"He that studieth
revenge keepeth his own wounds green, which otherwise would heal and do
well."
—John Milton (English,
1608-1674)
Word for the day
Wanderjahr (n)
A year or period of travel,
especially following one's schooling and before practicing a profession.
Malice towards none
How to bring Vikas in India?
Grow Taiwanese mushrooms
that sells @US$1200/kg.
First random thought this morning
The allegation of BJP leadership that Pakistan is trying to
influence Gujarat elections has distinct reflection of the recent episode of US-Russia
spat of interference in presidential elections.
But from a different viewpoint, this also indicates complete
Congressization of BJP. During 1970s and 1980s, it was very common for the
Congress leadership to blame everything wrong occurring in the country on
"external forces", implying Pakistan.
Some random thoughts
Unsuitable boy
From reading recent research reports on Indian companies and
industry segments, I get a feeling that the Chinese authorities' commitment to
conserve environment is one of the key drivers behind the bullish sentiments.
I understand it like this.
There is this good looking guy who is very indulgent, has proven
criminal tendencies, and is financially very unstable. Sick by his ways of
life, his wife decides to divorce him. Hearing the news, the parents in the
locality queue up in front of his house with request to marry their daughters.
Ominous, undesirable, unsustainable, ridicules.
Taking the easy road
In the blockbuster Hindi movie DDLJ, the heroine is deeply in love
with a guy against the wishes of her father. Her mother is afraid of her
husband’s retribution and advises the two lovers to elope. But the hero, who is
equanimous and noble, tells her that the path suggested by her appears easy but
it would lead nowhere. He would rather prefer the path of courage, honesty and
integrity which though arduous definitely leads to the desired goal.
Swami Jagadatmananda in his famous work “Learn to
Live” extolled the readers - the sincerity and honesty of the means to achieve
a goal is equally important as the goal itself.
Our government however usually does not concur with this thought.
It rather prefers to take the easy road.
Banning the condom TV commercials between 6AM to 10PM, one such
easy way of getting out of a tough situation. The right way could have been to
discuss with the latex manufacturers and marketers to make commercials
educative and plain, rather than seductive. The effort should be complemented
by making it mandatory for all schools to educate children (12yr and above)
about safe sex.
Padmavati is another such tough situation from which the
government is trying to wriggle out taking the easy road.
Not guilty till caught
A number of teen deaths have been reported from across the country
which were motivated by the mobile game Blue Whale. (Mis)Use of mobile phones
for watching pornography has also been a matter of intense, legal, legislative
and social debates.
TRAI has fixed minimum age of obtaining a mobile connection as
18yr (the legal age for entering into a legally enforceable contract).
Age conditions (minimum 13yrs of age) are in place for using
popular social media apps like Whatsapp and Facebook.
Regardless, a number of TV commercials show school going minor
children owning and using mobile phones.
It is also a common practice amongst school teachers to form a
Whatsapp group of their students, even if the students are of less than 13yrs
of age and hence not legally permitted to use mobile phone and social media
apps.
Recently, I happened to meet minor son of a very senior police
officer posted at IT Cell. The child has a personal mobile phone and is present
on all social media sites!!
I confronted the officer that recent amendments to the Motor
Vehicle Act, make the parents responsible, if their unlicensed minor child is
found driving their vehicle. Why a similar law should not be made to punish the
parents who allow mobile connections taken in their name to be used by their
minor wards.
I wonder what is the punishment, if a child lies about his/her age
to open a Whatsapp or Facebook account?
The point I am trying to raise is that "Compliance"
needs to be developed as a habit in citizens and not as a
"Condition", if we want to have a civilized society that respects
each others' rights and everyone adheres to their duties and obligations.
Crimes like domestic violence, crime against women, tax evasion, disregard
for traffic rules, violation of environmental laws, littering at public places,
will exist and perhaps continue to rise till the belief in the principle of
"not guilty till caught" is allowed to sustain.
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