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Saturday, June 15, 2013

Need these Hi -Five on WeChat

"If you could connect with 5 or more people in a WeChat group - who would they be, and why? What would you talk about? The people can be dead, alive or even fictional"



We Chat is the way to go
We Chat is the way to go

An interesting idea to blog on , this weekend. Since these five people can be from any space of time my own Avatar should have certain characteristics as well. So for the sake of this post I am an Indian  Business Tycoon who is happily single , lives a life of  'responsible luxury ', loves gadgets and easily connects with people. 
The Wizard of Omaha
The Wizard of Omaha

The first person on my list of WeChat group has to be definitely Mr. Warren Buffet . The 'Wizard of Omaha' as he is famously called is considered as the most successful investor of the 20th Century. A billionaire, because of his innate ability to save , uncanny ability to choose promising stocks and wisely invest to turn his investments into gold. I would get into Live Chats , Video Chats with Mr. Buffet and learn on a day to day basis his art of 'Value Investing'. We would talk on stocks, economies , investing principles , global markets and money. I am sure his Midas Touch would definitely rub on me via WeChat.
Charlie Chaplin the man with smiles
Charlie Chaplin the man with smiles



Charlie Chaplin has to be by choice on my WeChat group contacts. Life has to have its share of humor and fun, and no body else than him embodies it in the best of its form. Chaplin was a perfectionist and got so involved in his work that writing , directing, production and acting was all done by him. Not only he was a great artist , a comedian beyond excellence but he also had great sense of music and he could play piano and violin too. The two of us would exchange videos of his comic acts, stand ups and musical pieces . In turn i would be his best critic pulling his leg often, but mostly applauding his art. 

Barack Obama - The US President
Barack Obama - The US President
Why leave Mr. Barack Obama sulking in boredom and not get him on We Chat. His philosophy of change and restoring world order has to have an Indian angle to it. I am sure an acquaintance with me will do him more good than any other homo sapiens he choose to get associated with. So let's say he talks of Health Reforms for US citizens , why not do the pilot in India. Anything that can work here will definitely be successful in the rest of the world. We both will chat using WeChat on collaboration in areas like Space programs , Renewable energy , Oil & Gas , Nuclear Programs , Agriculture Research and Information Technology. A joint strategy can be worked out where we would run five-six key programs for both the countries and transfer of technology , know how , assets and people would be planned. The intellectual capital would undoubtedly be ours. 
The Princess of Hearts - Diana
The Princess of Hearts - Diana


In my opinion no other woman impressed the world with her style , persona and looks more than Princess Diana.I need her on WeChat right now and that too with head over heels for me. The idea of Romance and relationship finds its perfect meaning with someone like her. I cannot reveal the nature of our sweet nothings that we will exchange on WeChat but  Live Chats, Video Chat , Moments would be shared. Jet setting from Paris to Rome , HonoLulu to Hawai , Dancing , Dining and having fun would need to captured and form our sweet memories.
My Mom is Fabulous
My Mom is Fabulous


Whether it is fiction or real, the most important person off all is, my Mother and she has to be on the top of my list of WeChat contacts. I need her presence , her moral support and guidance for everything big or small. The comfort that she is there to share my concerns, anxieties , failures , successes , happiness is  most satisfying of all. I can start my day with a video call from her giving me blessings , my afternoon with light chat on day to day events and evening with a general chat on everything else. I owe it to the technology that the distances have become a thought of the past and have brought relations more closer.

I have downloaded WeChat on my Blackberry and through this post want to share with my family and friends what all we can do together, using the app. I am seriously excited about the features of Video Call , Moments , Shake , Look Around , Group Chat QR code and Drift Bottle. Though i am yet to try these features on a regular basis but the premise of it looks promising and filled with lots of fun.

WeChat's Youtube channel - Check it Out !!





Tuesday, June 04, 2013

Do not ignore warning signs

Very recently there was a health camp at my son's school where they prepared a health card for every kid and gave good suggestions to keep healthy. Though everything in my son's report was normal, what struck out was his dental examination that pointed out cavities and yellow teeth. These two observations on the surface of it did not look ominous but when delved deeper, gave alarming signals. We decided to teach our kid through simple activities, the importance of not neglecting warning signs when it came to oral health . For a five year old any thing that is preaching , sounds like a lecture or has lots of verbosity will fall flat, so the ways and means had to be interestingly chosen.

