Why I want this fuel hike !!

Mr. X likes to see movies so much that he watches one movie every week. Then calamity strikes, the friendly neighbourhood cinema shuts and lo behold, becomes a multiplex! Since its a little heavy on his pocket, X now watches one movie every 2 weeks and balances his budget.

Like most people living in the city of Mumbai, X commutes 25 kms to work and back. His Petrol bill was 12k a month before he switched to a fuel efficient diesel car. He now spends 8k a month. After the recent fuel price hike, X is planning to commute by train or AC bus, but only on Saturdays. That way, his commute will also be comfortable and he will be balancing his budget as well. Small sacrifices, but they have to be made. 

So why is X happy that the fuel prices have risen and he has to cut back on his lifestyle to save money? Well, Like most us reading this, X is also a tax payer and a good citizen. He, along with you and I, is part of the 35 million Indians who pay Income Taxes. In a population of 1 billion, that translates to just 3.5% of the population! 

So why is the recent fuel hike actually good for X and the other 35 mn Indian Tax payers?

Rich farmers in Punjab riding them shiny Mercedes cars do not pay a penny in Income Tax ! But X, you and I, we are sharing the burden for supplying him cheap Petrol and diesel for his ride!

The Government sells fuel at a price lower than its cost. The difference is ultimately added to the country's fiscal deficit and to balance the books, the Government has to raise more money, through, amongst other things..... TAXES. Taxes, one part of which is paid only by X, Me and You, but not by the Merc-walla farmer in Punjab!

And also X asks, why should he pay for the farmers profligate use of fuel or indeed why should a tax payer commuting by bus and train pay for X's ride to office in air-conditioned comfort.

And that is why X decided not to support the Bharat Bandh of July 5, 2010.
(picture copyright with duncun http://www.flickr.com/photos/duncan/)

Bandra Worli Sea Link - A Critique

Bandra Worli Sea Link (BWSL) mirrors India. Its stands for our aspirations, to be world class and to enjoy the best of amenities and infrastructure. To take up challenges and to be counted amongst the best.

The BWSL is a 6 km project, starting at the Mahim Interchange and going all the way upto Worli Sea Face. It consists of 2 cable stayed spans, the one at Bandra end, a massive single tower supported span of approx 600 mtrs and the one at the Worli end a span of approx 350 mtrs held by two smaller towers. State of the art technology is being used in the construction of this bridge and even the giant Asian Hercules crane was called up to serve duty. After completion, it will be amongst the bigger cable stayed bridges in Asia.

It is slated to cut travel time between Bandra and Worli from present day 40 minutes, to about 10 minutes and also save us motorist a lot of fuel.

It also brings out our shortcoming as a nation.

China constructed a much bigger cable stayed bridge, the Sutong bridge, over the Yangste river. The total length of this bridge is over 8 kms., its main cable stayed spans over 1 km, and there are also 5-6 other smaller side spans. Construction started in June 2003 and the bridge was opened for public use in May2008 and was officially inaugurated later in June 2008.

BWSL construction is over 8 years old and counting, why? – The plans and designs were changed a lot of times. The link was pushed further away into open sea by half a kilometer (Environment issues I guess) and the landing moved from Worli village to Worli seaface (villagers’ protests?), surely adding a km to its length. This has resulted in delays and cost escalation from Rs. 400 crores to Rs. 1,600 crores and counting. Thus, the project has been embroiled in various issues such as logistical, environmental clearance and public interest litigation leading to its delay and subsequent cost escalation.

BWSL as seen from the existing road, is an 8 lane twin carriageway, but one can see only one 4 lane carriageway landing at Worli sea face. The second one, I guess, is a continuation bridge that will go upto Haji Ali and may apparently not be used till Worli - Haji Ali Sea Link is completed (say 10-15 years at minimum!)

BWSL is just one part of the larger Western Island Freeway connecting Bandra to Nariman Point and is being planned since the ‘60’s!

