>? Here are the excerpts of the meeting. Since it was a long meeting, we bring you only the highlights.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Sonia Gandhi</b>: We all know how my family has sacrificed for the sake of this country and how we continue to sacrifice for the people of this country. So we expect the "Aam aadmi" to understand what we are doing for them and then elect us again without having to be at the mercy of the left alliance. We want to continue with our sacrifices for the country.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqvY1wl7Lvni3MY14zyKY_spTGNNS6LDaFK4n_Yjle9kfeikG_KzXGX_doHyrh0y9IWIqiIru-8xVPIDZh1aIip_IvL7KGPueis3BY5lqH0tso2oR96zebN2xOpbtbogkm20AYobO-7TSm/s1600/common-man.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqvY1wl7Lvni3MY14zyKY_spTGNNS6LDaFK4n_Yjle9kfeikG_KzXGX_doHyrh0y9IWIqiIru-8xVPIDZh1aIip_IvL7KGPueis3BY5lqH0tso2oR96zebN2xOpbtbogkm20AYobO-7TSm/s320/common-man.jpg" width="269" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A Meeting for the Aam Aadmi</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Sushil Kumar Shinde</b>: Yes Madam, we all know the importance of your family. Earlier it was India is Indira and Indira is India. Today it is Sonia is Sonia and Sonia is Sonia. That is why I am ready to kill if you order.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Robert Gandhi</b>: We need people like you Shinde uncle. There are a lot of people who are talking badly about me, my family and my hard earned billions. They definitely need to be killed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Chidambaram</b>: But Robert Sirji, we can't afford to kill people now. We might lose votes. We are here to consolidate our vote banks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Priyanka Gandhi</b>: Robert, shut up for now. This is NOT about your family but MY family. Almost all of your family are either dead or have committed suicide. Understand ?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Rahul Gandhi</b>: Like my sister's two families, there are two kind of families in India. Those who can afford to give me food in their huts and those who can't afford to feed me even one meal. We definitely need to do something about it but I don't know what it is.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2fPbrNvds6F7UKKUoMfWbA4oRZQX4gKISnLuEU4Rcmegokg8oMtzD1lIARw0DHtuK8f_Dz_6Yu98CbUL2f8ZtV9Z6magUhcwH464X17OBytsqfRQoLri_O0LCSy4p9iSTfSb6lM0EYVHm/s1600/HUNGER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2fPbrNvds6F7UKKUoMfWbA4oRZQX4gKISnLuEU4Rcmegokg8oMtzD1lIARw0DHtuK8f_Dz_6Yu98CbUL2f8ZtV9Z6magUhcwH464X17OBytsqfRQoLri_O0LCSy4p9iSTfSb6lM0EYVHm/s320/HUNGER.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">What a shame, These people can't even feed Rahul Gandhi !</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Sharad Pawar</b>: We can solve that easily. We can hold IPL twice every year and with the revenue, we can sanction allowances to Rahul to carry his own food wherever he goes. It is dangerous to eat from those huts. We all know all their food is adulterated. So you better carry your own food and eat safely.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Mamta Banerjee</b>: There are women who have to get down into deep wells and fetch water. The drought like situation has made life miserable for people. Vegetable prices are soaring and "Aam Aadmi" is struggling to make ends meet.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLon2UBVxSbfVwqtu401hcEBsAH2UJHMfQCOWdmkQXA8JOmi34s9onKeTekH3n6BykU3hsZ1my4o2l4TfH9W23lkMIr5tXFztv-BDCPZALXSMOPwIckITmH6R3vbjt7Y-4jUlc4f8g8lx/s1600/water+woes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLon2UBVxSbfVwqtu401hcEBsAH2UJHMfQCOWdmkQXA8JOmi34s9onKeTekH3n6BykU3hsZ1my4o2l4TfH9W23lkMIr5tXFztv-BDCPZALXSMOPwIckITmH6R3vbjt7Y-4jUlc4f8g8lx/s320/water+woes.jpg" width="238" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Water-less World !</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Sharad Pawar</b>: That is not such a big problem. We'll hold another India - Sri Lanka 7 match ODI series. We can utilize the money to import drinking water for the people. They can also drink the finely brewed wine from my vineyards. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Rahul Gandhi</b>: We must have a reservation for minorities in the drinking water. We'll reserve 18% of the drinking water for minorities and nobody should be allowed to drink water during fasting hours of Ramzan.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Mamta Banerjee</b>: But we don't have any water now to reserve...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Digvijay Singh</b>: Water is there or not is not the question now. Since Rahul Baba has told, we MUST reserve 18% water for minorities. Rahul Baba MUST take lead role in the government.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Kapil Sibal</b>: We also had this power problem...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Sharad Pawar</b>: [Thumping the table] What was that ? I just wanted to be No. 2 in the government. You can't call that a problem. It is my birth right !</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Chidambaram</b>: Oh, Pawar-ji it was about power, I mean the northern grid failure and not about you. People demanded someone must be held accountable for the power failure.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Sonia Gandhi</b>: Yes, I definitely said someone must be held responsible for that. People will ask questions. So I told Manmohan-ji to send the Power Minister to Home. He misunderstood and sent him to Home Ministry.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Sushil Kumar Shinde</b>: Don't be so cruel Madam. I am a loyal soldier and servant of your family. I am at home in Home ministry. <i>Maine aap ka namak khaaya hai </i>!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Sonia Gandhi</b>: [Whispers to Shinde]: I know Shinde-ji. That is why I did this. I just wanted MMS to be blamed if people ask questions !</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Mamta Banerjee</b>: We have been talking so long and so many things. But we haven't arrived at a consensus as to how will we capture 2014. How will we manage to face the "Aam Aadmi" during elections ?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Manmohan Singh</b> [Opening his mouth for the first time]: May I say something Madam ?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Sonia Gandhi</b> nods and says: Well, what is it ? We have no time. Robert has to go to gym and Priyanka has to go to the beauty parlor. And poor Rahul needs to catch up with his girlfriend. So tell it quickly...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Manmohan Singh</b>: I have been Prime Minister for over 8 years now. But I have never known what is power. I have never even managed to open my mouth, leave alone talking. People keep ridiculing me about this. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You all must realize how empowered I feel right now, when I am allowed to talk by Madam. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I think the only way to make people feel we have empowered them is by allowing them to talk. Instead of talking about our governance and policies, let them talk over the mobile phones instead. This will keep them busy sending missed calls between themselves. So how about giving mobile phones to the people below the poverty line ?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everyone agreed in a chorus about this landmark and revolutionary idea. This is how the "Rajiv Gandhi Har Haath Me Mobile" scheme worth Rs. 7000 Crores was born. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dr. Punned-it</span></div>
Govind Rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04086203944345086402noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474784219791768701.post-63730620370408018252012-06-26T15:13:00.001+05:302012-06-26T15:16:19.771+05:30Buy Two Get Two Free : Confessions of a Bike-o-phobic !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I couldn't care much for what my wife thought of my firm "<b>No</b>" to her demand to buy a 'Scooty' for her. I just told her, "You are the only wife I have and I need you in one piece". She didn't like it one bit but had no choice. Knowing <a href="http://govindrajsblog.blogspot.in/2010/09/mr-lazy-bum-and-ms-saving-grace.html" target="_blank"><b>her fetish for freebies</b></a>, I offered in return, "You are asking for a two-wheeler. I offer you a 100% extra on that and we'll buy a two-wheeler with four-wheels for you. Don't you think that is a better offer ? Buy two and get two free !"<br />
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"Very funny" she retorted, "Keep all four for yourself. I don't need that. I will continue to toil on those merciless buses". I made my next move of buying a Scooty with those additional small wheels. She blunted my offer with, "I am not asking for an auto rickshaw. I can manage as I am now. Don't bother".<br />
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Well, next morning I was not woken up but was rather jolted thanks to my 'sense of humor'. Let me confess, "I must be the 'only husband' on earth whose wife has a two-wheeler driving license but I don't". She has both car and two-wheeler driving license but can't drive or ride.<br />
