No Man's Land?

Sachin Tendulkar

noreply@blogger.com (scorpiogenius) — Sat, 16 Nov 2013 15:41:00 +0000

Tributes will flow today like the open sluices of Hoover, and surely the journos, commentators, cricket writers and fans will face an acute, frustrating crisis of words when putting pen to what goes through the heart.

Language clearly fails us, there are instances where you find that Oxford Dictionary doesn't hold enough words in it, neither does M/s Google.

There are times when you feel a void in your heart, so deep and wide that the Chicxulub asteroid had crashed into it.

There are times when you'll be appreciated for the over production of lacrimal glands, because the emotions are genuine which controls your heart, and mind, which makes us humans, humans.

It's just like waking up, after a long, beautiful, 'Inception'-istic dream in limbo.

The world over, cricketers, analysts, journalists and critics have been generous when it comes to describing Sachin Tendulkar at work. Almost all the verdant adjectives have been showered on him. Sachin, without a shadow of doubt, was the most loved sportsperson on the planet; the adoration reaching unprecedented levels in India. A few pundits used their electron-microscopic eye to expose faults in the jewel, forgetting the one conspicuous point: Sachin is just another blue-blood homo sapien in flesh and blood.

Sachin Tendulkar is a testimonial to enlighten us that perfectionism does not occur in nature. Sachin may be the near-perfect out of that horrible imperfects that we all are.

What can one say? Is the word "#Thank you" enough for the rapturous joy we received in the last 2½ decades? "We miss you" is a mild way of expressing our feelings, here is where the problem of the earlier mentioned barrency with the English language.

Personally, it's a hard pill for me to swallow; to accept that the journey which started when I was 9, when my household would wait anxiously and hopefully to see the little, wonderboy appear on field, is finally over. As I grew up, along with Sachin's career, the bond with him only strenghtened, with even my parents who didn't understand the spelling of cricket would sit down to watch Sachin play. Such was the exception for Sachin that my draconian dad would allow me to watch Sachin's batting, just Sachin's batting, during the '96 World Cup which coincided with SSLC exams. I saw the lengthy phase of the young man who single-handedly had to shoulder responsibility of an Indian win, for over a decade, until the Ganguly-Dravid-Laxman era dawned.

And 24 years later, as the incredible sojourn ends, it takes a while to envisage an Indian team, and the game of cricket, without Sachin Tendulkar, though he is now leaving it in a much healthy state than when he was inducted into it.

Look it from Sachin's side, how many cricketing generations has he seen pass through? He has seen the likes of Gavaskar and Kapil bid adeau, he has seen Azhar, Sidhu and the likes fade out, he was right there when Ganguly, Kumble, Dravid came in , blossomed and left, he has seen the likes of Sehwag, Dhoni, Yuvraj and co taking over and blossom (and fade) and now he's overseeing Kohli, Rohit and Pujara bud. Its like watching over the whole world revolve from up there, but we still feel he is one from our neighbourhood. Sachin was able to cut a chord with the Indian middle class that made his the undisputed darling of the nation. India will ever get another one like him? It's an obvious no!

I can still see the 18 year old Sachin when he celebrates after taking a catch. There's hardly one instance where he lost his cool in the quarter-of-a-century of limelight, on or off the field. The world is all over flukes like Beckham who is a hahahaaa when compared to Sachin. Wouldn't Sachin have a wry smile on his lips if he had seen the frentics by the LA paparazzis when the Beckham family made the much trumpeted American move? Sachin experiences a gross times that effect if he steps out anywhere in the world.

Sachin should be, and will be a case study for what he was, not just due to his achievements or numbers, but for the way he presented as a role model to inspire billions, and to raise the bar by rigurous and continuous thrive to improve self, and most importantly, how to give and take respect.

'One'dulkar

In the current social-media era when cricketers are instant celebrities, even the mediocre ones, Sachin always remained the ONE original hero. A family man to the core and a gentleman to the outside world, it bewilders me as to how some section of the population treated him. He has been accused of being 'selfish', placing personal goals and priorities before the cause of the nation. Now tell me how many times India lost or fortified a game because of Sachin? He has been the most selfless cricketer of our times, according to my book, who gave predominant priority to India before any personal goals. And who has Sachin scored all these runs for? That's a good thing to say about someone who contributed so much to Indian cricket..

He was different ever since he broke on the scene; unique not just because of his age, he appeared too young to ever bear the weight of his bat. The bleak match situation seemed suddently hopeful when he walked in at 5/6; there was a radical change in the momentum, the boy just so easily grabbed hold of the pivot. In a side filled with high-ranking seniors like Azhar, Kapil and Manjrekar, it was Sachin that induced panic in the oppisition ranks... Think of those early 90s matches in Sharjah, or outside the subcontinent and you'll know what I mean.

Think about it, when Sachin walked the greens of Karachi, the sperm that created Mohammad Shami hadn't even formed...and Dhoni just got off his nappies...

Who brought the middle class housewives, stubborn husbands, nannies and grand-kids together in front of the TV when a cricket match was going on? Which cricketer ever single-handedly carried the dreams of a billion hearts whenever he appeared in the Indian colours? Did you forget the times when India was a one man army?

And to play with a God-like status, commanding love, admiration and respect from all nook and corners of this world, for 24 years... its just mind boggling!

'God'ulkar

Surely ridiculous, but this is where trust and passion takes over your head. Simple enough, blind faith makes your head believe that Sun revolves around the Earth. Faith which can move mountains, made the religious cricket fans believe their God can do nothing wrong. The element of disbelief and regression when Sachin's exploits failed to produce results was as a result of this disregard of fact: just another glorified ape like you, like me, albeit super evolve.

And Tendulkar saga teaches us one bare fact. Sports, which often is a bonsai life, teaches you that however good you're, may be the best in business, you dont always win. The best dont always win.

The one aspect I see in the legend, with all the charm he possessed he lacked the company of lady luck. I'm not talking about the countless dubious decisions the umpires gave aginst him but about the no of times his teammates let him down after he had played a gem. And who bear all the brunt? Sachin himself for being a choker.. The lady luck played a good part in taking the sheen off many poetic knocks, just because the other 10 cool-dudes bungled at their job.

So it makes you wonder, how much has this 'God' been with Sachin...Obviously not many times...

'Ton'dulkar

It's always been about his numbers for us, aint it? Cricket is THE GAME of numbers; take away the numbers from the game and see what you've got...The roar is more for the Sachin 100 than India's winning runs. Its not just about the 100 100s or the tens of thousands of runs but these numbers are what will define Sachin for the next gen. Just like 99.94 stands for Don for us. Numbers matter for the next gen to remember you, simple and plain.

Sachin is something more than the 30k int'l runs, the 200* in Gwalior, the 0 in WC '03. Mere numbers which may be a statisticians delight, but he is something more..much more..

Perhaps someday, someone will cross the 100 ton record, the 200 Test mark or the total runs aggregate records, but to make millions lose sleep when he is batting on an overnight 90, to cause hundreds of fluttering tummy butterflies when he faces his first delivery or to cause pandemic disappointment and frustration when he misses another ton by a whisker... I doubt if anyone will create such waves.

'Run'dulkar

Runs...Sachin has almost become a synonym for it... Runs. The numbers are just staggering...so much up into the air that it would be like attempting to see Mt Everest's peak from Ground Zero. And its not just those mere mountain of runs; its the beauty and vigor in getting them. The stance, the poise, the effortless fluid style in which those runs were amassed depicts more of a classical poetry; perhaps what appeals to the senses of a knowledgable cricket watcher...more like how the splash of a Monet caricature stands out from those ubiquitous landscape paintings...how a Vintage Mercedes Engine flutters the heart of an automobile-phile.

That is what makes Cricket looks different...the likes of Sachin,Waughs, Lara, DeSilva, Kallis or Dravid differs from en masse...They're poetry in motion.

What makes Sachin the standout from all those great contemporaries was that he could make a bowler bowl where he wanted the bowler to bowl, he could rocket-propel to 3 figures in 71 balls as well as grind one out in 5 Test sessions, could hit an unbeaten 241 even when in poorest of touches, he could cut out his favourite shot for 10 hours and also as per many of his colleagues, could play 6 different shots to the same delivery.

All aside, its 15921 + 18426. Try beating that!

'Duck'ulkar

Reminds me the Tenali Raman tale of fable-age. Godess offered Tenali two pots: one for 'wealth' and other 'intelligence', asking him to choose one. Tenali fooled the Godess by requesting to taste them before drinking, and then gulping down both the cases. Sachin, bestowed with both affluence and an astute cricketing brain, lacked something quintessential: rub of green. Sachin's story has its own crests and troughs, his captaincy stints definitely one of those troughs, with injuries and lack of form threatening his career more than once. But as we look back, the Phoenix always rose up and flew higher when the naysayers thought it had crumbled down to ashes.

Sachin had the tragic fate to lead one of the most lackluster teams of recent times with bowling standards, sans Kumble, were at club-levels. Such a shrewed and agile cricketing brain was all at sea when marshalling the forces, and perhaps the legend that great players never make great captains might be true. Whatever, the whole nation begged to get him off the Captain's seat, because we were missing Sachin the batter dearly. Those times as Indian captain still remain the worst years of Sachin, and he carried on the legend at the helm of Mumbai Indians.

That is life...Anyone who'd think you can live your life tasting only sweetness is living in one hell of a deluded sphere. Even Sachin has had troughs; even Sachin, but you tell me one sportsperson who hasn't had tough times in a carrer spanning a youth-age...This is real life. And get your lesson; see how the man endured. He kept his head down, family close, believed in self and worked hard to redemption is 2008-09. Get your lesson.

As Sachin famously said, he has managed to turn the stones thrown at him into milestones. And after 24 long years here's a call out to the critics. Where are thy all?

Sachin almost resembled the fine wine which mellowed with age, in those golden twilight of his career.

'Win'dulkar

The critics were grossly unfair to the man during the latter years of his career, asking him to hang his boots everytime his wicket fell cheaply. Even after meticulous hundreds with a strike rate of over 90, I've seen a desi-critic frowning over the number of dot-balls he faced. I remember after a hundred in Australia, Ian Chappel noted that Sachin didn't play the hook-shot during his innings, that he ducked to all the short stuff... What can one say about these guys??

Not just the Chappel guys but its a poetic justice to note that the whole bunch of critics had their foots stuck in the mouth after Sachin went on to prove in 2010 that the demons were still bubbling under the surface.

Hard lesson for the unthinking critics, who dared to challenge the legend of the game. Sachin has warmed and won a million hearts zillion times than these fad critics and commentators ever did in their collective careers. In a team sport such as Cricket, to expect two slender clavicles to shoulder the dead-weight, literally the dead weights of the remaining 10 'warriors' against 11 opposition team predators time and time again, must be a walk in the park.

Whoever thinks Sachin's hundreds did not help India win should check their numbers; it'd also help checking your heads before the numbers.

Tendulkar

Sachin has been more than just another cricketing hero. India will not get another role model like him in years to come. In people's heart Sachin will just be the 18 yr old boy who thrilled our senses for the best part of 25 years.

Where in the world, or who in the world can replicate the scenes we saw at Wankhade today, the tears that he brought into the eyes of millions of his fans, commentators and critics from Mumbai to Melbourne, from Dubai to Darwin, from Manchester to Karachi, from the transistor radios of Delhi shantytowns to LED screens of sky-kissing penthouses...This is where the irreplacability of this man, the gravity of his achievements, create an awe in us.

You can hit tons of tons, but earn the respect and admiration of your colleagues, opponents and other contrymen? Just try. That feels like Sachin.

He became much greater than the game itself...not just in India. It's not an IQ 160 scenario to find out where the game is headed in post-Sachin era. Another Sachin won't be born; not in our lifetime. Cricket has lost it's last original class act.

Cricket will never be the same again; it'll now be a rainbow in B&W.

It is this which makes onedulkar, tondulkar, rundulkar and duckular amalgam into one mighty, little, immortal Tendulkar. Surely the most valuable treasure we are all proud of. The Bharat Ratna of our times. Befitting.

This post has one title, one label, its enough. It's a huge privilege writing about Sachin here, I'm happy you're reading this and as I read the readied-draft I shockingly realise that I've failed appallingly to put my original feelings to words.

Blogs can have infinite words, M/s Google? The world is not enough.

Emotions in Motion Page III

noreply@blogger.com (scorpiogenius) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 02:24:00 +0000

Concluding from Part I and Part II. Unforgettable scenes from movies around the globe, this time from Hollywood and World Cinema.

Film: Once Upon a Time in the West
Year: 1968
Director: Sergio Leonie
Cast: Henry Fonda, Charles Bronson
Scene: The Final Duel. Frank learns about his shadowy, nameless nemesis on his very last breath. The film is being heralded as the finest of the Wild West genres, and many sequences have cult status even after 40+ years. 'Once upon a time in the West' and its peachy scenes are being celebrated like no other. The legendary Ennio Moricone and his groovy background score added to the tense aura of this climactic reel. What more to say, Bollywood's own colossal film Sholay is visibly inspired by this movie, especially the Frank introduction and massacre at the beginning of the film. Pure class.

Film: Pulp Fiction
Year: 1994
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Cast: Bruce Willis, Samuel Jackson, John Travolta, Uma Thurman
Scene: The Mia Wallace adrenaline shot scene and build-up. Pulp Fiction is a movie 100% filled by unforgettable characters and legendary scenes. Picking one from this fantastic hip-hop film was quite an effort, but for me the sequence of resuscitating the OD-ing Mia takes the cake. A tense, rip-roaring sequence, absurd at times, but somehow the director managed to load some outrageous humour in the reel, if fact Tarantino has overloaded it with whimsicality. The near-clinical expressions of the characters need special mention, as if it has been a extensively rehearsed scene. Pulp Fiction is one hell of a dark humour-film, without any direct stand-up comedy. Butch, Marcellus Wallace, Pumpkin, Honey Bunny or Vincent Vega, I just can't get enough of PF!

PS: What's it with Pulp Fiction that has made the film a modern epic? I still get my monthly dose of PF on one lazy weekend beer o' clock or late night. I never get tired of it while my wife can't understand what is there in the film that obsesses me. Well? Probably it's a man-thing baby, its a man-thing!

Film: Forrest Gump
Year: 1994
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Cast: Tom Hanks, Robin Wright
Scene: Forrest meets his son for the first time. Tom Hanks lives the perfect role as Private Gump where he exhibits his surprise of finding out that Jenny is a momma, and the shock that he is the dad, followed by the overwhelming anxiety if his son is smart or "like me" and the incessant relief that he was "one of the smartest kids". The ambiguity on how to approach the situation, the overwhelming emotions taking over and the initial attempt to bond with his offspring, "the most beautiful thing in the world" according to him. Subtle scene, great direction and riveting performance. Forrest Gump is one film you must not miss for any reason.

Film: The Shawshank Redemption
Year: 1994
Director: Frank Darabont
Cast: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman
Scene: Andy earns his first serious points with the vicious Sergeant, on way to the Supt, not to mention his mates. The classic movie, out-winding in the foreground of a captivating Morgan Freeman's (Red) voice-over, celebrates what the essence of 'hope' could do to human spirits, even in the distressing and ruthless stetting of a penitentiary. Andy has a purpose behind every single move he makes, not known to anyone except him, even Red, and unleashing the meticulous plan only in that stormy, uncomfortable night at Shawshank, 20 years after he was convicted.

Film: The Dark Knight
Year: 2008
Director: Christopher Nolan
Cast: Christian Dale, Micheal Caine, Heath Ledger
Scene: Joker crashes the mob 'group therapy'. Heath Ledger's unforgettable performance as The Joker was the USP of the Nolan Batman franchise II. Honoured post-humously for the mind-blowing portrayal of arguably the most sinister villains in Hollywood, Heath gave the comic-book character some bold new mannerisms, ruthlessness and coldness. This scene, where the Joker starts off with the 'pencil trick' to lay his cards on the mob table, in their own courtyard, is just a culmination of the evilness Heath could attribute to Nolan's Joker.

Film: Shutter Island
Year: 2010
Director: Martin Scorsese
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo

Scene: The point where Andrew 'snaps'. One of the most disturbing meters of film in World Cinema. The Bipolar Dolores drowns the kids in the lake by the house and waits for Andrew. Andrew's universe collapses around him after seeing the cold, lifeless bodies of his angel-like kids. Andrew loses it, shoots his wife and turns into the monster that he became. 'Shutter Island' goes back from there, though the deep, dark and disturbed labyrinths of Andrew's (Teddy) lost mind and the Psychiatrist's attempt to bring it back to reality from which he was deliberately running away. The kind of mind-f**k movie which warrants more than one viewing to gather all the tangled threads.

Film: Amores Perros (Spanish)
Year: 2000
Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu
Scene: Anticlimax. The 3 threads reach their reel end. El Chivo decides he's had enough, leaves the sinful brothers to their ambiguous fate and returns to the previous self after 20 long years. The transformation is quite remarkable; almost unrecognisable from the wretched image prior to it. In the meantime Octavio waits in futile for Susana who was never going to turn up, and leaves the city probably for the last one time. And as El Chivo departs his squalor, the massive, sexy hoarding of Valeria is being brought down, probably leaving her with the lone faithful companion in life: her dog Richie. This coming-of-age Mexican movie tells the tale of love; that of the treachery of man and the honesty of dogs. In fact dogs play a vital role in all the three threads in the movie. Love's a bitch. Amores Perros.

Film: Amelie (French)
Year: 2001
Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Scene: Amelie finds and returns the long-lost childhood collection of 'Bretodeau'. Amelie's search for small pleasures in life reciprocates to her finding 'absolute harmony'. In the backdrop of the fair city of Paris, which is a strong character in the film, Amelie is a whimsical feel-good movie of everything good in life, not of the Utopian category, but of ordinary humans leading extra-ordinarily simple lives. The fast-paced, clippy movie rushes through the virtuous protagonist's search for goodness-rich life which culminates in her finding true love.

The list is potentially unending, and I had to leave out some of my all-time favourite scenes from Inglourious Basterds, An Officer and a Gentleman, Father of the Bride etc. Rest assured, cinema still is the most influential medium of entertainment in the new age just because it's been most successful in realistically portraying and transferring basic human emotions from the stage to our hearts.

Angels of a forgotten league

noreply@blogger.com (scorpiogenius) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:37:00 +0000

We all know this one thing about Nurses, especially nurses in India. Over-worked, inhumanly underpaid, systematically abused and vulnerable to all kinds of exploitation. Not to mention the constant emotional and physical harassment being meted out by co-workers, superiors, patients, by-standers, passer byes and the society itself as a whole.

