When we hear 'Udipi' only two things come to our mind. One is the Krishna temple and the other is idly-vada-dosa-sambar. Now definetly I am not talking about the temple here. Udipi Palace is a small South Indian eating joint in Kingsbury, in the county of Middlesex. Very soon, the county of Middlesex might get an award for serving the best Indian food in London.
Well, having eaten there many times, I have always stuck to dosa and vada(sambar and chutney is taken for granted). The last time I went there to get a takeway, it was lunch time on a Sunday. The restaurant had advertized in bright colors 'ready meals'. That immidately reminded me of the 'Darshini' or the millions of Andhra eating outlets in Bangalore. So I ordered a takeaway lunch. The smell on the walk back home was intoxicating so say the least. I just could not wait to try the food.
The 'meals' had 2 chapatis, decent helping of rice, rasam, sambar, two veg curries, dal, butter milk, yoghurt and pickles. Overall it is good enough for one person to eat heartily.
I started with the chapatis, dal and veg curry. The taste was amazing. Nothing fancy, but as close to home cooked food as it could get. After the chapatis vanished in no time, I pounced on the rice. Now the best way to eat rice, rasam and sambar is using your hands. First I started with some rice and sambar with the other veg curry. Instantaneous comment was 'super'. The pickle with the sambar and rice jelled like a piece of pineapple on a vanilla cake. Once the sambar was over, the rice and rasam was equally delicious. Of course the left over rasam can be taken as a drink as well (without the kicks). Then came the butter milk. It was not great in quantity, but top notch quality. Reminded me of the days in Bangalore when the best drink to quench the summer afternoon thirst is 'majge' (butter milk).
A hearty experience and the restaurant guy is now friends with me. The next time I went to buy medu vada, he gave me some 'bajis' (pakoda) to taste, as that day he started making them for the first time. Customer loyalty always get rewarded.
By the way, the entire meals costs only GBP 4.00. Defintely worth every penny. There is a abridged version of the meal available for GBP 2.50, but when you go for the meals, go for the full one, so you also feel full. The restuarant is opposite Kingsbury tube station on the Jubilee line. Yeah !!!!!! it could be a nightmare to get there over the weekend, but all efforts are duly rewarded.
Friday, 23 October 2009
Thursday, 8 October 2009
Pati, Patni aur Woh
Reality shows seem to be the in-thing with our TV channels these days. Every channel has a show and everyone seems to be following some show or the other. Rakhi Sawant seems to be the queen of reality shows. First it was Big Boss, then Swayamvar and now Pati, Patni aur Woh. And with every show she has become intolerable.
This new show ‘Pati, Patni aur Woh’ has all the ingredients to spoil your evening. Five celebrity couples are put through the motions of everyday life of the common man – raising kids, caring for elders in the family, working and earning money and doing household chores without any help available. Clearly goes to show the ignorance and naivety of our celebrities and the artificial world they live in.
Anyway, currently they are bringing up kids who are 6-9 months old. Their real parents monitor their children through video conference, sitting in the next room and can interfere if they think something is going wrong. I feel sorry and pity for the children who have to put up with the tantrums of their celebrity foster parents, rather than the other way around. Also, how would parents have the heart to put their child through such an ordeal? Why would parents keep their children away from them, voluntarily and then moan and cry? Would any parent be calm and composed if told that they had forgotten to give their child, the medicines it needs to be given? Would anyone take an answer that they forgot to read the manual in which the food habits of the child are clearly mentioned? The real parents of these children are putting up with the reel parents on all these points. There can be only one answer to this question of why. “Money speaks honey.” They are compensated well for putting their children through this ordeal. They all come from well-off families. So why would they want to put their child through this? The answer is pure greed. One of the parents proudly told the media that their child got an offer for a movie, after being seen on this show. So, till the child has commitments like school, make them earn some bucks. Contentment and living within means is slowly but surely vanishing from mankind (no offense to women. Making sure before I get sued for discrimination).
Highlights of the show:
- One lady called her mom and asked her how to make plain rice.
- Another lady keeps cursing the baby that it eats so much
- One of them keeps hogging all day and I have never seen her husband eat
- One of them cries that she misses her other half. Where is he? Gone to work for 4 hours a day
- And the icing on the cake has to be Rakhi Sawant, who openly says that when she gets married to her Mr. Right, she wants to have only one kid and then will undergo ‘nasbandi’. Wow!! But there seems to be a mismatch of.. you know what.
Now I have BIG question. What on earth is our government, IB ministry and the thousands of NGO’s we have doing? If a middle class household employs a child in their home that is a crime? If poor people send their children to work, that is a crime? If our diwali crackers are manufactured by children, in the factories of Sivakasi, that is a crime. The government cracks a whip in all these situations. Middle class people, who genuinely need help and are willing to pay for it, cannot employ a child. Or if parents are poor and want to send their children to work, to make ends meet, cannot do so. Then why are well-off families allowed to use their children, to make money? Why is the government allowing such parents to let their child to be on such a show? Why is a TV channel allowed to employ children less than 14 years?
