Few days ago, came across this comment in response to the article "HC gives blind student raw deal" in ibnlive. "..Who would never want a half blind person to operate on any of their loved ones. Tomorrow we will have a news item saying "HC gives blind person a raw deal by not allowing him to be a pilot.." We have to understand that we cannot allow everyone to do everything."
Hmmm, all doctors are surgeons?
And dont we already have a visually challenged doctor in India?(Dr.Anka Toppo)
And as for the pilot part, was delighted to read this headline today - Blind pilot flies halfway round world
PS : Hilton-Barber, who has been blind for 25 years, hopes the trip will raise some two million US dollars for the charity Seeing is Believing, which works to cut the incidence of preventable blindness in developing countries. In 1999 Hilton-Barber completed the "Toughest Foot-race on Earth" -- 250 kilometres across the Sahara Desert -- before running in the "Coldest Marathon on Earth", the Siberian Ice Marathon. He has climbed Mt Kilimanjaro and Mt Blanc, Africa and Europe's highest mountains, and set the Malaysian Grand Prix lap record for a blind driver in a 200-kilometre-per-hour Lotus.
Apr 30, 2007
Apr 29, 2007
Culture, Pets & PDAs
She didnt want him to waste time and told him to get to the point. The point of the Emergency meeting of the Highly Honourable members of the Executive Committee of the Residents Association, with the residents. "No Samosas" he grumbled. She glared and said I dont care.
"Regarding pets and PDAs" he summarised. She sighed in relief. Atleast it was not a rule about maids being paid less, to work in less homes. (For the curious, the rule remains unchanged, uncared and ignored).
Relieved and yet curious, she asked "What and Why".
He hesitated and then said "The president saw our neighbour hug and hmmm, express PDA, with his dog, yesterday and realised its against our culture and could be against the law too."
"You mean people shouldnt kiss and hug their pets in public?"He looked alarmed. And stared suspiciously at their child, who was watching TV. Since he didnt have the energy to argue with their child on leaving the room, he beckoned her to the bedroom.
"How could you say Kiss, in front our child" he asked annoyed. "Pleazzzzzzzzze the child, watches the news. Anyway, give me more details."
"Well yesterday our president came across an owner kissing his dog in public. And since thats not part our culture, the Executive Committee Members thought they will send out a strong message and protect our children from the cultural invasion. After all the children might see people kissing their pets and think why not kiss people too and their mind would become polluted."
"And are we allowed to watch movies? Do we have to lock our children away before watching TV" she asked..
"Thats our private decision as parents, but the Association has decided to be responsible and protect our cultural values".
She complained,
"Is it part of our culture to get continous media reports about kilos of henna used in a marriage, when 7000 Indians die Everyday from hunger?
Is it part of our culture to moan about endorsement deals of cricket stars while not caring, if an official gets Rs.3 crores as a bribe, for one deal?
Is it part of our culture to burn brides or kill the girl child before birth?
Is it part of culture to have the largest number of child labourers or have 5 lakh children enter the commercial sex trade Every year?
Is it part of our culture to have 47% of children below 5 years underweight or let 50% of the children without even primary education?
Is it part of our culture to eat biscuits & chips loaded with transfats and harm the God given body?
Is it part of our culture to dump this earth with plastic bags?
Is it part of our culture to zoom around in cars and then complain about extreme weather?
Is it part of our culture to complain about Valentine's Day and rush out to buy platinum on Akshaya Trithi?
Guess after no PDA, the only thing that is part of our culture, is making sure women dress up so that men's biological instinct is repressed. Biological urges! Humphf! Elephants, donkeys, birds, bees, and every other creature on this planet, seem unperturbed when their female counterparts are nude, whats so special about men.."
She paused to inhale.
"Why are you getting upset, when we dont have a pet.." He asked perplexed.
"Well I am just sick and tired of people defining culture for their own convenience. I am going to vote against this President in the next election."
He smiled and said, "Well many of us feel the same.."
She looked amazed and said "And I thought, part of the culture, was to never question or care!"
"Of course we care! They collect a ransom for maintainence and dont give us anything to eat. We are going to vote en masse against this group, unless.." he paused, thought and then added, "the President manages to get some TV coverage on us being a Culture Conscious Complex."
Apr 18, 2007
License to Kill
Vaguely in my dreams,
I saw a man shooting..and people dying
He doesnt care, said a voice within me
As I tried to focus and asked who gave him, the license to kill
Is he a soldier, killing people who might be insurgents
Is he a patriot fighting off the invaders
Is he the hero in an action movie
Or just a character in a video game..
