Common Sense is based on knowledge. And knowledge flows because educated lots don't think. They listen to people whom they trust and start believing what they are told. This forms the very basic pillar for publicity and propaganda. People who encourage others to think are deemed subversive. Socrates encouraged his followers to think, and he was accused of corrupting the youth.The reason is pretty clear. When you think for yourself you may come out with answers that deviate from the accepted truths of society around you. It means a lot of people are going to be upset with you. Copernicus, Columbus and Galileo are classic examples.
Consider a turkey's life. Right from birth, every morning it is pulled out of its cage, and made to swim in a pond and is fed with everything it wants and at the end of the day it is put back into its cage again. It leads this happy life for hundreds of days till the thousandth day and on the 1001th day it gets its head chopped of and is lying on a rich man's plate in a High Profile Restaurant who eats it over talks on business, family and other "important" stuff.
The turkey's common sense is defied all throughout its life because what it has observed and inferred during those 1000 days is no way indicative of the fact that it has been raised to get killed. An intelligent one in flock might wonder where their loved ones go, but the reality is something they can never know, because it defies their common sense.
Basic common sense said that it is not possible in any case for a 80 kg man to fly, or for a piece of iron 100 tonnes of weight to float on water, or that the earth is round, or that sun does not revolve around the earth.
"How can the sun not revolve around the earth, its basic common sense."
Another example, an american air force officer who anticipates the threat before 9/11 , using his powers responsibly gets the gates of all airplanes in his country replaced with 6 inch think steel gates, and 9/11 was averted. Now that 9/11 did not happen, the officer was fired, for wasting country's resources in something unworthy. The guy can't claim saving ten thousand lives. An Indian chap claimed saving thousands of lives in Mumbai, considering the terrorists plans, and that only 180 were killed. The city so big, with so well planned, the terrorists were restricted to only small attacks. The guy could not put this into proper words, a mistake that TV media never does and made sure that the guy was sacked. Not surprising to anyone of us, the guy was R.R. Patil. Because he thought of something, which defied everybody's common sense.
Educated people are less likely to discover truth, because their minds are filled with knowledge,which is nothing but others thoughts in which they believe, they call it common sense.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Monday, December 15, 2008
James while John had had had had had had had had had had had a better effect on the teacher
Lexical Ambiguity
Of course the title doesn't make sense. But if you are new to it, you'll be surprised to know that with proper punctuation, it does. Here is how an article on Wikipedia describes it.
"James while John had had had had had had had had had had had a better effect on the teacher" is an English sentence demonstrating lexical ambiguity. The sentence is often given as a word puzzle for which one must find the proper punctuation to give it meaning.Reichenbach used it in 1947 as an exercise to the reader (but as "John where Jack…"), to illustrate the different levels of language, namely object language and metalanguage.
The phrase can be understood more clearly by adding punctuation and quotation marks:
James, while John had had "had," had had "had had";
"had had" had had a better effect on the teacher.
The meaning could thus be rendered, after some reordering and changing a few words, "While John had used 'had,' James had used 'had had.' The teacher had preferred 'had had.'"
Another example:
A similar, punctuated repetition of had had appears in Jasper Fforde's The Well f Lost Plots:
Good. Item seven. The had had and that that problem. [...] 'Okay,' said the Bellman, whose head was in danger of falling apart like a chocolate orange, 'let me get this straight: David Copperfield, unlike Pilgrim's Progress, which had had had, had had had had. Had had had had TGC's approval?'
There was a very long pause.'Right,' said the Bellman with a sigh.
Of course the title doesn't make sense. But if you are new to it, you'll be surprised to know that with proper punctuation, it does. Here is how an article on Wikipedia describes it.
"James while John had had had had had had had had had had had a better effect on the teacher" is an English sentence demonstrating lexical ambiguity. The sentence is often given as a word puzzle for which one must find the proper punctuation to give it meaning.Reichenbach used it in 1947 as an exercise to the reader (but as "John where Jack…"), to illustrate the different levels of language, namely object language and metalanguage.
The phrase can be understood more clearly by adding punctuation and quotation marks:
James, while John had had "had," had had "had had";
"had had" had had a better effect on the teacher.
The meaning could thus be rendered, after some reordering and changing a few words, "While John had used 'had,' James had used 'had had.' The teacher had preferred 'had had.'"
Another example:
A similar, punctuated repetition of had had appears in Jasper Fforde's The Well f Lost Plots:
Good. Item seven. The had had and that that problem. [...] 'Okay,' said the Bellman, whose head was in danger of falling apart like a chocolate orange, 'let me get this straight: David Copperfield, unlike Pilgrim's Progress, which had had had, had had had had. Had had had had TGC's approval?'
There was a very long pause.'Right,' said the Bellman with a sigh.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
My blues and My greens
Blues:
- On a rainy day, when I have to walk back from office to home, on muddy roadside, soiling shoes and clothes.
- When I visit family for a cousin's wedding, and my other cousins have not reached by then.
- When I used to travel from Varanasi to Mumbai in a train, and with every passing station I have to count the hours left before reach home. It gets more blue, the closer I get there.
- When in Kodaikanal, my friends went rock climbing leaving me behind because I was knocked but, and every time I tried to recall how I got out, everything turned black.
- When my card does not work at billing time.
- When I realize that the shirt I wanted to wear to office that day is not clean/ironed.
- When it has been long since I had played TT and I hurry to the table but still have to sign for getting the TT bats
- When I am playing TT and there is a call and I receive it only to hear a recorded message playing for dialer tone adv, "Pappu can't dance saala! " arre pappu naach nahi sakta to main kya karu????
- When a cricket match is interrupted by rain gods.
- When all my cousins call in and say "abey yaar tu aaja
- When I can stand under a shower and let the water flow all over me, incessant, unrestrained, cleansing everything from mind to soul....
- joy on mom's face when i reach home
- Remembering the
- When I realize that I have helped somebody without expecting anything in return.
- hearing that ring tone, that specific one, when mom, dad or sis calls.
- When sometimes I (very rarely) I realize that I did something right which I had done wrong earlier.
- sitting and enjoying mom oiling my hair
- calling home with no reason, just hearing everyone speak from the other side
- wishing diwali, hugging everyone u meet
- When I keep delaying my daily ablutions and Mummy comes to shout on me to go take a bath!
- When I sometimes dress up with care( insaano types)... and I realise that its worth it ;)
- when i hear my sis's voice ..bhai tujhe pata hain aaj kya hua..
- when my mom hugs me on my way back to
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Sunday, November 30, 2008
We will plant the 'Flag of Islam' in Washington, Tel Aviv and New Delhi - Lashkar-e-Toiba
Mumbai attacks have again brought into light one of the deadliest organizations history has known.
How much do you know about Lashkar-e-Toiba? Get your scope refreshed.
Formed in 1990 in the Kunar province of Afghanistan, the Lashkar-e-Toiba (also known as Jama’at-ud-Da’awa) is based in Muridke near Lahore in Pakistan and is headed by Hafiz Muhammad Saeed.Its first presence in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) was recorded in 1993 when 12 Pakistani and Afghan mercenaries infiltrated across the Line of Control (LoC) in tandem with the Islami Inquilabi Mahaz, a terrorist outfit then active in the Poonch district of J&K.