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My dislike for the two-wheelers wasn't congenital, hereditary or anything like that. Very early in life, I was extremely fond of my Raleigh bicycle and used to be a terror on two wheels with my speed and unruly cycling. Once into teens, I too was enamored by the bikes of those days. The Ind-Suzuki Vishnuvardhan rode in the Kannada movie "Onde Guri" was a dream, not only for me but to most of the youth those days.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizaiVpI5GcBT6ri8vJDYefSPuCa741TFLJXKREOPOMbfHUbQUQ5K00OzkX0p-jm_Y5t4RdywUPG-_AwC4LDY6nFugNlj40Bkltq1HEBPb3-_JO5Nlv7RotY-yFYzkcGcz-3KMXz0BkqTNV/s1600/Ind-Suzuki.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizaiVpI5GcBT6ri8vJDYefSPuCa741TFLJXKREOPOMbfHUbQUQ5K00OzkX0p-jm_Y5t4RdywUPG-_AwC4LDY6nFugNlj40Bkltq1HEBPb3-_JO5Nlv7RotY-yFYzkcGcz-3KMXz0BkqTNV/s400/Ind-Suzuki.jpg" width="303" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Bike we were in awe of !</b></span></td></tr>
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Fortunately or unfortunately, I couldn't afford bikes when I liked them. Today, when I can afford a few of them, I am pathologically scared of them. Some accidents in close circles are perhaps the main reason for my bike-phobia. It only worsened of late when two boys I've known for many years were lost forever due to bike accidents.<br />
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Classmate Sunitha Jain's Luna was the only two-wheeler I managed to ride during my college days. I was quite proficient with car driving when a cousin of mine suggested I 'must' learn bike-riding. Even though I had reservations, I agreed and went for my bike-riding lessons with him.<br />
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How did my dislike for bikes originate ? Very simple, the bikes come with a 'hand operated clutch' and what you press with your right foot is 'not' the accelerator. So when my cousin said, "Release the clutch slowly and give accelerator", I did what I do with my car. But the engine just died down with a whimper. My cousin said, "Not that, not that one, you have to turn the accelerator in your right hand.<br />
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So I released the clutch and turned on the accelerator. The damned thing began to dance like a rodeo bull because I was still pressing my right pedal inadvertently. Before we knew, both of us were on the ground with the bull, I mean the bike jamming both of us underneath in a messy tangle of legs, handle bar and hands. Luckily we weren't much hurt.<br />
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We pulled ourselves out of the tangle and mounted the bull again. This time I decided to be more meticulous and kept my right leg off the pedal and gradually did what I was supposed to do. Now it was a sudden take off and my cousin was down on his back and the bike was now celebrating his fall like a horse standing on his hind legs with the front wheel in the air and I was holding on dearly with both feet in the air. And then I was down again.<br />
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I understood one thing, this entity called bike had a mind of its own. In fact, it was not 'it'. It had to be 'Her' because only a 'she' is capable of such vindictiveness and tantrums. I was convinced about that. She had decided from the word go that, "I'm not going to allow this idiot to ride me at any cost". She knew I didn't like her at all. Though my cousin really loved her, he had to face her wrath because he did the unpardonable act of making a moron mount her.<br />
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My cousin recovered back to his feet and declared, "Govindu, you may be a Doctor but you are not up to it, when it comes to bikes. I don't want to test my luck a third time. So my advise is, you never ever try a bike again. You're simply good for nothing". Most people would have taken this as an insult or as a challenge and tried harder. But I loved my cousin too much and didn't want to risk his life for a third time and thus ended my tryst with bike-riding !<br />
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So why and how did my dislike and fear turn into hatred for two-wheelers ? Just look at the picture. It is self explanatory !<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyRw17yWEwFLGs9z3J2D3R6-nqhYodYQz-0a21q1HuuweCC314p4z7ZMNLwj8B6RhzHhE7Jrh_UaLesNU0dAOc1UmrPApyLnxUll5PLkvU5JzzXzwT-c49oKHRmUJfW-K18prBiQe-lAi_/s1600/2wheel+menace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyRw17yWEwFLGs9z3J2D3R6-nqhYodYQz-0a21q1HuuweCC314p4z7ZMNLwj8B6RhzHhE7Jrh_UaLesNU0dAOc1UmrPApyLnxUll5PLkvU5JzzXzwT-c49oKHRmUJfW-K18prBiQe-lAi_/s400/2wheel+menace.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>A world infested with bikes !</b></span></td></tr>
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The bikes crisscross, overtake you from right, left and from any possible angle. They overtake from left and immediately cut to right before you. They jam both sides of the road when there is a queue. After doing all this, they park between two perfectly placed cars and then some of them on both sides so that not a single car will be able to budge from their position. Try moving those handle-bar locked monsters from the crevice between two cars and then people will realize why I hate bikes so much !<br />
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Most bikers park their nuisance machines wherever they feel like and leave without a bother about how much bother they are causing for others. Often if someone is standing with his legs apart in stand at ease posture, he might see bikes parked between the parted legs before he could realize. Often, we can see a bike parked strategically in a car park, eating into a space that could have easily hosted two cars.<br />
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The rudeness, rashness and brashness of the bike riders has to be experienced to be believed. Many a bikers believe 'helmet' is worn to avoid fines. Trying to overtake from a cleft on the left side is routine for the mean machines. If by chance they bump into your car, be ready to face choicest of abuses and even physical violence. The feeling of immortality associated with youth makes them behave thus and sometimes leading to doom.<br />
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One thing about these bikes is most of them run for 5 - 6 days with a table spoon of petrol. Like the remarkable cockroach, they can squeeze into any crevice, survive any traffic jam and can find a place to park inside a ladies handbag if necessary. Some youngsters are married to the bike and some even go to the loo on it.<br />
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Girls and two-wheelers is definitely a deadly combination. As it is, they have smaller frontal lobes in the brain and mostly have extremely ordinary driving skills. Give them the unpredictable little mischief makers and what we have is utter chaos on roads. The ladies scooter too has a mind of own. It never agrees with the rider and both of them always go their own way. Where it all ends depends upon the cosmic forces and of course the net result of the two opposite forces.<br />
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An average girl will be concerned about her jeans / salwar / saree, makeup, hair and of course mobile while riding a scooter. While boys have rear-view mirrors that adjust themselves in the direction of girls, a girl's rear-view mirror is built to make sure she won't miss seeing herself while riding.<br />
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But the best thing about a girl's two-wheeler is the indicator. Whatever we do, the indicator will show left when the girl turns right and right when she wants to go straight. So much so, some companies have initiated steps to install different set of indicators designed for girls. These smart indicators will start working only after the girl has made up her mind as to which way she wants to turn or if she wants to turn at all.<br />
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Well, I've wandered too far from my original plan of confessing about my bike-phobia. Let me be pardoned for that. I think I've confessed enough to last for a couple of weeks. So let me conclude by saying, "I don't hate bikes, the bikes hate me. I'm just scared of them like I'm scared of girls. I don't understand either of them. Not my fault !"<br />
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Dr. Punned-it</div>Govind Rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04086203944345086402noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474784219791768701.post-11188348604634382842012-06-21T15:04:00.001+05:302012-10-18T23:28:25.946+05:30Baba, Gobi Manchurian and Thanda Pani : मेरा भारत महान !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Often I think
India isn't all about "<b>Unity in diversity</b>" as much as it is about "<b>Diversity in Unity</b>".
