I visited a remote part of India for the past couple of days.
It is in the State of Orissa, on the eastern part of India.
When I hit the place, I thought “Oh, this is the really remote and poorest part of India”. I have seen many places in India, but I was a bit taken aback after seeing the poor people in the remotest parts of India.
Ofcourse, there is progress. One sign of it is the mobile phone. The other is the improving road condition, though nowhere near international standards. Yet another sign of improvement is the communication medium – the big signboards – displaying latest stuff like LCD TVs, Cell Phones, Movies, Supermarkets, etc., So, people seem to be recognizing and getting impacted by latest brands. That’s the good part of development.
The sad part is of course the living conditions along the highway. Thatched mud huts, scantily clad people, kids playing on the road side during supposedly school hours, people defecating on the roads, hungry-looking folks, etc., This is the REAL India. Mumbai and Delhi are far away from reality. The actual fact on the ground is that India lives in its villages and roadsides. Pity indeed.
So, the fruits of development, though visible occasionally on the roads, are yet to reach the millions of poor and hungry people of India. By some reports, over 300M people in India do not get even a single square meal every day. That is pathetic given that we are independent for the past 62 years.
Well, Democracy does not seem to have delivered. I wonder whether some other system would have reached out to the people faster and made their livelihoods better in some manner. What is important – a better quality of life, or freedom to denigrate into misery ?
I really do not know the answer to that question. A Capitalist in heart, I find it difficult to countenance poverty and people mired in poverty, knowing full well that Capitalism has failed and could not find a solution to penury. Especially in India, where the money allocated by the Government does not reach out to the poorest of the poor. Are we responsible ? Of course, YES. Everyone of us is responsible. Let us touch our hearts and say we aren’t.
What are we supposed to do to alleviate poverty and improve the livelihoods of people on the countryside ?
I really felt challenged by this question, and am sure most of us do.
A query to ponder over this weekend,
Cheers
Vijay Srinivasan
21 Nov 2009
Mumbai
Just ignore it !
Well, what else to do to avoid getting depressed ? Depression is not a good status.
Ofcourse, there is another way.
Recently, I went through such feelings, obviously imposed……the danger in such a situation is that, apart from feeling “low”, there are fleeting images of the oppressor crossing one’s eyeballs many a time in a day. Which is again not a good thing, as the oppressor tries to dominate one’s feelings by visual imagery.
Well, I am not saying anything new here, am sure that most readers have encountered such feelings or devastation one time or the other. The key learning for me was to tackle the oppressor visually, kill him/her (like in a PlayStation), and then banish the thought or feeling forever. It does not happen that easily, but I find it better to assume a younger or boyish role and fight it out.
Then, the mind becomes a bit freer, the feelings become more neutral, and attitude improves towards others. Not an easy thing again, but it is worthwhile attempt to get back control of one’s feelings. You could have been shortchanged, accused, incorrectly blamed, punished, tagged, or characterized publicly or even privately by the oppressor. However, it is critical to disassociate one’s feelings of wronged, from one’s own being for a moment. If that is not possible, it is better to become a “feeling aggressor” or a “bio dominator” – a sort of mental aggression to tackle the feeling, and get out unscathed.
Also, I found it is better to speak out with someone very close to gain back a modicum of sense into one’s own mind and behaviour. I strongly believe that there is no point in losing composure for no fault of your own. It is important to realize that you have not committed any crime and the punishment is either incorrect or way beyond normal measure.
The mantra is “Don’t React” and “Gain Control”. I have been following this principle for quite some time, and it has been working out for me. And, I am sure it would work for most people. It is relevant to state here that the usual method of quick retaliation is not the way to go, as it would lead to loss of peace and self-control.
So folks, “Gain Control” over your feelings and yourself !
Cheers, and Have a Great Week Ahead,
Vijay Srinivasan
15th Nov 2009
Mumbai
I achieved today what I have been training for quite some time. May be laughing stock for many, but for me it is a moment to cherish.