1. Proscription
The LeT is outlawed in India under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.It was included in the Terrorist Exclusion List by the US Government on December 5, 2001.The group was proscribed by the United Nations in May 2005.The military regime of Gen. Pervez Musharraf banned the Lashkar-e-Toiba in Pakistan on January 12, 2002.
2. Objectives/Ideology
The LeT’s professed ideology goes beyond merely challenging India's sovereignty over the State of Jammu and Kashmir. The Lashkar's ‘agenda’, as outlined in a pamphlet titled Why are we waging jihad includes the restoration of Islamic rule over all parts of India.
Hafiz Saeed,a scholar of Islam said during the All Pakistan Ulema Convention held on July 17, 2003, at Lahore,Jihad is the only way Pakistan can move towards dignity and prosperity.The LeT has consistently advocated the use of force and vowed that it would plant the 'flag of Islam' in Washington, Tel Aviv and New Delhi.
3. Area of Operation
The LeT has been able to network with several Islamist extremist organizations across India, especially in J&K, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat. LeT is actively engaged in subversive activities in the States of Maharashtra, West Bengal, Bihar, Hyderabad, Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh at the instance of ISI to expand the frontier of violence outside J&K by subverting fringe elements.The LeT, according to Mumbai Police, carried out the 7/11 serial bombings in Mumbai in which at least 200 people were killed.
4. Centres
The Lashkar-e-Toiba has training camps spread across Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). Its camps, recruitment centres/offices are spread across the length and breadth of Pakistan and PoK in Muzaffarabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Karachi, Multan, Quetta, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Gilgit (in the Northern Area of PoK), etc. LeT reportedly has 2,200 offices across Pakistan.
5. Training and Operational Strategies
The outfit provides training to both militant cadres and the Ulema (religious scholars). Its militant cadres are given two months training in the handling of AK series rifles, LMGs, pistols, rocket launchers and hand grenades. It also provides a 21-day training programme called Daura-e-Aam and a three months specialized training programme called Daura-e-Khas.
The Ulema are provided with a 42-days course. At the time of induction, the young recruits are made to go through a fresher course called Bait-ur-Rizwan.
6. Links
It is closely linked to the Inter-Services Intelligence, the Taliban and al Qaeda.LeT has an extensive network that run across Pakistan and India with branches in Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, Bangladesh and South East Asia. The LeT maintains ties to various religious/military groups around the world, ranging from the Philippines to the Middle East and Chechnya primarily through the al Qaeda fraternal network.The LeT has also been part of the Bosnian campaign against the Serbs.
It has allegedly set up sleeper cells in the U.S. and Australia, trained terrorists from other countries and has entered new theatres of Jihad like Iraq.The group has links with many international Islamist terrorist groups like the Ikhwan-ul-Musalmeen of Egypt and other Arab groups.
7. Weaponary
AK series rifles, LMG/HMG's, Hand Grenades, Rockets, Pistols, Mortars, Anti-tank mines, Anti personnel mines, Anti Aircraft Gun, Remote Control Device, explosive devices and sophisticated communication system.
Source: South Asia Terror Portal
How much do you know about Lashkar-e-Toiba? Get your scope refreshed.
Formed in 1990 in the Kunar province of Afghanistan, the Lashkar-e-Toiba (also known as Jama’at-ud-Da’awa) is based in Muridke near Lahore in Pakistan and is headed by Hafiz Muhammad Saeed.Its first presence in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) was recorded in 1993 when 12 Pakistani and Afghan mercenaries infiltrated across the Line of Control (LoC) in tandem with the Islami Inquilabi Mahaz, a terrorist outfit then active in the Poonch district of J&K.
1. Proscription
The LeT is outlawed in India under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.It was included in the Terrorist Exclusion List by the US Government on December 5, 2001.The group was proscribed by the United Nations in May 2005.The military regime of Gen. Pervez Musharraf banned the Lashkar-e-Toiba in Pakistan on January 12, 2002.
2. Objectives/Ideology
The LeT’s professed ideology goes beyond merely challenging India's sovereignty over the State of Jammu and Kashmir. The Lashkar's ‘agenda’, as outlined in a pamphlet titled Why are we waging jihad includes the restoration of Islamic rule over all parts of India.
Hafiz Saeed,a scholar of Islam said during the All Pakistan Ulema Convention held on July 17, 2003, at Lahore,Jihad is the only way Pakistan can move towards dignity and prosperity.The LeT has consistently advocated the use of force and vowed that it would plant the 'flag of Islam' in Washington, Tel Aviv and New Delhi.
3. Area of Operation
The LeT has been able to network with several Islamist extremist organizations across India, especially in J&K, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat. LeT is actively engaged in subversive activities in the States of Maharashtra, West Bengal, Bihar, Hyderabad, Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh at the instance of ISI to expand the frontier of violence outside J&K by subverting fringe elements.The LeT, according to Mumbai Police, carried out the 7/11 serial bombings in Mumbai in which at least 200 people were killed.
4. Centres
The Lashkar-e-Toiba has training camps spread across Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). Its camps, recruitment centres/offices are spread across the length and breadth of Pakistan and PoK in Muzaffarabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Karachi, Multan, Quetta, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Gilgit (in the Northern Area of PoK), etc. LeT reportedly has 2,200 offices across Pakistan.
5. Training and Operational Strategies
The outfit provides training to both militant cadres and the Ulema (religious scholars). Its militant cadres are given two months training in the handling of AK series rifles, LMGs, pistols, rocket launchers and hand grenades. It also provides a 21-day training programme called Daura-e-Aam and a three months specialized training programme called Daura-e-Khas.
The Ulema are provided with a 42-days course. At the time of induction, the young recruits are made to go through a fresher course called Bait-ur-Rizwan.
6. Links
It is closely linked to the Inter-Services Intelligence, the Taliban and al Qaeda.LeT has an extensive network that run across Pakistan and India with branches in Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, Bangladesh and South East Asia. The LeT maintains ties to various religious/military groups around the world, ranging from the Philippines to the Middle East and Chechnya primarily through the al Qaeda fraternal network.The LeT has also been part of the Bosnian campaign against the Serbs.
It has allegedly set up sleeper cells in the U.S. and Australia, trained terrorists from other countries and has entered new theatres of Jihad like Iraq.The group has links with many international Islamist terrorist groups like the Ikhwan-ul-Musalmeen of Egypt and other Arab groups.
7. Weaponary
AK series rifles, LMG/HMG's, Hand Grenades, Rockets, Pistols, Mortars, Anti-tank mines, Anti personnel mines, Anti Aircraft Gun, Remote Control Device, explosive devices and sophisticated communication system.
Source: South Asia Terror Portal
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Whose Kashmir is it anyway??
What will the world remember 17th Nov 2008 for?
Yuvi's century? Citigroup crash? anything else?
