Do it yourself

Thought for the day "There is not in the universe a more ridiculous, nor a more contemptible animal, than a proud clergyman." —Henry Fielding (English, 1707-1754) Word for the day Glocal (adj) Of or relating to the interconnection of global and local issues, factors, etc, e.g., a glocal conference on community development . Malice towards none Waiting for some sermon on Gita and Unpnishada from Rahul Gandhi!   First random thought this morning If data is a weapon, than H. D. Deve Gowda and Dr. Manmohan Singh could be in possession of the most potent ones of all. While HD presided over the "Dream Budget" that let the animal spirit of Indian entrepreneurs loose, something that the watershed 1991 budget could not do. The two terms of MMS (2004-2014) saw India's growth galloping from sub 5% in 2004 to over 9% in 2008. The data also shows that he steered the economy remarkably well through the glob...

Thought for the day "Guilt has very quick ears to an accusation." —Henry Fielding (English, 1707-1754) Word for the day Cannikin (n) A small can or drinking cup or a small wooden bucket. Malice towards none Why did Tubelight flopped on box office? (a) It's a bad film (b) People had already spent all their movie budget for the quarter on Bahubali - 2. (c) Spiderman (d) Salman Khan's statement on talks with Pakistan (e) Any other, pl specify.   First random thought this morning Some recent reports have suggested that public sector behemoth and world's largest miner of dirty fuel, Coal India is betting big on renewable energy ( see here) . The minister was quoted as having said that "This is a contribution towards a better planet, towards greening the country and greening the world." What would you call it - Paradox. Irony. Sham. Bizarre. Incongruous. Dro...

Thought for the day "Commend a fool for his wit, or a rogue for his honesty and he will receive you into his favor." —Henry Fielding (English, 1707-1754) Word for the day Janus-faced (adj) Having two contrasting aspects. Having two faces, one looking forward, one looking backward, as the Roman deity Janus. Malice towards none The Rebellious TV news anchor wants a full-fledged direct war with Pakistan. He would not mind a war with China too. What da ya say? First random thought this morning At a time when the country is facing serious economic challenges, internal security threats and external threats - we are working with part-time (and not so healthy) finance and defence ministers, a home minister with fractured foot, and an external affairs minister who is also not keeping very good health. What could be the reason? Is it the dearth of capable people? Is it the trust deficit on part of BJP leaders...

Thought for the day "A newspaper consists of just the same number of words, whether there be any news in it or not." —Henry Fielding (English, 1707-1754) Word for the day Ameliorate (v) To make or become better, more bearable, or more satisfactory; improve, e.g., strategies to ameliorate negative effects on the environment. Malice towards none If NiKu feels MeKu is a losing proposition and hence not worth supporting in presidential election, what would make him believe that RaGa is a candidate worth supporting for PM post in the 2019 General elections!!!   First random thought this morning Please rewind your memories a little bit and try to remember the primary plank on which the incumbent NDA government was elected.   What I get is "corruption in public offices". "We the People" gave them overwhelming mandate to pursue this agenda. Now if they are pursuing it with some vigor, ho...

Thought for the day "Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it." —Helen Keller (American, 1880-1968) Word for the day Gobsmacked (adj) Utterly astounded; astonished. Malice towards none Ajay Singh reportedly bought SpiceJet for a consideration of Rs2 only. Some power companies in Gujarat have offered the government to buy their ultra mega plants @Rs1. Someone suggested Air India may be sold only if government pays the buyer something. And RBI still loves to discuss inflation!! First random thought this morning Your dalit vs. my dalit Your GST vs. my GST Your loan waiver vs. my loan waiver Your secularism vs. my secularism Your India vs. my India Where have we reached after 70yrs of independence! Back to school - 2 A few weeks back, results of class XII CBSE examinations were declared. There were many students who...

Thought for the day "No one has a right to consume happiness without producing it." —Helen Keller (American, 1880-1968) Word for the day Unalienable (adj) Not transferable to another or not capable of being taken away or denied; inalienable Malice towards none What does BJP gains in real terms from pushing three nominees in Puducherry assembly? First random thought this morning All confrontations are not bad; nor all confrontationist. As all conformists are not good. It depends on the purpose for which someone is confronting an establishment, a tradition, a practice or a system. Confrontations to break the status quo for betterment of all is desirable and should be welcomed. Confrontation to put someone down, or promote someone, without changing anything in real term, is unacceptable. Back to school - 1 Earlier this week I had written ( see here ) about the need for a paradigm shift in the ed...

Thought for the day "Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world straight in the eye." —Helen Keller (American, 1880-1968) Word for the day Exurb (n) A small, usually prosperous, community situated beyond the suburbs of a city. Malice towards none Will PM Modi go to Palestine in next 6months on a state visit? (a) Yes (b) No (c) No need (d) Does not matter (e) He should but he won't (f) He will, but he should not. (g) How do I care   First random thought this morning Bihar Chief Minister has raised a very valid point. The opposition parties in India are completely directionless. They are merely reacting negatively to whatever the government (especially the PM) says or does. They have completely failed in presenting any alternative agenda before the people of the country. The socio-political narrative in India therefore has become spiteful. If some...