Religious abnegation?

Shall the goal be achieved doing all these things? Maybe, because not doing these have not yielded results as yet. Let us see.

Oh yes! the title credit for this post goes to Tess. Thanks.
The question mark is to indicate, the confusion, whether the title phrase is actually what I meant or not.

Self proclaimed "Best Friend"

President Obama in his message to the people of India, on the occasion of our Republic day declared that America was the "best friend" that India has. Well, though the Indian media went "ga-ga" over this "personal" touch, is it not the other party that should feel the same? Is not President Obama's remark a little laughable? I hope, the President means with all honesty, in what he said.

And how many times have world leaders pledged their friendship towards India? It is always driven by vested interests, like cheap labour, opening of the Indian markets for their industrial dumping and even refuelling their fighter air crafts rather than actually standing by us when the nation needs international support. Our foreign policy too may be a bit to be blamed, since at times of international crisis we always tend to look towards the developed powers, rather than take bold and tough decisions by ourselves.

Getting married

No, not me as yet :) I refer to the title of the post in third person narrative. Actually, of late I've been attending in short spans, marriages of my close friends.

Knowing them so well for the past so many years, it is an unique experience to see them go through the motions of the rituals and the "hulla-gulla" associated with typical Indian weddings. I never forget to ask them the question, "Kya ab feeling aa rahi hai?" (Do you get the feel of marriage, now?) just after the marriage is over, and their answer mostly tends towards the negative.

They also speak of a "turning point" in their life. After this, they need to plan, act and decide taking another "big factor" in mind, which probably they never did during their bachelorhood days. That could possibly explain, the "change / maturity" one talks about after marriage.

Hmm.... interesting thing, this marriage stuff....

India Ga Ga over Obama

I congratulate the people of America on electing their 44th President. In these difficult times, I hope the decision of the citizens of America is proved right in the years to come.

What has been irritating however, is the manner in which the Indian media has handled his election as the next president. The media is trying to portray that with him as the president, there is going to be some radical change in the relations between the two nations. Every where you find articles displaying how he appoints people of Indian origin to government posts. His fascination and admiration for M. Gandhi and Hanuman ji is also being hailed as being a sign of being "pro-Indian".

What the hell? We Indians have a tendency to serve and lookup to someone to take us out of the hole we are in. Do we really want our trouble of cross-border terrorism to be solved by the Americans? Why do we have to get a stamp of all our actions from some other nation? Did America care about the rest of the world when Iraq and Afghanistan happened? Did Israel care about UN and the rest?

And finally, why would Mr. Obama give a damn for the welfare and "war on terror" in India, if his interests are well served, by giving loans and aids to our neighbour? Any decision that he would take would be the best that would be for America and her people. And that decision may not be necessarily the best for India.

Swami and Friends

Last weekend, I bought VCDs and DVDs of two T.V. serial series, which were broadcast on Doordarshan in my childhood. One, "Vikram aur Betaal" and the other "Malgudi days". I had watched only a few of "Vikram aur Betaal" episodes, and only one of "Magludi days". We did not have T.V. at home in those days, so my viewing was even more restricted.

The last episode of "Swami and Friends" was touchy. It is always difficult to part away from a relationship. The moment when you come to know, that all this is going to end now, causes a thump in your heart. You do not believe it at first. It is more painful, when you know the exact moment, when you would see each other, probably for the last time in your life. You are never sure, if you would meet him or her again in your life. Suddenly you feel there is a void in your life.

No wonder Ahmed Faraz said:

Phir usi raah-guzar par shaayad,
Hum kabhi mil sakein magar shaayad.

Jo bhi bhichde hain, kab mile hain 'Faraz',
Phir bhi tu intezaar kar shaayad.

More in the WB net

After Satyam, we have two more firms that were barred from bidding direct contracts of World Bank. The ban on Wipro is much talked about, more so since Wipro claims to follow the highest standards of business ethics and practices in its operations.

After reading the detailed press release by Wipro, it seems that the intention of "offering" shares to its customers was driven purely to "promote" Wipro as a brand in the US. Wipro counters that all the people who participated in this offer (technically called the Direct Share Programme DSP, in the US) had signed the "non conflict of interest" certificate. This was to ensure that the purchasers (for example the WB employees) declared that this transaction did not violate their respective employer's policies. However, WB views this in other light, and therefore the ban.

Questions have been raised about the timing of the disclousure, which the company counters by stating that since WB has decided to make the hitherto private list public now, so it by itself made the disclosure to SEBI in advance. It also states that this information was duly shared with the board of directors in the July 2007 meeting.

I would have very much liked to publish the final feeling of the whole episode, but that would not be fair on my part. In any case, I will always have great faith in this organisation, and will always wish the best for it.

Sad, Anger and fear

I read the letter by Ramalinga Raju to the board of Satyam Computers. If I was an employee of that organization I would be chilled after reading it. I would probably be filled with anger which would gradually turn to fear, when I would realise that my earning is at a risk from the next month. Raju claims that he and the managing director had not taken a single "rupee/dollar" from the "inflated" figures. But does that give him the right to play with the livelihood of around 53,000 employees? He himself is secured financially, what about the shareholders and the employees? He mentions about "riding a tiger, not knowing how to get off without being eaten". He should have realised this, when this thing had yet not become a "tiger", but was merely a cub. His confession came only when he had no other option left to hide this fraud. Had he been able to manage, he would not have even cared to come out clean on this issue ever. Thus his confessions today, should not be taken on a sympathetic note during the proceedings that follow.

How is it possible, that such large scale account manipulation went undetected for several years? Questions are being raised on PwC's (Pricewaterhouse Coopers) role, which audited the accounts of Satyam. They are equally responsible, as much as, Raju and Rama. This also shows that corporate governance is a total sham in our country.

I wish the "big 3", of the Indian IT chip in if required, to get Satyam merged into themselves, for the sake of the employees and "to keep the wheels moving".