Passionate About India: The government should immediately ban the word 'Ch...

Passionate About India: The government should immediately ban the word 'Ch...:

        The government on its part banned bulk messages for 15 days, as well as multimedia messages of over 25 KB throughout the country. The government also blocked a total of 310 web pages, which provided, in one form or the other, morphed images of riots in Assam which had been instigating hate sentiments among over 60 million Indian net users. The banned web pages include specific pages from Twitter and Facebook as well – it’s estimated that 36 million in India use Facebook and 15 million use Twitter. Our ruling elites have perchance presumed that banning SMS texts and some social networking sites is enough to stem the trouble – these in reality are actually the tip of the iceberg of a much deeper-rooted problem. Although the government has set the tone of its action by blocking the hate pages from various websites, this is more of a juvenile and a temporary step. What our policy makers forget is that till one and a half decades ago, there were no social networking sites, yet there had been numerous catastrophic riots in the region.  

Read More: http://arindamchaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/08/the-government-should-immediately-ban.html

Business is Marketing: JUST DO IT!

Business is Marketing: JUST DO IT!:

 However, simplicity is the most difficult thing to achieve. The ones who can achieve it have been the most successful. Charlie Chaplin was one such legend. He simplified films. All his films were immaculately constructed. He understood human psychology perfectly and depicted it in the simplest manner in his films, which is why even today, they are as enjoyable to watch. Come to think of it, simplicity can be pretty complex. Only if you have a deep understanding of the problem can you think of a simple explanation or a simple solution. As Lao Tzu once said “I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures.” The one who can master these three virtues is sure to succeed.

Read More: http://rajitachaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/08/just-do-it.html

COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: SENSE OF CENSOR

COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: SENSE OF CENSOR:

 It is anybody’s guess as to why regulatory bodies like BCCC are not steering their swipes at the TV channels by compulsorily introducing program ratings or labels! In fact one should go to the extent of labeling each episode of the TV programs – which will give clear indication for the discretion of the viewers and for the kids – instead of hitting the broadcasters’ punching bag now and again. In most of the developed countries, TV programmes and films shown are categorically rated, so that the viewers are discreetly informed about the type of the program or movie they would be watching. In Australia for example, the television classification tags are well laid down (like MA15+ ratings means it can be shown between 9:00 pm and 5:00 am and AV15+ signifies content of violence in the film). Otherwise there are many ratings; one signifies for pre-schooling, another for children in general while some labelling are meant for 15 years plus category. US too have specific classifications of TV programs laid down its regulatory body.
 
Read More: http://prasoonsmajumdar.blogspot.in/2012/08/sense-of-censor.html

Passionate About India: An open letter to my Muslim brothers

Passionate About India: An open letter to my Muslim brothers:

 But my question is: is that justification for molesting lady constables, desecrating the Amar Jawan Jyoti, randomly attacking people from the north east and threatening them and also destroying a Buddha statue? This is where my blunt question to my Muslims brothers, who are also fellow Indians must be asked: why are you getting so worked up over the persecution of Muslims in Myanmar? Why are you not holding rallies and organising protests against the daily massacre of Muslims in countries like Syria? Why are you not protesting against the senseless manner in which Shias are being butchered in Pakistan? Even more important: is there any dearth of real problems that Muslims face in India, while they remain one of the most economically marginalized sections of the society?

Read More: http://arindamchaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/08/an-open-letter-to-my-muslim-brothers.html

Typos: THE SILENT EXTINCTION

Typos: THE SILENT EXTINCTION:

 Otters are a resilient species and have bounced back from the brink in many parts of Europe. Given half a chance, they might do so here as well. All we need to do is remind the government and concerned agencies that our conscience and our rivers need the otters as much as the otters need them.
 
Read More: http://prashantobanerji.blogspot.in/2012/08/the-silent-extinction.html

COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: PEACE IN THE ECONOMY

COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: PEACE IN THE ECONOMY:

 It gets far more important for our policy makers to consider peace keeping efforts as a vital part of economic growth. A riot or a violent turmoil creates negative externalities for the state and nation at large, thus decreasing the investor confidence and investment in the state. Even a small businessman would be able to explain the loss he/she faces because of one day shut down during these scenarios. Riots not only create one day economic loss but also leave the entire society and business paralyzed for weeks and even months and lingers in minds for a lifetime.

