War and Peace

The Global arms industry is doing a roaring business despite the economic slowdown which has dented and obliterated the economies of countries across the board. The melting economic scenario is in perfect synch with the polar ice cap meltdown at the poles. The European countries perhaps with the bare exception of Germany, are struggling to stay afloat in the swirling malaise of unemployment, uncertainty coupled with ever depreciating currencies and north bound inflation.

As per the records maintained by SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute) India is the largest importer of arms accounting for about 10% of world sales- as per volume.(Obviously there could be another reason that the percentage of Kick backs involved in arms deal has prompted these figures to snowball considerably).Arch rival Pakistan is not far behind. The amount of money spent by these two on developmental projects in their respective countries would have yielded a far better result than the bitter enmity that has prevailed since 1947.Economic conditions have remained stagnant for a majority of the population but the Govt. of both countries want to slug it out by procuring the latest and most potent technology. Vested interests and sly business marketing by the sellers (USA,UK, Israel and France) however have seen to it that the acrimonious and rancid behavior between the neighbors stay intact. The irony is after providing fuel to the fire these  zealots come armed with hose pipes (in the name of various aids and consortiums) to douse the flames they themselves have ignited.

Middle east countries like Saudi Arabia has been duped and deceived into purchasing high top end military equipment citing growing Israeli dominance within its proximity. The annual budgeted expenditure is well over 50 billion dollars. It is hilarious to note that the Saudis had to get Pakistani pilots at short notice to man their aircrafts for a while till their own Countrymen got the necessary expertise.

There is a single track motive for the countries who sell arms to developing countries(prevent it from getting ‘’DEVELOPED’’) to wedge animosity and create hostile conditions between warring neighbors, create a war like atmosphere by providing huge cache of arms in lieu of securing permanent air-bases in the region, sabotaging any bid to ease tensions in areas of high economic and intrinsic value (Oil rich Middle East) or planting themselves in places of strategic importance concerning or affecting global trade (Suez & Panama Canal, the Persian Gulf etc).     

The World could have been a much better place to live in had the countries indulging in mass production of these destructive state of the art weaponry chosen to halt this sabotage and channelized the same resources (both men and materials) into evolving technology to breed new machines which could give more yield in agriculture, could reduce carbon emission, create alternative means of clean and green fuel, provide new clan of polymers which would be bio degradable etc. The amount of money invested in R&D to manufacture these unwarranted means of killing machine alone could help correct the imbalance in severely impoverished countries like Somalia, Burundi, Sierra Leone, Senegal and Ethiopia where Civil unrest is the order of the day with rival factions often backed by western countries for their own self centered motive. The economic disparities and severe food scarcity has aggravated the situation often leading to a free for all which is manipulated by the protagonists of arms to suit their evil design of spreading violence and hatred.     

Curiosity about Aliens

Man is a curious animal and is inquisitive since birth. This eagerness has helped us find answers to the most intrigue and complex set of questions arising in the mind through series of research, experiments and detailed hypothesis.

The disturbing thought of ‘’we are alone in this Universe’’ for ages, perhaps spurred mankind to search for extra terrestrial life. The advent of modern technology  has joined this quest by launching numerous space missions, deploying the hubble telescope and installing array of giant radio telescopes for scanning and monitoring any visible signs of alien life.

The story about UFO’s (Unidentified Flying Objects) generated a mass hysteria during the early 40’s and 50’s which eventually led to establishing a study known as ‘’Project Bluebook’’. This involved a deep study comprising about reports compiled about numerous sightings across the US by United States Air Force and other residents. Many of the sightings were brushed off as weather balloons, aircrafts and deceptive natural phenomenon. However there were some sightings which could not be classified either as a hoax nor attributed to any phenomenon. These were classified as ’’un-explained’’.  The ‘’Project blue book’’ was closed down in 1970 citing it was unviable and could not scientifically prove anything concrete even after almost a decade.