It is only the borders and the Cricket team that keep us together. Regions, religions, zones, castes, sub-castes, reservations and then languages; we have too many things to keep us divided. And I don't even have to mention Paes, Bhoopati and our politicians.<br />
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Indian languages are all so similar yet so different. For an outsider, all of them look and sound similar. But we know how different they are. Kannada and Telugu scripts look so similar but the languages are poles apart. Tamil and Malayalam look and often sound similar but Tamil has too few letters and Malayalam, too many !<br />
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My teenaged daughter was getting ready to school. I saw her applying Kohl [Kajal] to her eyes and asked, "Are you going to school or to a fashion parade ?". She replied in Konkani what can be directly translated as, "Our teachers scold us if we go to school without <b>writing the eyes</b>". I was taken aback by the reply and asked her, "What do you mean ?". She said, "Appe, in Malayalam they say just that !"<br />
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That is when it occurred to me. In Malayalam they say, "<b>കണ്ണെഴുതി പൊട്ടും തൊട്ടു വരണം</b>" - "<b>Kannezhuthi Pottum Thottu varanam</b>" which means "You should apply kohl to eyes and apply bindi on forehead when you come to school".<br />
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That triggered off a thought. If a Malayalee teacher were to express the same in Hindi, what would she say ? "<b>आँख लिख कर बिंदी छु कर आना</b> !" or "<b>Aankh likh kar, bindi choo kar aana</b>". We think in our mother tongue and then translate it word by word into other languages, often leading to this kind of gaffe.<br />
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Tamil probably can create the maximum confusion for the uninitiated who try to read or write Tamil. A simple illustration: "<b>பாபா</b>", the same written word can be pronounced as "Baba", "Bapa", "Paba", "Papa", "Bhabha" and "Fafa". I will never be able to know which "<b>பாபா</b>" is this "<b>பாபா</b>" !<br />
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"<b>காந்திமதி</b>" is "<b>कान्तिमती</b>" or "<b>Kantimati</b>"; an Indian name of a girl, which means "<b>Bright mind</b>". But ask most people of Tamilnadu and they think it is "<b>Gandhimathi</b>" which means "<b>Gandhi's mind</b>". Now I don't want to know which Gandhi they mean !<br />
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At the other end of the spectrum is the Tamil name "<b>தண்டபாணி</b>". Mostly people spell it as "<b>Dandapani</b>". But some people prefer to spell it as "<b>Thandapani</b>" and then it becomes funny. A north Indian would read it as "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FwhLonMupc" target="_blank"><b>ठंडा पानी</b></a>" which stands for "<b>Cold Water</b>".<br />
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Cauliflower is an innocent vegetable well known as "<b>गोबी का फूल</b>" or "<b>Gobi ka phool</b>" in Hindi. It is famous because of the universally popular Indo-Chinese collaboration called "<b>Gobi Manchurian</b>". But in Tamilnadu, it becomes "<b>Kopi Manchurian</b>". The neighborhood boy "<b>Gopi</b>" becomes "<b>Gobi</b>" in Kerala. If Gopi is eating Gobi Manchurian and a Tamilian and a Malayalee and a north Indian have to talk about this, it sure is bound to cause enough diversity !<br />
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I've heard, people of Bengal, Assam and Orissa predominantly use 'O' in place of 'A'. So my doubt is what will happen to our Bollywood icons "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvRzFNmoa7Y" target="_blank"><b>Amar, Akbar, Anthony</b></a>" ? Will they become "Omor, Okbor, Onthony" ? My lack of exposure to the North East helps because my already confused mind can't withstand any more of that.<br />
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The level of knowledge of Indians about India is really pathetic. A lot of Malayalees think the language I speak [Konkani] is from Karnataka because I am from Karnataka and they ask me, "Is it Telunk ?". A large number of people in Karnataka don't know Tamil and Malayalam are two different languages. Most of North Indians still call all South Indians, "<b>Madrasis</b>" even in 2012.<br />
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North Indian serials and movies still show South Indians as the bumbling dark man in shabbily worn mundu with the name, Mr. Aiyer. The level of ignorance of these people is exposed by the fact that Babita, the Bengali wife of Mr. Aiyer in "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyxxv5GX8b0" target="_blank"><b>Tarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chasma</b></a>" calls him Aiyer and not by his first name. South Indian men are almost always shown as educated but somehow they are always selling coconuts wearing feminine expressions and the "<b>Ayyayyo</b>" has to be repeated every 3 minutes. And the typical Sardarji has to be an idiot. Contempt for 'the others' is our nature !<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Wife calls her husband, "Aiyer" </b></span></td></tr>