Nursing in the democratic Republic of India cuts a sorry saga. Its still in Jurassic era. The femme-oriented profession represents a perfect cross-section of the abject, rural, middle-class Indian woman: enduring, submissive, tolerant, obliging and expected to absorb everything and anything like a super-giant sponge. Even with all the social and financial leaps the nation has made, Nurses in India still shy away or are deliberately kept out of mainstream socio-political advancements.

I'm forced to come out of my short blogging hibernation because of two factors:

The ongoing nurses agitations and not-so-surprising stories of cruel exploitation dribbling out from various corners of the nation.
Being a Registered Nurse myself, it's my duty and responsibility to stand up and fight for the vocation which provides me my livelihood.

There is more to it. It's not just the pay-scale, working conditions or the abuse which has appalled me. It was the incessant apathy some sections of society exhibit towards nurses and the profession, even during times of need. Even in this nifty age, large sections of our parochial society still view nurses as pure sex symbols or as easy-to-trod-on defenceless creatures, credits to India's socioculturally hierarchical background and our equally partisan film/ entertainment industry. Personal and professional respect is something the unfortunate, hard-working and extremely loyal nurses in our country never received, or expected.

Kerala has been a torch-bearer in Nursing profession in India, mainly due to Christian-dominated Central Travancore pockets. Easy job opportunities, chances in the affluent Middle-East and the West allured young women with an attitude to care. Over time, with the career graph looking up, the male gender and even sections of Hindu and Muslim societies which once frowned upon the profession, took up the job. Negative stereotype gradually got replaced by an opulent image, though some cliched caricatures still linger.

One aspect which increased the luminosity of the 'white frock', apart from the larger Catholic population, is the America-magnet, which was direct effect of the quality of Nursing education in Kerala. The reference books and curriculum is set cent-percent on Western standards which made that India-to-America transition a hell lot easier. The curriculum, especially the 3 year Diploma and 4 year Bachelor's Degree Course offers a comprehensive syllabus with generous clinical hours, on par with any advanced countries in the West. Precisely why Kerala Nurses are much sought after in the civilised world. But that's where the high standards in Indian Nursing end, unfortunately. I mean, with the curriculum.

Nobody bothers to glance into how well/ ill equipped our state or country is in helping nurses adhere to the Professional Code of Ethics, crucial in maintaining the standard and dignity of the profession. In the unregulated Private sector, a Nurse looks after 20-30 patients in a General ward when she should be handling 10; working hours are a gruelling 12-15 hours with lack of proper breaks, 6 days-a-week rosters, no sick leave or non-existent annual leave allocations, shift allowances are unheard of and a salary which would just about pay the laundry, transport and hairdressing charges. All this, after putting up with unruly administrators, Medical Officers, patients and relatives and an often pathetic infrastructure.

Private Nursing schools and Hospitals view the educational programme and workforce an easy way to save and mint money. Nursing students are substituted for free, quality labour to local hospitals and nursing homes. Students are forced to work hands-on in all Medical and allied Departments rather than attaining the goal of learning their trade. The real torture and exploitation happens when the freshly graduated nurses venture out to practice the job. Most hospitals exploit this free-labour in the name of 'bond' and 'internship' by offering stipends and salaries which range from Rs500-1000/month.

That's what you get for keeping awake all night watching over a living, breathing human? A securityman at the nearby morgue gets 10 times more for snoozing over dead bodies.

Worst of all, in such a female oriented profession, getting pregnant means a frightful prospect of losing the job by childbirth. Most private hospitals in our 'cultured' society does not provide nurses any sort of Maternity Leave or benefits; and they force the nurses to resign...Oh yes, life isn't fair, isn't it...Endure?

In plain words, this is modern day slavery.

The situation of these selfless women, and men, should've shaken up the pillars of any ethical, democratic society long time back...Well, that's what our society is NOT...Ethical or democratic. Or compassionate.

But in the 'emerging' India hungry for a change, Nurses eventually decided "Enough is enough!" and chose to wage the war themselves.

The first major upheaval which occurred in Asian Heart Hospital, Mumbai, following the suicide of a Staff Nurse, has opened the flood gates for similar onslaught on high-and-mighty managements across the country, including in Kerala. The feeble voices of a scattered, non-unionized females had never scared the fat-cow managements in the past, and some chose to retest their previously successful model of 'intimidation, threatening and abuse'. Some bosses tried 'Quotation gangs' while in Cochin, a luxury 'charity' Hospital run by a prolific 'Godwoman' used their influence to manhandle the striking nurses using the Police!

Befitting a 'God', certainly! Well, when have God ever treated humans in a civilised way, especially the Nurses? Someone said to me Nurses are expected to be like candles, provide love and light by burning itself out. Lest you forget, that the same candle can severely burn your bum.

The strikes in Kerala, this time, have caused more than a flutter among the political and social circles. The iron fist and one-upmanship attempts by the Hospital administrators didn't yield the desired results as the agitation gained widespread public sympathy and support this time.There were funny sides too, the cream of it being the Indian Medical Association (IMA) asking the authorities to enforce ESMA on the strike; IMA is notorious for engaging in lightening strikes and arm-twisting tactics at the drop of a hat!

Perhaps if you look at it in another way, nurses severely missed a strong representative union like the IMA. The one's nurses had, the spineless Trained Nurses Association of India (TNAI) and accreditation bodies like the inefficient and corrupt Indian Nursing Council (INC) are just bad jokes to discuss here. I'm saying nothing more about those pitiable organisations...

The Govt, though reluctant at first, have come out in support of Nurse's agitation. Labour Ministry and the Honourable High Court took a good step forward to ensure that Nurses are paid minimum wages, at least 9000/month, and better leave and working conditions. Opposition Leader VS Achutanandan, social and political leaders, Women's and Youth Organisations and common public en masse stood behind the striking nurses this time.

Anyone who wants to see the bare facts, the Nurses are NOT fighting for a piece of the moon. A decent wage to feed themselves and their kids, safety and security at work, to practice their vocation within set guidelines and to earn their living with dignity and respect.

Who says it's too much?

The only belly-ache was from the greedy hospital administrators who thought they could nakedly violate the Minimum Wages Act (from Labour Dept website) for decades and could get away with it.

Let's think about this. It is a Nurse who receives each and every life born into this world into their arms, who watches over each breath of our near and dear ones at their worst times and who sacrifice their sleep to care for them at wee hours when we're fast asleep under the covers. What justice or culture is it to treat the guardian angels of life in such inhuman ways just because their collective voices didn't have enough dB to be heard over the cling of money? When even a lesser productive Govt clerk with basic education earns 5-digit salary, a fully qualified Nurse is thrown crumbs.

Nurses are inevitable components of any health set up; especially when India struggles to protect the health of Indian women who give birth to our next generation. The more power they're given, the better it is for the society.

We're going through a phase in our history where the oppressed and the subjugates rise...and revolt, bringing down great temples of power. The anti-corruption movement in India, the Arab Spring, the "Occupy" protests...and now the 'Angels' Uprising'. Sometimes we've to believe justice will be served, even if late.

Emotions in Motion: Page II

noreply@blogger.com (scorpiogenius) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:02:00 +0000

Continuing from Part I list which featured a handful of personal favourite scenes from the long lost 'golden age' of Malayalam cinema. Taking a look at the films made outside Malluland, and as I said, films transcend barriers of language, culture and nationality because human emotions are the same everywhere. Apologies for not wandering into Tamil or Bengali film duniya, where I believe more quality films are being made than what our desi-Hollywood churns out. Reason: I don't watch much of them to fill-in a blog post.

Film: Halo

Year: 1996
Director: Santhosh Sivan
Cast: Benaf Dadachanji, Rajkumar Santhoshi
Scene: Sasha finds her Halo after much perseverance, with the whole of Mumbai city lining behind her. But then she encounters something which changes it all. Sasha leaves her puppy behind, the innocence and compassion of her young, brave and kind heart is evident in the closing shot of that honest, painful smile of hers. When Children's Movies are losing relevance in our film industry, Santhosh Sivan's simplistic presentation of a butterfly-esque storyline shows why we need to focus more on kiddies films. As said before, there is nothing like a good film which can touch and influence our lives, and that of our kids.

Film: Dil Chahta Hai
Year: 2001
Director: Farhan Akhtar
Cast: Aamir Khan, Akshay Khanna, Saif Ali Khan, Preity Zinta
Scene: Akash's moment of redemption. This clip summarizes the philosophy of Dil Chahta Hai. Akash, realizing he has been horribly wrong about relationships in life, tries to speak to Sameer to relieve his heavy heart. But his subconscious, overwhelmed by the guilt from his past act against Sid, dials Sid's number instead. The once-obnoxious and ever-resilient Akash breaks down, feeling terribly lonely and remorseful, realises what he has done, and what he has been missing. Akash flies back home to straighten his broken and tangled ties, also to get back what he knew meant most to him at that point of time: the woman he loves.

PS: Equally riveting is the climactic sequence when the trio meets again in the Hospital. The "just turn around" scene brought tears to the eyes, ironically to the male audiences, a telltale sign of how well connected the movie has been with the 'rougher' sex in exploiting their strange emotional sensitivity, or lack of it?

Film: Kabhi haan kabhi naa
Year: 1993
Director:
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Suchitra Krishnamoorthy, Nasseruddin Shah
Scene: Chris's and Anna's wedding scene. Shah Rukh Khan's best performance to date by miles, before his transformation from Shah Rukh Khan to SRK. This feel-good movie against the backdrop of Goa and its culture portrays a class of Bollywood movies which have totally become extinct. Khan's expression from 0.55s to 1.14s proves that the man can indeed act! Ironically, Shah Rukh is the lone character in the film who portrays tinges of negativity in his role amongst a make-merry society pictured in the film.

Film: Munna Bhai MBBS
Year: 2003
Director: Rajkumar Hirani
Cast: Sanjay Dutt, Sunil Dutt, Boman Irani
Scene: Dr. Astana clinically exhumes Munna Prasad Sharma's play-act. This emotionally charged up scene has acclaimed performances from the Dutt family, Boman Irani. Munna Bhai MBBS enters the Bollywood hall-of-fame because the in-charge guys got the script right. The dew-drops of humour always laced within the realms of those reels, even in the draining scene below, made this film an all time hit, which propelled even bigger sequels.

Film: Sholay
Year: 1976
Director: Ramesh Sippy
Csat: Sanjeev Kumar, Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan
Scene: Gabbar Singh's Russian Roulette. It was tough to pick one scene from a reel-full of memorable scenes from Sholay, India's evergreen wonder-movie. Gabbar Singh's intro sequence is picked just for its cold, pulsating, anything-can-happen-anytime feel about it and the ruthless way the villain's psychotic traits are exposed to the audience. Amjad Khan, Amitabh and Sanjeev Kumar's legendary characters and the hip-hop dialogues made Sholay what it is today. The movie itself kicked started a formula in Hindi film industry, a hero-villain-revenge plot, which ruled our screens for decades before the triangle love stories completely took over.

Film: Mr India
Year: 1987
Director: Shekhar Kapoor
Casr: Anil Kapoor, Sreedevi
Scene: Sreedevi's famous wet saree song. All this ado for just a song? Rain-Saree erotica wasn't exhibited for the first time on celluloid but "kaate nahi katte" created a template for sensualitica for Bollywood and other language films. The voluptuous figurine of the super-gorgeous Sreedevi in the plain peacock-blue satin saree skipped many a heartbeats, including yours truly's. (Now you know why this one got 'special' ;-])This bona fide superhero movie featured the late Mr. Amrish Puri as the evil blonde villain Mogambo. His punchline "Mogambo khush hua" still lingers around in our movie reels. RIP Amrish Puri,one of the best 'specialist' villains in Indian Cinema.

Film: Company
Year: 2002
Director: RamGopal Varma
Cast: Ajay Devgan, Vivek Oberoi, Mohanlal
Scene: Malik meets Sreenivasan. Mohanlal illustrates his acting skills in the most meticulous way in the RGV thriller in this short, high-voltage scene. The heavy, uneasy air is cut only by the ridiculous ease with which Mohanlal performed by enacting a real-life character, delivering the dialogues and playing with the paper-weight at the same time (which amazed co-actor Vivek Oberoi) and the cold, fearless character of Malik.

Film: Swades
Year: 2004
Director: Ashutosh Gowariker
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Gayathri Joshi
Scene: The boy with the water-pot at the Railway Station. This is as best and realistic as Bollywood and SRK could get. The suave Jaguar-driving NASA nerd gets to understand the ocean between the privileged and the under-privileged. On way back after aching rendezvous with the outcast, defaulted peasant, Mohan encounters the boy who sells water for 25p on the desolate Railway Station. The scene where the boy counts the pennies he earned while the train leaves him behind has been pretty realistically picturised without the melodrama of Bollywood. AR Rahman's background score adds flavour to the scene.

To be concluded in Part III, and you guessed it right. Odes from my personal collection of World Cinema, not just from Hollywood.

Santhosh Pandit Phenomenon: Pun Unintended

noreply@blogger.com (scorpiogenius) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 14:37:00 +0000

Our Lord! Condemn us not if we forget or fall into error; our Lord! Lay not on us a burden Like that which Thou didst lay on those before us; Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Blot out our sins, and grant us forgiveness. Have mercy on us. Thou art our Protector.

- The Noble Quran 2:286

Doordarshan in the early 90's had aired a short but extremely popular satiric comedy series called Flop Show. The extremely well-made show featured Jaspal Bhatti and his characteristic intentional self-mockery. The attributes of the show were evident from the fact that the title credits rolled out under headers "Misdirection", "Over-acting", "Underground Singers", "Hair-Spoiler", "Graphic Defects" and so on.

The individual we're going to read about here has a notable trait of the Jaspal Bhatti show. He has created something which fits perfectly into all those titles Mr.Bhatti had created. Only that the pun here is largely unintended. Yeah,we're going to discuss about the phenomenon, Messrs Santhosh Pandit.

I'm pretty confident that 3.5 crore Malayalees are now familiar with the name 'Santhosh Pandit', who've descended on us via www, grew in stature thanks to the ubiquitous social media, and conquered our Newspapers, News & Entertainment Channels and lastly the cinema theaters, a glowing case-study to what the new-age social media can do to/for you.(Also a case study for Clinical Psychologists and Management students)

In the delirious aftermath of the release of Krishnanum Radhayum and the phenomenal cult-following & theatricality, one begs to answer this riddle: How, why and what the...?

Krishnanum Radhyum is a very amateur 'film' (if you can call you that), from a very very amateuristic wannabe film-maker with an even immature, rare and confusing personality traits, on a shoe-string budget. It's unintentional self-mockery at its best, the art of film-making at its worst.

There is hardly anyone left who hasn't exploited the strange behavioural aspects of this young 'lost' man. The media houses, 'bourgois' film-makers and social media geeks find their own ways to mock and ridicule this avatar, Malayala Manorama taking the matter to pathetic lows. I too plead guilty, for I'm using my blog and Twitter to get some free-thoughts in on this spectacle.

Happened to watch one interview on Reporter Channel the other day. Ironically, Santhosh Pandit managed to shut out even seasoned reporter Nikesh Kumar. Not just Nikesh, all seasoned interviewers and presenters have been overwhelmingly vanquished by the Santhosh Express.

Nevertheless, one thing strikes me: This guy still doesn't get it, does he? I'm certain he'll never get it.

"This film has created a wave just like 'Subrahmanyapuram' created in TN".

"No one has the right to criticize me. I did 18 works, even Balachandra Menon did only 4-5 works"

"Current film makers feel threatened by me. They're attempting to create a ruckus by deliberately creating a negative opinion"

Awesome. There lies the basic character of this guy. He is all too confident and proud of his talent, creativity and novelty. The problem is; only he does. Someone said on TV that this is a case of "Narcissistic Personality Disorder". Difficult to argue, there IS evident deviancy.

Saying that, I mean talking about this pride and confidence, these are the same attributes which Ranji Panicker had when he wrote "Praja", Thambi Kannanthanam had when he directed "Onnaman", and Ram Gopal Varma had when he created "RGV ki Aag". I'm not mentioning the quality of the never-ending mega-serials, especially the erstwhile sops from Madhu Mohan, JK, Ananthapuri and co, we were forced to watch before the dawn of Satellite TV. So Santhosh Pandit can be forgiven for feeling good about it. At least he has lived upto his reputation.

An industry which has become some sort of a graveyard for newcomers, Pandit has given role to 100+ newcomers. Although the fact may be that most of them may not be proudly typing Krishnanum Radhayum on their Curriculum Vitae.

I sincerely hope this won't become a parallel cinema for Malluland. Even if it does, there wont be much degradation in quality. After years of stagnation we're getting to see some new life back in Malluwood. Some seriously fresh themes and actors have come forward to treat the rust slowly evading out industry. Pandit, definitely, is NOT among them but still his success and the debates it kicked off may prompt some bigwigs to do a self-assessment. Them pointing a finger at Pandit would surely mean the old saying of 3 pointing back at themselves.

Channels and newspapers competed top get this phenomenon aired to improve their TRP and buy a chunk of this internet sensation. In Tamil, a sort of a sensation came and went, called Sam Anderson and his film "Yaarukku Yaaro" which sorta created a benchmark for mock fan following. Nothing as epic as Krishnanum Radhayum though :P

"Yaarukku Yaaro" full film here. (Read disclaimer before clicking the link)

Youth of malluland who thronged the theaters NEVER expected a Dasharadham on screen. This is cartoon, sans the graphics. Call it mock-porn. They've got their 3 hours of non-stop entertainment, don't ask me which way, but still it's full-time enjoyment our mainstream film-makers hardly manage to give us. Let's not talk about the artistic value of the movies we've been receiving in the last one-and-half-decade.

The hard truth is that we're now in a transitional phase where the Gold Standards set by Padmarajan, Lohithadas, MT, Aravindaan, Bharathan have long deserted us, and this is the lowest one could get. We've ceased to make classics, and we can't even create Parody Films mocking the way our Superstars and their 'support' staff get about their job.

Parody Films are serious work of art which sometimes get critical acclaim. They have an intention. Krishnanum Radhayum differs from mainstream parody movies in that it is 'serious'. Except for the comedy scenes, Pandit never for a moment intended mockery, as this has turned out to be. Leave it as it is, but genuine Mockbusters are one area Malluwood ought to explore more to bring some audience interest back. Am I the only one seeing a gold pot here, giving the existing drama and flop-shows going on in the industry?

There has been one "Thamizh Padam" created across the Ghats which won accolades for the way a few new comers dared to mock the contemporary style and theme of film-making.

