Operation Derail Anna!!

Through Internet and news channels, I tried to collect Baba Ramdev’s demands. Since I have lot of spare time, I tried to dissect with the knowledge and common sense that I possess.

Tough Lokpal Bill, with a provision for death sentence for the corrupt, especially corrupt officials

Isn't this what Anna Hazare fasted for? A Lokpal panel was formed and started functioning by touring states of Gujarat, MP etc. On the other hand, he demands Capital Punishment for the corrupt. Doesn't it contradict the age old debate of need for abolishing Capital Punishment??

Immediate return of all black money stashed away in tax havens abroad to the country

As prime minister rightly said, there is no magic wand to bring the money back. Even if such things happen, how is the Indian Economy going to respond to this?

Declaring all wealth in foreign countries being held illegally by Indians as national property and charging those with such accounts under the sedition laws

Alright!! This can be explored to a certain extent

Abolishing Rs.1,000 and Rs.500 currency notes

Cant comment on this!!

Disabling the operations of any bank which belongs to a country that is a tax haven

Again, how is the economy going to respond to such a drastic step?? Are we looking forward to be economic Super power or Undo the efforts of Dr.Manmohan Singh and go back to the age of Pre-liberalization?

Replacing the British-inherited system of governance, administration, taxation, education, law and order with a swadeshi alternative

This is absolute bull shit. He wants british inherited law and order to be replaced with Swadeshi Alternative. Does it mean he wants acts like Sati to be back in fashion or wants the NCERT books to be changed to satisfy personal egos? Pramod Muthalik must be happy because as per Ramdev's demands, he will become the minister of State for Moral Policing and ensure that every boy & girl who roam around gets married then and there. If such scenario appears, he will be the Diggi Raja of Babaji's government.

Reforming the electoral system to ensure that the Prime Minister is directly elected by people

I think this is in direct reference to Dr.Manmohan Singh. This one is understandable to a certain extent. But then, are people willing to shed the multiple political rights that they enjoy within the country. Can a Andhrite surrender his political right with all its privileges in East Godavari district to accept a political right in Telangana?

Ensuring that all citizens declare annually their incomes

Good if this can be implemented but certain spiritual gurus who have their turnovers running into hundreds of crores can do that with appropriate tax deductions. For example, Baba Ramdev has a turnover of 1000 crores with an island in Scotland while Devi Amrita has a turnover of 300 crores. There is also a Satya Sai trust and Art of Living foundation in the list. Can these people declare their source of income without charging govt of playing with religious sentiments of people.

Bringing income-tax details under the Right to Information Act

I am not sure about this.

Increasing substantially the Minimum Support Price of grains

Looks like Babaji wants the principle of Demand & Supply to be rewritten in a way that pleases him. MMS, Rangarajan's and Montek's of India should bury their knowledge, resign from their posts and appoint Baba Ramdev as Finance/Commerce Minister and Chairman of Planning Commission

Making wages of different categories of labourers uniform across the country

Shouldn't there be a consideration for quality, quantity, nature and type of work? Shouldn’t there be a merit involved in whatever work a person does and what he gets paid for? Doesn’t it erase competition and bring imbalance to the society? Isn't it yet another case of reservation where a person who is working hard gets a same wage as a person who is working comparatively less harder?

Revoking the Land Acquisition Act, as farmers should not be deprived of their land for industry

Revoking the Land Acquisition Act altogether is not a solution. If baba has any implementable ideas about how to support Industrialization without affecting Agriculture then he is most welcome to do so. Anyone can throw in problems but when Babaji is aware of a problem he cannot merely restate it. Instead he should come up with a solution.

Promoting Hindi at the expense of English.

This is the joke of the millenium!! All TV channels should take a poll with the question "Should Hindi be promoted at the expense of English - Yes/No?" During 2009 Lok Sabha Elections, Mulayam Singh Yadav put forward a similar plan which was supported by Paswan & Lalu. All these netas were ridiculed by the public and the media. Now why is no one talking about Ramdev??

