Loud n clear message from Kashmir...!

The recent Kashmir election results is a shot in the arm for India in view of the fact that the next administration in the US is interested in mediating a deal on Kashmir between India and Pakistan, which India is not keen on.The recently conducted election has proved that the people of Kashmir in general have nothing against India, as pro-Pakistani elements want the world to believe.The people of Kashmir are clearly aware that their future lies with India,not with the separatists.

let's respect the martyr's.!!!

Recent remarks of the Union minority affairs minister,A.R.Antulay,on the killing of ATS chief Hemant Karkare by terrorists.The argument advanced by the minister is grossly incorrect.It is unfortunate that a Union minister should raise doubts when the entire nation is convinced about Pakistan’s culpability in the gory Mumbai episode.The responsibility of the Union Cabinet is joint and several.Unless Mr Antulay reverses his stand and apologises,or removed from the Cabinet,it is implied that the entire Cabinet is jointly responsible for his observation.

Delay game..............

The US has taken a U-turn with regard to terrorists being handed over to India.The American government was pressuring Pakistan to hand over the terrorists involved in the Mumbai attacks to India but now they a supporting Pakistan in trying the culprits in Pakistan itself.It is a foregone conclusion that a trial on their soil will be an eyewash and the involved terrorists will probably be acquitted.The Indian government will go on asking for the extraction of the culprits,but it will never happen.In the mean time the elections will come and all that happened on 26/11 will be forgotten and the political bigwigs will plunge into the elections,which is what Pakistan is waiting for.

National Investigating Agency....!!!

Now that the National Investigating Agency would be formed, the government must ensure it's proper functioning. The agency must be made an elite one,so that it stands out in comparison with other investigating agencies and gets the respect that is due to it.It must have appropriate authority and infrastructure.The composition of the NIA must be thought through and only the best in the business should find a place in it.

Pakistan needs to act real fast....!!!

The world is a playground for Pakistani terrorists.Everyone knows that the terrorists are made,not born,on Pakistani soil.They terrorise and spread terror not only in their neighbouring countries but are slowly and steadily trying to expand their network to terrorise the whole world.The latest victims were the Mumbaikars.Why cannot international community label Pakistan a terrorist country?I hope the global community will find some solution to this terror,which is costing lives worldwide.
It is a matter of concern that in spite of mounting pressure from all quarters, especially the US and the UK, Pakistan continues to deny its responsibility for rooting out the terrorist infrastructure from its territory.As long as this approach takes,India may be forced to adopt an aggressive plan to deal with the situation. Even the possibility of a war cannot be ruled out.There is a limit to everything. Pakistan must now act quickly and effectively.

Time for Action..........!!!

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s apology to the people for being unable to prevent the terrorist attack on Mumbai,though genuine and straight from the heart,does not soothe aching souls and will do precious little to assuage the feelings of those who have lost kith and kin in the terrorist strike Public memory might be short,and the casualties suffered might soon be forgotten,but leaders like the Prime Minister should see to it that these unwelcome incursions from across the border are ended once and for all.Pakistan’s harbouring of terrorists and their arming and training them can no longer be taken lightly for even India’s legendary patience has run out. An apology is fine,but what is needed is action that will break the back of all terrorist organisations in the world.

Kudos Media.............!!!

It is surprising that the politicians are blaming TV channels for having shown the terrorist attack live. If at all the channels have done any good things,it is this. They should be congratulated for showing the general public everything.At least now people know about terrorist acts and how should they behave if caught in such a situation. Not only that,the lapses on the part of the Navy and Coast Guard were brought to light.The politicians were exposed. That is why they are angry and thinking of putting restrictions on tv coverage of such events.The NSG personnel were honoured.So far they were unknown heroes.All the deficiencies were shown live. The politicians are unhappy because they could not bluff the people with their lies.
At the same time Media needs some corrections...........The media, specially the electronic media,has come in for a lot of flak for their overenthusiastic coverage of the terrorist attack in Mumbai.In the race for "breaking news",they overlooked the basic rules of disaster coverage.It is also said that at times they compromised our security personnel.The media urgently needs some self-regulating guidelines for disaster coverage.

Politics......the game of Scoundrels...........!!!

The real terrorists in India are the corrupt and communal politicians who divide people in the name of religion/caste/linguistic issues.Instead of punishing these politicians,the government provides police/commando protection to these politicians. If there was unity among Indians,the terrorist across the border would have not dared kill a single Indian.It is also very strange that politicians in India never get killed in bomb blasts and terror attacks.In India the law enforcement agencies collude with communal forces.

Please strengthen the Indian Defence Forces......!!!

With Islamabad’s refusal to part with the "kingpins" of the terror outfits,military action cannot be ruled out.In such a situation,we need to strengthen our armed forces,under a single adviser to the government on all military matters with total accountability.At least now our political leaders should understand that such a system is imperative to evolve joint combat doctrines and to maintain harmony between the Army,Navy and Air Force,along with other paramilitary forces.
The 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks have shown that only highly motivated men in uniform would be able to save us from the enemy.As such,not removing pinpricks introduced so maliciously in the Sixth Pay Commission would only result in frustration growing among defence personnel.The fallout of the working relationship between the armed forces and paramilitary destabilised by the anomalies in the pay panel report is already evident in our operational efficiency.

Let's learn to honour our Martyrs.......................!!!

The supreme sacrifices made by our brave policemen and NSG personnel while battling terrorists has shown that our securitymen are ready to sacrifice their lives for the safety of our great nation. In fact, Mumbai’s policemen held the fort till Army, the naval commandos and the NSG arrived. India lost some of its bravest officers like Hemant Karkare, Ashok Kamte, Vijay Saleskar and Major Unnikrishanan. A grateful nation mourns these brave soldiers of peace.
A major reason why our security personnel are becoming alienated is the indifference towards their contribution to protecting the nation.What should the defenders of our security and borders infer if one state government rewards a shooter for winning the Olympic gold medal with crores of rupees and another government pays Rs 5 lakhs to the family of a police officer who sacrificed his life to save civilians in the Mumbai terror attack?

Cricket Diplomacy...........!!!

Sports minister M.S. Gill’s statement on the Indian cricket team’s scheduled tour of Pakistan in January makes the government’s thinking clear."Is it possible for one team to arrive in Mumbai and indulge in mass murder, and have another team go and play cricket in the winter afternoon sun at Lahore"? The time cannot be conducive for the use of cricket diplomacy to mend fences with Pakistan when the nation is still boiling over the terrorist attack on Mumbai by perpetrators from across the border.However valid the argument that sports and politics should not mix,the logic is defeated by the fact that no normal sport is possible in such abnormal times.Cricket,which has often played out its role as a confidence-building measure between neighbours,must take a back seat for the time being,while India wages its rightful war against acts of terror clearly carried out on its soil by people of other nationalities.................&................we must not forget that cricket,at all times,must be subservient to the national interest.

Lesson from the Election results........!!!

"Development is the key to success"
Development rules,the elections in five states, BJP winning two and Congress winning three seats,it has become clearer that people are looking at development aspects rather than rhetoric.The voters have grown wiser and would be wiser in the general elections.The Assembly elections are a lesson for the political parties that waste the public’s money on unworthy causes and don’t pay attention to the basic necessities of the people.

Let's act tough..........!!!

The token arrests effected by the Pakistani authorities are far from convincing. What is the point of displaying goodwill gestures periodically to a country that fails to respond despite all evidence? If Pakistan acts only after being warned by the US, there is no point wasting time drafting bilateral treaties that remain only on paper. A country kneeling before the IMF for funds needs to be economically attacked and starved into a state that attracts pity. Enormous international pressure should be applied politically, economically and diplomatically so that Pakistan discovers issues of greater priority than protecting Masood Azhar and Dawood Ibrahim.

Copy cat needs help....................!!!

Pakistan, as of now,is a failed State.However much the Pakistanis might like to call their government democratic,we are tempted to call it "civil" as governance there has swung between civilian and military.Their mindset is to follow whatever India does,whether it’s exploding nuclear devices,launching missiles or international diplomatic manoeuvres.All is not well with their government having to do a tightrope-walk between the US and India.With the danger of their nuclear arsenal falling into the wrong hands,they need international assistance to attain stability.This is good for India,and for other nations.Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, in all his interviews,tends to homogenise terrorism in South Asia,thereby implying that both India and Pakistan are on the same side.His statement blaming "non-state" actors indirectly reveals either Pakistan’s incapability to rein in these elements,or its covert support to them.Pakistan cannot be given a clean chit just because it too was affected by bomb blasts in recent times.There is no parity between India and Pakistan vis-à-vis terrorism,and Pakistan must realise this.

Breather to pronounced terrorists.....................!!!

The Indian government has not yet mustered enough courage to execute Afzal Guru, who was convicted by the Supreme Court in the Parliament attack case. The court case against Abu Salem drags on eternally. So one is not sure what the government would do with the terrorists operating from Pakistan even if their government agreed to send them here.

Let's stand united against Terrorism.............!!!

The 9/11 terror attacks on the US proved that no country could ever claim that it is totally "immunised" against the threats of terrorism. The might of a nation is in its ability to find new ways to overcome trauma. Tackling a problem head-on and arriving at a solution to insulate oneself against such dangers will lead to correction of all anomalies that could otherwise compromise the safety of the nation and its citizens. We need to stand up against these terror merchants in unison. Let the message be loud and clear: Fear is definitely not the key.

Can We............?

Politicians, of late,have become a detested lot.They have only themselves to blame for this.However,it is unfortunate that they are a "necessary evil" in a democracy.It is also unfortunate that even when proven to be corrupt,they come back to rule us,election after election.This is a travesty of our democracy.These self-serving politicians have been the main cause for our quality of our life being substandard compared to that of people of many other countries.Our political system needs overhauling.

Reshuffle...........an Eyewash..........!!!

The present political reshuffle is nothing but a charade and a damage control exercise. Political leaders of all hues have failed us miserably and misused the trust placed in them.As a class they have enriched themselves and set in motion debasing practices of corruption and nepotism.Archaic laws are retained, implementation is selective,chronic delays are the norm,and the political masters lead ostentatious lives while large numbers live in sub-human conditions.There is an absence of accountability in the bureaucracy.A mechanism to conform to the people’s mandate is the need of the hour. We need to seek and find leaders of quality who can deliver the goods and regain lost ground.
Kiran Bedi,in one of the interviews has correctly identified the reasons for the collective paralysis of the police department,which is enslaved by the politicians. The security provided,at public cost to eminently undeserving politicians,some with criminal backgrounds and court cases pending against them, is an example of the gross misuse of the security apparatus.

Please respect our Martyrs............!!!

Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan was killed in the recent Taj Mahal Hotel combat against terrorists in Mumbai. The crass behaviour of politicians towards our martyrs is condemnable. Kerala chief minister V.S. Achuthanandan said that "If it had not been (Major) Sandeep’s house, not even a dog would have visited the house" after facing stiff opposition from Sandeep’s father from entering into their house. The pity is that Mr Achuthanandan is allowed to continue in spite of making derogatory remarks.

Indian call to International Community...............!!!

The US won’t give permission to India to take any "punitive action" against Pakistan,and the "loyal" Indian government will also not act without US permission. This is the helplessness of India,for which the government’s loose,soft and ineffective foreign policy and lack of political will are responsible.India misses the powerful leadership of people like Indira Gandhi and Sardar Patel.Narendra Modi is a ray of hope. Enough is enough.It is high time that India teaches Pakistan a lesson.It is the obligation of the international community to tackle terror.The duplicity of the Pakistan President,Asif Ali Zardari,couldn’t have been more evident than in the present context.He has backtracked on promises made after expressing concern over the Mumbai massacre. He refuses to hand over fugitives after the terror attack.Now reports suggest that Pakistan may ask India to hand over former deputy Prime Minister L.K.Advani and Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray, among others,if India continues to insist on getting the terror suspects from Pakistan.These evasive actions appear to be akin to an admission that our neighbour is indeed harbouring the fugitives.