The one positive out of all this, except for financial success and fame for Santhosh, must be that this may make some serious, talented, original film-lovers 'who know their abilities and limitations', to come forward into out dried out film-scape and hit some random oasis. Parallel film could blossom outside the devilish clutches of a few 'stars' and their cronies. No need to lick the boots of the bigwigs; if you're sure you have it in you, then go for it. At worst, you'll still turn out something much better than Santhosh Pandit. #win-win

Make no mistake about it, many film-makers have turned legends by taking the first step the hard way, without any Godfathers. Christopher Nolan made his first movie 'Following' for a mearge $6000, using the cheaper Black & White reels, working only on weekends when his friends were off work. Nolan learned about film-making for years, carefully planned his debut film by doing most of the works like script, editing & camera. 'Following' was the stepping-stone for Nolan onto movie-magics such as Memento, Dark Knight etc.

If this Pandit phenomenon inspires new talent who're aware of their strengths and weaknesses, to come forward into our industry, then this could be one lone but big positive out of all this.

One thing we need not do is waste more time on our man, he'll continue to 'entertain' us with more tomfoolery. The Internet and social media will do it's job, but when our accredited news channels take up the job to publicly and intentionally mock and insult this man, that is where things cross the mark.

This is a great cause of itch for serious-minded people and film industry experts but that's a general principle: Mayhem in order always gets attention. I've enjoyed every bit of it. Now that the hype is almost over, our 'serious' media houses can gather their thinking hats on and re-assess weather this passing shower needs more coverage.

All because his tagline appears to be:

"Love me or hate me, you just can't ignore me!"

:)

Emotions in motion: Page I

noreply@blogger.com (scorpiogenius) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 03:23:00 +0000

Exceptional creations of art have one feature in common: they stand the test of time. Their beauty and value multiplies over time, providing sheer delight to those who can appreciate the finesse. Movies touch our lives like no other medium of entertainment; the tales and emotions packed into those reels cut a chord with the real life of the audience. I present my personal choice of a few highly artistic moments from some unforgettable movies in Malayalam language over the past few decades which still continue to touch and thrill our senses.

Film: Namukku parkkan munthirithoppukal
Year: 1986
Director: Padmarajan
Cast: Mohanlal, Thilakan, Shaari
Scene: Climax. Solomon returns for Sofia. He honks twice but Sofia doesn't come out as promised. Solomon breaks into the property, anticipating the scuffle with Sofia's evil step-dad, who has already violated Sofia and has no better plans for Solomon. But Solomon overwhelms the man and carries his girl away. The lorry, which is a strong, persistent character in the movie, disappears into the hazy-dark dawn taking the couple to their vineyard haven where Solomon has promised his love for Sofia. Unforgettable finale to the most charismatic love story ever told in Malayalam.

NB: Padmarajan, apparently, was a touch sceptical about how the audience would receive the climax where the hero goes off with a despoiled woman. Cameraman Venu, who ferociously argued in favour of it said he wouldn't be doing the movie if the climax was altered. Pappettan had to succumb!

Film: Thoovanathumbikal
Year: 1987
Direcotr: Padmarajan
Cast: Mohanlal, Sumalatha
Scene: Climax. Clara agrees to see Jayan one last time. Neglecting his fiancee's (Radha) staunch warning, he goes to the Railway Station to bid adieu to the woman who taught him the first lessons in love, subconsciously relegating his guilt for causing her lose her virginity. Jayan and Clara meets and parts, being anxiously watched by Radha from a distance. Padmarajan wove this sensitive and explosive theme so aesthetically that Thoovanathumbikal is still very much a family film; no stigma attached. We miss you Pappetta!

Film: Innale
Year: 1989
Director: Padmarajan
Cast: Shobhana, Jayaram, Suresh Gopi
Scene: Climax: Suresh Gopi's heart-wrenching cameo stole the show. Narendran comes in search for 'Maya', something Appu always feared deep down his heart. Maya welcomes Narendran into the house, not knowing he is her husband from the 'erased' past. Appu senses that he may lose Maya, steals some time off during the meeting to share some intimate moments with her. A heart-broken Narendran leaves without revealing the truth, accepting that he has no presence in her present. Title credits roll on as the car leaves the meadows obliterating the last possible connection from Maya's long lost past.

Film: Nokkethadoorathu Kannum nattu
Year: 1984
Director: Fazil
Cast: Padmini, Nadia Moythu, Mohanlal
Scene: Climax: Kunjoonjamma drugs Girlie to sleep, her final few moments in that house. She is taken away by the Ambulance personnel as Sreekumar brings her belongings down. Mohanlal shows his brilliance in that short sequence but its about Padmini's Kunjoojamma all the way. This sequence was devoid of Fazil's occasional burst of melodrama which did enhance the melancholic scene but the climax is an outright winner. Girlie is carried away to meet her almost certain fate but Kunjoojamma fixes the call bell back on the portico hoping that someday Girlie will return to use it.

Film: Manichitrathazhu
Year: 1993
Director: Fazil
Cast: Shobhana, Suresh Gopi, Mohanlal
Scene: Ganga transforms into Nagavalli. Egged on by Dr. Sunny, Nakulan approaches Ganga, still not convinced about his wife's severe and dangerous psychiatric condition. Nakulan enacts the pre-written script to intimidate Ganga into revealing her darker twin-personae much to his astonishment. This National Award winning performance by Shobhana is backed up by the superlative dubbing by Bhagyalakshmi and exceptional screenplay and direction.

Film: Oru Vadakkan Veeragadha
Year: 1989
Director: Hariharan
Cast: Mammooty, Suresh Gopi, Madhavi
Scene: The end of Chathiyan Chandu. Mammooty's National Award winning performance provides impossible perfection to a once-in-a-lifetime MT script. The impeccable portrait of Chandu and exceptional dialogue delivery by Mammooty have made this movie a timeless masterpiece.

Film: Kireedam
Year: 1989
Director: Sibi Malayil
Cast: Mohanlal, Thilakan
Scene: The making of Sethumadhavan. Mohanlal's portrait of an unforgettable Lohitadas's character gave rise to one of the most emotionally draining climaxes ever in Malayalam film history. The film and character had been so popular that it was remade into many languages but none could match the way Lal gave life to the volatile and tragic metamorphosis of Sethumadavan.

Film: Sandesham
Year: 1991
Director: Satyan Anthikkad
Cast: Thilakan, Jayaram, Sreenivasan
Scene: The famous 'Poland' scene. A mirror to contemporary Kerala political situation, this extremely simplified and satiric classic is increasingly becoming relevant, food for thought even during present times. Sreenivasan's best script to date, Sandesham's social angles and philosophies join to scribble a rejoinder to the severely marginalized and mostly concurrent Kerala political scenario.Talk about realistic movies with a strong message!

Films transcend the barriers of language and culture in depicting and exploring human emotions and behaviour. Part II of this post will feature my favourite scenes from beyond Malayalam and Indian cinema.

Independence Day Greetings!

noreply@blogger.com (scorpiogenius) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 02:15:00 +0000

The lady we love most is 64 today!

Still she is young, exuberant, poignant and versatile. Young, though she has a proud, priceless tradition of over a thousand years, but the aura of spiritual enlightenment still keeps in check the values she beholds when the new era surges at breakneck speed.

At 64, curiously, she exhibits the issues of an adolescent teenager than a world-wise mother. Blame it on the years preceding the 64, if you like, but past seldom solves today's issues.

At 64, the caricature is different from different angles...These snapshots if made into a collage may present us with a frozen-frame-in-time of the present day India.

with astounding cultural and traditional heritage

with the uncanny ability to spring back instantly from cruel, sleazy back-stabbings

the citizens, whose knowledge and skills are much valued at home and abroad

and whose ideas and achievements make us proud like no other

but yet can't dismantle the concretely set stereotypes of self

whose problems are much more than a handful of individuals

fuelled by an excruciatingly ineffective, uninspirational, uncharacteristic leadership

where no pillars of democracy have so far been effective in taming the menace

where solutions themselves become bigger problems

But we have faces which could hide any tears behind those radiant eyes and honest hearts

and people who could inspire millions, if not billions..and nations and continents

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uu-0vTOHJ44

to keep the spirit of this nation afloat in viscous, non-buoyant waters

As long as there's HOPE left in Pandora's box, we will keep smiling

and we will rejoice that August 15th 1947 happened!

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

Google Earth Kerala: Charting the change

noreply@blogger.com (scorpiogenius) — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 16:31:00 +0000

Google Earth has been progressively updating the eagle's eye view of Indian subcontinent. Being a travel and places buff, an enthusiast for urbanity, development and dynamics, I've found it pretty fascinating. Take a look and see the dynamics from the heavens.

Full and continuous updating of new Google Earth imagery is right here on this thread of Urban and Architectural Forum Skyscrapercity Forum. Go on, click and it will open in a new tab ---> Kerala towns and cities: Google Earth. Do sit back and enjoy with a cup of tea.

Trivandrum NH Bypass in 2005, and at present. Pictures tell the tale, highrises are comprehensively edging out coconut tree-tops along this stretch.

Technopark fringes. The 150hp engine behind Trivandrum's surge forward surely does exhibit the graphic metamorphosis of the once quaint suburb.

Phase III of Technopark has erased the greenery along the NH Bypass. Necessary evil of progress. But all for good.

Massive Software Campuses of Infosys and UST Global rising side-by-side. And in 2016 this frame will be completely filled by some iconic modern structures.

City dynamics. Pattom Junction. The erstwhile Gateway to the city is now a thriving downtown area. Numerous apartments and commercial complexes stand testimony to this.

Cochin. Kakkanad. Infopark.You know it all! The massive Wipro Software Development Campus fills the frame.

Panampally Nagar, Cochin. The premiere residential enclave is almost a concrete Amazon!

Green makes way to cleared, brown patches of land, then transformed into highrise shelters. Cochin vista continues...

Vallarpadam Container Terminal taking shape in 2005, followed by the finished product in 2011.

Marine Drive (Extension). Kerala's most premium waterfront address taking shape in 2005, and the present state. New bridges to the western archipelago and the waterfront boulevard connecting the North-western fringes of the city are ready now.

New apartments fill the waterfront montage on Marine Drive (Shanmugham Road) , Cochin.

The islands on Cochin backwaters have transformed since getting connected to the mainland. Vallarpadam Terminal and the Petronet LNG Complex seen here.

Kannur. Even smaller Kerala towns haven't shied away from embracing highrise culture. First image from early 2006.

Payyambalam Beach front, Kannur. Highrises propping up here and there making way for another gorgeous residential setting.

Lot more images are there in the Skyscrapercity link above. Do bookmark for continued and thorough updates from the members. Always thanks to M/s Google! :)

On way just have a look at the development showcased below. Let's look in an anachronic manner on this one, I'll show you how Hyderababd International Airport looks from above.

And this is how the placed looked in 2005. Oye!

Perhaps the most impressive and landmark model development must be the Sabarmati Riverfront Development in Ahmedabad. The administrators of Gujrat's commercial capital have drastically changed the way River Sabarmati was viewed by the citizens. Kudos to the Gujrat Government. These sets of images prove my point.

The set of Google Earth images chart the rebirth of Sabarmati, which was another stagnant, clogged urban chokeway in 2007, but has now metamorphosed into the free-flowing bluewaters in 2011.

This will make matters more clear... Sabarmati in 2007

from Feursten's Flickr Gallery

and in 2011

For decades, we, down in Trivandrum, have been shouting and begging for our TS Canal to be cleansed, made navigable and to turn the historic waterway into a waterfront haven for Trivandrum. Apart from ourselves developing sore throats, nothing has happened so far. There is no dearth of projects but there is one crucial difference. It stays put on paper.

One of my old photo-blogs depicts this sorry tale. Please do take a look >> TS Canal: A passage through time (Link opens in a new tab)

Those who think such developments aren't possible in Kerala, think again. If Gujarat could turn the clogged and dead Sabarmati into a world-class waterfront boulevard then why we cant we do the same? The funds we received for it as part of National Waterway III were allowed to lapse. Criminal! Surely we're missing something the Gujjus have in plenty.

It's called will-power.

A tale of three cities

noreply@blogger.com (scorpiogenius) — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 10:30:00 +0000

This is a story of numbers, as it is a story of cities, but not a complicated one. Plain and simple mathematics when you look at it from my perspective, and from any common man's or business man's perspective. And those numbers portray a simple murky scheme, the way we, the people, are held at ransom by a few 'real' bourgeois, not the extinct feudal variety our Commie friends fight in their dreams.

Now aren't we all able to see through that?

The numbers & information in this post are mostly derived from Indianrailinfo.com. Sleeper Class data is based on the total SL coaches allocated to a train and does not reflect on the actual no of seats available for reservation between two cities. Eg: Kottayam- Bangalore sector may only have approx 100 berths in a 10 Sleeper Class, 720-seater Express Train. Trivandrum Central has been used as the base point for the post.

City #1 Mangalore

Distance: 635 km
Capital of Dhakshina Kannada
Gateway to Konkan Railway and on to Mumbai and Gujarat
2 lakh Malayalees
Commercially imprtant city for North Malabar and a major educational hub for the whole of Kerala
Major Port and industrial city

Connectivity:
Road: Numerous Bus operators run overnight from all major towns.
Air: Kingfisher and Air India Express fly direct from Cochin
Railways:

6 daily Express trains including Netravati Express.
Total no: of trains available per week between two cities 15. This includes a Rajadhani Express, Kerala Samparka Kranthi and Kochuveli- Mumbai Garib Rath.
Another half a dozen trains run via Mangalore from Ernakulam.
Sleeper Class coaches available per week: 140 including 6 Super Fast services [inclusive of a Rajadhani, Samparka Kranti and Garib Rath] Two daily day-services, Parasuram and Eranad Expresses also service the two cities.

City #2 Chennai

Distance from Trivandrum: 909 km
Capital of Tamil Nadu
Major transit point for air travel and other Indian cities
5 lakh Malayalees
South India's major industrial, IT and entertainment hub.

Connectivity:
Road: State and Private operators ply overnight luxury bus services.
Air: Around half a dozen daily flights from Cochin and Trivandrum.
Railways:

4 daily Express trains, exclusive between Chennai & Trivandrum. The new budget has presented another Duranto which takes the number to 5
3 more Express/ Super Fast daily services from Ernakulam.
Korba- Akalyanagari- Raptisagar Expresses which operates on all days except Friday, run via Chennai Central.
Total trains connecting Chennai to Trivandrum stands at 11
Sleeper Class coaches available per week: 126. Includes 6 Super-Fasts [viz the Chennai Mail and the newly introducing Duranto]

City #3 Bangalore

Distance 840 km
Karnataka Capital City
IT hub of India; important city for Kerala's lone growing industry
10 lakh Malayalees

Connectivity:

Road: Private bus operators make merry at nearly double the fares on Chennai sector (for lesser distance)
Air: Over half a dozen daily flights from Cochin and Trivandrum.
Railway:

1 daily train from Trivandrum! That too the moving disgrace called Island Express.
Another daily express operates from Ernakulam.
A total of 6 trains connect Bangalore all the way down to Trivandrum
Sleeper class coaches available per week: 64.
One lone Superfast which runs 1 day a week! Then there's a tri-weekly GaribRath. So in fact, the no: of daily Super Fast trains connecting Trivandrum and Bangalore is a big, fat, mind-boggling 0

This Bangalore situation is so diabolical when you see that even Air travel is so well flourishing between Bangalore and Cochin/ Trivandrum, so demand or viability for another half-a-dozen daily Super Fasts is clear as daylight. Even Mumbai, a distant 1600+km of wilderness away from Trivandrum has 3 daily trains from Kerala, and a total of 17 trains a week passing through Panvel or directly to CST/ Kurla.

There've been persistent demands and agitations for better rail connectivity to Bangalore ever since the city gained its IT Hub status over 20 years back, and the excruciatingly slow Island Express is the lone daily train connecting Kerala's IT Hub at Trivandrum. Apart from the erratic new weekly services announced once in a blue moon, and that too deliberately on low-demand days, these petitions and cries have fallen on deaf ears.

The last of this cruel treatment of public has been the sudden rescheduling of the #12683 Ernakulam- Bangalore Express, which, following passenger agitation has been reinstated. [See Facebook page of Save 12683 Express for more details]

I'm drawing no conclusions to the tale; I leave you to draw your own. But is it too hard to understand, analyse or guess how Indian Railways are acting a business accomplice to private transport establishments?

As I said in the beginning, who isn't able to see the scheme of things? Crystal balls anyone?

Once upon a time in Trivandrum

noreply@blogger.com (scorpiogenius) — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 10:24:00 +0000

Aryabhatta and ancient Indian mathematicians would've never imagined on how their '0' would run out of conceivable, comprehensible limits. First the CAG of the country put the nation in shock-o-shambles when our Corporates & Ministers drained the treasury dry, but now those exorbitant numbers have turned to pure euphoria when the ancient vaults of Trivandrum's trademark temple was opened.

Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple

At last reports, its over 2,00,00,00,00,00,000 or a mere 2 Lakh crore, ( US $ 22 billion) and counting, with one last vault yet to be opened. Some speculative reports say it would be close to a cool 5 lakh crore or >50 billion US Dollars, enough to run the State of Kerala for a decade, after clearing out our 80,000 Crore debt, and to help out struggling European countries like Greece, Ireland and Portugal.

Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Trivandrum and Kerala struck front page on major newsmedia across the world; from NY Times to Guardian, from BBC to FoxNews. Money always makes headlines, doesn't it? Even the weight of Gods appear to increase geometrically according to the glitter of their chips.

And Voila! Here descends a whole breed of local patriotic-cum-parochial-class gentlemen on their personal hobby-horses, riding in all directions. One demand: "Spend it! Right now! Right now!" Right-wingers demand Sree Padmanabha University, Medical Colleges, spending it only for Hindus etc. 'Left'ies want it to be distributed among the poor! Some even want to build Vizhinjam port, Cochin Metro, Airports and a few Technoparks with that money.

May be if you come across another secret chamber of a lost Pharaoh under Giza, how ludicrous it will be to suggest to take all that money and distribute it among the poor. Who in their right senses would suggest Vatican to sell those artifacts at Sistine Chapel to swell up 'community welfare' funds?

History is priceless, we just cannot sell tradition just like that. Just. like. that. It's our pride, our roots. It is for our future generations to admire and learn where they come from.

Surely, those suggesting ready-cash-in of this priceless treasure must've gone bonkers.

Luckily all haven't lost it yet. Chief Minister Chandy has confirmed that the treasures are and will remain temple property, with the honourable SC reaffirming this stand. So Universities and Metro Trains and space-ships are out of the immediate schemes, at least for now.

So, now what?