The Roswell episode in which debris of a spacecraft were found in Roswell, New Mexico in June 1947 has gained notoriety for the US air force for keeping secret a possible alien air crash which is widely debated across the scientist fraternity. Major Jesse Marcel an air force personnel who was involved in collecting the debris and transporting them to higher authorities spilled the beans about the stuff nearly three decades later about the covert military cover-up. He hinted that the debris did not contain any thing closely related to the weather balloon and some articles found were definitely not ‘’terrestrial’’.

The SETI (Search for extra terrestrial Intelligence) established in 1961, to detect the faintest radio waves from across our vast strata of Universe for a possible contact with the alien world hasn’t met with any success so far. Various antenna’s (dish shaped) have been arranged over a large area, some as colossal as 100metres in diameter in the hope of receiving some positive clue from a source –somewhere in the Solar system. 

The renowned astrophysicist Stephen Hawking has advocated that aliens do exist and some of them may have already been on our tails and tracking us with their advanced state of the art technology. Hawking deviated from sticking to the orthodox concept of finding water and oxygen (the two crucial elements for survival on Planet- Earth) and thinks it would be more prudent if that conventional yard-stick is not applied henceforth. His contention that aliens might have manifested, adjusted and blossomed in conditions and circumstances totally ‘’alien’’ and hostile to us does ‘’HOLD WATER’’.

The latest ‘land rover’ sent to Mars- Curiosity to collect samples of Martian soil has reportedly taken pictures of moving lights which is distinctly seen in the video release by Nasa. Nasa officials have been quick to nip any adverse reactions /publicity in the bud by portraying that the pictures are because of a flawed technique/dead pixel inherent in the camera .Seasoned experts have confirmed that this hypothesis is both rational and conclusive.

The perennial research which has poured millions of dollars into seeking questions about the existence of extra terrestrial life should continue, but in an undisputed and impartial manner. The clandestine manner where documents are hidden, sightings brushed off as retinal error or defective vision doesn’t augur well for future research. There have been reports of sightings all over the world with most of them hoaxes and some of it could have been because of wrong identity, absence of clarity of vision or even hallucination.

The ‘un-explained ‘cases however merit a second chance and, perhaps a more rational and scientific approach could provide us with startling answers. This information should be shared amongst astronomers and amateur star gazers unabashedly. 

Space is so huge that it cannot be classified or visualized in a finite form. The innumerable galaxies and countless milky way encompass and dot every available spectrum of Celestial network and are joined by millions of stars, planets and their satellites, comets, and asteroids.

It is simply preposterous to believe that life exists only on one of the miniscule Planets and the rest are LIFELESS pieces of zodiac signs traversing the Constellation.

       

Of Julian Assange and his ethical Journalism

The widespread furore over granting of asylum by Equador recently to the Wikileaks founder Julian Assange hogged the headlines. The UK is desperately trying to assert its flagging supremacy in the world perhaps hounded by its dominance of its erstwhile colonies a couple of century’s back. Britain has even threatened to raid the embassy in Equador where Assange is currently holding siege and freeze the economic aid promised earlier.

The contention that Assange has been accused of sexual assault in Sweden and hence is hounded by the US allies is dumbfounded.

The aforesaid case has been reopened to indict Assange in some form or another so as to stop the cable leaks thereby spilling the beans and names of some influential persons and their so called misdeeds.

The case against Assange seems pretty vindictive. The Woman who had accused Assange of molestation and rape has considerably weakened her case when she had reportedly hosted a party ‘’the day after the sexual misconduct’’ to which the accused was also invited and twitting a message about the party .. Now, was the party hosted by her to ‘’celebrate’’ the sexual assault? Perhaps only SHE as the plaintiff or accuser in this case, can answer this sensitive question.

The innumerable sexual fervors and scandals perpetrated by the US Presidents (only SOME of them and not SUM of them have been mentioned here!!) between Clinton and Monica Lewinsky, Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemmings, Woodrow Wilson and Edith Galt and between the  Kennedy Brothers (Robert & John) and Marilyn Monroe needs to be minutely scanned by a neutron microscope so as to clear the myths surrounding these stalwarts. The so called word - ‘Chastity’ is an autonym for the Americans and hence it is better that they look for some other alibi to chain the likes of Assange.