Read More: http://prasoonsmajumdar.blogspot.in/2012/08/peace-in-economy.html

Sutanu Guru: ARE WE HEADING AGAIN FOR THE SHAH BANO, BABRI MASJ...

Sutanu Guru: ARE WE HEADING AGAIN FOR THE SHAH BANO, BABRI MASJ...:

India, and the Congress are once again playing with fire. It will consume many more innocent Muslim and Hindu lives if we don’t stop this dangerous game right now. But then, if even the Partition and hundreds of riots after that have not taught us any lesson, I guess we Indians deserve the bleak future that awaits us.

Read More: http://www.sutanuguru.com/2012/08/are-we-heading-again-for-shah-bano.html

Business is Marketing: NEVER NEVER NEVER GIVE UP

Business is Marketing: NEVER NEVER NEVER GIVE UP:

Every cartoon this boy submitted was rejected by his high school yearbook staff. Later on, even Walt Disney refused to hire him. Yet, he never gave up. Finally, in 1950, his dream of becoming a professional cartoonist was fulfilled as his comic strip Peanuts was published. It soon became a big hit and Charles Schulz was soon earning $30,000 a year by 1953. The characters of his cartoon strip became virtual heroes and soon they were adorning cards, books, clothes, lunchboxes, et al. Snoopy, one of Schulz’s creations, was such a big hit that he soon became the mascot of NASA in 1969. NASA’s lunar excursion on the Apollo 11 mission was called Snoopy! Ford used the characters from the cartoon strip Peanuts to sell the Falcon. The characters of Peanuts were also used for 15 years to sell the products of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. A man who faced a lot of rejections and misery, but all the time kept his focus on what he loved, Schulz finally showed the world that ‘quitters never win and winners never quit’.

Read More: http://rajitachaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/08/never-never-never-give-up.html

Passionate About India: Why the UID card should be made every citizen's co...

Passionate About India: Why the UID card should be made every citizen's co...:

 Against this gloomy state of social indices and their non-scientific projections, the incumbent government in 2009 announced its plans to implement the Unique Identification Number (UID) project across India under the Unique Identification Authority of India (or UIDAI). The government named this project Aadhaar, a project with an objective of providing a unique identification number to all its citizens, which will further allow the agency to maintain all data and biometric information at a single centralized server.


Read More: http://arindamchaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/08/why-uid-card-should-be-made-every.html

Typos: UNDONE BY THE UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF BEING

Typos: UNDONE BY THE UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF BEING:

 Didn’t he or his clients ever get in trouble? Riaz smiled but his eyes were mocking me. “Sir, toosh ka shauk bade logon ka shauk hai. Woh sab kanoon ke bahar hain. Wahi kanoon banate hain… my clients are too big and powerful. They can’t be touched. Even if I’m travelling to Delhi or Mumbai with a big consignment, or even if it’s one of my men and if I get into trouble, all I have to do is make one phone call and all is well… sab theek ho jata hai… You don’t worry… I guarantee you and your shawl will reach home safe” he said and grinned. I wasn’t sure who was the cat and who the mouse in this game of ours. I was wondering what my options were… Option one: I could inform the cops but they obviously knew already and weren’t bothered. Or I could let it be and walk away because nothing would come of it anyway. Or, option 3, I could inform environmental agencies about this exchange… and that’s done. But I’m sure it wouldn’t go anywhere beyond Riaz and his fellow shawl merchants getting hassled a bit and having to make a few phone calls.

 Read More: http://prashantobanerji.blogspot.in/2012/08/undone-by-unbearable-lightness-of-being.html

COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: PERENNIAL BLACKOUT

COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: PERENNIAL BLACKOUT:

 The bottom line of the problem is the poor showing of the State Electricity Boards and dearth of reforms in power distribution that can portend a situation of losses touching up to 1.2 per cent of India's nominal GDP by March 2014. With no effort to stem the crisis, the losses rose in FY 2010 to 0.9 per cent, a significant jump from 0.6 per cent in FY 2006. Th e losses are accumulating because the power generation has failed to keep pace with our economic growth. It is paradoxical that electricity generation has experienced a draw-down in the liberalised era from its previous period. In the period 1980-81 to 1990-91 the power generation grew by impressive 124 per cent, only to be blunted by the ill-effects of much reduced growth in the next decade by mere 58 per cent, and then followed by an augment of 75 per cent in the first decade of this century. Accordingly, a similar consumption trend prevailed.