I did 3.00 Kms on the treadmill this morning, at a speed of 6.5 Km/hr, in a duration of 31:03 minutes. I burnt 129 calories in the process, but that is quite meagre. I achieved this without much effort due to the gradual training. It felt real good.
Now this will become a benchmark I guess. I need to slowly but surely exceed the number ! But let me go in a measured fashion.
I also did well on the weights this morning after the treadmill workout. I was consistent in weight lifting. The difference was due to the earlier achievement and focused concentration.
Good luck folks at the gym !
Cheers,
Vijay Srinivasan
14th November 2009
Mumbai
Well here it is…….on the treadmill today……
Speed = 6.5 Km/hr
Average Speed = 5.9 Km/hr
Average Incline = 0.0
Total Time = 29 minutes
Total Distance = 2.86 Km
Total Calories = 125
Well, this took about 35 minutes in all including the important warming-up session.
After this work-out, I moved to the weights – all that exercise took about 20 minutes.
In all, close to 55 minutes, it was good stuff.
The pain which was earlier there in the knees and legs has now gone away. Supplementing this with Yoga is very important, in my opinion. So, do Yoga on alternate days, or on all days, as it just takes 20 minutes to do 15 Surya Namashkars in the morning. One should remember though not to take any drinks including water before Yoga. And, wait for atleast another 20 minutes before you hit the coffee !
Cheers,
Vijay Srinivasan
9th Nov 2009
Mumbai
Well one of those topics from old times………
Most people that we come across in life have no “glue”, meaning no fixed bearings. That would sometimes mean that people are “unfocused” with not much of mental energy to tackle life’s challenges.
I recently met one of my friends who has given up his corporate job. He was a bit unfocused in the beginning, not entirely prepared to face the challenges which pounce upon once there was no steady life. However, he overcame the hurdles by two things – Faith in himself and God ; and, sheer hard work in making things happen for himself.
He was optimistic about the future all the time. I guess that optimism was fueled by faith and self confidence. More than anything else, he had concentration, i.e., focus on what he wanted to achieve in life.
In combination, these three things – Faith + Optimism/Self-Confidence + Focused Concentration – surely will lead one to achieve the desired things in one’s life. Unfocused, faithless and pessimistic people do not achieve much in life. They constantly crib about everything in life.
Well, that is the thought for this weekend, folks
Cheers,
Vijay Srinivasan
8th Nov 2009
Mumbai
Last week, I had the pleasure of having two great red wines – both Shiraz – while dining out in Singapore.
The first one was Henry’s Drive Dead Letter Office Shiraz 2006. I selected this wine because of two reasons – I had known Henry’s Drive wines for a fairly long time (atleast 8 years if my memory serves me right), and secondly, this Shiraz was the only Henry’s Drive wine available at the restaurant ! I guessed that it must be a good Shiraz coming from the famous winemaker. I was proved absoutely right.
The HDDLO Shiraz 2006 was a great selection – my description of its taste is as follows : intense wine with coffee and caramel aromas, dark red/black colour, chewy taste with plum fruit on the palate, delicious……wow, absolutely delicious. I thought I detected something chocolatey as well, but not sure, need to try one more bottle ! I am not that technical to describe more here, but this is a wine you should not miss, though it is a bit pricey. Drink it in Australia or the U.S., where it is likely to be much cheaper than it is in a Singapore restaurant.
The second bottle that I ordered was the Cape Mentelle Shiraz 2006. Again this was a great selection. This wine has a dark purple colour, it is intense, and has kind of thick chocolate taste. It stings a bit, so I guess it is peppery. The thick fruity taste resembles the HDDLO Shiraz. Again, a great wine from Margaret River. Price is close to the HDDLO Shiraz.