Or perhaps you are trying to fool me,
I told tiredly to the voice in my dream
He could be a photographer shooting, the hungry
After all hunger kills more than anything or anybody
But why do I try to make sense
When all I feel, is just sadness
Over dead dreams
And the dead in my dreams.
Let me not dream of the disturbed cowards
Who send out an emphatic message, I dont care
Let me dream of the brave, who attempt a small difference
In this hard, cold, world, dare to care ..
I saw a man shooting..and people dying
He doesnt care, said a voice within me
As I tried to focus and asked who gave him, the license to kill
Is he a soldier, killing people who might be insurgents
Is he a patriot fighting off the invaders
Is he the hero in an action movie
Or just a character in a video game..
Or perhaps you are trying to fool me,
I told tiredly to the voice in my dream
He could be a photographer shooting, the hungry
After all hunger kills more than anything or anybody
But why do I try to make sense
When all I feel, is just sadness
Over dead dreams
And the dead in my dreams.
Let me not dream of the disturbed cowards
Who send out an emphatic message, I dont care
Let me dream of the brave, who attempt a small difference
In this hard, cold, world, dare to care ..
Apr 14, 2007
Ashamed of your Mother!
He closed the door after the last guest, and turned to his family with a smile. It had been a fantastic party. But his family members didnt smile. His wife had a cold stare, his father an angry glare, and his mother simply looked away."Why didnt you introduce your mother to everyone? You have become big and now ashamed of her?", his father, growled.
He stared stunned, unsure of the reply. (Or was it better to just be quiet?)
His family silently, started, to clear the room. He stood still and tried to clean and clear his mind.
He bit his lips and sighed. It had been intentional, but he hadnt thought of it as insulting his mother. Was he ashamed of his mother? He knew he shouldnt be ashamed. Yet that was not what he had felt at that time. And yet,if someone had asked him, how felt towards his mother, he would have said, he adored her..
With fear and hesitation, he went up to his mom. "Sorry ma, I was wrong to feel ashamed, but that doesnt mean I dont love you."
His mother simply hugged him and said, "Well I know, I am not perfect.."
Pefection in action
Is not the expectation in Love.
Post No.358
He stared stunned, unsure of the reply. (Or was it better to just be quiet?)
His family silently, started, to clear the room. He stood still and tried to clean and clear his mind.
He bit his lips and sighed. It had been intentional, but he hadnt thought of it as insulting his mother. Was he ashamed of his mother? He knew he shouldnt be ashamed. Yet that was not what he had felt at that time. And yet,if someone had asked him, how felt towards his mother, he would have said, he adored her..
With fear and hesitation, he went up to his mom. "Sorry ma, I was wrong to feel ashamed, but that doesnt mean I dont love you."
His mother simply hugged him and said, "Well I know, I am not perfect.."
He stopped her with "Ma, I adore you and you know, I wish, I could be perfect too, but.."
Pefection in action
Is not the expectation in Love.
And, patriotism is love for the country
Not perfection in love for the country
Post No.358
Apr 8, 2007
They Dare to Make Money!
"So what happened at the meeting", his wife asked eagerly.
Of course, the minutes of the emergency meeting, held by the Highly Honourable members of the Executive Committee of the Residents Association, with the residents, would be put up on notice board tommorrow, but who read those, anyway?
He replied, "The first 45 minutes was spent on thanking the various committee members, and the last 20 minutes was spent on comparing the samosas of the previous month with the samosas of this month. By the way, I think, the samosas were better last month."
She snorted and gestured to him, to get to the point.
He stretched his legs, closed his eyes and imitated the President.
" and now lets move on to the main agenda. All the members unanimously felt the maids are making too much money. (That was the Cue for nods)
And we have decided to take strong action against them. (The Cue for claps).
Henceforth the maids can work for only 3 flats. (The Cue for loud cheering)
Even if they have time at their disposal, to work for more flats, they can use that time to put in more hours for free, at any of the 3 residents flats. We have decided to cut down on their bonus and slash their salary by 25%. After all they should take pride, in doing their duties and working for us. (Cue for standing ovation and hot samosas)."
"And you didnt say anything against it? Since you are not an executive committee member, we wont get the best maid. What happened to the concept of freedom and free market." She asked horrified.
