Friday, December 16, 2011

About 13.9486 N 79.1447 E

Courtsey: Naveen S
The lava bed with rocks interspersed felt like the smooth and silky chocolate with crunchy nuts embedded, like the warmth of sun had molten it, only to realize its hardness upon touch. The shallow stream, a thin film of water through which one could see the pebbles beneath, flowing with the majesty of a broad river, clam, unhurried.

On one bank, the water was washing the frozen magma. On the other, it was flirting with the row of tall grass, the blades dancing under the influence of wind, as the souls in their youth, intoxicated, as the adivasi lovers drenched in mahua and love, bowing down to kiss the supple body of the stream, pulling back leaving the stream's thirst unquenched, wanting more so for the intimacy. The rays of sun were penetrating through the water in likeness of holy ghost, invisible yet enlightening the deep inside. The water resembled the teenage lass of imagination, sparkle in the eyes, untouched by a man, virgin, smooth supple skin, silky hairs.

With me lying by the side of the rivulet, showered in sunrays, brushed by the breeze, my vision filled by the humongous vertical walls of rocks in front of me, to my right, and to my left. Layers and layers of rocks, each one distinguishable from the other, as if the heart of earth has been cut open and the cross section displayed in a jar of formaldehyde. As my vision rose towards the sky, at one point, the wall of naked rocks gave way to a rather steep slope of green grass interspersed by trees looking rather young, not one older than a decade.

Its not difficult to imagine that what gives the impression of heaven might have been nothing less than hell at some point in the past. What we call beauty today had surely been the birth place of monstrous volcanoes, with temperature immeasurable, heat that would require redefining the word itself, mountains of dust and earth being thrown high up in the sky, the sky devoid of any life air, the earth devoid of any life. The earth torn apart by the quakes like the breast of Hiranyakashipu. The shattered disfigured body revealing the inside of itself. Layers upon layers of earth formed in a period of time unimaginable had been disrupted in moments. It might have been millions of years now.

The wilderness of Venkateswara has always bewildered a lot of us. Not just because it is a paradise, but because it makes you think about yourself and your significance on this planet. Ones existence seems so insignificant in front of it. Its humongous body, its vastness, the tall walls, the endless valleys, versus our body that goes in a five by two grave. Its tremendous strength and tolerance versus our fragility. Its near immortal existence of million years versus our struggle to exist for a mere half century. It makes you feel how insignificant you, your body, and your soul are to this universe in comparison. And yet, such importance we put on our lives. We, the tiny spec of lifedust, treat our bodies as immortal and the bodies of our kin as vital? Probably, that is the right attitude, a part of evolutionary design. How will a species propagate and immortalize its genes if the zest to live longer, reproduce, and protect our genes is lost? In a sense, we, the genes that constitute our bodies and minds, are as old as the Venkateshwara and may be, even older.

Are we just a collection of bones, flesh, and blood? Or are we just the genes with sole aim of propagation, going further and further into the space-time continuum? Or more than that? What about the relations we share, the connections with other organisms, the invisible strings of attachment. What about our existence as names in the records of banks, work places, citizen database, refugee registers. What about our digital presence in the cyberspace, the emails sent to us and send by us, the social networks, the connections in that and the thoughts we exchanged there. What about the tombstone bearing our names, the photographs in someone's albums. What about our memory in someone's mind. All this and much more exists as part of our extended self. Are these just representation of us? No, all of these are what constitutes a human being. Imagine, an invisible string emanating from you, connecting to one such representation of you. Imagine, millions of such strings, million connections of consciousness. Imagine, millions of such connections to and from seven billion souls on earth, crisscrossing, a complex web of connections.

What a world we live in! It doesn't feel the same once you have been with V. It makes you think in ways unimaginable. It changes you irreversibly.

Monday, October 3, 2011

Durga Puja in Bangalore & Cultural Programs - 2011


For schedule and location of 2012 Durga Puja, check out Durgotsav 2012 page.

Information is scattered and there is chaos everywhere. Here is a tiny bit from me to bring order into this world. It might not be complete or entirely correct.