The law states that children less than 14 years should not be employed in hazardous working conditions. Now who defines non-hazardous working conditions? I know people who have hired less than 14 year olds as domestic helps. The environment and working conditions are much better and a blessing, as compared to what is provided to the child on this show. If a child working in a cracker factory is hazardous, then not feeding the child properly or making the child bleed on the show is also hazardous. Why can’t the government put an end to such ludicrous shows? Why does the government have a two-faced attitude? It is a shame that the mass needs such shows to keep them entertained. It is a shame that we have fun at the cost of others.
A parting word of advice for the ‘celebrity’ couples who have been given jobs in a hotel so that they can earn money for their so-called family? If you are given a palatial, fully furnished house to live in, without paying rent, without paying any taxes, without paying for utilities, without paying for transportation, having a car at your disposal, having medical help at your disposal and given Rs. 3000/- per month, I think majority of Indians would love to swap roles with you, considering that’s what the per capita income in India is and with the burden of all living expenses. So stop cribbing and get you’re a** moving!!!!
This new show ‘Pati, Patni aur Woh’ has all the ingredients to spoil your evening. Five celebrity couples are put through the motions of everyday life of the common man – raising kids, caring for elders in the family, working and earning money and doing household chores without any help available. Clearly goes to show the ignorance and naivety of our celebrities and the artificial world they live in.
Anyway, currently they are bringing up kids who are 6-9 months old. Their real parents monitor their children through video conference, sitting in the next room and can interfere if they think something is going wrong. I feel sorry and pity for the children who have to put up with the tantrums of their celebrity foster parents, rather than the other way around. Also, how would parents have the heart to put their child through such an ordeal? Why would parents keep their children away from them, voluntarily and then moan and cry? Would any parent be calm and composed if told that they had forgotten to give their child, the medicines it needs to be given? Would anyone take an answer that they forgot to read the manual in which the food habits of the child are clearly mentioned? The real parents of these children are putting up with the reel parents on all these points. There can be only one answer to this question of why. “Money speaks honey.” They are compensated well for putting their children through this ordeal. They all come from well-off families. So why would they want to put their child through this? The answer is pure greed. One of the parents proudly told the media that their child got an offer for a movie, after being seen on this show. So, till the child has commitments like school, make them earn some bucks. Contentment and living within means is slowly but surely vanishing from mankind (no offense to women. Making sure before I get sued for discrimination).
Highlights of the show:
- One lady called her mom and asked her how to make plain rice.
- Another lady keeps cursing the baby that it eats so much
- One of them keeps hogging all day and I have never seen her husband eat
- One of them cries that she misses her other half. Where is he? Gone to work for 4 hours a day
- And the icing on the cake has to be Rakhi Sawant, who openly says that when she gets married to her Mr. Right, she wants to have only one kid and then will undergo ‘nasbandi’. Wow!! But there seems to be a mismatch of.. you know what.
Now I have BIG question. What on earth is our government, IB ministry and the thousands of NGO’s we have doing? If a middle class household employs a child in their home that is a crime? If poor people send their children to work, that is a crime? If our diwali crackers are manufactured by children, in the factories of Sivakasi, that is a crime. The government cracks a whip in all these situations. Middle class people, who genuinely need help and are willing to pay for it, cannot employ a child. Or if parents are poor and want to send their children to work, to make ends meet, cannot do so. Then why are well-off families allowed to use their children, to make money? Why is the government allowing such parents to let their child to be on such a show? Why is a TV channel allowed to employ children less than 14 years?
The law states that children less than 14 years should not be employed in hazardous working conditions. Now who defines non-hazardous working conditions? I know people who have hired less than 14 year olds as domestic helps. The environment and working conditions are much better and a blessing, as compared to what is provided to the child on this show. If a child working in a cracker factory is hazardous, then not feeding the child properly or making the child bleed on the show is also hazardous. Why can’t the government put an end to such ludicrous shows? Why does the government have a two-faced attitude? It is a shame that the mass needs such shows to keep them entertained. It is a shame that we have fun at the cost of others.
A parting word of advice for the ‘celebrity’ couples who have been given jobs in a hotel so that they can earn money for their so-called family? If you are given a palatial, fully furnished house to live in, without paying rent, without paying any taxes, without paying for utilities, without paying for transportation, having a car at your disposal, having medical help at your disposal and given Rs. 3000/- per month, I think majority of Indians would love to swap roles with you, considering that’s what the per capita income in India is and with the burden of all living expenses. So stop cribbing and get you’re a** moving!!!!
Friday, 18 September 2009
Austerity, my foot
Finally the UPA government realized that it also needs to do some cost cutting. This is something which should have been ages ago, but better be late than never. But this show of austerity will yield results only if done properly. Else this will go down as one of the many cards, which politicians play to garner votes.