What happened on 17th Nov deserves a new chapter in the book on history of a political dispute which a billion have rued over for 61 years now. It was on this day that the first phase of Legislative Assemble Elections were held in Kashmir. If it hasn't hit you yet, look at these figures
Voter turnout for Elections
Does that ring bells??
Bandipura is a region where temperature falls below 0 in this season and yet the turnout was as much as 57%, way more than what it was in 2002 when the valley was silenced with tensions of a nuclear war.
Separatists have always maintained that people of Kashmir should be allowed to decide which country they want to belong. And if that was not enough they called for a boycott of these Elections week ago. Repeating the same story of 1947 when both countries had agreed that the rulers of princely states would be given the right to opt for either Pakistan or India. In 1947, Kashmir's population was 77 per cent Muslim and it shared a boundary with Pakistan. Hence, it was anticipated that the Maharaja would accede to Pakistan, when the British paramountcy ended on 14-15 August. When he hesitated to do this, Pakistan launched a guerilla onslaught meant to frighten its ruler into submission. Instead the Maharaja appealed to Mountbatten for assistance, and the Governor-General agreed on the condition that the ruler accede to India. Once the Maharaja signed the Instrument of Accession, which included a clause added by Mountbatten asking that the wishes of the Kashmiri people be taken into account, Indian soldiers entered Kashmir and drove the Pakistani-sponsored irregulars from all but a small section of the state, giving seperatists and Pakistanis a point that people of Kashmir were not given any chance to exercise their option to chose between India and Pakistan.
I hope it does ring Bells now.
Had the people of Kashmir not wanted to be with India, would they turnout in these numbers to exercise this constitutional right provided by the Secular State of India?
I can't resist mentioning the idea of BJP which they used in 2004 general elections although they lost then, they said
"Kashmir has always belonged to India and will continue to be Indian".
It is only today that it has been sealed by people of Kashmir themselves.
Yuvi's century? Citigroup crash? anything else?
What happened on 17th Nov deserves a new chapter in the book on history of a political dispute which a billion have rued over for 61 years now. It was on this day that the first phase of Legislative Assemble Elections were held in Kashmir. If it hasn't hit you yet, look at these figures
Voter turnout for Elections
2002 | 2008 | |
|---|---|---|
Bandipura | 44 | 57 |
Gurez | 76 | 74 |
Sonawari | 42 | 46 |
Mendhar | 78 | 73 |
Poonch | 74 | 73 |
Surankot | 70 | 68 |
Does that ring bells??
Bandipura is a region where temperature falls below 0 in this season and yet the turnout was as much as 57%, way more than what it was in 2002 when the valley was silenced with tensions of a nuclear war.
Separatists have always maintained that people of Kashmir should be allowed to decide which country they want to belong. And if that was not enough they called for a boycott of these Elections week ago. Repeating the same story of 1947 when both countries had agreed that the rulers of princely states would be given the right to opt for either Pakistan or India. In 1947, Kashmir's population was 77 per cent Muslim and it shared a boundary with Pakistan. Hence, it was anticipated that the Maharaja would accede to Pakistan, when the British paramountcy ended on 14-15 August. When he hesitated to do this, Pakistan launched a guerilla onslaught meant to frighten its ruler into submission. Instead the Maharaja appealed to Mountbatten for assistance, and the Governor-General agreed on the condition that the ruler accede to India. Once the Maharaja signed the Instrument of Accession, which included a clause added by Mountbatten asking that the wishes of the Kashmiri people be taken into account, Indian soldiers entered Kashmir and drove the Pakistani-sponsored irregulars from all but a small section of the state, giving seperatists and Pakistanis a point that people of Kashmir were not given any chance to exercise their option to chose between India and Pakistan.
I hope it does ring Bells now.
Had the people of Kashmir not wanted to be with India, would they turnout in these numbers to exercise this constitutional right provided by the Secular State of India?
I can't resist mentioning the idea of BJP which they used in 2004 general elections although they lost then, they said
"Kashmir has always belonged to India and will continue to be Indian".
It is only today that it has been sealed by people of Kashmir themselves.
Monday, November 17, 2008
I am back
I received an sms from a friend who is doing BDS and is going to be a doc soon. She says,
"Things will change: From Classroom to clinic, From books to seminars, From Jeans to formals, From Pocket Money to Salaries, From girlfriend to wife, What will not change is yaara di yaari"
Been off for eight months.. big deal?
To my satisfaction, these eight months were the most deserving of a leave than all others in my life, since the day I started blogging. Justified is the cockiness in my words because these eight months have brought all the good changes mentioned in this sms, in my life.
"...All the good changes...!!!"
Well I was lucky enough to get into a gaming company ( Ivy Comptech) where people are so hard working and fun loving -at the same time, nobody is expected to be dressed in formals. And I was lucky enough for having a sister who is only an year older to me, that everybody talks about her wedding and I have had a sparing from those talks for atleast an year.
So things haven't changed from Jeans to Formals and wont change from Girlfriend to Wife hopefully for another 3-4 years ( I will buy the next 2 years with an MS seat, if I am lucky enough).
I am falling in love with Hyderabad, house on rent is not too costly, conveyance is cheap, language is not much of an issue and everybody accepts my debit card :P.Nonetheless, I am missing my college days, most of all the affairs, final year jitters and friends. Last day in college was tough, learned a hell lot during the first few months of work and now everybody is supposed to push for that extra effort that will distinguish them from the crowd.
I'l blog frequently now (that's the plan)
"Things will change: From Classroom to clinic, From books to seminars, From Jeans to formals, From Pocket Money to Salaries, From girlfriend to wife, What will not change is yaara di yaari"
Been off for eight months.. big deal?
To my satisfaction, these eight months were the most deserving of a leave than all others in my life, since the day I started blogging. Justified is the cockiness in my words because these eight months have brought all the good changes mentioned in this sms, in my life.
"...All the good changes...!!!"
Well I was lucky enough to get into a gaming company ( Ivy Comptech) where people are so hard working and fun loving -at the same time, nobody is expected to be dressed in formals. And I was lucky enough for having a sister who is only an year older to me, that everybody talks about her wedding and I have had a sparing from those talks for atleast an year.
So things haven't changed from Jeans to Formals and wont change from Girlfriend to Wife hopefully for another 3-4 years ( I will buy the next 2 years with an MS seat, if I am lucky enough).
I am falling in love with Hyderabad, house on rent is not too costly, conveyance is cheap, language is not much of an issue and everybody accepts my debit card :P.Nonetheless, I am missing my college days, most of all the affairs, final year jitters and friends. Last day in college was tough, learned a hell lot during the first few months of work and now everybody is supposed to push for that extra effort that will distinguish them from the crowd.