Corruption is deep rooted......!!!

I was shocked to learn that an IAS officer, Subhrendu Bhattacharya, was taken back into service even after disappearing without information for almost a decade. If the government is so liberal towards its employees, how can it ever expect to eradicate corruption in the system? It’s time the government learnt something from the private sector.

Stringent action required......!!!

The statement by the sports minister M.S.Gill,and I quote.... "Is it possible for one team to arrive in Mumbai and indulge in mass murder,and have another team go and play cricket in the winter afternoon sun at Lahore" unquote, echoed the common man’s thinking.The BCCI must stop all activity with Pakistan till they stand with the people of India and hand over the terrorists as demanded by India.

Voting for PEACE................!!!

The huge voter turnout shows that the people of the Kashmir Valley are fed up with insurgency and want peace to return.Elsewhere in the state,the commitment of the six polling staff and the enthusiasm of the six registered voters in Thugsey Gompa,who braved temperatures of -20 Celsius, is commendable.The nation salutes them.The election has been absolutely free and fair.When the new state government is formed, it must be mindful of the trust of the people and respect their disapproval of terrorism and insurgency.
Whatever the outcome of the polls in J&K, the electorate has ignored the call of the separatists to boycott elections. The 64 per cent (Huge 64% turnout on Kashmir Day 1)polling has shown that separatist leaders have no base and should not be given undue importance.The marked increase in voter turnout shows that,like in the case of militancy in Punjab in the past,the people are fed up with empty rhetoric and yearn for development.Kashmiris,who have taken the bus ride across the LoC must have convinced them that they are better off than their relatives in PoK.

A rogue state.............!!!

it is preposterous that many social scientists plead for the bailing out of Pakistan. After all, the country is not facing a natural disaster. Its economic meltdown is self-inflicted as it insisted on acquiring nuclear weapons and let Islamist terrorism flourish. Ever since its inception in 1947, Pakistan chose to subsist on foreign handouts. It never bothered to learn the art of earning its living through strategic planning, economic reforms and investment in higher education. Instead of propping up Pakistan time and again, is it not time the West encouraged Islamabad to cut its defence spending on nuclear technology, missile development and proxy wars, and is taught to live within its means?

Media.....Media.....Media....................!!!

I have not seen a more negligent action by the media in my life! While the anti-terror commando actions were going on, the media was televising it "live", in real-time, so that the terrorists holed up inside Nariman House, or their handlers, could see it all on their monitors and give suitable instructions to evade the trap laid for them, or to kill the commandos. Bravo!! I never knew that Indian journos were so irresponsible. Who benefits from such journalism? God save the commandos — they don’t need enemies if they have such brainless friends.

Shaheedon ka samman..............!!!

Hats off to the brave policemen and soldiers who laid down their lives to save innocent men, women and children taken hostage by the shameless terrorists. Our politicians will hardly care for these great martyrs after a few weeks. They will announce cash compensation which may not reach the families of these martyrs. Through your columns, I earnestly appeal to the media to set up a martyrs’ fund which should be headed by a responsible individual, such as Ms Kiran Bedi, former President Abdul Kalam, and Mr Julio Ribeiro. Donations should be called for from the entire nation. From this fund, generous amounts should be sent to the family of the martyrs and be used for the education of their children. We salute our men in uniform.

Who will hold up a mirror to the media?

They say the media holds up a mirror to society. If so, then this must be most true of the electronic media which, unlike the print media, is so instantaneous in their response and presentation that there is no time for sober consideration and adjustment. But that also means that many weaknesses of our society may well be not just reflected in but even reinforced and sometimes worsened by the media. This thought came while watching television coverage of the horrifying terrorist attacks in Mumbai last week.

There is no point repeating all the clichés. In any case, even the commonly used words — shock, fury, anguish, anxiety — do not suffice to describe all the emotions that most of us have been through while watching the horrific events in Mumbai. But while people across the country were glued to television sets to find out what was happening as the grim and tragic drama unfolded, the role of newscasters inevitably also came under scrutiny. And sadly, the electronic media too has been found wanting on this occasion.

The most shocking aspect may have been the fact that so many news channels persisted in the urge to be sensational and to come with scoops over other channels, over the most elementary sense of responsibility in coverage. It should be obvious to the meanest intelligence that if the enemy — in this case a handful of highly-armed terrorists — is provided with any information during an encounter, it is bound to give them an advantage and make the task of the authorities much more difficult. This is clearly even more the case in prolonged operations in urban locations when only the official side is hampered by the need to prevent civilian casualties.

This means that those covering such actions must be particularly careful not to provide any information that could be relayed back to terrorists and provide them with any advantage. Yet, during the extremely sensitive and fraught military-style operations in the three Mumbai locations, competitive journalism obviously trumped such considerations, even though it was suspected that the terrorists had satellite phones and could, therefore, access and use information that was being relayed on television.

At least one television channel openly bragged about the special information it had obtained from members of the forces brought in for the rescue operation. Some provided detailed descriptions of the ongoing anti-terror operations, down to details such as which rooms and which floors of specific hotels the National Security Guard commandos would enter.

Most of the channels kept their cameras directed at the areas identified as “trouble spots” or areas where the militants were suspected to be hiding. And every time there was some movement on the part of the commandos, or even the police outside, the newspersons would be rushing to train their cameras on such movement and speculate on what it was for.

We can only guess how much help this provided to the militants. But the prolonged nature of the operations in all three locations suggests that such media hyperactivity certainly could not have helped the brave men who were risking their lives in a very complex and difficult operation against deadly enemies.

On several occasions, jostling and confusion among the crowd of assembled journalists created such commotion that police had to step in to control them. At times when they were asked to step back behind cordons for their own protection as the possibility of crossfire grew, or to allow the military action to proceed, there was resistance and several tried to sneak back when they thought they could get away with it.

And then, once again because of the continuous presence of the cameras, we were treated to the sorry spectacle of complete lack of sensitivity of the TV journalists when they rushed to surround and interrogate the exhausted and traumatised survivors as they were brought out from the hotel buildings.

Even when they begged for restraint and respect, microphones kept getting shoved in front of their faces and questions poured down on them, until finally they could manage to push their way through the melee of journalists into waiting vehicles. Those who had suffered personal tragedy, losing family members or close friends and themselves still in shock, were not spared media scrutiny as the cameras panned in on their tears and watched their agony.

Is this the sign of media gone crazy, an explosion of competitive journalism that is so obsessed with sensationalism and being the first or the most able to come out with certain news that it has lost sight of essential humanity? Or is it that we as a society are now so degraded that even something as ghastly, tragic and horrifying as these incidents of terror and their awful personal aftermath for the victims can be treated like a TV reality show?

It is common in such situations to call for introspection. But maybe introspection is no longer enough, especially if there is no subsequent change in behaviour. Since the prolonged encounters finally ended, we have had to suffer the main presenters, especially on the English language channels, hold forth pompously and at length on the need to change many things in polity, society and the nature of governance. “Enough is enough!” they announced, and said that citizens would not tolerate any more.

Unfortunately, none of them recognised any problems with the media’s own behaviour, or acknowledged that there was any need to change. Is it possible for society to now hold up a mirror for the media?

Big terror Show...............!!!

Ten determined and well trained terrorists were able to hold 18 million people in the city to ransom, and not even the entire power of the Indian State, including the NSG, were able to save many of the hostages that the terrorists took. It is still a mystery why the terrorists did it though there are hints that Pakistan may be trying to bring India to its knees by terrifying people in the financial capital. We’ll be getting more such terror strikes unless the government has a crack commando force 24x7 in Mumbai and all major cities.

Financially it will mean a huge cost but in relation to an unguarded city it is nothing. What has happened to the Coast Guard which used to be so very active during the smuggling days? We never hear of them any more. I would like to make some positive suggestions to the impotent powers that be!

* Our intelligence network needs to be beefed up. The Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) has got to have more personnel with better pay.
* Does the coast guard have enough boats and men? Today, protecting our land borders is second priority compared to installing a mechanism that will stop terrorism before it begins. For this we need a Homeland Security Agency headed by the most experienced military man we have. It must be funded and made operational on a top-priority basis.
* Our police officers, who go into terror confrontation, need the kind of bullet-proof amour that the NSG has, along with updated AK-47s.
* Important as the above, we must have streamlined Hospital emergency services. Some of the scenes we saw on TV about the neglect of victims were shocking.
* Most important we need a team of trained hostage negotiators. There was no attempt at negotiations with the terrorists, neither through loud speakers nor through the public address system of the Taj Mahal Hotel.
* I don’t see much ideation on handling terrorism. Why don’t we join a worldwide terror brainstorm?
* Why has the US not had any attack after 9/11? It has a shoreline like ours, with the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans on either side. It has a porous border with Mexico. So how did they manage not to have another strike? Why should we re-invent the wheel when other countries have fool-proof anti-terrorist systems? Top RAW officers could exchange views with Israel for instance, which is operating a crack anti-terrorist system.
* In all major hotels and public places we must have anti-terrorist drills like the fire drills. We are fully unprepared for internal terror attacks by groups who feel the State has wronged them... and can’t even cope with local goondas!
* Another pragmatic suggestion: I think surely some creative scientist could invent a sleeping gas which could be lobbed into hiding places of terrorists, like tear gas. Isn’t it amazing that man can travel to the moon, create an artificial heart and yet not invent sleeping gas?

The city was unprepared. It only knew about bomb attacks. It has never known an attack with guns spraying people with bullets. Shooting is more personal that bombing. Shooting creates fear psychosis and causes panic, even paralysis. This was for the first time that terror was brought into our living rooms in real time. Like Operation Desert Storm was the first TV war for the US, this attack has brought a highly dramatic, blood and gore event into our homes through television. But I hope that with strong preventive measures we will never again see another Terrorist Reality Show.

Let's Stratergise our Approach......!!!

The counter-terrorism operations in Mumbai have now been successfully completed.But this success came at a heavy cost, both in terms of loss of precious lives and destruction of infrastructure. The real loss though is the image of our country.However, people across the nation want answers to important questions, including whether we have a strategy for tackling terrorism. This terrorist attack, in a long series of such attacks at different places, is the worst the country has faced in terms of any parameter.

The leadership appears to have such a myopic outlook that its continues to view terrorism as a law and order problem, when it is actually a form of warfare.

Why are we so helpless and devoid of imagination? The reason is that we have been unable to get our act together and we are dealing with this major menace in a fractured and uncoordinated manner. I am afraid this will not do. The overwhelming need is to formulate a comprehensive plan to deal effectively with terrorism.So far, neither the political leadership, nor the Opposition parties, nor even the emergency core group or concerned bureaucrats have even hinted at a discernable plan for fighting terrorism. All the government is talking about is further strengthening laws, which is just one small aspect of the totality of actions that need to be taken.

So, what do we do? I propose a four-pronged approach.............
Firstly and most importantly, it is imperative to set up a unified command, which is fully autonomous and headed by only one person or entity.

Secondly, the key to unravelling terrorists and their nefarious activities is a very high level of relevant and actionable intelligence, which would enable the police and other security forces to nab the terrorists before they commit dastardly acts. This needs a high degree of expertise; technical back-up; dedicated and fearless individuals, who can penetrate terrorist cells; funding; sharing of information as it is available; complete independence of action; no interference by political leaders and bureaucrats with their own agendas; and many other related actions.

Thirdly, immediate strengthening of the police forces in all states, as well as the Central police forces.

