BEE MOVIE

ANTZ please move aside the BEEZZZ are here.


Well!! Getting back to movie reviews after a lot of time. Reason for the sabatical - didn't watch any new movie.

First a little background about the movie - Jerry has provided voice to the lead Bee 'Barry' of the movie. Jerry has even written the story and script and so as expected the movie has many of his stinging wisecracks. The animation work has been taken up by DreamWorks.

The movie actually informative movie which is aimed at children as the audience. Its a one and half hour movie, not very entertaining - actually it didn't meet my expectation as I felt a Jerry Sienfeld movie should be packed with more sarcasm and wisecracks.

Bottomline is that the movie is to be watched with children for whom its quite informative as it gives a good account of the BEE lives and environmental balance.

Pain of Love

Saw you turn away, could not stop my heart from weeping
Down the rail you left making my nights darker.
The light that glowed has started to blow out.
I always keep an eye on the door lest I may just miss you walking in.

I keep hoping to this day that that day be a dream .

And hope to feel you beside me at the break of the dawn.

How can you be so crude and rude to make me brood!!

Life

Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a well preserved body; but rather skidding in sideways - chocolate in one hand, wine in the other - body thoroughly used up and worn out; and screaming: "WOOHOO! What a ride!"

"My mother Saraswati (Goddess of Learning) taught me to speak She hid many "secrets" in my mind For me Pandurang, Bhagwat and Geeta are like springs in rain, make me speak."

Are Sansar Sansar,

Jasa Tava Chulhya varAdhi Hatala Chatake,

Tehva milate Bhakar

---Bahinabai

Horizon

I see the Horizon ... Eventhough I may never touch it ...But the journey trying is worth taking...

Beautiful Eyes

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Aapki Nazron ko dekhoon toh jannat nazar aati hai
Aapko yaad karoon toh jannat chaa jaati hain

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Beutiful Eyes when I look at you, I transpond to the heaven
Oh!GOD I ask THOU to make those eyes mine so that
I can always be in Your World...

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Spidey3

Well I went to the theatre with lot of expectations. I thought that this would excel its predecessors, but what a waste of 150 bucks!!!i could have had 2 pints of Vodka:(

The movie makers tried to pack too much into the movie. The unnecessary prolonged drama between Peter Parker and MJ made it seem like a typical Hindi masala flick ... not that I have anything againgst our good old hindi flicks ... I expect them to be that way but movies like Spidey3, i would expect them to be way above the rest. When I was seeing the trailers Ihad this bad feeling in my stomach that the movie has been goofed up with 3 baddies.

I actions and stunts weren't new .... it was very similar to the ones in the previous parts only the drama made a lil difference. Yes! the music seemed to be much better this time. Tobby McGuire did get a chance to showcase his Hip Hop self. Apart from that there was nothing that met expectation ... I was always feeling that the actual story is gonna start now ... but alas! the story was never there.

Lets hope Spidey4 would be a much better show than this.

Ad-War-2

The first hoarding is that of Jet Airways declaring that they has acquired Air Sahara then followed by Kingfisher showing its smartness and then Go-Air trying to pitching in its 2 paisa ka thoughts and Lalu cudn't jus resist joining the fray. To top it all BEST which plys at the lowest level has made a point at the top!!!

Gr8 creativity and wittiness...all trying to outsmart each other!!!

Tararumpum

I the this is another flop from the Yashraj stable. The almost empty movie hall on the second day after the release said it all. I feel the only saving grace was Saif's acting. The movie is basically about how a well to do family becomes poor and then struggles to get back to their earlier prosperity. The director has tried a narrative style of story telling but it hasnot worked - the story hasn't been well told.

Saif as usual has done a good job, Rani seems to have lost the touch ... Saif seemed to be more graceful than Rani. Javed tries a lil hand on the similar type of comedy that he had done in Salaam Namaste but since there was nothing novel in it, it didn't move the audience at all. Javed has tried to do a lil comeback by showing off some of his dance move... this also was a give up!!

Overall I would give the movie 2 stars and suggest that you go and watch only if you are an ardent Saif fan and have nothing better to do.

Movie Quotes

Every thing Ends Badly otherwise it would never END!!!

- Brian Flanagan-Tom Cruise, Cocktail.

Pepsi Face saving show!!

This pic was taken at the farewell ceremony given by Pepsi to Team India. Pepsi had smartly combined the launch of Pepsi Gold with the farewell ceremony. Rahul is being presented with the first bottle by the brand ambassador of Pepsi, Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan. I am sure Pepsi must have surely shot some ad with Team India as the theme but it was never aired due to the early Indian exit. Pepsi surely did a quick firefighting act in order to cash in on the left over World Cup enthu with its new ad in which some kids go to a tailor and ask him to stitch Team India clothes of bigger sizes so that they can be used 4 yrs down the line when these kids wud be playing to get the CUP home....