Protecting the treasures within the temple is theoretically and meta-ethically the best option. But there is a practical handicap to this. Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple adheres to, and enforces one the strictest customs and codes of Hindu religion. It poses a very real challenge to the assemblage of security measures. Except for peripheral beats and rounds, the Commandos with boots and guns are a big no-no inside the sanctum. Electronic devices and CCTVs are prohibited. Unless we assemble together a 'Swiss Guard' type of exclusive protection force, protection is surely going to be a nightmare.

Another is the cost factor. Initial estimates suggest as much as 30 Crores per month have to be spent on security of the temple and premises.

The temple being in the heart of Trivandrum's business district doesn't make things any easier. The whole Fort area is a notified heritage zone. Although strict building regulations are in place, a further 500m radius secure zone is planned around the temple. This may create unnecessary hassles for the dynamic city center which includes hotels, shopping centers and bus-stands a stone-throw away from the temple.

East Fort will probably never be the same again. Unless...

Unless...The Govt sits down and decides to move this to a museum of International Standards which will solve a few issues.The ownership could well lie with the temple or the Royals or whoever the Apex Court decides, but the $22 billion is the issue, whichever way we look at it.

A Travancore History Museum?

Encouraging to see some section of media proposing the idea of a 'Louvre' is Trivandrum. This is a discovery of unimaginable proportions as it is historically important. This has generated huge headline news the world over, that has created challenges but also opened up new possibilities for the Govt.

This is perhaps a God-given opportunity to globalize the name and fame of Padmanabha Swami's dear old Trivandrum. Kerala Tourism has done an exemplary job in marketing the Kerala brand, but except for Kovalam and Kochi, other destinations haven't yet cut a chord with outside world. Even many tourists visiting Kovalam and Varkala tend to appear puzzled when you say 'Trivandrum' or 'Thiruvananthapuram', but this is a chance to clear the haze.

Kerala, now has enchanting beauty, culture and and an astounding new legacy to show-off!

My argument is not for 'commercialisation of temple wealth'. It is NOT. As our left-wingers say, "Use it for the betterment of the lower sections of society", but how? How much money will reach the needy once it filters through our bureaucratic labyrinths? Especially in India 'maharajyam', where an A. Raja has already exhibited with proof that even 1.76 lakh crore isn't much when distributed and shared among a handful of corporates, cronies and well-wishers.

Let's look at Egypt. The desert nation has stamped itself as the heritage capital of the world by preserving their artifacts and opening them to the world to embrace its history and tradition. The fables of the treasures of Tutankhamen and the Pharoes have driven curious visitors in millions every year to unlock the mysteries and richness Egyptian Civilization has left us. Those pyramids & sculptures and the numerous museums in and around Cairo has helped Egypt reap benefits from their past through present and onto the future.

Same story with the other major treasures of the world. Most of them aren't in First World countries as we call 'em, but no-one is talking about auctioning them to build schools and hospitals, are they? They're all exhibited for the believers, the scholars and visitors to study and admire.

World's Largest Treasures:

Sree PadmanabhaSwamy Temple	Trivandrum, India	In situ
Tutankhamen’s Tomb	Valley of Kings, Egypt	Egyptian Museum Cairo
Dead Sea Scrolls	Dead Sea Caves, Israel	Israel Museum Jerusalem
Bactrian Gold	Sheberghan, Afghanistan	National Museum Kabul
Domus Aurea	Rome, Italy	- Lost -
Treasure of Nimrud	Iraq	Iraq Museum, Baghdad

Credits: Wall Street Journal

Source

Isn't it a coincidence that this discovery has come as a shot-in-the-arm for Kerala Tourism, who took a bold step towards this culture-and-heritage bracket by the critically acclaimed showreel "Your moment is Waiting" last year in London? What better opportunity does Kerala Tourism need?

Look at the World over... They all exhibit their history, their antiquity, exhibiting their rich tradition. Paris, Cairo, Vatican, Istanbul... Now Sree Padmanabhan's Trivandrum has frog-leaped into that class. It's our glittery past, our wealth, our pride. It's not just showcasing stuff and pinching dollars.

Tailpiece: Ironic as it may seem, I've been part of discussions on what should be the brand-image of 'new' Trivandrum as the iconic frames of Sree Padmanabha Temple, Napier Museum, Kowdiar Palace, Secretariat et al were deemed to be outdated. The new Assembly Complex, Technopark, Infosys 'ships', new Airport Terminal were the leading contenders. How poetical, Trivandrum will henceforth, and befittingly be identified world-over by this one iconic image of Lord Ananthapadmanabhan's Gopuram, which has given this oriental city its name, fame, and now everything.

Images Courtesy: Hindustan Times, PTI

What Kerala said

noreply@blogger.com (scorpiogenius) — Sat, 14 May 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Kerala Assembly Elections 2011 will go down as one of the fiercely competed political tug-of-war India has ever witnessed. Almost like a lengthy Hollywood thriller or rather a T20 game gone down to the wire.

Concludes with red-faced winners staring down the barrel of not one, but a good few potentially lethal cannons, and the beaming losers already licking their lips to do what they do best: make mayhem in the Opposition ranks.

Statistical highlights:

UDF scrapes through 72- 68
LDF wins 9 districts out of 14, sweeping larger districts with 10+ constituencies. UDF has clear monopoly in just 3 big districts, Malappuram being one of them (thanks to Muslim League)
CPI(M) is the single largest party; Congress lost 49 contested seats (out of 87) when CPI(M) won 45.
Just 1.68 lakh votes seperate LDF from UDF (a miniscule 0.58%)
BJP still unbelievably consistent: 0

Reminds of the odd cricket match where your batsmen made centuries and your bowler took a 5 wicket haul but yet you ended up on the losing side by a brace because of some Duckworth Lewis shit. Kinda South African cricket team jinx.

I'm afraid whoever leads the Commie Opposition may not have to sweat it out much as UDF themselves carry enough ammunition to blow themselves up to smithereens. In other words, I request you guys to let us live a peaceful life in our towns and cities instead of switching into a destructive mode as soon as you wear the other hat.

Nevertheless, there are a few positives amidst all the encircling gloom and confusion while the winners head towards Rajbhavan and then onto the Legislative Complex.

UDF will be well aware of the risk factors of this wafer-thin coalition and will be in a self-sustaining mode. How it will affect the equations and governing process of the state is anyone's call but these local parties have amassed Herculean powers to topple this Govt at the drop of a hat. Shambolic. These infinitesimal parties project more real threat to our democratic system than any of those extreme right-wing joints. Like this tweet has a point:

@vrsaju Saju V Ramachandran

Time to wipe out all eerkil parties.This includes A-Z factions of Kerala congress. Cant remember the last political cause they supported

Congress has reasons to relax as well. Major troublemaker and nemesis of erstwhile Antony and Chandy Govt has finally yielded to the call of Yamaraj, no disrespect meant. Hoping for a United Congress without the I-Congress and A-Congress dogfights, but last time I checked I heard there was an OC-Congress, a RC-Congress and a VR-Congress. Did I miss anyone? Starfish variety.

Hopefully, and this is a big 'if', MMS and his treasury-plundering jingle bellers will realize that people are not jackasses to silently tolerate all the daylight robbery being white-flagged on those citadels along South Delhi avenues. Make no mistake, people are sick and tired of all this burglary which had repercussions on the minds of neutral voters, leading them to tick en masse the crystal image of VS Achuthanandan yet another time, against Kerala's history of yo-yo political pickings.

CPI(M) may very well understand the fact that 'individuals matter', even if it is a stubborn Marxist style cadre-hierarchy set-up. We all know where the Reds would've landed sans VS Achuthanandan. Even with my persistent non-left leanings it's hard not to salute and respect this person, a personification of honesty, selflessness and social-committment unlike any of our generation. The fact that VS chose to fast for Endosulfan-ban days after voting ended is a testimony to his commitment to people, not just to his party.

BJP, you still around? Personally disappointed with Rajagopal's loss at Nemom but it's pretty clear why BJP loses out big time. Lack of strong, influential leaders resulting in a disjointed, undisciplined and direction-less party workforce and tactics. This is an issue not just for BJP but also for all major political parties of our country, (with the exception of Communist Parties) where family-tree politics have dried up the step-by-step rise of able politicians.

Talking of a Congressman wearing the 'youth icon' leader's hat, being handsome and media-savvy, running road-stage dramas and live reality shows doesn't work. As a matter of fact for this Z-categorized individual, becoming more popular under 'Amul' tag, it's been one whip after another after another after another. Get mama to find you a woman and settle down in US or Italy. Don't even think of Amethi. Being a people's leader is a different ballgame altogether. Your numbers are DEFINITELY not working as evident by the numbers themselves: 4/243 in Bihar, 5/234 in TN and now Kerala.

Noone gives a damn to SNDP, NSS and those fringe groups, neither does Bishops and co matter much. My advice: Stick on to your churches, mosques, community welfare and stuff; please leave decisions as to who must rule the state to people. You don't represent me or majority of us Keralites. If you're so inclined towards knowing the 'communal angle' of proceedings, click this link >> Communal Analysis of Kerala Elections. [link opens in new window] It's simple, despite how that author has chosen to see the numbers, we can say 45% of minority communities have approx. 45% representation in Kerala Assembly! This should make all happy,

As always, we have tall hopes when a new Govt takes stage. Wishing the UDF Govt all the best to help India's #1 state reach where we belong.

How to be a Godman: for dummies

noreply@blogger.com (scorpiogenius) — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 10:10:00 +0000

The characters in this post may not be fictitious. Any resemblance to people, living or recently dead may not be coincidental either. The videos, logs, links, images and place names indicated in this post are used just for transparency purposes but this author may not fully endorse the viewpoints in them. No patent/ idea trademarks have been applied to this post and you can feel free to implement them if you've the business acumen. Good luck.

Since there are no crash courses/ diploma/ baccalaureate programmes in any Universities offering education and training in Divinity/ Godmen enacting, I propose this draft to aid and guide wannabe Gods. About time we recognize the demand for such a course and request the help of my readers to pressurise the Unis to include this programme as a new Bachelor of Arts subject.

How to be a Godman

Ok, Let's get straight to the topic.

Make up your mind: Think twice, thrice or a hundred times about this. Be extremely cautious as this is the most crucial step in the whole business. There is no turning back once you're in and established. Meaning, if you get bored of the con-work then it may mean disaster. Think of the virtues of life you're going to compromise if you take up the con-way, but in the end if you're successful it's all worth it.

Do some background tweaking: Will be a question mark in the future. So convince those around you, including your parents. Brainwash your mommy and daddy that you just appeared on their bed one fine morning in padmasanam position with the hands in utharabodhi mudra, that you recited Upanishads and vedas at 3 years, had aura around your head etc etc. If you've some shady past then do your best to cover the tracks.

Gather some basic education: Get well versed in a few essential subjects.

Religion: Learn all major religions equally well. Memorize some catchy phrases from the Gita, Bible or Quran. Learn to blend them well when you're giving your enlightening speeches or sending out news bulletins. 6 out of 10 may recognize the original source, 2 of those may come out in the open but we've still got 4/10 fooled and bamboozled by your cosmic gyan. Nuff! That's all what we need for a start.

Vedas: Precursor to modern Science, the vedas have accumulated incredibly rich and accurate scientific knowledge and principles, mostly encompassing local knowledge. Put them to use and see how the chakras work for you!

Astrology: Basic knowledge is quintessential. People come to you with an innate desire to know what's ahead of them. Get a handle on some tricks, build a database from prediction patterns in Astrology magazines and put them to use. Remember, always be vague.

Psychology: Be a good observer and listener. Learn body language and signs. Distinguish between the hardcore bhakts, the 50-50 folks and the WTF guys. Don't try your petty, raw tricks on the last category; they'll spot-bust you.

Kamasutra: This is a double-edged sword. Use it very carefully or you'll inadvertently end up slicing your butt. Once you're embroiled in women and sex then the quick-path to doom will be open.

Magic: There is nothing like some good, cheap parlour tricks. Try the capsule-with-bhasma-between-your-fingers trick, some disappearing-reappearing acts, turning stone-into-gold tricks etc etc etc. Master your environment and your subjects' mind and they'll even see you levitate, your statue drinking milk and such outrageous stuff. Yes, hysteria is a powerful phenomena.

Science: Trust in Science. Trust more in Medical Science, especially a wing called Psychosomatic Disorders. Acknowledge the power of mind over body; you understand that, your principles don't. Do NOT attempt to revive the dead, unless of course you're enacting a drama with your trusted pals.

Pharmacology: May be necessary at times, especially in the nascent stages of your career. Always be prepared with some powdered allopathic and ayurvedic medicines to develop the 'healing power'. Mix with 'bhasma' and instruct your followers to drink it along with some milk in front of your photo. This will work.

Politics: Learn and understand politics and politicians. Find out how they survive, which will provide valuable insights and route-map for your survival too. You need a specially developed skin which will put the toughest pachyderms to shame. And Indian politicians are one of the best evolved of those species on the planet.

Be prepared to invest in time and money: It will take some time to build the brand, so be patient. Give yourselves say, 5 years. This will be a testing time. Invest in some 2gram Gold coins/ ornaments(don't ever use rolled Gold),some good medicinal products, be benevolent and philosophical, participate in community charities, engage with people, utilize the oratory skills and cheap tricks you've perfected, talk some 'Cosmic Bullshit' which will shut traps.

Eg: "Known is a drop, unknown is an Ocean. Science just discovered 1% of Cosmic Phenomenon, there are 99% still left to be discovered, which may not be possible to explain through rationalisation"

You need such tactics and verses to shut these atheists, scientists and cynics. Always be wary of the educated and clever but keep in mind that they're still human. Try the 'aura', 'psychology' and 'hysteria' card.

Do some homework: Follow and go through the life cycles of your successful predecessors and identify common factors. Also look into the history of flop-Gods, some examples are illustrated in the latter part of this passage. Write down and memorize the do's and dont's. Build a personal library of some good philosophical quotes, proverbs and sayings.As we learned before, mix them well and use them in your enlightening spiritual guidance.

Brand building: Very important. Start from the name. The suffix 'ananda' seems to be in vogue but no harm trying to be different. Don't be hasty in demanding the title 'Bhagvan'. Allow time to acquire that status; its some kinda Doctorate in this subject. Start with 'Guru', 'Swamy', 'Mata' and so on. Synonyms for 'happiness', 'glory' or 'truth' with a connection to Sanskrit will be perfect.

Chose a colour which is not too hard on the eyes but strikes a distinctive connection with soul-related subjects. Say, saffron, yellow, blue, white or even black...Decide on the shade and style of attire you're going to chose. Even the hair-style and accessories could be important in giving this 'feeeeel' to your disciples and fans.

Take care in naming the Ashram too. Something connected to your incarnation avatar. Once you short-list your pseudonym, then christening the Ashram should be a cake walk.

Ashram location: My advice; build in a new place where there is plenty of scope for expansion. The site should have space for your all important, sprawling Ashram & appendages and must also have future provision for hospitals, airport, transport facilities, schools, work place, community support centers etc. If you're a visionary then you'll build a whole new town in your name, frequently visited by leaders of State and other VVIPs. Imagine that!

Always be vague:Don't be clear-cut when giving speeches or when predicting causes and courses. Don't say "There will be an earthquake on April Fools day." Rest assured, there wont be one and you'll be in s**t. Say, "I see the unhappiness of Mother Earth getting ready to unleash her potent anger to strike down on mankind when the stars move across the north-eastern planes at an oblique angle" Trust the "law of averages" and "probability theories". Next week if the Pacific Ring of Fire cracks, which it obviously will, you've hit bulls eye! Nobody will notice it if nothing has happened. Bingo! :)

Respect nature and natural laws: Remember, Mother nature is the lone power we have to fear. Do not even think about conquering her. In other words, respect the elements. God forbid, if a fire breaks out or a tsunami strikes, then get your ass out asap. Nature does not discriminate. Survive. Live to tell and hear your miracles another day. Always keep a handle on the real world outside even when you're deep inside your Matrix.

Continuing education: Acknowledge the need to develop your skills and knowledge. Don't always BS the same, repetitive stuff on stage; you need new numbers to attract new and more preys.

Continue reading books on the essential subjects listed above
Perfect your language Skills
Polish your oratory skills
Practice new magic tricks
Learn people and resource management
Practice and perfect Yoga and meditation

Prepare to be 'inhumanly' generous: Our USP! This is the best way to get some serious attention & loyalty. Poverty, misery, suffering and unhappiness sells everywhere in the world. Give selflessly to what the needy needs. Treatment for illness, money, free education, food and clothes, psychological support. This is your bread and butter. Once you're well off, then build hospitals for the poor, schools, small-scale industries to employ local women, orphanages etc. Also try your hand in social upliftment by constructing houses for the poor, plan and carry out water supply/ electricity projects for the community. This is what will boost up your name and fame, this is what will make you who you are, this is what will shut the mouths of people who criticize you.

Give back to the society what you get from them. Afterall our Govt itself is the biggest supporter of our business with generous tax exemptions, green-channel travel and Z-category VIP treatment. So use a percentage of these tax-free cash to generously give freebies to society.

Always be aware that there is nothing in the world like good mouth publicity.

Keep it simple: Classic example, this lady just 'hugs'. Yes man, she just hugs, and see the effect. Last time I heard the 'hug' was worth 2000 Crores.

In other words, adhere to basic psychological support, magic tricks and principles. Don't try to predict the day and date you're going to die or else you'll end up confusing a lot of your disciples like the late Baba who died a good decade early than he 'predicted'. Adhere to the 'always be vague' principle when acting the Nostradamus.

Do believe in the power of prayers. Prayer has been clinically proven to increase body immunity and even wade off conditions like Cancer. Yeah, it is called 'Spontaneous regression of Cancer' and attributed to physiological changes to the body induced by psychological mechanisms. So keep it simple through prayers, yoga, meditation and philosophical teachings.

Recruit: Make sure you've got some good, trustworthy professional personnel behind you, yeah get some MBA guys. An educated man knowing the tricks of the trade is always an asset.You'd need financial experts to manage your money, good investment advisers, media relations pros,political advisers and over time you'd need specialized professionals to manage your hospital business, media channels, print & press and a whole bunch of money minting ventures.

Make sure you gather some real loyal supporters who'd stand by you. Extremely crucial. C'mon, don't expect to fool everyone all the time. Someone will catch you in the act. Give people power and wealth that they'd stand by you.

Franchise: Even with all sophistication, you'd need someone in person who'd get grasp of local knowledge. Even USA has man-spies to infiltrate countries and organizations in spite of all those satellites and James Bond gadgets. So build pan-India, pan-World network. Get your disciples to open small Ashram branches in far away towns where you can keep a track of people visiting you.

Spread your wings abroad. Try Amreeka, Eurozone and co. What they have is money, what hey don't have is peace of mind. Offer them that in return for what they have. This is a successful ploy. And do I need to explain the significance of foreign money.