A fly-over came up at present day Priyadarshini Park (over nothing) since the original freeway was to land at present day Priyadarshini Park and pass under the fly-over. This happed at least 30 years ago!! I don’t remember seeing a flat road where the fly-over is now, but my mother assures me it was flat before the “fly-over” (over what??) came up at PDP.

Lack of planning, lack of clarity of thought and lack of political will has resulted in mine, yours and a lot of other tax payers hard earned money going down the drain.

So guys, pull up your socks and tell those politicos to their backsides moving. We just happen to be in that 2 month window which appears every five years when they actually listen to us.

(Originally written on March 22, 2009 - 3 months before the Bandra Worli Sea Link was opened fro traffic)

No God or Know God??

An atheist professor of philosophy speaks to his class on the problem Science has with God, The Almighty.

He asks one of his new students to stand and.....

Prof: So you believe in God?

Student: Absolutely, sir.

Prof: Is God good?

Student: Sure.

Prof: Is God all-powerful?

Student: Yes.

Prof: My brother died of cancer even though he prayed to God to heal him.

Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But God didn't. How is this God good then? Hmm? (Student is silent.)

Prof: You can't answer, can you? Let's start again, young fellow. Is God good?

Student: Yes.

Prof: Is Satan good?

Student: No.

Prof: Where does Satan come from?

Student: From...God.. .

Prof: That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this world?

Student: Yes.

Prof: Evil is everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything. Correct?

Student: Yes.

Prof: So who created evil?

(Student does not answer.)

Prof: Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the world, don't they?

Student: Yes, sir.

Prof: So, who created them?

(Student has no answer.)

Prof: Science says you have 5 senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Tell me, son...Have you ever seen God?

Student: No, sir.

Prof: Tell us if you have ever heard your God?

Student: No, sir.

Prof: Have you ever felt your God, tasted your God, smelt your God? Have you ever had any sensory perception of God for that matter?

Student: No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.

Prof: Yet you still believe in Him?

Student: Yes.

Prof: According to empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?

Student: Nothing. I only have my faith.

Prof: Yes. Faith. And that is the problem science has.

Student: Professor, is there such a thing as heat?

Prof: Yes.

Student: And is there such a thing as cold?

Prof: Yes.

Student: No sir. There isn't.

(The lecture theatre becomes very quiet with this turn of events.)

Student: Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, superheat, mega heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat. But we don't have anything called cold. We can hit 458 degrees below zero which is no heat,

but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold. Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold.

Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.

(There is pin-drop silence in the lecture theatre.)

Student: What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?

Prof: Yes. What is night if there isn't darkness?

Student: You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light....But if you have no light constantly, you have nothing and its called darkness, isn't it? In reality, darkness isn't.

If it were you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?

Prof: So what is the point you are making, young man?

Student: Sir, my point is your philosophical premise is flawed.

Prof: Flawed? Can you explain how?

Student: Sir, you are working on the premise of duality. You argue there is life and then there is death, a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure.

Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one.

To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life: just the absence of it. Now tell me, Professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?

Prof: If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, yes, of course, I do.

Student: Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?

(The Professor shakes his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the argument is going.)

Student: Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavour, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you not a scientist but a preacher?

(The class is in uproar.)

Student: Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professor's brain?

(The class breaks out into laughter.)

Student: Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor's brain, felt it, touched or smelt it? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, sir.

With all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures, sir?

(The room is silent. The professor stares at the student, his face unfathomable. )

Prof: I guess you'll have to take them on faith, son.

Student: That is it sir... The link between man & god is FAITH.

That is all that keeps things moving & alive....... ......... ..

Note: This post originally appeared as Facebook note by Hitesh Mayani

and has been reproduced here with his permission.

Defamation, a thin line to cross in cyber times

At the Blog camp at Mumbai on February 20, 2010, a discussion by Monik Pamecha (Twitter @monikinom) took a very interesting turn. The incident where blogger Chyetanya Kunte was forced to offer an apology on certain comments made against a famous media personality was being debated hotly by a few bloggers, who were trying to find ways and means to avoid / prevent such incidents from happening in the future.