It is a great sensation to have one great Shiraz glass of wine for the evening. Having two of the best Shiraz wines is surely a reward. I would strongly recommend both wines. These wines are easy to drink for the beginners as well.
Cheers,
Vijay Srinivasan
31st October 2009
Mumbai
I was having lunch at a food court in a prominent mall in Singapore yesterday.
I could not fail to notice the cost increases which were getting passed to the ordinary customers. The people you see at a mall are the microcosm of the country itself – mostly average consumer, trying to eat out on a weekend, along with his family. They do a multitude of activities at their chosen mall – ATM transactions, window shopping, getting things fixed, hair cut, real shopping, casual shopping, et al – but the most important thing they execute is having lunch or coffee or dinner. Simply because they do not cook and do not wish to work during the weekend making lunch or dinner, I guess.
The prices of ordinary food articles/items have gone up by over 30 to 40% in Singapore – same is the case in most other places, but here the contrast was remarkable. We all know that subsistence costs are a lower percentage of discretionary expenses in more developed countries, as compared to the “developing” or “emerging” countries. What this means is that, food costs for example, are lower in developed countries (it should be the other way around, if you care to think about it !). However, with incomes falling, employees getting laid off by companies which cannot successfully tackle the economic downturn, zero pay increases, etc., the food costs become a bigger proportion of income/expenses.
That is at constant food prices. If the food prices rise, for whatever reason, you can imagine the impact. I am sure that this factor has had a big impact in the lives of Singaporeans, especially in 2008 – 09.
I noticed the cost that affected me. For a simple lunch of “Yong Tau Fu” which consists of a few selected vegetables/taufu/greens + noodles, cooked in hot water right in front of you, it used to cost around S$ 3.80 in yesteryears. Now, I had to pay S$ 5.30, an increase of 40%. Well, I am not incorrect to say that there has been a significant increase in the cost of food in Singapore.
Well, let us look at the formal restaurants – last evening I went to dine at a classy one in downtown. A dish which should typically cost S$ 16 was priced at S$ 24, an increase of 50% ! May be the upper middle class can bear a little more burden, I guess.
Well, whichever way I looked around, it made me wonder how the average Joe is coping. It should be pretty hard, I think.
I decided to take a walk around the shopping mall, and read the sticker prices of some items on display. I always thought that Mumbai was costlier for almost everything, especially electronic items. Was I shocked ? Yes, I found that the price of iPod Nano in the Apple Store at Singapore was around US$ 15 more as compared to the same model at the Apple Store in Mumbai ! May be the rapidly appreciating Indian Rupee is playing some tricks here, or the relative strength of the S$ vis-a-vis the US$ is having some impact. Don’t know, but it was surprising.
Well, well, Singapore needs to once again re-learn the art of being competitive. It is a country which has constantly re-engineered itself over the past four decades, and I am sure it would do so again.
It was interesting to see the impact, though.
Cheers,
Vijay Srinivasan
25th October 2009
Mumbai
I drank a fabulous new wine from the stable of Sula Wines today.
It is the Sula MOSAIC – Grenache Syrah 2009. I strongly recommend this wine for an evening of fun and appreciation of good Indian wine. It is deep red in colour, and fruity on the palate. It is rich and full of Syrah flavour, I guess !
While I am in no position to describe the full details of this wine, I enjoyed it and that matters, I think. And, at INR 360 per bottle, you could not go wrong at all. I am purchasing couple of bottles of this good red next weekend.
Cheers
Vijay Srinivasan
18th October 2009
Mumbai
Diwali Festival and Festivities have gone international.
President Barack Obama celebrated Diwali at the White House.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown celebrated Diwali at 10, Downing Street. “This is a great day for Downing Street, a great day for us and a great day for Britain to celebrate Diwali for the first time in Downing Street. This is a historic event,” a beaming Brown told a packed gathering in the Pillared Room of his official residence last evening after formally lighting the lamp – quoted from the Times of India 17 October news coverage of the event.
