Smartphones have changed the world of communication

Smartphones have changed the world of communication. Right now I am at a place to get my haircut waiting for my turn. I never miss an opportunity to chit chat with my Co-customers. My attempt to initiate a conversation didn't arouse much interest in them. They have all buried their head inside their devices like Ostriches do in sand. Welcome to the world of smartphones.

Power as an aphrodisiac

There is no powerful aphrodisiac in the world than the power itself. This has been true throughout the centuries. Around the time of Gautama Buddha, Ajatsatru the King of Magadha imprisoned and killed his father Bimbisara to ascend the throne. His son exactly followed his father's footstep. Aurangzeb, the Mughal emperor famously said " Kingship is more powerful than Kinship". He killed his brothers including his elder brother Dara who was the favorite son of his father Sah Jahan. Over centuries nothing has changed. Zulfiquar Ali Bhutto, the ex-PM of Pakistan trusted Zia-Ul-Haq. He promoted him over others and made him the Army chief. He thought Zia as a pliable one and often used to poke fun at him in public referring to him as his Monkey general for the later's looks. Zia had the last laugh. He arrested Bhutto in a coup and hung him soon after. Power and betrayal has been synonymous through human history. No wonder the saying goes " Absolute power corrupts absolutely".

Fate and faith in lottery.

With the  backdrop of last week's $400 million lottery winner it revived the memory of our growing up days. If you remember early 80s there was a popular lottery in Odisha known as Rajarani lottery. Apparently it could not sustain long and soon folded up. If you ask someone those days what you would do if you win a big prize money in lottery the common answer was I will put it in a Fixed Deposit in State Bank of India and live off on the interest for rest of my life. Rarely anybody said about investing it to make further money. State Bank deposits were safer and the most preferred mode of investment those days. Mindset of public over the year has gone through a drastic change. People intend to make more money out of money. It has made life a rat race. That's exactly why the business of gambling (lottery is one form of gambling) thrives. Purchasing power of every currency has depreciated over the years. Now-a-days even one million dollar prize money is not big enough an amount to retire. After they deduct the taxes (money earned from lottery is heavily taxed) it leaves you an amount of something over 600K. It certainly is quite a good amount. But not quite good enough to follow my childhood fantasy of putting it in a savings account and retire for life.

Solution for Insomnia

Today at one of our work meetings someone confided to us about having hard time falling asleep, soliciting solutions other than medicines. I said "Just take home some of our manuals and read them at bedtime. You will soon sleeping like a baby. This is the best cure for your insomnia without any side effects." Laughter followed.

When American president Visits India

 Last week this news got my attention,  that our BRIC mate the Brazil's President cancelled her trip to USA. The reason being Uncle Sam spoofing over her private e-mails. By doing so she sent a strong message. Hat's off to the lady. Being a superpower does not give someone rights to snoop over others e-mail. Two other BRIC mates, China and Russia have proved that they don't bend easily before America. But it is a different story for the  other BRIC nation India. When American wants India to bend it crawls. I find it very strange that our media hardly covers the visit of Russian Presidents these days. Russia is a time tested all weather friend of India. America has no permanent friends or enemies, only permanent interest (they are quite open about it).  But when any American President visits India our media goes ga ga months before the trip. They swoon over them. Our MPs rush to touch them. We forget that Clinton and Bush visited in their second term in which an American president is considered as lame duck. yet they were treated like Rock Stars. Obama's  hip twitching Diwali dance swayed many who wasted no time comparing his dance to Bollywood biggies. Alas, the same never happens when it is the other way round. Forget coverage, the American press hardly even takes notice of the visit. Russian president Putin gets far better coverage in US (more than he gets in India). Now the American press is suddenly excited in anticipation of Obama talking to the Iranian President next week (both don't have diplomatic ties since 1979). Why ? Because Putin or Iranian President though both of them no big fans of America, both matter to Uncle Sam. India though officially a close ally hardly matters. America just takes India for granted. In Odia there is a saying MAAI NUHE KI GAAI NUHE ( transliterated neither a female nor a cow). It means someone of least importance or may I say impotent ! No proverb is more accurate in this context.

