Pseudo democracy

Relaxing at home, trying to slow down the fast paced world I live in. Its a nationwide bandh today in India against price rise and govt decision to increase petrol and diesel prices. In Bangalore the response to this bandh call has been quite effective. Though the timing has been apt for me (considering the hectic weekend i had), the fact that most of the business establishments and normal life is shutdown denting the economy, such strikes should not be supported. I understand its a sign of protest against the govt policies and price rise n blah blah blah... but surely there are other ways to voice your opinion against govt apathy.

Sipping coffee and sitting on my bed, this is exactly what i am thinking How else would one protest without bringing public life to a grinding halt and still ensure that public is active in this democracy? How may from your neighbourhood feel that the price rise is an issue? Even if they feel its an issue, how many of us feel that we need to come out to the streets and shout slogans against it? Well, the number is very very small. Its only those who wish to gain some political mileage and publicity call for agitations and strikes. Aam aadmi, or the mango people, are least bothered on what is happening at the global level, and how India should react in a mature way thinking ahead of times and well within the boundaries of democracy. Active participation from the public, and questioning the usual should become the order. Dont blindly follow the selfish politicians who at the end of the day are just playing political games. Its funny how the word 'politics' is made up of the words 'poli' meaning 'many' in Latin, and 'tics' as in 'bloodsucking creatures’. I would say, instead of the Suprme Court banning strikes, they should legalise it. And ensure that there is a representative of such strikes and he is made accountable till the end of conflict, not only to maintain peace during the agitiations but also  to bring about a legal and an amicable solution keeping the interests of the public in mind. He should work hand in hand with the govt to see that the objective of the agitation is achieved. Thats where the real test of democracy (of the people, by the people & for the people) lies... lets who will come forward to organise strikes and agitations. Sad but true, what we are living is pseudo-democracy...

Anyways, not entirely happy staying at home today, as i have to compensate for today's off in the coming weeks. More when i return to my lappie...till then munch on some FIFAWC news (casualities galore!)... Dunga is fired as Brazil coach, CR7 may be stripped of capatincy and the man with the Hand-of-God is ready to give way for a new coach.

No-Deal?

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday indicated that the Government is willing to put the Indo-US nuclear deal on the backburner. "The end of the nuclear deal will not mean the end of the Government. We are not a one-issue Government. The deal not coming through is not the end of life, " Singh said.

And today on his way to the Nigerian captial, the PM did not speak to the media. The sources said that the UPA government, in the aftermath of the October 9 meeting with the Left parties, will convey to the US that it will not be approaching the IAEA for a safeguards agreement.

This is indeed disappointing, and i feel like we have taken a back step in the growth of our Nation. The energy needs for India in the next decade is immense and this deal with the US and NSG would have helped us meet atleast most of the requirements, if not all. Now we have lost the N-deal with the US and also the Iran-India pipeline. Where is India heading to?? The balancing act has to end somewhere. As a common man we are to blame for all this as well, instead of giving a complete majority we voted in bits and pieces to various political parties. Hope we learn and contribute so that our leadership (Hindustan Times Leadership Summit) can take it foward for us, without any strings attached. The people who lead the country must be given a free hand, i feel the Congress leadership knows what its doing, atleast with respect to this Nuclear deal. Im not a politician, nor would like to discuss polictics here, but i ceratinly feel for the N-deal not going thru.. for the moment that is. Its a pity that the world recognises and regard India very High on the world stage, yet the political parties within are making an all out effort in hindering this growth.

Some of the headlines look like this -

N-deal is not on, govt will tell US soon - Times of India

Failure of N-deal won’t be end of life: PM - India Express

Don't let radical view hijack N-deal, US lawmaker to India - Rediff.com

Australia puts uranium deal with India on back burner - Rediff.com

'Sethu Samudram does not make nautical sense'

• The Sethu Samudram project, if I can put it simply from a mariner's stand point, does not make any nautical sense.


• We mariners call the coast between Rameswaram and Cuddalore the cyclone coast. The India Meteorological Department has assigned this coastline as a high risk probability. To site one example, in 1964, the Pamban Bridge was washed away by a severe cyclonic storm.