Well Gr8 work Pepsi...

Google - Earth Day logo

This is Google's Earth Day logo....When we say earth the first thing that comes to our mind is the surface on which we sttnd not the ice or water...Something has surely gone wrong in the G-Labs.

I am Back!!!

In my last blog I had talked finding my lost touch, I feel I have found it at last :-) I realised this on my way back home when I was cruising on my bike at a slow and steady pace. Ironically! I have no cribbings about the heavy work load and weekend office work - I am actually feeling happy about it. It gives me immense pleasure to see my code work.

On my way back home I was trying to make an analogy between DRIVING and LIFE, I realised that life is like a bike ride...In both cases we are trying to reach our destination. Many want to reach that destination fast and hence drive recklessly others take their own sweet time. Some time back I was also doing the reckless driving because I wanted to reach my destination faster without realising that I was missing the joy of the ride. I was totally missing out all kinds of beauties and curves ;) When we are on the fast-track we fail to realise the risks involved and the joy that will be missed.

For those who still want to keep to the fast track - You might reach your destination well ahead of time but think of the loss you are in!!!

Enjoy the ride folks!!!

As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light of meaning in the darkness of mere being -- Jung

Finding the Lost Touch...

After a long time I did some cooking ... BTW cooking is my hobby and one of those very few things that I am very passionate about ...

I cook when I am happy and its a way I express my happiness. Offlate things have been going my way ... the passport reissual issue abt which I was cribbing landed my hands this Thurday morning. I hope these good things just keep happenening and things go the way I want to!!!

Below are the pics of the Moong Dal Khichadi and Gobi ki Sabjee that I cooked...they dis taste good!!!

Moong Dal Kichdi

Gobi Ki Sabjee

Mooh mein paani aa raha hain kya? Well more next time !!

Persistence wins the race...Continuation of the passport saga!!!

21 March was the D-day when I made my first attempt at the paaport ofice to apply for a reissue of my passport under TATKAL scheme. I feel the TATKAL scheme introduced by the GOVT for all transactions like the passport or train ticket booking etc ... is a way of psyphoning money from the General Public...in a way it is useful but these days people do not want to wait even if they have time, they just go about throwing money and get things done.

Let me get back to the story. I was carrying the following documents:-
1.copies of company id card, driving licence, pan card (remember to carry the originals)
2.copy of my passport+passport original
3.passport application form duly filled (available in the passport site)
4.Personal details (PP) form duly filled (available in the passport site)
5.Annexure I - notarized (format available in the passport site)
6.5 copies of recently taken 3.5 inches photograghs (not required at all but still carry can't stay)
7.Marksheets +certificates
8.most important - bank letter as address proof along with a recent statement

Equipped with the above items we (Rajesh a colleague of mine having the same issue joined me) reached the passport office in MG road at 7.30 AM. Outside the gate there are a lot of husslers (passport agents) - do not fall prey to them, they have no say over the proceedings. Here there were 2 queues - One small and other a bit long which stretched upto the gate. The sentry there did tell us that for passport application submissions (even TATKAL) we needed to stand in the long queue, but we listened to some other glib talking techie and beelined to the short one. At around 9.30 the Babus started arriving in their 2 wheelers with an air of snottiness. By this time the longer queue had streted to about another 200 meters outside the gate. At 9.45 people were being admitted inside (at last a meet with destiny). When we were about to enter the building a Babu checking the papers says - passport submission other line... MAN! you should have seen the expressions on our faces. We ttied tried to plead our way in but no use. Then what to do? We got into the long queue hoping that our turns come before 12 (12 is the closing time). After a long wait we entered the passport office at 11.30 (4 hours of standing).

On entering the office we found that many were turned away as here they were accepting TATKAL applications only and appplicants not avaailing the TATKAL scheme were asked to apply via Bangalore One centers. On entering a token sticker is stuck on to your application form. If you have filled 2- 3 applications - note only one is entertained. Guidelines to fill the form is present atg the site - go through them carefully.

Then we were instru8cted to go to the first floor where the forms were being accepted. There is preliminary check done before you actually make the submission. This is queue will be prominent as you enter the office. The guy at this desk nalso arranges the papers and gives you a police verification form that you need to attach tht PP form and submit this as a pair and not attach it to the passport application.