Half of the US presidents TILL DATE would be behind bars if the same principle (which is currently forced on Assange) is applied to them.

All this has to be brought to light as the Americans are falsely implicating him of espionage and willing to try him under their law which can be twisted at will and could hand him a minimum of 10 years of hard labor which is crude, unethical, vindictive and in bad taste. Some of the republicans have gone ahead and wish that he be, assassinated at the earliest opportunity. The day their interests are threatened, their crooked vices are brazenly exposed, the Yankees can stoop to the lowest possible ebb, to get even. 

Every country whose dirty linen has been washed in public (even India is one of them) is after Julian assange and plan to settle scores with him to avenge the insult of being demystified of their true colors and wily actions. The former CM of UP, Mayawati had sent an empty plane to collect some shoes/clothes belonging to her. This leak infuriated her so much that she called Assange a lunatic. But at the back of her mind she might be wondering where and how the hell does information that too, an accurate one reach him??

The wicki cables has revealed that the breed of politicians the world over, follow a certain trend, a certain cult hiding behind the veil of uprightness and are always up to, something sinister at their back of their crooked minds.

The truth is that the wiki leaks has left them (all countries named in various scams) fuming, with their mouth, full of bitterness which is difficult to swallow and shameful to spit out. The World has come to know the truth and the expose has left them having to fend for themselves and cutting a very sorry figure while desperately trying to mop up the spilt guilt.

Julian Assange had to go through a difficult, trying and tumultuous childhood. He had to change his school upteen times as his mother was trying to settle herself after numerous marriages and divorces. The sharpness of his inquisitive mind was evident in him being brilliant in maths and science.

He immersed himself in hacking –read ethical hacking which evidently has helped the Police/law enforcing dept. in solving and curbing complicated cases relating to cyber crimes. His intellectual work though has been acknowledged by many of his detractors thus speaking volumes of his creative genius.  

We should acknowledge his immense contribution in leaking cables containing crucial information which has helped us to understand the dirty political aspirations, both intra country and inter country. The Cable leaks has instilled a fear psychosis amongst those in power and which possibly, might pave way to a clear and open governance so badly needed at this crucial juncture. Ethical Journalism can change the world forever and one wishes that this happens sooner than later.

Plagiarism- Indecent borrowing

Plagiarism- a term used for stealing or copying a tune/lyric /song or clandestinely lifting a paragraph or an entire chapter or editorial to show as if the work is their own handiwork.

The original work is read, heard and rehearsed ‘n’ number of times. It is possible that more effective research is made on similar lines at a later stage where innovative ideas gets metamorphosed and the resulting ‘’encompassed’’ work gets huge credibility and the author rides the horse of success to unimaginable heights and hogs all the lime-light. The euphoria continues till the bubble is burst and the facts nail the offender and subdues all unwarranted and unmerited glaze.

The recent indictment and suspension of renowned Time magazine editor of and CNN TV host Fareed Zakaria has grossly exposed the negative aspects of journalists / writers who thrive on pilfered and willfully borrowed articles. Fareed Zakara was awarded a Padma Bhushan in2010 for his outstanding Contribution to Journalism. The awarding committee which chooses the potential candidate, must be licking their wounded psyche after the shameful expose.

There have been numerous instances when top notch Indian authors/writers have bitten more than they could chew.

Kavya Vishwanathan an Indian American writer was caught red-handed, she had plagiarized pages from 5 different novels to write 1 of her own. All the copies were later recalled and consigned to the dust-bins.

Arun Purie noted editor of India today used the nefarious –CONTROL X /CONTROL V to carve out a piece of article on South Indian actor Rajnikanth by Grady Hendrix. This was perhaps the most humiliating and unpardonable crime.(Imagine an outsider having a better grasp of the subject on an Indian film star). The worst thing was Arun Purie was stubborn enough and refused to acknowledge the Crime.