The following weekend was relatively free and we choose to prepare a list of food items and go shopping. I asked my son what would he like to buy for the week ahead and here is what he had to say. 'I need Juices , Milk , Cereals , Chips , Candies , Ice creams , Soft drinks and Snacks'. Well we would buy all of those but only when you are able to tell us why you like each of them ?? 'Daddy !! I like Orange juice , Milk will make me strong , Ice creams have fruit and nut in them , Candies are sweet and Sprite has bubbles in it'. We were happy that our kid had at least some logic to his liking.

Cookies are not good for teeth
Cookies are not good for teeth
'That's wonderful son ! So can we say you like sweet things the most, isn't it? Is it the sweet taste that lasts in your mouth for long that you like ?' Yes ! pat came our son's reply. 'I see ! Let's go shopping but remember that the long lasting sweetness from foods like candies , cakes , chocolates is because they stick to your teeth longer and decay them.' The first warning sign had been touched upon and we were happy to have impressed the fact upon our kid. 

We reached the shopping complex and as a routine we were subjected to frisking , scanning bags and security check. It struck to me why not ask my kid what he understood from this exercise.'Do you know what these uncles in uniform are doing here ?' Interestingly, he could quickly relate it with the security in his school and his response was pretty straight. 'Daddy they are checking if every baby is holding his Mumma's hands , stands in a line and is carrying his ID card.'

We smiled at his innocence and we all agreed on the fact that guards and gatekeepers were there to check identities and maintain discipline and order. 'So can we say that the gatekeeper has the right to allow or disallow you within the premises?' My son agreed and the importance of gatekeeper's function was illustrated.  The second distinction between permissible and non permissible objects was easily explained.

Healthy Eating for a long life
Healthy Eating for a long life
After we completed our shopping the obvious halt was at the food court and as per my son's liking, before  'Domino's Pizza' . Though we believe in simple eating , less calories intake , minimum of oils but once in a while snacking is not overruled. These choices are predominantly dictated by our son and thanks to eye catching advertisements there is no option to run away. We ordered a large pizza, garlic bread accompanied by coke . I delegated a task to my kid to make him realize what unhealthy eating was. 'Please tear off the ingredients label from coke and pizza box' and our son happily obliged. Trans fats , Cholesterol ,Sugars ,Calories were clearly popping out from Cheese, Extra toppings and aerated drink .

Watch for Nutrition Level on Snacks
Watch for Nutrition Level on Snacks
Upon reaching home i opened my son's dental check up report and tried drawing a parallel with the day's learning. 'You see the doctor tells us that your teeth have cavities and they are yellowing. Sweet food like candies and cakes are sticking to your teeth and giving germs extra time to harm them and create cavities. The snacks that you ate in the food court has  lots of Trans fats and Sugars that are also bad for teeth. Your mouth is like a gatekeeper that has to choose between healthy and unhealthy food. Even the yellowing of your teeth is due to acids that these germs produce.' .

'So how do i make my teeth healthy again daddy ??'
My kids face bore a sad and worried look. I had to have simple answer to his long question. 'Simple ! Brush twice a day, eat less of sugary and fast foods , and rinse your mouth well after every meal'. My suggestions looked simple and do able to my son and he promptly agreed to take these simple steps.

Teaching our kid oral care at an early stage was a necessity and thanks to the warning signs that we decided to take the situation head on. Stories or activities that have simple morals , learning and takeaways are easy to grasp and a corrective action can be taken timely. To read about Colgate's products , articles on complete oral care please visit the blog My Healthy Speak. 





Monday, May 20, 2013

Transcending Boundaries - Touching Millions of Lives


India has a population of 1 billion plus and more than 70% of its citizens still reside in villages. In numbers this will be around 700 Million or more and what is striking, is the dismal state of healthcare facilities for a majority of this population. There is a huge supply gap in the health care delivery system be shortage of  hospitals , doctors, nurses and  associated medical infrastructure.  According to the Planning Commission, India is short of 600,000 doctors, 1 million nurses and for every 10,000 Indians, there is barely one doctor available. More interestingly the majority of the available healthcare facilities are concentrated in urban areas only.