So, for the first time, world powers are recognizing the most important festival of India. This is a recognition of the rising importance of India in the world stage, as we move from a developing nation to a developed nation status and take the high table in global affairs management.
Not surprising though. This ought to have happened quite some time ago. India’s governmental response mechanism to global events has improved considerably over the past decade or so, and surely after 2002. Things moved rapidly once President George W Bush and Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice determined that India is the new emerging power in the world economy, and needs to be brought (or pushed into, rather) into the centre stage. The result was a growing strength in the bilateral relations between the U.S. and India from 2005 onwards. I think this was for the good of both nations, both being big democracies with a shared vision of the future.
I can hear the bursting of crackers from yesterday afternoon onwards, and today (the day of the Diwali) the cracker sounds started from 6 AM ! But one can’t complain, it is really a celebration of the success of “good” over “evil”.
Have a wonderful Diwali, and wishing all readers a great season of festivities,
Cheers,
Vijay Srinivasan
17th October 2009
Mumbai
I spent two hours this afternoon at the Infinity Mall in Andheri West.
That is quite unusual for me, I do not go to a shopping mall without purpose. But, I had to wait for my daughter who had gone to a class nearby, so no choice. However, I enjoyed the break after a very long time indeed.
First, I successfully manouevered my car into the parking lot, beating guys who were trying to break the queue. This is one nonsense which the well-to-do Indians can’t get away from. There was a long queue of cars waiting to get into the car park entrance (with its elaborate security checks), and here comes one guy from the left and another from the right, trying to cut into the queue with no regrets. And, on top of this, a couple of autos which got locked out and wanted to get out to the main road !
It is my policy that I would strictly prohibit discipline-breakers from breaking the discipline and getting away scot-free. So, the first thing I did was to block the breakers from getting ahead of me, by deftly closing the gap between me and the car ahead, leaving exactly one inch in between the two of us. I looked at the great faces of the discipline/queue-breakers, and decided that I would not make any gestures of any kind, just block their way. There were atleast ten cars behind me in the queue, and this bloke came all the way to almost the entrance of the car park and was trying to break in ! A fat chance for courtesy !!
Well, I got into the car park and successfully parked – there was lot of space. Then I went up to the bookstore in the second floor called Landmark. I am a fan of Landmark – it started off in Chennai more than 15 years ago, and I was a regular customer buying loads of book which I ferried back to Singapore where I was living. Now, I did not buy any books, just browsed through their great collection of books and DVDs. They were giving very good discounts indeed, and shoppers were buying – that showed the serious interest of the public in reading. Very Good ! But, what I never liked is that Landmark seemed to be more focused on toys and movies, handbags and writing accessories, and gifts/mementoes, rather than books per se. Only 60% of the space was allocated to books……..
I spent a good one hour out in Landmark, enjoying the browsing. Then I ventured out to have a snack and coffee in the food court just outside Landmark. It was absolutely full at 4 PM, and I was reminded of the Singapore food courts, wherein people seemed to be eating perennially, all the time. The same case here as well. Material advances and comfort bring a change in attitude towards spending and eating habits, I presume.
With some difficulty, I found a place to sit. While observing the people coming in and eating over there, I concluded that (a) people have lots of disposable money in Mumbai ; (b) eating habits have distinctly shifted from traditional Indian fast food towards Western food, atleast amongst the younger crowd ; (c) younger generation gets lot of pocket money ; (d) dating seemed to be prevalent ; (e) longest queue was at Cafe Coffee Day and Subway, of all places – may be this could be different at different times of the day ; (f) maximum number of teenagers ; (g) heavy SMS activity and giggling ; and, (h) a lot of sneak talk all around.
I got bored after some time, finished my coffee and headed out.
A different Sunday afternoon, I guess.
Have a wonderful week ahead, folks,
Cheers,
Vijay Srinivasan
11th October 2009
Mumbai