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Internet is brimming with people fighting about 'OUR' state and language being better and other people being suckers. Kannada vs Tamil fights, Telugu vs Tamil fights, Mallus vs Others fights, North vs South fights, Bongs vs Others fights and Us vs them fights ! There are hardly any Indians we see and then we proudly proclaim, "<b>मेरा भारत महान</b>" or "Mera Bharat Mahaan". In Kerala, a lot of people would pronounce it as "Mera Pharat Mahaan" ! <br />
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In spite of all these, we Indians are indeed "Mahaan", because we still exist, survive and flourish together !<br />
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Dr. Punned-it</div>
Govind Rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04086203944345086402noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474784219791768701.post-3531345793536345952012-06-16T22:13:00.001+05:302012-06-16T22:30:18.424+05:30ಕತ್ತೆ ಬಾಲದ ಕಥೆ : ಒಂದು ಮಹಾ ಪ್ರಬಂಧ<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><b><span style="font-size: large;">"ಕತ್ತೆಗಳು ಸಾರ್ ಕತ್ತೆಗಳು"</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">ಕತ್ತೆ ಒಂದು ಬಹು ಸಾಧು ಪ್ರಾಣಿ. ಇದಕ್ಕೆ ನಾಲ್ಕು ಕಾಲು, ಎರಡು ಕಣ್ಣು, ಎರಡು ಮೂಗು ಮತ್ತು ಎರಡು ಕಿವಿಗಳಿವೆ. ಶರೀರದ ಮುಂಭಾಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದು ಬಾಯಿ ಹಾಗೂ ಹಿಂಭಾಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದು ಕತ್ತೆಬಾಲದಂಥ ಬಾಲ ಇದೆ. ಬಾಯಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ತುಂಬಾ ಹಲ್ಲುಗಳಿವೆ ಮತ್ತು ಕತ್ತೆಯ ಹಾಗೆ ಕಿರಿಚಾಡಲು ಒಂದು ಉದ್ದದ ನಾಲಿಗೆ ಇದೆ.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">ಕತ್ತೆ ಕುದುರೆಯ ಹಾಗೆ ಇರುವ ಆದರೆ ಕುದುರೆ ಅಲ್ಲದ ಕುದುರೆಯ ವಂಶಕ್ಕೆ ಸೇರಿದ ಜೀವಿ. ಆದರೆ ಇದು ಹೀನ ಜಾತಿಯ ಪ್ರಾಣಿ ಆದುದರಿಂದ ಇದನ್ನು ಎಲ್ಲರು ಕತ್ತೆ ಎಂದು ಹೀಗಳೆಯುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಜೀಬ್ರ ಎಂಬುದು ಇದೇ ವಂಶಕ್ಕೆ ಸೇರಿದ ಮಿಶ್ರ ಜಾತಿಯ ವಿದೇಶದಿಂದ ಆಮದು ಮಾಡಿದ ಪ್ರಾಣಿ.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">ದನ, ಎಮ್ಮೆ, ಆಡು ಹಾಗೂ ಒಂಟೆಯ ಹಾಲು ಕುಡಿಯುವ ಮನುಷ್ಯರಾರೂ ಕತ್ತೆ ಹಾಲು ಕುಡಿಯುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಇದು ಕತ್ತೆಯ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಇರುವ ಕೀಳರಿಮೆ ಕಾರಣವಾಗಿ ಎಂದು ತೋರುತ್ತದೆ. ಆದರೆ ಇದರಿಂದ ಸತ್ಯವಾದ ಲಾಭ ಆಗುವುದು ಕತ್ತೆಮರಿಗೆ. ಅದರ ಪಾಲಿನ ಹಾಲನ್ನು ಯಾರೂ ಕದ್ದು ಕುಡಿಯುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಹೀಗೆ ನೋಡಿದರೆ ಕತ್ತೆಮರಿ ಬಹು ಭಾಗ್ಯಶಾಲಿ. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">ಕತ್ತೆಗೆ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತದಲ್ಲಿ "ಗಾರ್ಧಬ" ಎಂಬ ಶುಭ ನಾಮವಿದೆ. ಹಿಂದಿಯಲ್ಲಿ "ಗಧಾ" ಎಂದೂ, ತಮಿಳ್ ಹಾಗೂ ಮಲಯಾಳಂನಲ್ಲಿ "ಕಳ್ಹುದ" ಎಂದೂ ತೆಲುಗಿನಲ್ಲಿ "ಗಾಡಿದ" ಎಂದೂ ಕರೆಯುತ್ತಾರೆ. "ಕತ್ತೆಗೇನು ಗೊತ್ತು ಕಸ್ತೂರಿ ಪರಿಮಳ" ಎಂದು ಹಿರಿಯರು ಹೇಳಿದ ಗಾದೆ ನಿಜವಾಗಿಯೂ ಕತ್ತೆಗೆ ಮಾಡಿದ ಮಹಾ ದ್ರೋಹ ಹಾಗೂ ಅವಮಾನ. ಕತ್ತೆಯನ್ನು ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಮುದ್ದಾಗಿ "ಕತ್ತೇ" ಎಂದು ಕರೆಯುವ ಅಷ್ಟು ಸೊಗಸಾಗಿ ಬೇರೆ ಭಾಷೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಕರೆಯಲು ಆಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ ಎಂಬುದು ಸತ್ಯ.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"ಕಾರ್ಯವಾಸಿ ಕತ್ತೆ ಕಾಲು ಹಿಡಿ" ಎನ್ನುವ ಗಾದೆ ಯಾರೋ ಕತ್ತೆಯ ಒದೆ ತಿಂದ ದುಷ್ಟ ಹಾಗೂ ಸೇಡಿನ ಮನೋಭಾವದ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದಿರಬೇಕು. ಒದೆ ಖಂಡಿತ ಎಂದು ತಿಳಿದ ಯಾರಾದರು ಕತ್ತೆ ಕಾಲೋ ಬಾಲವೋ ಹಿಡಿಯುತ್ತಾರೇನು ?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">ಕತ್ತೆಗೆ ಕುದುರೆಯ ಎತ್ತರವಿಲ್ಲ ಮತ್ತು ಕುದುರೆಯ ಹಾಗೆ ಓಡಲು ಬರುವುದಿಲ್ಲ, ಆದುದರಿಂದ ಇದನ್ನು ಕುದುರೆ ಓಟದ ಪಂದ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಓಡಿಸಲಾಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಕತ್ತೆ ಒಂದು ಸಸ್ಯಾಹಾರಿ ಪ್ರಾಣಿ. ಆದರೆ ಇದಕ್ಕೆ ಕಸ, ಹುಲ್ಲು, ಪ್ಲಾಸ್ಟಿಕ್ ಮತ್ತು ರಸ್ತೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸಿಗುವ ಯಾವುದೇ ವಸ್ತುವನ್ನು ತಿಂದು ಅರಗಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ಶಕ್ತಿ ಇದೆ. ಆದುದರಿಂದ "ಕತ್ತೆ ಮೇದಲ್ಲಿ ಮತ್ತೆ ಮೇವಿಲ್ಲ" ಎಂದು ಹೇಳುತ್ತಾರೆ.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">ನಮ್ಮ ಗಣಿತದ ಮೇಸ್ಟ್ರು ಒಮ್ಮೆ ನಮ್ಮ ಸಹಪಾಟಿ ರಾಮುವನ್ನು ದನಕ್ಕೆ ಬಡಿಯುವ ಹಾಗೆ ಬಡಿಯುವಾಗ ಅವನು ಕರ್ಕಶವಾಗಿ ಕೂಗಿದನು. ಆವಾಗ ಮೇಷ್ಟ್ರು "ಕತ್ತೆ ತರ ಕೂಗಬೇಡ, ಗೂಬೆ" ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಿದರು. ಕತ್ತೆಗೂ ಗೂಬೇಗು ಏನು ಸಂಬಂಧ ಎಂದು ನಮಗೆ ಅರ್ಥವಾಗಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಆದರೆ ಮೇಷ್ಟ್ರ ಹತ್ತಿರ ಕೇಳಲು ಯಾರಿಗೂ ಧೈರ್ಯವಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ದನದ ಹಾಗೆ ಏಟು ತಿನ್ನಬೇಕಾಗಬಹುದು ಎನ್ನುವ ಭಯದಿಂದಯಾರೂ ಬಾಯಿ ಬಿಡಲಿಲ್ಲ.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">ನಮ್ಮ ಅಮ್ಮ ದಿನಾ ಸಂಜೆ ಭಜನೆ ಹಾಡುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಆವಾಗಲೆಲ್ಲ ನಮ್ಮ ಅಪ್ಪ ಮನೆಯ ಹೊರಗೆ ಬಂದು ನಿಂತುಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಾರೆ. "ಏಕಪ್ಪ ನೀವು ಈ ಹೊತ್ತೆಲ್ಲ ಹೊರಗೆ ನಿಂತು ಸೊಳ್ಳೆಯ ಕಡಿತಕ್ಕೆ ಬಲಿಯಾಗುತ್ತೀರಾ ?" ಎಂದು ಕೇಳಿದಾಗ, ಅಪ್ಪ ಹೇಳಿದರು, "ನೋಡಪ್ಪ, ನಿನ್ನ ಅಮ್ಮ ಹೀಗೆ ಕತ್ತೆ ತರ ಹಾಡುವಾಗ ನಮ್ಮ ನೆರೆಮನಯವರೆಲ್ಲ ನಾನು ಒಳಗಡೆ ನಿನ್ನ ಅಮ್ಮನನ್ನು ಹೊಡೆಯುತ್ತೇನೆಂದು ತಪ್ಪು ತಿಳಿದು ಕೊಳ್ಳದಿರಲು ಹೀಗೆ ಹೊರಗೆ ನಿಂತು ಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತೇನೆ".</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>ಧನ್ಯವಾದ: ಫಡ್ನಿಸ್</b> </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">ಆವಾಗ ನನ್ನ ಸಂಶಯ ಇನ್ನೂ ಜಾಸ್ತಿ ಆಯಿತು. "ಗೂಬೆಗೂ, ರಾಮು ಕಿರಿಚಾಡುವುದಕ್ಕೂ, ಅಮ್ಮ ಹಾಡುವುದು ಹಾಗೂ ಕತ್ತೆ ಕೂಗುವುದಕ್ಕೂ ಏನಪ್ಪಾ ಸಂಬಂಧ ?" ಎಂದು ಅಪ್ಪನ ಹತ್ತಿರ ಕೇಳಿದೆ. ಆಗ ಅವರು ಹೇಳಿದರು, "ನಾನು ನಿನ್ನ ಅಮ್ಮನ ಹಾಡು ಮಾತ್ರ ಸಹಿಸಿ ಇನ್ನೂ ಬದುಕಿದ್ದೀನಪ್ಪಾ. ಇನ್ನು ನಿನ್ನ ಗೆಳೆಯನ ಕೂಗು ಸಹಿಸುವ ಶಕ್ತಿ ನನಗಿಲ್ಲ. ಆದುದರಿಂದ ನನಗೆ ಈ ವಿಷಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಏನು ಹೇಳಲು ಆಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ" ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಿದರು.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">ಹೀಗೆ ನನ್ನ ಸಂಶಯ ಸಂಶಯವಾಗಿಯೇ ಉಳಿಯಿತು. ಹಾಗಿರುವಾಗ ಒಂದು ದಿನ ನಮ್ಮ ದೂರದ ಸಂಬಂಧಿ ಜಟಾಯು ಮಾಮ ಮನೆಗೆ ಬಂದರು. ಅಪ್ಪ ಅವರನ್ನು ಊಟ ಮಾಡೀನೇ ಹೋಗಬೇಕು ಎಂದು ಒತ್ತಾಯ ಮಾಡಿದರು. ಆಗ ಅಮ್ಮ ಅಪ್ಪನನ್ನು ಒಳಗೆ ಕರೆದು ಹೇಳಿದರು, "ಏನ್ರಿ, ನಿಮಗೆ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪಾನಾದ್ರೂ ಬುದ್ಧಿ ಇದ್ಯೆನ್ರಿ ? ಈ ಜಟಾಯು ಬಂದ್ರೆ ಕತ್ತೆ ತರ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದೆಲ್ಲ ತಿಂದು ಹೋಗ್ತಾರೆ. ಮನೇಲಿರೋ ನಮ್ಮ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಏನಾದ್ರೂ ಕಾಳಜಿ ಇದ್ಯೆನ್ರಿ ನಿಮಗೆ ?