The leader of the UPA setting an example is definitely the right step in this direction. But the whole implementation was completely a lost cause. One can and should travel by economy, but if you have two seats next to you on either sides and behind you empty and blocked, then, madam is better off travelling by business class, where she can get her own so-called space to work on important matters, which are a matter of life and death for citizens of the country. Plus, if she really wanted to show austerity, she should be sitting in any seat between 15 to 25 and not the first row, which provides extra leg space. That is how the cattle class travels. It is understandable that she would not know this as she seldom steps out of 10 Jan-path in anything other than an air conditioned, bullet proof convoy. Who paid for the additional empty seats? We did. And how do the airlines recover the cost? Simple, just increase the price for others. So we, the taxpayers foot the bill for those additional seats plus pay more for our travel. We'd rather be better off paying for a business class seat. We are in the situation of the devil and the deep sea. Whichever way, we are screwed.
She even got the support of her son. He travelled by Shatabdi express. Since when did the air conditioned coaches of Shatabdi become a show of austerity? More than half of the travelling public cannot afford the Shatabdi in our country. If he was so keen on garnering support from the common man, by showing austerity, then he should have been sitting in one of the normal trains, using his own handkerchief to wipe the sweat off his forehead and buying a ‘Kinley’ or ‘Aquafina’ at more than the MRP price. Thats what the common man does. But our man chose to sit in the comforts of an air conditioned coach and having made-to-order breakfast.
Well, if the UPA government really wants to be in sync with the common man, then they need to do more than just talk. Actions speak louder than words. This cannot be an exercise to garner votes. This is something which should be inculcated into every politician in India right from the day he joins a political industry. If you cannot provide a certain standard of service to the public, then you have no right to enjoy the same service with our money. The government should remember that they are not doing a social service by being the government. It is a job, for which they report to the public. We pay their salaries and benefits. And our money is not meant to be wasted on frivolous stuff.
Something for our Indian TV channels and newspapers. You mentioned that Rahul Gandhi had for breakfast on the train. He enjoyed the bread omelette and the parantha. But how come no one told me what Sonia Gandhi had during her flight? Was it a parantha or was it the south Indian idly-sambar or the maharashtrian poha? Did she drink lime juice or orange juice? And did she whack 25 sweets from the air-hostess like a child would do? I just cannot wait to know. Please please someone tell me. And if you cannot, don’t bother. It will not be the end of the world for sure.
The leader of the UPA setting an example is definitely the right step in this direction. But the whole implementation was completely a lost cause. One can and should travel by economy, but if you have two seats next to you on either sides and behind you empty and blocked, then, madam is better off travelling by business class, where she can get her own so-called space to work on important matters, which are a matter of life and death for citizens of the country. Plus, if she really wanted to show austerity, she should be sitting in any seat between 15 to 25 and not the first row, which provides extra leg space. That is how the cattle class travels. It is understandable that she would not know this as she seldom steps out of 10 Jan-path in anything other than an air conditioned, bullet proof convoy. Who paid for the additional empty seats? We did. And how do the airlines recover the cost? Simple, just increase the price for others. So we, the taxpayers foot the bill for those additional seats plus pay more for our travel. We'd rather be better off paying for a business class seat. We are in the situation of the devil and the deep sea. Whichever way, we are screwed.
She even got the support of her son. He travelled by Shatabdi express. Since when did the air conditioned coaches of Shatabdi become a show of austerity? More than half of the travelling public cannot afford the Shatabdi in our country. If he was so keen on garnering support from the common man, by showing austerity, then he should have been sitting in one of the normal trains, using his own handkerchief to wipe the sweat off his forehead and buying a ‘Kinley’ or ‘Aquafina’ at more than the MRP price. Thats what the common man does. But our man chose to sit in the comforts of an air conditioned coach and having made-to-order breakfast.
Well, if the UPA government really wants to be in sync with the common man, then they need to do more than just talk. Actions speak louder than words. This cannot be an exercise to garner votes. This is something which should be inculcated into every politician in India right from the day he joins a political industry. If you cannot provide a certain standard of service to the public, then you have no right to enjoy the same service with our money. The government should remember that they are not doing a social service by being the government. It is a job, for which they report to the public. We pay their salaries and benefits. And our money is not meant to be wasted on frivolous stuff.
Something for our Indian TV channels and newspapers. You mentioned that Rahul Gandhi had for breakfast on the train. He enjoyed the bread omelette and the parantha. But how come no one told me what Sonia Gandhi had during her flight? Was it a parantha or was it the south Indian idly-sambar or the maharashtrian poha? Did she drink lime juice or orange juice? And did she whack 25 sweets from the air-hostess like a child would do? I just cannot wait to know. Please please someone tell me. And if you cannot, don’t bother. It will not be the end of the world for sure.
Thursday, 10 September 2009
Unions, strikes and lockout
Last couple of days, I have been reading about the strike by pilots of Jet airways, which has caused nothing but inconvenience to the common man. Do such people who fuel such agitation, even realize the repercussions? How much of inconvenience it would have caused to travellers? People would have missed official meetings. There would be some who would have been travelling to catch international connections. There would be people travelling on emergencies. Last month, all airlines wanted to strike, if the government did not bail them out. Such is the sad state of affairs in our country, that a small group of people can hold the entire country to ransom, for their own selfish motive.