My Inocluation Experience

Recently read a news about health workers giving vaccines to children in Afghanistan are targeted by Talibans. A medieval midset considering the fact that vaccinations save life. I have a very faint memory of small pox vaccine which was tattooed on my hand during my childhood. Its scar is still visible. But my first vivid memory is getting a shot (injection) of cholera  vaccination when I was in primary school. I was afraid to death of being pierced by an thick needle. I mistakenly assumed that the ordeal would be over once I got the shot. But it started soon after. By evening I had fever and I could hardly lift my arm. The pain subsided after couple of days. All I got in lieu of all the pain I incurred was a piece of paper called the Inoculation Certificate. Little I knew that this Certificate will come handy a few months later when I was on a bus to Puri days before RATH YATRA ( Chariot festival). On the outskirts of the city near Chandanpur the bus was stopped by a battalion of health officials with syringe on hand. It was time to give cholera shots. I proudly brandished my inoculation certificate. Those who didn't  meekly disembarked and lined up for the shots. A few who tried to flee were immediately chased by the officials who apparently anticipated this. Some escaped by wading over the paddy fields, melting away behind the coconut groves. Those not so lucky were grabbed by their collars and a DAMPHANA ( an Odia term for thick needles used to sew jute sacks) sized needle was stabbed on their bottom with great force. They grimaced in pain and limped back to bus in full view of passengers peeping through the window. I was watching wild wild west enacted on the east coast of India. Vaccinations no doubt wiped out many communicable diseases like small pox and cholera. Half of my father's siblings died of preventable diseases before they reached 5 due to lack of vaccination. My grandfather used to tell me scary stories about how entire families in our village were wiped out by bouts of cholera and small pox. Life then was a matter of surviving next spring (pox season) or late summer (cholera season). During the epidemics the entire village use to shut down after dark. As soon as twilight sets in the villagers liberally filled huge earthen pots outside with PITHA(cakes made from rice and grams), PANA (a sweetened puree made from yogurt and fruits like Banana and Stone Apples or BEL) for the consumption of BADI THAKURANI(the Goddess of Cholera) or MA SITHALA (The Goddess of Pox). Job done, they rushed back home never daring to venture outside till dawn lest they earn the wrath of the Goddesses. Not sure how far the Goddesses were appeased but the stray dogs of the village had a field day. They put on a lot of weight and seemed healthier and happier than their human counterparts.

The word Peon

This morning I met a co-worker and a good friend who earlier moved to a different group. After the customary "How ya do'in" exchanged between us I asked him how he feels in his new group. He said "Are you aware of the French word Peon, which means the employee at the bottom strata in an organization ? I feel the same these days." For the first time I heard an American using the word peon. (He was poking fun at himself by equating himself with peon which he meant as someone at lower echelons in an organization, not that someone told him to bring a glass of water). It was not surprising for him to ask me about my familiarity with the term peon as it is not so commonly used here. But to me who grew up in Bhubaneswar at a time it was mostly a city of salaried people Peon was not a strange but quite a familiar word. I bet more Indians know the word 'peon' than the Americans do. The government quarters we lived in where I grew up had the Peon quarters adjacent to us. I do remember some of my friends from our block were barred by their parents to mix with those kids on the other side of the block lest they will be corrupted with bad influence. The narrow road was like the great barrier reef, which separated a common people speaking a common language by nothing but an artificial class barrier based on false vanity. For them it was a no go area. We had no such parochial parental guidance. My sisters and I had no compulsion in making friends with kids our own age living in those quarters. When TV came in 1982 they used to come to our house to watch cricket and Sunday movies. My mother used to bring PAKODAS (a common afternoon snack in India) for all to share. When I visit Bhubaneswar I prefer to and feel safer to drive a Moped (LUNA) which makes it easier to navigate the unruly traffic. Few have told me " APANA AMERIKA RU ASI KANA LUNA CHADHUCHANTI, AJIKALI PEON BI LUNA CHALAU NAHANTI". It means "How come you coming from America ride a Luna(a popular moped) whereas even peons these days don't ride them ". I refrain from answering their stupid question because it's silliness speaks volumes about them. But I always wished I told them it is non of their freaking business whether I ride a moped or ride as a Mahout on an elephant.  And what peons ride today has got nothing to do with what I should or shouldn't ride tomorrow. In this context it reminds me of an adage about Abraham Lincoln. Once someone saw Lincoln tying his shoelaces and asked him " Mr. President, you tie your own shoelaces ?" Yes, I do responded Lincoln. Then he went on " Whose shoelaces you tie".