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">ನಮ್ಮ ನೆರೆಮನೆಯ ಮಾಲಿನಿ ಆಂಟಿ ಯಾವಾಗಲು ಅಮ್ಮನ ಹತ್ತಿರ ಅವರ ಅತ್ತೆಯನ್ನು "ಕತ್ತೆ" ಎಂದೇ ಕರೆಯುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಅಮ್ಮ, "ಯಾಕ್ರೀ ಮಾಲಿನಿ ಹೀಗೆ ಹೇಳ್ತೀರಾ ?" ಎಂದು ಕೇಳಿದರೆ ಮಾಲಿನಿ ಆಂಟಿ ಹೇಳ್ತಾರೆ, "ನೋಡ್ರೀ ಅಕ್ಕ, ಈ ಮುದಿ ಕತ್ತೆಗೆ ಯಾವಾಗ ನೋಡಿದರು ನನ್ನ ತಪ್ಪು ಕಂಡು ಹಿಡಿಯೋದೇ ಕೆಲಸ. ನೀವೂ ಇದ್ದೀರಾ, ದಿನಾ ನನ್ಹತ್ರ ಊಟ ಆಯ್ತಾ ? ಅಂತ ಕೇಳ್ತೀರಾ. ಈ ಕತ್ತೆಗೆ ನಾನ್ ಸತ್ರು ಬೇಜಾರಿಲ್ಲ. ಪಾಪ ಸಂಜೆ ಬರುವಾಗ ನಮ್ಮೋರ್ ಹತ್ರಾನು ಫಿರ್ಯಾದಿ ಮಾಡಿ ಜೀವನ ಎಲ್ಲ ಹಾಳು ಮಾಡ್ತಾರೆ. ನೀವೇ ಹೇಳಿ ನಾನು ಏನ್ ಮಾಡ್ಲಿ ?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">ಆಮೇಲೆ ಒಂದು ದಿನ ಸಂಜೆ ಮಾಲಿನಿ ಅವರ ಅತ್ತೆ ರತ್ನಮ್ಮ ಅವರು ಅಮ್ಮನ ಹತ್ತಿರ ಹೇಳಿದ್ದು ಕೇಳಿದೆ, "ರೀ ಭಾರತಿ ಅವ್ರೆ, ಬನ್ರಿ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಹೊತ್ತು ಮಾತಾಡೋಣ. ಎಷ್ಟು ದಿನ ಆಯ್ತು ನಿಮ್ಹತ್ರ ಒಂದು ಮಾತಾಡಿ. ನಮ್ಮನೆ ಕತ್ತೆ ತವರುಮನೆಗೆ ಹೋಗಿದೆ. ಮನೇಲಿದ್ರೆ ಯಾವಾಗಲೂ ಏನಾದ್ರೂ ಅವಾಂತರ ಮಾಡ್ತಾನೆ ಇರುತ್ತೆ. ಈಗಲೇ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಶಾಂತಿಯಿಂದ ಇರೋಕ್ಕಾಗುತ್ತೆ. ಪಾಪ ನಮ್ಮ ಗೋಪಿ ಹಸುವಿನಂಥ ಸ್ವಭಾವ. ಇವಳಾದ್ರೆ ಜಗಳಗಂಟಿ ಶೂರ್ಪನಖಿ ತರದ ಹುಡುಗಿ. ಎಲ್ಲಿಂದ ಸಿಕ್ತೋ ಇವಂಗೆ, ನಮ್ಮ ಹಣೆಬರಹ".</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">ನಮ್ಮಪ್ಪ ಅಮ್ಮನನ್ನು, ಅಮ್ಮ ಜಟಾಯು ಮಾಮನನ್ನು ಕತ್ತೆ ಎಂದು ಕರೆಯತ್ತಾರೆ. ಜಟಾಯು ಮಾಮ ಒಮ್ಮೆ ಹೇಳಿದ್ರು, "ನಿಮ್ಮ ಗಣಿತದ ಮೇಷ್ಟ್ರು ಒಂದು ದೊಡ್ಡ ಕತ್ತೆ ಕಣಪ್ಪ. ಚಿಕ್ಕ ಮಕ್ಕಳನ್ನೆಲ್ಲ ಕೆಟ್ಟದಾಗಿ ಬಡೀತಾನೆ. ಏನು ಒಂದು ಚೂರು ಮನುಷ್ಯತ್ವಾನೆ ಇಲ್ಲಾಂದ್ರೆ ?". ಈ ರಾಮು ಎಂಬ ಹುಡುಗ ಅವ್ರ ಮಗ.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">ನಮ್ಮ ಶಾಲೆಯ ಮಿಟುಕಲಾಡಿ ಹಾಗು ಅಹಂಕಾರಿ ಎಂದು ಹೆಸರು ಪಡೆದ ಅಭಿರಾಮಿ ಒಮ್ಮೆ, ನಮ್ಮ ಮುಂದಿನ ಬೆಂಚಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಕುಳಿತಾಗ ಬಹು ಪೋಕ್ರಿಯಾದ ರಾಜು ಎಂಬ ಹುಡುಗ ಅವಳ ಪಾನಿ ಟೈಲ್ ಗೆ ಒಂದು ಚೀಟಿ ಕಟ್ಟಿ ಹಾಕಿದ. ಅದರಲ್ಲಿ "ಇದು ಕತ್ತೆ ಬಾಲ" ಎಂದು ಬರೆದಿತ್ತು. ಇದು ಕೈಗೆ ಸಿಕ್ಕಿದಾಗ ಅವಳು ತಿರುಗಿ ನೋಡಿದಳು. ನಾನೇನೂ ಮಾಡದೆ ಇದ್ದರೂ ಅವಳು ನನ್ನ ಕೆನ್ನೆಗೆ ಹೊಡೆದು "ನೀನೆ ದೊಡ್ಡ ಹೇಸರಗತ್ತೆ" ಎಂದು ಬೈದಳು. ನನಗೆ ತುಂಬಾ ಸಿಟ್ಟು ಬಂದು ಅವಳನ್ನು ವಾಚಾಮಗೋಚರವಾಗಿ ಬಯ್ಯಬೇಕು ಅಂದುಕೊಂಡೆ. ಆದರೆ ಅವಳ ಕೆಂಪಾದ ಕೆನ್ನೆ ಹಾಗೂ ಮಿಂಚುವ ಕಣ್ಣುಗಳನ್ನು ನೋಡಿ ನನಗೆ ಏನೇನೂ ಹೇಳಲು ಆಗಲಿಲ್ಲ. ನನ್ನ ಬೇಸರ ಕಂಡು ಪಾಪ ರಾಮು ಹೇಳಿದ, "ಹೋಗಲಿ ಕಣೋ, ನೀನೇನೂ ಮಾಡದೆ ಇದ್ದರೂ ಅವಳು ನಿನಗೆ ಹೊಡೆದಳು ಮತ್ತೆ ಬೈದಳು. ಸತ್ಯವಾಗಿ ಅವಳೇ ಕಣೋ ಕತ್ತೆ, ನೀನಲ್ಲ." ಎಂದು. ಹಾಗೆ ನನ್ನ ನೊಂದ ಮನಕ್ಕೆ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಸಮಾಧಾನವಾಯಿತು.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"Law is an ass" ಎಂದರೆ "ನಿಯಮ ಒಂದು ಕತ್ತೆ" ಎಂದು ಯಾರೋ ತಿಳಿದವರು ಹೇಳಿದ್ದಾರಂತೆ. ನಮ್ಮ ಮಂತ್ರಿಗಳು ಹಾಗೂ ರಾಜಕಾರಣಿಗಳು ಒಬ್ಬರು ಮತ್ತೊಬ್ಬರನ್ನು "ಕತ್ತೆ" ಎಂದು ಕರೆಯುತ್ತಾ ಇರುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಆವಾಗಾವಾಗ ವಿಧಾನಸಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕತ್ತೆ ನಾಯಿಗಳ ತರ ಹೊಡೆದಾಡಿಕೊಳ್ಲೋದನ್ನ ನಾವು ದೂರದರ್ಶನದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾಣುತ್ತೇವೆ. ಆದರೆ ಸತ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಇವರೆಲ್ಲ ಜನರನ್ನು ಕತ್ತೆಗಳು ಎಂದು ತಿಳಿದು ಹೊರಲಾಗದ ಕರಗಳನ್ನೆಲ್ಲ ನಮ್ಮ ಬೆನ್ನ ಮೇಲೆ ಹೊರಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ ಎಂದು ಮಾಲಿನಿ ಆಂಟಿಯವರ ಗಂಡ ಗೋಪಿ ಅಂಕಲ್ ಹೇಳ್ತಾರೆ. ಅವರನ್ನೇ "ಯಾವಾಗ್ ನೋಡಿದರೂ ಆಫೀಸ್ ಕೆಲಸ ಅಂತ ಕತ್ತೆ ತರ ದುಡೀತಾನೆ. ಮನೆ ಕಡೆ ಚಿಂತೇನೆ ಇಲ್ಲ ಹುಡುಗನ್ಗೆ" ಅಂತ ಅವರ ಅಪ್ಪ ಬಯ್ಕೊಂತಾರೆ.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">ಈ ಕತ್ತೆ ಬಾಲದ ಕಥೆ ಉದ್ದುದ್ದಕ್ಕೆ ಬೆಳೆಯುತ್ತಾ ಇದೆ. ನೋಡ್ತಾ ಹೋದ್ರೆ ಎಲ್ಲರೂ ಎಲ್ಲರನ್ನ "ಕತ್ತೆ" ಅಂತ ಕರೀತಾರೆ. ಸ್ವತಹ ತಮ್ಮನ್ನೂ ಕತ್ತೆ ಅಂತ ಬಾಕಿಯವರು ಕರೆಯುತ್ತಾರೆ ಅಂತ ಯಾರಿಗೂ ಗೊತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ. ನನಗೆ ಮಾತ್ರ ಗೊತ್ತಿದೆ, ಯಾಕೇಂದ್ರೆ ಆ ಅಭಿರಾಮಿ ನನ್ನ ಮುಂದೇನೆ "ಹೇಸರಗತ್ತೆ" ಎಂದು ಕರೆದದ್ದು. ಸತ್ಯವಾಗಿ ನೋಡಿದ್ರೆ ಅವಳೇ ಒಳ್ಳೆಯವಳು ಅಂತನಿಸುತ್ತೆ. ಏನಿದ್ರೂ ಮುಂದೇನೆ ಹೇಳಿದಳು. ಹಿಂದಿನಿಂದ ಹೀಗಳೆಯುವವರೇ ಜಾಸ್ತಿ ಇರುವ ಲೋಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಮುಖ ನೋಡಿ ಮುಂದೇನೆ ಹೇಳಿದ ಕೆಂಪು ಗಲ್ಲದ ಪಾನಿ ಟೈಲ್ ಹುಡುಗಿ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಬೇರೆ ತರ ಕಾಣಿಸಿದಳು. ಇದು ಆಶ್ಚರ್ಯ ಅಲ್ಲವೇ ?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">ಏನೇ ಹೇಳಿದರೂ ಕತ್ತೆ ಎಂಬ ಮುದ್ದಾದ ಸಾಧು ಪ್ರಾಣಿಯನ್ನು ಹೀಗಳೆಯುವ ಮನುಷ್ಯರ ಸ್ವಭಾವ ನನಗೆ ತೀರ ಇಷ್ಟವಾಗಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಎಷ್ಟು ಭಾರ ಬೆನ್ನ ಮೇಲೆ ಹೊರಿಸಿದರೂ ಯಾವುದೇ ರೀತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ವಿರೋಧಿಸದೆ ಅನವರತ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡುವ ಕತ್ತೆಯೇ ನಿಜವಾದ ಕರ್ಮಜೀವಿ. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">ಮನುಷ್ಯರು ಒಬ್ಬರು ಒಬ್ಬರನ್ನು "ಕತ್ತೆ" ಎಂದು ಕರೆಯುವುದಲ್ಲದೆ ಕತ್ತೆಯ ಹಾಗೆ ಆಗಲು ಯಾರೂ ಶ್ರಮಿಸುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಕಷ್ಟಪಟ್ಟು ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡುವುದು ಯಾರಿಗೂ ಇಷ್ಟವಲ್ಲ. ಆದರೆ ಎಲ್ಲರ ಅಭಿಪ್ರಾಯದಲ್ಲಿ ತನ್ನ ಹೊರತು ಬಾಕಿ ಎಲ್ಲರೂ ಕತ್ತೆಗಳು. ಹೀಗೆ ಇಷ್ಟವಲ್ಲದೆ ಇದ್ದರೂ ಎಲ್ಲರೂ ಕತ್ತೆಗಳೇ. ಕುರಿಗಳು ಸಾರ್ ಕುರಿಗಳು ಎಂದು ಯಾರೋ ದೊಡ್ಡ ಮನುಷ್ಯರು ಬರೆದಿದ್ದರಂತೆ. ಸತ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಈ ಲೋಕವೆಲ್ಲ "ಕತ್ತೆಗಳು ಸಾರ್ ಕತ್ತೆಗಳು" !</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Dr. Punned-it</span></div>Govind Rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04086203944345086402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474784219791768701.post-64678400351198818392012-06-13T00:33:00.001+05:302012-06-13T00:35:40.192+05:30Montek's monument: Shit happens !<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYH3NBFWWawk-VyO5HAnqxaqFiDU6s2jGJYOj9RPC3csG3kr7N9r_knI8KeqRKbCTk0cPEtMN9-g_plr_v1ebaCnEBMRB5ek40TYPBxDLT2dh4Z885SjDP7HyEnFQjDw9Nln2oMGrxNh1x/s1600/35-lakh-toilets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYH3NBFWWawk-VyO5HAnqxaqFiDU6s2jGJYOj9RPC3csG3kr7N9r_knI8KeqRKbCTk0cPEtMN9-g_plr_v1ebaCnEBMRB5ek40TYPBxDLT2dh4Z885SjDP7HyEnFQjDw9Nln2oMGrxNh1x/s640/35-lakh-toilets.jpg" width="438" /></a></div>