A strike is never a solution to any problem? A strike takes away more than what it attempts to give. It affects the people who pay for a service through their hard earned money. The airlines will refund the cost of the ticket. But can it refund the time; effort and tension passengers go through, to get themselves on another flight? It goes way beyond monetary compensation. All other airlines, whose pilots were not as coordinated enough to induce such a preposterous action, would be running to the bank. They are no less selfish in cashing in on the already stressed out passengers. Can someone please explain the reason for ticket prices increasing manifold? I do not buy the thought that it is a demand-supply situation. The number of people flying in India was always minuscule and supply was always more. Shrewdly putting, other airlines have resorted to a practice which is as close to hoarding and black marketing as it can get.
No one would agree, but the coming together of Kingfisher and Jet, to share maintenance facilities, ground handling facilities etc. was the biggest cartelization of the airline industry in India and no one could nor did do anything about it. According to what the media reported, majority of the passengers who had to cancel their Jet tickets went to KF. The result of the so-called cartelization is clearly evident and we as common people can do nothing about it but pay the sky high prices and travel.
What will it take for us to realize that when we stop doing our work, it not only affects us but trickles down to other parts of society? When will we ever get over the communist tendencies? Have we not lost enough in the past, due to communist leadership? We are a democracy, where everyone has a right to speak their mind and to do what they want, but only to the extent it does not become inconvenient to others. With rights come responsibility and it is high time we realize it and move on and away from communist ideologies.
By the way, all the striking pilots should be fired and new ones hired. As it is due to the recession, there aren’t enough worthwhile jobs to go around. Atleast this way, people who want to work will get work and those who want to create a nuisance can continue to do so. Fortunately in India, the government does not provide a ‘dole’ for unemployed people. Instead of striking, let us get on with our jobs and talk it out to sort out issues. There are no issues which cannot be solved through a mutual dialogue. And let us not trouble anyone for our personal interests.
High time we have some regulation controlling strikes and lockouts not only in essential services but in each and every sphere of the economy. The government on its part needs to provide better compensation and benefits to all PSU staff, else what is applicable to majority of the PSU staff, should be made applicable to the ministers. After all isn’t the government also a public sector undertaking?
A strike is never a solution to any problem? A strike takes away more than what it attempts to give. It affects the people who pay for a service through their hard earned money. The airlines will refund the cost of the ticket. But can it refund the time; effort and tension passengers go through, to get themselves on another flight? It goes way beyond monetary compensation. All other airlines, whose pilots were not as coordinated enough to induce such a preposterous action, would be running to the bank. They are no less selfish in cashing in on the already stressed out passengers. Can someone please explain the reason for ticket prices increasing manifold? I do not buy the thought that it is a demand-supply situation. The number of people flying in India was always minuscule and supply was always more. Shrewdly putting, other airlines have resorted to a practice which is as close to hoarding and black marketing as it can get.
No one would agree, but the coming together of Kingfisher and Jet, to share maintenance facilities, ground handling facilities etc. was the biggest cartelization of the airline industry in India and no one could nor did do anything about it. According to what the media reported, majority of the passengers who had to cancel their Jet tickets went to KF. The result of the so-called cartelization is clearly evident and we as common people can do nothing about it but pay the sky high prices and travel.
What will it take for us to realize that when we stop doing our work, it not only affects us but trickles down to other parts of society? When will we ever get over the communist tendencies? Have we not lost enough in the past, due to communist leadership? We are a democracy, where everyone has a right to speak their mind and to do what they want, but only to the extent it does not become inconvenient to others. With rights come responsibility and it is high time we realize it and move on and away from communist ideologies.
By the way, all the striking pilots should be fired and new ones hired. As it is due to the recession, there aren’t enough worthwhile jobs to go around. Atleast this way, people who want to work will get work and those who want to create a nuisance can continue to do so. Fortunately in India, the government does not provide a ‘dole’ for unemployed people. Instead of striking, let us get on with our jobs and talk it out to sort out issues. There are no issues which cannot be solved through a mutual dialogue. And let us not trouble anyone for our personal interests.
High time we have some regulation controlling strikes and lockouts not only in essential services but in each and every sphere of the economy. The government on its part needs to provide better compensation and benefits to all PSU staff, else what is applicable to majority of the PSU staff, should be made applicable to the ministers. After all isn’t the government also a public sector undertaking?
Saturday, 5 September 2009
When I gave up a Kingfisher beer !!!!!
Over the last bank holiday weekend, we took a trip to Sandown, on the Isle of Wight. Overall, the trip was excellent, but thats not the point here. During this trip, I gave up a KF beer for something else. For the first time I said 'no' to beer and I did not repent one bit.
Well, the highlight of each of my trips has always been the food. And not one trip goes without having one Indian meal. There is a strong bond between Indian food and myself. Wherever I go it follows me or wherever Indian food is available, I reach that place. On the way from the station to the hotel, we spotted an Indian placed called 'Swad'. It had a sunday buffet and we thought that we should go there the next day.