The problem is quite acute and a silver lining on the horizon is the concept of ‘Telemedicine’. The US Food and Drug Administration defines Telemedicine as “The delivery and provision of healthcare and consultative services to individual patients and the transmission of information related to care, over distance, using telecommunications technologies. Telemedicine incorporates direct clinical, preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic services and treatment; consultative and follow-up services; remote monitoring of patients; rehabilitative services; and patient education.”

Technology and Telemedicine
Technology and Telemedicine will go a long way
Potential of Telemedicine
According to various research reports, India's Telemedicine market is worth US$ 7-8 million and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of around 20-21 percent over the next 5 years. India will also see a significant rollout of new IT infrastructure during the next five years in both the public and private sectors. In a country where penetration of mobile subscribers is predicted to cross 1 Billion by 2014 there is definitely a hope for the concept of Telemedicine to be adopted. Telemedicine can definitely bridge geographical distances and provide remote consultancy to sites where access to quality healthcare is difficult to reach. The telemedicine platform can be used in a variety of applications like , Second /Special Opinion through Remote Consultation,  Disaster Management , Virtual Patient Visits , Setting up Healthcare Knowledge Base , Administering Tele-mentored Procedure / Surgery and many more. For rural masses in India, this delivery model of health services is more of a necessity than an experiment.
Modern Healthcare Touching Lives
Major players in this sector are; The Apollo Telemedicine Enterprise Ltd. , Narayana Hrudayalaya, Asia Heart foundation and Escorts Heart Institute. Government hospitals also providing similar services are AIIMS Delhi, PGI Chandigarh and SGPGI Lucknow. The primary consultation is being provided in Tele-pathology, Tele-radiology, Tele-ophthalmology, Neurology, Cardiology, and Rheumatology etc.
While searching for information I came across the fact that The Apollo Telemedicine Enterprise Ltd. is the largest telemedicine provider in India in the private sector.  Apollo Telemedicine Networking Foundation (ATNF)a not-for-profit organization, is a part of the Apollo Hospitals Group. ATNF has emerged as India's single largest turnkey provider in the area of Telemedicine with over 125 peripheral centers including 10 overseas. Apollo Telemedicine has been operational from more than a decade. It has provided about 71 thousand telemedicine consultations in 25 different disciplines, so far. They are even one of the tele-consultation providers for Pan-African e-Network initiatives. Similar cutting edge medical solutions are being provided by Apollo Hospitals group across the breadth of country and even overseas - http://www.apollohospitals.com/cutting-edge.php .

Things to come
Very recently I came across a news article in Economic Times ‘IITian Amit Bhatnagar quits Hollywood to design lab in suitcase’.  Amit has designed a portable biochemistry laboratory, which comes packed in a suitcase and can perform 23 crucial medical tests including for kidney, liver, heart, anaemia, diabetes and arthritis. The lab includes devices like blood analyzer, centrifuge, Micro pipettes, incubator, Laptop with Patient Data Management Software and consumables.
General Electric (GE) has developed low-cost ECG machines in India that are capable of taking digital images that can be emailed to cardiologists. Another example is 3nethra from Bangalore-based Forus Health. 3nethra is a portable, non-invasive device that helps in early detection of eye diseases like cataract, diabetic retina, glaucoma and cornea related issues. The digital information taken by 3nethra can be easily transmitted electronically. On the similar lines we will see enough gadgets available at home to check blood pressure, blood sugar, ECG, oxygen saturation, even ultrasound that can help in early detection of lifestyle diseases like diabetes, cardiac problems and emergencies as well.

The Telemedicine program has its own share of challenges which range from lack of awareness, poor infrastructure, absence of proven business model, shortage of trained manpower, lack of common standards and legal issues etc. In spite of these hurdles the potential of e-health, telemedicine, cloud based health services have an undisputed potential to touch millions of lives.

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Life on EMI's

Want Home loan ? Want to buy i - phone ? Want to buy a new car this year ? Want education loan? Want Personal loan? 

Guess what is common in all of these !! The easiest, the quickest and the most convenient tool to turn dreams into reality, the mother of all Aladdins called  the 'EMI' . This magical wand can help you procure any goods to the permissible extent of deductions that you can afford from your take home salary. Such is the pervasive web of this offering that no matter how big a teetotaler you are, i am sure you too have 2-3 EMI's running currently. So where does it really start ?

