Defiant North Korea

With recent failure to launch a missile, North Korea with its new Prez. has shown to world that his policies are no different from his late father and he is there to follow his legacy. This has also dashed hopes of many Western countries to tame N.Korea after the death of Kim Jong -II. This is a matter of great concern not only for South Korea and its immediate neighborhood but also for the extended one. China which used to play a key role as a mediator between N.Korea and the Western countries , is also finding it difficult to calm down N.Korea on its aggressive posture. If we keep the rhetoric aside, I think it is a kind of message which the new Prez. of North Korea wanted to give to the common people in North Korea that he has been rightly chosen as the successor and has to fulfill the unfinished agenda of his father. He is like new era's young, energetic boss and which try to work hard and fast to show the world that you don't mess with us else you know what we are capable of.
Now, the point is how to engage N.Korea ?
I think China has a major role to play in this and many UN based Organizations can also work for the welfare of starving millions in N.Korea. The US has to give some time for the young man to settle down and dialogue may be initiated by South Korea. As we know there is nothing permanent in this world except change and hope that the people of North Korea take a leaf out of "Purple revolution" in the Middle East and revolt against the tyrant and then there is a possibility of other countries to participate in the change.
Myanmar is a great example of success from within and the same may prevail in North Korea as well.

Related articles

• North Korea shows off new missile - Houston Chronicle (chron.com)

2011: Year of Protest World Over

A small gathering of discontented people in Tunisia sparked the fire which in turn has changed the entire Middle- East landscape in the form of protest movement (famously termed as Arab spring). Leaders, in fact, dictators like Zine El Abidine Ben Ali( Tunisia), Hosni Mubarak ( Egypt), Saleh ( Yemen) , Gaddafi (Libya) and many more either fled to other countries or killed by the mob out of sheer anger, total corruption, lack of employment, high-handedness of government officials, lack of freedom and more importantly lack of political participation of the people of the country.
It will be a folly to presume that these protests are limited to middle-East and totally violent, we have protest in developed countries like the USA (famous Occupy Wall Street protest) in Europe (by minorities like Muslims and protest against austerity derive), Even in emerging Countries like India (Anti- Corruption protest by Anna Hazare), Pro democracy protest in Wukan in China, mainly peaceful, occasionally violent due to police action.
Why people are coming to Street even when there is some form of democracy and representative governments except in Middle -East. One way to understand these protest movements is to view these movements as part of social change triggered by economic turmoil started after near recession like situation in the year 2008. There are, of course, some specific reasons which would be listed as below:
1. Economic hardship alongwith desire to have freedom in decision making.
2. International pressure by pro- democratic Western countries for regime change in Arabic countries which are still largely monarchic and lack general trust and political credibility.
3. Pro active role of media and social networking involving wide spread cascading effects through live coverage of police/army atrocity on say, peaceful protest which in turn instigate people to violently react.
4. Politically motivated, desire of army to take over power in their hand.
5. Last not the least, raising expectation of youth in terms of more job opportunity, economic freedom and failure of the State to provide the same.
Let us hope that common sense prevails and monarchy gives way to participative democracy in the Arab World.

Indian economy and Budget

Recently, the Finance Minister(FM) has tabled the budget for the year 2012-13 in the Parliament.

For many, it is an average budget with no clear cut signals towards any meaningful economic reforms.

FM had admitted that the time is not conducive for large scale reforms due to turmoil in world economy and domestic and political compulsions.( Despite hectic political rallies by Rahul Gandhi in Uttar Pradesh, one of the largest States in the country, Congress could not do well in the recently held Assembly election.)

Railway Minister has to submit his resignation to the Prime Minister for defying the wishes of TMC Supremo Mamata Banerjee, the party to which he belongs. At the time of writing this, it is learned that the President has accepted the resignation of Railway Minister. The reason being hiking the passenger fares after a long gap of eight years. This is economic price of political democracy.

On the Fiscal Front, FM had admitted that Fiscal deficit would be hovering around 5 to 5.3%. GDP growth for the next year would be around 6.9% to 7 %.

To reduce the fiscal deficit, Budget has increased the burden on common man by propsals like hiking indirect taxes( widening of tax net and rate from 10.3 % to 12.33%).

