Citizen Journalism

A very nice article on the rise of Citizen Journalism in India. Contains lots of valuable links as well. All worth reading.

Strongly recommend reading this - http://krunchd.com/citizenjournalism

The Idiots!

The Pakistan Defence Minister is talking about using Nuclear Bombs. Here is a simulation of the explosion of a Nuclear Bomb:

A Crisis is a Terrible Thing to Waste

From an unrelated newsletter:

The ancient Chinese hexagram for crisis means both danger and opportunity. But what determines the outcome? Is it in our hands? Do we have the power to choose?

Danger naturally focuses our minds, and when faced with it we instinctively contract, withdraw, or pull-in to protect and defend. Individuals do it, and so do countries.

Already the surge of nationalism towards the country has started weakening. People are once again starting to lapse into their old habits and cynicism (witness Zaheer Khan's outburst at being subjected to security measures).

We should not let the spirit awakened by the terrorist attacks die out. Let us keep the flame of purposefulness - of doing something for the country - alive.

The Lesson of the Rubber Chicken

This is from an seemingly unrelated field of Project Management, but gives a very meaningful and interesting take on the role of "Responsibility."

From: The Project Shrink Blog

"I think the single most important concept that I share with people in my work is "The Lesson of the Rubber Chicken". (My rubber chicken travels with me everywhere I go. You might say he's a "frequent flyer".) I just hold him at shoulder height and release him, then ask "What caused the chicken to fall?" "Gravity." Is the most common answer, but that’s a victim's perspective. The chicken falls because I released him. Yes, gravity contributed, but blaming gravity focuses on what we can't control, and diminishes our power to make a difference in what is happening in our world. There are always circumstances outside of our control, but there is far more power in asking "How am I contributing to this situation and what can I do to make a positive difference?" Stop blaming gravity. Hold on to the chicken!"

Indians are Angry!

A series of telling pictures from the protests in Mumbai after the terrorist attacks. If only we could sustain the current spirit!

Indians are Angry!

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: india attack)

Rights vs Responsibilities

A poem by a close friend. Translation is below:

बड़े जागरूक हो, अपने अधिकारों के प्रति
क्या सोचा है, कर्तव्यों के लिए कभी.
बड़ा सहज है, बड़ी-बड़ी अपेक्षाएं करना,
तो छोड़ो यूँ महज, हरपल उपेक्षाएं करना.
इस विश्व से, हाथ फैला कर कुछ लेना चाहते हो
तो पहले, इन्ही हाथों को बढ़ा कर कुछ देना सीखो.
नहीं तो, यह बोझ तुम्हे दबा देगा
तुम्हारा ही भविष्य, तुम्हे सज़ा देगा.

You are vigilant about your rights
But have you ever thought about your duties
It is very easy to be apathetic on issues
But please stop ignoring everything
If you want to take something from this world
Then first, learn to step ahead and give something
Otherwise this burden will bury you
Your own future will punish you.

So true in the case of India. We have been ignoring our duties and look at the deep shit the country is in.

Taj - A First Person Account

One of my classmates was trapped in the Taj during the Nov 26 terror attacks in Mumbai. This is his first person account of the ordeal.



Apart from the very pertinent questions that he raises at the end, what I find amazing is the complete lack of discipline even amongst the trapped persons - people allowing their mobile phones to ring loudly and not keeping noise down to a minimal level. This indiscipline is also very much evident in the chaotic traffic conditions on our roads.

The Pakistani viewpoint on the Mumbai terror attacks

These videos show the pakistani viewpoint on the Mumbai terror attacks on 26th Nov. They are worth watching to give us an idea on how pakistanis think. It is also worthwhile to check out the profile of the person who has posted them on youtube.

Calling All Pakistanis

Another very relevant article on Pakistan-generated terrorism by Thomas L. Friedman in the New York Times.

Calling All Pakistanis

By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN

Published: December 3, 2008

Who in the Muslim world, who in
Pakistan, is ready to take to the streets to protest the mass murders
of real people, not cartoon characters, right next door in Mumbai,
India?

A very relevant excerpt:

After all, if 10 young Indians from a splinter wing of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party traveled by boat to Pakistan, shot up two hotels in Karachi and the central train station, killed at least 173 people, and then, for good measure, murdered the imam and his wife at a Saudi-financed mosque while they were cradling their 2-year-old son — purely because they were Sunni Muslims — where would we be today? The entire Muslim world would be aflame and in the streets.