Planning finances prudently
Planning Finances Prudently
Gone are the days when parents could within their limited means raise 2-3 kids, provide them quality education, get them admitted to reputed colleges and provide them 'EMI free future'. In the present times school fees , college fees , skilled and specialized courses, all are a package that you buy on the day one. However big a financial juggler you might be, there is no way you can escape funding education for kids , spouse or even self without the tool called EMI.  It's the supply and demand curve that one rides where he pays dearly while acquiring education and haggles for salary when he has to make use of the same learning. Whatever the scenario might be, it is most likely that you have fixed yourself a monthly debt even before earning a dime.

Let's move ahead and assume that you have a fairly satisfying and respectable paying job only if the comparison is made between haves and haves not. The acquisition spree will first start from gadgets and vehicle, be it an i -phone , tablet , laptop , fridge , washing machine, microwave, AC or a Car. The list is endless as the lure to acquire electronics comes with the a promise of interest free loan and cheap EMI's . Do your mathematics and choose any 4-5 necessary evils out of these and calculate the interest free burden. The prospect of buying will always look as simple as the projected numbers until they are analysed carefully. I bet half of your take home goes into collecting these machines, as the necessity to buy is instant , compelling and they are made easily affordable. The trap is set and one acquires another set of EMI's.

The bigger investments like housing dream cannot be much behind and one will be forced to plan for them, later or sooner. Now this is a tricky phase as the cost of ownership of these assets is costly and having utilized fully one's EMI potential it is hard to fund these wishes. Couples start thinking of additional incomes , dual incomes , job switch , going abroad to fuel this planned expenditure. Once you have stretched yourself to the maximum permissible limit and collected all your savings to invest, you again meet Cheerleaders like Banks , Builders ,Brokers and all sorts of Financial institutions. The moment they sniff your capability you will be swarmed by offers, projections and dreams that look so well within reach. Yes they indeed are or could be and as always one invisible force stands to gain in all your transactions. The monster called 'EMI' that brutally snatches all your money on the day one of the month and one helplessly resigns.

I am no different and also living 'Life on EMI's '. My model of  financial commitments leveraged on borrowings with the assumption that job , personal life and family all will go well is same as yours. I have also not discounted unseen events , failures , job losses , unplanned exigencies to the extent they should have been.  Since we Indians live every day on hope , dreams and unrealistic propositions this gamble will also be played till the end and lives will be poised on EMI's. 

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Lifestyle disease called Internet

How many times per day, do you check your personal email account(s) ? How often you meaninglessly check Facebook for new notifications and friend's updates? 

If the answer is multiple times you could be addicted to Internet.Please read this article to understand this new age lifestyle disease called Inernet.





The Addiction called Internet
The Addiction called Internet

What is internet addiction ? 

If you think that remaining connected 24x7 to office, family and friends through e mails , social networking sites, phone apps is normal then there is a problem. If you have feel that your virtual personality is more important than your real presence then there is a problem.


Signs of Internet Addiction

  • Spending plenty of time on gaming sites, porn sites and gambling etc.
  • Signing in and Signing out on email accounts and facebook multiple times a day.
  • Peeping into others virtual lives without any purpose
  • Meetings and communication with family and friends, happening only on internet
  • Insecurity that your world will crash if you are on not connected to the virtual world
  • Unfounded curiosity that something new is waiting for you on your web address.
  • Internet becomes the first place to spend even the last minute of your free time. 

Why do people get addicted to the Internet ?

What starts as a source of information and a tool for work turns into an escapade to manage stress, loneliness, depression, and anxiety. A world that is virtual, that is unreal provides a jungle to get lost and helps us forget our pressing worries. Most of us sitting in a lonely corner of our houses, dally with this unreal world and expect it to relieve our pain and/or provide pleasure . We look for fun , satisfaction ,understanding, advice , help from a laptop screen. Is it not foolish , is it not abnormal ? We condition our mind to believe that the internet is answer to all our ailments and strengthen this premise by considering  the benefits of it. Where as the reality is, fruitful time spent on net is fraction of the time engaged in futile activities. Slowly and gradually this habit builds on us and we get addicted to this demon called 'Internet', where our virtual existence takes control of our habits and our lives.