So next day lunch time, we entered the place. It was a decent sized restaurant, with a fair number of people. As went in, we were greeted with a "namaste and aiye, aiye'. We took a table in a corner. I fail to understand why I Indian restaurants outside India think that they attract an audience in the name of bollywood (read Himesh's nose), instead of concentrating on good quality food alone. Anyway, we had a look at the buffet, which had veg samosa, rice, naan/roti, matar subzi (green peas) and Masala alu (potato) for the veggies. For the non-veggies there was lamb samosa and chicken curry. The chicken looked amazing and something in me told me that we were upto something here. So I just took rice and some chicken curry. I came back to my table, completely slaushed in the aromas of the chicken curry. The first mouthful was absolute bliss and I realized that I was right and we were upto something brilliant. The small pieces of chicken was succulent and just about well done. The spices had hit every nook and corner of each chicken piece and the curry was spicy, a bit on the higher side for UK standards. As I was about to go for a second helping, the waiter/owner asked me if I wanted any beer or any drinks to go with it. He said he had KF. Now for beer lovers like me, a KF in the UK is nothing else than India having non-corrupt politicians. But I was so mesimerized by the chicken and wanted more of it, that I had "no, thanks" for the beer. I rushed for a second helping of the chicken curry and rice. It was followed by a third and then a fourth helping. I was cautious of the beer filling me up, so that I would then be able to have less of the chicken curry.
This has to be the best chicken curry that I have ever eaten in the UK. It reminded me of 'Delhi Darbar' or the other restaurants in Delhi that serve chicken curry. My best half asked me how the chicken curry was, as I hadn't spoken to her in the last 15-20 minutes, sitting on the same table, I said 'this chicken curry was so Delhi'. That was enough for her to understand how I felt. I told the guy serving our table that the chicken curry was just too good and absolutely brilliant and that it reminded me of Delhi. Tad came the reply, "saab, hum Malviya Nagar mein khana banathe the aur ab yahan. Lekin hain dilli waale aur sab masala bhi dilli se laathe hain (sir, we use to cook in Delhi and then now here and spices come from Delhi). And by the way, this chicken curry experience cost us only 5.99 GBP per head.
I was so so so so thrilled and happy and satisfied. I knew the chicken curry was something familiar. I felt like I was eating in 'Saddi Dilli' and I was so right. The chicken curry rocked as much as Delhi does........... Anyone going to the Isle of Wight and wanting to try this place, give me a shout for directions...................... and I let out a big burp (sorry) - that was the chicken and not beer for a change !!!!!!!!!!! cheers.....
Well, the highlight of each of my trips has always been the food. And not one trip goes without having one Indian meal. There is a strong bond between Indian food and myself. Wherever I go it follows me or wherever Indian food is available, I reach that place. On the way from the station to the hotel, we spotted an Indian placed called 'Swad'. It had a sunday buffet and we thought that we should go there the next day.
So next day lunch time, we entered the place. It was a decent sized restaurant, with a fair number of people. As went in, we were greeted with a "namaste and aiye, aiye'. We took a table in a corner. I fail to understand why I Indian restaurants outside India think that they attract an audience in the name of bollywood (read Himesh's nose), instead of concentrating on good quality food alone. Anyway, we had a look at the buffet, which had veg samosa, rice, naan/roti, matar subzi (green peas) and Masala alu (potato) for the veggies. For the non-veggies there was lamb samosa and chicken curry. The chicken looked amazing and something in me told me that we were upto something here. So I just took rice and some chicken curry. I came back to my table, completely slaushed in the aromas of the chicken curry. The first mouthful was absolute bliss and I realized that I was right and we were upto something brilliant. The small pieces of chicken was succulent and just about well done. The spices had hit every nook and corner of each chicken piece and the curry was spicy, a bit on the higher side for UK standards. As I was about to go for a second helping, the waiter/owner asked me if I wanted any beer or any drinks to go with it. He said he had KF. Now for beer lovers like me, a KF in the UK is nothing else than India having non-corrupt politicians. But I was so mesimerized by the chicken and wanted more of it, that I had "no, thanks" for the beer. I rushed for a second helping of the chicken curry and rice. It was followed by a third and then a fourth helping. I was cautious of the beer filling me up, so that I would then be able to have less of the chicken curry.
This has to be the best chicken curry that I have ever eaten in the UK. It reminded me of 'Delhi Darbar' or the other restaurants in Delhi that serve chicken curry. My best half asked me how the chicken curry was, as I hadn't spoken to her in the last 15-20 minutes, sitting on the same table, I said 'this chicken curry was so Delhi'. That was enough for her to understand how I felt. I told the guy serving our table that the chicken curry was just too good and absolutely brilliant and that it reminded me of Delhi. Tad came the reply, "saab, hum Malviya Nagar mein khana banathe the aur ab yahan. Lekin hain dilli waale aur sab masala bhi dilli se laathe hain (sir, we use to cook in Delhi and then now here and spices come from Delhi). And by the way, this chicken curry experience cost us only 5.99 GBP per head.
