Mindless Mind©

On Saturday night, I watched the interview with Dr A P J Abdul Kalam and if he feels happy about the deal, I know we have really made a breakthrough.

I would have never believed any politician about the goodness or the adversity of the NSG waiver - be it from Congress, BJP or any other party.

But when the Nuclear-Man of India feels satisfied, it definitely would have made sense.

In the interview, I noted something intersting - the Thorium reserves that we have at the southern-tip of the nation; and also the Uranium reserves that a few of the states have. And I think the only thing that we really need is technology. And of course if we can get high-quality Uranium supply from other countries, we can keep our reseves and use them only in emergency - something what USA has kind-of done with their petroleum reserves.

China, undoubtedly tried to play spoil sport. And I am - probably for the first time - proud of India’s External Affairs Minister - Pranab Mukherjee by sending strong words to China. However, as I see the his interview at CNN-IBN with Rajdeep Sardesai, I feel a little sorry. Anyway, at the highest levels, diplomats need to be diplomatic. “Whatever has to be told, has been told”, says Pranab.

And I am really amused - though not surprised - when China demands NSG waiver for Pakistan for “geopolicital balance”. Ha ha ha ha! What a joke! I really pity such remarks… it’s like reading Dilbert or R K Laxman’s “Common Man”. God Bless!

This time I am not alone. Infact, I will soon be joining the entire family. Renu and I left Bangalore yesterday night for Manmad. And so did Papaji and Mammi from Lucknow. What more, Vaibhav will join us from Mumbai!!

So, a full family gathering at Manmad - a half for us en route Shirdi.

Yesterday, when I looked at the final reservation charts, I was a little confused as to what is PQWL and that too two people were alloted the same seat. Then it turned out that the other person will board at Manmad.

That was 7pm yesterday evening.

And then the compartment where our seats were confirmed, the remainder of it was alloted to a family from Tamil Nadu but now settled in Bangalore.

So, we shifted for “seat exchange”.

That was a live compartment because of family and kids. And this is a real dumb one with people confined to themselves.

Anyway, that’s how the life also is - a journey with lots of twists.

Because of cold and no-pillow head-rest during sleep last night, Renu’s back - neck specifically - is in pain. She just can’t turn her head around right now.

Waiting for Manmad to get down and get some medicines for her.

So, we should reach by 3pm. My parents should arrive by 2pm while Vaibhav by 12-1pm! Hurray!

I really don’t know when will the Indian Media become socially responsible.

I cite media as one of the biggest reasons for continuation of Casteism and call for Reservations in the country. I think India is the only country in the world that takes pride in being called backward and people agitating to include themselves in the backward class. What a Shame!

Take the latest incident here, e-Paper from Times of India, May 29^th, 2008, Bangalore Edition or directly this item.

I don’t really understand what is the need of the media to dig into such issues. If the categorization is done on the basis of region, gender, age, educational qualification, economic background etc demographics, probably it makes sense. And they are measurable. What’s cast, btw?
Caste! What a ridicule. And unless media gets responsible, I think we will continue to lose lives and property. What do we gain - I am yet to take a note. Some recent incidents:

• Delhi braces of Gujjar Protest
• City’s borders under siege on Thursday
• Rajasthan seals borders with Haryana, MP
• And probably, the most meaningful of them all - Who’ll pay for damage to public property? We, the taxpayers. Who else. Those agitators anyway don’t pay anything.
• And the most worrysome - Food scarcity looms as no one budges.

Hope there’s some saviour who takes off Caste from the political agenda and from the front page in newspaper, and more importantly, does not call for unnecessary articles like the one I mentioned earlier.

Let’s aim towards making an equal India. Classify, but not divide. Segregate but not exclude.

Is anybody listening out there?

Swaminathan S A Aiyar, in Times of India, writes that the ban on food exports form countries like India is one of the main reasons for the fueling of the prices across the world.

IMHO, every country will first protect its own interest than that of the world. That’s what the “Western World” has been doing for ages.

During the British Territory days, East India Company / British Government always wanted the “Lagaan” irrespective of what was the state of the crops. They cared a damn about the weather. They cared a damn about whether crop was good or something wrong happened.

Now if the countries protect their own interests, what is the harm?

I object to Aiyar’s article making this item as an agenda… an item to even think about.

Being a weekend, I had to complete several pending work items, for which I had to travel several parts of the city (Bangalore / Bengalooru, of course) today.

I was shocked and surprised to see the number of beggars “deployed” at the junctions / signals. The kids seem to have done well off - at least few things could not be made hidden - but are into beggary.

Looking at one of girls - somewhere in the age of 14-16yrs - my wife’s remark was astonishing, “See, her face looks so fresh. Why can’t she join a retail showroom”. Though it may have been a bit exaggeration because at showrooms / malls, looks is not the only thing. “English” is also the other important thing, at least in Hindustan (Oh yes, it’s better known as India).

Now, is the government and police doing to stop this “child labour”? Well, I read in some magazine / newspaper some time back that few “influential” and “connected” people are involved in the “business of beggary”.

And if that is true, again, God save the Country!