Lifestyle diseases due to excess use of Internet

  • Backache
  • Hypertension
  • Strained Eyes
  • Sleep Disorders
  • Weight Gain or Loss
  • Personality Disorders

How to strike a new balance ?

To break free of this addiction one has to differentiate between the real and unreal world. The reasons for an unhappy mind have to be listed out and answers for them to be sought or discussed with the real people. Our support system, family, friends have to be given their importance and more investment has to go into making our relationships more stronger and richer. Let's agree on one simple thought and this is " Person to person interaction , a touch, eye to eye contact, a hug , a smile, a caring hand cannot be replaced by any of the virtual niceties."

Self Help Tips to get rid of Internet Addiction

  • In the first place agree that this addiction is growing on you and it has the potential to harm in the long run.
  • Fall in love again with mother nature. Choose morning walks , evening strolls , weekend picnics, camping, rafting or any outdoor activity that can be pursued regularly.
  • Make it a practice to pick up phone and call your old friends , relatives and renew your ties. Ensure you create small occasions to catch up with them.
  • Start the old practice of sending hand written letters and greeting cards. Trust you me it means a lot.
  • Pick up old hobbies , interests and channelize them into something more prominent and more visible.
  • Set a fixed duration for internet usage and clearly define what is work and what is non work.
  • Spend quality time with family . Dining together , playing games with kids, going for a walk, outings , simple moments to laugh and cry together will cement our ties and make our life richer by priceless happiness.
  • Ultimately reviewing that your dependency and over reliance on internet as a means for happiness is unrealistic and absurd. With time you will realize that Internet is just a tool , a technology to aid your growth, to progress your career and only a small bit to remain connected with family and friends.



Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Fallen Feather Flying High (55 Fiction)

Feather Flying in the Sky
Feather Flying in the Sky

Fallen feather ends on a high. Traveled across the oceans, seen the mountain tops, flew across the valleys and kissed the blue skies.

How many of us are useful in our second lives? The feather will tell us how fortunate it is, to be a paint brush or a pen describing its own thrilled life.



P.S. - I have written 55 word fiction for the first time ever and this post has been inspired by Valli's Blog. Read her 55 word fiction titled "Fallen Feather (55 Fiction) here".

Friday, March 15, 2013

Stop being a sheep in the herd

Perfection is a Journey
Perfection is a Journey
Flocking with the herd might not serve any purpose and even a horse in the crowd will be called a sheep. A very handful of us would ever say that they fight every moment for their honour. Strange isn't it ?? Ask successful men or women,what drives them to strive for success in fields of their occupation? Some wish to be rich, some powerful, others want illustrious positions in life and some seek name and fame. Unless and until the end result puts us high on the societal pedestal and we progress as per Maslow's hierarchy of needs it means nothing.  It's the end result that becomes the connoisseur of all eyes. Never have i seen the society nor its citizens asking for excellence,perfection or honor in the task. Do we recognize services , deeds ,jobs ,vocations that only want the best to serve them and have we created avenues for those illustrious people to pursue their tasks with unrelenting passion?Are we accepting with pride and without prejudice that one has the right to pursue dreams that can set us apart from lesser mortals ? Have we ever thought of adopting a culture that allows exceptional hard work ,unrelenting perseverance , unparalleled  passion ,impeccable  integrity and  mighty visions to nurture ?


These attributes might seem strange and even frivolous to some but let me tell you , there exists a mass that finds virtue in them.Their will is to improve and incrementally improve every moment and gradually reach a plane where only honour matters, only satisfaction returns, only self pride exists and only beaming eyes sparkle.For me as an individual these virtues hold great esteem and may be some of you reading this post would empathize with me. It is the confidence of my parents , the expectation of my wife , the faith of my son , the vindication of my colleagues and my self respect for my own work. It is this personal intangible that i  prize , i defend and that drives me to slog . If this is the reason why i work like crazy then my definition of being successful might not be same as for others. Well if this world would not have defined the end result of all endeavors and laid an aspiration map for us i would have never run this rat race. Since i am there with everyone else i am governed with same set of rules and will get measured with the same 'materialistic yardstick'. Given a chance i will be a part of the different world i mentioned above.