I was so so so so thrilled and happy and satisfied. I knew the chicken curry was something familiar. I felt like I was eating in 'Saddi Dilli' and I was so right. The chicken curry rocked as much as Delhi does........... Anyone going to the Isle of Wight and wanting to try this place, give me a shout for directions...................... and I let out a big burp (sorry) - that was the chicken and not beer for a change !!!!!!!!!!! cheers.....
Tuesday, 25 August 2009
I am a VIP, Mr. Home Minister
All TV channels, newspapers and websites have been buzzing with SRK being detained at a US airport and subjected to security checks and questioning. Before that it was our ex-president Mr. Kalam being stopped by a US airline security official. The Indian government has done itself no favours by coming out against these incidents. Mr. Kalam, being the soft spoken and learned person he is, chose to ignore the issue, whereas SRK had no choice but to do what he was told. There is a difference between both these incidents. One obeyed the law as his duty and the other was forced to obey the law. Since Mr. Kalam himself chose ignore the incident, we will also not dwell on it. But what’s with SRK?
India is the only country where we have a VIP, VVIP, VVVIP and all adjacent categories for almost everything. Whether you want to get through airport security or get a special darshan in tirupati or get through traffic snarls (by creating one) or have security to protect you from untoward elements of society or even watch a cricket match. We have VIP and VVIP passes and tickets for almost everything.
For a moment, let us forget about reservations or the quota system. The VIP mindset is what is creating problems for India. You could be a VIP in your country, but do not even expect any other country to give you the same treatment. And why should they? Of course, I can understand the case with leaders like a Prime Minister or a President, but why does our government make a hue and cry about a bollywood actor being subjected to security checks and questioning. Thousands of Indians will be getting into the US everyday and many of them will be subjected to questioning and checks. Does the government do anything for these people or even take notice of such incidents? There are more muslims in India than in our neighbourhood. Many of them would have travelled to the US and subjected to questioning and checks, even if they have a different sounding name. Does the government care about such people? What makes SRK so different from the rest of the people trying to legally get into the US?
Our government needs to come out of the VIP conundrum. When it comes to issues of national significance and law, everyone should be treated the same way, irrespective of whether you are a minister or a cricketer or a bollywood actor or just a normal person like you and me. Also, who stopped our government and CISF from screening Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie when they came to India? Who stopped them from putting Hillary Clinton through security, when she came to India? We do not do our job properly and our home minister has the audacity to say that US security went overboard. I have a question for you, Mr. Minister. After September 2001 (9/11), how many extremist attacks have taken place in the US? And since then how many attacks have happened in India? The US became so serious about security after 9/11, that no one has been able to touch them after that one attack. This shows how much that one incident has affected them and they are taking all precautions and measures to ensure it does not happen again, even if it is at the cost of stereotyping certain sections of society or annoying someone like SRK. They do not care what others will think or say, as long as they are able to protect their country and citizens.
What happens in India, Mr Minister? Extremist attacks and loss of innocent lives have become an annual ritual. We will need some monster database to keep count of the number of attacks in India, since September 2001. Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Jaipur, Ahemdabad, Surat to name a few and not to mention Kashmir. What have you done after each attack? Expelled someone, blamed our neighbours and issued statments like 'we will not keep quiet'. Have you done anything to ensure it does not happen again? Security is beefed up for a couple of months after the attacks and then all back to square one. The security vigil is at its best in the days running up to Independence day and Republic day. Are the people carrying out such acts, fools, to even try something when security is at its best? Who are you trying to fool? Security should be at its best around the clock, irrespective of the time of the year or who the person is? Clearly shows that you have not learnt from the past. Even when you catch the culprit, you give him a lawyer and feed him mutton biryani. If evidence such as acts of extremism on live television is not enough, then what do you want? Another IC-814 and then you will release him and blame airline security.
What you need to do is put everyone through security checks, irrespective of who they are -Cricketers, bollywood personalities, industrialists, politicians and the who’s who of our society. Let them come to the airport 3 hours in advance like any of us, stand in a queue and get through the motions of travelling by air. But there is a point of contention. All these people, put together will not be even 1% of the vote bank, but contribute 100% to your party fund. So you cannot and will not do this. We pay taxes to you and you work for us. If you do not do your job properly, we should have an option of not paying tax as we get nothing in return. Will you agree to that? I am not playing devil's advocate, but merely questioning the value our taxes.
Every citizen of India is a VIP. Every citizen of India has the right to education, food, healthcare and other basic necessities of life. Every citizen of India has an equal right to have security for his life and belongings.
High time our government realizes that they have to provide this. They need to work to ensure they meet public expectations. And please Mr Minister, stop blaming security officials in another country, who are, by the way, just doing their job, which you might never understand
India is the only country where we have a VIP, VVIP, VVVIP and all adjacent categories for almost everything. Whether you want to get through airport security or get a special darshan in tirupati or get through traffic snarls (by creating one) or have security to protect you from untoward elements of society or even watch a cricket match. We have VIP and VVIP passes and tickets for almost everything.