Draft visitor/ media policies: Ban mobiles, cameras, camcorders and such malicious stuff. It is almost impossible to perform miracles on tv other than cheapo magic tricks. Learn what our other rivals or contemporary men-of-magic have done on camera. No one has turned water into wine on visual record. Accept the fact that you're NOT a Lord Ram or Jesus Christ.

Remember, even the best swamis have been caught red-handed. This mischievous cameraman have almost poured water into a whole life work. And learn your tricks well; don't be a pathetic stage-magician like this baba.

Utilise business opportunities when it arises. There is always scope for an Ashram-based TV Channel or newspaper showing only the astounding 'miracles'. Take special notice that if you start a school or college, then include your story and teachings in the syllabus.

Always be in control: After a while even you may start to believe that there is something special in you. Don't overdo yourself. Learn from mistakes other wannabe Gods did in the past. Know the limits. Make sure you don't get too public with your fans like this idiot did a few moths back... Raasaleela is fine but not on Public domain unless you claim to be Valstyayana II or a Kamasutrananada. Well, even if you're so I wouldn't do this. Not acceptable.

Reassess the situation regularly: After a while even you will be dumbstruck by the miracle tales you hear about you. That you've healed cancer, you've brought rain to the desert, you've produced apple in the Papaya tree etc etc. Don't lose focus. Study where other fools have faltered...Some important Case Studies would be:

Santhosh Madhavan

Bhadrananda 'Thokku' Swami: Biggest donkey! He not only uses vulgar language on screen but brings out the real character in him. Don't involve too much in politics and controversial social issues; its not your take. Don't be an ass like this fella; a perfect case study of how not to act a Godman. How depressing! He also has a dedicated Youtube Channel to enlighten the 'masses' which is full of profanity, like this.

Lesson: When in a hole, stop digging.

Remember the Cardinal rules: Pay extra attention to the following sum-up points.

Never ever take up open challenges. Remember to be epiphanic and use juggle of philosophical phrases as explained above.
Don't lose focus. Remember, we're here for green bucks, not to be levitated straight to heaven
Keep your enemies far, detractors close enough but keep your friends tightly together.
Misery, sorrow and suffering are our bread and butter. Don't waste any opportunity to help people, win their trust and loyalty.
Treat all politicians equally and respectfully; never show discrimination.They're the one breed of people who can bring your empire crashing down overnight.

Just in case things go horribly wrong, try relocation, brand revamp, a new pseudonym and try tweaking your methods. If you burn your bum trying to be Vatsyayananda in Bangalore, then try being Ahimsananda in Ahmedabad or try the hugging-kissing exponent in Varanasi. Remember, relocation is the key here.

Bottomline: For every sensible person in this world you have may be a 100 souls willing to be fooled. They're your potential, they're your valuable customers. Don't mind the detractors too much; they're outnumbered. People will believe a lie screamed at you rather than a truth softly spoken.

Deccan Chronicle, Glam Sham

noreply@blogger.com (scorpiogenius) — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 14:03:00 +0000

Deccan Chronicle has featured yours truly and my better half in their continuing feature on NRI Malayalees. The article has been readied by my friend and reporter Ms. Cris Seetha, who has been kind enough to approach me for this piece on Easter Sunday edition (24/05/2011)

The column can be accessed online at Deccan Chronicle, Tabloid, on Glam Sham section, or follow the link below.

It’s so near, yet so far for Malayalis abroad (Click to open in new tab)

Anish Sahadevan is a registered nurse who lives with his wife Raagee and daughter Niranjana in Brisbane, Australia.

Born, bred and literally brewed in Thiruvananthapuram, he left his hometown in 2003 after graduating from the Medical College and roamed around before finally reaching Down Under.

But with the Internet, social media sites and other modern-day communication media, the links with home are still strong. But it is never the same as being back home in person. “Being a social animal, I find it sad not being able to actively participate in elections,” he says. “I want to be part of our politics, movies and development initiatives.”

He adds that the active interest with which he maintains his blog www.scorpiogenius.com over the past four years stems from his nostalgia.

“I’m a kind of person who likes to walk the well trodden lanes of my hometown even though it is for the millionth time,” says Anish. “I still go for that lone walk through the MG Road and if Kuttan chettan’s tea-stall has been replaced by a new age coffee shop I’d know that even now.”

“I miss the bike rides to Ponmudi, Kallar and Kovalam, spending vacation at my native village in Kayamkulam, thronging to see the movies on the first day, election time debates and of course, the famed street-side dosa and double-omlette,” he goes on and on.

But what he misses most is the time he spent with his friends. “Even when I am in Thiruvananthapuram now, I miss those old days. My friends have all moved on...”

Like most Malayais living abroad, he celebrates all festivals. “But sleeping with your head on a pillow is different from sleeping on your mother’s lap,” he says wistfully.

Anish has not yet made any plans to come back. “Australia has provided better scope for building my career,” he says. “But as you grow older, you grow fond of your roots and have this yearning to go back to where you belong.”

Sunday, 24 April 2011
by Cris Seetha

May I also take the liberty of putting up my response to one of the questions put forward by Cris. Not that there would be a whole set different answers to this one question even if you ask a hundred people, but this is one reply I gave Cris by walking in the shoes of people many years my senior. I've just stepped into the 30+ age category but you ask people approaching the fifth and sixth decades of their life, you could always see the obvious thrust to return back home.

Q: What is most intolerable about living abroad?

Ans: "The fact is that however naturalized you are to these alien nations, no matter if you no longer hold the Passport with the Ashoka Emblem, your hometown and state will always be an integral part of you. As you grow older, you grow fond of your roots and have this increasing yearn towards getting back to where you belong. But we've to build our own lives and perhaps the realization that you've to reset your life priorities over such nostalgia may be the hard thing to adjust. Don't know, just trying to be philosophical :D"

3 point someone: Chetan Bhagat, Narendra Modi & VS Achuthanandan

noreply@blogger.com (scorpiogenius) — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 02:54:00 +0000

This blogpost intends to examine the USPs of two CMs known for their priorities and qualities in two Indian states at different poles. Gujarat, an industrialized, cash-rich state with a right-wing CM focused more on GDP, investments and co and Kerala, a non-industrialized, cash-strapped state with a left wing leader not so attracted to those numbers but having other priorities. This blog contains personal viewpoints and the comparison between the individuals and the states may please be seen in perspective. Full Disclaimer on Homepage tab.

In a state where Mahatma Gandhi was born, we have a leader now who confesses his targeting of Muslims, and yet, people vote him back into power. Hitler used to openly confess his contempt for Jews and yet people backed him. Modi is a bachelor, like Hitler. He is (supposedly) not corrupt (like Hitler). He is vegetarian (like Hitler) and has contempt for meat-eaters. He goes after his agenda which he makes it clear right in the beginning (like Hitler) and it involves targeting certain sections blaming them for all ills of the society. The economic prosperity in the land is high (like under Hitler), and his goons are ready to target and kill one community (like under Hitler) with protection from the state apparatus. Like Hitler, Modi practices and spends lot of time on mastering his oratory. Like Hitler, he creates an image and persona that is much more than the party and the ideology.

Modi is in-your-face candid about his wrongdoings (like Hitler) which people see as a sign of honesty in comparison to other weak and corrupt leaders who push the same agenda but are not honest about it. A known, strong and honest criminal is better than a hypocrite, weak and dishonest criminal – that seems to be the attitude of Indian people.

Sujai, on his blog E=mc^2

Some serious fun happened over the last evening which prompted me to put this post up. Prelude to it was one of the famous faces of Young India, the irresistible Chetan Bhagat being awarded some Youth Icon Award, and rightly so-so, and on way showering some exemplaries on Gujarat CM Mr. Narendra Modi.

"There is a dearth of good leaders in the country. But CM sir (Mr. Modi), you are doing well here (Gujarat), this is only one state and 27 are still left. We wish there could be many good leaders, but we don't have....IPL is IPL, and country's team is country's team. You think over it, rest of the things you will understand anyway,"

IBNLive

With the whole world knowing who Mr. Modi is and what he has done in/ for Gujarat, the statement gathered some serious flak. Amit Varma characteristically published a tongue-in-cheek tweet, which I found very funny. And my RT was picked up by Mr. Bhagat with a preceding I'm-so-very-innocent explanation

From Chetan Bhagat Twitterstream...

chetan_bhagat

industry body invites me for an award.I go. CM gives it.I accept and suggest be involved in national issues. I get branded what?See next RT

scorpiogenius

RT by chetan_bhagat

:D RT @amitvarma | @chetan_bhagat kisses some Narendra Modi ass: bit.ly/hEV3EG I'm sure he won't wash his lips for a week now

"Is Modi doing good work in Gujarat" is not the point of this post. Also, "Should Chetan have praised Modi the way he did" isn't the one we are so overly concerned about either. The critical question is "Can Gujarat do without Modi" and "Can India do with a few more Modis". I have clear-cut answers to both on a strictly personal perspective, mind you.

Modi isn't the first or last of the inspirational leaders India has seen, but I do hope he is the last of the ones who put Hitlar-ian dogma to practice. Though our patriarchal political system has kinda filtered the evolution of natural leaders with true vision, we still get our fair share of able men. 5 years ago Kerala threatened to throw up a dice which even shook the foundations of a party never based on individuals. I'm talking about Comrade VS Achuthanandan who mostly had a mind of his own when his stringent Communist Party of India thought the other way.

I'll get this straight. I'm no Commie sympathizer. I'm someone who firmly believe where an archaic ideology like Communism belongs to in our times>>> the Bin. In the same way let me say this. A Hitlar-ian segregation model followed by Modi shouldn't even find that elite bin in the history of mankind. It ought to go to the Shredder, converted back to pulp and buried deep under. Especially in a country like India where blood group is perhaps the last and least bothered way of classifying people.

The infamous and vicious communal politics played by Modi is now seen as a successful model by extreme right wing parties to spread across the nation. Neo-Indian way of Divide-and-rule which the British taught us a century ago. The current Middle East crisis teaches us it isn't rocket science to realize green bucks doesn't make a place heaven on Earth.

Just like Modi's Gujarat and Achumama's Kerala.

Gujarat has always been an industrial, prosperous state in India even before the twin natural disasters struck. Modi augmented the resources and the advantages to enhance the state's revenues and prosperity further to make it the Jewel of a 'Shining India' *cough*. But even with these multi-billion $ investments and profound urbanization, Gujarat still lags behind when it comes to Human Development Index, where Kerala pips every other state.

I'll let you compare what Kerala has achieved in the last 5 years compared to Gujarat. As always, head and shoulders above the rest of the states, Kerala didn't see even one small finger pointed at the premier public figures in power unlike the tales of Yedurappas, Chawans, Rajas and co whose scam-stories came down like monsoon showers on a June weekend. VS has done a far better job than Manmohan Singh in that aspect. He at least tried to clip the feathers of his mighty party boss on corruption charges and has won a few accolades. Remember the lion and mule idiom? No matter you've Harward Rank holders and IIM graduates in your Ministry, if the leader is a mule then that pack of 'lions' will just be effective as a bunch of mules.

Some say Modi has brought down corruption in Gujarat, fair play to him, but he has set extremely dangerous precedences to trust him as a leader of masses.

The fact is we're still officially 'Democratic Republic of India', and democracy without secularism just cannot exist. The issue is that a Party which ruled us in the last 50+ years fractured the pretty frame and meaning of 'secularism' and 'socialism' into something obscene.

Being leaders from opposite poles, Modi and VS cut drastically different images. VS, with all respect, is brutally committed to the people of Kerala, is honest, corruption-free, socialist, truly secular and bold. Positives. Only issue is that he is not a visionary leader for 21st Century but his Cabinet tried their best to make up for that handicap in the last 5 years.

Turn the coin 180 degrees and you see the other side of Kerala. Achumama transformed from a Dolby Digital Leader of Opposition to a mostly muted, 1985 Keltron TV system as a CM. Private investment has almost dried up (not entirely VS's fault but of his Party's), unemployment hits record highs, no vistas for revenue generation and the utmost crucial infrastructure development have literally STALLED...in full caps. It's more than worrying; Modi's Gujarat scores here. But Modi has inadvertently created a Frankenstein which will nullify any virtues of such physical and financial development, just like Hitler regime proved 60 years ago.

Modi? Committed to people of the state? ☑
Honest? ☑ (Going by Sujai's comparison on Hitler, that tick could well be a big, red cross)
Corruption free? ☑
Socialist? ☑
Visionary Leader? ☑
Secular? ☒

Unless Congress seriously tackles this tunneled minority appeasement policy, corruption and skulduggery asap, and oil the machinery of governance, people will completely lose faith in them. Period. This is what opens more avenues and catalyses activities for men-on-mission like Modi.

The lasting legend of VS Achuthanandan? It's never going to be his conquers as a Chief Minister, a shame in that sense. Now who was that who said Achuthanandan would make a good Opposition Leader but never a good Chief Minister? Probably right but hey, he did his job not-so-badly. But then, the legend of Narendra Modi? Godhra will follow Modi to his grave and generations beyond, no matter how honest and terribly sorry he is now for that.

Talking about Modi bringing tons of investments into his state, I can see another curious example. Andhra's ex- CEO Mr. ChandraBabu Naidu. He took Hyderabad (just Hyderabad) into such dizzying heights that it check-mated India's premiere Metros as Investment destination. In the case of Gujarat, Modi had another geographical/ demographical advantage compared to Naidu's Andhra. The former had more cities, ports and more evenly distributed population to showcase investors rather than one lone Hyderabad for Naidu. Naidu forgot all about the group of people getting increasingly pissed off at the green Hyderabad road-dividers while their fields parched under the hot Deccan sun. Gujarat exploited the geographical advantage; and from Valsad to Kutch, from Porbander to Gandhinagar, the state received equal wealth.

Coming back to Chetan Bhagat, there is a grey patch behind all the savvy, smart person that he is. He is intelligent, a gifted writer, an influential speaker, a responsible social activist, a true youth icon and all that. In the same sense he is so alarmingly rude, with practically no tolerance to criticism. He responds aggressively even to satires and acts on public domain like a spoiled juvenile going berserk when given out lbw on cricket pitch. He thinks too highly of himself and deems self above any criticism or jab. He is so naive that he thinks all critics are sort of 'envious' at his fame.

Gems from his Tweet-drops...

chetan_bhagat Chetan Bhagat

And dear trolls, u r really cool. am sorry ur book didn't get published or didn't sell. mine did. sorry. deal with it. 8 Apr

People who complain abt the tweets u write r like guests at home complaining abt the food. Hamne bulaya? Chalo niklo. 15 Jan

He also takes a step further by blocking people on Twitter who take potshots at him or criticize him, which has come back to bite him very badly on more occasions than one. Chetan is yet to learn that he is now a popular public figure and such taunts and rebuttals are part and parcel of a celebrity-life like his, who gets involved deeply in social and political proceedings. Someone agile and educated like him should know the way to deal with 'irrational criticism' is to ignore it, if he feels it is coming from 'insignificant trolls' like me, for eg. Get real smart Chetan, build a bridge and get over it!

As for the statements on Modi, where he certainly went overboard with buttering, we can explain that. This is called 'scenario fulfilment' when people are under pressure especially in an uncharted, seemingly-hostile environment or may also be a case of 'being the charming guest'. In the past, it has happened to both the intelligent and the idiotic; Mr. Advani and Mr. Muscle Khan being examples from each group. Advani's portrait of 'the secular Jinnah' and Muscle Khan's characteristic mumbling on 26/11 happened under similar circumstances. So has Chetan's. Well...

When the lone focus is on the sensex, width of roads, IT exports, GDP and the big red line that divides < 1.25$-a-day poor and 2$-a-day 'rich', let's not forget this one fact. India can survive with a dozen Achuthanandans but not with another Modi.

Comment Moderation enabled

Bleed Blue India!

noreply@blogger.com (scorpiogenius) — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 17:46:00 +0000

After 28 years, the World Cup returns to India!

We're Saffron, White and Green but tonight India will turn blue.

This is a moment to rejoice and remember for a very very long time!

Well done, Dhoni & boys! And as for Sachin, what can one say? The long and much eluded dream of winning the World Cup for India has finally become a reality. The team played for him. The entire team played to get this one for Sachin Tendulkar.

The quote of the match has come out from the youngest of the team, Virat Kohli. Listen.

"Sachin has carried the nation on his shoulders for 22 yrs, so its time we carried him on our shoulders"

I'd give the Pulitzer to him for that. Wise.

I'm happy I have this space to record this tiny frame of time in space. This whole set of images are from various websites, ESPN Cricinfo, Cricbuzz, API used with tons of thanks :-)

Many have played this charming game over decades. But very few rise to level where their exploits transcend the sport itself. One such occasion where two living legends of the game star-cross each others path.

"Well begun is half done", they say. As always Zaheer starts the job well for India

whereas Rambo-santh had yet another slam-bang day.

Some are destined to have a field day on the big stage

and sometimes life teaches us that fairytale scripts are only seen on Bollywood reels.

But two attributes of an individual cannot be measured using any gauge. Courage...

and determination...

When they join together, it's hard to stop.

When finally after much sweat, blood and stress the moment of redemption arrives!

Loss hurts, but grace in loss scores. But this is the "winner-takes-all" moment, nobody cares much about who came second best.

even if you're a person who may never ever be replaced in this sport. But this is just one day in a dozen Jupiter-years where you're left feeling terribly lonely...

because TODAY belongs to someone else, whose throne in the hearts of people will be vacant for generations to come.

who has carried the hopes, prayers and wishes of a billion souls through 22 long years,

can now, finally, allow his wings to shelter the deeply valuable possessions of any human...

and can allow his proud, faithful play-mates can carry him on their shoulders to make known to the nation what had been their burning inspiration to get their hands on this acclaimed silver-ware.

Yes Sree, for once you're pointing to the right direction. He's the man! :)

As for India's Midas-man, your story is already approaching legendary proportions! It appears that Indian cricket has taken the best foot forward.

Once the scorers have marked the line under the tally, celebration time starts!
The young...

the passionates...

the arrogantly rich...

the stars...

the foolishly brave...

the ubiquitous countrymen...

the senior folks...

and the all-important ones

make sure that this is one night when we forget all our pains, struggles and differences and sing one anthem.

INDIA!

And the news merchants? Obviously having a group orgy. :)

Congratulations to Dhoni and men!

Match Scorecard

Images credited to
ESPN Cricinfo
Cricbuzz
IBN Live
The Hindu
ndtv
Reuters

Sreesanth: The outcast nerd

noreply@blogger.com (scorpiogenius) — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 23:04:00 +0000

There is an early warning sign to identify the transition of an individual from a confident person to an arrogant pest >> when that person starts addressing himself pompously in first person. I request your attention to the following statement.