Somewhere at around 1.30 my token number was called out. I reached the counter and submitted the application with the required documents. After scrutinising them the officer say I cannot accept this under TATKAL do you want to submit under normal scheme. I am like flabbeghasted ...What ..WHY..words are not coming out of my mouth.... after a while I ask meeklly ...Why Sir! what's wrong!! He shows my driving license and asks me whats the name wriiten there.... Venkatakrishnan ...whats wrong in that.....Read again ... Sir it doesn't matter how many time I read it will always be the same.... Then he says with a air of pride .... there is no RAMASWAMY......I am like What the .....!!! But its another GOVT official like you who has written it..... He goes like ...Look here I have no strngth to speak ...do u want to submit it under normal scheme... YS OR NO... I am like SIR Please understand I need this very urgently ...YES OR NO. Dejected I take back all the forms nad passport. I go to a corner of the room and start thinking....neanwhile Rajesh's application is accepted and he has been asked to submit a written application. He is frantically searching for a white paper. I then call up my mom and tell her what's happened and ask if some other ID proofs are available with us which can be dispatched immediately from BBY but even if they are its useless as no one's currently stayin in our bby home...
Around an hour has passed by...I decide that I will submit the form under the Normal process and convert to tatkal later if I get the documents. I go back to counter and meekly submit my form and again make an attempt to ask - If I get Annexure F will you accept..... The guy shoots back sorry please clear the area and go to enquiry. He returns my passport back but what the ....!!! There is CANCELLED STAMP on it - this gives me goosebumps and and my stomach starts to twist and turn. I again frantically go back to the counter and this guy is not there. Bloody Hell!! The enquiry counter is outside the building and has a separate queue and also it is open only till 12.00. I am really dejected and shocked and feel that these people donot even have a little empathy ... all because of the MONOPOLY !! They know we can't go elsewhere!! there is no option at all!!

In the meanwhile Rajesh ahs completed all the formalities and and then we go to Bangalore Central, grab a quick lunch and are on our way back home. After reaching home dejected, depressed and tired I went off to sleep. I woke up at 7 PM. Called my Mom and spoke to her for some time and then suddenly it struck that I have a DORMANT SBI account passbook - probably this can be accepted as an ID proof. I start to search all through my luggage and stacked boxes and at last find it, tucked safe in a file. So I decided I will have a final go at the passport offfice.

So this time armed with the written application form, copies of the id proofs (PAN, SBI passbook, ID card, Driving License along with originals) , pasport application receipt, urgency proof letter and Annexure I, I am back at the passport office on 22nd morning 7.30 AM. This time I am standing correctly in the small queue as it is exclusively for TATKAL conversion and also do a little samaritan work of redirecting people to the other queue who have come to apply under TATKAL. 9.30 again the Babus have arrived and at 9.45 we are let in ... Man EXAM ke liye bhi kabhi itna tension nahin liya ... This time we are directed to a room on the ground floor where there is a lady who is doing all the checking and luckily she is a Tamizh - Thank God for that. My turn comes at 10.30... I am at her desk Nervous and sweating like hell .... She removes the pin check the id proofs submitted ... then the passbook copy she asks for the original and says I cannot accept this ... no transaction made for the last 2 years... I try to reason but to no vail... so as a final attempt I show her copy of my driving licence and ask if this is OK. She looks at the and says the name is not full... I am standing there dumbfounde not understanding what to say or do...then she asks me for the original. I remove my purse to pull it out and LO!! its gone !! Now I start sweating really hard ... and then she turns to the next guy in queue. I then went to safe place and starteed to search for my drivinng license and find it in one of my bag's pouches. Then I arranged my paper neatly in the folder and went to her place and said if I open a bank acct today and get u the passbook tomorrow, will that be acceptable? She says no and then I say what abt annexure F (which I surely can't get as you need to know some bada babu in a GOVT office). She then says show me your driving licence original, I will accept your application....THANK GOD at last some ray of hope. I get it out and show it to her, she asks me to get copies of the whole license book plus copy of the annexure and also of the other side of the pan. I rush out immediately get the copies done and then go directly and submit it to her and she stamped all the copies as verified and instructed to meet the Assistant Passport Office(APO).

APO checks the approval stamps and then says we will dispatch the passport on 28th. Man I am relieved. I go to the TATKAL counter and pay the fees and make my way out asap. Now I keep checking the website daily for updates the status is the same "Passport dispatch date is 28 March" I am keeping my fingers crossed and hope that I do not have to write another blog :)

In the end I feel that the application acceptance depends on the mood of the person at the counter because the next day I had submitted the TATKAL application with the same documents...