Infrastructure requires whopping Rs.50 lakh crore for the next 5 years, out of which Rs.25 lakh crore would come from Pvt. Sector. This requires political action and conducive economic reforms.

The target of Agriculture Sector( ground level credit) has hiked by Rs.1 lakh crore to Rs. 5.75 lakh crore. This is not sufficient in the wake of rise in food prices and high inflation rate in the recent past.

Overall, a political budget with no clear cut direction. Stock Market has traded in red on Monday, which also highlights the fact that changes expected at the economic front were totally ignored by the FM in his budget.

Year 2014 is crucial for Congress Govt, as there would be General election in the country.

Happy New Year-2012

Dear Readers,

Shortly, I will be posting an article which will review the year 2011 as "a year of protest" world over. Keep reading and enjoy the new year 2012.

Marriages in India

First of all, I am really sorry to all my readers for not posting any new post. Well, life here in Mumbai is really very busy and sometimes you find it difficult to manage your hobby.

Well, the idea of writing this topic i.e., "Marriages in India" struck to my mind this afternoon when I was discussing something with my dad.

India which, traditionally speaking, support not only the institution of marriage but also nurture it despite increasing influence of Western culture in the country. This may be attributed to globalization of culture.

At more micro level i.e., at individual level, what is happening in India is role conflict( Working mother in urban India or wife with little or no income in rural India). Further to this, every boy or a girl of marriageable age in India has formed an image of ideal wife or husband in their mind.

An ideal wife should be like this : face of Aishwarya Rai, height of Sushmita Sen, Financial aptitude of Chanda Kochher.

An ideal husband should be like this: face of Salman Khan, height and muscles of John Abraham, talented as Amir Khan, Financially like Mukesh Ambani etc.

One can think of some other combinations also as described above.

Broadly speaking, everybody likes to have the best combination one can think of.

Now the real life situation i.e., the bitter reality of life, as marriages are mostly arranged in India, there will be a marathon race for selection of bride/ bridegroom through the process of rejection.

Preliminary round with ideal images in the mind of a boy/ girl, parents as well as other key relatives will commence the so called swayamvar ( a sanskrit word meaning self choice/desire) to get best son-in-law or daughter -in-law for themselves.

Frankly speaking, it is very tiring and very formal way of selection in which the would-be husband or wife will portray himself/herself with all the virtues in this world , dignity, plastic/artificial smile, rehearsal to give desired answer to some very general questions like do you know how to cook, your education profile, expectation from me etc., posing to suit the latest style in the market and what not. There will be many rounds of talks with

every possibility of elimination at each stage.

With lot of trials and tribulations, slowly the so called ideal images started getting fainted in the minds of the boy / girl with no clarity of thought. Every round of discussion and deliberation creates more confusion and with every rejection there is a feeling of dejection. low spirit in the mind of the boy/ girl and the ideal looks distant and more distant.

Thereafter, a stage comes when the boy/ girl will reduce his/her scale of choice so as to fit them-self into the situation rather than the other way round.

Finally, there will be a great compromise which we call in India as "MARRIAGE"

After marriage with staying together for a while, the compatibility is usually established between the married couple . That is why there is a general belief in India that arranged marriages are more successful than love marriages in the country.

I think what is most important for any marriage to be meaningful and successful is having love for each other, love for each other's feelings, love for each other's parents, love for each other's success and failure. Stay together, float together, sink together.

This is again an ideal situation i think i am talking about. Bye for now as I have to stop here my wife is calling me. Catch you people soon, Coming sweetheart...

Shree Ganesh Chaturthi

Today, 01 September 2011 mark the beginning of a week long festival in India, celebrating the birth of Lord Ganesha- son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Pravathi. Astrologically speaking, Ganesh Chatruthi is celebrated on 4th phase of the waxing Moon during the Vedic month of Avani. What is so special about this festival. Perhaps, it is the enormous power of Lord Ganesha, destroyer of all evils, obstacles and also as per Hindu Vedic system, the lord to be prayed first make it the most celebrated festival of India. Particularly, in the State of Maharasthra ( in mumbai), one can see celebration at its best. Maharasthra is the land of famous Astak-

Vinayaka i.e., 8 prominent Lord Ganesha temples.