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A lot of shit has been washed down the flush since the controversy about the Rs. 35 lakhs toilet erupted. I thought it's better late than never to make my humble contribution to the load of shit-talk going on.<br />
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So what would be the reaction of different people once they see this 'monumental' toilets ?<br />
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<b>Pratibha Patil</b>: Oh shit, how could I have missed this place ? Immediately arrange a visit before the Presidential elections. <br />
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<b>Manmohan Singh</b>: Finally a place where I can shit in peace without worrying about all the shit that is going on around me.<br />
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<b>Mamta Banerjee</b>: This is shit neglect of Bengal. Either roll back the toilet of construct one Kolkotta.<br />
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<b>Rahul Gandhi</b>: This proves my theory of two Indias. There are millions who don't have decent toilets to shit and then we have such toilets but people who just can't shit.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7AJd4fdQ2AZgsBtCVdN-WqC_qC4T60eKF_TfXRLe9qovXnPJ3WzS76n7XbZgaKvexkX12MZTGV6faDc-qmPSXGU-vr6hRBRfJjjiduA-i0JUEjzcoM9sggkzxUESmtAmzJu1UemH-lemw/s1600/mobile-toilet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7AJd4fdQ2AZgsBtCVdN-WqC_qC4T60eKF_TfXRLe9qovXnPJ3WzS76n7XbZgaKvexkX12MZTGV6faDc-qmPSXGU-vr6hRBRfJjjiduA-i0JUEjzcoM9sggkzxUESmtAmzJu1UemH-lemw/s400/mobile-toilet.jpg" width="322" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The 'Other' India !</span></b></td></tr>
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<b>Digvijay Singh</b>: This is a Sangh Parivar conspiracy to smear shit on the Congress and Gandhi-Nehru family. We will not allow them to succeed.<br />
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<b>Kapil Sibal</b>: Shit or no shit, we can prove that it is not a national waste but just a notional waste !<br />
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<b>M. S. Dhoni</b>: Well of course, there was no decent toilet facility in Siachen Glacier. We have to keep our calm and remember you can't win always. Shit happens, oops it happens. The final result is not in our hands, but we have to keep performing.<br />
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<b>Sachin Tendulkar</b>: Aila, I just said no for a bungalow. If I knew making shit was so expensive in Delhi, I would have said no to the Rajya Sabha seat also.<br />
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<b>Virendra Sehwag</b>: I will play my natural game. The kind of toilet doesn't change my approach to shit. If there is width, I will attack. There is no question of changing my approach.<br />
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<b>Narendra Modi</b>: It is a clear cut Italian conspiracy. They have used Italian tiles, Italian marbles and Italian granite and even Italian Engineers to please their Madam. They can even import Italian shit now.<br />
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<b>Yeddiyurappa</b>:
People of Karnataka want me back in my shit, I mean my seat. Otherwise people will bring down this illegal government with the help of illegal Kings of mine.<br />
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<b>Baba Ramdev</b>: I have a strong doubt, they have constructed this place not to make shit, but to hide the black money. Otherwise why are they planning to restrict visitors with card entry ?<br />
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<b>Anna Hazare</b>: With the money they have wasted, they could have passed the Jan Lokpal bill. Instead, they have made arrangement to pass motion. I prefer to fast till death than shit in those toilets !<br />
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<b>Aamir Khan</b>: Shit happens, but in the end, "Satyameva Jayate" will be a big hit !<br />
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<b>Shah Rukh Kha</b>n: My name is Khan and I am not a terrorist. Then why this card for entry to a place where we go to shit ? Trust me, in Kolkotta, you can do it anywhere !<br />
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<b>Salman Khan</b>: Critics call my movies shit. This toilet cost just 35 lakhs. Sanjay Leela Bhansali's sets cost much more than that. And my movies make more than 100 Crores. Mujh par ek ehsaan kar ke mujh par koi ehsaan mat kar. I don't need anyone else' toilets. I will pass my own shit.<br />
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<b>N. S. Sidhu</b>: They have constructed such a monument for that purpose my friend, because the planning commission is full of big big ideas that in reality amount to just a whole load of monumental shit !<br />
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And finally...<br />
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<b>Montek Singh Ahluwalia</b>: Oye, shit ! I forgot my card. Now what will I do ? It is urgent... eeeeee !!!<br />