Ad-War

You must have heard the The Monkey and 2 Cats story on how 2 cats were fighting for a loaf of bread and the monkey intervenes to arbitrate. In the end the monkey ends up having all the fun and even having the full loaf of bread. The following Ad-War also seemed like that and henced thought would share with you...

BMW started this Advertisement

Audi Answered

Subaru needs to say something

What's in a name!!!

Ever felt like a beggar who has found food after a long and is just about to satiate his hunger that someone emerges from nowhere and runs into him and the food falls is dropped and becomes inedible...yeah this might sound like some scene in movies but such things happen many a times in real life to though not the same food scenario by etymologically similar scenarios. Similar thing is happening to me too. After a very very long time some thing good was happening and things were going my way in offfice and I had the"Naseeb khul gayee!!" feeling that I suddenly slipped and am falling. I had got a long awaiting project change and my H1-B processing has also been initiated but the processing seems to be going nowhere :(. And all this because of my name being too long and I not having a surname. MOM! DAD! why didn't u gimme a surname.

Thing is I do not have surname and the surname part in my passport has been striked off and under it my f$%^&* name has been written and under given names my father's
name. This id how it looks in the passport
Surname (this has been striked off)
Venkatakrishnan -
Given Names
Ramaswamy

Now this is causing an issue, according to the Imigration handling team in office. So the names in the passport needs to be interchanged and even if you dont have a surname there needs to be something under the surname field. I have got tired explaining that since I do not have the surname field is/would be blank... but hell no they need a surname. Finally I had to give in H1-B jo sawal hain...so will be applying for a new passport (stupid babuism - rules have changed so even for a name change new paassport need to be applied) that to TATKAAL(gaya mera 2500!)
Its OK visa ka sawal hain....

Arre yaar naam mein kya rakha hain waise toh bhi woh gora log ko kuch samajhta toh nahin hain...lekin kya karein onsite jaana hain goron ke liye kaam karke paise kamana hain!! And if this doesn't happen soon my relatives look at me as a scorn in the family !! sochenge khota sikha hain...arre XXXX se abhi mere bajoowale ko onsite bhejaa hain...tujhe kyun nahin bhejti XXXX....kya problem hain.... The problem is not wid me its wid f#$%^& XXXX.

Anyways for poor souls like me who are going to get into such situations this is what u got to do-
a.Tell ur HR to continue with the visa initiation process and promise them u will be applyin for a new passport under tatkal and hence wud get it soon.
b.Apply for a new passport and surrender this old one.
c.Rush to the Bank and apply for an adddress proof or if u can get it from ur office it would also do. If you have ration card documents or gas connection documents - these can also be furnished for present address proof. Permanent address proof need not be given. BSNL tel bill ka chalta hain magar airtel ka nahin...
d.Ask the office to issue an urgency letter
e.get 5 color passport photograghs with white back ground
f.fill up an annexure affidavit form and this needs to be notarized... try to get hold of a agent for this ... there wud b some guy in the office who will be doing such stuff for money - Its all about money honey ...sab paise ka hi khel hain...
g.fill up the passport application form 2
h.any 3 identification proof documents - driving licence, pan card, company id card.

Take all originals with you to the pp office. Go as early as possible nahin toh bahut bada line hota hain!!

Well my story doesn't end here, will let u know whether I was able to have the sweet or was it taken away from me....

Trip to Sri Navaneetha Krishnar Temple - Dodda mallur

Date: 18 Feb 2007

Trip to Sri Navaneetha Krishnar Temple - Dodda mallur
Two weeks back I got a call from my uncle saying that they were coming to Bangalore (whichI knew) to visit a place Mallur to visit some Krishnar temple (this was news). They wanted me also to join but then I didn't commit but did end up going with them. Had taken some pics of the temple - posting it here. We were able to witness the Abhishgham which was really divine. If you ever get an oppurtunity don't ever miss it, believe me its really worth it. Yea!! Couldn't capture any pictures of the Abhishegham as photography is not allowed there. Go on a Sunday or a Public Holiday - chances of witnessing an Abhishegham is more and that of small kids crawling around - its an apt scene to see in the temple - makes the palce more divine.

How we reached the place: We booked a SUMO for 6 Rs a kilometer. The place is around 70 KMs from Bangalore. We started from my place jayanagar @ 8.30AM and then went to RT Nagar to pick up my another uncle and aunt and after that headed towards Channapatna. Channapatna is a small district enroute to Mysore.

