My Dear Activa

Finally they (RTO) picked my dear Activa!! For parking her in P1 zone on 20th April.

And I’m glad it happened. I was frustrated for first five minutes as it happened for first time. But optimism you see. I had a chance to see personally how this works. Its fun only till it’s happening with others.

Well, here is a tip (especially for girls) - If the pickers gang try to scare you of knotty, complicated process to get your beloved vehicle back and say that the process will sweep u of a good amount, don’t give a damn.

As I caught them catching my vehicle, they chased me instead of me doing that. I was left with two pay options Rs.100 or Rs.150, later with a receipt. After some bargain, just to check, I picked Rs. 100 option. The picker hopped back happily to his gang.

Later I said I will pay 150. As I said this, in a matter of second they all fled and advised me to get my vehicle from the centre!! J

It’s true that - 100 Divided by a Gang - is just too negligible amount to name it as corruption but at least that amount won’t end up sponsoring anything outlaw that it shouldn’t.

At the centre, after some consultation, I decided to pay off with a receipt whatever may be the amount as I didn’t had vehicle papers with me (one guy there said it would cost me around 500 bucks and offered to settle it at 250, again receipt less). I had to disappoint him too.

Final outcome was, I didn’t pay 500 or 250 but 150 with a reciept. To my surprise, I was not even asked for license, papers are far away.

You must have gone through all this, and may have had different experiences…mine was bit trouble less but full of future guidelines.

He is an Artist !!!

I was in my home when i could hear spellbinding sounds from Shehnai. I thought it was some function somewere, and they have took effort to play records of Ustad Bismillah Khan.

I came in porch just to breathe in some fresh air and was spellbound again to find this beared man in front of main gate playing that shehnai in actual along with his "naati" (as he called him).

My sis n me couldn't hold on but meet him and give him some words of appreciation and take a pic too.

So artistic, so hard working but much more down to earth, the duo from Karnataka. One must have never thought from ancient India that artist will have too wander in scrotching sun and give free treat to everybody's ear and not get even noticed!!

I wanted to tell him to pass on his art to next generation, but then I thought, for what?

Guru on Swiss

3-4 days ago, I had a little E-mail conversation with Mr. Gurumurthy over Swiss bank issue.

(Remember R. Madhavan from film Guru?? Same in real)

Here is the abstract of article –

".....Advani has only questioned why the Manmohan government is not acting now [in March 2009] in tandem with the West which has begun crusading against secret banking. Only now the West has turned against secret bank funds....."

I Asked – 

 --> If west had not paid any heed to this issue (openly) and if there were 
no recession, then was it so that Advani Jee had not taken up the 
issue as an agenda?

I, like many others, think that Swiss Issue should be taken very 
seriously and should be cleared as early and as clearly possible.

On this, he said –

à I had written in the first one as to how my effort (related to Swiss bank) of 1987 was aborted by arresting me. 

It is not easy to make Swiss banks to unlock their secrets. It means compelling the Swiss government to change their law. 

It would be possible only if the West exerted pressure on the Swiss. 

The West has begun doing only now. 

Otherwise we can raise the issue, but that will be only a propaganda.

We cannot succeed. Now we can, if the government does something effective in collaboration with the West.    ß

Well, I agree with him that getting information out of Swiss and acting on it is a bit of Herculean task.

Now that the western countries have started hunting for bank a/c and names, Swiss Govt has agreed to expose (only on demand) the list of account holders and related details.

It’s just worthless to ask that why any previous Govt. did not ask for Swiss exposure.

Also, as we know, many of these themselves hold a Swiss A/C!

Questioning the Questions

Some days ago, I saw on TV, a bunch of furious people (as usual, alleged to be from different parties). They were shouting at politicians, or say party representatives, over various unfortunate conditions they were facing, on the overly, cowardly failed five year old promises. People were asking what can you “give us” if we vote you to power. (I know it’s a worth laughing question)

Have we become such fools to believe in the answers given just before elections?? We shouldn’t.

Is there going to be any “NO” in answer about fulfilling public demand? NO.

It’s just the Wrong time to ask such questions.

Why we cannot have them in front of people during their tenure (for Damn Five Years!) asking about the progress of their cheerful promises?

Recently, Lok Sabha sittings have come down to a record number. Why? (552 member council, for sleeping??!). May be they don’t have any think to display to Lok in that Sabha. Or, may be, simply not interested.

Don’t we need a platform, where we could replay the promises made by candidates and cross question them about the progress? Why the work is halted, how they plan to resume it and also applaud the sincere persons who have managed to keep their election campaign words.

AT LEAST IT'S A MUCH BETTER OPTION THAN COLLECTING HURLED SHOES...!! ;-)

I know, they are answerable only to higher authorities once they are ministers’ and all. But they are ministers because of people, on the people’s money, and of course for the people.It would be a strong recommendation to have such a question answer platform during five year tenure which is only for juntas.

Not those TV debates please. Anchors, producers all seem to be politically motivated now and cannot give an unbiased view.

(Have you seen Obama initiative where he interacted with common people via internet in a hall jam-packed with few more common people. He answered questions regarding from recession to studies, jobs to house and lots more.)

They say don’t follow west, but it’s not bad always.