For a moment, let us forget about reservations or the quota system. The VIP mindset is what is creating problems for India. You could be a VIP in your country, but do not even expect any other country to give you the same treatment. And why should they? Of course, I can understand the case with leaders like a Prime Minister or a President, but why does our government make a hue and cry about a bollywood actor being subjected to security checks and questioning. Thousands of Indians will be getting into the US everyday and many of them will be subjected to questioning and checks. Does the government do anything for these people or even take notice of such incidents? There are more muslims in India than in our neighbourhood. Many of them would have travelled to the US and subjected to questioning and checks, even if they have a different sounding name. Does the government care about such people? What makes SRK so different from the rest of the people trying to legally get into the US?
Our government needs to come out of the VIP conundrum. When it comes to issues of national significance and law, everyone should be treated the same way, irrespective of whether you are a minister or a cricketer or a bollywood actor or just a normal person like you and me. Also, who stopped our government and CISF from screening Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie when they came to India? Who stopped them from putting Hillary Clinton through security, when she came to India? We do not do our job properly and our home minister has the audacity to say that US security went overboard. I have a question for you, Mr. Minister. After September 2001 (9/11), how many extremist attacks have taken place in the US? And since then how many attacks have happened in India? The US became so serious about security after 9/11, that no one has been able to touch them after that one attack. This shows how much that one incident has affected them and they are taking all precautions and measures to ensure it does not happen again, even if it is at the cost of stereotyping certain sections of society or annoying someone like SRK. They do not care what others will think or say, as long as they are able to protect their country and citizens.
What happens in India, Mr Minister? Extremist attacks and loss of innocent lives have become an annual ritual. We will need some monster database to keep count of the number of attacks in India, since September 2001. Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Jaipur, Ahemdabad, Surat to name a few and not to mention Kashmir. What have you done after each attack? Expelled someone, blamed our neighbours and issued statments like 'we will not keep quiet'. Have you done anything to ensure it does not happen again? Security is beefed up for a couple of months after the attacks and then all back to square one. The security vigil is at its best in the days running up to Independence day and Republic day. Are the people carrying out such acts, fools, to even try something when security is at its best? Who are you trying to fool? Security should be at its best around the clock, irrespective of the time of the year or who the person is? Clearly shows that you have not learnt from the past. Even when you catch the culprit, you give him a lawyer and feed him mutton biryani. If evidence such as acts of extremism on live television is not enough, then what do you want? Another IC-814 and then you will release him and blame airline security.
What you need to do is put everyone through security checks, irrespective of who they are -Cricketers, bollywood personalities, industrialists, politicians and the who’s who of our society. Let them come to the airport 3 hours in advance like any of us, stand in a queue and get through the motions of travelling by air. But there is a point of contention. All these people, put together will not be even 1% of the vote bank, but contribute 100% to your party fund. So you cannot and will not do this. We pay taxes to you and you work for us. If you do not do your job properly, we should have an option of not paying tax as we get nothing in return. Will you agree to that? I am not playing devil's advocate, but merely questioning the value our taxes.
Every citizen of India is a VIP. Every citizen of India has the right to education, food, healthcare and other basic necessities of life. Every citizen of India has an equal right to have security for his life and belongings.
High time our government realizes that they have to provide this. They need to work to ensure they meet public expectations. And please Mr Minister, stop blaming security officials in another country, who are, by the way, just doing their job, which you might never understand
Thursday, 13 August 2009
Swine Flu !!!!! Mr. Health Minister
Dear Mr. Health Minister,
For the past few months, H1N1 and Swine flu have become buzz words. It has spread to such an extent that WHO has declared a pandemic alert and in India, 20 people have lost their lives and many are infected. Have we not had a cholera outbreak in India and people have died? Have we not had a plague outbreak in India and people have died? Every year, hundreds die during the monsoon season due to diseases like Malaria and Dengue. Then why is that you have made H1N1 a big issue?
It started with Mexico and then spread across the globe. You started screening passengers at the airport, from long haul flights. I was in India 2 months back and filled in one such form and went through one such screening. The screening process was a big farce and a slap on the face our abstract healthcare system. People sitting at the counter took the form, never even gave me a look and attested it with the government seal. Is that screening? I can vouch that none of the people sitting on the other side of the counter were qualified to even become a compounder, leave alone being a doctor. This is the pathetic state of our healthcare system.
You set out a list of do's and dont's. We should maintain personal hygeine, drink boiled water, sneeze or cough with a handkerchief and dispose it off properly, wash our hands properly and overall remain clean. Thats what we do everyday. Its not rocket science, unless you have never done these things before. This what we have always been taught in school and at home. We always have been drinking boiled water, as the water you provide in our homes can, at best, be used for washing. This is not something for which you hold a pamphlet and pose for the camera.