Lastly, there is a need for our political leadership neither to appease any community or group, nor to spread the ideology of hate, particularly through inflaming religious sentiments and class and caste distinctions. This squarely falls in the realm of the government and the political parties.

None of these are unachievable, provided there is a will, centralised authority, accountability and an understanding of the magnitude of the task.

Give youngsters more chance.......!!!

There is no doubt that Sachin Tendulkar is a legend in the world of cricket. There was a time when his presence created panic in the opposition.But this is no longer true. The youngsters have taken command of the Indian team. One match failure should not be a question mark on Sachin’s inclusion in the team, but younger players are doing well and the selectors should give senior players like Sachin a rest so they can concentrate on Test cricket, while the young players should be given more opportunities to play ODIs.

Increased Interest rates........!!!

As a matter of abundant precaution, senior citizens have put their hard-earned savings in Post Office schemes and bank deposits — mostly in monthly income schemes and senior citizen savings schemes — at eight and nine per cent interest. Currently all banks are offering senior citizens almost 11.25 per cent annual interest on deposits. Banks say that to avail the higher interest rate, one must first close the original deposit, incurring a penalty, and then open a new account. Instead of going through all these procedures, the banks should offer the higher rate of interest for the remaining period of the deposits. This will not only eliminate unnecessary paperwork, but also earn the goodwill of customers. The banks have the power to take the initiative. Will they be gracious and magnanimous in their action?

Don’t doubt the army

Though fundamentalism in Hindu society is a later development than in Muslim and Christian societies, now India has a plethora of extremist Hindu organisations like Abhinav Bharat, RSS, VHP and Bajrang Dal. For them violence is a means to an end. The rise of Hindu fundamentalism will result in the total breakdown of our security. What we have seen in Malegaon on September 29 may be a harbinger of fragmentation. The penetration of such "radical religious political parties" into our security forces is a nightmare. However, the recently revealed involvement of Lt. Col Purohit along with a few retired officers should be treated as a mere aberration. The Indian Army is very much apolitical, secular and, above all, highly professional. Let us not overplay this development to defame the "world's best Army". Our Army has its own in-built mechanism to check against rogue elements.

Politics.................just another Profession...!!!

The politics of principles, ideology, and perception has faded into lore. Politics today has acquired a sinister aura and political opponents are treated like arch enemies. Politicians switch political affiliations day in and day out. After his expulsion from the Congress, Natwar Singh joined the BSP in the hope that its rising graph would bring him good fortune. But here he made a mistake and, before he knew what was happening, he was dropped. Now Natwar Singh has knocked at the door of the BJP, which has become a sanctuary for discarded and disgruntled Congress politicians. How will Natwar Singh now justify joining the BJP? Indian politicians are mercenary, bereft of ideology or perception. They have simply adopted politics as a profession and, like any other professional, they want to be in the reckoning.

Kudos to Navy and let's help Somalia.

The sailors and officers manning the Indian Navy’s warship INS Tabar deserve praise for destroying a pirate mother-ship.The Somalian pirates have been hijacking scores of ships over the years and demanding astronomical sums as ransom. However, it should not be forgotten that war-ravaged Somalia suffers unimaginable poverty. Hence, while initiating joint action to put an end to piracy, it is essential that the international community join hands to help improve the lives of the people of Somalia.

DISHONOURING SAFFRON ROBE

The saffron robe symbolises purity and renunciation. It is unfortunate that a sadhvi and a self-styled Shankaracharya, Dayanand Pandey, have had to be arrested for their alleged role in Malegaon bomb blasts. It is galling that such people are still sought to be held in veneration by some despite strong suggestion of their involvement. Ironically, Pandey was given the honorific title of Dharmaguru, when his actions were totally antithetical to dharma. Hopefully, ordinary people will soon come to distinguish between the genuine article from the fake. Wearing a saffron robe alone does not make one pure and spiritual.

Let's ensure defeat of poll turncoats........!!!

Rebel BJP MP joins Congress,shows that the so-called secular and communal political parties are all involved in vote-bank politics. Politicians change their colours as chameleons do. The MP in question has alleged that tickets were sold in Rajasthan by the BJP, but in this respect the same allegation was made by a senior Congress party leader about her party. Political parties must be stopped from misleading voters. The only way is to see that political turncoats are defeated in elections. It is disappointing to witness the blurring of lines between communal and secular politicians.

sale of Poll Tkts........!!!

Ticket gate must be tackled by parties...............The practice of sale of tickets for Assembly and Parliament seats in the bigger parties like Congress and BJP ignores the merit of candidates. A large number of ticket aspirants take a plunge into politics not for public service but for selfish gains. If the cash-for-tickets scam is not checked, our legislatures will come to be packed with self-seekers and criminals.

Chandrayaan........!

Like any of the 125 crore other Indians, my emotions knew no bounds when I came to know that the Indian tricolour successfully found a place on the surface of the moon at 20.31 hours on November 14. For this historical and gorgeous success, I congratulate the genius of ISRO chief G. Madhavan Nair and his entire team from the bottom of my heart. A great plus point of this successful mission is that it was carried out with the minimum expenditure.

Dada's Duck tale...........!!!

Heartiest congratulations to the Indian cricket team for their epic win against world champions Australia,India crush Oz to win series 2-0.Every cricket lover in India is overjoyed that Team India has given proof of its status as a dominant force in world cricket by thrashing Australia by 172 runs in final Test to regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. This win is made more remarkable by the fact that it is the first time in seven years that India has beaten Australia in a Test series. Moreover, Sourav Ganguly, the most successful Indian cricket captain, played his last Test here against Australia which culminated in a memorable victory. Keep it up Team India.
Sunday’s victory in the final Test was indeed historic. The crowd showed its respect to Sourav Ganguly with a standing ovation and even the Australian team was graceful enough to pay homage to their rival. But no one expected that the Bengal Tiger would end his career with a duck. Jason Krejza mercilessly took Ganguly’s wicket for zero. But by this we cannot judge his service and contribution to the country and the game of cricket for 13 memorable years. Though it was a duck, it was a golden duck on Dada’s way out.
In many ways, the Test series against Australia in Nagpur was perfect for India. In the captaincy of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and as a team, India have managed the generation transition well. There was a time when this used to be the hallmark of Australia. Had the occasion been different, the day would have belonged entirely to Team India and not any individual. But it actually turned out to be Sourav Ganguly’s day.

American's have evolved.......!!!

America proves a major point by electing Barack Hussein Obama its next President.........."A democracy must be colour blind and function above religion". One can certainly hope that the black American President with a Muslim father will rise to meet the expectation of millions in America and around the world. Some five decades ago, Martin Luther King had a dream. It has now come true. India seems to have a point to prove when it comes to rising above religion.Barack Obama has won the battle.This result undoubtedly contain the defining moment of modern America’s political evolution.The significance of Mr Obama’s victory for African-Americans,oppressed minorities all over the world, is immeasurable.The issue of Mr Obama’s race is foremost on everybody’s mind as the world and America rejoice that US voters have perhaps, cleared, the greatest hurdle of racial discrimination and carried forward the battle that was started by Rosa Parks, who refused to vacate her bus seat for a white man, and Dr Martin Luther King, to put, in the ironically-named White House, America’s first African-American President.

Americans defeated racism, can we transcend casteism from the fare face of our society?

The obvious comparison with Indian politics is the issue of caste. Caste and race are similar (in that they reflect lower status, hierarchy and discrimination) although not synonymous, in that race is genetic, while caste is based on social hierarchy. The debate on caste and race is multifaceted, but the most important distinction between the two is that while it may well be accepted that Mr Obama managed to transcend race, while still symbolising victory of the civil rights movement, can and will an Indian politician be able to transcend caste? Can identity politics in India rise above electoral compulsions, and become truly inclusive of national concerns? If indeed the miracle happens, can our democracy sustain it without allowing inclusiveness to fail at the altar of divisive and competitive politics? These are compelling questions before our democratic polity today.........

Just a Way of life.......

The way a country’s administration is run has vital bearing on its citizens. It is a test of good or bad governance. Revealing how the common man is plagued by corruption, right under the nose of the Central government, in October 2008, 15 officials of the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) were arrested on charges of bribery and extortion. These arrests were made after a month-long sting operation. It appears that the accused had been forcibly collecting sums up to Rs 30,000 as "protection money" on a monthly basis from shopkeepers.
In a positive new trend, common people are now playing a more active role in conducting sting operations. One such operation was conducted by a property dealer last year. More than 100 traffic personnel (in 30 different areas in the Capital) were caught on camera accepting bribes from Blueline bus operators. A vigilance branch probe into the sting operation established their identities and led to the suspension of 98 policemen: 11 sub-inspectors, 11 assistant sub-inspectors, 10 head-constables and 66 constables.
The reason behind the rise in "petty" corruption is the wide range of powers given to petty enforcement functionaries. At least in the national capital and other big towns there is a pro-active media that raises issues of petty corruption. The farther a place is from the seat of power, the more difficult it is to tackle this problem. In fact, corruption has become a happy compromise over compliance of outdated regulations.
This year, Transparency International (TI) has placed India two points lower on the Corruption Perception Index compared to its position in 2007. The only saving grace is that compared to its neighbours, India seems to be doing well. Pakistan, for instance, is at the 140th position compared to India’s 74th. Nepal and Sri Lanka are ranked 135 and 96 respectively. China is ranked one place above India.
A study by TI and the Centre for Media Studies found that three-fourth of citizens think that the level of corruption in public services has been going up. They believe that there is no active and sustained civil society movement. And that most efforts are sporadic, localised and short-lived and never quite acquire the character of a larger movement.
The main causes of corruption are lack of transparency and accountability in the system, absence of an effective corruption reporting mechanism and lack of honesty in government officials. People feel that acceptance of corruption has become a way of life, custom and culture. Even if a person is caught taking bribe, it takes years to punish him judicially.
To end corruption, the government should outsource services wherever possible. Public service departments cannot cope with all the demands of India’s large population, especially in the field of education and health. In this scenario, departments should purchase outputs instead of insisting on giving inputs. Also, each department should have realistic and measurable action standards (not just statement of intent) for checking corruption and malpractices within.
Corruption can go down only when we ourselves become honest and by following Gandhiji who said: "Be the change you want in others."
Public servants and politicians are corrupt because we are willing to pay them for getting things done. Let each one of us do some thing to fight this evil.

Gentelman Cricketer...........!!!

Anil Kumble’s retirement is a setback to Indian cricket and his non-availability is a loss to the team.Cricket lovers were shocked when Dilip Vengsarkar, the former selection committee chairman, advised him to retire for his non-performance on account of some problems. In his career Kumble picked up 619 Test and 337 one-day wickets. This is an enormous achievement. It is good that the BCCI has announced a grand farewell for this cricket legend.
By all accounts, Anil Kumble embodied the essence of the gentleman’s game. Industrious, persevering, dignified, Kumble is a role model for our youngsters in both on-field and off-field behaviour. He has proved that you can win hearts and games without being unduly aggressive or abusive and that there are elegant ways to respond to even malicious comments from opponents. Not many will be able to earn and retain this quantum of goodwill from colleagues, opponents and fans. Cricket lovers everywhere will remember Kumble fondly.

Inhumane................!!!