I'l blog frequently now (that's the plan)
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Tere Bin Lyrics... n translation
Tere Bin was a very cool song filmed in 'Delhi Heights'. Music was rocking... Translation of Lyrics follows '/' and am sure everyone will find the lyrics more beautiful than their sweethearts they will associate these words to.. :P
tere bin / besides you
sanu sohnia / my love
koi hor nahio labhna / i shan't find another
jo dave / who'll give
ruh nu sakun / peace to my soul
chukke jo nakhra mera / and indulge me
ve main sare ghumm ke vekhia / i have gone and seen it all
amrika , roos, malaysia / america, russia, malaysiana
kittey vi koi fark si / there wasn't any difference
har kise di koi shart si / they all had some condition
koi mangda mera si sama / some asked for my time
koi hunda surat te fida / some were fascinated with my face
koi mangda meri si vafa / some demanded my fidelity
na koi mangda merian bala / none wanted my demons
tere bin / besides you
hor na kise / no one else
mangni merian bala / wanted my demons
tere bin / besides you
hor na kise / no one else
karni dhup vich chhan / shall shade me in the sun
jiven rukia / (the) way you paused
si tun zara / slightly
nahion bhulna / i shan't forget
main sari umar / all my life
jiven akhia si akhan chura / you said, looking away
"rovenga sanu yad kar" / "you shall weep in my memory"
hasia si main hasa ajeeb / i laughed a strange laugh
(par) tu nahi si hasia / but you didn't
dil vich tera jo raaz si / you had a secret in your heart
mainu tu kyon ni dasia / why didn't you tell me
tere bin / besides you
sanu eh raz / none shall tell this
kise hor nahion dasna / secret to me
tere bin / besides you
peerh da ilaaj / what druid
kis vaid kolon labhna / has the cure to my ills
milia si ajj mainu / i found today
tera ik patra / a note of yours
likhia si jis 'te / on which you had scribbeled
tun shayr varey shah da / a varis shah couplet
park ke si osnu / upon reading which
hanjnu ik duliya / a teardrop fell
akhan 'ch band si / what was locked in the eye
seh raaz ajj khulia / was revealed today
ki tere bin / that other than you
eh mere hanjnu / these tears of mine
kise hor / won't be kissed by
nahio chumna / none else
ki tere bin / that other than you
eh mere hanjhu / these tears of mine
mitti vich rulnha / will wither in the dust
tere bin / besides you
sanu sohnia / my love
koi hor nahio labhna / i shan't find another
jo dave / who'll give
ruh nu sakun / peace to my soul
chukke jo nakhra mera / and indulge me
ve main sare ghumm ke vekhia / i have gone and seen it all
amrika , roos, malaysia / america, russia, malaysiana
kittey vi koi fark si / there wasn't any difference
har kise di koi shart si / they all had some condition
koi mangda mera si sama / some asked for my time
koi hunda surat te fida / some were fascinated with my face
koi mangda meri si vafa / some demanded my fidelity
na koi mangda merian bala / none wanted my demons
tere bin / besides you
hor na kise / no one else
mangni merian bala / wanted my demons
tere bin / besides you
hor na kise / no one else
karni dhup vich chhan / shall shade me in the sun
jiven rukia / (the) way you paused
si tun zara / slightly
nahion bhulna / i shan't forget
main sari umar / all my life
jiven akhia si akhan chura / you said, looking away
"rovenga sanu yad kar" / "you shall weep in my memory"
hasia si main hasa ajeeb / i laughed a strange laugh
(par) tu nahi si hasia / but you didn't
dil vich tera jo raaz si / you had a secret in your heart
mainu tu kyon ni dasia / why didn't you tell me
tere bin / besides you
sanu eh raz / none shall tell this
kise hor nahion dasna / secret to me
tere bin / besides you
peerh da ilaaj / what druid
kis vaid kolon labhna / has the cure to my ills
milia si ajj mainu / i found today
tera ik patra / a note of yours
likhia si jis 'te / on which you had scribbeled
tun shayr varey shah da / a varis shah couplet
park ke si osnu / upon reading which
hanjnu ik duliya / a teardrop fell
akhan 'ch band si / what was locked in the eye
seh raaz ajj khulia / was revealed today
ki tere bin / that other than you
eh mere hanjnu / these tears of mine
kise hor / won't be kissed by
nahio chumna / none else
ki tere bin / that other than you
eh mere hanjhu / these tears of mine
mitti vich rulnha / will wither in the dust
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Are India the new leaders in cricket?
After a crunching win in the first final and a thrilled filled second final victory, India have won the CB Series outplaying Australia in every department of the game in the finals. The tri-series must be ranked as one of the toughest tournaments in the game, alongside the World Cup and Champions Trophy.
Most keen observers of the game would agree that if the umpiring in the Test series had been competent, India would have at least drawn the series if not won it.
Clearly, India are now at par with the world champions, if not better than them. It would make the trans-pacific rivalry the premier contest in the game.
India had also won the Twenty20 championship in South Africa, and the Under-19 team has recently won the junior world title in Kuala Lumpur.
Have India rewritten the new world order in cricket?
Is this good run a short, passing phase or a sign of things to come? Most importantly, can India win the 2011 World Cup?
Most keen observers of the game would agree that if the umpiring in the Test series had been competent, India would have at least drawn the series if not won it.
Clearly, India are now at par with the world champions, if not better than them. It would make the trans-pacific rivalry the premier contest in the game.
India had also won the Twenty20 championship in South Africa, and the Under-19 team has recently won the junior world title in Kuala Lumpur.
Have India rewritten the new world order in cricket?
Is this good run a short, passing phase or a sign of things to come? Most importantly, can India win the 2011 World Cup?
Monday, March 3, 2008
Is BCCI selling Indian Cricket's pride?
Courtesy: Girdhar Gopal's Article
BCCI's mild response to the trashing of Ishant Sharma and Harbhajan Singh I think tells a sordid tale. The whole thing appears to be for the benefit of IPL. Hayden, Ponting and Symonds the sledgers in chief of the Australian team are all playing in the IPL. Controversy sells tickets and so it appears that they will sacrifice India's honour for selling tickets in the IPL.
Otherwise, the abuse heaped on Harbhajan and the vulnerable 19 year old Ishant should have attracted a much harder and consequential response than is currently the case. The very fact that the insulters of Indian players and of India are given pride of place in the IPL tells us that the BCCI has no shame, in its worship of mammon. Pawar and his allies in Congress are long known to play vote bank politics. Such politics is a cynical exploitation of religious diferences for gain at the ballot. The game that Pawar and Company are playing vis a vis Australia and the IPL, is no less cynical. They are getting controversial people with a contempt of India to join the IPL just to stir the pot of passions in the IPL and in India. A cynical exercise par excellence.
It would have been much better if Symonds(in my view the Darth Vader of Australian cricket), Hayden showing absolute contempt and racial superiority towards India and Ricky Ponting who is willing to do anything to win had not been bought and paid for by the IPL at exhorbitant bonuses. There are hundreds of cricketers both in in India and abroad that could have been selected in lieu of the malignant three. Cricket quality might have suffered a bit, but India would have held its head up high and the malignant three would have found that rotton behavior has consequences.