I will propagate and  promote a culture that gives freedom to think , to question , to learn and unlearn , to improve and to set new standards. A learning that does not comes entirely from books but the practical and stark realities of life. A vision that is overwhelming , a task that is daunting and the desire that is all consuming and the search for knowledge that is never ending. My quest to seek solace in whatever little i do continues and my wish to break free from conventions will survive.



Sunday, February 03, 2013

The Newspaper Boy


There are certain events that intrinsically become part and parcel of our daily lives. Ever imagined start of a day without sipping a cup of hot tea while scouring a fresh newspaper ?? The answer will be a resounding NO. This premise will gradually change and get diluted, as Mr. Amitabh Bachaan says in his recent tweets.


T 1007 -I felt incomplete without reading all the morning papers. Not any more. Days go by without them. I get what I want from the net !!

Gadgets, Smart phones and PDA's will bombard us with news, news and news not leaving people with enough interest to savoir the paper format of the same. Before that happens and we enter big time into the internet era let me for the sake of this article assume that my readers are avid newspaper consumers.

Morning Newspaper is sweet wait
Morning Newspaper is sweet wait
I am an early riser from my school days and  from the moment i woke up, my ears waited for that 'thud' signalling the arrival of the newspaper. There was curiosity,excitement and an expectation for some or the other surprise. This ritual of my wait and the affair that started with the newspaper carries on till today and i must admit i am in love with this daily occurrence. One thing that has only changed in this cycle of events is ' The Newspaper Boy'. Out of all boys ,one in particular i remember is in my hometown who must be of my age and he has been hurtling the paper at my house for the past 20 years or so. Though he works as an agent in some insurance company he still starts his day by touching 200-250 households everyday An amazing feat by all standards!!

 Ever wondered what is takes to be a newspaper boy, let me try and give a perspective to it. For him to be on roads at 5 30 AM and start delivery he has to get up at 4 AM nearly and collect and arrange his stock by 5 AM. Not only this task requires discipline , dedication but also precision and commitment. Day after day , season after season he toils to put smile on your faces and give a boost to your mornings. Be it chilling winters , merciless rains , scorching summers he consistently delivers his services without fail. Never have we thought of granting him a routine off , festival  or a privilege leave; though we find time to relax and rejuvenate during holidays, relishing our bundle of paper. Nor have we ever considered giving him a gift as a token of appreciation for his hard work.

I would thank my 'Newspaper Boy' for his tireless, 'not so tangible effort' in giving a wonderful start to my day. I will also pick up and imbibe from him the quality of rising early, keeping hale and hearty by cycling for some good distance and spreading joy with simple acts of his. Who knows i might be your next 'Newspaper Boy ' :)

Wednesday, January 09, 2013

Visit to Delhi Zoo


I visited Delhi Zoo last Sunday i.e. 6th of Jan ,2013 and the interesting thing about the day was the temperature. The mercury dipped to 1.9 deg and this was the lowest in the last 21 years during winters in Delhi.  The outing was great and got an opportunity to see many animals in real, after quite a long time. I clicked these pictures with my blackberry curve and sharing it with friends to register this event on my blog as opportunities like these, do not arise that often.

Delhi Zoo Location - Google Maps
Delhi Zoo Location - Google Maps


Enjoy !!

Delhi Zoo Guide for the Visitors
Guide for the Visitors


Water Birds in Delhi Zoo
Water Birds


Black Buck in Delhi Zoo
Black Buck

Deers in Delhi Zoo
Deer

Bear in Delhi Zoo
Bear

Hippopotamus in Delhi Zoo
Hippopotamus

Crocodile in Delhi Zoo
Crocodile

Emu in Delhi Zoo
Emu

Elephants in Delhi Zoo
Elephants





Tuesday, January 01, 2013

Happy New Year 2013


Happy New Year Poem

Never has been the time and tide more opportune,
For a bright, bigger and better future than today.
Never have we been more skillful,
To prove our mettle to the world, than today.
Nor have we been ever more blessed,
With families, friends and well-wishers, than today.

Entering a fresh and New Year will you all,
I feel excited to witness this day.
There is so much hope and positivity,
Smiling faces would be seen every day.
We will grow from strength to strength,
Year will be defined by the progress of each day

May all your dreams and wishes be granted,
Even before to the lord you could pray.
May you be richer with wealth and good health,
More than my words could even convey.
May the year bring to you and your family,
Happiness and prosperity all along the way !!