I did recall that there were provisions in the Cyber Laws of the country that prevent defamation of other persons and that got me thinking on this issue. Just as someone remarked at the blog camp, with every freedom, there are responsibilities. So too with the Freedom of Speech. While our Constitution does grant us the freedom of speech, we must remember not to transgress our rights and cross the thin line between freedom and its abuse.

Defamation, also known as slander (spoken) and libel (written), basically means spoiling someone's name or bringing disrepute to any person. Cyber defamation would obviously mean spoiling someone's name, or bringing disrepute to any person by means of cyberspace, including social media, blogs, websites, emails, bulletin boards and like.

Bloggers must take care not to let their anger get the better of them, since it is very easy to let-off steam in a blog or a like social media, on an impulse or in the heat of the moment. Also I understand that the blogger would be held responsible for comments posted by readers on a blog, so comment moderation is also an area that bloggers must be careful of.

I do suggest that with more and more people (including celebrities and media personalities) embracing cyber media like social media (twitter, face book etc), websites and blogging in a big, such conflicts are just a precursor of things to come. Individual bloggers will never be able to stand up to big corporations. So blog smart, moderate smarter.

Why you should join the Indian Youth Congress

Mumbai – 26/11

Pune – 13/02

What next.

Twitter and its users in India came into its own following the terror attacks in Mumbai on 26th Nov 2008. The tweeple tweeted, raved, ranted, lit candles and were even able to organize, if I may say, a peaceful gathering of all Mumbaikars at the Gateway of India within a week of 26/11 happening.

The reaction to this outrage felt by the average Mumbaikars was that there was a change of guard in the state of Maharashtra. The Chief Minister & the Deputy Chief Minister were replaced. Even the Union Home Minister of India was replaced. People squarely laid the blame on the politicians this time round.

Come Lok Sabha Election time, we had a few high profile independent candidates. Ms Meera Sanyal, country head of ABN Amro bank and Dr Mona Shah, a consultant eye surgeon stood for the Mumbai South Lok Sabha seat (site of the 26/11 terror attacks) and their candidature did somewhat create a mild scare in the existing dispensation. Unfortunately, the experiment failed miserably. Both the candidates lost their deposit.

Come the 2009 assembly elections, the Cong-NCP combine is voted back to power. Terror or Security is not a major issue, sons of the soil is. The booted are back in the corridors of power. Ex-CM Deshmukh is a Union Cabinet minister, R.R. Patil is back as state home minister. We have come back a full circle.

High profile individuals (Meera Sanyal) or non-mainstream political parties (Professional Party of India) have not created the desired impact. Middle class participation in the political process has to take place.

A good opportunity is being created by Mr. Rahul Gandhi, Gen Secretary of the Indian National Congress. The youth (18 – 35 years) are being wooed to join the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) and are also being encouraged to participate in organization elections, either by standing for positions, or by voting for people standing for various positions.

It’s an opportunity not to be missed. Please grab it with both hands!

-@R113

Tukaram Ombale - the true hero of 26/11

It was the night of 26^th November 2008

Panic had struck the city of Mumbai. TV channels were carrying visuals of terrorists firing at bystanders from a Police vehicle. Policemen were conducting naka bandis with revolvers in hand ready to fire. Such was the state of shock everyone, the police included, was in.

Shots had been fired at Leopold. Terrorists had entered the Taj and Trident hotels, and a nondescript building in Colaba called The Shadab House or the Nariman House. Bombs had gone off in taxis in Vile Parle and Parel and unconfirmed reports said bombs had gone off in Malabar Hill and god knows where. Senior IPS officers had been grievously injured. How many of them were there, where, what next, no one had a clue !!

One definite piece of info that the police had was that the police vehicle from which the terrorists had shot at the public at Metro junction and been abandoned and there were 2 terrorists who had then taken a Skoda at gun point and were heading towards Girgaum Chowpatty. Men from the V.P. Marg police (Lamington Road), under whose jurisdiction Girgaum Chowpatty falls, had erected a barricade and were waiting, guns ready.

