Antara Echoes

This weekend we had some out of town guests who desired to see the ISKCON . Having seen it a couple of times on similar occasions I thought it would be a boring routine with nothing to look forward to. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Proof of having-relatives-in-the-right-places-has-its-own-advantage was that we never had to wait in any of those long queues. We were quickly taken on tour of the three opulent shrines and then taken to the boardroom. Here we got a quick overview of the wonderful & commendable work that Akshaya Patra accomplishes day on day through its “Mid Day” meal program. An underprivileged child can be fed for a whole year with as little as INR 1200 or 28 dollars . Next we were taken through a glimpse of what they call the “ India Heritage Theme Park ” presentation and it sure looked impressive. With an investment of over 350 crores at Vasanthapura, Bangalore South Taluk, this unique park could be India’s Disneyland. The difference being that instead of Disney c...

India has long been synonymous for its deep-rooted culture & strong family bonding to the extent of being called “highly emotional people”. Among the few countries where parents consider it their duty to fund the education of their children right upto college & beyond, contribute all their life savings for their expensive weddings and are most happy to babysit their grandchildren. For a generation that grew up on the stories of Shravan and Dhruv & where high-strung movies like Hum Aapke Hain Koun and Vivaah still run to packed houses, it’s funny that today we have come to require the Parents and Senior Citizens Bill . The passing of such a bill subtly warns us that in our hurry to jump the progress bandwagon we seem to have far left behind our principles and values. Well, the Bill lays down that children who neglect their parents could be sent to jail for three months or be liable to pay a fine of Rs 5,000. It also empowers parents to disinherit their children from their ...

A national flag is a representative of the hopes and aspirations of a country. The Indian National flag being no different, is symbolic of our national pride. I suppose they did not know that there is a Flag code which needs to be adhered too. Its a well-known fact that we are a country full of Gods and Godmen. Their influence over people is legendary and they have them in awe. But here devotion seems to have gone overboard

Pleasant weather last evening, which Bangalore is famous for, compelled even a slothful person like me to take a stroll. Within few minutes of my leisure walk quickened to a brisk pace and soon I had to hasten myself home. Reason? Stray dogs. A popular forward mail claims that one of the things Bangalore is famous for is "stray dogs" and goes on to spout statistics: On an average 12 people are bitten by stray dogs per MINUTE somewhere in Bangalore. Though not sure about the number quoted, street dog menace is definitely a cause of worry to public safety. People who commute in the night, especially those who ride two-wheelers, can vouch this for a fact. Getting terrified of chasing dog’s cause accidents that is even fatal at times. Parents are worried of letting their children play outside after dark. Recent incidents like the one in Chandra Layout where a little girl was mauled to death by a pack of nine dogs brought this menace to the forefront. After the hue and cry raised...

As a part of the group blog - The Great Indian Mutiny, I am overjoyed in letting you know that the we have been nominated, under the BEST GROUP/COMMUNITY BLOG. The voting for fourth edition of Indibloggies, the most recognised of Indian Blog awards is under way. All of us at The Great Indian Mutiny are delighted for being nominated in the Best Group/Community Blog Category. We would like to thank all of you who nominated us and the jury for shortlisting us. It has been a fantastic experience for the past year as we have been constantly trying to create a unique platform where bloggers from a diversified variety of backgrounds and experience come together to reflect on what India is really about. Please vote for us here

Are the IIT’s & IIM’s Over-rated, Over-hyped, Over-exposed & Under performing? This is no diatribe against India’s loved and respected Institutions. But it is a rant against the cult of mediocrity that we have come to accept. Come placement time and our institutions lose no breath in pointing out the success of IITians overseas especially the software breed in the Silicon Valley. The media too readily laps up the story and reams are eloquently written on the success that our talent in its concentrated form of IITians reaps - in dollars nonetheless. If one out of every six people in the world is an Indian and the best ones go to IIT and if the best among them go to the US, isn’t it quite obvious that they should do well regardless of the excellence of the institution? Where does IIT stand in terms of innovation and contributing to the Indian economy? What have their expensive, taxpayer-subsidized elite engineering education contributed to India? Why does our best engineering t...

India faces a perennial shortage of coins. I can safely bet that every person who has spent a few hours either travelling or shopping anywhere in India would have heard this common refrain - Sorry, no change. Be it the autorickshaw driver, your grocery storekeeper or the pushcart fruit vendor - nobody ever has the required change. So where are the Indian coins disappearing? All the while I thought it was our regretful habit of hoarding them in our large piggy banks but a recent vist to one of the malls got me the answer to this issue. Bling it on!

Sanskrit gets a new spokesperson in Professor Dean Brown, an eminent Theoretical Physicist, cosmologist, philosopher and Sanskrit scholar, whose translation of the Upanishads was published by the Philosophical Research Society. The following is a very interesting interview where Professor Dean Brown brings about an interesting co-relation of Sanskrit & Physics. A very interesting interview with Professor Dean Brown, an eminent Theoretical Physicist (and Sanskrit Scholar, who has recently translated the Upanishads). He brings about an interesting co-relation of Sanskrit & Physics. Mishlove Interviews Prof Dean on Sanskrit tradition [Duration: 23:28|Taken: 04 June 2006|Location: Israel] Prof. Dean Brown also points out that most European languages can be traced back to a root language that is also related to Sanskrit - the sacred language of the ancient Vedic religions of India. Many English words actually have Sanskrit origins. Similarly, many Vedic religious concepts can also b...

How I wish! but nothing like that has happend. Before those ardent serial watchers panic and start wondering if this could ever happen, let me clarify - No,its certainly no announcement but just plainly wishful thinking on my part. My apologies to Kyunki fans who might have had their BP's shot high and who might be huffing and puffing at my 'bad joke'. Whatever got into me on a warm sunny tuesday morning? Things are as hunky dory as possible with the Virani parivaar. The daughters-in-laws, grandchildren at the ironically named "Shantiniketan" are working their best to put their families through as many hardships that can possibly occur during one's lifetime. The scriptwriters are burning the midnight oil devising new dubious schemes that can be tested. Viewers are still happy as Kyunki constantly challenges their aging memory to keep track of its umpteen plots. So how cruel can one ever get to announce of any such displeasing news, moreso ever when its complet...

Who would you like to hire for your organization? Candidate A - Shriram R has extensive experience in the field of accounts, finance and has held several managerial positions in India and abroad. He has specialized knowledge in the field of Internationally renowned Accounting Software packages like Quick Books, MYOB, Peach Tree, Sage, Quicken, Great Plains, Real World, FACT, Tally, WINBSF & Mediaware FA. Expected salary: 1.8L Candidate B – Sujay B.Com; 3 yrs exp in Tally Expected salary – 4.5L Now surely, most of you would think I have gone bonkers to even be asking such a question. But in reality it’s close to 4 months and Shriram is still hunting for a job while Sujay has already jumped to another company for a higher salary. What is working against Shriram is sadly his ‘maturity’. The years of experience he has gathered now has turned into his liability. Meet the pissed off generation of today’s India - the other side of the new resurgent & shining India that the media neve...