Best Wishes
Vivek

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Dented and Painted Women

Nirbhaya Rape Case in New Delhi
Nirbhaya Rape Case in New Delhi

"Women who are participating in candle-light vigils and those who are protesting have no connection with ground reality. These pretty ladies coming out to protest are 'highly dented and painted'."

What a sensible,sensitive and significant observation from Mr. Abhijeet Mukherjee (Member of Parliament) and highly intellectual son of our president Mr. Pranab Mukherjee. I am impressed that one intelligent person out of thousands, just sat watching the protests to only notice the glam quotient in these recent uprisings. To top it up he even publicly compliments (in fewer words) the women folk for their dressing style, sense of fashion and their non serious motives. So from his perception all these women who came out of their houses , offices , schools ,colleges did so to garner TV footage and attention for their pretty personalities.Wonderful !

Mr. Abhijeet has really made me forget the ordeal and fight of the 23 year old girl but notice his uncanny sense of a roving eye. I am sure he has a Plasma TV and a DTH connection at home because nuances like colour of lipstick , make up , jewellery , clothes can be viewed best in that set up. This remark has come after a considerable 7-10 days and seems to be well thought off. Kudos to the son of our President for not only achieving instant fame but also ensuring his father also shares the pride. It's anyways holidays and both can bask in the glory of the adulation that the 'Mango People' and specially the women will bestow upon both of them.

I must say the present day MP's and MLA's are witty , humorous , intelligent and observant. The economy and state of affairs of the country are anyways downhill so conversations like these keep people warm and engaged. Otherwise we might witness similar uprising for unemployment , corruption , murder , poverty etc.. and then more events like 'India Gate- Fashion Week'. The economic growth and overall sentiment of the country is bleak and if such fashion events are more regularly organised men will find it very tough to pay for the high maintenance of their spouses,sisters and friends. Mr. Abhijeet also knows in hindsight that women don't like to pose with the same set of clothes more than once. This is the most logical and convincing reason for not holding protests because to look 'Dented and Painted' every time, you will have to shell a fortune. Didn't i tell you these politicians are so very much intelligent ??

So women folk, next time when you decide to support a 'frivolous' cause like Women Safety , Rape , Molestation etc. make sure you all are well dressed and make up is in place . Our Politicians are connoisseurs of fun, fashion and beauty !! 

Astrology Predictions for 2013

Astrology Predictions for 2013
Astrology Predictions for 2013

Aries (March 21 - April 20)

2013 is predicted to be a rewarding year for Aries. You will get desired success in your efforts at the work front. Some major obstacles in your path to success will be wiped out with the right solutions. Passionate nature of Aries will also see them get happiness when taking up their personal affairs. Health will remain good but they will have to pay more attention to love life in 2013.


Taurus (Apr 21 - May 21)

Renewed energy will help Taurus to come up with new things and achieve success in their innovative ventures. It is going to be a year that will yield sweet fruits for people born under this zodiac sign. Certain challenging situations might cause obstruction in your success path but you will have to keep patience and perseverance to achieve your goals. Career and love life might take a lot of your time in 2013. You will continue to enjoy a steady health in the months ahead.

Gemini (May 22 - Jun 21)

2013 will be the year to fetch you handsome rewards for the efforts that you had put in last year. Doubts over critical matters will be resolved and you will able to take better decisions without facing anxiety this year. Gemini Yearly Horoscope 2013 predicts more transparency to come up in personal matters. You will enjoy harmony and cooperation of your loved ones in the year ahead. 

Cancer (Jun 22 - Jul 23)

Annual Horoscope for 2013 forecast a positive year filled with happiness and success the year to for Cancer people. Chances of gaining good profits from new opportunities are abundant in the months ahead. Personal affairs and close relationships will offer you comfort. Sharpen your people’s skills to be in the good books of influential people around you. 

Leo (Jul 24 - Aug 23)

You will have to take some practical and difficult decisions in 2013, both on the personal and professional fronts, says the 2013 latest horoscope. Look at things from a positive perspective to come out with good solutions. The social life will keep you engaged during most part of the year ahead.