"Sreesanth's way is to be aggressive. Sreesanth will always remain Sreesanth."

- Santhakumaran Sreesanth to Cricinfo

There are two points in that short statement which are certainly disturbing.

(1) Addressing self without using the humble pronoun.
(2) Denial mode; viz a viz acknowledging a problem which has caused significant personal and professional heartburn.

Where does the shoe pinch for Santhakumaran Sreesanth? And why is he the only person on the sphere not feeling that pinch?

Received this one funny parody song yesterday on the protagonist of this post from one of my Twitter buddies which sparked the idea for this blog. Here goes! (It's in Malayalam)

Its funny. No doubt. Now what is not funny are the statements made by the Captain and Manager about this one member of Indian Cricket team.

"I was very specific to him and told him that he should not cross boundaries. If you want to irritate someone, that should be the opposition and not your side."

- MS Dhoni before the World Cup (Newslink)

"He was told that he has been playing international cricket for long enough now that he should know what is right and wrong."

- Lalchand Rajput, Manager during previous Australian tour (Newslink)

Even the print media and television channels have made a mock-merry of this strange and sorry style of Sreesanth. Any video or mention of S. Sreesanth on YouTube or any social networking site immediately attracts sneer comments, especially from Keralaites, because we understand his issues better than anybody. In all fairness, Sreesanth gets the short end of the stick because he begged for it.

Saddest point is that this is happening to a bowler who was rated by Harsha Bhogle as 'a bowler which appears once in a generation'. Now, Harsha is one astute observer and the finest analytic of the cricket game and players; he has seldom been proved wrong. So where has all that promise withered away?

Sreesanth, if carries on in this self-destructive hillbilly ways, will be a clinical case-study of a talented sportsperson who dug his own grave by trying to be someone else. There is no excuse what-so-ever to the acts Sree has committed over his erratic, short and apologetic career in the name of 'aggression' & 'passion'. Take a look...

Deliberately & provokingly barging into English Captain Micheal Vaughan
Personally abusing SA Captain Greame Smith
Sarcastic hand-clapping vile towards umpire in IPL
Altercation with Harbhajan Singh and the infamous slap-weep incident
Multiple fines from ICC for excessive and provocative appealing
Persistent over-reaction and on-the-field run-in with opposition team members and spectators
Official final warning from BCCI & KCA regarding on-field behaviour (Newslink)

All the above incidents carried significant fine-tags and bans from the Governing bodies. All this in just 24 Tests and 50 ODIs in under 5 years! But the painful fact is that Sree still refuses to admit there is an issue. He is in a persistent denial mode, just like an Alcoholic finding solace in his ego-defenses. Only if you admit the problem, you can address it, resolve it.

It may be hard to believe but the private Sree is at the opposite pole from the player Sree we all know. Sreesanth could just be the 'most eligible bachelor' if he mimics his performances on Women's College dance halls, Five Star Hotel ramps and on red carpet with arms measuring those Bollywood hotties' tender waist. But drop him on the green, oval arena and the boy goes bizarrely berserk!

It's all impressive dear Sree, but we're not exactly in search for a Rock-star. If so, BCCI would've selected Appache Indian to play cricket long time ago.

Sreesanth's issues seem clear: He is yet to come in terms with the sudden exposure to limelight. Its pretty obvious that the match situation gets better of him everytime he's on an International field; may be it just clouds his judgement. Sree is trying too hard to 'create' an attribute of his personality which is not inherent in him. Sreesanth surely considers "aggression" as physical confrontation or 'maa-behen' usage against opponents, often leading to comical, weird acting outs like 'The Hatter' in Alice in Wonderland, and worse, puts himself and his team under pressure.

But Sreesanth has some explanations. Like this one (after the Smith incident)

More explanations: (From @sreesanth36 Twitter)

I live with passion..do every little thing with lots of passion.that's my motto .I am thankful to all

Dear Sreesanth, passion, pride and patriotism aren't anything alien. I possess it, you possess it, your neighbour's cousin possesses it, but in varying degrees. Understandably, when you adorn your nation's colours these passions hit the roof. But with Sreesanth they go through the roof taking him along with it. But you must know the difference between 'sarcasm' & 'insult', 'aggression' & 'stupidity' , 'sledging' & 'abuse'.

We've seen hundreds of thousands of sportsmen playing for their clubs, states, provinces and nations with the same pride and passion. But Sree is exhibiting tomfoolery and juvenile immaturity in the name of it. Reminds me of the same 'pride & passion' of erstwhile English Football fans which breached the borders of criminality.

There are quite a few sporting scumbags (excuse the expression s'il vous plait) matching Sree's profile, if that'll make you feel better. Austrialian skipper Ponting, South African seamer Andre Nel, Paki pacer Akhtar, our own Bhaji. But they seldom turned themselves into laughing-stock of the nation. They had issues similar to Sreesanth but they command respect of their team-mates and opposition because they had their on-field numbers to show-off. People tend to forgive and forget if you let your performance do the all the talk. Sreesanth's statistical exploits with the red cherry have only helped in outraging the cricket fans. Kind of 'all fart, no shit' condition. That's how the bad blood formed between the fans and Sree.

This is one fair criticism about Sree, which he ought to take very very seriously. He is pissing off his fans as well as his Captain & team-members consistently. How many times have we seen a ginger Dhoni at post-match conference when journos take out the Sreesanth card?

Some over-patriotic people have some odd arguments and lame excuses for the 'Sreesanth' phenomenon. That Sree is targeted by 'North Indian lobby' because he is a 'Madrassi', a Keralite. Another one that we are more eager and enthusiastic to see the decline of a fellow Keralite as depicted by the Kerala crab story. hah. Do we all need to be naive like the ubiquitous garden variety politicians around us? This is like Kalainjar Karunanidhi defending Saint A. Raja terming the 2G scam as 'conspiracy against a scheduled caste minister' and such pathetic third-rate politico stuff.

Seriously guys, how can you expect the sensible masses to support and justify the regular excruciating antic show on serious business like International Cricket, where cricketers are role models for kids?

History shows that Keralaites have always admired and acknowledged talent. PT Usha was the delight of the state, and we're still all ears to what she says, and does. Kerala just love our 'black pearl' IM Vijayan and other footballers who adorned our state and national jersey. Which section of public haven't loved or supported our Track & Field stars like Anju Bobby Goerge or Shyni Wilson? Keralites may not be as expressive, open or eccentric like our neighbours in expressing admiration, but claiming that we're envious, jealous... lol! guys, you better open your wide-shut eyes!

Just see why Sreesanth alone had fallen into the odd bracket? You tell me why. Its obvious.

No one asks Sree to be another gentleman-personified Tendulkar or cool-dude Dhoni. Just be sane at the business end of the job. It is perfectly ok to be aggressive, neither do I see anything unduly wrong in this 'sledging' meme. Zaheer and Harbhajan are aggressive on filed without any animation or eccentricity, and it has worked very well for them.

In sledging and aggressiveness, you need to know what you're doing. You must be sure that you don't approach the sacrilegious red line. You're actions must be beneficial to the team. You needn't be a pestilential prick to get under the opponents skin. And lastly, you must know when it starts affecting your concentration instead of the opponent's. Sreesanth appear to be unsure, unaware of all the above.

Result: Boomerang! He becomes the scourge of himself and his performance nosedives.

One thing I beg of Sreesanth. Leave 'aggression' and such emotions at the door before entering the green, at least for a while. Just look back, recollect, reassess. This misplaced 'aggression' has only reaped miseries. Concentrate on the job and show us the 'once in a generation' bowler that Harsha promised us that you are.

A rare sight for an Indian pacer vs a top class batsman tussle. Sreesanth's peach blows Kallis off the ground

We all want Sreesanth to do well for the country simply because he is a hugely promising, rare, match winning bowler India so badly needs, and also because he is a fellow Keralite. I'll be the first to put my hands up and say "I was wrong" if Sree eventually proves us wrong, with his consistent performances on the 22-yard strip. I sincerely hope to see that day.

Images courtesy: Cricinfo, Flickrbuzz

Kaleidoscope Express: Railway Budget 2011

noreply@blogger.com (scorpiogenius) — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 17:47:00 +0000

Mamataji's day out. And a pretty postcard stuff. You can very nearly smell the gourmet coffee brewing. The very stuff which oozes just before an Election.

Righton. Back to business. While I have conformation that the Budget speech was neither in Bengali, nor in Malayalam (as being widely propagated on cyberspace) it's very certain that AKG Bhavan (and Center) is abuzz with 'public relations' experts as to how to tackle this largely unprecedented pre-election attack.

Whatever the politicians say or do, or before we start counting the chicken still in egg-protein form, let's see the facts for facts.

Kerala at 2011 Railway Budget.

12 new trains. Amen. Because this is the number which makes all headlines for good reasons or not. Appreciation to the Minister and all those who worked for this.

Chennai- Trivandrum Duranto. Excusez moi, but isn't this the 10th Express connecting TVC to the major South Indian Metro? And most of them run daily. All right, to cater and connect to the large transit commuter base and expat population in Chennai? But isn't the discrepancy evident when you note that the annoyingly snail-paced Island Express is the ONLY daily Express train connecting Trivandrum to the other similarly prominent metro Bangalore?

Weekly Express trains to Gujarat, both via Konkan
Kochuveli- Porbandar
Kochuveli- Bhavnager

Rajya Rani Express: Introduction of a new set of trains connecting state capitals with important cities/towns in those states: Nilambur Road - Trivandrum Link Express (daily) which could be a good option. Interesting to see if its is a night train or a day one.

Vivek Express: To mark the l50th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda which will be celebrated in 2013, it is proposed to introduce new trains called "Vivek Express". Kerala bags two of them:
i. Dibrugarh- Trivandrum -Kanniyakumari Express (weekly)
ii. Howrah-Mangalore Express (Weekly) via Palghat

Mangalore - Palakkad Intercity Express (daily): Good one for Malabar as this would help solving the teething travel problems of the region to an extent.

Ernakulam- Bangalore Express (weekly): Again I don't quite get the 'weekly' business in this route. How longer would we need to turn a blind eye and deaf ear towards the persistent accusation that this is a result of backroom dealings of the Bus Lobby? Kerala needs daily and overnight Express/ Superfast connections to Bangalore. Pronto!

Bilaspur- Ernakulam Superfast (weekly)

Special tourist trains called "Janam Bhoomi Gaurav" will be introduced connecting important historical and educational places on the following circular route: Chennai - Puduchcheri - Tiruchichirappali - Madurai - Kanniyakumari -Thiruvanathapuram - Emakulam - Chennai

MEMU:
Ernakulam- Kollam (via Alappuzha)
Kollam- Nagercoil

Also to top up the list, Shornur- Ernakulam Passenger will now run all days instead of 6

Nagercoil- Trivandrum passenger painfully extended to Kochuveli, just 8km away!

There are a few annual jokes called 'surveys' announced, as usual. Let's not waste time on listing them out; I'll tell you why these surveys are conducted. So that some people in Indian Railways always have something to do. The serious ones, which could benefit both the state and Railways could be:

Mysore- Thalassery line 154km (red)
Trivandrum- Punalur- Pathanamthitta- Chengannur line (blue)
Nanjangode- Nilambur Road 238km (green)

On the infrastructure front, provision for new coaching terminal at Nemom provides hope, especially in view of Vizhinjam terminal. Though the Vizhinjam railway line is a separate budget allocation from Railway budget, it isn't too early to think or to send the nomad surveyors to Eastern suburbs and villages to see how Vizhinjam- Balaramapuram/ Nemom - Nedumangad/ Murukkumpuzha line could prevent a future heart-block on the Nemom- TVC- Kochuveli circuit. Mile-long snaky container trains on their way out via Trivandrum Central blocking all incoming trains as well as chronically locking down all level crossings isn't something we want eh?

Green- proposed Punalur- Trivandrum line

Pink- Trivandrum Terminal complex Bypass for Vizhinjam

The same principle also applies to the already operational super-port of Vallarpadam. This budget also maintains its silence on how the container traffic from VICTT is channelized out of the state to peripheral industrial hinterlands. Survey for quadrupling the Edapally- Shoranur line is a good step in the right direction but a dedicated freight corridor parallel to the existing line must also be an open option. If Railways plan to utilize the already gasping Edapally- Trichur line to operate container traffic then "God bless the Queen" is all what I've to say.

Modernisation of stations: Budget keeps mum. But there is a cliche. Read on:

Rail Tourism

We have planned for rail business with Ministry of Tourism. If successful this year, we will expand the partnership' To improve look of railway stations and its approaches, the cost will be shared on 50:50 basis. The stations are : Madurai, Thiruvananthapuram, Rameshwaram.

So what does this mean? Already Trivandrum, Ernakulam North and Calicut are on the list for modernization to Int'l standards with all those swanky features such as separate level arrival/ departures like those in aerodromes. So this new 'improvement of looks' confuses me. Have they scrapped the 'International-ization' project? Anyone?

Most importantly, for the 4th consecutive year, the Coach Factory at Kanjikkode gets its honourable mention in budget without even a single piece of wrought iron yet to be manufactured there. The Cherthala also gets into Year II of 'mention'. That's a pass.

Rail Yatri Nivas & Budget Hotel at Trivandrum. Old wine in new bottle.

Pretty curious to note that the proposal for a Railway Medical College on the premises of Pettah Rail Hospital promised in last years show, hasn't reached anywhere. Also there've been rumours that this is the same project that is now being planned somewhere in Tamil Nadu. Hello?

Also some Water Bottling Plant was the toast last year, it has been replaced by something else. Some Mechanized Laundry or something.

The issue is that Kerala is not craving for dozen new trains every year. While these weekly trains to far off Malayali niches are a bane, the reality that with every passing year the situation at home becomes more and more chaotic isn't to be strapped up in covers. That's is what the applauders for this Budget should check out.

Kochuveli Terminal SHOULD be completed at any cost ASAP. Trivandrum Central can no longer cater to the existing traffic as it is choc-a-block.(See image on right) Trains are now held more and more in the outer and in suburban stations. Upgrading KCVL with completion of Platforms 2 & 3 along with the pitlines will solve the issues of managing, parking and servicing coaches to a great extent. Nemom Terminal is a very welcome step but if they're going to do it the same way as Kochuveli then things going to be back to square one.

The extremely crucial track doubling is sure to carry on a t the present snail-pace. Excerpts from The Hindu

While land acquisition for the proposed coaching terminals will pose a problem for the State, the saturated terminal capacity in Thiruvananthapuram, Nagercoil, Ernakulam and line capacity are the biggest constraints for the Railways in commencing the new trains in the budget. The Railways cannot handle any more trains from the saturated Thiruvananthapuram Central. Handling Duronto Express sanctioned from Chennai will be an arduous task.

“Unless the terminal facilities are improved at Kochuveli, the Railways will have to take the trains to Kazhakuttom or far-off places and bring them back at the time of the departure,” sources said.

Punctuality of services, maintenance of rakes and the track and the movement of goods trains will have to be restricted as the line is choked.The announcement of projects and sanctioning of trains without taking into account the ground situation has come in for criticism.

So there. With the elections out of the way, we may be back to ground reality in the next budget. But unless the state priorities itself instead of going on wild goose chases like Peninsular Railway Zone, things are going to stay put. Not going into the necessity and advantages of a separate Zone but a fully electrified and doubled main-line, parallel line to MC Road connecting Sabari line to Punalur and to Trivandrum/ Vizhinjam, connecting Malabar to Mysore which will drastically cut travel times to Bangalore & beyond and development of major terminals including Kochuveli, Nemom ought to be our priority to-do list.

Adding more and more trains to the already crumbling and struggling infrastructure will only add more woes to commuters in terms of slow speeds and later running of trains, fuel inefficiency and man-hour losses, handling of trains in major station outer etc. Our representatives and officials ought to draft their necessities and prioritize the list in the best interest of the state.

Images courtesy: Southern Railway discussion board

Ultimate wtf hits town: Indi Commandos

noreply@blogger.com (scorpiogenius) — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 17:22:00 +0000

Was just drafting a photo-post on Trivandrum's new International Airport Terminal for my friend Srijith and his TrivandrumLife metroblog when this news hit me.

Kerala's IPL Team's finally has a name. "Oh what's in a name" is probably what you'll think. But there more to it than the epic #wtf-ness purging out of this christening misadventure.

INDI COMMANDOS, with a tag 'Kerala' added as a delayed, reluctant after-thought.

For those thoroughly baffled and confused at this out-of-the-universe name, there is a method to this madness. The explanation, you fools:

From Kochi IPL Team's official Twitter page @IndiCommandos

ha--ha--ha--very funny. Feast time for Twitter guys and lampooning-experts. Nothing will beat this except for a Yarukku yaro sequel (or original). And what if we read between the name-letters?

The owners have no intention at all to carry on as a Kerala Team. If the name is any indication, this is an unscrupulous trick on the people of Kerala into believing that they own the team. No way someone would approve such a crappy name for such a serious business. Indi Commandos? Well guys, the name itself has more than 75% of serious profane nature as this Tweeter indicates. Fill in, don't!

This is the problem with us mallus and our Malayalam language as a whole. ONV winning the Jnanapit is one thing, but whatever prefix you add to that 'ndi' it becomes obscene, which demands a strict A-inside-a-circle certificate. And with the slang and style we speak our language, especially towards the southern part of our state, this name is not going to be a tasty choice.

Remember the trouble our ace film lyricist Gireesh Puthenchery went through after writing this piece?

"Onnam vattam kandappam penninu K-I-N-D-A-N-D-A-M"

This is not a joke; my dad beat up my brother because the bloody bugger dared to sing it at home! Mind you, it was a hit number featuring Mohanlal. Language, my dear fellas, language. Especially Malayalam where people are so street smart that they see double,triple and all the hidden meanings in cosmos for every word/ phrase. We didn't want this I-N-D-I thing, no.

And Showsanth, Jadeja and co are the Commandos. Indi-martyrs?

Certainly the brain-stormers received a rude, unpleasant shock when they opened social media tabs. So here comes an interesting update! Awe...

Gotcha? The space between the 'indi' & 'commandos' is gone, "Kerala" suffix comes in to ascertain the 'proposed' location of the team and two goddamn exclamatory marks.

Blogger Vadakkus has compiled a cracker of a list of some pretty hilarious tweets of this frivolous christening. I think you all should read this :-)

http://vadakkus.wordpress.com/2011/02/16/indicommando/

I feel sorry for these guys, Windchime Communications, who've been given the job of 'social media marketing' for Kochi IPL Team. Task cut out guys, the mock-fan pages and hashtags have gone uber-viral on Twitter & Facebook...Good luck cleaning the muck. Damage control mode seems to be in order.