Please help me add or correct information by means of comment. If you happen to be at one of the location, post the link of your pictures in the comment as well.

Durga Puja Locations: There are 27 places where Durga Puja is organized in Bangalore.
  1. The Bengalee Association - http://www.bengaliassociation.org/
    Gayatri Vihar, Palace Grounds
  2. Jayamahal Sarbajanin Durga Charitable Samiti - http://jayamahaldurgapuja.blogspot.com/
    Adjacent to Jayamahal Park, Jayamahal Extension
  3. Socio Cultural Association - http://scaindiranagar.com/
    Defence Colony, Near 100 Ft Road, HAL 2nd Stage (Indiranagar)
  4. Bengali in Bangalore - http://bengaliinbangalore.org/
    Aicoboo Residents Welfare Association Ground, Opp to Udupi garden, behind Bharat Petroleum Pump, 2nd Stage, BTM Layout
  5. Poorva Bangalore Cultural Association - http://www.pbca.in/
    VSR Convention Hall, Brookefields, Opposite Hindustan Lever, Post, Marathalli
  6. Sharathi Socio Cultural Trust - http://www.sarathionline.org/
    Mangala Kalyana Mantap, 8th Block, 80 Ft Road, (Opp. Ganesha Temple), Koramangala
  7. “SORRBA” Durga Puja - http://www.sorrba.org/
    “SUN City” Apartment. Outer Ring Road, Sarjapura Circle
  8. R T Nagar Durga Puja Committee - http://www.rtnagardurgapuja.org/
    Sai Baba Mandir, HMT Layout, Anand Nagar, Next to R.T. Nagar Bus Depot
  9. Probasi Aassociation
    Canara Union Hall, 8th Main, Malleshwaram, Near - Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy
  10. North Bangalore Cultural Association
    “Mandir”, 8A, FTI Colony, Nandini Layout, Opp. ISKCON Temple
  11. Air Force Training Command
    Mekhri Circle, Bellary Road
  12. Air Force Station, Jalahalli West
    Air Force Station, Jalahalli West, Near Peenya Circle
  13. Air Force Station, Jalahalli East
    Air Force Station, Jalahalli East, Near HMT Circle, Gokula
  14. Vivekananda Cultural Association
    New Town, Yelahanka
  15. South Bangalore Cultural Association
    N R Kalayana Mantapa, Bannerghatta Road, J P Nagar 2nd Phase, Opp. Shoppers Stop
  16. Antaranga Bengali Cultural Association
    Ramana Maharishee Heritage Centre, Near Food World, Sanjay Nagar, Off Bellary Road
  17. Banaswadi Bengali Cultural Union
    Sitarama Kalyana Mandap, Kullappa Circle, Banaswadi Main Road
  18. Command Hospital
    Old Airport Road
  19. Bangalore Rural Association
    Sedul Dassappa Kalyana Mantap, Near Attibele Bus Terminal, Hosur Road, Attebele
  20. Murugeshpalya Durgotsva
    Air Force Campus, Wind Tunnel Road, Airport Road, Rifco Apartment
  21. Hebbagudi Durga Puja
    Near Hebbagudi Bus Stand, Beside BIOCON Factory, Hosur Road
  22. Swarnakar Samiti Durga Puja
    Near Corporation, Beside GEO Hotel
  23. Kaggadasa Pura Durga Puja
    SCT College, Kaggadasa Pura, C V Raman Nagar, Bangalore
  24. Magadi Road Durga Puja
    Industrial Area, Kamakshi Palya, Magadi Road
  25. Purvankara Apartment Residential Association
    Marathalli, Near Spicy Garden Restaurant
  26. Sahakara Nagar Durga Puja
    Sahakara Nagar, Kodigehalli, Bellary Road
  27. Munikolala Durga Puja
    Munikolala, Opp Innovative Multiplex, Ring Road, Maratahalli

Cultural Programs: There may be other programs happening but this is all that I could find online. Please comment if you know about other programs.