• Marine scientists have identified five areas on the Indian coastline they call high-sinkage pits, and one of them happens to be the Palk Straits.


• If you take global shipping trends today, to reduce operating cost, they go in for larger ships of the order of 60,000 deadweight tonnes and above. A 60,000 deadweight tonne carrier will need anything in excess of 17 metres of draft. And as far as tankers go, the days of the super tanker are gone and you see only very large crude carriers of the type of 150,000 and 185,000 tonnes. It makes more sense to have such big tankers as in one voyage, you are bringing in more cargo and reduce your operating cost. None of these big ships will ever be able to use the Sethu Samudram. So, the question is, for whom are you building the canal? 30,000 tonnes was alright when Sethu Samudram was conceived in the early fifties and the sixties.


• The voyage distance from Kolkata to Tuticorin around Sri Lanka works out to 1227 nautical miles. If you went through the canal, it is 1098 nm. So, you are saving just 120 odd nm.


• The majority of our bulk carriers go at a speed between 12 and 13 knots. That is the average speed at sea. When you go through Sethu Samudram, the point to be remembered is, you cannot proceed at the speed at which you are sailing at sea. The reason is the shallow water effect or what we call the 'Squat Effect'. So, the moment you enter Sethu Samudram, you have to reduce the sped by 50 per cent or more depending on the conditions prevailing at that particular time.

To one of the questions on the Sethu Samudram controversy, Captain (retired) H Balakrishnan of the Indian Navy who has been associated with the navy for 32 years, replies -

Q.Those who support the Sethu Samudram Canal compare it to the Suez Canal and the Panama Canal and say the Sethu Samudram is the Suez of the East.

A.In the case of the Suez and the Panama canals, ships save thousands of nautical miles in sailing distance and hundreds of hours in sailing time, where as the Sethu Samudram where a ship will probably save a few hundred miles and at the most two hours in sailing time. This is the difference.

Read the entire article here.

Hey Ram!!

All of a sudden... cricket, bollywood, abhiash, Indo-US nuclear deal.. all of that have taken a back seat in the Indian media. Lord Ram and religious sentiments are doing the rounds everywhere. Triggered by the blunderous affidavit filed by the UPA govt to the SC, stating "There is no proof that Lord Ram existed". I mean what is that the govt wants, to prove Lord Ram lived and walked on this earth once upon a time?? Questioning Ram is like questioning the religious believes and fundamentals of Hinduism! Well, the UPA govt was caught on the wrong side of all this, when they thot they could get way such a remark, and get a go ahead on one of the ambitious projects of modern India, the "Sethusamudram Project". Its a canal project very simlar to Suez canal, not as big though, but the intentions are quite the same, to reduce the travel time and the cost involved in the transhipment of goods. Its almost a battle of Science v/s Religious belief now. Scientists asking the religious leaders to prove that Ram was infact a real person, and not just a fictious charector in the "story" Ramayan, who built the bridge of rocks to cross the ocean to Lanka. What are the scientists looking for here?? any agreements or treaties signed by Ram.. bones or any other bodily remains of the Lord (something like searching for a dinasour skull or something???!!!) .. this is insane!! Scientists are awestruck by the magnificient creation of this world by the God, they are yet to understand the very basics of nature and science, the formation of universe, the human body, many unanswered questions related to diseases, genes, evolution etc. More time should be spent by them on these than to raise such insane questions. Great brains doesnt mean one can start questioning God!! Well, they have said it all in there, and we are seeing it happening.

Denying Ram is denying India. Read on, this is a powerful article by Tarun Vijay on Refiff.com

On 17 July, the Supreme Court asked the government to explain why the Ram Sethu, also known as Adam’s Bridge, cannot be declared a national monument. Union minister for shipping, road transport and highways T.R. Baalu, refused to even comment on this. All this even when we have an alternative route to the canal construction, which would keep the religious interests and the modern day needs intact. As a part of the National Democratic Alliance govt in 2002, defence minister George Fernandes had approved an alternative route that experts now say is less expensive, has lower environmental risks and does not require breaking down the Ram Sethu. Then why do we need all this now!!??.. Hey Ram!!