Why are we Tolerating Pakistan? March 4, 2009
Posted by K10 in India, Society.Tags: India, Pakistan, solution, Terrorism
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Why?
Your options are:
- Because the Mahatma said so
- Because our own leaders are too busy with their own election campaigns
- Because we don’t know what to do
- All of the above
Pakistan is a certified rogue nation. I still dont understand why our own leaders are still in ‘dialogue’ mode with them. Pakistani leaders are just taking India for a ride, what with their constantly changing statements and all. Why cant we just shut them up once and for all? Why so much ‘baatcheet‘?
Ever since i am stepped into this world, Pakistan has meant nothing but trouble. Constant infiltration into Kashmir, rising number of terror camps, continuously increasing political instability, and an economy gone to the dogs because of the dogs.
The Mumbai attacks and now, the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team. How much longer before someone starts shouting and getting Pakistan to get their act together? I for one thing feel, that the trouble is just around the corner for India. Lahore is about an hour away from Amritsar. What stops these gun totting Quran preaching asses to jump the border into our country. Many already have.
Why are we as a nation entertaining anything Pakistani? Till a few years ago, we tried opening up relations with Pakistan, in hope that one day things will turn around. We gave space to their musicians, artists, comedians, actors, cricketers and everyone in between. But to what avail? I think we should stop all of this now. Enough of having any sorts of Pakistanis in India. Send back Adnan Sami, Shakeel, Atif Aslam and the rest of the jing bang.
What, you may ask is their fault? What, i will counter, was the fault of the people who died in Mumbai? What was the fault of the children of the folks who died in the attacks? What was Karamvir Kang’s fault?
The thing about terrorism is, it is everyone’s, and no one’s fault. The people in position to do something, are either to scared to ruin their images or they haven’t a clue as to what to do.
Who suffers? It is people like you and me, you face the misdirected bullets.
How i think we can sail through this recession- Part 1 February 27, 2009
Posted by K10 in Uncategorized.Tags: contacts, lay offs, network, recession
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A lot of times i think that this global recession that is going on, is just a reality check. It has only been catalyzed by the great financial crash in the US of A. The pointers i thought of may not be extraordinarily out of the box, or anything like that, and may be you have heard of them earlier, but still. Just consider it a list of what can be done at the ground level.
- Help Others - Help anybody. Lots of people out there are losing jobs. These guys have a lot of responsibilities, loans etc, just like any one of us. What can we do? May be our network can help? Maybe that good friend of yours who just set up a plant is looking for a plant manager? Maybe someone you don’t know, who has lost his job, has relevant experience. Maybe anything! What i am trying to say is, try and help anyone who you think could use a hand. You don’t necessarily have to know them to help them. Open up. Release an email id, where people can reach you. Yes you may be spammed, but hey is this the time when we should really be worried about spam? Be careful about fraudulent emails though.
- Power of the Network - The actual power of the network has been severely under-utilized thanks to the plethora of so called business networks that have come up. Your contacts can come in handy for someone. Maybe someone you don’t know could be helped by someone you DO know.
- Do some free service- Do you think you have good writing skills? Help someone out with their resume. For free. And why not? Did no one help you when you started writing your own? I am ready to help anyone who needs help with resume writing. Mail me at ketalystus@yahoo.com. And i’ll see what can be done.
Ok. So this was part I. Watch this space for Part II and beyond.
Crashing Realty! :) February 26, 2009
Posted by K10 in India, Society.Tags: crashing, Obama, Realty, Tax SOPs
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Like i predicted more than a year ago here, the realty rates are going South. And boy am i glad.
DLF’s move to cut prices by upto 30% will definitely see some positive feedback from the market. Some say this as a bodl move from DLF. I say it is a necessity if they want to survive. A lot of big builders have defaulted on their EMIs to banks, Unitech being one the big ones. Till August 2008, people were buying because they thought that the rates would only go up. This was further aided by the fact that the global recession was not any where on the horizon, atleast what we could see of the horizon.