He replied smugly, "Honey, do you think the maids will agree to it? Unlike some men, the maids have more freedom and can form an association and fight, and say its their time and their discretion and if their performance is below par, the employer can fire, without putting a cap on the hire." .
She nodded and then added, "If only someone would tell the politicians and government officials, they can take only 3 bribes per year..."
Of course, the minutes of the emergency meeting, held by the Highly Honourable members of the Executive Committee of the Residents Association, with the residents, would be put up on notice board tommorrow, but who read those, anyway?
He replied, "The first 45 minutes was spent on thanking the various committee members, and the last 20 minutes was spent on comparing the samosas of the previous month with the samosas of this month. By the way, I think, the samosas were better last month."
She snorted and gestured to him, to get to the point.
He stretched his legs, closed his eyes and imitated the President.
" and now lets move on to the main agenda. All the members unanimously felt the maids are making too much money. (That was the Cue for nods)
And we have decided to take strong action against them. (The Cue for claps).
Henceforth the maids can work for only 3 flats. (The Cue for loud cheering)
Even if they have time at their disposal, to work for more flats, they can use that time to put in more hours for free, at any of the 3 residents flats. We have decided to cut down on their bonus and slash their salary by 25%. After all they should take pride, in doing their duties and working for us. (Cue for standing ovation and hot samosas)."
"And you didnt say anything against it? Since you are not an executive committee member, we wont get the best maid. What happened to the concept of freedom and free market." She asked horrified.
He replied smugly, "Honey, do you think the maids will agree to it? Unlike some men, the maids have more freedom and can form an association and fight, and say its their time and their discretion and if their performance is below par, the employer can fire, without putting a cap on the hire." .
She nodded and then added, "If only someone would tell the politicians and government officials, they can take only 3 bribes per year..."
Apr 4, 2007
A four letter word called Hurt
He came back after the appraisal, feeling hurt. In the past, he would have come out of the office, all smiles. Colleagues, would have smiled back and asked for a party. But this year, it was different. The two decades of good performance didnt matter, the latest project had been a disaster. The smiling, back slapping boss had changed into a frowning cold Boss. And the colleagues, smelling a loser, pretended to be preoccupied.
He had given his best, to the company and it had benefited. True he had earned his performance bonuses, which had taken many times, even his breath away.
But the money had not immuned him from feelings.
He had been a symbol of success, but that shouldnt mean, he shouldnt feel a thing now, right?
He accepted responsibility and could accept criticism of his approach and methods. But just couldnt accept criticism of his commitment and attitude. Didnt people realise, that more than the money, the success of the past projects had meant a lot to him.
Why couldnt they realise, he was human. Why couldnt they realise, the gut wrenching pain he felt, not just when they lost the project, but when he looked up to them for support and understanding.
He wondered which was more unrealistic. Others expecting him to be a Superman or his expecting others to understand he was human.
It hurts when you dont achieve the goals. And it hurts more when others let you down and you realise you are just a money spinning object to them.
He knew they would be back, if he succeeded again. That made him more determined. But somehow, it just couldnt take away the hurt.
He had given his best, to the company and it had benefited. True he had earned his performance bonuses, which had taken many times, even his breath away.
But the money had not immuned him from feelings.
He had been a symbol of success, but that shouldnt mean, he shouldnt feel a thing now, right?
He accepted responsibility and could accept criticism of his approach and methods. But just couldnt accept criticism of his commitment and attitude. Didnt people realise, that more than the money, the success of the past projects had meant a lot to him.
Why couldnt they realise, he was human. Why couldnt they realise, the gut wrenching pain he felt, not just when they lost the project, but when he looked up to them for support and understanding.
He wondered which was more unrealistic. Others expecting him to be a Superman or his expecting others to understand he was human.
It hurts when you dont achieve the goals. And it hurts more when others let you down and you realise you are just a money spinning object to them.
He knew they would be back, if he succeeded again. That made him more determined. But somehow, it just couldnt take away the hurt.
Deserted, he walked alone to his seat,
Thirsting for a respite from the heat,
Like a traveller in a desert.
Oh a four letter word call hurt.
Thirsting for a respite from the heat,
Like a traveller in a desert.
Oh a four letter word call hurt.
Apr 3, 2007
Fools Day
When 7000 Indians die from hunger, Everyday
The media's concern seems to be, whether Sachin should stay
Fool's day was day before yesterday,
Or Everyday?
http://www.bhookh.com
The media's concern seems to be, whether Sachin should stay
Fool's day was day before yesterday,
Or Everyday?
http://www.bhookh.com
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