The widespread violence, terrorist activities and rise of the Naxals and other forces clearly show that the present Central government is weak and our home minister, Shivraj Patil, the weakest home minister ever. The article on Sardar Patel by Jagmohan (Salute to Sardar Patel: Rebel and statesman, October 31) shows the glaring difference between Patel, India's strongest ever home minister, and the present incumbent. The rise of sectarian and parochial forces is cause for serious concern. The real problem is that defeated from Latur in Maharashtra in the last Lok Sabha election, Patil lacks the moral and political authority to control the situation and can do little other than condemn heinous acts. When will the Centre awake?
Every inhumane act of injuring and killing, that damages the social fabric and disturbs peace and harmony in the nation, brings us shame. Let us pray for the bereaved families of those who lost their lives in the incident and hope that communal harmony and peace will be maintained not only in the Northeast, but also in every part of India.
A docile Prime Minister, a soft state, a napping home ministry, an ineffective intelligence department, a lethargic state government, a clueless police, vote-bank politics, bickering politicians and, finally, a bleeding nation. This is the state of affairs in our country, which is pitted against an intelligent, omnipresent terror network. Why blame other nations? It is our inefficiency in suppressing terror networks, which operate with nonchalance. Every leader condemns terrorism and issues statements. But nobody does anything about it.

Shivraj is a lost bet......!!!

Union home minister Shivraj Patil visited Assam after the serial blasts and condemned the terrorist mayhem (Shivraj: Where are the masterminds). But condemnation alone is not enough. When terrorists are striking left, right and centre, the traumatised people look up to him not only for solace but for more in the form of striking back at the perpetrators of this terror. Also, the country's police is badly demoralised, the police stations are in a terrible mess and political interference in the working of the police has reached an all-time high. How can such demoralised people give their best under such trying circumstances? The people of India are looking forward to you, Mr Patil, to take the lead in the fight against terrorism. Will you do it?

Regionalism...........a curse

What Raj Thackeray is doing today is a continuation of what his uncle Bal Thackeray did earlier. He has said that he wants peace in this country, but a has also justified his party's actions. These are contrasting views. If the MNS chief wants tranquillity in the country, he should choose the democratic path. If the government does not take stringent action soon, then regionalism will put speedbreakers in the path of Indian development. These extremists should remember that the nation is higher than regionalism.
Railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav has said he will seriously consider blocking railway services to violence-affected parts of Maharashtra if the violence continues. But there was no need for such a statement. As it is the railways suspend services in regions were rioters vandalise property.If trains are halted, it is the people of UP and Bihar who will suffer. It will not affect Maharastrians, as they rarely migrate to other states. Mr Lalu Yadav should realise that he is only a railway minister, not the emperor of India.

Chanda mama pass ke............!!!

Kudos to the ISRO and all those who made Chandrayaan-1 a success.By successfully launching India’s first unmanned moon mission, India has joined a select band of five nations, and October 22, 2008 will be remembered as a milestone. No doubt we have earned more than we invested in Chandrayaan I. Political leaders should take inspiration from our scientists instead of playing politics over religion, caste and creed.India has every reason to feel heartened as it has hastened to join the group of five nations who sent missions to the moon in the past. The earth, the moon and Mars being explored by man will make one dream of planetary villages coming to address serious concerns associated with socio-economic, ecological, and bio-environmental nuances of mankind.

SACHIN & DEDICATION.............!!!

Sachin Tendulkar created history at Mohali.His stupendous feat makes India proud. It sends a message of dedication to all sportspersons in the world. Sachin has been a torchbearer in cricket ever since he entered the scene at the tender age of 16. A life of remarkable dedication and will power made him a world star and pushed him to the pinnacle of success.

Please give forces their dues...!!!

The country should thank the armed forces for their impeccable record of confining their role to the barracks despite grave provocations. However, the government has been taking advantage of this by neglecting the armed forces. The continued displeasure of the defence forces over the pay hike is bound to affect its morale. Let us hope the three-member committee, headed by external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee, will look into grievances of the armed forces related to the remuneration being offered to them by the Sixth Pay Commission.

Lesson for BENGAL................!!!

Finally, Tata Motors has decided to set up its Nano manufacturing plant in Gujarat, the right place for business sans politics. Though the Nano plant was in the interest of the people of Singur, including the farmers whose land was acquired, unfortunately, vote-bank politics played a role in West Bengal and politicians, for their selfish interests, became a hurdle in the economic progress of the state.
Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi took barely a week to invite Ratan Tata to his state and to clinch the Nano project. Gujarat is known for its good infrastructure and for commitment to make it even better. In West Bengal, infrastructure is nowhere on the government’s radar and, therefore, the state is in a pitiable condition. While the Gujarat chief minister has put his state on the path of industrial growth, leaders in West Bengal are not even bothered about its development. This is the lesson of the big fuss over a small car.
The pullout of Tata Motors from Singur is a lesson or two for the people of West Bengal. They have been totally brainwashed by the Communists for over three decades or so and Mamata Banerjee has only taken advantage of her position to further her political career. Every corporate operating from West Bengal in the 1970s has shifted base to other states. Now the Communist leadership is beckoning private capital into Bengal. A great opportunity has been lost by the state to resurrect its lost pride. It is high time the present generation of West Bengal thinks about what is correct for them and does not allow itself to get brainwashed by defunct ideologies. What a slap to Mamata and her brand of politics when farmers in Gujarat danced and distributed sweets to welcome the Tatas. What India thinks today, West Bengal thinks after two decades.

locus standi.................?

............Has Zardari really changed Pak line? Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari in his foreign-spun wisdom has now confirmed that militants in Kashmir are terrorists. Unfortunately, Mr Zardari does not represent the entire power structure of Pakistan. The country is woefully short of real leaders. India has to be wary of such conciliatory statements from Pakistani leaders as we are not sure what the Pakistan Army will do, especially with reference to the Kashmir issue. Mr Zardari may be merely basking in the meritoriousness of good intentions.

Raj dharm .............!!!

Even after more than a month since the communal carnage targeting the Christian minority in Kandhamal district of Orissa was unleashed by the VHP and Bajrang Dal, the Biju Patnaik government has failed miserably to control the communal violence and bring the situation back to normal. This clearly establishes that the state administration is either unable or unwilling to control the violence and maintain law and order in the state, which is its primary duty. The Centre should dismiss forthwith the inept, insensitive, incapable and callous Biju Patnaik government in Orissa and impose President's Rule.

Inwards...............!!!

The louder the drums of religion and ritual, the farther the sight of the spiritual.
Nature is spiritual to me, and nature is feminine. She is shakti, my personal shakti. I sit with me every morning and try to bring a stillness to my world and my thoughts, feelings and concerns, to get back in touch with the stillness from where all my frenetic energies flow. It is that shunya that is my trigger and my space to take a deep breath.
Places of religion, in general, revulse me, as does the behaviour of people there, devotees and God-dalals alike.
But I cherish my few seconds of inwarding every day.

Please quit smoking willingly............!!!

As per the television news report Smoking ban from today, doubts on how it’ll work, smoking is banned in public places, hospitals, offices, institutes, cinema halls and clubs. Enough publicity has been undertaken to create awareness about the harmful effects of active and passive smoking. This has led to a marked reduction in the number of people who smoke but new laws cannot help further. Until and unless those who smoke, willingly quit smoking, it will be difficult for the government to implement a complete ban on smoking.

Respect Martyr's...........!!!

It is a shame that politicians like Amar Singh are allowed to insult a martyr like Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma. Earlier, Mr Singh was a frontrunner in awarding the slain inspector’s family Rs 10 lakhs in recognition of Inspector Sharma’s sacrifice as an act of extraordinary bravery. In order to garner the Muslim vote, Mr Singh is adopting cheap tactics. If the Delhi police finds Amar Singh’s charge baseless, it should file a defamation case against Amar Singh to uphold the honour of its martyred police officer.

PLEASE DON'T ADVISE............!!

former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and other Muslim leaders have no moral right to advise the Prime Minister on the safeguards as they had failed to protect Hindus and Sikhs in the Valley. They were mute spectators when Kashmiri Pandits were forced to leave their homes in the 1980s.

Dada forced to quit......!!!

History will record that Sourav Ganguly announced his retirement, but actually he has been forced to retire. Sourav’s recent performance was above his teammates. In the last Test played in India, Sourav not only bagged the man of the match award, but also scored two half-centuries and averaged 52.75. Failure in one Test series against Sri Lanka gave selectors the chance to drop him for the Irani Trophy. When a senior player like Sourav is asked to prove his worth time and again, it hurts the honour and the prestige of the player and he is left with no other option but to quit. It is a sad moment for Indian cricket that the most successful skipper of the nation has been shown the door in the most disgraceful manner possible.

Yardsticks........!!!

R vips/vvips above rules?

I support those who have questioned the exemption granted by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) to spouses of VIPs/VVIPs from pre-embarkation security checks at airports across India.It may be recalled that even the service chiefs were not exempted from it till last year. I fail to understand why there are two sets of rules, one for those categorised as VIPs/VVIPs and another for the rest? Our Constitution has no provision of VIP/VVIP status for anybody. Those holding vulnerable positions may be protected by the state, but in no case should they be above the rule.

Sovereign status........!!!

India’s decision to postpone the signing of the nuclear deal till it gets President Bush’s signature is correct.There is no need to rush through an important deal when the American side of the formalities are not over. If, by chance, the obligation was on the part of India in a similar deal, would the American President sign such an incomplete document? India and the US are sovereign states and they must respect our national status. Whatever the stakes India must take all precautions before it signs such an important deal. India displayed maturity without hurting its partner and the US should accept this with grace.

2 early 2 speculate.......!!!

The Australian cricket team has arrived in India. Ahead of the Test series to be played between India and Australia, the media and cricket experts have started speculating. While the Indian team has the advantage of playing at home, the Australian side should never be underestimated. Their pace attack is still formidable. Moreover, there is little hope that our senior players will put up a grand show and lead the team to victory. Hence it is better that the media and the so-called sports critics wait till the commencement of the Test series.

Power hungry Politicians..........!!!

HRD minister Arjun Singh and minister of chemicals and fertilisers and steel Ram Vilas Paswan have supported the vice-chancellor of Jamia Milia Islamia, Mushirul Hasan, in his decision to provide legal aid to two of its students accused in the Delhi serial blasts. The minister is supporting those involved in killings of innocent people in the country by carrying out serial bomb blasts. At an age where they could have played a constructive role in the country’s development, they chose to join hands with terrorists and deceived their own country. How can any politician support those who never thought about their motherland? It clearly shows the hunger of politicians for power. No doubt these politicians will join hands with terrorists if it ensures power.

Gandhi ji & Hinduism........!!!

Hinduism, as viewed by Gandhiji, could be used to refertilise and revitalise that tradition. Dr S. Radhakrishnan, in connection with his study of religion, posed three questions to Mahatma Gandhi: "What is your religion? How are you led to it? What is its bearing on social life?"

Gandhi replied the first question thus: "My religion is Hinduism which, for me, is the religion of humanity and includes the best of all religions known to me." In response to the second question, Gandhi said: "I take it that the present tense in this question has been purposely used, instead of the past. I am led to my religion through truth and non-violence. I often describe my religion as religion of truth. Of late, instead of saying ‘God is Truth’, I have been saying ‘Truth is God’. We are all sparks of Truth. The sum total of these sparks is indescribable, as yet unknown Truth, which is God. I am daily led nearer to it by constant prayer."

To the third question, Gandhi replied: "The bearing of this religion on social life is, or has to be, seen in one’s daily social contact. To be true to such religion, one has to lose oneself in continuous and continuing service of all in life. Realisation of Truth is impossible without a complete merging of oneself in and identification with this limitless ocean of life. Hence, for me, there is no escape from social service; there is no happiness on earth beyond or apart from it. In this scheme, there is nothing low, nothing high. For all is one, though we seem to be many."

Gandhi elaborated: "The deeper I study Hinduism, the stronger becomes the belief in me that Hinduism is as broad as the universe. Something within me tells me that, for all the deep veneration I show to several religions, I am all the more a Hindu, nonetheless for it."