About 60Kms from Bangalore, on the Mysore - Bangalore Highway (one mile from Channapatna), the tall tower of a famous temple peeking through the swaying coconut palms seems to beckon your attention. The highway road sign identifies the place as Mallur Agrahara. The curious traveler, who pulls over to explore this tower, would have reached the temple of Lord Aprameya, His Consort Aravindavalli and the renowned ‘Ambegal’ Krishna.
This is a Divya Kshetram and a Punya Bhoomi. The verdant greenery, Punya Theerthams, the temple complex and its avaranams all provide for an atmosphere conducive for religious piety. For more details visit this link.






This a part of the temple entrance - the Krishnar here is one of its kind.

I am not sure what sculpure this is, it caught my eye so took a snap.

This a Goburam inside the temple adorned with all avatharams (incarnations).

Seems like some kind of Upadesham happening. Don't know the story.

Not sure what this is...

Periappa, Periamma, Mr.Thiagarajan,

Ramya (my sis), Athai and Mama. I am the cameraman.

Man there are more pics to upload but they being too large and the net speed being too slow, uploading times out...well try uploading them later.

Well a thats a Good start!!

It had been long since I had been thinking of opeing a Demat account and start investing. Well I have done both. My first investment has paid off well.

I invested in PFC - public issue and have been allotted 68 shares at 85 per share. Currently its trading price at 111 @ NSE. Thats 26 rupees profit per share so totaling to ard 1768...

That's a good start, ain't it?

BTW I have decided to Hold ON to them though there is Mkt correction going on as my 6th sense says that this stock is gonna do wonders... Believe my 6th sense is right most of the times.

Happy trading people!!

Modern Day Ads

How to reach the IT guys? They spend most of their time in office and even Saturdays and Sundays are spent at the office slogging. How to reach such people, who do not have time for Soap operas or movies. Well the best time to reach them is during the short breaks that they take during the work hours - this is where the solution lies.

What do these guys look for during such breaks? Some thing that would re-energise them to work for another hour bf4 another short break. What energiser could be better than a humour or a little gossip with. Here we arrive at the answer - short humorous strips do have their attention. Well that's what the Ad world is doing - floating around URLs that link to some comic strips which are used to advertising some product or the other.

One guy watches it and then emails the others and the chain goes on. These ads are sometimes the topics of chats during breaks too. Though most of them do lack the creativity but in the end
they do serve the purpose - they do hold the viewers attention and are forwarded to others to watch and either criticise or enjoy it.

Below is one such ad of Happydents. Though its not very well made but serves the purpose.
http://www.happydent.in/protex/viral/index.html

Chat sessions have a huge potential for advertising is what I think especially the Google way of advertising - 'Adsense'. Sense what the chat is about and put up the adverting in a small frame as a part of the chat window. If the users find it useful then google has earned the revenue and the users are also happy as they might find what they are searchin for.

Happy Mr.Kumar

"Happy Mr.Kumar....." This is about the Click Jobs.com advertisement. Till today I never understood what this ad was trying to depict. I never understood why Mr.Kumar should look for another job if he is happy with the current job until I came by a Blog of Mr.Gautam Ghosh. Well I guess many of you must be as confused as I was. I guess many of you must have over looked the hoardings the news paper boy etc...all showing heavy distractions oops sorry attractions:-) like onsite oppurtunities, fat pay check. other fringe benefits etc etc...

Actually this ad is for the people who think they are happy with their job and hence are not looking for better oppurtunities outside. It is to show that you are missing a lot of good opportunities coming your way just on the pretext that you are happy. How very true...currently the market is Hot and IT companies are recruiting skillful people at appropriate compensations and many of us are not reacting just because we are happy at the current place. Yes I do agree Happiness is the ultimate motive but do look at the opportunities you are missing. How long is this happiness going to last....One day you will find out that you are not getting the right compensation and hence wud like to move but it would be too late. Its by nature that we never react until the water reaches out neck and frantically search for a rubber tube to be afloat. I say why wait till that moment.... Nonethless its necessaryand abosolutely worth to know what is your actual worth in the market whether you would like to go for a new job or not.

So I say go start off with the resume and don't miss the opportunity like Mr.Kumar and repent later. You see Prevention is always better that cure.

Grass ia always Greener on the other side...

'Human Wants has no Bounds....' - I think this is a very apt statement made by a keen observer. Have you ever seen around you or at least realised about your thinking.... I guess not a day goes by without the thought, 'I wish I could be in his/her shoes...He/She is having a great life...What am I doing...'. For humans by nature nothing is enough (even the sky is not the limit - there is boundless space beyond it), probably thats what drives us into inventing new things in life to bring about changes at what ever cost they come. For eg. if u give a child a chocoate the first day, then 2 the next and hence forth . On the fifth day if you give him 4 he will not accept it, he demands for five. Similarly is the case for any individual, they always want to see growth and and not accept ground realities that sometimes u can't have what you expect. This does not make us selfish or greedy ... It jus reveals how normal we are...its in our nature.