1. Ballaleshwar in Pali.

2. Chintamani in Theur.

3. Girijatmaj in lenyadri.

4. Mahaganapati in Ranjangoan.

5. Moreshwar in Morgaon.

6. Siddhivinayak in Siddhtek.

7. Varad Vinayak in Mahad.

8. Vighneshwar in Ozhar.

Historically speaking, the credit of making this festival a mass based, largely organized people event goes to Bal Gangadhar Tilak, a great son of India and a freedom fighter who had organised this festival first time in 1893 with an aim to unite people divided on caste line in the country.

How people celebrate this festival:

Generally, devotees bring in their houses the clay- made beautifully carved, bright colored idols of Lord Ganesha on the First day and offer prayers in the morning and evening for all the 10 to 12 days by offering special dishes, sweets and Modak ( a kind of Laddu) and on the day of

Ananth Chaturdashi which marks the end of the celebration, Lord Ganesha idols are immersed in river/sea chanting vedic mantras and with a request to forgive us for sins/ mistakes committed while offering prayers and with a promise to bring Lord Ganesha in home in the next year as well.

Economically speaking, this festival generate lot of employment specially for skilled artisans who make idols and pandal and decoration related works, flowers and sweet shops and purchase of new household items an cars, starting new business etc.,

Impact on environment: The most serious impact of the Ganesha festival on the natural environment is due to the immersion of Idols made of Plaster of Paris into lakes, rivers and the sea. Due to commercialisation of festival and demand for unique design and bigger idols of Lord Ganesha, more artificial colors and dyes are being used which has both biotic and abiotic adverse impact on sea/ river biosphere. Of late, due to Govt. efforts and work of green organizations in the country,people have become more cautious and environment friendly while making idols of Lord Ganesha.

Commercialisation of religion and

spirituality taking a back-seat- Final words: It may be observed that there emerge a great divide in so far as celebration of festivals in the country is concerned, Old generation feel that the kind of spirituality associated earlier while celebrating festivals is largely missing nowadays. For young generation celebrating festival means time to go out and enjoy with friends, eating different stuffs and in this process spirituality is somehow taking a back-seat.

Nevertheless, the other covert purposes of festival like socialization,secularization and nationalism are fulfilled.

Nyere bombeeksplosjon i Norge-Sympati fra India

Den 22. juli 2011, Norge, landet av Nobels fredspris et symbol for fred i verden, hadde vært vitne dødelig bombe blast utenfor regjeringen kvartalene i Oslo, et sted utenfor kontoret til statsminister. Det er en etterfølgende skyteepisode på øya Utøya, alle resulterer i drapene på 85 personer (ubekreftede kilder og media rapport).

Etter London angrep, er dette den andre store hendelsen i bombeeksplosjon i Europa. Tilbake i India, spesielt i Mumbai der det var også serien av bombe eksplosjoner på den 13 juli 2011 drepte rundt 22 uskyldige mennesker.

Jeg er sikker tilbake i Oslo, må folk være forvirrende med disse spørsmålene, "Hva har vi gjort" / Hvorfor oss? Vi er en fredselskende nasjon og alltid støtter internasjonale fredsarbeidet ved å donere penger, maskiner og materialer til afrikanske / andre asiatiske land.

Lignende sett av spørsmål brukt for å forvirre oss tilbake her i India, men ikke lenger nå. Vi har forstått at terrorisme og terrorister var ansvarlige for disse slags grufulle voldshandlinger. Som disse terroristene har ingen nasjon, ingen religion og ingen tro de kan streiken hvor som helst i verden, ingen er trygge, er ingen nasjon trygge. Dette er ingenting, menglobalisering av terrorisme.

Den eneste veien ut er å komme sammen, dele informasjon så ofte som mulig, samarbeide vår innsats og ressurser til å møte slike eventualiteter.

Jeg er trist og dypt såret og ha sympati med folket i Norge. Dette er en handling av ren vold som er uakseptabelt og perpetuators av denne grufulle voldshandling bør ikke bli spart for enhver pris, og jeg ber til den allmektige Gud (Lord Shiva) for å gi styrke til familien til ofrene for dette angrepet og kan deresSjeler hvile i fred.