10 Things I Like About Delhi

This was my entry for the HT-Penguin Delhi Bookshelf Contest.  Though I was not lucky enough to feature in the top three winners, I was consoled by the fact that my selection is in the top ten ( ;-( but no prizes for featuring in the top ten).

10 Things I Like about Delhi :

1.      Delhi is a miniature world of luxury and glamour, it is a world that soothes, relaxes and allows us to indulge ourselves in our own special way. 

2.      I Love the Mix of the Old and the New.  Where else in the world can one find an up-market shopping mall in the middle of a village ?

3.      Delhi gives me my infinite variety of books, movies and even girls, and as also, the infinite variety of the earth and the sky. 

4.      I Love the good balance of Buildings and Gardens.  The Greenery that you come across in Delhi, you won’t find it in any other city. 

5.      In Delhi I love the freshness of the dawn, the beauty of the sunset and the rich magnificence of the night. 

6.      Delhi allows me to have these small moments of self-interaction with myself, when I can have complete freedom to be myself.

7.      At Delhi, I love its People and the range of people that I get to meet in Delhi.  It is mind-blowing…I don’t think u come across such interesting, diverse, people in any other city.

8.      Delhi’s like a place where dreams become real…and miracles happen.

9.      There is enough work in Delhi, to keep me busy and not enough to make me dull. 

10.    And last, but not the least, I love the street food here.  The Chaat, the Gol Gappas and the Chhole Bhaturas are lip smacking, hygienic  and easy on the pocket too.    

Chile Mine Rescue

In all the bustle of India’s Commonwealth Performance and the Horse-trading that was happening in the Karnataka Assembly, one particular news item hardly got any mention in our national newspapers.  It was an international happening of massive proportions with lessons and leaves to take for one and all and should have deserved front page space.  The news of the rescue of 33 miners stranded in the San Jose Mine, Chile, had brought relief and ecstasy, not just to Chile but to the whole world.  The Chile Government and most notably President Pianara, needs to be congratulated for remaining positive throughout as also for the uni-dimensional commitment shown in rescuing the miners. 

The rescue operations involved meticulous planning, drilling and space technologies, as also medical involvement which the miners received from experts doctoring them through tubes and pin-hole cameras inserted approximately 2,300 feet onto the earth.  The psychology of the miners trapped under the rubble for more than 65 days kept alive were a testimony of the rescue diet that was supplied to them through a tiny borehole, as also the exercise regime that was administered to them to keep their calories high.  

The fact that the stranded miners were able to foster a bonding among themselves by helping each other in such hostile environment, even while floating with the single aim to survive was indeed commendable. It speaks a lot about their fortitude and resilience as also their brotherhood.  The miners too, organized themselves very well to keep the environment clean, and needs to be complimented upon.  The operation involved boring half-a-mile of tunnels in an around the area so that the stranded miners had ample space to walk, exercise and even for waste disposal. 

And Last but not the least, a small mention needs to be given to the Sunglass Manufacturer Oakley, who donated ridiculously expensive dark glasses, so as to protect the miners from the sun-blast, once the miners were pulled up to safety.  

Getting Social

This is my response to the Editorial that was published in The Hindu on Oct 05, 2010

The Editorial, “Getting Social” very succinctly states that Social Networking has indeed set off the next wave of innovation (Editorial, Oct 5, 2010).  Apart from the pursuing and mobilizing support on various national and international issues, the popular  social games – like FarmVille and FishVille - too, on these social networking sites play a big part in interconnecting people together. They foster a sense of community in an often fractured world.  For years, computers seemed to split us apart, atomizing our life by dividing us into narrower pigeonholes.  Now, it appears, they are linking us back together byte by byte.    

Prasanth Menon

A Common Man’s View of the Ayodhya Verdict

On Sep 30, the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court had given its verdict on the title suit of the long pending legal dispute over a piece of land in Ayodhya, based on “unverified and unsubstantiated reference to the faith and belief of the Hindus”.

The verdict ran into thousands of pages and from all accounts, the same is sans of any passing mention of the vandalism that happened on 06 Dec 1992. Neither is there any reference to the death and the obliteration it left in its trail, nor any word of empathy for the victims.

Now three courses of action are available to the concerned parties. Either, move the Apex Court against the current verdict and, or accept the High Court Order in its entirety, or use this verdict as a basis for an out of court settlement that demands no further legal intervention in future. Within this third option lies a demand from most of the Hindu fringe groups which has an intimidating buzz to it. The Muslims must be generous enough to cede the 1/3 land that that the High Court has given them, so that it could pave the way for a grand temple structure.

While giving the Judgement, the Court has, directly or indirectly, provided a justification for the political movement that said of the same “faith” and “belief” to justify the demolition of the Babri Masjid. LK Advani, the senior BJP Leader, himself had always maintained that it was immaterial whether or not Ram was actually born in that spot because it was a matter of ‘aastha’ or belief. Today, with the verdict, this sentiment has found legal recognition, thereby reviving a movement that had collapsed under the weight of its own worthlessness.