VN Narayanan erstwhile editor of Hindustan Times effortlessly’’ DOWNLOADED’ an article from British Journo Bryan Appleyard and almost ‘’earned ‘’ accolades before alert and avid readers fixed him. He was of course unceremoniously shown the DOOR.

This violation of copyright/patent right has marred the image of our Country which is replete with great literary souls from Rabindranath Tagore to RK Narayan and VS Naipaul to Premchand.

Dried up ideas or lack of self motivating factors and trying to make it big in the literary world perhaps provokes these individuals to penetrate and breach the HALL OF SHAME.

In a bizarre attempt to grab success, fame and glamour our esteemed journos have taken the short cut for attaining the ‘’2’’ minutes of Fame.

The writers have failed to realize that there are hordes of avid book lovers who follow a certain trend and who create their own cult following, choosing a select brand of writers and are equally intelligent to detect such pilferage with consummate ease.

The Cut and paste authors should further realize that the thin and fragile crust of faith and astute fan following is destroyed in seconds by their malicious intent.

The painstaking efforts in initializing the original masterpiece (the original writers who use their imaginative and complex ideas to proliferate and mould the same into literary and creative art) should never be allowed to be so easily marauded or mauled by these new breed of Parasites who are into this Plagiarisation business sans any shame or guilt. 

Blame it on the ''EL-NINO''

The world is experiencing widespread changes in the environment thanks to the sustained depletion of the rainforests, letting out of green house gases and CFC’s from unconventional and older generation of  AC’s and refrigerators, depletion in the crucial Ozone layer especially over the polar regions and abundant and uninterrupted  Carbon footprint emissions over the last few decades.

The Earth is receiving bountiful rainfall in arid areas where sparse rains have been the trademark for centuries and coastal regions have been experiencing deficit rainfall year after year. The polar region has seen melting of hitherto solid ice caps, resulting in substantial increase in sea water level inundating low lying areas and slowly gobbling away chunks of fertile coastal land in the process. Despite early warning about this process in the early 1970’s by eminent scientists and environmentalists few took notice and by the time they did, the damage was already done and the rot had set in. Nature has amply demonstrated its fierce-some power to hit back at its detractors (read ravagers of this Planet) by churning savage flash floods in rain shadow areas and appalling drought conditions in some of the most fertile land mass.

The periodic warming of the Pacific waters (this is cyclical and takes place once in every 5/8 years) results in drastic changes in the environmental conditions all over the world. Some areas experience prolific rainfall while others reel in drought. This phenomenon known as ‘’El-NINO’’ effectively translated as little boy in Spanish is one of the most dreaded word for weather bureaus worldwide. It has been routinely analyzed that a number of natural catastrophes has struck every year when El Nino has been diagnosed. Despite the state of the art technology available no one has been able to determine the periodic pattern of this peculiar phenomenon.

While the scientist fraternity is fighting over the logical aspect it is to be understood that blaming the El Nino for this mess is futile. This mess has been created over the years by all of us contributing to it albeit in a small way knowingly or unknowingly through emissions of harmful green house gases in dis- proportionate amounts. The failure of the monsoon over the Indian sub- continent has generated a lot of interest and concern amongst the masses in the EL NINO phenomena.

The world leaders hold periodic meetings (remember the failed Kyoto Protocol- Dec 1997 which was resisted tooth and nail by the USA who perhaps is the prime offender in emitting Green House Gases) and differences keep cropping up between the developed countries (who started all this muck by resorting to newer technologies with disastrous after effects) and the developing nations who naturally resist the clamping of sanctions on them in the name of Carbon footprint emissions.      

At this rate nature will throw newer gauntlets at us every now and then, upon which newer theories will be propagated, newer principles will be set up to show case its ill effects on our extremely fragile ecosystems.

The top environmentalists, intellectuals and scientists would vie with one another to get the credit and perhaps get the ‘’phenomena’’ named after them.

No one wants a new disease/phenomena on the horizon with only the symptoms to reckon with.