And if that's not enough, they've got a brand logo befitting the epic fail name. First looks tell me that this is the second runner up for a kinder garden crayons competition.

There is only one last thing left for Kerala's IPL nightmare. A theme song and promo video. Heard Priyadarshan is on the job. Man, take my advice and stick on to your remakes and Coca-Cola ads. This gonna be a sinking ship; only thing left to see is if it'll set sail on its first voyage or when it'll go down.

Tweetworld is ablaze. Such has been the preposterousness on the microblogging site that 'Kundi Commandos' tag was trending in India after the announcement. If you're not familiar with colloquial Malayalam, 'Kundi' means 'ASS'. Raw and plain profanity. Yeah, you wouldn't want your mummy hear you uttering that!

And so is Facebook. This has been so outrageous that the IndiCommandos satire page on Facebook has already more fan growth than the official page. 1000 members in under an hour! rofl! Congrats Kochi Team owners.

After over an year of roller coaster ride, costing a Minister his job, a hi-flier cricket boss into an asylum-seeker crook-on-the-run, ownership mysteries, money laundering fiasco, team selection comedy and goof ups with more wicket keepers and spinners than batsmen (for T-20 team! ) this is what the head honchos of Kochi's IPL Team have come up with. This is what happens if you think too much for trivia.

Ultra #fail, epic ^2 proportions! Two to one that this one makes into Warwick Business School list for biggest branding disasters.

Kochi team think-tanks, I'm happy you all didn't decide to be priests naming babies.

Home

noreply@blogger.com (scorpiogenius) — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 03:31:00 +0000

"Listen to me, please. You're like me, a homo sapien a wise human.

Listen carefully to this extraordinary story, which is yours

and decide what you want to do with it. "

- Home (2009)

A visually stunning tribute to the planet we call Earth, our home, and a mirror to see what we're doing to this home. Because wherever we are, be it NYC, Jerusalem, Dubai, Dhaka, Ethiopia or Kerala, everything is linked; the air, water, soil, trees, life...

Watch HOME on Youtube

Director: Yann Arthus-Bertrand

Narrator: Glenn Close

Runtime: 95 minutes

Location: 55 counties, 7 continents

Home movie website

Home on imdb

Wikipedia

Lesson 1: Blowing your own trumpet

noreply@blogger.com (scorpiogenius) — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 05:02:00 +0000

3 months into my life Down Under, one thing has pretty much struck me. The intense rivalry between the states and capital cities of this island-nation and the vivacious, uninhibited competition between the cities and the efforts to market themselves.

No rivalry is as pronounced and historic as the one between Sydney and Melbourne, the two largest and most recognized cities of Australia. The proceedings became so bitter that the authorities could not choose between the two for Australia's capital, and eventually it was decided to build a greenfield urbanscape called Canberra, sort of a settlement formula between the two cities. While Sydney has sprinted on to become the best known, global and immediately recognizable face of Oz, thanks to that Bridge and the Opera House, the City Council of Melbourne is behind nobody in taking the responsibility to carve out a distinction for their city.

The video below exhibits how enthusiastically and professionally a City Council goes about doing its job: creating and improving the brand identity of the city.

Wonder, why our cities stay largely immune to this idea. Surely Kerala has more to compete than just one or two cities or states. In fact with all the negativity surrounding the investment scenario of our state, our vying for the IT pie with almost all other notable Indian cities or with a buoyant tourism related brand courtesy the pro Kerala Tourism folks, it is imperative that our cities start thinking to get their names on the placard, and shout their names out loud, louder and louder. Aye, aye Sir!

Brand Kerala needs no introduction, even to the most undiscerning tourist thanks to the industrious Kerala Tourism, or regrettably, even to the most unsolicited investor, thanks this time to the much cliched Kerala political scenario. Kerala Tourism has built a strong and vibrant brand over the years due to some smart and enterprising marketing efforts. Isn't it about time our City Councils start taking a leaf out of Kerala Tourism and get serious with advertising themselves?

First things first, sit down and decide what name you're going to build. Like our own Trivandrum Corporation who're yet to decide between Trivandrum, Thiruvananthapuram, Anathapuram, Ananhtapuri and not to mention the whole strange ways the city is called outside the state.

Is it too hard a thing to stamp your name on what you own and do? I guess not. And I'm sure it is extremely crucial in the present global village set-up. Here is what someone who eats, drinks and breathes Trivandrum has to say:

Ajay Prasad on an earlier post on a similar topic here on this blog, Trivandrum, please.

Building a world-class city is better than just focusing on the name, but in the short term the brand has to be built up around the name.

In all senses, ease of use, length and what not, TRIVANDRUM is head-and-shoulders ahead of the rest. Ananthapuri is a romantic suggestion but even residents of the city wouldn't be using it today.

In a rapidly integrating world, we should be aiming for greater clarity in communication not lesser.

Trivandrum has a lot to offer, though not so much as Melbourne, to show off to the potential traveller, investor or businessman. A city is known for its events, places, institutions and people and those elements could be brought together to create a more robust brand. We've got our calender full of interesting events and places...Technopark or Vizhinjam, Kovalam, Ponmudi or Veli, the Film Festivals, Onam Celebrations, Soorya Festival, Trivandrum Book Show or the Hay Festival being the latest addition.

Brand Kerala assisted immensely in establishing some of these brands while brands like Kovalam did initially help cement the Kerala brand. Commensalism, that's the idea behind it. So now its time we go and build the 'Trivandrum', 'Cochin' or 'Calicut' tag rather than sticking on to just the lone Kerala name.

But the leads ought to come from the Corporation of Trivandrum and from Trivandrum DTPC. A logo or an image which makes the city instantly recognizable to the outside world. Like what Melbourne has done so effectively.

That illusionistic tiled 3D fonts of Melbourne has become a familiar sight world over. During cricket matches, golf and other sports events, during cultural, art festivals, or during the Australian Open, this style of city branding has made it instantaneously recognizable.

Have a look...

Hand over the work of building the Trivandrum brand to people who know the job. Yes, now we're talking in dollars and cents. It may cost some heavy bucks but let me assure you, the results are sure to come and well worth it. Hard part is to convince the lullaby gang called Councillors, presuming it is the Corporation which takes up the initiative. And certainly the press folks may come out laughing & ridiculing as spending silver on such seemingly outrageous ideas is sure to create a few frowns. Finding an allocation in the Corporation Budget for the name-tag is worth it instead of perennial paper projects like parking plazas, shopping complexes and bus stands which never materialize.

See how Bangalore has successfully promoted itself through namma Bangalore caption! Many major roads, bus stations, and even the new Metro exhibits the brand Bangalore in a thumping manner.

I almost forgot to mention roping in a brand ambassador. Melbourne is pretty much lucky to have someone like Shane Warne, a person who needs no introduction in any corner of the world, who is very patriotic to drool over Melbourne at every opportunity. Warne duly makes use of every public opportunity; casual Twitter chats, television commentary boxes and TV shows to go bla bla about the articulations of Melbourne. Trivandrum has more than enough celebrities... Mohanlal, Priyadarshan to start with. How about someone like Santhosh Sivan, who with his meticulous photography skills and international fame could be a real asset to patronize brand Trivandrum. Just a thought.

Talking about films and film-stars, another initiative by another Oz local Govt could be an example. Sydney has successfully marketed itself in Bollywood as a favourite filming location through conscious, joint effort by Sydney City Council and NSW Govt. With Chitranjali, Film & Video Park and more than a handful of well-known scenic locations and a rapidly developing uber-urbanscape including the waterfront, isn't it worth an effort to lure in the bigwig film makers of Tamil, Telugu or Bollywood dream-merchants to capture the beauty & essence of the city and surroundings, not to mention the local filmmakers? Film industry is a major fillip for the local hospitality and allied businesses and the silverscreen exploits could be a further shot in the arm for the tourism sector as a whole.

Ideas aside, the complication lies with implementation. Our Govt Depts function within their shells and are notoriously rigid and seldom blend in for a common job. Apart from the state Govt, we have a TRIDA, DTPC, Corporation and a whole bunch of NGOs involved in city development, each one doing their own part. Weather promoting tourism or attracting investments, Trivandrum Corporation appears to say "Oh, that's none of our business, we're only involved with Birth-Death certificates & Vilappilsala". The IT Dept or Technopark themselves does the branding job, Trivandrum DTPC does its own share of nothing, TRIDA doesn't know what they're doing, Kerala Tourism fills some holes and the GoK does some bit and pieces on its own but the essential team work to get the job done is lacking.

Having a Twitter or Facebook Page won't hurt. Trust me folks, this is how people converse and do business in this new age. Just see how vibrant Kerala Tourism has been going about their business. Step up, being the first city council on social media is a cool achievement ;)

Kerala Tourism on Twitter
Kerala Tourism Facebook page

And the best bit... It costs NOTHING! :)

This could also throw up an opportunity to bring-in like minded citizens to involve in city-building and administration. This is how we could be patriotic and aid in promoting a healthy competition between our cities. At the end of the day a positive competitive strategy will turn out to be productive for the entire state.

A few bucks could be spent in a well way to adore the streets, boulevards, major retail avenues, leisure centers with banners, fliers of this brand image. Also crucially Trivandrum misses to stamp its name and signature to its important and well-known institutions viz the Technopark, Kerala University, Kovalam and even the upcoming Vizhinjam Port. This lack of certainty has been counter-productive for the city at times.

There have been pretty much misadventures for Technopark which has been associated with Cochin and even other Indian cities by our national media. While the Kerala-tag may have helped Technopark build its name and image during its nascent stages its now certainly time to shake free and build a new robust city-themed image for itself.

It's all about helping the city build a name and fame for it. And these days a lot depends on the superficial, media-driven image propelled by the media. It certainly helps weather we like it or not.

Plans aside it takes a good bit of time and effort to built a brand, and results won't be visible overnight. Sure takes time. Good news is that there are a few guys around who understand the importance of city-brand building and these folks at TDF have been going about their business on their own without much official support.

Intelligent Trivandrum presentation at CII Summit (brochure & video) [Link opens in new tab/ window]

This could well be an avenue to ponder for another familiar and internationally well known face which has been associated with Trivandrum of late, that of Dr. Shashi Tharoor. His initiative for city development, TCAN, could well take the initiative to help build the Trivandrum brand, either in association with NGOs or with the various bodies of Govt. With Dr. Tharoor at helm the visibility could be international.

Talking about funding, the private sector and businesses could well be roped into the plan. They're the ones who're going to benefit directly from a robust and magnetic city. The plan won't finish by clearing the cheque for the logo designers but the real works starts then. The cultural, sporting, entertainment and business events should be continuously propagated with it.

Do we need to talk about souvenirs? While I was on vacation in Kerala last time, one of my colleagues requested me to bring a few Fridge Magnets representing Kerala and my cities. I looked around a lot, but came up with nothing. Small-scale industry job, doesn't it surprise you that we have so less with Kerala imprint on them, let alone Trivandrum, Cochin or Kovalam?

Anyone thinking of souvenirs and fliers to keep the name of the city, especially for the tourists and business visitors? It'd be an interesting survey to conduct to find out how many people outside Kerala are aware of the fact that Kovalam, Technopark and Vizhinjam are actually parts of Trivandrum Corporation?

Those who feel offended by the 'blowing your trumpet' phrase, let me put it this way. Our state and our cities have a lot to offer, so what harm does it do if we exhibit our pride, beat our chest about it or give away a few goodies with our name on it?

Windup 2010

noreply@blogger.com (scorpiogenius) — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 02:04:00 +0000

You know it, there is much ado about nothing. In short nothing has gone nowhere. But if foundation stones are the keys and proofs to success then we've the full Monty. 10/10!

So where do the ticks fall? Technocity? Tick. Vallarpadam Terminal? Tick. Cyberpark? Tick, with a half mark. I think the bucks stops there...not an inch more.

Now let's hit the ramp. Rolling out the drop dead gorgeous stuff, yeah the manikins.

NH Development

Stalled. Kerala is probably the last of the 28 states and 7 UTs to nod to the basic necessity to have their roads widened. Then we had lot of round table discussions, confusions, itches and gas trouble related to the alignment, toll, width, people and shops on both sides, ducks crossing the road and snake-charmers coming out of the toddy shops aligning the NH.

You know it, but I'd say this once again. These kind of idiotic and selfish rulers are the major sclerotic elements of our life vessels.

Smart City

I won't blame you if you've a "I've-heard-this-name-somewhere-before" feeling. 7 years is a long time to remember something, if fact E=mc^2 is the only formula I remember 7 years after college. To brush up our memory, Smart City was a colossal IT project roped in by our erstwhile CM Chandy, (or was it Antony?) which promised to turn Cochin city something into the present Dubai, Singapore and Silicon Valley, all rolled into one big thing! Gulp, so hard to imagine that, as now the brown blades of grass have long taken over the piece of granite stuck into the marshy land. Not very smart.

For the record, Dubai Sheikhs and Kerala comrades are on and on at the yo-yo game. Nobody appears to be in a mood to give up. So, how 'bout another Foundation Stone Mr. CM? Make sure this one sears above the coconut trees.

National Waterway Development

This Central Sponsored project has also been sacrificed at the altar of our bureaucratic- political mismanagement. Multi-hundred crore plans for TS Canal renovation from Kovalam to Kollam have lapsed because nobody at the administrative circles were interested. What a great mistake I made thinking and wasting my time blogging about the TS Canal at my backyard turning into something like the stuff up there in Amsterdam or somewhere. (TS Canal: A passage through time) All dreams gone in a thick puff of big black smoke. Muddy, messy, mucky Puthanar continues to expunge nauseating odour poisoning the olfactory nerves of the unfortunate residents.

T3 @ Trivandrum

No more comments on this one. We had a chat early this month in this blog. (The Trivandrum Airport Saga) The tale has been evolving ever since the Terminal was ready for commissioning almost an year back. Let me Ctrl + C > V what I've written about this project exactly one year ago. (Link)

The swanky new terminal which was supposed to open this month is still u/c. Now the authorities say that 2010 March is the holy date, third time the opening date is being deferred courtesy lorry strikes, militant trade unionism, red tapes and what not? The 6 lane approach flyover is also stuck up behind the deadline. Anyway I expect to walk out of T3 this summer, anything else would be a huge disappointment.

The Terminal is still not open. STOP.

My friend and fellow blogger Nishanth had promised a photoblog of the proud new terminal when he passes through it a fortnight from now. Now he has replaced the 'when' with 'if' and thinking about other city landmarks to test his photography skills. I don't blame him.

Kannur International Airport, Aranmula International Airport, Kottayam International Airport, Idukki Airport, Guruvayoor Airport (Now, did I miss anything?)

Who is too bothered about the old ones, lets talk about the brand new ones and that too of the International breed. Foundation Stone laid for Kannur. Good. Land acquisition in progress for Aranmula. Good. I'm not too sure about Kottayam. Bad. What was that proverb we all were taught at school?

Winners don't do different things, they do things differently.

Precisely what Award-winning state Kerala plans to do. 2 laned National Highways, clogged up waterways, primordial railway services and tracks but hey, we will have 14 international Airports by the end of the world and we all will be flying around. From Pattikkad Int'l Airport to Vattappara Airport, from Kumbalangi Airport to Guruvayoor and from Chavakkad Airport to Valayar International Airport. There are even plans to connect Sabarimala via Choppers, wow!

No need of bhaang, cocaine or the black stuff to fly around in the clouds, catch my drift?

Vizhinjam Port

Good news first. The current Govt has done a lot of good, hard work for the project and things have come a long way forward. The bed news is that the project is still on paper. Some infrastructure development works have been initiated but when the first stone for the breakwater will go into the Arabian Sea is anyone's guess. Especially since the onus is on the next Govt to make sure things don't go back to square one as had been the fate of Vizhinjam a few times before. That could be a bad news for some pretty obvious 'historic' reasons, if the Reds go down the dump this new year.

And that's NOT a big 'if' given the see-saw nature of Kerala's political affinity.

Cochin Metro

Guess this one will be another Ganapathi wedding tale. Another project to make ass of the citizenry of Cochin to divert their attention from the original infrastructure related issues. This one seems to be on the trail of Vizhinjam, Smart City and the likes, projects with such incredible gestation periods that it'd put the longest pregnant dinosaurs to shame. Some folks appear to believe that Cochin Metro plans appear to build up muscles just before an Election, so the idea behind the project appears clear: take everyone for a ride.

Some good news out of all this is that someone had the right senses to think of a road development plan for Cochin on the lines of the Trivandrum project. Now that's something inevitable and sensible, no matter what lies ahead of the Metro tracks.

TRDCL

Into year #9, the 42km road development project in the Capital is 'promised to finish soon', as has been the case the last half-a-decade. Roads now certainly look better in Trivandrum, after 50+ years of State formation and we've to appreciate that. Clap. So that also means we ought not roam around Power House Road looking for that dreaded flyover which completes the inner ring road. Another 5 years? Yes, if we're lucky enough. But there is a new year feast awaiting the residents of the Capital, a plethora of road inaugurations are coming your way. Hold on to your knickers! (especially the ones living along the K'puram- Nalanchira corridor)

In a few months Kerala will enter the poll booths yet again to perform their civic sacrament, a new Government will surely take seat, may be the Reds again, most probably not but remains to be seen if there would be any significant alteration to the course our state appear heading. Dead End.

Wishing you all a prosperous 2011 ahead. Thanks for visiting No Man's Land? :)

Remembering former CM K. Karunakaran who has at last succumbed to the order of life process, who has by far been the most progressive and development-oriented leader of Kerala, who possessed the vision and determination to bring about social development based on strong economic foundations.

IFFK: Opening to World Cinema

noreply@blogger.com (scorpiogenius) — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 02:39:00 +0000

1055km down South from Goa where India's shambolic International Film Festival just reached its fag end, curtains have gone up in Kerala's capital city for a kindred fete which improves its outlook, reach and fame through every passing year.

IFFK (International Film Festival of Kerala) took wings in the mid 90s, with the inaugural edition in Calicut, providing opportunity for the serious-minded and educated movie geeks of the state to get a wide-angle view of the art-form on a global scape, and was later moved permanently to Trivandrum. Over the past decade it has grown from a local festival to something very much prominent on Kerala's yearbook, winning accolades for the modest but professional & spirited way it is organized. In fact what makes IFFK stand out from contemporary jokes of film festivals in our country, is the passion of people involved in the venture.

