The Siege Remembered

It's almost a year since the tragic day. The newspapers,television and magazines were rife with people recounting the horror of those unforgettable 62 hours of siege. As I went through those tragic experiences, I couldn't help myself from being pulled back into time. I even had nightmares at times. As I read the newspaper today, one news that really moved me was the interview of Major Unnikrishnan's parents. One of the papers quoted his parents saying, "We all want a Bhagat Singh, but only in our neighbour's house". A year has passed, how secure are we today? I for sure, do not feel any safer. The situation in our neighbourhood has deteriorated even further. As a citizen, I exercise my voting right and remain vigilant of my surrounding. I just hope our nodal agencies become more vigilant as well,our politicians start being more accountable and our government start acting strong. I don't want to take refuge behind the silhouette of the spirit of Mumbai. All my respect goes to the brave NSG commandos and police officers who laid their lives so that the rest of us can live in peace.

Nuptial Harmonica !!

It seems nuptial chords are in the air these days. We keep getting invitations day in and day out from near and far ones for their marriage. A very close friend of mine is getting married on 29t Nov and my cousin is seriously hunting for a prospective bride. At times, and these days most of the times, I find myself amidst these soon and hopefully soon categories. But where do I fit in? I've got no answers to this. My parents would obviously wait for another couple of years, thanks to my higher studies. I keep questioning this, In-laws meet in-laws policy. I mean, how does a guy marry someone his parents like without he himself knowing the girl completely and liking her? Seems and sounds preposterous, but that's the way things are. Au Contraire, I think arranged marriages are more successful. Last week, on a lazy day off, I happened to watch "Whats Your Rashee". The movie helped me kill my time but kindled this thought in me as to what's going to be my criteria for selecting a bride. I do not have a definite answer as yet. But I shall definitely have one pretty soon.

It's in the Air

It's in the Air. I do not know. But somewhere something, I do get a feeling that things are happenning and they are happenning for the better. So there goes my life. Office really sucks these days with most of my friends planning to move out. I am in the midst of my B school applications and hopefully should bag in a few admits..I guess one of the last thing an idiot like me can get. I took a day off today for some work but believe me, being at home without internet is really bad. Not that am a chataholic but it gives me a comfort of having too much of knowledge at my disposal. Now that the fourth light on my router has blinked, I am logged on to my laptop and on this blog. I guess, I spend a lot too much time with my laptop. Atleast, am sure that if I had a gf, she would have cursed my laptop for seeking all the attention that she deserved. So there...it is almost 7 and with the Shabarimala season having just started, I need to follow the routine of taking bath twice a day and perform the pooja at home. Have got an added responsibility these days of cooking food. A blessing in disguise I guess. Who knows if I end up being a cook five years down the line. I would mind the least if it pays me well...Life's fine otherwise with hell lot of things to keep me busy..but somewhere there is a link missing which is not helping my cause. For, it does not allow me to see it in entirety. I think, I will soon find this missing link. It should be somewhere..and am sure, it's in the Air...

Happily Independent or Independently Happy ?

As the car came to a steady halt just as the signal turned red, I peeked out of the window. Independence Day was fast approaching and as usual there was this “something special so to say” feeling in the air. To say the least, what I saw completely astounded me.  A street kid was running haplessly from car to car, trying to sell the Independence day flags. He wore a deserted look and seemed as if he had not seen water for many days. The streets of Mumbai greet you with many such faces. We all know it is a huge trafficking racket that’s at play but no one has yet bothered to look into it. Begging has become a multi crore industry. Whatever it be, it is that child’s life that’s at stake. As I shifted my attention to a huge hoarding on the other side of the road, I glanced upon some political statements. The banner read that the Government is responsible for the price rise. I pitied myself for the ignorance our politicians oozed. Certainly the government is not responsible for deficient monsoon. I agree that it can definitely control illegal stocking of food but certainly not be willing to raise the price of dal to Rs 100 per kg. 62 years after Independence this is what greets me. Way to Go !! We still haven’t matured enough to look beyond our petty issues and think of the well being of our nation as a whole. Things are certainly improving but the growth would be accelerated if the people who have public’s faith , speak the right language. To me, I always believe in what Gandhiji said, “ Be the change you wish to See”. There cannot be a better situation to apply this. The signal has just turned green and my journey continues.

Thought- Less Thought Over

It has been quite some days now, in fact weeks. I am yet to grope with the stark reality that my life as of today is without any purpose. I am shockingly surprised but equally astonished to never have this thought run through my benumbed mind even once. It finally took me a couple of books and quite some introspection to realize the gravity of the problem. If I would be asked this question as to what would I be doing 10 years down the line, I would not have any clear answer. Nor do I know why I am doing what I am doing. It hardly takes some time to realize that I have no clear-cut purpose chalked out.

But isn’t it the way most of us live? I mean who bothers about all these supposedly pseudo spiritual stuff. But then, I guess, it is better to have some sense extracted out of life rather than living in our own microcosm. For the next few days, maybe weeks or months, I would be pre occupied with this thought. For I know, it is something that I need an answer to. 

Pre Budget Blues

Well. the Union Budget is just a few hours away and the blues have already started setting in. Maybe there is a plethora of expectations that is causing unnecessary fluctuations in the anxiety. Here’s my budget wish list.

• The Direct Tax rate should be left untouched and the tax exemption limit under section 80c should be increased.

This would put more money in the pockets of people and thus spending would increase. This would also lead to an increase in demand that would indirectly start reviving certain sectors such as FMCG. I do not foresee a tremendous rise in the demand for housing merely on the basis of increase in exemption.

• Indirect Taxes such as FBT should be removed completely and taxes such as STT should be reduced.

I say FBT should be removed is because this forms quite a substantial chunk of the income of middle class in the private sector. Quite an important part of the salary these days is constituted by FBT and hence should be removed. This would again help revive demand. I still say STT should not be removed completely is because the profits made through markets earn enough to justify at least some tax. I agree that this might affect the volume of transactions but given that the profits that is earned, a lower STT would do a world of good. Goods and Service Tax should be introduced as soon as possible to reduce the existing complexity in the tax structure and to ensure proper and smoother tax implementation.

• Increased spending in Infrastructure and Transport

The percentage of GDP spent on these sectors should be increased substantially. This would be one of the main driving factors of the economy in the years to come. There are existing projects such as The Golden Quad project that needs to be accelerated. Every km of road built in rural areas brings with it increased accessibility, shorter routes, shorter routes, better employment and new investments.

• No Increase in existing public spending plans other than increase in the Rural, Health and Education sector.

These are the main drivers of a demographically rich country such as ours. We need to have better density of well equipped hospitals and capable doctors. We also need to have more institutions of higher and quality educations and should encourage good foreign universities to set up international campuses in India. This would help prevent brain drain.

• Increased spending in Defense as perceived appropriate.

There should be increase in spending in this sector on a need basis. The emphasis should be primarily on indigenous development and research.

• Ways to earn revenues and cut deficits

This is the major concern plaguing the economy currently. To plug this gap, I believe rather than increasing the cess or other taxes, the leaks in the system should be plugged. All the benefits do not trickle down the the needy in public programmes such as NREGA and others. If everyone at every stage is held accountable to whatever he or she does and if it is ensured that benefits are made available to the needy then these programmes shall be much more effective and this shall showing up as improvements in the other sectors of the economy. This albeit an indirect way to plug the double digit deficit, is much more efficient than raising any of the direct or indirect taxes.

Waiting for the Bday tomorrow !!