On the Mahatma’s birthday, it seems necessary to bring home these fundamentals, particularly to those who go on condemning Hinduism without even studying it and also to those members of the ruling elite whose attachment to fake and fraudulent "gods" have made the country a den of corruption, callousness, confusion and criminality.

Gandhi’s elucidation makes it clear that true Hinduism is nothing but spiritual secularism. To relegate such a religion and to follow a shallow and superficial secularism is one of the worst sins that the false prophets of contemporary India are committing. They call Gandhi the Father of the Nation. And yet in practice they do everything to negate all his beliefs.

Throughout human history, religion has remained a potent force, despite all the pounding it has received from thinkers like Marx who called it "opiate of the masses" and Freud who termed it as "a collective neurosis of the masses". It may be relevant to recall a talk between Cardinal Gonsalvic and Napoleon. The Cardinal was pleading the case for the Catholic Church. Napoleon got annoyed on some point and shouted at the Cardinal: "Your Eminence, are you not aware that I have the power to destroy the Catholic Church?" The Cardinal smiled and replied: "Your Majesty, we, the Catholic clergy, for the last 1,800 years, have done our level best to destroy the Catholic Church. We did not succeed. You will not succeed either." This conversation brings out in a telling manner the staying power of religion, notwithstanding its internal and external destroyers.

While religion has its influence in every country, it is more so in India. Swami Vivekananda, with his characteristic clarity and insight, has observed: "Each nation, like each individual, has one theme in its life, which is its centre, the principal note around which every other note comes to form the harmony. If any one attempts to throw off this central note, that is, its national vitality, the direction which has become its own through the transmission of centuries, that nation dies. In India, religious life forms the centre, the key-note of the whole music of national life. Take away religion from India; nothing would be left."

Power, in present day India, has become an end in itself. Justice is being buried deeper and deeper. Means, howsoever unscrupulous, are resorted to and then rationalised. Corruption in public life has attained alarming proportions. Most of our institutions have lost their underlying motivation of service and become effete and venal.

Why has this happened? Why have our State and society become soulless entities? Why have criminals enlarged their hold on politics? And why have power and pelf become everything, and justice and truth nothing?

The answer to these questions is that the ethical foundation of Hinduism, as seen by Gandhi, which could provide "an awakened conscience" to an individual and make him an honest, just and compassionate component of society, has been destroyed partly by the stink and slush of our past degeneration and partly by the type of spurious secularism which has been exploited in post-Independence India.

Hinduism, as made clear by Gandhi, sees all human beings as "sparks of truth/divinity". As such, it neither goes against any other religion, nor is it incompatible with the constitutional goals of equality, fraternity, liberty and justice. If the same divinity constitutes the core of all individuals, they cannot but be equal. Further, divinity in one person cannot in any way be unjust to the same divinity in another person. As the Gita puts it: "Seeing the same God equally present in everything, one does not injure the self by self; and goes to the highest goal".

In Hinduism, Gandhi saw a unique quality: "In it there is room for the worship of all the prophets of the world. It is not a missionary religion in the ordinary sense of the word". Gandhi underlined: "God is not encased in a safe to be approached only through a little hole in it, but He is open to be approached through billions of openings by those who are humble and pure of heart".

Aankhen......................!!!

Have Beautiful Eyes

Few tips for all to have good and beautiful eyes.

Do's and Dont's of Eye Care

Simple everyday eye exercises
After every hour before a computer screen, close your eyes gently for 30 seconds to relax them.
Yoga experts recommend you to rotate your eyes often to relax muscles. Move your eyeballs from extreme left corner to the right corner.
Hold a pencil at arm's length and slowly bring it towards your nose, keeping eyes focused at all times. This helps prevent blurred vision.
When to see a doctor
If you have persisting headaches see a doctor and well light your work area and correct your reading/writing posture. · If you have sties often, they may indicate refractive error.
If you squint every time you read a book or watch television.
If you have dryness of the eyes, check out if it's due to antihistamines, decongestants, diuretics, muscle relaxants, tranquilizers that you may have taken.
If you plan to take oral contraceptives they may decrease tolerance of the eye.
Even if you have no complaints it's important to see a doctor and have a routine eye check up.
Don'ts of eye care
Don't wear contact lenses for extended periods of time or overnight as this leads to complication.
Don't rub eyes frequently as this can cause an eye infection as few of us bother to wash our hands before touching our eyes.
When you splash water do not do this furiously believing doing this will take away tiredness instead wash gently as splashing may hurtle the smallest dust particles or an allergen which may minutely damage the cornea.
Use disposable tissues instead of handkerchiefs to wipe eyes, as they are more hygienic.
Don't sit near than 15 feet from the television and keep your book at least two feet away for stronger eye muscles.
Use cream based eye makeup as powdery eye shadows can enter eyes and, cause irritation. Be very gentle in case you wear lenses.
Avoid using aerosol products like hairspray if you wear lenses.
Don't use your mascara for more than a year.

Sochooooo................!!!

use your brains...............

Many years ago in a small Indian village,


a farmer had the misfortune
of owing a large sum of money to a village moneylender. The
moneylender, who was old and ugly, fancied the farmer's beautiful
daughter. So he proposed a bargain.


He said he would forgo the farmer's debt if he could marry his
daughter. Both the farmer and his daughter were horrified by the
proposal.


So the cunning money-lender suggested that they let
providence decide the matter. He told them that he would put a black
pebble and a white pebble into an empty money bag. Then the girl would
have to pick one pebble from the bag.


1) If she picked the black pebble, she would become his wife and her
father's debt would be forgiven.


2) If she picked the white pebble she need not marry him and her
father's debt would still be forgiven.


3) But if she refused to pick a pebble, her father would be thrown into
jail.


They were standing on a pebble strewn path in the farmer's field. As
they talked, the moneylender bent over to pick up two pebbles. As he
picked them up, the sharp-eyed girl noticed that he had picked up two
black pebbles and put them into the bag.


He then asked the girl to pick
a pebble from the bag.


Now, imagine that you were standing in the field. What would you have
done if you were the girl? If you had to advise her, what would you
have told her?


Careful analysis would produce three possibilities:


1. The girl should refuse to take a pebble.


2. The girl should show that there were two black pebbles in the bag
and expose the money-lender as a cheat.


3. The girl should pick a black pebble and sacrifice herself in order
to save her father from his debt and imprisonment.


Take a moment to ponder over the story. The above story is used with
the hope that it will make us appreciate the difference between lateral
and logical thinking.


The girl's dilemma cannot be solved with
traditional logical thinking. Think of the consequences if she chooses
the above logical answers.


What would you recommend to the Girl to do?


Well, here is what she did ....


The girl put her hand into the moneybag and drew out a pebble. Without
looking at it, she fumbled and let it fall onto the pebble-strewn path
where it immediately became lost among all the other pebbles.


"Oh, how clumsy of me," she said. "But never mind, if you look into the
bag for the one that is left, you will be able to tell which pebble I
picked."


Since the remaining pebble is black, it must be assumed that she had
picked the white one. And since the money-lender dared not admit his
dishonesty, the girl changed what seemed an impossible situation into
an extremely advantageous one.


MORAL OF THE STORY:
Most complex problems do have a solution. It is only that we don't
attempt to think.

Law needed......!!!

Surrogacy..............?
An increasing number of women in India serve as surrogate mothers. It has engaged the minds of the legislators to incorporate a regulatory mechanism in its application. One aspect of surrogate motherhood is that of legal implications. There are a few instances in which the lure of extracting heavy financial benefits, in addition to the ones already agreed upon, have prompted unscrupulous biological mothers to lodge a claim for legal custody of the child. In many such cases abroad, a number of rulings have gone in favour of the natural mothers, much to the chagrin of the childless couples. Can the "liberated" Indian woman be an exception to "revolutionary" trend prevalent in Western countries?

Forced Conversion / Vote bank Politics &.............!!!

Bharat ka to Bhagwan Maalik hai................!!!
The recent communal violence in Orissa and Karnataka are highly regrettable. However, in my opinion, conversion is the root cause. The missionary groups work with great zeal in tribal areas converting the poor people to their faith. Reactions from majority groups against these efforts follow, resulting in violence. Religious leaders should take the lead. They should not indulge in conversions either overtly or covertly. Also, leaders from different religions should arrive at a conclusion to observe religious tolerance. They should undertake to lead their followers in the right way.
Though the attacks on Christians in Orissa and Karnataka should be condemned the fact remains that under the pretext of charity work, Christian missionaries convert poor tribals. A person should adopt another religion of his own free will. While praising their own religion, the missionaries should not show Hinduism in bad light.

As the nation bleeds with rising oil prices and the rupee gets weaker, the Haj subsidy has been increased. I wonder why in India Hindus are not entitled to such privileges? What are the criteria on which the Centre decides to give subsidies only to Haj pilgrims? India is a country which gives its minorities maximum freedom and privileges. The government should give such privileges to old and poor Hindus who want to visit various temples. After all, the Centre should be fair to all communities.

Nuclear Deal is good for india...........!!!

Soon-to-be operationalised Indo-US nuclear deal is a great achievement for the UPA. When the NDA was in power, the then Prime Minister Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, also tried to strike a deal with US President Bill Clinton but failed to do so. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, without signing the NPT and CTBT, has succeeded in clinching the Indo-US nuclear deal. So, Dr Singh has completed the task that Mr Vajpayee had initiated. I agree with the author's hope that with the nuclear deal India will be greatly benefited.

Let's Stop blaming Pakistan...............!!!

India is in the midst of a full-fledged war with terrorists, bolstered by assistance from Pakistan. While the government is fully aware of the state of affairs, it is cowed down by vote-bank politics since it is apprehensive that any drastic step aimed at curbing terrorism will antagonise the minority population. The other aspect is the mute reaction of the political, social and religious leaders of the minority community towards the heinous acts of their misguided youth. The editorial rightly appeals for national unity at this critical juncture. However, kindly note that if the people in authority continue their policy based on cowardice and opportunism, and the killings of innocent human beings continue unabated, the day will not be far off when the entire nation will rise in revolt.
The Indian Mujahideen has been taking responsibility for such blasts. It has also warned that such blasts will continue. They know that even if they get caught they can happily expect prolonged litigation. The country needs strict laws to prevent such blasts. The present law is inadequate in dealing with terrorists.
The Indian government has not been able to do anything beyond issuing the customary statements condemning the killings and announcing ex-gratia payments. While it may not be an easy task for it to find and follow the trail to the masterminds of these acts, what is worrisome is its casual approach and tendency to blame Pakistan for our problems. We have only ourselves to blame for letting matters reach such alarming proportions. Therefore, the Indian Army must be considered as an alternative agency to take on the terrorists.

Is this an Intelligence Failure...............?

How long'll this Continue.............?
Delhi woke up the morning after the serial blasts hoping to be reassured that the city, and the nation, were safe, and that the authorities were doing all they could to ensure their security. But after over-an hour-long meeting chaired by Union home minister Shivraj Patil here, Union home secretary Madhukar Gupta had this to tell reporters: "... after each incident you gain experience"...............Shame
I think,There is already plenty of "experience": At least 550 lives have been lost to 11 terrorist attacks across India in the last three years alone. And the three terror attacks — in Bengaluru, Ahmedabad and Delhi — have taken place within about seven weeks. What the ministry headed by Mr Patil left unsaid was that after Saturday’s serial blasts in New Delhi, the number of unsolved cases had risen, the police and security agencies were groping in the dark and had been unable to prevent the blasts while the terrorists continue to attack with utter impunity. There is just one phrase on the lips of most members of the public "Intelligence failure". I demand an explanation from the Home minister and for that matter of fact from the GOI as to why such attacks could not be prevented?
"Only giving money or speaking nice words will not be sufficient to nurse the wounds inflicted by repeated terror attacks. We need to be tough and take action to bring the culprits to book."