We all need a ‘’CURE’’ for this malady and that too a long lasting one.        

The apocalypse has already set in and the time-bomb is ticking away precariously and ferociously.

A Failed State and its eroding Human Values

The deep shock and outrage at the dastardly killing of about a dozen innocent people watching the new Batman  film- The Dark Knight Rises in Denver, Colorado filtered through newspapers, blogs and related articles and made instant headlines, the world over. It was indeed a ‘’Dark NIGHT’’ for the audience.

The alleged culprit just about 24 years old, obviously a maniac has since shown no remorse for the massacre.

The administration was quick to apprehend the suspect before any further similar horrendous attempts, were made. Investigations in the case later showed that the act was pre-meditated months earlier and executed as scheduled.

One can easily identify the pain of the next of kin of the deceased as the attacks claimed innocent lives who never knew what destiny had in store for them.  

The western countries have always valued Human Life in a different perspective. Research and analysis is done and different innovative ways are brooded upon to prevent or minimize such loss of human life whether by homicide, suicide or natural disasters. The culprits are nailed quickly and justice prevails.

Every possible angle is probed into to ensure there is minimum loss of life and property. Their disaster management cell is well awake to all possible threats and search and rescue squads are always on their toes to meet any contingencies.

In contrast here, in India more than 80,000 people succumb to road accidents every passing year and the figures are alarmingly increasing in geometric progression. People get killed in petty issues – indiscriminate celebratory firing during trivial events like winning an election, marriage ceremonies etc. We have army men chucking helpless people out of trains in frustration. We have kids getting crushed under their own school buses. Countless People who perished in the 1984 Bhopal Gas holocaust have long been forgotten and given a measly sum of 400 USD in compensation. The irony of the case gets further magnified as entire families have been wiped out leaving behind no claimants. It seems in India life is very cheap and its value is easily identifiable and can be fixed with alarming ease. The value of a human life has steadily eroded over the years and deriving a fair and equitable Justice is virtually impossible for the common man.

Had any Indian company perpetrated such an act in the US our entire country and its economy would have been held to ransom and the perpetrators whisked away and swiftly tried in US Courts.

Compare that to the recent case when India had to move HEAVEN and EARTH just to get access to David Coleman Headley for questioning who covertly had provided logistical and tactical support to the Mumbai terror attacks in 2008.

Losing a life and being a citizen of US /Israel /European countries would reap in huge compensation to the affected families and almost succeed in brow beating the suspect Country behind the act to abject penury.

In contrast on July 16^th 2012 the US Navy fired indiscriminately and killed an Indian fisherman in Dubai near Jebel Ali port, under the pretext of MISTAKEN IDENTITY. Obviously we being a soft state a token apology from the perpetrator of the crime was accepted without a murmur.

In April 2001 16 Border Security Force personnel were brutally ambushed and killed near Meghalaya border by the Bangladesh Rifles and the dead bodies were tied to bamboo poles and paraded in the Villages.

A ‘’STRONG ‘’ Protest was lodged with the Bangladesh High Commission as per the standard norm by our Govt. which under stably was overlooked by the Bangladeshi officials. The case is still being pursued at an official level between the diplomats at a leisurely pace. Only the families of those killed would know and experience the pain, anguish and humiliation.

Time and again we had to go through this humiliation because of the persona of a soft state or perhaps a failed state??    

 

Freedom @ Midnight

The glamour and dazzle of the night life in the western Countries as often seen in films, certain documentaries and life style magazines takes our breath away and transports us there mentally albeit, for a few moments.

We try to get succor however mild it may seem from their standard of living, the well arched roads, the clean and green environment which is a distant mirage for most of us, to ever think of achieving it, in our lifetimes.

Post the 1990’s liberalization outsourcing and the IT boom paved a certain section of the elite to get the hang of the comfort and luxury enjoyed by the westerners. The entertainment industry, the hotel industry, the tourism industry got a boost when people started spending their surplus income in quest for leisure.