Now people dont want to buy, thinking the rates will further go down. And mark my words, the rates WILL go down. Atleast another 10-15% correction is still left. The banks have reduced lending rate, the builders have reduced property rates. As far as buying opportunities for first timers go, i think they have ample reason to celebrate.
The market outlook for employment may look bleak, and Obama’s announcement yesterday of No Tax SOPs for firms that Outsource has not done anything for the moral of the massive IT workforce in India. This announcement will further cut spending on major stuff like realty since the majority of buyers are from IT. So all in all i think the realty sector is far from recovering yet. Though Obama’s announcement may seem like a lot of bold talk, but who wants to risk it. American companies today are in no position to not outsource, considering the major financial crisis everything American is in. It may be a long time before the implementation of this “No Tax SOPs” comes into play.
Till then, all we can do is wait and watch.
Jay Ho! February 23, 2009
Posted by K10 in India, Society.Tags: A.R.Rahman, Jay ho, Oscar 2009, Slumdog Millionaire, smiling pinki
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So finally it took an A.R.Rehman to take us to the Oscar, win the coveted beauty and beam!
It was India’s night and it is India’s moment, if ever there was one. We have finally made a mark, at the much revered Academy Awards.
The list is as follows:
1. Best Film
2. Best Director
3. Best Score
4. Best Song – ‘Jay Ho’
5. Best Sound Mixing
6. Best Film Editing
7. Best Adapted Screenplay
8. Best Cinematography
Slumdog has been shot with style, and a well deserved Oscar for that and the Direction, etc etc..all well deserved. And I am very happy for A.R.Rahman also for winning best Song and best score.
Frankly speaking, i liked Paper Planes more than Jay Ho, or any other track in the album for that matter. I think Rahman has done much much much better work earlier. His Roja score is better than the Slumdog score any day. So why was Roja not nominated? Was the lobbying not done well? Was it even nominated?
So why are we so Oscar thirsty? Does winning the Oscar mean that we have arrived? Or is it plain acknowledgment of a job well done? The hype surrounding Slumdog was so high, that is the process we overlooked ‘Smiling Pinki’, a short documentary on a small village girl. Heck, i don’t even know the premise of the documentary. But it won an Oscar. And i am happy about that too.
Heck i am happy and too confused right now.
Passport Issued! February 16, 2009
Posted by K10 in Pune, Society.Tags: Grievance, Passport, Pune
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Phew. Relief.
That is all that I feel right now. After a year and a half of running around, enquiring with the PROs, my wife has finally received her passport.
The tall claims of the government that a passport is delivered with 45 days is pure and unadulterated bull shit. That much i am damn sure of. I had blogged about that pain earlier here.
Our passport saga goes something like this…
We had applied for her passport in Sep 07, and till Dec 07 we heard nothing. So we went to the passport office at Senapati Bapat Road, Pune every other day to find out what the status was. And every time we were told that the passport was stuck in Mumbai. For what reason, no one was able to tell us. Prior to coming to Pune, we were based in Mumbai, and as honest citizens we had mentioned that in the application form the first time around since we had not completed 1 year in Pune at that time. So i guess, the Mumbai cops were pissed that we had not ‘met’ them. Probably. Probably not.
So finally after months of wait and agonizing aniticipation, we met the PRO, who as luck would have it, seemed totally insensitive to our problems. He was very rude, to the point of being ill mannered. Needless to say, i lost my cool, and gave it back to him. After all he was not doing me a favor, he was just not doing his job properly. We closed the file, and decided to re-apply.
We submitted a new form, with fees (again a 1000 bucks) in Aug 08, and said our prayers. This time though, we had completed a year in Pune, and did not have to mention Mumbai any where on the damn form. The police verification happened after 45 days, which by the way was too damn later than promised. Anyways, once that was done, we again went on the hope train. We did not hear anything from them for the next 4 months. The passport website gave the status of our application as ‘under processing’ so that keptour hopes high. At one fine day the status changed to ‘Due to unavoidable circumstances, the despatch of the passport has been delayed, and will be delivered in a weeks time’. No dates, nothing. Just a week. This status message was there for over 2 months. our ‘week’ just did not arrive.