Fed's announcement and Rupee's improvement

Couple of days back the American federal reserve announced that it will continue to pump money into the economy. No sooner than it was announced  the next day the SENSEX (Index in Indian stock exchange similar to Dow Jones) boomed and Rupee stabilized at lower 60s. That is in anticipation that this decision of easy money by Fed will pump more Dollar to the global economy. So that will at least curb the outflow of dollars from India, at least of the time being. No wonder they say when America sneezes the whole world catches the cold.

Maasage at health fair

Just got off from a wonderful soothing Chair massage at the Health Fair today at work. The soft hands of the masseur (please don't kill the messenger) srugged off my jaded nerves. Thoroughly relaxed and feeling drowsy staggered back to work feeling like going home for a nap.

Working Like clockwork

My schedule is working like clockwork these days. No sooner I turn my car key on I hear "Good morning. This is NPR news, Washington...." It tells me it is 7.30. I am so tuned to it I don't have to look at my phone or near the dashboard for time. (I have forgotten the last time I wore a watch which is more of a style than a necessity to look for time these days. The desktop, laptop, i-WHATEVER devices do that for you.). My breakfast goes undigested if I miss my morning news on NPR. At the same breath I can say I have taken days off from work but forgotten the last time I took a day off from Facebook. Like clock work come lunch break or back home I used to read a book. Now I surf Facebook. A clock keeps you straight on time but there are instances to prove otherwise. Logic says a broken clock is better than a clock which runs 5 minutes late. At least it shows correct time twice a day. Once in Bhubaneswar Railway station I found the Gauhati-Cochin express arrive on time. Upon enquiry I found it exactly a day late. But the huge clock at the station told that the arrival time was correct. But nobody can defy the ultimate truth. TIME (not the magazine) waits for none.

United Way and Contribution

With Fall comes the charity time with UNITED WAY. I feel proud of being part of this esteemed organization and what they do. The phrase "Charity begins at home" never sounded more appropriate considering the numerous homes they have helped to build and rebuild. There was this battered woman who could not take the horrific physical abuse from her husband anymore. One fine morning she decided to leave him for good along with her kids. She didn't have a car and a climate controlled home (not having either easily qualifies one as poverty stricken in America) and a good College degree to stand on her own feet. Volunteers like me contributed money, time and energy to make her stand on her own feet. Long story short United Way helped her migrate from poor to the middle class.  I do my share of contribution by volunteering to file Tax for the poor. Nothing gives me a better sense of fulfillment than working for a good cause. Being a firm believer of the service to mankind is service to God I do best I can. I have forgotten when I visited a temple last time, but I never forget to pitch in for a good cause. Kudos to the efforts of the United Way making some tangible and noteworthy contribution to the society.  Hats off to them and the Spirit of charity among Americans.

Birthday Gift

Wife: I have got such an expensive suit for your birthday.
Husband : Ok, show me.
Wife : I will just wear and come.

(Translated from Hindi originally sent by my friend Sanchayan )

Racist tweets for Miss America

There is certainly an element of racism and jealousy involved in the rants on social media about the Miss America from Indian origin. The most amusing one is many thinking the Bollywood fusion dance performed by the winner as Belly dance performed by Al Qaida in Arabian Peninsula. Culturally Arab and India are poles apart, like oil and water they never mix. The biggest contribution to this is the ...common American's very little knowledge about rest of the world. And little knowledge can be a dangerous thing. Interacting with Americans on daily basis for last 16 years this did not surprise me at all. Moreover these kind of things are often amplified by the media especially the social variety. Similarly the perception by many in India (courtesy Hollywood) is that the average Uncle Sam is a trigger happy racist and Jane Doe is an ever scantily clad lady ever ready for anything with anyone. That explains why many Indian visitors land up in jail for wrong reasons. It includes couple of our own Odia Bhai who came to America on short trips and landed up in jail for unsolicited amorous advances.

KABHI AL QAEDA NAA KAHNA

Nina Devuluri, the newly crowned Miss America presented a Bolllywood fusion in the pageantry. She got a lot of racist tweets and rants linking her to "Al Queda" etc. To counter that she is going do another fusion "KABHI AL QAEDA NAA KAHNA"..to the tune of "Kabhi Albeeda Na Kahna".