The Skoda came, crashed through the barricade and a volley of firing followed. One terrorist was killed. The second one came charging out. A cop shouted; take him alive, he’s evidence…. The rest of the story we should all know.

A heroic Asst Sub Inspector (One rung above what we aam janta call havaldar or constable) named Tukaram Ombale jumped on the Terrorist, caught his AK-47 by hand, held it against his chest, thereby shielding his fellow policemen from the bullets, and pinned the terrorist down. The other policemen were thus able to capture the terrorist, whom we now know as Ajmal Kasab, alive.

We read about the heroic death of ASI Ombale in the next days newpapers. We also read of his many humane qualities, which probably were instrumental in him deciding to take the brave step of certain death to enable the Mumbai Police and our nation in not only unmasking the true face of terror, but also parading him before the world to nullify the many negative voices emanating from our neighbour hood.Out of all the martyr's of 26/11, I would hail ASI Tukaram Ombale’s martyrdom as a heroic one

And now we read that this great man has indeed passed on his samskars, his qualities to his offspring. His daughter, Varsha Ombale, proved herself to be her father’s daughter. She declined to accept money collected by school children at a function held to honour her father. She instead asked that the money be used to help the needy school children itself and that her father would not have liked it if she had accepted that money.

O true hero of 26/11, we salute you with all our heart and soul.

IS TATA SKY THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE DTH SERVICE??

“What, you have to pay extra for sports channels on your TATA Sky. Why, I subscribe to Reliance Big TV Platinum pack and get a range of 150-160 channels “ bloated my cousin while we were watching the ICC Champions trophy S/F’s England vs Australia.

Watching Paul Collingwood hit those 4’s n 6’s got my mind thinking. After almost 3 years of being a user (Disclaimer: AND a SELLER) of Tata Sky, was this really the most cost-effective DTH service for a high end user like me?
Thus start the comparisons. Which DTH service will the most number of channels for the least subscription cost (per month). I do not wish to compare Set-top box, installation costs but only the per month rentals per se for a high end south mumbaikar (Bombayite / Townie) like me.
Here Goes:
· Tata Sky Annual Mega Saver Pack:
All channels* including any future additions @ Rs. 5,500/- p.a.
http://www.tatasky.com/channel-packages.html

· Airtel Digital TV
Ultra Annual Pack Rs. 3,640/- p.a.
http://www.airtel.in/wps/wcm/connect/dth/Bharti%20DTH/Airtel%20Live/iTV%20(Interactive+Services)/Long_Duration_Packages
Channel List:
http://www.airtel.in/wps/wcm/connect/4c16d1804e7c84f6a0a7fd1c09a07d1c/Logo_poster_%28North%29_English.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=4c16d1804e7c84f6a0a7fd1c09a07d1c
· Dish TV
http://www.dishtv.in/static/gold.asp#platinum
Titanium Annual @ Rs.3,617 + 10.3% Service Tax = Rs. 3,990/-

· Reliance Big TV:
http://bigtv.co.in/flash/All_India_leaf_let.swf
Platinum Pack (Rs. 315 + 10.3% Serv Tax p.m = 4,170 for 12 mths. Less 16.6% disc on annual pack) = apprx Rs. 3.480/-

· Sun Direct
http://www.sundirect.in/packages.php
http://www.sundirect.in/e-brochure/01072009.pdf
Seems to be no annual pack. (Monthyk Rs 300 + tax, about Rs. 331/- per month and therefore)
Rs. 3,960/-p.a.

· Videocon DTH
http://www.d2h.com/WSC/packages.aspx
Diamond Pack Annual – Rs. 2,900/-

Not only do the others offer a competitive rate, the newer entrants have an edge over the early birds Dish TV and Tata Sky as they offer the latest MPEG 4 technology, compared to the “DVD Quality Picture and CD quality sound" offered by Tata Sky.
Inspite of all this, Tata Sky has its own loyal breed of die hard customers, who prefer not to give up their trouble free service and Tata Sky is also positioning itself as a premium priced player by refusing to match prices with that of the competition.