BCCI's mild response to the trashing of Ishant Sharma and Harbhajan Singh I think tells a sordid tale. The whole thing appears to be for the benefit of IPL. Hayden, Ponting and Symonds the sledgers in chief of the Australian team are all playing in the IPL. Controversy sells tickets and so it appears that they will sacrifice India's honour for selling tickets in the IPL.
Otherwise, the abuse heaped on Harbhajan and the vulnerable 19 year old Ishant should have attracted a much harder and consequential response than is currently the case. The very fact that the insulters of Indian players and of India are given pride of place in the IPL tells us that the BCCI has no shame, in its worship of mammon. Pawar and his allies in Congress are long known to play vote bank politics. Such politics is a cynical exploitation of religious diferences for gain at the ballot. The game that Pawar and Company are playing vis a vis Australia and the IPL, is no less cynical. They are getting controversial people with a contempt of India to join the IPL just to stir the pot of passions in the IPL and in India. A cynical exercise par excellence.
It would have been much better if Symonds(in my view the Darth Vader of Australian cricket), Hayden showing absolute contempt and racial superiority towards India and Ricky Ponting who is willing to do anything to win had not been bought and paid for by the IPL at exhorbitant bonuses. There are hundreds of cricketers both in in India and abroad that could have been selected in lieu of the malignant three. Cricket quality might have suffered a bit, but India would have held its head up high and the malignant three would have found that rotton behavior has consequences.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
To all fellows passing out in 2008 to enter corporate world
Hi people...
Nobody can complain about his time in college... afterall it lets us do what we want...
This post is for my friends, for CSE08, for the batch of 2008 ITBHU, and for all students about to leave college and join the corporate world in 2008 in that order....I hope you had the time of your life...
Title: Green Day - Time Of Your Life lyrics
Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road.
Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go.
So make the best of this test, and don't ask why.
It's not a question, but a lesson learned in time.
It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.
So take the photographs, and still frames in your mind.
Hang it on a shelf, In good health and good time.
Tattoos of memories, and dead skin on trial.
For what it's worth, it was worth all the while.
It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.
Nobody can complain about his time in college... afterall it lets us do what we want...
This post is for my friends, for CSE08, for the batch of 2008 ITBHU, and for all students about to leave college and join the corporate world in 2008 in that order....I hope you had the time of your life...
Title: Green Day - Time Of Your Life lyrics
Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road.
Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go.
So make the best of this test, and don't ask why.
It's not a question, but a lesson learned in time.
It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.
So take the photographs, and still frames in your mind.
Hang it on a shelf, In good health and good time.
Tattoos of memories, and dead skin on trial.
For what it's worth, it was worth all the while.
It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.
Friday, February 22, 2008
18 LPA
The batch of 36 with an average of 7.6 LPA was expected to set on a high alarm when we heard of some company paying 18 LPA. Later on we found out that it places in Canada and that it works on website design which diluted all the hullabaloo...
Innovatice Tech Solutions is based in Canada and works on Website Designing. This was the first time I heard of a software company not based in India but recruiting from India
My personal assumption is that for a technical company.... the offer is good.
Can someone tell me how good 18 LPA is in Canada?
Innovatice Tech Solutions is based in Canada and works on Website Designing. This was the first time I heard of a software company not based in India but recruiting from India
My personal assumption is that for a technical company.... the offer is good.
Can someone tell me how good 18 LPA is in Canada?
Saturday, February 16, 2008
61 Years of Indo Pak Relations
India and Pakistan, two of the biggest countries of South east India share much of their histories, cultures, languages and religion yet have always been engaged in military and political disputes. This is an insight into the major events, causes and aftermaths highlighting the military disputes.
1947 First Indo-Pak War:
Click here for detailed report on wikipedia.
Known to most people by the first Kashmir War, this was the first of the four wars between India and the then new republic State of Pakistan.
Causes
Kashmir,inhabited by 75% Muslims was always under conditions of revolts and protests against Maharaja Hari Singh, the pre independece hindu king of Kashmir.Post independence, according to the instruments of partition of India, the rulers of princely states were given the choice to freely accede to either India or Pakistan. Initially,Maharaja hesitated fearing tribal warfare, but later on fell to India's pressure and joined the Republic in October 2007.This accession was questioned by Pakistanis. Pakistani claimed that since 75% of the inhabitants of Kashmir were Muslims, it should be a part of Pakistan.
The War
War began when Azad Kashmir Forces backed by new Pakistan government and (still doubtful) British support,entered Kashmir (Operation Gulmarg) with an objective of occupation of Kashmir, closely followed by other operations
Battling over a period of more than 2 months (Oct to Dec,1947),The occupation of a significant part of Kashmir change hands from India to Pakistan
At this stage Indian Prime Minister Mr. Jawahar Lal Nehru decided to ask UN to intervene. A UN cease-fire was arranged for the 31 December 1948.
Aftermaths
Pakistan was successful in having a significant part of Kashmir, though the war was claimed to be won by India.Approximately 2500+ soldiers were killed overall. Kashmir saw use of rifles,light tanks and armoured cars in this war.
1965 Second Indo-Pak War:
Click here for detailed Report on Wikipedia
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1965,also known as second Kashmir War was a culmination of skirmishes that took place between April 1965 and September 1965 between India and Pakistan.
The War and its Causes
The primary cause of conflicts was usually the Accession of Kashmir, although other border disputes existed, most notably over the Rann of Kutch, a barren region in the Indian state of Gujarat. Though the erstwhile princely state of Junagadh was integrated into India, its borders, especially in the marshlands to the west were ambiguous. This gave rise to a dispute between Pakistan and India.A war broke out in lands of Kutch.Pakistan was succesful in gaining 350 square miles (900 km²) of the Rann of Kutch. General Ayub Khan,Military commander of Pakistan is said to have believed that the Indian Army was unable to defend itself against a quick military campaign in the disputed territory of Kashmir, following a loss to China in 1962. Pakistan believed that the population of Kashmir was generally discontented with Indian rule and that a resistance movement could be ignited by a few infiltrating saboteurs. This was codenamed Operation Gibraltar. However, the Pakistani infiltrators were soon discovered, aided primarily by the local Kashmiris themselves and the entire operation ended in a complete disaster.The Indians pressed on a massive raid on Lahore on 6th September, which was defended by Pakistani troops and later ceased by UN intervention.The war ended in an agreement between Shastri and Ayub Khan on signing withdrawl of forces from Kashmir on 25th Feb,1965.
Aftermaths
More than 6600 soldiers from both sides were killed in the war.This was the largest amassing of troops in Kashmir.The war invloved battles on ground, water as well as in air.The war witnessed some of the largest Tank Battles since World War II.
128 Indian tankswere destroyed, 152 Pakistani tanks captured, 150 Pakistani tanks destroyed.Officially 471 Pakistani tanks destroyed and 38 captured.Both sides lost many aircrafts(50 approx).
Though the war was indecisive, Pakistan suffered much heavier material and personnel casualties compared to India. Both India and Pakistan increased their defense spending and the Cold War politics had taken roots in the subcontinent.The Indian premier, Shastri was hailed as a hero in India.