While Anna Hazare’s agitation made sense to lakhs of people of different strata of society, Ramdev’s agitation appears to be a hoax. The dias of Anna was occupied by eminent people like Kiran Bedi & Swami Agnivesh, the dias of Ramdev was occupied by Babri Masjid demolishers.

Looks like UPA has found a way to derail Anna by creating Baba. Or is it do an MNS on NDA at the national level?

Whatever be the reason, Congress has given us a reason to believe that they are the Super Kings of Indian Political League.

Beyond Triple Talaaq & Burqas……

Now the title might give enough fodder for the critics of Islam and for some it could be an opportunity of life time. Sorry to disappoint you guys because I am not interested in discussing them either. This post of mine is inspired by observations of last 15 years and a class room discussion on the concept of Triple Talaaq. Though it has been mentioned umpteen times that there is a process to be followed for Triple Talaaq….logically, yet it is projected as the loop hole in the principles of Islam. What my observation says is that people (many non muslims & considerable no. of muslims) think that Islam is all about Triple Talaaq, Enforcing Burqas & Jehad. So here I would like to highlight few more things to enlighten my friends what else Islam has to offer. Mind you that this will not be an exhaustive list.

1. There are 5 important tenets of Islam

a. Imaan – The Belief that there is none but Allah who is alone and capable of doing anything and everything in the world. This doesn’t imply that it be considered derogatory by other religions as the faith doesn’t interfere with other religions and its followers

b. Namaz – Should be offered 5 times a day, no matter what. Offering Friday noon prayers is extremely important since one cannot make up if you missed it. Only women in their periods are exempted and people who are seriously ill and cant move. However, they have to make it up once they are fine. If you are not well, you can offer it by sitting or in worst case through gestures.

c. Roza – It is mandatory for every muslim to fast in the month of Ramzan. What follows is Eid-ul-Fitr. Due to similar reasons mentioned above, one is exempted from Roza temporarily but there has to be a make up for it. That is either donate certain amount or fast later.

d. Zakat – Islam believes in distributing the wealth among all and recommends to reduce the gap between the “Haves” and “Have Nots”. People who have certain amount of wealth accumulated on his name in the form of Cash, Gold, Silver, Animals, Worth of goods etc should give alms to anyone except their own family members.

e. Haj – Haj is another once in a year activity in which people spend atleast 5 days in Mecca, Saudi Arabia and perform the rituals there. What follows is Eid-Ul-Azha (Bakrid) on the 5^th day. This is again mandatory for those who have piled up the wealth and can afford it.

2. In a typical Non Muslim family, it is impossible for a daughter to inherit her father’s wealth and everything would go to sons. However, Islam had a provision that allows both sons and daughters to inherit their father’s wealth (not necessarily in same proportions)

3. In a marriage, if husband dies…the widow is allowed to marry again after a brief period of 4-5 months from the day of funeral. This is another example of how Woman is safeguarded and empowered in Islam.

4. Islam encourages its followers to learn, educate themselves and their families including women for a better society. It doesn’t imply the other things like the tenets of Islam are compromised.

5. Fatwas have been the most important things for the English Media to raise their TRPs. Anyways, Fatwas are not judgements but opinions expressed in the light of Quran & Hadiths. It is purely the prerogative of people to follow it or not. Eg: Salman Khan was issued a Fatwa for Idol Worship. Does it affect him? NO. So there is no need to make such a hue & cry about Fatwas since they are mere opinions and not judgements.

I have tried to put in few points to start with so that every one gets to know of Islam..beyond Talaaq, Burqa and Jehad.

Thank You

My Socialist wishlist for 2011

Its the time in the night where almost all of my friends are partying hard and welcoming the new year at various places and I.. Am sitting in my room alone writing this blog.