Sunday, October 2nd, 2011 - Shashti
  1. Musical Programme by Indian Blue - The Bengalee Association (Palace Grounds)
  2. Sukumar Ray’s “Ha Ja Ba Ra La” by Bannerghatta Banar Sena and Dance Drama by Dishari - Jayamahal Sarbajanin Durga Charitable Samiti (Jayamahal Extension)
  3. Songs by Kavita Krishnamurthy (8 PM) - Sharathi Socio Cultural Trust (Koramangala)
  4. ‘Phire Esho Aronyo’ (Children’s dance performance) - RT Nagar Durga Puja Committee (RT Nagar)
  5. Performance by Anupam Roy (6:25 PM onwards) - “SORRBA” Durga Puja (Sarjapur Circle)
  6. Rabindra Sangeet by SBCA group - South Bangalore Cultural Association (JP Nagar)

Monday, October 3rd, 2011 - Saptami
  1. Dance recital "Probaho" and vocal recital by Chandrabali Rudra Datta - The Bengalee Association (Palace Grounds)
  2. Bangla Band Cactus - Jayamahal Sarbajanin Durga Charitable Samiti (Jayamahal Extension)
  3. Odissi Dance by Sangita Ghosh (7:00 PM), Song by Aditya Vittal (7:20 PM), Dance by Rupa Mondal (7:30 PM), Classical Fusion Dance by Dishari (8:00 PM), Bengali Folk Rock by Manjira (9:00 PM) - Poorva Bangalore Cultural Association (Marathalli)
  4. Retro and Contemporary music by Kohal (7 PM), Fusion music by Indian Blue (8:30 PM), Dance Drama by Shyama (9:30 PM) - Sharathi Socio Cultural Trust (Koramangala)
  5. Sonar Tori (Reciation skit) (7 PM), Rabindra Sangeet "More Bare Bare" (7.30 PM), Bengali Drama "Sandhatara" (8.15 PM), Garwa (9.30 PM) - RT Nagar Durga Puja Committee (RT Nagar)
  6. Performances by Suthirtha and Tannishtha Sarkar (6:30 PM onwards) - “SORRBA” Durga Puja (Sarjapur Circle)
  7. Bangla Band "Alpin", Comedy drama for kids "Ha Ja Bo Ra La" (6 PM onwards) - Bengali in Bangalore (BTM Layout)
  8. Bharatnatyam dance program, Music program "Ek Sham 7 Surke Naam" by 7 Sur - South Bangalore Cultural Association (JP Nagar)

Tuesday, October 4th, 2011 - Ashtami
  1. Bangla Band Dhumketu and Dance recital by Saptarshi and Troupe - The Bengalee Association (Palace Grounds)
  2. Rabindra Sangeet (Tumi Sondhar Meghomala) by Debjani Dutta Group and Dance Drama “Shyama” by Probal & Group Jayamahal Sarbajanin Durga Charitable Samiti (Jayamahal Extension)
  3. Rabindrasangeet by Chandrabali Rudra Dutta (7:00 PM), Musical Night by Emon Chatterjee (9:00 PM) - Poorva Bangalore Cultural Association (Marathalli)
  4. Bengali songs by Barnali (7 PM), Dance based on Tagore songs "Praner Shara (7:30 PM), Contemporary Hindi songs by Sinchan-Biji (9 PM) - Sharathi Socio Cultural Trust (Koramangala)
  5. Bengali Modern songs "Surer Jhankar" (7 PM), Dance Recital ‘Ami Sei Meye’ (8.15 PM), Dhunuchi Nach (9 PM) - RT Nagar Durga Puja Committee (RT Nagar)
  6. Indian Classical "Sur O Chondo" by Tamashri Ghosh Deb, Rock music by fusion band Indian Blues (6:25 PM onwards) - “SORRBA” Durga Puja (Sarjapur Circle)
  7. Indian Band "Sarangsh", Fusion Band "Tannishtha & Pulse Craft" (6:45 PM onwards) - Bengali in Bangalore (BTM Layout)
  8. Dance program by Priyodarshini Dance Academy, Bangla Band Maseeha - South Bangalore Cultural Association (JP Nagar)