Virgo (Aug 24 - Sep 23)

The year will see Virgo people being involved in a lot of fun-filled activities. Professionals will enjoy appreciation from seniors and people who matter the most. Conflicts and interest clashes will be sorted out on the personal front, making way for a wonderful time with close ones. You will feel the need to spend more time alone to introspect on critical matters. 

Libra (Sep 24 - Oct 23)

You can look forward to a fabulous year filled with lucrative opportunities. Take prompt decisions in order not to miss out on wonderful chances showered upon you to achieve desired success. Progress on key matters will be made on the work front, thereby paving way for you promotion. Look ahead for rapid changes in relationships and love life as they will have an important impact for the years to come. Libra people will continue to enjoy healthy, fit and fine body.

Scorpio (Oct 24 - Nov 22)


Life in 2013 looks bright with profitable opportunities and great events lined up for the year ahead. Make a head-start in key projects and deliver on the promises made in the previous years to build a good reputation at the work front. Love will endow you with great strength to achieve things that you have not been able to get in the past years. Feelings of passion will be reciprocated in the months ahead. 

Sagittarius (Nov 23 - Dec 21)

Latest horoscope for 2013 suggests Sagittarius to look for new avenues to expand and reach out to wide audience. Laziness and inconsistencies in your behavior might pose a challenge to help you achieve desired results at the professional front. Love will blossom to give you unparalleled happiness in the year ahead.

Capricorn (Dec 22 - Jan 20)

2013 horoscope forecasts a good year ahead for Capricorn. Expand your horizon and use opportunities to showcase your talents. Harmony will prevail in love life but give attention to the pressures mounting up at the work sphere.

Aquarius (Jan 21 - Feb 19)

2013 promises to be an eventful year as per latest horoscope. You are likely to take up a new approach at work.  Give your love life the shape you desire by taking good initiatives to win your loved one’s heart. Financial concerns might come up but striking a balance will help.

Pisces (Feb 20 - Mar 20)

Exciting times lie ahead for Pisces people in 2013. Keep a check on your impulsive behavior to avoid falling into troubles. You can expect your health and finances to stay stead during most of the year ahead. 



Sunday, December 23, 2012

Internet Generation Demands Justice

The whole of the  last week was consumed by the news of 23 year old girl being molested and inhumanely tortured, in New Delhi. For the past 3-4 days thousands of young children are protesting at India Gate, President House and outside the hospital where the girl is admitted. The news channels,social media, newspapers , tabloids , radio went berserk in reporting the public protest that followed this incident. This response form the masses has been very uncharacteristic of so called 'We The Adjusting and Tolerating Indians'.What really sets it apart is the participation of the youth of our country who came from schools, colleges , workplaces and even their homes. No one has asked them to join this march of protest and demand justice for the poor girl, they all have united by their own will. This is what i intend to point out ! 

The generation of today, that is perceived as 'Internet and Gadget generation' is not accommodating and forgiving like their parents and the society like wise. We have often termed them as spoiled,uncompromising  ,rash,rude,indifferent and non caring but this single incident makes me think otherwise. They could be possessing all the the attributes defined above or none of them but one thing is sure, their thought process is not so immature as perceived to be.  Watch any news channel and hear out to the kids barely of 20 years of age and see their views on molestation , equality , gender bias , governance and their expectations. You will be surprised to learn of their awareness and their rightful demand for the benefits that should come to every citizen of India. What is wrong if they are asking for security ,well being and safety from the elected representatives of the common people ? This untoward event of molestation has triggered the fire that has been shimmering within these young hearts. From the day they were born all they have seen is corruption,  loot , plunder , insecurity , immorality , ineffectiveness and injustice. Enough is Enough !

Nirbhaya Rape Case , New Delhi
Nirbhaya Rape Case , New Delhi 

It's time the society and the people in power understand that this India that is young and capable is also equally demanding. This protest might or might not bring immediate justice to the girl but one thing that is out in open is, the kids have come of their age. They don't want your answers in weeks and months but in hours and days. I am personally happy and delighted at this mass uprising of the youth. Every nation's future rests on these young shoulders and if they are bent upon creating a society based on basic tenets of good governance i think they should be heard. All my support to these young voices for their resolution,support, will ,character and most importantly to the victimized girl battling for her life. All my prayers are with her for a speedy recovery and well being.