No... wait..before you could come to a conclusion that my social life sucks, let me tell you that I too have celebrated my new year in the style that I am comfortable with. I had a sumptuous Persian food at Bandra, wandered on the overly crowded Juhu Beach having a cup of Irani like Chai and then a long walk back to hostel...totally worth it!!

In fact, the overcrowded Juhu beach with sections of people from middle class and below challenged me to think what they might want in this new year.
A middle class employee might be looking at an increment in salary or a tax exemption post annual budget...or may be marrying of their daughters who are considered to be the liabilities in the Balance Sheet of vastly educated torch bearers of the great Indian constitution.

Desires are many but wants are few. So I have tried to figure out a typical socialist wish list for 2011 and it has the mention of following things.

1. A year free from scams, terrorism (right & left wing/ local & global), communalism & pseudo secularism, naxalism & vandalism..

2. A year with over 9% economic growth with education & livelihood for all, for we are interested in development and not caste, creed and religion of our esteemed parliamentarians

3. A year that efficiently utilizes the resources of the country without wasting the tax payer's money and jeopardizing the dreams of millions of Indians who believe that their representatives sit in parliament for common good and not to boycott them

4. A year to win the world cup and bring back the glory of 1983 for Cricket is the religion that we all blindly follow.

5. A repeat of Common Wealth Games, Asian Games and similar sporting extravaganza that would imbibe interest and trust to make it big in the sport of their choice.

6. A year that will ensure justice to all with speedy trials of terrorism (Kasab and his baaps), corruption (Raja, Kalmadi, Yeddy and their followers at every level of hierarchy of any government institution) & communal/divisive politics (Leaders of Congress, BJP, SP, RJD etc)

7. A year to show the US of A, Australia & UK that they cant take us for granted and we are as good as them in technology, innovation and passion to excel and conquer the world...

8. A year for the rise of many more people like Nitish Kumar, MMS, JP and downfall of champions of pseudo secularism & communalism like Advani

9. A year bestowed with utmost responsiveness and credibility for the beholders of constitution like the Indian Judiciary, CBI, IB, Armed Forces & the great Indian Police

10. A year to be more disciplined, become modern in thoughts and not in clothes alone and to be more responsible for every responsibility fulfilled well is a service to country

11. A year to tame the capitalists and through them bring balance in the society for they have the money, reach and mind to do so

With this wish list, I am signing off in this new year hoping against the hope that at least couple of my wishes come true this year and with a couple of lines resulting out of my new found love for writing poetry

ख्वाब देखना हमारी आदत है और उनको सच करना हमारी फितरत !
अफ़सोस है के अपनों ने किया दगा वरना हमको रोकने की है किस्मे हिम्मत !!
- Mohd Khalid Hasan

khwab dekhna hamari aadat hai aur unko sach karna hamari fitrat !
afsoos hai ke apno ne kiya daga warna humko rokne ki hai kisme himmat !!
- Mohd Khalid Hasan

Wish you all a very happy, meaningful, peaceful, rational & humane new year 2011. Hope all your genuine dreams come true!!

You Too Can Win

You Too Can Win

I have decided not to write anything critical in my blog which draws people to think and act as it might create panic. However, I am compelled to write a blog at this point of time as it is 2:30 AM IST.

I stay in hostel and my roomies are not staying here for quite sometime. The project that I am working on is also very chilled out. It leaves me ample time that I can spend on myself. So I was trying to figure out how to realize my dream of becoming rich and famous in shortest possible time. One night I fell asleep, thinking about this. A light appeared in my dream which started talking to me and assured me that I will be rich and famous. The light told me to follow the 10 principles that it was about to tell me in my dream. They are given below

1. Indulge yourself in Vandalism every now and then especially when there is a crisis situation going on in the country. Easy way out is to find the person who looks weaker than you and start bashing him in public. You can also assemble some street side people and pay them to throw stones at each other.