Wednesday, October 5th, 2011 - Nabami
  1. Collage “Hashi Kanna”,  Fusion Dance by Sapphire and Dhunuchi Dance Competion - The Bengalee Association (Palace Grounds)
  2. Musical Extravaganza by Biju Nair and Party and Amaader Gaan by Priyanka Mitra Jayamahal Sarbajanin Durga Charitable Samiti (Jayamahal Extension)
  3. Song by Swagata Mitra (7:00 PM), Rock Nite by Cactus (8:00 PM), Dandiya with Live Band (10:30 PM) - Poorva Bangalore Cultural Association (Marathalli)
  4. Rabindra Sangeet "Bhanga Gaan" (7 PM), Contemporary music by Emon Chatterjee (8 PM) - Sharathi Socio Cultural Trust (Koramangala)
  5. Drama Recital "Birpurus" (7.30 PM), Ganer Asor by Debaroti Mitra (8 PM)
  6. Music by Bangla Band Chandra Bindoo (6:30 PM onwards) - “SORRBA” Durga Puja (Sarjapur Circle)
  7. Open air freestyle music sessionn "Maddox Square Recreated" (7 PM onwards) - Bengali in Bangalore (BTM Layout)
  8. Dhunuchi Naach, Bangla Band Indian Blues - South Bangalore Cultural Association (JP Nagar)
Thursday, October 6th, 2011 - Dashami
  1. Dandiya Dance - South Bangalore Cultural Association (JP Nagar)

Saturday, September 10, 2011

It All Goes Back In The Box

I first learned it from my grandmother. Now, my grandmother was a wonderful person. She taught me how to play the game monopoly. She understood that the name of the game is to acquire. She would accumulate everything she could and eventually she became the master of the board. And then she would always say the same thing to me. She'd look at me and she'd say, "One day, you'll learn to play the game."


One summer, I played monopoly almost everyday, all day long and that summer, I learned to play the game. I came to understand the only way to win is to make a total commitment to acquisition. I came to understand that money and possessions, that's the way that you keep score. And by the end of that summer, I was more ruthless than my grandmother. I was ready to bend the rules, if I had to, to win that game.


And I sat down with her to play that fall. I took everything she had. I watched her give her last dollar and quit in utter defeat. And then she had one more thing to teach me. Then she said, "Now it all goes back in the box – all those houses and hotels, all the rail roads and utility companies, all that property and all that wonderful money–now it all goes back in the box. None of it was really yours. You got all heated up about it for a while, but it was around a long time before you sat down at the board, and it will be here after you're gone. Players come and players go. Houses and cars, titles and clothes, bulging portfolios, even your body. Because the fact is that everything I clutch and consume and hoard is going to go back in the box and I’m going to lose it all.


So you have to ask yourself when you finally get the ultimate promotion, when you have made the ultimate purchase, when you buy the ultimate home, when you have stored up financial security, and climbed the ladder of success to the highest rung you can possibly climb it, and the thrill wears off - and it will wear off - Then what? How far do you have to walk down that road before you see where it leads? Surely you understand it will never be enough. So you have to ask yourself the question: What matters?


- A transcript of the film "Zeitgeist: Moving Forward" penned by John Ortberg

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Doubt - Rene Descartes

Dubito ergo cogito; cogito ergo sum.
- Rene Descartes

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Destruction of a Man

Inflate a man's ego to an extent that he feels capable of flying and he will be destroyed.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Choice and Happiness

Wonder whether abundance of choice leads to happiness in life or the lack of it.

Monday, June 20, 2011

In Conversation - Freedom, Faith, and Right to Invade

Ravi: Even M F Hussain's body refuses the soil of #India. It's a reflection of the treatment the soul has undergone in the land of #hypocrisy.

Sunil: If M F Hussain was honest, he would have gone through court trial. Why did he run as coward? Why only Hindu Gods, why not Allah and Jesus?