Please Don't Neglect Armed Forces...........!!!

Give military good news by Deepawali...........I request an immediate action by the political leadership to resolve the anomalies in the pay commission's recommendations with respect to the armed forces. Our bureaucrats and political leaders do not deserve such a hefty hike. It is our world class defence forces that should be given due consideration. In fact, no stone has been left unturned to devalue its status and make it subservient to the government. In spite of this we remain "second to none". If the present pay commission's recommendations are allowed to remain uncorrected, I am afraid it may prove to be the proverbial last straw.
The sons of both US vice-presidential nominees are serving in the US Army and nearly a dozen young men and women, sons and daughters of members of the US Congress, have served in Iraq. In India we will never find sons and daughters of high-ranking bureaucrats and politicians serving in the defence forces. No wonder the armed forces in this country have been systematically neglected, marginalised and downgraded in pay and status over the past many decades by the powers that be. The recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission have further demoralised the rank and file of the defence forces. This is an unfortunate development that bodes ill for the security scenario of the country.

J&K secession unthinkable........!!!

Kudos to Arun Kumar Singh for his article India must stand firm on N-deal, Kashmir (August 29),where his bold and forthright views suggest the appropriate policy decision on Kashmir. The tragedy is that our national leaders’ concept of secularism is based on opportunism and cowardice. In contrast, the commitment of fundamentalists and terrorists to their ideology is much more deep-rooted. Hence, in the fight between secularism and religion-based extremism, it is the latter which seems stronger. Our leaders should appreciate and comprehend that any attempt at secession of Jammu and Kashmir has to be suppressed, even if it means temporary suspension of democratic rights. After all, democracy should not be interpreted as dictatorship of the majority community bent on denying the minority population their right to life and dignity...................!

Lankan Jinx

The young cricket brigade, led by skipper M.S. Dhoni, has won the ODI series against Sri Lanka. Dhoni has proved that so far he is a good captain who leads from the front. He has handled the pressure of leading a relatively untested team well. With South Africa keen to host the Champions Trophy, let us hope Dhoni and his team will retain their habit of winning..............

Intolerance................!!!

While Jammu and Kashmir continues to burn, the demon of religious bigotry and intolerance has raised its ugly head in Orissa, causing widespread mayhem. I fail to understand how people are so easily instigated by rabid communal organisations and indulge in mindless violence, causing loss of life and property. The state government should not only ban all such communal and fundamentalist organisations, but it should also defang them completely.

Let's Try .......................!!!

One of the comman site nowadays on any Traffic light across Delhi is a small child asking for a rupee or two, it really touches me and i wonder what could be the possible solution to this long lasting social problem in India. But i have never been able to think of a solution for this. Although i strongly feel that we should not promote this and fight out this evil, but then, are we prepeared to find out an alternative job/work/school option for these minor children? I dont think we are. We cant just blame the Goverment as they also have their own limitations and the worst part is even if the primary education is given to these children will that be enough for them to find a respectful job/standing in the society, in todays competative world where finding a job for an MBA is also difficult how can these poor children with almost no social/family/society backing can struggle out after the primary education. Higher education or professional education is not free and can also be not made free, because of the huge cost invloved in doing it, for which we are niether capable nor equipped with.


Then what can be done, i really dont have an answer ??? need your suggestions and views on this topic.


What I always try, is to give them whatever is possible from my side money/eatable/cloth i mean anything which can bring SMILE on their face,but i also have my limitations & at times I too feel handicapped.I think we should always contribute in one way or the other for this social problem. Just imagine how helpless these children are ... the way they look at us and the condition they are in... on one of us would like this to happen to anyone we know.

Remember an old urdu saying .....

ghar se masjid hai bahut door, chalo ye kar lein,
ek roote hue bache ko hansaya jai....

Feeding a hungry person with a Fish is a temporary help,but teaching him the art of Fishing is a help forever..............Let's make a sincere effort............!!!


Pls contribute for a better tommorow ...

Life's grammer..........!!!

Life’s Little Instruction Book.................!!!


1. Believe in love at first sight.

2. Never laugh at anyone’s dream.

3. Overpay good baby sitters. Never refuse jury duty. It is your civic responsibility, and you’ll learn a lot.

4. Accept a breath mint if someone offers you one.

5. When you feel terrific , notify your face.

6. Love deeply and passionately . You might get hurt, but it’s the only way to live life completely.

7. Never apologize for being early for an appointment.

8. Open the car door for your wife and always help her with her coat.

9. Discipline with a gentle hand.

10. When reconvening after a conference break, choose a chair in a differenrt part of the room.

11. Strive for perfection , but settle for excellence.

12. Rake a big pile of leaves every fall and jump in it with someone you love.

13. Volunteer. Sometimes the jobs no one wants conceal by opportunities.

14. Never drive while holdign a cup of hot coffee between your knees.

15. For peace of mind, make decisions in CONCERT WITH your values.

16. Use a travel agent. It costs no more and saves time and efforts.

17. Have a professional photo of yourself made. Update it every three years.

18. Choose a high deductible when buying insurance.

19. Never miss an opportunity to have someone rub your back.

20. Don’t judge what you don’t understand.

21. Sign all warranty cards and mail them in promptly.

22. When you know some one has gone to a lot of trouble to get really dressed up, always tell them “You look terrific.”

23. Create a little signal only so that your wife knows that you can show her your love across a crowded room.

24. Never be the first to break a famity tradition.

25. Take your wallet with you when trying on new trousers and you need to leave the dressing room.

26. Keep a diary of your accomplishments at work. Then when you ask for a raise, you’ll have the information you need to back it up.

27. Never sign contracts with blank spaces.

28. Drive as you wish your kids would. Never speed or drive recklessly with children in the car.

29. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.

30. Never take the last piece of fried chicken.

31. Ask about a store’s return policy when you purchase an item that costs more than $ 50.

32. When you go to borrow money , dress as if you have plenty of it.

33. Remember that everyone is influenced by kindness.

34. Don’t judge people by their relatives.

35. Eat a peace of chocolate to cure bad breath from onions or garlic.

36. Seize every opportunity for additional training in your job.

37. When travelling , leave the good jewelry at home.

38. Put your adress inside your luggage as well as on outside.

39. Never give your credit card number over the phone if you didn’t place the call.

40. Remember that everyone you meet is afraid of something, loves something and has lost something.

41. check hotel bills carefully, especially the charges for local and long distance calls.

42. Talk slow but think quick.

43. When someone asks you a question and you don’t want to answer , smile and ask, “Why do you want to know ?”

44. Don’t admire people for their welath but for the creative and generous way they put it to use.

45. Take along two big safety pins when you travel so that you can pin the drapes shut in your motel room.

46. Never betray a confidence.

47. Never claim a victory prematurely.

48. Never leave the kitchen when something’s boiling on the stove.

49. Say “Bless You” when you hear someone sneeze.

50. Make the punishment fit the crime.

51. Remember that just the moment you say, “ I give up” , someone else seeing the same situation is saying , “ My, what a great opportunity.”

52. Tour the main branch of the public library on Fifth Avenue the next time you are in New York City. Unforgettable.

53. Don’t tell the ending of good movies and books.

54. Don’t let your family get so busy that you don’t sit down to at least one meal a day together.

55. Remember the three R’s : Respect for self, Respect for others , Responsibility for all your actions.

56. Carry your own alarm clock when travelling. Hotel wake-up calls are sometimes unreliable.

57. When you loose, do not loose the lesson.

58. Keep the torch light on until all the family is in for the light.

59. Use your past successes as a trampoline , not an easy chair.

60. Take along a small gift for the host or hostess when you are a dinner guest. A book is a good choice.

61. Don’t overlook life’s small joys while searching for the big ones.

62. Keep a well-stocked first-aid kit in your car and at your home.

63. Never be photographed with a cocktail glass in your hand.

64. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great frienship.

65. Don’t marry a woman who picks at her food.

66. Never ask a barber if you need a haircut.

67. Pack a compass, the nature company’s pocket survival tool when hiking in unfamiliar territory.

68. Read a book about beekeeping.

69. When lost or in distress, signal in “threes” --- Three shouts, Three gunshots or Three horn blast.

70. Don’t be surprised to discover that luck favors those who are prepared.

71. When asked to play the piano, do it without complaining or making excuses.

72. Don’t knock the competition.

73. Don’t expect your love alone to make a neat person out of a messy one.

74. Take off the convention badge as soon as you leave the convention hall.

75. Look for ways to make your boss look good.

76. Every so often, invite the person in line behind you to go ahead of you.

77. Carry a small pocket knife.

78. Remember that the person who steals an egg will steal chicken.

79. Meet regularly with someone who holds wastly different views than you.

80. Don’t go looking for trouble.

81. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

82. Be the first to fight for a just cause.

83. When you have a choice of two exciting things, choose the one you haven’t tried.

84. Remember that no time spent with your child is ever wasted.

85. Remember that no time is ever wasted that makes two people better friends.

86. Avoid approaching horses and restaurants from the rear.

87. There are people who will always come up with reasons why you can’t do what you want to do. Ignore them.

88. When someone has rendered a service for you and doesn’t know what to charge ask,

“ What do you think is fair ?”

89. If you need to bring in a business partner, make sure your partner brings alone some money.

90. Never say anything uncomplimentary about another person’s dog.

91. If you have trouble with a company’s products or services , go to the top. Write the president, then follow up with a phone call.

92. Don’t ride in a car if the driver has been drinking.

93. Remember the ABC’s of success : Ability, Breaks, Courage.

94. Think twice before accepting the lowest bid.

95. Never miss a chance to dance with your wife.

96. Don’t do nothing because you feel you can only do a little. DO what you can.

97. When uncertain what to wear, a ble blazer , worn with gray wool slacks, a white shirt, and a red and blue striped silk tie , is almost always appropriate.

98. When boarding a bus , Say “Hello” to the driver. Say “thank You” when you get off.

99. Write a short note inside the front cover when giving a book as a gift.

100. Never give a gift that is not beautifully wrapped.

101. Make the rules for your childrens clear, fair and consistent.

102. Don’t think expensive equipment will make up for lack of talent or practice.

103. Learn to say “I Love You” in French, Italian and Swedish.

104. Be willing to lower your price in order to get something else of greater value.

105. Memorize your favourite love poem.

106. Ask anyone giving you direction to repeat them at least twice.

107. When you are totally exhausted but have to keep going , wash your face and hands and put on clean socks and a clean shirt . You will feel remarkably refreshed.

108. Make allowances for your friends’ imperfections as readily as you do for your own.

109. Steer clear of any place with a “Ladies Welcome” sign in the window.

110. When you realize you’ve made a mistake ,take immediate steps to correct it.

111. Be ruthlessly realistic when it comes to your finances.

112. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.

113. Set high goals for your employees and help them attain them.

114. Pay your bills on time. If you can’t , write your creditors a letter describing your situation. Send them something every month, evenif it’s only five hundred rupees.

115. Do your homework and know your facts, but remember it’s passion that persuades.

116. Don’t waste time trying to appreciate music you dislike. Spend the time with music you love.

117. Always put something in the collection plate.

118. When concluding a business deal and the other person suggests working out the details later , say “ I understand but I would like to settle the entire matter right now..” Don’t move from the table until you do.

119. Ask yourself if you would feel comfortable giving your two best friends a key to your house. If not, look for some new best friends.