So finally eternally frustrated we went to meet the PRO in Jan 09. This time there was another woman, but equally if not less, rude. She made us feel as if they were doing us a great favor by issuing a passport to us. We asked her where what the problem was, and she told us that apparently after receiving the police report, nothing was done. NOTHING?? Why the heck not?? Just. We got the file out, and yes, the application had been received in Nov 08 or something, but not moved. Why the FUCK not?
So anyways, after much arguments, to and fro, she told us that the passport would come. When? In the next 15 days. 2 days later, the status on the website changed to ‘Passport has been granted and is expected to be despatched by 24-02-2009. Subject to all documents being in order’. And we were on the hope train again. Surprisingly, the passport came two days later, on Valentine’s day, when we were least expecting it. We are still too surprised to have finally received the passport after so long. But we are glad.
Oh, and by the way, the status on the website still says ‘Passport has been granted and is expected to be despatched by 24-02-2009. Subject to all documents being in order’.
Valentines in Chaddi February 13, 2009
Posted by K10 in India, Society.Tags: Day, Ram, Sene, Sri, Valentines
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Thanks to Nisha Susan, this year’s Valentine’s Day has a enhanced Pink nature to it. Nisha and her PINK CHADDI Campaign has set a new heights, err umm, low(er)s to the day’s celebration.
With so many Chaddi’s at their disposal, the Sri Ram Sene (I thought it was Sena, anyways) is going to be having a tough time deciding which one’s to wear. And their promises of return gifting Sarees to the Consortium of Pubgoing, Loose and Forward Women means a lot of business for the Gardens, Vama’s , Bharatkshetras of the world. And in these recessionary times, the Sene is doing good for the society. New Sarees mean, happier husbands (or boyfriends as the case may be), happier parents (oh..mostly definitely) and happier dhobies! Now, Who doesn’t like a good saree!!
With the Pubgoing, Loose and Forward Women planning to hit the pubs on the D day, it also (may) means a lot of opportunities for our single/ not so single sexual counterparts. I am sure a lot of single men out there would be waiting for this day (a like this) from the beginning of their lives. And yeah, it may also mean that extra bit of business for the Pubs. Since this one is all about Women power
Sigh, if only i were a Single, Pubgoing, Loose and Forward man today, i too would be buzzing like bumble bee with anticipation leaking out of me all over.
I wish all the Women in this world a very happy, hopefully peaceful and drunk Valentines Day!
The Pink Chaddi Campaign
Swades February 12, 2009
Posted by K10 in India.Tags: India, patriotism, swades
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Swades
When I was in school I had only one dream. When I went to college my dream was all consuming. When I was doing my masters, I could not think of anything else.
I wanted to go abroad and settle down. After all, a lot of my relatives were based in the UK and the US of A. After all, how difficult could it be. I would have a better life, a better place to raise a family. Clean air, clean water, no electricity problems. Everything new and shiny.
And then I happened to watch SRK’s Swades.
And something inside me changed. Maybe it was the concept of the movie, or maybe it was SRK’s fantastic portrayal of a successful NRI. Maybe it was the following line from the title track:
“Mitti Ki Hai Jo Khushboo, Tu Kaise Bhulayega
Tu Chahe Kahin JaYeh, Tu Laut Ke Aayega”
But something sure did change in me that evening. All of a sudden I was feeling like a rat who wanted to abandon the sinking ship. My girlfriend Sonal (my wife now) is a strong nationalist. Indian was where she was born, India is who she would serve, and India is where she wants to heave her last breath. I did not share any of these feelings. For me it was just a place I called home. Just that.
But this movie, changed all of that. It is the only movie which has forced me to question my belief system. To make me ask myself, what right had I to leave for strange shores without having re-payed my debts here. Could I forget the childhood I have had in her lap? The air that I breath and the land that I walk on?
What was I running away from? The bad roads or the dirty water? Was the corrupt politician scaring me away? Or was it the long queue for everything?
I was running away from myself. From who I am. From what we have made of this nation. Nobody seems to be able to hear her cries for help.