2. Hire an archaeological consultant, identify a structure that stands on something which existed 1 million years ago and destroy it with the help of local people in presence of media. Kill those whoever tries to confront you. If something goes wrong (read Right) approach the court……kyu ke kanoon ke haath lambe hote hai aur kanoon ke phande se sirf gareeb aadmi nahi bach sakta

3. Make sure that your role models are L.K.Advani, Narendra Modi, Raj Thackeray & Pramod Muthalik in order to be an effective speaker. The reason being, the illiterate and semi literate population of India do not bother about facts but are heavily influenced by a serious oratory.

4. Befriend A.Raja, Sharad Pawar, Mayawati & Laloo Yadav for the only reason that you have to be resourceful (corrupt) to be successful in India. Each one of them have the ability to come up with some innovative ideas, conceptualize and implement them under the restricted constitutional environment of India. Someone told me that Harvard Business School wants to have these people as their visiting faculty

5. Ensure that you are born in the family who have some kind of reservation. The chances that you will get to know whether your would be family belongs to reserved class I almost zero. So, be prepared to make one for yourself….you may have to spend some money. Believe me, its worth a deal…you never know you may end up in some IIT or IIM.

6. Start taking cricketing lessons even before you are born though I don’t know how. It will ensure money, fame and hot girl friend. If you treat Pakistani Cricketers as your friend (Mr.Anil Sharma and Sunny Paa ji might not like this idea) then your bank balance will sky rocket. After all, Pakistanis make money because of our people. Don’t you dare to opt for our national sports…Hockey. You will be punished by making you kneel down in front of Mr.Karunanidhi.

7. By any chance if you are a graduate and living in some urban city then start championing the divine cause of pre marital sex, rave parties, animal rights, candle march for murder of high society men & women etc. DO NOT..I repeat DO NOT bother about anything else and take a diplomatic stand on whatever things happens around you. If you do not follow this advice, you will be haunted by the men/women for whom you have led the candle march.

8. You should attend a crash course on management from the premier management gurus of India Mr.Lalit Modi, Mr.Suresh Kalmadi. Its not easy to get into their schools since you have to crack the Common Admission Test, followed by series of interviews. If you do not want to take that much effort, you can enrol yourself with Circle Inspector in your area, A Clerk in the Municipal Corporation, RTO Agent, Traffic Police Constable, Mandal Revenue Officer etc. They are equally capable as Lalit and Suresh but not everyone gets lucky.

9. If you want to be sab se tez in this country, ensure that your activities are captured by right TV channels in the prime time. If you have any family disputes come out in public and settle the score. Prepare yourself for reality shows as this is the vehicle of aam admi for some fame and money. You should be able to cry, lie that your mother/father/grand mother/grand father is not well, able to take up fight with other participants, have an affair with co participant etc as and when required.

Among all shows, quiz shows are of utmost importance where you get to do Sach ka Saamna. It is highly advisable to have media advisor for your family just like a family doctor.

10. Don’t Know

Before the light could tell me the 10^th principle, it started fading but in the Indian Movie style (like the hero who has been shot point blanc but takes his time to bid adieu to everyone around) the light told me that…it couldn’t tell me the 10^th principle but gave its final message…..

itni shiddat se maine tujhko ye usool batane ki koshish ki hai ke har zarre ne mujhe bhujaane ki saazish kee hai….

Magar main aaj buj gaya to kya hua, main wapas aungaa….

kyu ke….kyu ke….abhi picture baakhi hai mere dost!!

Some Surprises really matter!!!

I am doing DBP these days on my blog. :)

Oh I am sorry, I didn’t realize that I am on blog and there are many more people apart from SPJAINITES who might see my blog. So for non-SPJAINITES, DBP means Desperate Blog Participation and origin of this acronym is DCP (Desperate Class Participation)

DCP signifies an iterative annoying act of Division B participants of PGDM program at S.P.Jain Institute of Management & Research, Mumbai, when the class is in progress.