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Dr. Punned-itGovind Rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04086203944345086402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474784219791768701.post-39713176167777937372012-06-11T10:00:00.000+05:302012-06-11T10:01:25.959+05:30Moun Mohan Singh and some Political Blasphemy ! Finding no concrete substance to blog about, I had concentrated on micro-blogging on Facebook. Then it struck me, I can as well compile those 'photos' on the Blog for keeping things in one place apart from my page "<a href="https://www.facebook.com/live.love.laugh.gr8" target="_blank"><b>Live, Love & Laugh</b></a>" on Facebook.<br />
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So here is the new experimental post with a compilation of some of my posts on our Prime Minister. Some people found it obnoxious, below the belt and crude. But some people found it funny. Anyway, without any malice towards the elderly statesman, I bring my posts on our Prime Minister here.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhklqmDHBSCl8CnQkJXjv84GO4NgL7uAwjGxFT90yla_fDSEJI1feztP1tA-n3VibAx_kgEyAZYgPR5evwXrpmeDlU7R4spFjU_5WWzO3uwmBHwprCdzIciw7FaAManEn-_YyfcVKVJeUfs/s1600/3+Monkeys.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhklqmDHBSCl8CnQkJXjv84GO4NgL7uAwjGxFT90yla_fDSEJI1feztP1tA-n3VibAx_kgEyAZYgPR5evwXrpmeDlU7R4spFjU_5WWzO3uwmBHwprCdzIciw7FaAManEn-_YyfcVKVJeUfs/s640/3+Monkeys.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>This is about modern day Gandhi'ji's monkeys. This evoked some strong reactions ! </b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimCX823pPY-heK77q70kVxGBVANRjsccIkqotGk3HBuH4ZjLu9Zga2hoibVuOrhy95cmRygqq93Xwakxp-Ze4Ohjy_xKmGMhh6-VlPrkzVFdcMdhwU6CWmSUHXtX1n34pDUFbVAaRQT7Ot/s1600/Bhajji-Neeta.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="630" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimCX823pPY-heK77q70kVxGBVANRjsccIkqotGk3HBuH4ZjLu9Zga2hoibVuOrhy95cmRygqq93Xwakxp-Ze4Ohjy_xKmGMhh6-VlPrkzVFdcMdhwU6CWmSUHXtX1n34pDUFbVAaRQT7Ot/s640/Bhajji-Neeta.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>This one is about 2 Sardar-jis and then the women who control them !</b></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZIZ2Lw65ilMiSHU_40GYGfv52emYuy7WVoN92_zTHc85pW5uOSL3rSgJTyyxlZ3oPJabsNr-xq2ZD7ykJwSRJri_40ROOTq0weS88qrgFjPpyVSYMiiz9U0jCdJ9r2HrrjWtx6CCadkkK/s1600/Cat-Mohan+Singh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZIZ2Lw65ilMiSHU_40GYGfv52emYuy7WVoN92_zTHc85pW5uOSL3rSgJTyyxlZ3oPJabsNr-xq2ZD7ykJwSRJri_40ROOTq0weS88qrgFjPpyVSYMiiz9U0jCdJ9r2HrrjWtx6CCadkkK/s640/Cat-Mohan+Singh.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>This was a cute photoshopped one I borrowed from the www and added English words where the original work had Marathi words.</b></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDaCv02h_bYXGagqoXqLXOdmwT0AXOR9de6OSnUQ7PUn5v4nGKQES870r7fmykqyWqv1olsh7S5StHN82ba1rlpvG1dUP5XyHJeTYGewRKChcDwXMjUw_zo-ZIbygbVBJhJ7gQ8WK-QEpL/s1600/LLL-08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDaCv02h_bYXGagqoXqLXOdmwT0AXOR9de6OSnUQ7PUn5v4nGKQES870r7fmykqyWqv1olsh7S5StHN82ba1rlpvG1dUP5XyHJeTYGewRKChcDwXMjUw_zo-ZIbygbVBJhJ7gQ8WK-QEpL/s640/LLL-08.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>This was about the Italian tourists capture, inspired by an SMS. </b></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA0omNV6-NWn83JxhC5ADBhuYx89PeT6XdoiWeoGf2h0XcqNyoFOhED8L3Vf6BvBfNc-4iOPnE73AF8DSn5P64VQdbBBd6ckFnd2mHjyhyEZQCJXPoDzGxTNb7sTuOwTsKSa64zOOir55T/s1600/Oath-Sach.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA0omNV6-NWn83JxhC5ADBhuYx89PeT6XdoiWeoGf2h0XcqNyoFOhED8L3Vf6BvBfNc-4iOPnE73AF8DSn5P64VQdbBBd6ckFnd2mHjyhyEZQCJXPoDzGxTNb7sTuOwTsKSa64zOOir55T/s640/Oath-Sach.JPG" width="340" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Needs no description !</b></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ULpvOXHN3lsW40upCp_MfK4ZawggUbeDGttFy416ptsEbjkY5ctynkyhf8knwey1beS3VDr6koLE2yglbFIVNcT357Fxb_aZVwTOnJ8fDD7VyyUfBLbdsqlrcFJPeVNg1G7oJX2Y3rz6/s1600/Sardar.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ULpvOXHN3lsW40upCp_MfK4ZawggUbeDGttFy416ptsEbjkY5ctynkyhf8knwey1beS3VDr6koLE2yglbFIVNcT357Fxb_aZVwTOnJ8fDD7VyyUfBLbdsqlrcFJPeVNg1G7oJX2Y3rz6/s640/Sardar.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>After the Petrol price hike !</b></td></tr>
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Dr. Punned-itGovind Rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04086203944345086402noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474784219791768701.post-73916886272233226172012-05-13T00:13:00.004+05:302012-05-13T00:13:55.624+05:30Small things that make a BIG difference !Aamir Khan's "Satyameva Jayate" has evoked sharp reactions from people. People are talking about social evils. Female infanticide has become a topic of heated debate on Facebook and other social media. Some admire Aamir for his concern and some say, he is doing all this for money. I don't know the truth.<br />
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I was too 'small' to understand why my late Grandfather insisted upon putting off the oil wick in our pooja room every night. Later as a grown up, I realized it was not miserly behavior but just a precaution by an extremely wise man who cared for his home and family. We had a lot of rats in our large ancestral home and they could have easily put the house on fire at night if we were to leave the wick burning.<br />