120. Do the right thing , regardless of what others think.

121. Wear a shirt and tie to job interviews, even for a job unloading boxcars.

122. Judge people from where they stand, not from where you stand.

123. When shaking a womans hand, squeeze it no harder then she squeezes yours.

124. Be open and accessible. The next person you meet could be your best friend.

125. Never wash a car, mow a yard or select a christmas tree after dark.

126. Life will sometimes hand you a magical moment. Savor it.

127. Don’t eat a meal just before giving a speech.

128. Set aside your dreams for your children and help them attain their own dreams.

129. Dress a little better than your clients but not as well as your boss.

130. Take the stairs when it’s four flights or less.

131. Never threaten if you don’t intend to back it up.

132. Learn to save on even the most modest salary. If you do, you’re almost assured of financial success.

133. Buy a used car with the same caution a naked man uses to climb a barbed-wire fence.

134. Hold yourself to the highest standards.

135. Buy the big bottle of Tabasco.

136. Don’t confuse comfort with happiness.

137. Don’t confuse wealth with success.

138. Be the first to forgive.

139. When talking to your doctor, don’t let him or her interrupt or end the sesson early. It’s your body and your money. Stay untill all your questions are answered to your satisfaction.

140. Whenever you take something back for an exchange or refund, wear a coat and tie.

141. Check for toilet paper before sitting down.

142. If you work for an organisation that makes it’s decisions by committee, make sure you are on the committee.

143. Don’t stop the parade to pick up a dime.

144. Make a habit of readiing something inspiring and cheerful just before going to sleep.

145. Marry a woman you love to talk to. As you get older, her conversational skills will be as important as any other.

146. Turn enemies into friends by doing something nice for them.

147. Don’t’ allow your dog to bark and disturb the neighbours.

148. Be as friendly to the janitor as you are to the chairman of the board.

149. Never buy anything electrical at a flea market.

150. Remember that a person who is foolish with money is foolish in other ways too.

151. If you want to do something and you feel in your bones that it’d the right thing to do, do it. Intuition id often as important as the facts.

152. Don’t cut corners.

153. Learn to bake bread.

154. Everyone loves praise. Look hard for ways to give it to them.

155. Spend some time alone.

156. Be an original. If that means being a little eccentric, so be it.

157. Everybody deserves a birthday cake. Never celebrate a birthday without one.

158. Pay as much attention to the things that are working positively in your life as you do to those that are giving you trouble.

159. Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.

160. When it comes to worrying or painting apicture, know when to stop.

161. Don’t expect anyone to know what you want for Christmas if you don’t tell them.

162. Before taking a long trip, fill your tank and empty your bladder.

163. Ask for double prints when you have film processed. Send the extras to the people in the photos.

164. When taking a woman home, make sure she is safely inside her house before you leave.

165. Live with your new pet several days before you name it. The right name wil come to you.

166. Every year celebrate the day you and your wife had your first date.

167. Treat your employees with the same respect you give your clients.

168. Slow down. I mean really slow down in school zones.

169. Allow your children to face the consequences of their actions.

170. Be quick to take an advantage of an advantage.

171. Don’t expect the best gifts to come wrapped in pretty paper.

172. You may be fortune and make a lot of money. But be sure your work involves something that enriches your spirit as well as your bank account.

173. When a good man or woman runs for political office, support him or her with your time and money.

174. When you need professional advice, get it from professionals, not from your friends.

175. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

176. Don’t buy a cheap mattress.

177. Don’t think you can relax your way to happiness. Happiness comes as a result of doing.

178. Don’t dismiss a good idea simply because you don’t like the source.

179. Send a poor child to summer camp.

180. Choose a church that sings joyful music.

181. What you must do, do cheerfully.

182. Don’t waste time waiting for inspiration. Begin and inspiration will find you.

183. Don’t believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.

184. When you say,”I Love You”, mean it.

185. When you say, “I Am Sorry”, look the person in the eye.

186. Conduct yourself in such a way that your highschool would want you to addresss the grauating seniors.

187. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.

188. Wig without boasting.

189. Loose without excuses.

190. Watch your attitude. It’s the first thing people notice about you.

191. Pack a light bathrobe on overnight trips. Take your pillow too.

192. Choose the apartment on the top floor.

193. Ask someone you’d like to know better to list five people he would most like to meet. It will tell you a lot about him.

194. Don’t be a person who says, “Ready, Fire, Aim.”

195. Don’t be a person who says, “Ready, Aim, Aim, Aim”.

196. Deadline are important. Meet them.

197. When you find someone doing small things well, put him or her in charge of bigger things.

198. Read more books.

199. Watch less TV.

200. Remember that a good price is not necessarily what an object is marked, but what it is worth to you.

201. When opportunity knocks, invite it to stay for dinner.

202. Remember that the more you know the less you fear.

203. When a waitress or waiter provides exceptional service, leave a generous tip plus a short note like, “Thanks for your wondereful service. You made our meal a sepcial experience.”

204. Remove your sunglasses when you talk to someone.

205. Buy three best selling children’s books. Read them and then give them to a youngster.

206. Introduce yourself to your neighbours as soon as you move into a new neighbourhood.

207. When a friend or loved one becomes ill, remember that hope and positive thinking are strong medicines.

208. When you find something you really want, don’t let a few rupees keep you from getting it.

209. Be your children’s best teacher and coach.

210. Some things need doing better than they’ve ever been done before. Some just need doing.Others don’t need doing at all. Know which is which.

211. Buy ladders, extension cords and garden hoses longr than you think you’ll need.

212. Don’t confuse mere inconveniences with real problems.

213. When asked to pray in public, be quick about it.

214. Show extra respect for people whose jobs put dirt under their fingernails.

215. Rememebr that a good example is the best sermon.

216. Hold your child’s hand every chance you get. The time will come all too soon when he or she won’t let you.

217. When you carve the Thanksgiving turkey, give the first piece to the person who prepared it.

218. Live a good, honorable life. then when you get older and think back, you’ll get to enjoy it a second time.

219. Wipe off the sticky honey jar before putting it back on the self.

220. Purchase one piece of original art each year, even if it’s just a small oil painting by a high school student.

221. Volunteer to help a few hours a month working in a soup kitchen.

222. Learn to juggle.

223. Don’t think people at the top of their professions have all the answers. They don’t.

224. Reduce your use of cups, plates and containers made of styrofoam.

225. Get organised. Know where you are headed. But if something wonderful and unexpected comes along , be flexible enough to follow it.

226. Get a car with a sun roof.

227. Don’t carry expensive luggage. It’s a tip-off to thieves that expensive items may be inside.

228. When travelling by plane , don’t pack valuables or important papers in your suitcase. Carry them on board with you.

229. Keep your private thoughts private.

230. Put your jacket around your girlfriend on a chilly evening.

231. Once every couple of months enjoy a four-course meal- only eat each course at a different restaurant.

232. Introduce yourself to someone you would like to meet by smiling and saying, “My name is ………... I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting you.”

233. Be humble and polite, but don’t let anyone push you around.

234. Put the strap around your neck before looking through binoculars.

235. Do 100 push-ups evevry day: 50 in morning and 50 in the evening.

236. creat a smokefree office and home.

237. Wrap a couple of thick rubber bands around your wallet when you’re fishing or hiking. This will prevent it from slipping out of your pocket.

238. Don’t expect bankers to come to your aid in a crunch.

239. Be advised that when negotiating, if you don’t get it in writing, you probably won’t get it.

240. don’t’ do business with anyone who has a history of suing people.

241. Every so often let your spirit of advanture triumph over your good sense.

242. Use a favourite picture of a loved ones as a bookmark.

243. Never lose your nerve, your temper, or your car keys.

244. Trust in god but lock your car.

245. Surprise an old friend with a phone call.

246. Get involved at your child’s school.

247. Champion your wife. Be her best friend and biggest fan.

248. Add to your children’s private library by giving them a hardback copy of one of the classics evevry birthday. Begin with their first birthday.

249. Carry a list of your wife’s important sizes in your wallet.

250. DOn’t open credit card bills on the weekend.

251. Mind the store. NO one cares about your business the way you do.

252. DOn’t say no until you’ve heard the whole story.

253. When you are a dinner guest, take a second helping if it’s offered, but never a third.

254. Never say anything uncomplimentary about your wife or children in the presence of others.

255. Before going to bed on Christmas Eve, join hands with your family and sing, ”Silent Night.”

256. DOn’t accept unacceptable behavior.

257. Never put the car in “Drive” until all passengers have buckled up.

258. When eating at a restaurant that features foreign food, don’t order anything you can fix at home.

259. Send your mother-in-law flowers on your wife’s birthday.

260. Write your pastor a note and tell him how much he means to you.

261. Write your favourite author a note of appreciation.

262. Apologize immediately when you lose your temper, especially to children.

263. Bye your fianncee the nicest diamond engagement ring you can afford.

264. WHen giving a speech, concentrate on what you can give the audience, not what you can get from them.

265. don’t’ be so concerned with your rights that you forget your manners.

266. WHen you are uncertain of what you should pay someone, ask, “ WHat do you think is fair?” You’ll almost always get a reasonable answer.

267. Don’t let weeds grow around your dreams.

268. When you know that someone has gone to a lot of trouble to get dressed up, tell them they look terrific !

269. A loving atmosphere in your home is so important. DO all you can to creat a tranquil, harmonious home.

270. When you tell a child to do something , don’t follow it with, “Okay ?” Ask instead, “ Do you understand ?”

271. Remember that almost everything looks better after a good night’s sleep.

272. Avoid using the word impacted unless you are describing wisdom teeth.

273. Use a camcorder to videotape the contents of your home for insurance purposes. don’t forget closets and drawers. Keep the tape in your bank safedeposit box.

274. When walking through a room, do one thing to make it more organized and beautiful.

275. Keep a separate shaving kit packed for travelling.

276. Remember that how you say something is as important as what you say.

277. Every week write short poem.

278. Read between the lines.

279. Get to garage sales early. The good stuff is usually gone by 8.00 A.M.

280. Stop and watch stonemasons at work.

281. Don’t’ judge a man’s wealth by how well he’s dressed , but by how well his wife is dressed.

282. When you see visitors taking pictures of each other, offer to take a picture of their group together.

283. In disagreements with loved ones, deal with the current situation. Don’t bring up the past.

284. Never apologize for extreme measures when defending your values, your health of your family’s safety.

285. Don’t think you can fill an emptiness in your heart with money.

286. Become famous for finishing important, difficult tasks.

287. Never sell your teddy bear, letter sweater, or high school yearbooks at a garage sale. You’ll regret it later.

288. Leave a quarter where a child can find it.

289. Don’t take good friends, good health or a good marriage for granted.

290. Place a note reading “ Your licence number has been reported to the police” on the windshield of a car illegally parked in a handicapped space.

291. Buy a new tie to wear to your wedding rehearsal dinner. Wear it only once. Keep it forever.

292. When you’re lost, admit it and ask for directions.

293. Never buy just one roll of toilet paper , one roll of film or one jar of peanut butter. Get two.

294. Do a good job because you want to, not because you have to. This puts you in charge instead of your boss.

295. Remember that the shortest way to get anywhere is to have good company travelling with you.

296. Never type a love letter. Use a fountain pen.

297. Never buy a chair or sofa without first sitting on it for several minutes.

298. Don’t be thin-skinned. Take criticism as well as praise with equal grace.

299. At the end of your days, be leaning forward --- not falling backwards.

300. Never eat liver at a restaurant. Some things should be done only in the privacy of one’s home.

301. Keep impeccable tax records.

302. Clean out a different drawer in your house every week.

303. Share your knowledge. It’s a way TO ACHIEVE immortality.

304. Be gentle with the earth.

305. Don’t work for a company led by someone of questionable character.

306. When working with contractors, include a penalty clause in your contract for their non finishing on time.

307. Read bulletin boards at the grocery store, college bookstore and coin laundry . You wil find all sorts of interesting things there.

308. The next time you are standing next to a police officer, firefighter or paramedic, tell them that you appreciate what they do for the community.