Getting back to the topic....

Surprises, who doesn’t like surprises?? Everybody on this earth experiences surprises in their own way.

Congress was pleasantly surprised to see its number improving in Uttar Pradesh without any coalition. On the other hand Mr.Advani was surprised to realize that he no longer can become the prime minister of India.

Also, Narendra Modi is surprised of his US visa getting denied again and again for his heroics.

Coming to the sports, everyone was surprised to see Brazil out of FIFA World Cup 2010 at the Quarterfinal Stage and Federer crashing out of Wimbledon.

A typical Software Engineer is also surprised when his visa gets processed in spite of his long history of bench in the company.

Also a meritorious student with 90% marks is surprised to see that a mere 65% marks holder gets the birth right to study in a premier institute in the name of reservation ahead of him, where he has to pay concessional fees that too paid by Government.

Everyone experiences surprises at every stage of life. I am no exception to it.

I am forced by my nature to experience most of my life’s surprises as shocking incidents but then when life looks so monotonous and tiring, there comes some pleasant surprises.

One of the pleasant surprises that I experienced was on my birthday i.e 24^th April. I was doing my academic project with a NGO named Prayas in Little Andaman Islands of Andaman & Nicobar. I know you must have felt “the awe” feeling when I said Andamans. I along with my friends Amol, Anoop & Shubham has already spent around 30 days in Andaman by skipping breakfast, having rice along with sambhar for lunch and masala dosa for dinner. Amidst Masala Dosas, field visits, IPL matches we also experienced Earth Quake tremors along with a warning of Tsunami from the meteorological department over TV. This was in no way a pleasant surprise when you are staying in a Guest House which is just 500 meters away from the sea. The tremors passed off without Tsunami but we (atleast I) had apprehensions about our safety.

April 23^rd, 2010 – I was seriously drafting my report and hoping that there are no more tremors. Amol, Anoop & Shubham comes in with a birthday cake. Imagine a birthday cake in Little Andaman where you don’t find Chapathi but dosa and Milk is what the people there are not aware of.

I was surprised to see how they managed to get a Cake for my b’day.

I experienced a similar surprise on 14^th July 2010. We arranged a meet with a bunch of juniors who has few things like Hyderabadi Biryani, Irani Chai, Love for charminaar & Hussain Sagar as common between them and my batch mates at SPJIMR. To my surprise, I found yet another Birthday Cake which has my name on it. This was totally unpredictable since my birthday was over 4 months back.

These surprises are those that really matters to me. As a muslim, I do not believe in celebrating birthdays. Our faith is that there is a life after death and our deeds in this world will be duly rewarded in the next life. So every time my birthday comes, I feel that I am one year closer to my death and in turn to my life after death, for which I am not yet prepared.

I strongly believe in this faith yet I have no qualms of cutting a cake.I am not denying the faith but enjoying the affection that people around me show.

Reason:

When the birthday comes, not all your friends will call you and wishes you. Only few of them do. These few might not be those whom you consider close friends. They call you because you have given them a reason to associate themselves with you and they respect you for that association.

When someone brings a cake for you, it is definitely not just out of formality but because of the affection and respect that they have for you. They might not show this affection every now and then but what a friend you are if you are not able to understand that unsaid affection.

Allah has gifted me with so many people who associate with me and with whom I want to associate. I sometimes have neglected this gift because of the increased emphasis on later half of the above sentence but then you are a human being and you are destined to make mistakes and learn from it.

I am not a person with special qualities or charms. I am an ordinary person (aam admi - the mango people) who was clueless as to what he should do once he cut the cake unless someone comes forward and feeds him a small one.

Whatever be the reason that people find in me to associate with me, I pray that, that reason remain forever.

Thank you Everyone for that wonderful moment!!!

PS: Please ignore the sarcasm in the starting of blog as I am not satisfied unless I take a dig at politicians ;)