Ravi: Why do you worship Hindu gods, not Islamic or Christian gods? The reason may be the same, but only M F Hussain's knew.

Sunil: It's my personal choice and no one in India got right to question. Moreover, its my religious freedom. Am I insulting anyone by law?

Ravi: Well, same holds true for M F Hussain's. It's his freedom as well.

Sunil: Freedom by insulting the nation? You might accept nude Mother India like M F Hussain, but most of them object. It's insult to nation.

Why don't you publish nude picture of your family & post it on Internet. Sorry to ask you, but it is relevant to what you are supporting.

Ravi: Because they are not beautiful enough and nobody would look at them, even nude.

Sunil: Nudity in public is against law in India. How come M F Hussain escaped from law by drawing nude Mother India and Hindu gods.

Ravi: Then it must be insult to depict Kali as nude or depicting gods nude in ancient Hindu temples. Doesn't that insult nation?

Then why are the idol makers of Kali left free and why haven’t the ancient temples been declared as monuments of shame and destroyed.

Sunil: Those temples are century old and built before Indian constitution ever existed. Law can't apply to things which were before law.

Ravi: What are laws but consciousness of men, about their opinion on right and wrong. Government can pass law to destroy such temples with nudity.

Sunil: No one in this world sees beauty in nude mother. If you do so, then I petty you.

Ravi: If one sees nation as mother, humanity would pity such enslaved souls who is in blissful ignorance of its slavery.

Sunil: It's really funny. If you see people who believe in mother India as a slave, then what about you being slave of your believes.

Ravi: I'm devoid of any beliefs.

Sunil: When we go to temple, we see divine god and don't see the nudity as it is in a shrine. Things existed before law are national treasury.

I want to reiterate that we don't see nudity in a shrine. Where as when it is made to public gallery, it is treated as insult.

Ravi: It means, your mind is pure in shrine, but corrupt and lustful outside which sees the vulgarity of nude mother India, not purity.

Sunil: The idols are nude but they are decorated with costumes and ornaments.

M F Hussain said after drawing Hitler nude that he wants to humiliate him with his paintings. He did same with Mother India and Gods.

Ravi: Don't know what he said and what he didn’t, so can't comment.

Sunil: Just Google it and you will know the facts.

You see yourself nude at home and if same is shown in public, how is your feeling? Here its not about lust and don't change it. Sunil: I am devoted to my mother land.

Ravi: That's your personal choice, I don't mind, but you shouldn't mind my personal choices either.

Sunil: As long as personal choices don’t hurt others, it’s good. I am not talking about you but about M F Hussain’s personal choice.

Ravi: We need not know what MFH said, the discussion is on whether or not it's immoral to depict gods as nude.

Sunil: What M F Hussain said is relevant as artists intentions are more important to his paintings.

Ravi: Then you have to find out every thing he has said in his life before coming to a conclusion about his thoughts on mother India.

But anyway, this is irrelevant to the discussion topic as one couldn't know what was in the heart of a man with surety.

Sunil: When personal choice become public, then people got right to express their objection as they are no more personal M F Hussain’s paintings.

Ravi: Why would his choice hurt you? You can always avoid looking at his works.

Sunil: How can I ignore when it is public. Ignorance is not the solution when my beliefs are insulted and humiliated.

Ravi: You mean to say that if I write n publish some nonsense which someone doesn't like, then it must not be allowed to be published?

Sunil: Not exactly. People got the right to say their opinion on it and if it is something like Danish cartoons and M F Hussain’s paintings, then yes.

Ravi: I'm talking about publishing books like Satanic Verses and Lajja. Is it okay to publish them as they offend so called public opinions?

Sunil: I can't comment on it as I don't know about the books.

Ravi: They are books that are offensive to certain sections of the community. What's your opinion on such books?

Sunil: Unless and until I know more details, I can't comment.

Ravi: So, you have objections on paintings, but not on books?

Sunil: You r not getting my point. I can't give my opinion on topics which I don't know. I have to know how much realistic those books are.