USA is still the land of Opportunity

The newly crowned Miss America yet proves that USA is the land of opportunities, racial taunts or tweets not withstanding. If you got talent then sky is the limit. Obama proved it earlier, a lady of Indian origin vindicated it now.

The verdicts on the verdict on the Delhi rape victim

I have gone through numerous  verdicts on social media about the verdict on Delhi rape case. We are now judging the judge's decision. The gloat over the death sentence is not unexpectedly high among the women as they can relate to the agony of the victim. We males are certainly anguished by this heinous act but the outpouring outrage  from the ladies side is quite understandable. It probably explains the questions from some ( invariably males. haven't noticed one from ladies yet) about the righteousness of the death penalty. They have every rights to their opinions. The debate about Capital Punishment as part of a civilized society is probably as old as the civilization itself. Some describe it as a medieval practice. America, arguably a modern state has death penalty instituted in numerous states. (Hangman's noose and electric chair has been replaced by lethal injection. A few have gas chambers I believe). America by no means less civilized than any other country. Before doing some armchair posting let's take a pause and think. Let's try to step into the shoes of the victim's family.  It would be easy for me to preach eye for an eye is wrong, state has no right to kill an individual etc etc. But would I be talking at the same breath if I can relate the victim to one of my near and dear one ? I don't think so.  Dastardly acts provoke dastardly response. In America the family members of the victim are allowed to watch the execution of the perpetrator. They do it for a reason.   It may not be humane but it is human. I have no illusion to be a Super human. Normally I won't hurt a fly, let along watch someone die. But God forbid, if one day I am invited to such an event I will take the first row. No wonder in movies nobody sheds a tear when the bad guy falls.

3.10 to Yuma

The hanging verdict in the Delhi rape case reminds me of the WESTERN movie from 2007, 3-10 TO YUMA starring Russell Crowe and Christian Bale. There was a dialogue from that movie  goes like this

 

" They will Hang me in the Morning;

  They will Hang me before dawn.

  They will Hang me in the Morning;

  I will never see the Sun."

 

I hope some one translates this to Hindi and tell those culprits. Though Hindi is not my mother tongue it's still worth a try.

 

" WOH MUJHE JHULAENGE SUBAH MEIN;

  BHOR HONE SSE PAHLE.

 WOH MUJHE JHULAENGE SUBAH MEIN;

SURAJ KO KABHI NAHI DEKHUNGA MEIN".

 

They can chant this when they proceed to the gallows with our GHATAK(Hangman) waiting for them.

Death penalty in Nirbhaya case

We say justice delayed is justice denied. But kudos to the authority for acting fast on the NIRBHAYA case with a quick turnaround. I am glad the decision was apt and swift. No question about it. The poor victim's soul will get some solace. However I smell a political angle to it. Delhi and states in North India are having elections this winter. Last winter Congress was facing all the brickbats in Delhi in general and India in particular over this heinous crime. We Indians are emotional in nature and often have a short memory. This decision is certainly going to help Congress in a long way in wiping out its image as a non-performing party. Hope these kind of Swift decisions are extended to other cases also. Does Bitti Mohanty ring a bell or forgotten in this hullabaloo.

Obama as a winner Nobel prize for peace

I have ultimate respect for Nobel prizes given in all areas except Peace. How would you explain Mahatma Gandhi never getting it unlike Obama.

Mother, son and Dysfunctional puppet

The trinity of Father, Son and the Holy Ghost can be extended to
Mother, Son and the Dysfunctional puppet - India
Sister, Sibling and the Lazy lad - Odisha.

This could be my shortest posting after a long time.

Saudi's extended support to America

Saudi's extend support to America when America complains about Human rights violation in Syria. Saudi Arabia are certainly not champions of Human Rights by any standard.