Read More: http://prasoonsmajumdar.blogspot.in/2012/08/perennial-blackout.html

Typos: THE GREATEST!

Typos: THE GREATEST!:
 
 What makes him the greatest is the fact that on five separate occasions, he had the opportunity to make millions of dollars by turning professional and each time he refused to take the bait. If he had signed on the dotted line, he would have been one of the richest sportsmen in the world and you wouldn’t have needed this column to hear of him, and he knew it all and yet he refused, each and every time.

Read More: http://prashantobanerji.blogspot.in/2012/08/the-greatest.html

COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: RIOTERS’ ADVANTAGE

COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: RIOTERS’ ADVANTAGE:

  In the 3 major post-independent riots (the Delhi riots against Sikhs in 1984, the post-Babri Masjid riots in 1992 and the Gujarat mayhem in 2002), the role of police has been quite unsatisfactory and in all these incidences, the state machinery had to rely on Army or specialised forces to gain control over the situation. However, the army which comes for the rescue takes time for their deployment with their little knowledge of geography and the prevailing situation, which often becomes a hindrance for them to put the situation back to normal.

Read More: http://prasoonsmajumdar.blogspot.in/2012/08/rioters-advantage.html

Passionate About India: From Wisconsin to Aurora, Colorado: The American g...

Passionate About India: From Wisconsin to Aurora, Colorado: The American g...:


 I had written this after the Virginia Tech shootout and I write again – capitalism is a great slave, but a pathetic master. This truth unfortunately gets lost in our chase for that elusive dream... especially in America, the land that has been marketed as the land of dreams – the Great American Dream. It’s the dream of being independent masters of our lives, the dream of making big bucks and the dream of being happy – even if that happiness is being bought by money, which all of them chase out there. No doubt, the US, on its part, has been fairly successful in creating material comfort aplenty. It has upped the living standard of its average citizen to an extent that it stands amongst the highest – even if that is a result of more than 200 years of unbridled growth and exploitation. Thus, the shop window of Americanism looks lucidly attractive; you’ve got all of them standing there – from Bill Gates to Michael Dell – in Tommy Hilfigers and Ralph Laurens! And that is what has made the rest of the world mindlessly chase Americanism, not necessarily happiness or an ideal form of society. All because the shop window looks very impressive and it has been marketed very well.

Read More: http://arindamchaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/08/from-wisconsin-to-aurora-colorado.html

Typos: THE LITTLE BROWN DOG

Typos: THE LITTLE BROWN DOG:

 little too late for that little brown dog tonight. Why did the little brown dog die? Did it have to? If we hadn’t been waiting around for two hours before we could get help to arrive, could a life have been saved? Who knows! But at least we would have done our collective best.
 
Read More: http://prashantobanerji.blogspot.in/2012/08/the-little-brown-dog.html

COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: POLITICS OF ILLEGAL COLONIES

COMMON SENSE SIMPLIFIED: POLITICS OF ILLEGAL COLONIES:

 Illegal colonies have become not only a problem for dwellers but a huge concern for urban development. Not only these colonies are denied of basic amenities, but also are excluded from the developmental schemes. After years of running around, the Centre has finally given a nod, in the backdrop of broader economic impact to regularise around 1200 colonies of Delhi.

Read More: http://prasoonsmajumdar.blogspot.in/2012/08/politics-of-illegal-colonies.html

Passionate About India: Privatise and outsource our prisons!

Passionate About India: Privatise and outsource our prisons!:

 What’s worse is that our prisons are no more corrective centers. With time, these are increasingly become training centers for to-be criminals. Since there is no such concept of correction in our prisons, even a one-time criminal comes out as a seasoned criminal. And why not? With the training of inmates for skill enhancements being poor, they are left with no option other than resorting back to the criminal world. For the uninitiated, the functions performed in Indian jails include tailoring, paper and leather work, carpentry, baking, textiles and candle making. And it requires no NSSO-type survey to find out that such skill sets without an enabling environment generate little productive engagements.
 
Read More: http://arindamchaudhuri.blogspot.in/2012/08/privatise-and-outsource-our-prisons.html