On the other hand many Pakistanis rated the performance of their military positively. September 6 is celebrated as 'Defence Day' in Pakistan in commemoration of the successful defence of Lahore against the Indian army.
USA declared its neutrality in the war by cutting off military supplies to both sides,leading Islamabad to believe that they were "betrayed" by the United States who were their allies in the Cold War. Another negative consequence of the war was the growing resentment against the Pakistani government in East Pakistan, particularly for the West Pakistan's obsession with Kashmir. Bengali leaders accused the government for not providing adequate security for East Pakistan during the conflict, even though large sums of money were taken from the east to finance the war for Kashmir.Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was apprehensive of this situation, and the need for greater autonomy for the east led to another war between India and Pakistan in 1971..
Nuclear tests.
Attack on parliament 13th Dec 2008
1947 First Indo-Pak War:
Click here for detailed report on wikipedia.
Known to most people by the first Kashmir War, this was the first of the four wars between India and the then new republic State of Pakistan.
Causes
Kashmir,inhabited by 75% Muslims was always under conditions of revolts and protests against Maharaja Hari Singh, the pre independece hindu king of Kashmir.Post independence, according to the instruments of partition of India, the rulers of princely states were given the choice to freely accede to either India or Pakistan. Initially,Maharaja hesitated fearing tribal warfare, but later on fell to India's pressure and joined the Republic in October 2007.This accession was questioned by Pakistanis. Pakistani claimed that since 75% of the inhabitants of Kashmir were Muslims, it should be a part of Pakistan.
The War
War began when Azad Kashmir Forces backed by new Pakistan government and (still doubtful) British support,entered Kashmir (Operation Gulmarg) with an objective of occupation of Kashmir, closely followed by other operations
Battling over a period of more than 2 months (Oct to Dec,1947),The occupation of a significant part of Kashmir change hands from India to Pakistan
At this stage Indian Prime Minister Mr. Jawahar Lal Nehru decided to ask UN to intervene. A UN cease-fire was arranged for the 31 December 1948.
Aftermaths
Pakistan was successful in having a significant part of Kashmir, though the war was claimed to be won by India.Approximately 2500+ soldiers were killed overall. Kashmir saw use of rifles,light tanks and armoured cars in this war.
1965 Second Indo-Pak War:
Click here for detailed Report on Wikipedia
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1965,also known as second Kashmir War was a culmination of skirmishes that took place between April 1965 and September 1965 between India and Pakistan.
The War and its Causes
The primary cause of conflicts was usually the Accession of Kashmir, although other border disputes existed, most notably over the Rann of Kutch, a barren region in the Indian state of Gujarat. Though the erstwhile princely state of Junagadh was integrated into India, its borders, especially in the marshlands to the west were ambiguous. This gave rise to a dispute between Pakistan and India.A war broke out in lands of Kutch.Pakistan was succesful in gaining 350 square miles (900 km²) of the Rann of Kutch. General Ayub Khan,Military commander of Pakistan is said to have believed that the Indian Army was unable to defend itself against a quick military campaign in the disputed territory of Kashmir, following a loss to China in 1962. Pakistan believed that the population of Kashmir was generally discontented with Indian rule and that a resistance movement could be ignited by a few infiltrating saboteurs. This was codenamed Operation Gibraltar. However, the Pakistani infiltrators were soon discovered, aided primarily by the local Kashmiris themselves and the entire operation ended in a complete disaster.The Indians pressed on a massive raid on Lahore on 6th September, which was defended by Pakistani troops and later ceased by UN intervention.The war ended in an agreement between Shastri and Ayub Khan on signing withdrawl of forces from Kashmir on 25th Feb,1965.
Aftermaths
More than 6600 soldiers from both sides were killed in the war.This was the largest amassing of troops in Kashmir.The war invloved battles on ground, water as well as in air.The war witnessed some of the largest Tank Battles since World War II.
128 Indian tankswere destroyed, 152 Pakistani tanks captured, 150 Pakistani tanks destroyed.Officially 471 Pakistani tanks destroyed and 38 captured.Both sides lost many aircrafts(50 approx).
Though the war was indecisive, Pakistan suffered much heavier material and personnel casualties compared to India. Both India and Pakistan increased their defense spending and the Cold War politics had taken roots in the subcontinent.The Indian premier, Shastri was hailed as a hero in India.
On the other hand many Pakistanis rated the performance of their military positively. September 6 is celebrated as 'Defence Day' in Pakistan in commemoration of the successful defence of Lahore against the Indian army.
USA declared its neutrality in the war by cutting off military supplies to both sides,leading Islamabad to believe that they were "betrayed" by the United States who were their allies in the Cold War. Another negative consequence of the war was the growing resentment against the Pakistani government in East Pakistan, particularly for the West Pakistan's obsession with Kashmir. Bengali leaders accused the government for not providing adequate security for East Pakistan during the conflict, even though large sums of money were taken from the east to finance the war for Kashmir.Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was apprehensive of this situation, and the need for greater autonomy for the east led to another war between India and Pakistan in 1971..
Nuclear tests.
Attack on parliament 13th Dec 2008
Monday, February 11, 2008
The Other Side Of Trust - US Government and yahoo deal
Courtesy Outlook: 18 Feb,2007
Microsoft's unsolicited bid to purchase Yahoo has raised a key question for antitrust regulators: Does the deal bolster competition on the Internet?
Microsoft hopes to wrap up the $44.6-billion deal by the end of the year. Antitrust experts say the Redmond-based company has its eye on the political calendar—US president George Bush's term in office ends on January 20, 2009. Republicans have historically been inclined to favour mergers and Bush's administration is the same. Should Bush's Republican appointees decide the fate of this case, analysts expect a ruling in Microsoft's favour. But if a Democrat is sworn in as president, it could dash Microsoft's plans.
Robert H. Lande, who teaches antitrust law at the University of Baltimore, says it is not clear whether the deal can pass antitrust muster. If it is not reviewed by January 20, 2009, Lande points out "there will be a new group of enforcers—or at least there could be if the Democrats are elected and they are likely to be more aggressive. They won't trust the review done by Republicans and would want to start over." Members of the US Congress have said they want to conduct hearings into Microsoft's offer. But the final decision will be made by two antitrust enforcement agencies—either the Federal Trade Commission, or the Antitrust Division of the Justice Department.
The "incipiency doctrine" in merger law directs regulators to stop mergers "where the effect may be substantially to lessen competition or to tend to create a monopoly." However, it is not always interpreted thus. Karsten Weide, program director at idc, says if Microsoft purchases Yahoo, it would increase competition as the new entity can better compete with Google. He predicted regulatory problems are not likely. But Lande worries that the existing "three vigorous search engines, three competitors" will be whittled down to two, which will reduce competition and result in less choice for consumers.
Finally, Google has joined the debate. "This is...about preserving the Internet's underlying principles: openness and innovation," wrote David Drummond, Google's chief legal officer. Antitrust regulators will wrestle with these very issues in the coming months.
Microsoft's unsolicited bid to purchase Yahoo has raised a key question for antitrust regulators: Does the deal bolster competition on the Internet?