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When in high-school, we had a lesson, "A spark neglected, burns the house". A small misunderstanding between two friends Ivan and Gabriel ends up ruining both the families before they could realize what had happened. This story actually helped me to understand the great old man better !<br />
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Four decades later, I look at people around me and often get frustrated by the absolute lack of care for public property, water, electricity and such things and most importantly the time. Every walk of like, we overlook the small things that will finally make a big difference. But we seldom realize them, give importance to them or do something to change them.<br />
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<b>Leaking Pipes</b>: Every place I have visited has a leaking pipe or a pipe that has been left open by someone who just doesn't care. We just don't care, do we ? Thousands of liters of purified chlorinated water is lost every day. We see a lot of places in our country thirsting for water and we see absolute lack of remorse while wasting water.<br />
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Every drop of water we are wasting is taking us one step towards a universal drought some day ! Can't we see this and understand this ? Can't we take the small step to change this to avert a disaster ?<br />
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<b>Electricity</b>: Most of us rarely forget to switch off lights, fans and air-conditioners
in our own homes. But we seldom care when we are at office or in public places. When it is in the office or a public place, nobody bothers to switch off a light or a fan when not in use. It isn't our property and hence not our duty or not our bother is the attitude. But is it true ? <br />
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WE are footing the 'Bill' for all this wastage. The public lights are lit with the taxes we pay. Should we waste it ? I shot this 'day-light robbery' of tax-payer's money on an evening on my way back home. This street lamp was lit at 4:10 PM as we can see bright day light behind the lamp. This wasn't the single lamp. Every single lamp along the road was lit.<br />
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We can ill-afford this, but this is what is happening in every state, every place and every nook and corner of our country. When I pointed this out, the general reaction was, "This is nothing. It happens everywhere". My question is, "But why ? Why does this happen everywhere ? Why should it happen at all ?" This happens because, "We just don't care !"<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCkNGy32gLqLRZjYC3AHdgyiXhyphenhyphenZEZSA6tgdhOgW96MtHNzKnJag703pSUyIpVeRCrHoLQo15I5GoW9nMKxZ_NUzpNEvr-BCfAXKCoxnQQOradjTvNTJL7xd78Ghvi4Qst92rxSncYb4kR/s1600/Day-Light.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCkNGy32gLqLRZjYC3AHdgyiXhyphenhyphenZEZSA6tgdhOgW96MtHNzKnJag703pSUyIpVeRCrHoLQo15I5GoW9nMKxZ_NUzpNEvr-BCfAXKCoxnQQOradjTvNTJL7xd78Ghvi4Qst92rxSncYb4kR/s320/Day-Light.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #20124d; color: yellow; font-size: large;"><b>Day Light Robbery of Electricity !</b></span></td></tr>
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<b>Bad Roads</b>: How a small hole unfilled in time becomes a <a href="http://govindrajsblog.blogspot.in/2011/06/woh-saath-din-evolution-of-pothole.html" target="_blank"><b>POTHOLE </b></a>is known to all of us. Yet our administration has mostly remained completely oblivious and that is how we have so many potholes littering our roads soon after every monsoon. "A Stitch in times saves nine". We have learned. But we some how prefer to wait till 9 and even 99 are necessitated.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5oQoxS267qgYcf9FXEcrrm99Nv3DUgiMLHF5giAYNiJdy5i0X3KnA5zLhc0XHYKq5La7nDmVju90a0xXbJ0aGvTSU0KAnHnx1MKffN7qC9kKH9G8QXWADyUU5gLHJk6ZBlelbH0flGKs/s1600/Pothole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5oQoxS267qgYcf9FXEcrrm99Nv3DUgiMLHF5giAYNiJdy5i0X3KnA5zLhc0XHYKq5La7nDmVju90a0xXbJ0aGvTSU0KAnHnx1MKffN7qC9kKH9G8QXWADyUU5gLHJk6ZBlelbH0flGKs/s320/Pothole.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>POTHOLE in the making...</b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvhUCXjXTcgBNrX7umQs6td4h49cqSMHKzSJd1glFdf0ggRLRTPypGQeM0DSD9obVDQ2e58ibFuf0bMCnPmBNCV8BIABAFlF191k7F0YKrg7vVCdEQ2D9DvKtvUbVrPWhR4LHTxUtoqVSa/s1600/Potholes2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvhUCXjXTcgBNrX7umQs6td4h49cqSMHKzSJd1glFdf0ggRLRTPypGQeM0DSD9obVDQ2e58ibFuf0bMCnPmBNCV8BIABAFlF191k7F0YKrg7vVCdEQ2D9DvKtvUbVrPWhR4LHTxUtoqVSa/s320/Potholes2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>POTHOLES Family !</b></td></tr>
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If we the people begin to question government, the rulers will have to answer and behave. Else we have the power to change them in the next elections and teach them a lesson. It is another matter that many of us don't even bother.<br />
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But before we exercise our powers, let us ask ourselves, "Are we doing our duties as citizens ? Are we doing the small things that matter ?"<br /><br />Let us do the small things right. It is never too late to learn, reform and work for a better tomorrow ! <br />
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Dr. Punned-itGovind Rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04086203944345086402noreply@blogger.com0