DARR movie two decades ago

Two decades ago probably around this time the Hindi movie DARR was released. Sah Rukh Khan played a role which was earlier supposedly refused by Amir Khan and Sunny Deol. The former took a calculated risk. From that movie he never looked behind. For the first time in the Hindi movie industry the audience clapped when the villain stabbed the hero. The audience's reaction totally took me into surprise. At the end the stammering KKK..Kiran Khan turned out to be the de facto hero. Proves yet again no risk no gain in life. Complacency leads to stagnation and the risk takers wear the hat of success. Movie industry has the history of refusal to play certain roles by much established actors which leads to the establishment of another one. Amitabh did the role in ZANJEER supposed to have been refused by Dev Anand. Amzad Khan played Gabbar Singh in Sholay refused earlier by Danny. The role played by Richard Gere in THE OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN which propelled him into stardom was earlier refused by Jon Travolta. Rest we know is history.

Tokyo selected for hosting 2020 Olympics

A few hours ago it was announced that Tokyo, Japan is going to be the host of 2020 Summer Olympics. It will be third time in 12 years Olympics will be held outside Europe and North America. These two continents used to predominantly host this prestigious sporting event not so long. It also tells something, the arrival of many nations on the world stage, especially in sports and economic arena. For Japan it will be 2nd time in their history. China and South Korea, the other two Asian giants have already passed the test as successful hosts. Brazil is going to host next year. Many say we missed the boat yet again. But that would be a gross understatement.  We were never serious contenders. We are unfortunately far from hosting Olympics, lack of organisational ability, sporting infrastructure or otherwise. Hockey is the only Olympics sports in which once upon a time we won several medals and laurels. Indian soundly defeated Germany in 1936 Olympics hockey final to a standing ovation from an audience which included Hitler. Now Germany defeats us soundly. We are even struggling to qualify at the international stage. The ex-chief of Indian Hockey, KPS Gill was supposed to replicate his miracle as police chief in Punjab on the hockey field. Nothing of that sort happened ( we Indians are a gullible bunch and have faith in Amitabh Bachchansque or Jajnikantish  miracles). We just gloat over cricket and IPL. Cricket which is arguably the religion of India and its stars are no less than Gods is played at quality level by only a handful of countried in single digit. Thankfully Germans, Russians, Americans and Chinese are not playing cricket. The first three are capable of producing fast bowlers hurling the cherry at 100+ mph(160+ kmph). The Chinese who are natural in acrobatics can produce spinner of high class and guile. We would be struggling to qualify for World Cup as our hockey team does these days. And our so fashionable IPL can well be hijacked by the European or American Leagues counterparts. A la Martin Luther King I have a dream that one day I will be watching International Olympics Committee announcing " The Host for Summer Olympics goes to...New Delhi ( or any Indian city)". At this rate it does not sound too likely to get fulfilled in my lifetime. As I am a Brahmin I am destined to die with this unfulfilled dream and haunt everybody as a BRAHMARAKHASA ( A legend in Odisa is if a Brahmin die withs unfinished desires he is cursed as roam as the burly demonic champion of ghosts aptly named BRAHMARAKHASA).
( A note to my friends in America, the Hockey I am referring here is field hockey played on ground, not the Hockey played on ice we are more familiar with in North America).

Widening Trade Gap Signals Improving U.S. Demand: Economy

 Quoting from this piece of news on Bloomberg..." The trade deficit in the U.S. widened in July from an almost four-year low as Americans imported more fuel and automobiles, showing the world’s largest economy is picking up."  define oxymoron ! Trade deficit widening and economy improving ? Well.. 2/3rd of American economy is related to consumer spending. As per today's job report nearly 170K jobs were added last month in USA. Not great, bot bad either considering how the rest of the world are doing at present. When more jobs are added, more people spend. One spending leads to another, more jobs get created in the process. This is nothing new. Our forefathers in Indai figured this out long back. In ancient India money was aptly named as CHANCHALA (the one which runs fast) in Sanskrit. The more it rolls, the more the economy stays healthy. Alas, in corruption laden nations Money is stashed in Jute sacks, under mattress, under ground,  behind walls and in foreign banks. If a  part of that money is spent inside the country at least it will create a few jobs.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-04/trade-gap-in-u-s-widened-in-july-from-almost-four-year-low.htm

2020 Olympics venue to be decided soon

International Olympics Committee will convene in Buenos Aires, Argentina on 7th September to decide the venue of 2020 Summer Olympics. Tokyo is the current favorite ahead of Madrid and Istanbul. But the Olympics Committee never fails to throw a surprise. It is often accused of corruption and nepotism. Henry Kissinger, the legendary American diplomat who shaped its foreign policy and once lobbied for his country in IOC said that the politics there reminded him of Middle East. 1996 being the centennial Olympics was supposed to go to Greece for historical as well as sentimental reason. However Coca Cola was rumored to have influenced the delegates to snatch it to its headquarters Atlanta. When Beijing lost closely to Australia it accused USA of scuttling its chances for Australia. Ideally politics should be kept out of sports. Unfortunately we don't live in an ideal world.