The contradiction starts right here.

The problem associated with uncontrolled consumption of liquor is the same in every part of the world.

However with a stringent law in place coupled with a sensible mind has kept the so called workaholics or (alcoholics which ever phrase suits them) and their resulting antics within bearable limits in the western world. We are in a infant stage and perhaps do not know how to express and digest success, money and fame coming our way. Enjoying and Partying is good TILL it doesn’t become a nuisance value to others. The revelers should respect peace, tranquility and privacy of others.

In this part of the world, we have had enough incidents of this car(efree) revelers who have maimed, killed and ruined the lives of innocent pedestrians by drunken driving at the oddest hour of the night. Time and again we have witnessed the offenders going scot free on bail even before the bereaved family is through with completing the last rites.

We have celebs including film stars who have time and again blatantly violated the time- limit deadline  and indulging in revelry and blaring music often going into the wee hours of the morning. Their immediate neighbors reluctantly have learnt to adjust to this obscene behaviour and rather be a mum spectator fully aware, that their complaints won’t be entertained or registered.

Many new age and tech savvy youngsters have repeatedly evaded Police by regrouping on social networking sites and organizing rave parties. Countless number of innocent and gullible youth have fallen prey to this menace of drugs and our impotent law has been incompetent enough, to catch the miscreants who resort to newer technologies.

There was this sudden crave for hookah parlors (where pots filled with a deadly concoction of tobacco/steam and chemical laden essence is provided to customers -mostly teenagers and college students) to inhale and innumerable joints sprung up under spurious names in posh residential localities to cash in the business.

On getting specific information and leads, police raided such joints/hotels and people were caught red- handed indulging in all sorts of immoral activities. The people caught were so adamant that they refused to cow down and vowed to fight (for their legitimate and democratic rights????)

The Asst. Comm. of Police, Vasant Dhoble and his team has launched a relentless battle to end this tomfoolery with the result that the elite, upped the ante against him by spreading baseless charges.

Vasant Dhoble is under the media scanner for being a ‘fun spoiler’ for the upper class elite who indulge in letting their hair down and who morally believe that their democratic rights are infringed upon every time a joint was raided for violating, breaching and flouting rules.

No wonder many worried Parents stood by him in this crucial hour and supported his tirade however crude it may seem.

We got token freedom from the British rule on 15^th Aug 1947.The World slept while we woke up to freedom as one learned politician preached us, from the ramparts of the Red Fort.

This Freedom achieved @ midnight has had no real meaning because of the macabre situation which we are currently undergoing .It seems now, that we are sleeping over mindless issues while the world has moved on, lights years away.

 There is this Khap Panchayat existing in our Country where mature adults have to face their ire if they marry within the same clan or Khap. Innocent youngsters have been brutally killed by their own kith and kin for defying the diktat of the archaic law laid down in some 14^th Century.

No action has been taken against the murderers and this Practice has not dimmed in view of the administration’s light hearted efforts.

The ancient devadasi system (though OFFICIALLY banned in 1982) is still prevalent in the border districts of the adjoining states of Maharashtra and Karnataka and no one has dared to try and abolish this age old practice where young girls, just about reaching puberty have been abused by priests and devotees alike in the name of Culture and tradition and pushed into the prostitution racket.

30% of the total food production is wasted due to lack of warehousing and adequate storage facility. Approximately the same percentile of the population, go hungry to sleep every day. Freedom will be achieved when they get freed from the tantalizing hunger pangs.

Freedom will be achieved when we will be freed from the evil shackles of Corruption which has prevented our country from progressing for the past 6 decades.

Freedom will be achieved when scores of villages in remotest part of the country will get electricity and clean drinking water.

Holding placards, adoring a well- dressed attire (Armani , JJ Valaya  and versace ) and clamoring to remove a Cop who is merely doing his duty and trying to restore sense and sanity amongst the spoilt brats who are used to raising a mindless din over needles issues and caring a hoot for the law, reeks of arrogance, indifferent and callous attitude of these supposedly new age czars.