309. Learn three knock-knock jokes so you will always be ready to entertain children.

310. Spend your time and energy creating, not criticizing.

311. Visit your old high school and introduce yourself to the principal. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of classes.

312. Respect sailboats, snowmobiles and motorcycles. They can teach you a painful lesson very fast.

313. Act with courtesy and fairness regardless of how others treat you. Don’t let them determine your response.

314. In a verbal confrontation , lower your voice to the degree that the other person raises his or hers.

315. Let your children see you do things for your wife that lets them know how much you love and treasure her.

316. Take photographs of every car you own. Later, these photos will trigger wonderful memories.

317. Don’t allow children to ride in the back of a pickup truck.

318. When you are a dinner guest at a restaurant , don’t order anything more expensive than your host does.

319. When someone offers to pay you now or latter, choose now.

320. DOn’t leave hair in the shower drain.

321. When travelling the backroads, stop whenever you see a sign that reads “Honey For Sale”.

322. Start every day with the most important thing you have to do so. Save the less important tasks later.

323. Think twice before deciding not to charge for your work. People often don’t value what they don’t pay for.

324. Don’t outlive your money.

325. Never grab at a falling knife.

326. Never take what you cannot use.

327. When there is a hill to climb, don’t think that waiting will make it smaller.

328. When your dog dies, frame its collar and put it above a window facing west.

329. When a garment label warns “Dry CLaen Only” , believe it.

330. Don’t eat any meat loaf but your mom’s.

331. Write the date and names of non-family members on the backs of all photos as soon a you get them back from the developer.

332. Help a child plant a small garden.

333. Pray. There is immeasurable power in it.

334. Don’t take 11 items to the 10 items Express check-Out Lane.

335. Don’t call a fishing rod a “Pole”, a line a “Rope”, a rifle a “Gun” or a ship a “Boat”.

336. At meetings , resist turning around to see who has just arrived late.

337. Don’t ride a bicycle or motorcycle barefooted.

338. Just because you earn a decent wage, don’t look down on those who don’t. To put things in perspective , consider what would happen to the public good if you didn’t do your job for 30 days. Next consider the consequences if sanitation workers didn’t do their jobs for 30 days. Now whose job is more important?”

339. Don’t purchase anything in a package that appears to have been opened.

340. Refuse to share personal and financial information unless you feel it is absolutely essential.

341. DOn’t do business with people who knock on your door and say, “ I just happened to be in the neighbourhood.”

342. Choose a business partner the way you choose a tennis partner. Select someone who’s strong where you are weak.

343. Sometimes realize how much I have developed and how easier it is to think that- with good will , integrity and competence – the goals I have set are not so difficult to achieve.

344. Call a nrusing home or retirement centre and ask for a list of the residents who seldom get mail or visitors. Send them a crad several times a year. Sign it, “Someone who thinks you are very special.”

345. Make duplicates of all important keys.

346. Read a lot when you are on vacation, but nothing that has to do with your business.

347. Put the knife in the jelly before putting it in the peanut butter when you make a sandwitch.

348. Never buy a house in a neighbour hood where you have to pay before pumping gas.

349. Remember that what’s right isn’t always popular and what’s popular isn’t always right.

350. Before buying a house or renting an apartment, check the water pressure by turning on the faucets and the shower and then flushing the toilet.

351. Overestimate travel time by 15 percent.

352. Properly fiitng shoes should feel good as soon as you try them on. Don’t believe the sales person who says, “They will be fine as soon as you break them in.”

353. Schedule your bachelor party at least two days before your wedding.

354. Get a haircut a week before the big interview.

355. Spend your life lifting people up, not putting people down.

356. Never interrupt when you are being flattered.

357. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

358. Don’t pick up after your children. That’s their job.

359. Own a cowboy hat.

360. Own a comfortable chair for reading.

361. Own a set of good kitchen knives.

362. In business or in life, don’t follow the wagon tracks too closely.

363. Brush your teeth before putting on your tie.

364. Never risk what you can’t afford to lose.

365. Mind your own business.

366. Don’t trust a woman who doesn’t close her eyes when you kiss her.

367. Never tell a man he’s losing his hair. He already knows.

368. Learn to use a needle and thread, a steam iron and an espresso machine.

369. Never say, “ My child would never do that.”

370. Once a year, go some place you’ve never been before.

371. Replace the batteries in smoke alarms every January first.

372. Never order chicken-fried steak in a place that doesn’t have a jukebox.

373. Remember that ignorance is expensive.

374. Keep candles and matches in the kitchen and bedroom in case of power failure.

375. If you make a lot of money, put it to use helping others while you are living. That’s wealth’s greatest satisfaction.

376. Listen to your critics. They will keep you focused and innovative.

377. Never tell a person who is experiencing deep sorrow, “I know how you feel.” You don’t.

378. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a stroke of good luck.

379. Never say anything to a news reporter that you don’t want to see on the front page of your local paper. Comments made “of the record” seldom are.

380. Remember the old proverb, “Out of debt, out of danger.”

381. Don’t allow your dog to bark and disturb the neighbours.

382. when declaring your rights, don’t forget your responsibilities.

383. Remember that what you give will afford you more pleasure than what you get.

384. Display your street number prominently on your mailbox or house in case emergency vehicles need to find you.

385. Think twice before accepting a job that requires you to work in an office with no windows.

386. Remember that evevryone you meet wears an invisible sign. It reads, “Notice me. Make me feel important.”

387. Never hire someone you wouldn’t invite home to dinner.

388. Perform your job better than anyone else can. That’s the best job security I know.

389. When camping or hiking, never leave evidence that you were there.

390. Dress respectfully when attending mandir.

391. Never ask an accountant, lawer, or doctor professional questions in a social seating.

392. When someone has provided you with exceptional service, write a note to his or her boss.

393. If you’ve learned that a good friend is ill, don’t ask him about it. Let him tell you first.

394. For easier reading in motel rooms, pack your own 100- watt light bulb.

395. If you lend someone money, make sure his character exceeds the collateral.

396. Whether it’s life or a horse that throws you, get right back soon.

397. Be cautious telling people how contented and happy you are. Many will resent it.

398. Hang up if someone puts you on hold to take a “call waiting.”

399. Accept the fact that regardless of how many times you are right, you will sometimes be wrong.

400. Every once in a while ask yourself the question, “If money weren’t a consideration , what would I like to be doing ?”

401. Learn the rules. then break some.

402. No matter how old you get, hug and kiss your mother whenever you greet her.

403. Watch “The Andy Griffith Show” to help put things in perspective.

404. Put love notes in your child’s lunch box.

405. Encourage anyone who is trying to improve mentally, physically, or spiritually.

406. Remember that half the joy of achievement is in the anticipation.

407. Go ot rodeos.

408. Support the red Cross.

409. Challenge yourself. Aim high.

410. Be especially courteous and patient with older people.

411. Remember that the best relationship is one where your love for each other is greater than your need for each other.

412. when you need assstance, ask this way: “I have got a problem. I wonder if you would be kind enough to help me ?”

413. Get involve w ith your local government. As someone said, “Politics is too important to be left to the politicians.”

414. Visit friends and relatives when they are in the hospital; you need stay only a few minutes and see the effect of recovery of them after few days.

415. Never swap your integrity for money, power, or fame.

416. Never tell an off-color joke when ladies are present.

417. Never sell yourself short.

418. Fool someone on April 1st.

419. Never remind someone of a kindness or act of generosity you have shown him or her. Bestow a favor and then forget it.

420. Help your children set up their own savings and checking accounts by age 16.

421. Learn to play “Amazing Grace” on the piano.

422. Put on old clothes before you get out the paint brushes.

423. Never be ashamed of honest tears.

424. Never be ashamed of your patriotism.

425. Never be ashamed of laughter that’s too loud or singing that’s too joyful.

426. Always try the house dressing.

427. Don’t trust your memory; write it down.

428. When you get really angry, stick your hands in your pockets.

429. Do all you can to increase the salaries of good teachers.

430. At least once , date a woman with beautiful red hair.

431. Don’t think that sending a gift or flowers substitutes for your presence.

432. When visiting a small town at lunch time, choose the café on the square.

433. Remember that nothing really important ever happens until someone takes a chance.

434. Never ask a barber if you need a hair cut.

435. Truth is serious business. When CRITICIZINGS OTHERS, remember that a little goes a long way.

436. Never buy a piece of a jewelry that costs more than Rs. 5000 without doing a little haggling.

437. when your children are learning to play musical instruments, buy them good ones.

438. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

439. Never “borrow” so much as a pencil from your workplace.

440. Become a tourist for a day in your own hometown. Take a tour. See the sights

441. Don’t confuse foolishness with bravery.

442. Don’t mistake kindness for weakness.

443. Answer the easy question first.

444. Don’t discuss domestic problems at work.

445. A racehorse that consistently runs just a second faster than another horse is worth millions of dollars more. Be willing to give that extra effort that seperates the winner from the one in second place.

446. Create smoke-free office and home.

447. Let some things remain mysterious.

448. Never ignore evil.

449. Be especially courteous and patient with older people.

450. Remember this statement by Coach Lou Holtz, “Life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it.”

451. Travel. See new places, but remember to take along an open mind.

452. Never get a tattoo.

453. Never eat a sugared doughnut when wearing a dark suit.

454. Call before dropping in on friends and family.

455. When you are away from home and hear church bells, thinks of someone who loves you.

456. When friends offer to help, let them.

457. Never decide to do nothing just because you can only do a little. Do what you can.

458. Acknowledge a gift, no matter how small.

459. Every now and then, bite off more than you can chew.

460. Remember that your character is your destiny.

461. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

462. Grind it out. Hanging on just one second longer than your competition makes you the winner.

463. Buy and use your customer’s products.

464. Be better prepared than you think you will need to be.

465. Buy a small, inexpensive camera. Take it with your evevrywhere.

466. Let your handshake be as binding as a signed contract.

467. Keep and file the best business letters you receive.

468. pay the extra Rs.500 for the best seats at a play or concert.

469. Give handout materials after your presentation, never before.

470. Never buy anyhting from a rude salesperson, no matter how much you want it.

471. Get a flu shot.

472. Worry makes for a hard pillow. When something’s troubling you, before going to sleep, jot down three things you can do the next day to help solve the problem.

473. Buy a red umbrella. It’s easier to find among all the black ones, and it adds a little color to rainy days.

474. Hire people more for their judgement than for their talents.

475. Love someone who doesn’t deserve it.

476. every so often, go where you can hear a wooden screen door slam shut.

477. when you mean no, sa it in a way that’s not ambigiuous.

478. TO insure a successful year, you must begin on January 1.

479. Give children toys that are powered by their imagination, not by batteries.

480. Remember that your child’s character is like good soup. Both are homemade.

481. Never open a restaurant.

482. When you’re buying something that you only need to buy once, buy the best you can afford.

483. As soon as you get married, start saving for your children’s education.

484. Reject and condemn prejudice based on race, gender, religion, or age.

485. Choose a seat in the row next to the emergency exit when flying. You will get more leg room.

486. Remember that 80% of the success in any job is based on your ability to deal with people.

487. You may dress unconventionally, but remember that the more strangely you dress, the better you have to be.

488. Life is short. Eat more pancakes and fewer rice cakes.

489. Be suspicious of a boss who schedules meetings instead of making decisions.

490. Carry three business cards in your wallet.

491. Regardless of the situation, react with class.

492. For emergencies, always have a quarter in your pocket and a Rs. 500 bill hidden in your wallet.

493. Don’t overfeed horses or brother-in-law.

494. Be able to hit consistently four oput of five at the free-throw line.

Become the kind of person who brightens a room just by entering it.

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