India's prominent film-critic Ms. Anupama Chopra has a strong point on what dodges the IFFI in Goa. The article, Doomed by babudom, provides an unintentional insight as to why the Trivandrum festival has been able to score more tick marks as opposed to the much older, bigger and costlier Goan edition. Excerpts:

our International Film Festival of India (Iffi), taking place in Goa from 22 November to 2 December, continues to be an amateurish, badly organised comedy of errors with the usual complaints, controversies and largely mediocre selection of films. Which might be forgivable if the festival was new, but this is the 41st edition. A cursory internet search throws up news articles that reveal a painful consistency of bungling over the decades: fights over who will be the chief guest; criticism of films included and excluded; bureaucratic myopia; charges of corruption; and the absolute lack of character and vision.

K, let's leave the mess and get back to the point. The IFFK, organized at a shoe-string budget, has been recognized and accredited by FIAPE (Fédération Internationale des Associations de Producteurs de Films), 'FIPRESCI (Fédération Internationale de la Presse Cinématographique) and the Netpac (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema)and also has increasingly been successful in generating immense interest among local, national and international film-makers, critics, media and the general public and has acquired the premiere spot among the already glittering cultural calender of Trivandrum.

Signature clip from Technopark based Toonz Animation.

It's taken 15 years, short or long, for IFFK to cut a niche for itself. Starting from a more than impressive website, planned and put together by genera who love and care for films, careful selection of movies grouped into interesting, appropriate categories, citizenry who understand and appreciate quality reels, vibrant and educative open-sessions and interactions, IFFK's latest edition has not let anyone down so far.

Touch wood. Let it remain so...

Or perhaps the only conspicuous omission would be the red carpet? On second thoughts it may just be a good idea to have that carpet folded and stowed in the attic; the last thing we need is the Bollywood descending on it to take the sheen and class away from the festival.

For IFFK, the most important lesson is to learn how Goa has faltered over the years. While IFFI has descended into a tug of war between Goa state authorities and their New Delhi bosses, and of late threatening to turn into a Bollywood Circus, Kerala's premiere Festival is not without its fair share of ailments. One glaring aspect is that we are yet to have a permanent venue for the glorious event. And that's a shame.

Apart from the decade long promises that work on the venue will start tomorrow, next week and so on, the films are still screened in the dozen-odd theaters in Trivandrum City. Robust plans of Tagore theater renovation was spoiled when heritage and preservation acumen got better of the construction plans. Of late there has been a promise to construct a multiplex on the Jawahar Balabhavan grounds, close to the sprawling Kanakakkunnu Palace in Vellayambalam, but we'll keep our fingers crosses on that.

IFFI Permanent venue in Goa

The IFFI legend also inexplicably exhorts the importance of whom you entrust with running the show. IFFK has been taking rapid strides just because it has people who're actively associated with movies and it's technicalities. Still at the other end of the spectrum when compared to glitz and glamour of Cannes, Toronto, Milan or Berlin or even to Ann Arbor or Pusan, IFFK commands its due share of respect among nouveaux all-over-the-map city-centric film festivals.

Just for record, Cannes' Festival Budget caps at a cool 20 million Euros (120 crore INR) , the disgraceful IFFI Goa smokes up 7.5 crores at its altar whereas Kerala State Chalachitra Academy organises IFFK at less than half that amount. No red carpet, paparazzis, reporters & journalists who travel first class on jets, expensive hotel suites, dress codes, valet parking, themed dining or even a multiplex to screen the films, but IFFK has got it right!

Film makers and critics concur. From Anupama Chopra's Twitter:

Cannes winner Apichatpong Weerasethakul on jury at IFFK. 1200+ delegates filling theaters. IFFK gets it right in 15 years. What ails IFFI?

German film-maker Werner Herzog (Newslink)

the festival had an incredible international scope and yet retained a strong cultural identity of Kerala.

So if you're in or around Trivandrum , anywhere close to a movie-fan and you've hard time filling the hours then you know exactly where to be heading now.

IFFK 2010: Schedule
IFFK Website
15th IFFK Blog
IFFK 2010 in Yentha
IFFKThe Hindu

The Trivandrum Airport saga

noreply@blogger.com (scorpiogenius) — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 00:29:00 +0000

The curious, lengthy and irritating saga of Trivandrum Int'l Airport could well be summed up in two simple words: total disgrace.

Ideally we shouldn't be talking about the old international terminal (T2) here as we all expected it to be history long time back. The brick and mortar building, Kerala's first aerodrome terminal, has over time turned into an apology for modern International Airline operations. A new, third, city-side terminal was conceived in the late 90s as a befitting salute to the state capital, but things never moved an inch from status-quo until millennium-break.

UK based designers Atkins were entrusted the job and the product was nothing less than spectacular.

Details of the project:

* Tubular, sustainable, futuristic design
* Construction of a parallel taxiway
* Peak hour handling capacity of 800 arriving passengers and 800 departing passengers
* The departure area will have 30 check-in counters and 18 immigration counters
* Arrival area will have 18 immigration counters and 18 customs counters.
* Eight aircraft parking bays
* 3 aerobridges with provision for a fourth one
* New cargo complex and a landbank of 88 acres
* Air India- Boeing Maintenance Base

New Terminal Interior photo courtesy The Hindu

Since then the proceedings have been sort of a bitter-sweet affair. Its been close to a year since the new terminal, called T3 by many, has been waiting like a fully dressed-up bride for her groom just to tie the knot.

One look at this timeline and you'll see why this tale stands out among our contemporary development tragedy tales...

December 2000: Central Govt agrees in principle for the development of a new Terminal for Trivandrum Airport. The existing terminal deemed outdated, congested and inappropriate for International operations.

2004 July: Civil Aviation Ministry includes Trivandrum as one among the 10 non-Metro Airports to be developed with private participation

2005 December: Aviation Ministry allocates 256 crores to develop new city-side International Terminal for Trivandrum. It would coming up beside the new NH 47 Bypass and would be, numerically, the third terminal of Trivandrum after the Int'l and Domestic terminals (T2 and T1 respectively).

image courtesy Sreeraj K.R @ SSC-Tvm

2006 February: Kerala Govt promise to initiate steps to acquire the required land in 2 phases. 27 acres for Phase I and II combined, and 130 acres in total. As of today not an inch of land outside these 27 acres has been acquired but time and again the authorities make complete ass of the public by announcing that the land will be acquired in 2 weeks or so when confronted by the press.

November 2006: Groundbreaking day for the swanky new terminal, by PM Manmohan Singh. Phase I kicked off and planned to be commissioned by September 2008.

October 2007: AAI decides to commence Phase II along with Phase I and open the terminal by May 2009.

December 2007: Works halt on Air India Engineering Base (Hangar) project as acquisition of Travancore Rubber Works land run into troubled waters.

Air India Hangar

June 2008: Over 18 months after the start of T3 works and just 10 months left for inauguration, KITCO decides its time to start work on the crucial approach flyover. The 30m wide 6-lane carriageway passes over T.S.Canal, connecting the terminal to NH Bypass.

September 2008: Cargo movement from TRV takes a dip ahead of T3 opening amidst fears of accessibility of the Air Cargo Complex from new terminal.

October 2008: KSIE earmarks 10 acres of land at Vallakkadavu adjascent to the new terminal for an International Cargo hub (Kaumudi news screenshot) at a cost of 90 crores. No noteworthy progress on this proposal, as land acquisition not yet commenced.

February 2009: AAI decides to widen and strengthen the perimeter road from the Air Cargo Complex to the tarmac of the new terminal to facilitate the smooth transport of cargo.

March 2009: Works on Air India Engineering Base start, after long delays.

GoI plans to develop 6 multi-modal hubs in the country; Trivandrum short-listed as one of them. (Economic Times link) No further follow up on this project as of today.

New Terminal Phase I ready to be opened by May 2009. Works on Phase II, initially planned after commissioning of Phase I, now initiated and the deadline extended to Dec 2009.

July 2009: The State Government considering evolving a special package for the rehabilitation of ~350 families who will have to be evicted for next phases of development. Nothing solid has transpired so far.

September 2009: Hangar works expected to finish by June 2009. T3 opening date for last week of December as an X'mas/ New year gift for the city.

November 2009: Scarcity of sand stalls approach road and flyover works. Meanwhile State Govt urged to acquire remaining land for the development of Airport while T3 opening postponed yet again.

T3 Airside image courtesy The Hindu

January 2010: AAI says they're ready to open to open T3 but the approach road has reached nowhere. Plans to construct a temporary approach road from old Airport Road fall through. Date of opening pushed back, now March is the new deadline.

February 2010: AAI promises to take up strengthening works of the perimeter road to facilitate cargo transfer between terminals.

May 2010: Newsreports confirm opening date as May 20, with the Prime Minister most likely to take the honour of cutting the ribbon. But the unavailability of the PM for the selected dates upsets the cart.

June 2010: AAI officially completes T3 works (Phase I & II) while KITCO drags on with approach flyover works.

July 2010: Union Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi to inaugurate T3. Stiff opposition from State Govt over political differences with Mr. Ravi led to cancellation of the date. Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel deemed to open T3 on July 16th (Newslink) but postponed yet again. New proposals for linking the terminal via waterways and rail-link actively considered.

Qatar Airways join Emirates and Saudia to commence exclusive freighter services to TIA using wide bodied jets; a B-777 this time after the former two airlines flew in B-747s.

April 2010: AAI approves implementing a UDF (Users Development Fee) of Rs.755 for travel through Trivandrum Airport.

July 2010: Gulf Air winds up Trivandrum operations.

T3 Entrance (view from approach flyover) image courtesy Vivek S

September 2010: A new ATC Tower is proposed, pending approval from AAI honchos.

Air India board meeting decides to shift the headquarters if Air- India Express from Mumbai to Trivandrum. (Newslink) This decision sets off a familiar chain reaction which Trivandrumites are all too familiar with now.

Air India raises technical issues and space constraints ahead of T3 opening, scheduled for second week of October. The deadline, as an effect, is pushed back yet again.

October 2010: An Air India Express B-737-800 docks with one of the T3 jetways as part of trial run. Thumbs up from officials and all those concerned.

Airport Director is literally sacked overnight, raising many eyebrows. Internal politics and dirty lobbying suspected behind the hasty and unprecedented decision.

Air India Express goes on an unprecedented cancellation spree of flights to and from Kerala; Trivandrum suffering the most. On top of it Air India shoots up its fares on domestic and international routes from Trivandrum.

Plans to make the airport a multi- transport hub mooted.

November 2010: Air Asia decides to wind up Trivandrum operations. (Newslink) The hefty users fee pointed out to be a reason for withdrawal of low-cost carrier. Meanwhile another low cost carrier, Singapore based Tiger Airways spread their wings to Trivandrum.

Air India Express drafts a settlement formula; decides to move Administrative Headquarters to Cochin and retain the Engineering Base in Trivandrum.

AAI decides to commission T3 on second week of December. New reports in prominent media that passengers are abandoning the capital airport because of high rates.

State Govt opposes to the idea of opening the Terminal without 'proper' inauguration. AAI duly oblige. Full stop.

December 2010: Of late, Dec 12 is rumoured to be the new date for opening T3. Newsreport that both Domestic and International operations will be from the new terminal perplexes many.

As 2010 draws to its last few days, an year after the first proposed date of opening, it's anybody's guess as to when the first passenger will be able to check-out of the new Trivandrum International Airport terminal. More than the infamous passivity of big-brother Air India, it is the I-don't-give-a-damn attitude of the people's representatives from Trivandrum that has been shocking and disheartening.

International Terminal Panorama image courtesy Vivek S

What has been unique in this tale is that such a landmark project is yet to be opened months after completion of works, just because they couldn't shortlist an appropriate inaugurater! In the state-of-affairs prevailing in our country, I certainly feel its bewildering and bamboozling.

Will 2011 make a difference? Well, what else could one hope for?

A few privileged gentlemen... and ladies

noreply@blogger.com (scorpiogenius) — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 09:29:00 +0000

The earth rotates at over 1600 km/hr, and jeez thats fast! Supersonic. It's quite amazing how fast horoscopes change and caricatures collapse within that small capsule of time. The pejorative called democracy, especially in India is a great pedagogue, for us citizens, because it constantly evolve, epiphanize and epitomize in the way it do things.

In the 2 months of forced-hibernation from this small web-space, mother Earth continued its loop around the sun at 1,07,000 km/hr, Commonwealth Games began (!) and ended (!!!!) without major embarrassments to the host as feared, and then its main organizer-cum-benificiary-cum-perpetrator's head rolled, befittingly, the US President came, danced a bit, buttered a lot, secured work-placements for his countrymen (including for Ms. Pam An) and left, the lady-of-small-things twisted her tongue aimed at usual publicity stunt via misguided anti-nationalism, one CM leads the way in the most infamous of India's BIMARU states, on way teaching a prolific young 'G' that exuberance alone won't always work, 2 Chief ministers got the boot; one for skulduggery and another in default politricks, yet another one getting his butt kicked for land-grab, 2 prolific 'newsmakers' made it into the news for wrong reasons and are in the red-hot seats themselves, and LIC, of all companies, making it into the one-scam-a-day list, all this while the lady-boss and the apprentice play the inert puppet-show roles to perfection.

Yes, the Earth is oblique spheroid; that means what goes around comes around...

First things first, a pack of lions if led by a mule will be as ineffective and sterile as the leader itself. Compounding the conundrum, this mule is destined to steer a bunch of hyenas instead of lions. That makes things worse, doesn't it?

One thing is sure. Our leaders and netas know very well how to step it up. Else, when our stock markets rise and fall as any ordinary nation's, our poverty levels are reduced only by a few percentage every decade, our percapita incomes are painstakingly increasing in single digits whereas the scams involving our babus & netas tend to multiply in geometric proportions.

Not kidding, the latest scam involving some 'G's fused my brain with regard to the no: of zeros involved in it.
17,63,90,00,00,000 to be precise, or 1.76 lakh crore to make it easy. Yes, 1.76 lakh crore! As filmi Thampuran Jagannathan famously said, we can buy the whole Kerala state for 250 crores. But for some people the world is not enough.

Least of all bothers, come, in our own malluland, the vivacious party leader who takes pride in using the law to hunt down extremely dangerous cyber-criminals, to be exact netizens who are satiric with their humour sense. This portraits the real face of the "people's" party, as it is in Cuba, China or Korea, which apocryphally subjects to inject elements of its malignant autocratic character into our democracy; as if that's the only attribute our system lacks!

I present the objectionable, incriminating criminal evidence.

Image courtesy: Janakeeya Aikyavedi

Extremely important Disclaimer: The author of this blog does not endorse the viewpoints presented in the above snap-shot of the 'evidence' and I swear I haven't e-mailed, faxed, laughed, giggled, smiled or talked to my mother, brother, friends, wife, neighbours or to my pet dog about it. I present this evidence just for better understanding of the 'case' and I protest against the unlawful use of the sense-of-humour and hereby request the think-tanks to draft out something on the lines of the legendary 'vetti-nirathal samaram' be advocated against bourgeois neo-media outlets like blogs, twitter, facebook and such anit-social'ist' sites.

Oh, the original version of the "crime", if you havent already seen it. From this I understand that the smear-campaign began way back in 1991! Kudos to Cyber-cell for cracking an age-old case.

This, even after the people of Kerala have pulled down those red knickers to exhibit the nobleness of the people's party. We're moving onto become the original Police State, where, "if you can't beat them, then beat them up" is the motto.

The difference is that the law takes a hypocritical passive stance when it comes to cyber-space. Try the iron fist on any of our traditional media folks and you'll be butchered. Webspace, for our misery, isn't organized or protected by a PTI, and the www doesn't have a union to lock-down the streets, cry their hearts out on the tv and paper and bring the state to a standstill until the politicos come out, apologize, and echo the 'free press' 'free press' mantra after them.

But as I said earlier, the Earth is very very very round. Remember Cheytanya Kunte? He must be a happy chap that his adversary has learned it the hard way :-)

How befitting, the holier than thou 4th estate has finally been blown apart by the cheekiest of scams. Talk about the hunter being hunted, the #mediagate scandal has proven a theory we always suspected. But the pawns in the tale turn out to be lead roles and India see first-hand evidence of how the unholy alliance of the politicians- media- businessmen have inflicted devastating cracks at the heart of what we used to call the 4th pillar of democracy.

Not finished, the media kept the matters well in the black, from exposure to public so that self-made statues of remain so. Except for a few media houses, possible because of their own interests, all major channels chose not to run the story. But elementary gold-plating can't prevent the mucky odour from leaking into the public air. If not for Twitter, the #mediagate would've remained a 'not to be made public' tale.

Real story behind the stories we're shown, told and made to believe everyday, how a few privileged ones pull the chords in the South Delhi puppet-play and how tax-payers' hard earned money end up in Mauritius, cricket teams, oil wells, Jaguars and where not?

Because these are the creme de la creme of our nation; the priviledged ones who can, and will get away with blue murder.

PS: Remembering another 26/11 on way. A moment to remember all the lives lost, including the brave soldiers who laid down their lives, so that we and Kasab could live a bit more longer.

bye bye Eire

noreply@blogger.com (scorpiogenius) — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 23:01:00 +0000

By the time you read this I'd have already left the verdant shores of Ireland forever.

Its been a fulfilling, satisfying and virtuous 4 years here in this tiny speck of earth in the North Atlantic. Ireland has formed a strong connection with my life ever since I landed here in August 2006.

I married my long-time sweetheart after I reached here

Bought my first apartment after reaching here, and ironically the apartment is all set for handover this very month!

My piece of heart, my little daughter, was born here in Ireland last year.

The last one especially creates a reason why I'll never be able to cut the chord with this Western European island nation.

I'm leaving Ireland for strictly personal reasons. Oh, I almost missed telling that we are moving to exactly the opposite side of the globe, to Australia. From the cloudy, wet and cold counties outside Dublin to the warm, sunny and bustling shores of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The weather being one of the main reasons we're moving. There is virtually no outdoor life in Ireland for us. Ah, too bad I'm a touch more warm-blooded than my fellow species.

We have some personal and professional reasons as well for the big move...Australia is far supportive to migrants than European laws and is also better for my career prospects.

The Irish has taught me too many precious lessons in life. I'd be lying if I say I'm not a better person after mingling with the local folks. The pubs, the bars, the motorways, the Guinness, the smoking/ drinking women, the city... all unique and interesting.

One thing they may learn from others is how to keep their tradition. Ireland has allowed the local language, Irish, to wither away and die. Though there are efforts to keep the language alive its almost like a dead language. No one really cares about it. Well, that's not the way Germans treat German language, Spaniards treat Spanish or the Italians treat Italian.

Anyway folks, it might be a touch late when I get a look back at this space. New country, new housing, getting phone and broadband connections, settling and acclimatising in... hmmm, may take a while. Meanwhile I'll try keep the blue-bird fed and groomed. You're following my bird aren't you? If not you're just a click away!

See ye in Oz mates! :-)