Let me tell you why we are affected. I am not a health expert, but neither are you, so hope you wont mind, me giving you a piece of my mind:
- More than half of our population lives in rural areas, where there are no sanitation facilities, no clean water, no waste disposal mechanism and nothing that can be called personal hygiene.
- 60% of our financial capital and a sizeable proportion in other cities lives in slums. These slums which are very well shown in 'Slumdog Millionaire' for which your government had issues, are nothing but breeding ground for viruses and causes of all such diseases.
- You promise the world as these slums are your vote bank and then disappoint them.
- Our public healthcare system is screwed. Government hospitals are in pathetic condition and more often than not, doctors are on strike. No minister will ever go to such hospitals, except AIIMS. The surroundings of such hospitals are nothing to write about. Patients stand for hours in the queue, waiting for doctors to come and attend to them. These doctors are busy attending to patients in their private clinics, as you do not bother to pay them a decent wage.
- You allow industries (public and private) to dump wastes in drains, which clog them.
- You do not understand the difference between carbon footprint and your shoe footprint.
- You do not maintain the drainage system in any city, which again leads to water borne diseases.
- Railway yards and side of the tracks are waste disposing grounds and you do nothing about it.
- You make provisions to provide medicines and then do nothing when it is hoarded in the black market.
I am following your instructions to maintain personal hygiene but my surroundings do not support me. Please advise future course of action.
Many of the people who died due to the Swine flu had other underlying health conditions, which you chose to convieniently ignore and blame NRI's for importing the virus from abroad. Grow up Mr. Minister. The current state of cleanliness and hygiene in our country is a joke. Lets not even dwell on that side or it might become the second biggest issue to topple a government (first being onions). For all you know, due to the current state of hygiene in our country, Swine flu was always there and this virus was always breeding in our country. Just that you never had the capabilities to recognize it and needed a magic wand from Latino land to make you aware of it.
Yours respectfully
A law abiding, clean citizen.
For the past few months, H1N1 and Swine flu have become buzz words. It has spread to such an extent that WHO has declared a pandemic alert and in India, 20 people have lost their lives and many are infected. Have we not had a cholera outbreak in India and people have died? Have we not had a plague outbreak in India and people have died? Every year, hundreds die during the monsoon season due to diseases like Malaria and Dengue. Then why is that you have made H1N1 a big issue?
It started with Mexico and then spread across the globe. You started screening passengers at the airport, from long haul flights. I was in India 2 months back and filled in one such form and went through one such screening. The screening process was a big farce and a slap on the face our abstract healthcare system. People sitting at the counter took the form, never even gave me a look and attested it with the government seal. Is that screening? I can vouch that none of the people sitting on the other side of the counter were qualified to even become a compounder, leave alone being a doctor. This is the pathetic state of our healthcare system.
You set out a list of do's and dont's. We should maintain personal hygeine, drink boiled water, sneeze or cough with a handkerchief and dispose it off properly, wash our hands properly and overall remain clean. Thats what we do everyday. Its not rocket science, unless you have never done these things before. This what we have always been taught in school and at home. We always have been drinking boiled water, as the water you provide in our homes can, at best, be used for washing. This is not something for which you hold a pamphlet and pose for the camera.
Let me tell you why we are affected. I am not a health expert, but neither are you, so hope you wont mind, me giving you a piece of my mind:
- More than half of our population lives in rural areas, where there are no sanitation facilities, no clean water, no waste disposal mechanism and nothing that can be called personal hygiene.
- 60% of our financial capital and a sizeable proportion in other cities lives in slums. These slums which are very well shown in 'Slumdog Millionaire' for which your government had issues, are nothing but breeding ground for viruses and causes of all such diseases.
- You promise the world as these slums are your vote bank and then disappoint them.
- Our public healthcare system is screwed. Government hospitals are in pathetic condition and more often than not, doctors are on strike. No minister will ever go to such hospitals, except AIIMS. The surroundings of such hospitals are nothing to write about. Patients stand for hours in the queue, waiting for doctors to come and attend to them. These doctors are busy attending to patients in their private clinics, as you do not bother to pay them a decent wage.
- You allow industries (public and private) to dump wastes in drains, which clog them.
- You do not understand the difference between carbon footprint and your shoe footprint.
- You do not maintain the drainage system in any city, which again leads to water borne diseases.
- Railway yards and side of the tracks are waste disposing grounds and you do nothing about it.
- You make provisions to provide medicines and then do nothing when it is hoarded in the black market.
I am following your instructions to maintain personal hygiene but my surroundings do not support me. Please advise future course of action.
Many of the people who died due to the Swine flu had other underlying health conditions, which you chose to convieniently ignore and blame NRI's for importing the virus from abroad. Grow up Mr. Minister. The current state of cleanliness and hygiene in our country is a joke. Lets not even dwell on that side or it might become the second biggest issue to topple a government (first being onions). For all you know, due to the current state of hygiene in our country, Swine flu was always there and this virus was always breeding in our country. Just that you never had the capabilities to recognize it and needed a magic wand from Latino land to make you aware of it.
Yours respectfully
A law abiding, clean citizen.
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