Microsoft hopes to wrap up the $44.6-billion deal by the end of the year. Antitrust experts say the Redmond-based company has its eye on the political calendar—US president George Bush's term in office ends on January 20, 2009. Republicans have historically been inclined to favour mergers and Bush's administration is the same. Should Bush's Republican appointees decide the fate of this case, analysts expect a ruling in Microsoft's favour. But if a Democrat is sworn in as president, it could dash Microsoft's plans.
Robert H. Lande, who teaches antitrust law at the University of Baltimore, says it is not clear whether the deal can pass antitrust muster. If it is not reviewed by January 20, 2009, Lande points out "there will be a new group of enforcers—or at least there could be if the Democrats are elected and they are likely to be more aggressive. They won't trust the review done by Republicans and would want to start over." Members of the US Congress have said they want to conduct hearings into Microsoft's offer. But the final decision will be made by two antitrust enforcement agencies—either the Federal Trade Commission, or the Antitrust Division of the Justice Department.
The "incipiency doctrine" in merger law directs regulators to stop mergers "where the effect may be substantially to lessen competition or to tend to create a monopoly." However, it is not always interpreted thus. Karsten Weide, program director at idc, says if Microsoft purchases Yahoo, it would increase competition as the new entity can better compete with Google. He predicted regulatory problems are not likely. But Lande worries that the existing "three vigorous search engines, three competitors" will be whittled down to two, which will reduce competition and result in less choice for consumers.
Finally, Google has joined the debate. "This is...about preserving the Internet's underlying principles: openness and innovation," wrote David Drummond, Google's chief legal officer. Antitrust regulators will wrestle with these very issues in the coming months.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
What enabled the software revolution in India
Times Of India 28th April,2002
The most revolutionary change in India has been the rise of computer software as a world-beater. India is not a miracle economy, but software is a miracle sector. Growing at 40 per cent annually for a decade, it earned $ 8 billion in exports last year. McKinsey estimates that it could earn up to $ 58 billion by 2008, more than India’s entire merchandise exports today. At a seminar on the Indian economy at Cornell University last week, Infosys chairman Narayana Murthy addressed a critical question: Could software have taken off without the economic reforms of the 1990s? Absolutely not, was his conclusion. Infosys started in 1981, but faced heavy weather for a decade. Getting even a telephone was a Herculean task. During the licence-permit raj, a retired government officer had higher priority for getting a telephone than any software firm! To import one computer costing $ 15,000, Narayana Murthy had to make 25 visits spread over 18 months to the bureaucracy in New Delhi. The cost of travel and hotels became almost as high as that of the computer! This idiocy ended only in 1991, when the abolition of industrial licensing unshackled Narayana Murthy and others of his ilk. In the bad old days, an RBI clerk took five days to decide if Narayana Murthy could travel abroad for one day. One software CEO got RBI permission to spend two days in Paris and one in Frankfurt to meet clients. But the clients changed their plans, so the CEO had to spend one day in Paris and two in Frankfurt. He immediately received a show-cause notice threatening him with prosecution! In this manner, controls imposed in the holy name of socialism were used to strangle all business initiative. The mind-set of the bureaucracy changed only when the whole licence-permit raj was dismantled. Tinkering would not have sufficed. The reforms of the 1990s blew away an entire jungle of controls on production, imports and foreign exchange. Current account convertibility made it possible for software companies to hire consultants and undertake global branding without case-by-case clearance. The old system had a controller of capital issues who decided at what price companies could issue shares, if at all. The controller invariably set prices below market rates. He looked at the track record of a company, not future prospects. But share prices are supposed to reflect future prospects, not history. The ossified rules of the controller’s office would have made it impossible for software companies to access the equity market. Fortunately, the reforms abolished the post of controller. Liberated entrepreneurs could not only float shares, but offer stock options to employees. They could even list on stock markets abroad, and so raise billions in equity in New York. But for this, Infosys could not have scaled such heights. Another vital policy change, says Narayana Murthy, was permission given to the biggest software companies in the world to invest in India with 100 per cent equity. This was opposed by vested interests and ideologues. In fact, the entry of giants like Microsoft and Oracle enhanced the competitive environment, and enabled Indian companies like Infosys and Wipro to learn how to keep pace with the best in the world. In the early 1990s, some people said MNCs must be kept out to allow the fledgling Indian software industry to develop. A second, pessimistic school of thought felt that companies like Infosys should wind up or sell out to foreigners, as Parle had done. A third option, regarded as fantasy by the old Left, was to compete with the MNCs and prove Indians were just as good. That is what Infosys and dozens of other Indian software companies succeeded in doing. Far from losing their staff to foreign firms, as predicted by pessimists, Infosys achieved higher staff retention rates than the MNCs. The neta-babu raj assumed that Indian companies were inherently inferior and needed to be shielded from international competition. Software exploded this myth. Open competition led not to the devastation, but the flowering of Indian companies. Standards and skills rose as they never would have in a protected environment. At Cornell, I expanded Murthy’s list of the blessings of liberalisation. Indian politicians and trade unions were anti-computerisation for decades, fearing job losses. They regarded computerisation as suitable for defence and nuclear research, but not for promoting consumer convenience or efficiency. So they gave no priority to software. Had there been a ministry for software with a large Plan allocation, a stifling bureaucratic jungle would have been created. Luckily no ministry or minister existed, and so software was able to take off unshackled by well-meaning socialists. Traditional exports were crippled by the vagaries and inefficiency of unionised ports, railways and road transport. Software exports, however, went over the air-waves and cables, and so were invisible to trade unions and bureaucrats. They were invisible even to bureaucrats in the West, and so escaped any protectionist backlash. The software revolution brought good governance and shareholder value to Indian stock markets. The key here was a little-noticed reform, Manmohan Singh’s abolition of wealth tax on shares. In the bad old days, no businessman wanted his share price to rise much, because it invited an extortionate wealth tax. In such circumstances, creating shareholder value was hara-kiri, so entrepreneurs kept profits black and off the books. The abolition of wealth tax on shares made it possible, for the first time, for entrepreneurs to aim at a 10-fold or 100-fold increase in share prices without committing tax suicide. When Singh introduced this reform, he had no idea he was making possible the software revolution. That reveals the real case for liberalisation. The aim is not to promote this or that sector, but to expand the universe of the possible. The aim is to empower people to dream of things that never were, ask why not, and then just do it. That is how reforms made the software revolution possible.