Why do we always look at the neighbours platter? - To Know that we have a better deal than him... How many times have we felt that XYZ friend of ours has a cooler job...or life than ours. Ask Mr.XYZ he will probably say that he envies your job and would any time like to be in your shoes. How wonderful it would be if we could change roles!

All I want to say is that, there is no point in brooding over what you have or you have got and thinking that the grass is greener on the other side. Think how you can improve the quality of grass on your side, how can it be made greener than the one's on the other side rather than trying to jump the other side because you will ultimately realise that the grass on some other side is better and greener- this then turns out to be a vicious cycle.

The ability to think and work on making the grass greener on one's side is what separates out a leader from the pack.

I have realized

I have realized that tears convey more than words.

I have realized that no matter how many times I pray, I get what I rightfully deserve.

I have realized that kids are never at fault, they just mirror our faults.

I have realized that you can’t have happiness unless you are already happy.

I have realized that if you make decisions with your heart, you are bound to regret later in your life.

I have realized that every relationship has a expiration date.

I have realized that lonelier you feel, lonelier your world makes you feel.

I have realized that words have hurt me than the wounds suffered by me in life.

I have realized that when I am ecstatic about something there are never enough people to share it with.

I have realized that when you have nothing to loose, you show your character.

India A Global Power BY 2020

“India A Global Power BY 2020”

By

Venkatakrishnan Ramaswamy
February 2004



INTRODUCTION
Many visionaries have envisioned our country to transform into a Global Power by 2020. I too envision the same and hence have chosen this topic. In this paper I have speculated the factors that are conducive and the major hindrances in achieving our goal of converting our nation into a ‘Global Power’.

56 years after independence and 54 years after the establishment of the Republic there is a widely shared desire in the country to evaluate the gains made as also to assess our future. Undoubtedly, the people of the country and the managers of society can be congratulated on many counts for India's achievements since independence which include self-sufficiency (in fact surplus generation) in food-grains, a strong industrial base, a rising expectancy of life, a higher percentage of literacy, a united and better integrated India and a growing recognition by the world of our capabilities and potential On the negative side, one could count the nagging problems of unemployment, illiteracy and poverty accentuated by an ever increasing population. Also, a low per capita income, inadequate infrastructure, feudalistic tendencies and worst of all a pathetic contempt of rule of law and ethics in public life.

The population of our country is around d 1.1 billion and increasing annually at the rate of 1.5% mainly due to increase in life expectancy to 63.2 years and decrease in infant mortality to 67 for every 1000 births. According to statisticians 54 % (i.e. 540 million) of the population is comprised of the youth below the age of 24 and 45% of them are below 19 years.
For the year 2002 the Gross national income (GNI) was US $ 501.5 billion and per capita GNI was US $ 480 (which is around Rs.22,000 per year) which has also shown a steady increase. Our present Gross domestic product is around 446.2 billion dollars and has risen by 8 to 8.4%. Our exports also show a rising trend.
People are becoming more and more computer savvy. Number of people using the internet has shown a drastic rise from 1.4 million in 2001 to 6.7 million in 2002. Due to the subsidy available to technical imports the number of computers per 1000 people has risen to 10. Number of telephone line connection has increased to 4.75crores and mobile phones have increased to 2crores. Under The Golden Quadrilateral, The North-South-East-West Corridor and The Gramin Sadak Yojna projects construction of the network of roads linking the villages and cities throughout the country have started. ITC’s e-Choupel project is empowering the farmers with the internet.

India’s export in the year 2002-03 was around $ 57.1 billion which has doubled over a period of 8 years. India’s share of export of commercial goods and services has increased to 0.9% in 2001 from 0.6% in 1995. Over the same period of time there has been increase in imports from 0.78% to 0.99%. Being a WTO member it .also enjoys the Most Favored Nation status. India’s present forex reserve is more than $104 billion. Its software exports have grown rapidly (to around $ 8 billion) and its recent success at providing Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) services across the industrialized world is unique, having grown by 70 per cent last year. India has now decided to prepay the $ 3 billion of high interest loans and stop accepting aid from all but a small group of donors.
Some of the negative aspects that we face today are annual increase of 15 million in population, corruption, bureaucracy, lack of self belief, low per capita income, improper distribution of wealth, social, racial, religious and sex discrimination, high percentage of illiteracy, backward states like UP and Bihar, the Kashmir issue and many other terrorist activities.