Today, there is a lot of ‘anti this’ and ‘anti that’ feeling across the nation. Regionalism is at an all time high. Communalism and politics have succeeded in implanting the seeds of hatred in the youth today. I am sure this is not what Mahatma Gandhi or Shivaji Maharaj had wanted. When Shivaji Maharaj picked up the sword, it was to ward off the Mughals, away from Hindustan, and not just Maharashtra. Mahatma Gandhi hadn’t staged Satyagrah just for Gujarat. That too was for Hindustan. Shrimati Sarojini Naidu was not thinking only about South India. She was thinking about all Indians. How is that for commitment?
But look what we have done to their efforts. Some Maharastrians are fighting tooth and nail to throw out UPites and Biharis. Tamil Nadu is fighting with Karnataka for water. The North East is a story unto itself.
Who is at fault here? Not the Mahatma or the Maharaj or the Nightingale. It is you and me. It is people like Mulayam Singh and Raj Thackerey and Modi. The interest of the individual is more important than that of the group. How many of this ilk today can dare to take the noose today like Bhagat Singh at the age of 24? My guess is none.
So after a long conversation with myself, and a lot of soul searching, I have decided to stick and fight it out with these kind of people. How am I going to do it? I haven’t a clue yet. But I will for sure.
Someone said long ago: You can take a man out of India, but not India out of a man”. As for me, you can’t take this man out of India. Rest is all impossible.
P(r)ay and Park February 11, 2009
Posted by K10 in India, Maharashtra, Pune, Society.Tags: E- Square, menace, Parking, Pune
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How many times have you ventured out on an evening with the family, taking off time from a bloody tight schedule, just to unwind yourself, and ended having a god awful time simply because of a parking problem? Either you did not find a good parking spot, or you did not find a spot at all. Or even worse you decided to use the pay and park facility, only to find your car scratched or dented on your return?
Although not new, the pay and park facilities have become more of a menace than anything else. The other day, my wife and I decided to catch a late night show at E-Square, one of Pune premier multiplexes. Due to lack of choice, I had to park within the premises, in the ‘parking lot’. I had to shell out 40 bucks at the entry, before I even parked. I was told that there was ample space in the parking lot. When I did reach the parking space, I could see an endless queue of cars waiting to be parked, by a ‘valet’. There were at least 10 cars that had to be parked before mine. And to top it off, there wasn’t a single parking slot available in the so called parking lot. I decided against giving my car for ‘valet’ parking, as it is fundamentally against my principles to simple hand out my keys to any valet. He could be Michael Schumacher for all I care. Luckily I found a parking spot waiting to be taken on the exit ramp.
What infuriates me about such pay and park services, is that :
1. Parking at owner’s risk: – Then what the fuck am I paying you for?
2. Management will not be responsible for any losses – Like hell they won’t be! The parking attendants are your employees, and my car is not for your employees to fuck around or dent. If there is a dent, or so much so as a single scratch, I will take personal care to fuck your happiness.
3. Please carry all your Valuables; – Does that include the engine as well? Fucking moron, isn’t it your responsibility to see that my car is secure and safe till my return? What the fuck are you charging me for?
4. Pay in advance – What for you dip shit? What if my car has a scratch when I return? Or worse, what if it is not there in the when I return? Who do I go running after then?
The truth is, that most of these ‘pay and park’ scams are run my local corporate and / or goons. Since the returns are huge, without any substantial investments, barring the usual under the table hand greasing, a lot of ‘people’ want contracts for pay and park schemes. Someone once told me, that multiplexes are not supposed to charge for parking, since it is a civic mandate, I wonder which one, that all commercial establishments must provide for parking space. Since the land on which the establishment is constructed is either bought or leased, money cannot be made on parking charges. I still need to verify the facts though.
Not that I mind paying for parking, after all it is supposed to keep my car safe. What I have a problem with is the ‘fuck-you-and-fuck-your-car-but-pay-me for parking’ attitude. Aren’t there any rules and regulations against such activities? I am too pissed right now to think.