The most revolutionary change in India has been the rise of computer software as a world-beater. India is not a miracle economy, but software is a miracle sector. Growing at 40 per cent annually for a decade, it earned $ 8 billion in exports last year. McKinsey estimates that it could earn up to $ 58 billion by 2008, more than India’s entire merchandise exports today. At a seminar on the Indian economy at Cornell University last week, Infosys chairman Narayana Murthy addressed a critical question: Could software have taken off without the economic reforms of the 1990s? Absolutely not, was his conclusion. Infosys started in 1981, but faced heavy weather for a decade. Getting even a telephone was a Herculean task. During the licence-permit raj, a retired government officer had higher priority for getting a telephone than any software firm! To import one computer costing $ 15,000, Narayana Murthy had to make 25 visits spread over 18 months to the bureaucracy in New Delhi. The cost of travel and hotels became almost as high as that of the computer! This idiocy ended only in 1991, when the abolition of industrial licensing unshackled Narayana Murthy and others of his ilk. In the bad old days, an RBI clerk took five days to decide if Narayana Murthy could travel abroad for one day. One software CEO got RBI permission to spend two days in Paris and one in Frankfurt to meet clients. But the clients changed their plans, so the CEO had to spend one day in Paris and two in Frankfurt. He immediately received a show-cause notice threatening him with prosecution! In this manner, controls imposed in the holy name of socialism were used to strangle all business initiative. The mind-set of the bureaucracy changed only when the whole licence-permit raj was dismantled. Tinkering would not have sufficed. The reforms of the 1990s blew away an entire jungle of controls on production, imports and foreign exchange. Current account convertibility made it possible for software companies to hire consultants and undertake global branding without case-by-case clearance. The old system had a controller of capital issues who decided at what price companies could issue shares, if at all. The controller invariably set prices below market rates. He looked at the track record of a company, not future prospects. But share prices are supposed to reflect future prospects, not history. The ossified rules of the controller’s office would have made it impossible for software companies to access the equity market. Fortunately, the reforms abolished the post of controller. Liberated entrepreneurs could not only float shares, but offer stock options to employees. They could even list on stock markets abroad, and so raise billions in equity in New York. But for this, Infosys could not have scaled such heights. Another vital policy change, says Narayana Murthy, was permission given to the biggest software companies in the world to invest in India with 100 per cent equity. This was opposed by vested interests and ideologues. In fact, the entry of giants like Microsoft and Oracle enhanced the competitive environment, and enabled Indian companies like Infosys and Wipro to learn how to keep pace with the best in the world. In the early 1990s, some people said MNCs must be kept out to allow the fledgling Indian software industry to develop. A second, pessimistic school of thought felt that companies like Infosys should wind up or sell out to foreigners, as Parle had done. A third option, regarded as fantasy by the old Left, was to compete with the MNCs and prove Indians were just as good. That is what Infosys and dozens of other Indian software companies succeeded in doing. Far from losing their staff to foreign firms, as predicted by pessimists, Infosys achieved higher staff retention rates than the MNCs. The neta-babu raj assumed that Indian companies were inherently inferior and needed to be shielded from international competition. Software exploded this myth. Open competition led not to the devastation, but the flowering of Indian companies. Standards and skills rose as they never would have in a protected environment. At Cornell, I expanded Murthy’s list of the blessings of liberalisation. Indian politicians and trade unions were anti-computerisation for decades, fearing job losses. They regarded computerisation as suitable for defence and nuclear research, but not for promoting consumer convenience or efficiency. So they gave no priority to software. Had there been a ministry for software with a large Plan allocation, a stifling bureaucratic jungle would have been created. Luckily no ministry or minister existed, and so software was able to take off unshackled by well-meaning socialists. Traditional exports were crippled by the vagaries and inefficiency of unionised ports, railways and road transport. Software exports, however, went over the air-waves and cables, and so were invisible to trade unions and bureaucrats. They were invisible even to bureaucrats in the West, and so escaped any protectionist backlash. The software revolution brought good governance and shareholder value to Indian stock markets. The key here was a little-noticed reform, Manmohan Singh’s abolition of wealth tax on shares. In the bad old days, no businessman wanted his share price to rise much, because it invited an extortionate wealth tax. In such circumstances, creating shareholder value was hara-kiri, so entrepreneurs kept profits black and off the books. The abolition of wealth tax on shares made it possible, for the first time, for entrepreneurs to aim at a 10-fold or 100-fold increase in share prices without committing tax suicide. When Singh introduced this reform, he had no idea he was making possible the software revolution. That reveals the real case for liberalisation. The aim is not to promote this or that sector, but to expand the universe of the possible. The aim is to empower people to dream of things that never were, ask why not, and then just do it. That is how reforms made the software revolution possible.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
India Rise to second in Test Rankings
A draw at the Adelaide was not enough for India to square the four-Test series against Australia, but the effort combined with win at Perth Test has lifted Anil Kumble and co. two places to second place in the latest ICC Test Championship table.
India replaces Sri Lanka at the second spot with 111 points, two more than the South Asian neighbours followed by South Africa.
India had entered the series in fourth place, just behind South Africa and Sri Lanka.
Australia, which started the series on 143 ratings points, is still out in front by a distance despite losing two ratings points over the course of the series.
With just four ratings points separating second-placed India from fifth-placed England and plenty of Test cricket to be played over the next few months, reshuffling of the positions is very much on cards.
England will be the team that will get the first opportunity to take a shot at Anil Kumble's side and can jump from fifth to second if it clean sweeps the three-Test series against New Zealand.
South Africa will get its opportunity to reclaim the lost place when it tours India in March for a three-Test series.
However, if India wins the series, it will widen the gap between it and both Sri Lanka and South Africa, with the latter to tour England in the English summer for a four-Test series.
But before all of that,the fun that I am looking forward is the T20 International match between India and Australia. I will be posting a full report on those 200 minutes. Looking forward to 1st Feb. Good Bye
India replaces Sri Lanka at the second spot with 111 points, two more than the South Asian neighbours followed by South Africa.
India had entered the series in fourth place, just behind South Africa and Sri Lanka.
Australia, which started the series on 143 ratings points, is still out in front by a distance despite losing two ratings points over the course of the series.
With just four ratings points separating second-placed India from fifth-placed England and plenty of Test cricket to be played over the next few months, reshuffling of the positions is very much on cards.
England will be the team that will get the first opportunity to take a shot at Anil Kumble's side and can jump from fifth to second if it clean sweeps the three-Test series against New Zealand.
South Africa will get its opportunity to reclaim the lost place when it tours India in March for a three-Test series.
However, if India wins the series, it will widen the gap between it and both Sri Lanka and South Africa, with the latter to tour England in the English summer for a four-Test series.
But before all of that,the fun that I am looking forward is the T20 International match between India and Australia. I will be posting a full report on those 200 minutes. Looking forward to 1st Feb. Good Bye
Rani at Raga Crystal's Launch
Rani at Launch of Raga Crystals.Doesnt she look like an angel. :-) I love her
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Meri Tareef :P...
- Anshul Kulshrestha
- I wish life wud have been a match of kickboxing.... i cud have got punched...and that before i could even start feeling the pain in my jaws... everything wud have been lost.... but my life has been more like a bike race ( i never had a bike of my own though) where on every rising gear... u become able to gain more speed.... but the power that provided you the strength to get there drops down... And quiet ironically so....balancing it requires effort and there is no reverse gear in a motorcycle. A sport that i would never want my life to be....!!!??? archery. Remember the old saying... 'Kamaan se nikla teer kabhi wapis nahi aata', i would hate a life where everything is irreversible