CONDUCIVE FACTORS AND HINDRANCES
Population Distribution:
As stated earlier 54% of India’s population (i.e. 540 million) comprises of youth below 24 years and of that 450 million are below 19 years. This large human resource should be tapped properly. India’s young demographic profile has both the skills and the potential. What it needs is the right push in the right direction.

Rising population:
Steadily rising population is one of our major concerns. Every year we add 15million to the world population, which is equal to the population of a country like Australia or double that of Switzerland. For such a rate of rise we have to generate employment also at that rate. This is a mammoth task for any administrator.

Literacy level and social discrimination:
The latest literacy levels indicate that we still have over 350 million illiterates in India. This number is much higher than the population if any other country except China. There is a huge social divide among the populace because of discrimination between people on the basis of caste, creed, religion and race. Huge reservation quota for a certain section of the society kills the very spirit of competition.
Terrorism:
India spends huge amount of money in fighting terrorism in Kashmir and other Naxal prone areas. In the recent times terrorism has emerged as one of the gravest threats to peace and democratic policy. Youth are drawn between different acts of terrorism. In some cases, it is not really terrorism, but a freedom struggle. This is how our neighbour has been trying to justify its policy of cross-border terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir. Youth organisations should carry out an awareness campaign to expose justification or condoning of terrorism anywhere and under whatever pretext.

Corruption and Bureaucracy:
Corruption and bureaucratic processes are the social evils which has gripped our country. Many shy away from starting their own business enterprises here. We have heard of many success stories like that of Sabeer Bhatia who were successful in the US but could not replicate the same here. There is lack of transparency in the working of the Government. Wrong policy making and wrong assumption like the education act which fines the parents for sending their children to work on the assumption that parents are the main cause of child labour exploitation. No parents send their child to work willingly. It is the economic constraints and unemployment which are the root cause.

Beware of China:
Both India and China grew at a rate twice the world average last year. Like us China also has an ambition to become a superpower by 2020. We have to be wary of it as it can condescend to any level to achieve its goals. To reach their goal they have mastered the art of asymmetric warfare, as it cannot as yet prevail by direct confrontation. At the lower spectrum of power play, Pakistan endeavors to unravel India acting as a Chinese surrogate and end our primacy in the sub-continent. It has also adopted policies like levying 55% duty on steel imports and increasing the price of coal Rs.1430 per tonne to Rs.2530 per tonne. Coal is one the most essential commodities in major manufacturing and infrastructure industries like cement, steel, power, etc.

Burgeoning middle class:
India as described by many still remains the land of the masses. Only 28% of its population resides in the urban area. This number is steadily increasing because of the influx from villages in search education, opportunities and employment which has contributed to the burgeoning middle class. As Mr.Gurcharan Das has put it “When half the population in a society is middle class, its politics will change. Its world view will be different, its poor will be fewer and society will have greater means to look after them. Thus, to focus on the middle class is to focus on prosperity. This is unlike in the past, when our focus has been on redistributing poverty. This does not mean that we are becoming callous. On the contrary, the whole purpose of the enterprise is to lift the poor — and lift them into the middle class. “

Geo-strategic location:
Our geo-strategic location is a very important conducive factor. We can act as the backbone or the regional hub to West, Central and East Asia. With our coastal area jutting right out into the Indian Ocean, we are a continental as well as a maritime power. Far-flung from the mainland, many with myopic vision feel hassled by having to secure the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The truth is that these Islands located in the midst of the Indian Ocean act as an unsinkable aircraft carrier. We can project naval power beyond the region, protect the EEZ (expanding economic zone) and develop it into a tourist’s Shangri La! Today India is in a unique position to access military technology worldwide. This opportunity should be used to retrofit the Armed Forces with the modern and lethal equipment available, making them the most potent military machine in the region.

China’s disadvantage:
Within Asia China’s population is set to rapidly age after 2010 unlike ours and shall grow old before it grows rich. But India’s young demographic profile has both, skills and the potential to grow rich before it grows old. Though the size of the population by itself does not confer great power status, a large young population is a prerequisite to evolve as a major player.

Feel Good factor:
We can see an emergence of a new mood of confidence in India Inc. This confidence was based on strong macro indicators, such as foreign exchange reserves of over $100 billion, the booming stock exchanges (BSE:5636 as on 16th FEB’04) and a realization that the progress made in the last 12 years of reform was merely a curtain raiser for the higher growth to follow. There is a clear sign of a global economic recovery, which means that global companies are on the lookout for making investments in emerging countries.