A tribute of Fakir Mohan Senapati - A Statesman ahead of his times

Asaram Bapu and sundry charlatans remind me of a short story by the eminent Odia statesman and educationist Fakir Mohan Senapati.  It's name is DHULIA BABA( the Sand Shrouded Saint). In that epic story the writer has exposed the duplicacy of a BHANDA(fake) Baba.  Fakir Mohan Senapati  was way ahead of his times. He was a writer, patriot and a shrewd strategist rolled into one who fought for Odia language which was on the verge of extinction at that time. Had he not been there in all probability Bengali would have taken over Odia as the medium of teaching in the state where Odia is the mother tongue of the most. Many eminent Bengalis at the helm of affairs those days living in Cuttack erroneously proclaimed that ODIA EKTAA SWATANTRA VASA NAYE, translated from Bengali it means Odia is not an independent language. Fakir Mohan fought tooth and nail against this wrong notion. He started an Odia printing press and publishing books in our native language. Odia survived. Sad that the name of such a great statesman of stature now languishing in the dustbins of history, restricted only to the Government College in Balasore, Orissa named after him. Hardly anyone remembers him these days. Hats off and my thousands of salute to the man for his service to the state of Odisa.

 

American's apathy about world

Americans are so apathetic with events going around the world that they pay scant attention to them. Last week I spoke to many in order to have a feel about their feelings towards the prospective American attack on Syria. For most it was least of their concerns. They were rather focused on economy, College Football are more importantly the upcoming Labor day weekend. Those who were aware were more worried about paying more at pump than Assad or chemical weapons.  Americans never forget to make their  leaders accountable on domestic arena. But in the matter of foreign affairs they go by what the media and government feed them.

We are champions of dowry related harassments

One not so positive news from my state back home. Noted child artist Sweta Mishra of ‘Sunapanjuri’ fame has accused her in laws of assault for dowry.   Sweta refused to bow down to their demand for a flat in Bhubaneswar which has become a sought after commodity with the recent high real estate price of the city. While in Switzerland  she was beaten and forced to sleep in cold by her husband. If it is true we are adding one more feather to our cap of being champion of dowry related harassments.

America's hypocrisy about their leaders' character.

As humans we all harbor some semblance of hypocrisy, big or small. One example is how the Americans judge their leaders. Cheating on spouses is not uncommon in America yet they want their political leaders to be of spotless lily white characters. Let me site a few examples. The first one is John Edwards, the rising star in the Democratic party from North Carolina and the running mate to John Kerry in 2004. An excellent fighter for the working middle class Americans he got caught up in an affair with his secretary. He had his moment of weakness which he blamed on his long lonely campaign schedule and stress related to his wife's terminal cancer. He had an illegitimate baby from his secretary and met his political end. General Petreus the CIA chief who was credited with turning around Iraq war was caught having affairs with his biographer. He blamed it on his frequent long and lonely overseas stints and subsequently unceremoniously removed. Still their prior achievements and contribution to America were forgotten and they were thrown into the dustbins of history. Bill Clinton was lot luckier. His charisma and good economy helped him survive the Lewinsky scandal. As far our leaders back home go their cheatings are way too many and go beyond the scope of this post. The difference is if caught the American politicians often admit to their guilt and apologize. India politicians have more guile and GAALUAMI (an Odia word meaning stubborn refusal to admit) to protect themselves. There is a saying in Oriya that GAALUA KU MAHADEV PAARIBENI..even Lord Siva cannot conquer a stubborn liar. It speaks for itself. A few elderly folks (both in India and America) confided to me how much they are amused at the conduct of some from their generation. They see them preaching ethics and morality to their own kids when they themselves were never the epitomes of morality when they were at their kids age. Hypocrisy handed down the generation.