In case anyone was wondering, the ET quiz was a disaster :(
Am all the more convinced that reading for a test and reading for knowledge and pleasure are two completely different things!
Monday, October 29, 2007
Drowned in ET
I don't know whether these ET quizzes are a boon or a bane. Not restricting the "syllabus" to one particular page or a set of pages means that I read the entire paper. And when one does it the way I do (reading all 5 in succession on Friday night, before the quiz on Saturday) all the news about the FDI, FII, PN (Participatory Notes) and the Chidambrams and the McKinseys crying themselves hoarse about India going great guns can get overwhelming.
Right now I can't help feeling that we are in the centre of a tornado, as far as world economy is concerned. According to me, the best part of India's growth story is the dynamism. There is so much change happening, and right in front of our eyes! Goody! :)
It's past 2 am and I can think of atleast 5 other things that I should be doing, rather than blogging. (Going to sleep tops the list :P) But I would not let these urges to write pass me by for anything. It's the sunshine of sanity in an otherwise insane world :)
Right now I can't help feeling that we are in the centre of a tornado, as far as world economy is concerned. According to me, the best part of India's growth story is the dynamism. There is so much change happening, and right in front of our eyes! Goody! :)
It's past 2 am and I can think of atleast 5 other things that I should be doing, rather than blogging. (Going to sleep tops the list :P) But I would not let these urges to write pass me by for anything. It's the sunshine of sanity in an otherwise insane world :)
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Enchantee (pronounced on-shon-tay)
Mumbai has charmed me. And far sooner than I expected! It stinks most of the time, it's over-crowded, and the weather is horrible. On the other hand, there are loads of places to see and loads of fun things to do - of all shapes and sizes and for all income groups. It's a vibrant place - not for nothing it is called the "city that never sleeps"! The people are genuine, and proud to be ordinary. Mumbai has also done the impossible to me - it has made me a compulsive shopper! :-)
As I leaned out of the local train and the wind whooshed past my face, I felt all my tiredness and my worries slip away. It was an exhilerating feeling.
After Bangalore I thought that I would never be able to like any other city. Bangalore seemed perfect in so many ways - the weather mainly, and the fact that I have lived there for most of my life, of course. In Mumbai, I have found perfection of a new kind - one with many imperfections in it.
As I leaned out of the local train and the wind whooshed past my face, I felt all my tiredness and my worries slip away. It was an exhilerating feeling.
After Bangalore I thought that I would never be able to like any other city. Bangalore seemed perfect in so many ways - the weather mainly, and the fact that I have lived there for most of my life, of course. In Mumbai, I have found perfection of a new kind - one with many imperfections in it.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
For the better good
Someone once said that we in India take one step forward and two steps backward. Our progress was termed remarkable because we were moving ahead inspite of our system and not aided by it. Many found this idea charming. I didn't.
I must admit, though, that lately, I was becoming convinced that my cynicism was unfounded. Considering that we are growing at an average rate of 8.5%, something must be going right!
But there are some things that never change. The Indo-US Nuclear Deal has been put in deep freeze, thanks to the lack of support from the Left. Nuclear Energy as such has its share of proponents and opponents, but I would say that for a 'rapidly growing' country like India, alternate forms of energy is the key to a successful future. The Congress, after deliberations, has concluded that without the Left's support, the UPA Alliance will not be able to form the required majority in Parliament in the event of early polls. The end result: save your backside first, and if there's time, the country.
In my opinion, the present cabinet is one that is far more capable than many others before it. They have disappointed me, at least.
But again, this spineless behaviour is definitely not uniquely Indian. History abounds with instances of responsible goverments who ignored selfish interests and worked for the larger good. They were inevitably voted out of office in the next poll, as a reward for their far sightedness.
The upside is that there will not be early polls. During every election the obscene sums of money that the political parties spend on their campaigns have disgusted me. I can find atleast a 100 other better ways in which the money could be spent! Not to mention the prevalance of goonda raj and poll booth kidnappings in some parts of the country. No, we'd rather do without early polls, thank you very much.
The fact remains however, that we continue to take one step forward and two backward. I am not one to preach about what we should or should not do. All I want to say is, work for the better good of the country, not yourself.
I must admit, though, that lately, I was becoming convinced that my cynicism was unfounded. Considering that we are growing at an average rate of 8.5%, something must be going right!
But there are some things that never change. The Indo-US Nuclear Deal has been put in deep freeze, thanks to the lack of support from the Left. Nuclear Energy as such has its share of proponents and opponents, but I would say that for a 'rapidly growing' country like India, alternate forms of energy is the key to a successful future. The Congress, after deliberations, has concluded that without the Left's support, the UPA Alliance will not be able to form the required majority in Parliament in the event of early polls. The end result: save your backside first, and if there's time, the country.
In my opinion, the present cabinet is one that is far more capable than many others before it. They have disappointed me, at least.
But again, this spineless behaviour is definitely not uniquely Indian. History abounds with instances of responsible goverments who ignored selfish interests and worked for the larger good. They were inevitably voted out of office in the next poll, as a reward for their far sightedness.
The upside is that there will not be early polls. During every election the obscene sums of money that the political parties spend on their campaigns have disgusted me. I can find atleast a 100 other better ways in which the money could be spent! Not to mention the prevalance of goonda raj and poll booth kidnappings in some parts of the country. No, we'd rather do without early polls, thank you very much.
The fact remains however, that we continue to take one step forward and two backward. I am not one to preach about what we should or should not do. All I want to say is, work for the better good of the country, not yourself.
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