BPO sector:
The global recovery was also exerting pressure on companies to cut costs. Both these provided tremendous opportunity for India to emerge as a high quality sourcing base. According to Kiran Karnik of Nasscom value of Bussiness Process Outsourcing (BPO) service exports in 2002-2003 was $2.5b. In 1999-00 Information Technology Export Services (ITES) amounted to $565million. This sector has shown a growth of 5 times in the last three years. By March 2003 ITES sector employed 1.71 lac people as compared to 1.06 lac the previous year, showing an increase of 60%. He predicts that the BPO sector is set to increase by 10 times in 2-3 years. This sector is set to generate more employment and create entrepreneurial opportunities.

International Acquisitions:
Many Indian companies have shown their competitiveness and made their global presence felt by acquiring foreign companies. Subhash Chandra’s Essel packaging has taken over Propack of Switzerland to become the #1 company in the world. Tata tea took over a much larger Tetley Tea, Tata motors-Daewoo truck factories in South Korea for $211b, Ranbaxy the biggest pharmaceutical company has acquired RPG Aventis, Wockhardt owned BY Khorakhiwalas acquired CP pharmaceuticals of UK, Hindalco-flagship of K.Birla acquired copper mines in Austrralia, Sterlite Industries successful bidder for the privatization of Bharat Aluminium & Hindustan zinc acquired copper mines in Australia and the preferred bidder for buying 51% stake in Konkola copper mines in Zambia.

SAARC Meet:
In the recent SAARC meet held at Islamabad India’s Prime Minister Shri.A.B.Vajpayee laid the foundation for the formation of union of SAARC nations on the lines of the European Union. His visit to ASEAN countries signals renewed efforts to engage and draw the region closer to India. Similarly, becoming an observer member of the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) on our West and enhanced cooperation with Central Asia augurs well for India. Dialogue and cooperation with nations of West, Central and South East Asia are acquiring a more meaningful dimension today than at any other time in the history of this nation.
Development of infrastructure:
Many infrastructure development projects have been announced and undertaken which are generating employment. Since 1999-2000 there has been an annual increase of 84 lakh in employment. Under ‘Pradhan Mantri Bharat Jodo Pariyojna’ (PMBJP) the National Highways Department is constructing a network of roads bringing the cities and villages closer. Such schemes employ 5 lac people per day. Many initiatives like ‘Rashtriya Sam Vikas Yojna’, ’Border Area Development’, ‘Development of North East’ have been under taken to reduce disparities.

Negotiations with Pakistan:
The breakthrough in the negotiations with Pakistan has lowered tensions with Pakistan which has increased India's investment climate and also ensure that security tensions do not force the government to shift focus from important economic reforms. This will improve the tourism in the state.
Kalam’s words: “Youth is the spring of life. It is the age of discovery and dreams. When they dream, they dream not only for a good future for themselves, but also a good future for their Nation and the entire humanity. Their dreams take them to stars and galaxies, to the far corners of the Unknown. And some of them, like our own Kalpana Chawla, pursue their dream till they realise it and even die for it in the process.
If any section of society, in any country, is most impatient for change, it is the youth. Patriotism comes naturally to young people. But they also easily respond to the call of internationalism.”
“The future” as Eleanor Roosevelt had once said “belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” What the youth need is-to dream about becoming a Global power by 2020 and believe in it. Yes! Many might laugh at you and even criticize, at those times remember this quote “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight along with you, then you win.” We need to have the “Can do” “Can succeed” and “Can win” attitude.


“No man is happy without a goal and no man can be happy without the faith in his own ability to reach the goal”
-L.Ron Hubbard

Why the heck am I blogging....

This is my first blog ...after thinking a lot on what to blog...I thought I would jus write watever comes to my head...

I am not sure why am blogging though I have a lot of other things to do...Hmmm ...I think becoz this seems cooler than the other things.... Hmmm...yea this is the correct reason...You won't believe I have wasted a day thinking on what sublject to write on and have ended up wrting this...and I dont even know what am I writing about....Highly confused aren't I ? or is it ain't I?

Well Friends, This is Venkat/Krishnan/Kris/VK ---all these are smaller versions of my long name -Venkatakrishnan... Don't know why my parents gave me this name ... prolly becoz they felt that this guy would grow up to become like one of those popular Venkats like VenkatRaman(prez)/VenkatRaghavan(Crick fellow/one of the Directors of Nehru planetorium, Mumbai). Well don' t know whether their prophecy would come true or not ...lets wait and watch....

Well thats a start I guess ...not a bad start huh! Well friends! keep visiting my blog page and hope you would enjoy reading them... so keep visiting ...