So what can we expect from Pakistan and the wider Muslim world after Mumbai? India says its interrogation of the surviving terrorist indicates that all 10 men come from the Pakistani port of Karachi, and at least one, if not all 10, were Pakistani nationals.

Letter to Prime Minister

A friend forwarded this letter to me over email. The letter raises some very pertinent points about the insincereity of politicians in the context of the recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai on 26th Nov, 2008.

The original author is unknown:

LETTER TO PRIME MINISTER

Dear Mr. Prime minister

I am a typical mouse from Mumbai. In the local train compartment which has capacity of 100 persons, I travel with 500 more mouse. Mouse at least squeak but we don't even do that.

Today I heard your speech. In which you said 'NO BODY WOULD BE SPARED'. I would like to remind you that fourteen years has passed since serial bomb blast in Mumbai took place. Dawood was the main conspirator. Till today he is not caught. All our bolywood actors, our builders, our Gutka king meets him but your Government can not catch him. Reason is simple; all your ministers are hand in glove with him. If any attempt is made to catch him everybody will be exposed. Your statement 'NOBODY WOULD BE SPARED' is nothing but a cruel joke on this unfortunate people of India .

Enough is enough. As such after seeing terrorist attack carried out by about a dozen young boys I realize that if same thing continues days are not away when terrorist will attack by air, destroy our nuclear reactor and there will be one more Hiroshima .

We the people are left with only one mantra. Womb to Bomb to Tomb. You promised Mumbaikar Shanghai what you have given us is Jalianwala Baug.

Today only your home minister resigned. What took you so long to kick out this joker? Only reason was that he was loyal to Gandhi family. Loyalty to Gandhi family is more important than blood of innocent people, isn't it?



Recently I had to purchase house in Mumbai. I met about two dozen builders. Everybody wanted about 30% in black. A common person like me knows this and with all your intelligent agency & CBI you and your finance minister are not aware of it. Where all the black money goes? To the underworld isn't it? Our politicians take help of these goondas to vacate people by force. I myself was victim of it. If you have time please come to me, I will tell you
everything.

If this has been land of fools, idiots then I would not have ever cared to write you this letter. Just see the tragedy, on one side we are reaching moon, people are so intelligent and on other side you politician has converted nectar into deadly poison. I am everything Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Schedule caste, OBC, Muslim OBC, Christian Schedule caste, Creamy Schedule caste only what I am not is INDIAN. You politician have raped every part of mother India by your policy of divide and rule.

Take example of former president Abdul Kalam. Such a intelligent person, such a fine human being. You politician didn't even spare him. Your party along with opposition joined the hands, because politician feels they are supreme and there is no place for good person.

Dear Mr Prime minister you are one of the most intelligent person, most learned person. Just wake up, be a real SARDAR. First and foremost expose all selfish politician. Ask Swiss bank to give name of all Indian account holder. Give reins of CBI to independent agency. Let them find wolf among us.. There will be political upheaval but that will better than dance of death which we are witnessing every day. Just give us ambient where we can work honestly and without fear. Let there be rule of law. Everything else will be taken care of.

Choice is yours Mr. Prime Minister. Do you want to be lead by one person or you want to lead the nation of 100 Crore people?

An Olympic shooter wins Gold (Only a game) & Government gives him 3 Crores, lets not even begin on cricketers.

Another Shooter dies, fighting with terrorists (Saving our country and our
live) & government pays his family 5 lakhs.

Really great!!!!!!!!!!! Hats off to India !!!!!!!!!!!!!

The idea behind this blog

I have thought many times that all of us discuss a whole lot about the problems facing us and our country/planet but actually do very little about it. There are a number of reasons for this - the initial enthusiasm is lost quickly or we don't have the required skills or resources etc etc. Ideas are generated by the dozen and then wither away due to lack of attention.

I thought that the first step in furthering the dozens of ideas/discussions towards actionable step is to record them in an easily accessible place. Hence - this blog.

I intend to include stories about both what are people doing right and what they are doing wrong. These are my opinions only and do not reflect the views of any political party, business or any other agenda group.

I hope you have a rewarding time here.