My First Car. October 12, 2008
Posted by K10 in My Car.Tags: car. getz, first, hyundai, Pune
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Ahh…Finally I have bought my first car. I took the delivery on Dussera day. The emotions are mixed, still, and I can’t believe that I have done it. Mind you, I do consider it as an achievement.
After months of endless research and sparring sessions with experts, budget reviews, and long term ownership concerns, we finally settled on the Getz Prime 1.3GLS. We test drove a lot of cars before finally settling on the Getz. The other options I considered were Swift Vxi(ABS), Palio Sport, i10 and Chevy U-Va.
What I liked about the Getz the most was the space it offered for the price. It is a comfy ride for 5 adults. The pick-up is nothing great, especially at the second gear, but once it reaches the 4 gear, it transforms into a beast. I have to control my emotions a lot before I let it get the better of me, and zoom off!
The Getz has great maneuverability, especially for city driving. Most users concur on the mileage being a little lower than other cars in the segment, but what the heck, I can live with that. The Prime version has a good looking interior as well, with a wooden looking enter console. The rev meter and the speedometer are beautiful.
I approached Sanjay Hyundai here in Pune, and I must say, I came back really well informed about the car. The sales staff was extremely courteous, and knowledgeable. A rare combination. At least here in Pune. The other dealer I went to was Kothari. Since it was a Sunday, I thought that I would get plenty of time to spend there, and try and get the best deal. Surprisingly, Kothari closes shop at 1:30 in the afternoon on Sundays. A logic I failed to understand. Sunday is one day when people would have the time to come for evaluating such an expensive item. But then again, this is Pune. I was not offered a test ride, the sales guy looked like he just came from selling some credit cards, and was in a hurry to shut shop. This was one major reason I chose to go back to Sanjay, with somewhat of a counter offer from Kothari.
My point of contact at Sanjay, a certain Mr. Kaushik, was prompt in his job. I called him a hundred times before I went, and I received the same courtesy each time. The fact that sales in Motown are at an all time low, and it was month end as well as his quarter ending must have helped somewhat. J Mr. Kaushik hails from Bengal, and if they had more people like Kaushik, in place of Ms. Banerjee, I think Bengal would have been miles ahead of other states in terms of overall development.
I got the car financed from HDFC, and was lucky to have been assigned a very diligent and sincere sales guy. His knowledge and responsive is something that one would expect in all sales guys. But sigh, it is not so. The loan processing was fast, and the disbursement quick.
Needless to say, I being a Gujju, negotiated to the extent that the sales guys actually said,” Sir, any more discount/freebies, and my job will go”. So after actually establishing what he said as the truth, I finally settled on a fair enough discount.
Right now, I am in the middle of accessorizing the car. Like I said before, the feeling hasn’t sunk in yet. I guess the fuel bills will catalyze the realization.
Achaari Murg September 13, 2007
Posted by K10 in Fine Food.1 comment so far
Saturday is my day, oops night, in the kitchen.
I get to cook and pamper my wife. I am a decent cook by the way, and can whip up some surprises.
This Saturday, i decided to surprise my wife with a spicy chicken dish, Achaari murg. Considered to be one of the finest chicken dishes, i set my mind and will to it. After downloading the most appropriate ( read understandable and simple) recipe, i got down to business.
Got processed chicken, the spices and herbs, and mustered my will power to stay with me.
Here, i would also like to mention the fact, that i HATE cleaning up the chicken, so my wife had to do it. With a “I-know-i-will-have-to-end-up-cooking” smirk on her pretty face, she did the needful.
And i went back to my recipes. I desperately wanted the meal to turn out right. If not for my efforts, at least to wipe the smirk off.
So, after very very very careful ingredients measurement and timed heating, i was nearing the best dish i had ever cooked. In my life. I am 25.
And brilliant it turned out to be. Just the right amount of spice.
One bite told her it was perfect.
The heady taste of chicken cooked with red chillies sauted in the ginger garlic paste, heated with onions mixed with fenugreek, fennel, cumin and garnished with coriander, blended to perfection, swept my wife of her feet.
Served with rotis, not one serving was left.
Now, I am officially the Saturday cook.
Well done Mr. Pandit.