Then, 18 years ago, the legal and the political system remained a mute witness to the vandalism and now, it has justified the sin by legitimizing the “faith” and “belief” of the mob who took law into their own hands. All the while, there is very little criticism of the triumphant chest thumping Hindutva spokespersons who, on every tv show are busy declaring that since the Muslims have lost, and that they should now help Hindus in building the grand temple at Ayodhya.

The Ayodhya verdict if left unchallenged will have dangerous consequences for some of the best concepts contained within the Constitution of India. As said earlier, it is indeed an indirect justification of the demolition, through the assertion, that, under the central dome lies the birthplace of ram.

But just as I say that the Judgement was tilted onto one side as it is based on matter of faith and belief of only one group there are questions to be answered too, as to how many Hindus had ever seen the idol of Ram Lalla (Either in Ayodhya, or else where in pictures or stautes). How many of us Hindus remember the ‘Leelas’ of Infant Ram? Infant Ram is just does not exist in our beliefs. The only Ram that we worship is the one who goes to the Forest for the Van Vas and not the Ram Lalla.

Coming back to the dispute, to cite some history, it is often cited that from the 19th century, if not earlier, both Hindus and Muslims worshipped side by side within the currently disputed property. The Muslims worshipped inside the Babri Masjid, and the Hindus at the Ram Chhabutra which is housed within the Masjid Complex. (Similar type of Communal Harmony can be found in many other places of India, where Hindus and Muslims worship side by side).

This wonderful example of communal harmony and peace practice came to an end, when a politically motivated mob broke into the mosque and placed a deity of Infant Ram inside (the Ram Lalla). It is then that the Govt of India, declared the premises as disputed after Muslims protested and the gates to the shrine were locked. The locks were opened in 1986 allowing Hindus access to the shrine.

The current Judgement, by dividing the premises into three, in a way, is a step backwards into restoring the status prior to the era when the politicians got into the picture. But at the same time, the Judgement is a legitimization of the break-in of the mosque to place the idols of Ram Lalla under the mosque dome. More than that, it now recognizes this act to put the idols in their rightful place. Indirectly or otherwise, the Judgement accepts the destruction of the mosque in 1992 as well, by allotting the major portion of the premises to the group crying for a grand temple to be built.

Now that all the parties must move the Apex Court, and let us hope that the Supreme Court, in due course, will pronounce a final judgment taking into cognizance, all the relevant facts and upholding the principles of our Constitution rather than going by “faith’ and “belief”.

Image Courtesy : All Voices & FreeDigitalPhotos.net

A Very Very Special Innings

It’s amazing, how, over and over again, when it comes to crunch situations, one name keep cropping up…that of the Very Very Special Laxman.  It's indeed a very high percentage of matches that culminate in winning causes, when Laxman perform.  Its calmness, and a long belief that the way you play is the way you are as a person that let him achieve this glory…Laxman is gutsy, yet calm and composed.


No one is going to forget the 281 he got in Kolkotta, nor his 165 he got in Australia.  Like wise, this 73 Not out will also be remembered for a long time to come. 

All said and done, Kudos to the Indian bowlers as well, as they could keep the target down to 216.  It was not an easy pitch to bat on, and what was needed from a bowler’s point of view was a lot of patience, as he has to bowl on the right spots.  The Pitch would have done the rest.  There was low bounce, often appreciable turn and unexpected bounce too, as experience did matter in such conditions.  One of the most absorbing matches I’ve seen, this was as truly an amazing feet, beating Australia in Mohali that too while chasing, who ever said Test Cricket was dying?   

My Humble Attempt with my Compact

Photography has always fascinated me. And as i click on whatever and wherever i see things, I tend to be happy. And along one such journey, I decided to sent this photo to the Magazine Better Photography...and happy that I am, this particular photo was published in the 'Photo Critique' section of the Sep 2009 Issue of the same.

I need you people to look through the critical eye too and let me know about this. I love your comments.

Pay Commission

Here is my response to the Fifth Pay Commission article which was published in the Hindu.

Pay Commission

Some readers have pointed out that limiting the number of holidays is a welcome measure. If government servants have 20 holidays a year, it is not because they want a holiday culture, but because the government wants its workforce to celebrate the festivals of all communities. If one goes to a government colony, one can see Muslims celebrate Holi with as much fervour as do their Hindu neighbours. The Pay Commission’s proposal to scrap national festivals as holidays and restrict them to three in a year is a step backwards. If the government rejects this recommendation, it won’t be out of vote bank considerations but because it believes in the foresight of Nehru and Patel.

Shaan Menon,
Palakkad

Rising Prices

Here is my response to the Editorial 'Losing Hope' which was published in the Hindu. To read the Editorial, click the link.


Rising prices

The editorial “Losing hope” (April 21) portrays the present state of agriculture and warns of what is in store as the decade-old policies of liberalisation — started by our current Prime Minister — start taking their toll. More than the loan waiver, what farmers needed was some money, which could have reduced their distress. The failure of the loan waiver and packages to reduce the number of farmers’ suicides proves that good economists don’t exactly make good politicians and, more so, good decision-makers.

Prashaanth Menon,
Palakkad