Can you give me your opinion with a single line description on "Vimochana Dinam"? It's a freedom struggle of a region.

Ravi: Got your point, lets drop the book thing as it is more confusing and not relevant.

What would u say if I object the images of gods depicted as killing asuras coz it hurts my feelings of nonviolence.

Won't it be justifiable to ban such images of Durga, Kali, Narasimha that go against the faith of nonviolence and peace.

Sunil: Criminals in jails who are isolated should be release as its against humanity. Do you think we should release them?

That's the reason constitution take cares all these stuff. You got freedom as long as you are within law and order.

Ravi: Exactly! For the same reason, some picture or book cannot banned just because someone doesn’t like it.

Sunil: At the same time, if same picture brings communal difference then it should be.

Ravi: Then ban all religious books which teaches nothing but gibberish, causes communal difference between believers and nonbelievers.

Sunil: If I want I can also divert the topic and we end up with unrelated topic. Don't you think many people are offended by nude picture or not?

Sunil: If someone like M F Hussain does same to your family members, will you still defend the artist? Sorry to raise this again and again, but it is relevant.

Ravi: It would be a thing to celebrate. Wont it be great that one of your dear ones get portrayed in M F Hussain’s work.

Sunil: If U really stand by and do what you said here, then I admire you, but many people don't want to be in naked picture.

But you haven’t answered my question?

Ravi: Which question? By the way, gotta go to sleep now. Will continue tomorrow.

Sunil: Assume our PM visits a country and an artist portrays naked picture of PM and presents to our nation. What is your reaction? Sincere answer please.

Ravi: Well, it is for the PM to react, its his personal matter whether he likes to be portrayed nude or not. I'd love to be painted like that.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Secretly Transparent

Transparency and breach of secrecy are the two sides of a coin. What you see depends on the side you stand.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Rotten Corpses

Cremate not the martyrs of a revolution,
Let the corpses rot,
Till the stench reaches the heavens,
And fear rages through their hearts.

Friday, June 10, 2011

Contradiction

You got a life, don't waste, contradict it.

Monday, June 6, 2011

Kabinale Reserve Forest - May 2011



Location: India>Karnataka>Hassan
Trek Date: April 30 - May 1, 2011
Trek Organizer: 
Aditya Kambhampati, Ravi S Ghosh, Vinod Varghese
Trek Participants: Aditya, Balakrishnan Vinchu, Benjamin Coutand, Chidambaram, Jinu John, Karthikeyan G, Nagaraj mr, Naveen, Ramki, Ravi S Ghosh, Sameer Denjypady, Saroja Dileepan, Yugender
Details of the trek: Trekwiki

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Contagion Insanity

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Insanity is contagious, prevalence of religion and patriotism is evidence. 

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Manifesto of Errors

Election in Tamil Nadu are almost here. Campaigning has intensified and all the political parties have been throwing up promiscuous promises. These are chewed by the media and then presented to the citizen for their easy digestion. India's political history is witness that none of the promises made have ever been fulfilled. Now, for the first time in the history of Republic of India, Bhrashta Munnettra Kazhagam has announced an innovative election manifesto that is almost certain to be fulfilled. Here are some of the key promises by BMK.

Electoral Reforms: The first think BMK promises to implement is Cash for Vote bill. As per the bill, distributing cash and alcohol to the elegible voters will be legal as long as the date of such act is not more than a week of election day. The party claims that cash will help the voters buy basic entertainment commodities, e.g., watch a B-grade movie, avail prostitution, bribe the traffic police after breaking rules, procuring more alcohol, etc. This will ensure that the voters are relaxed on election day and able to make better decisions on whom to vote. Citizen's ability to make good decisions is vital for the spirit of democracy.

Basic Amenities: To tackle the problem of water scarcity in the state, BMK has promissed to promote use of tissue paper instead of water to wash public asses. In this endevour, Tamil Nadu Ass Wipers will be formed which would employee highly trained professionals from United States. This navaratna firm will wipe asses in public toilets free of cost and educate public on ass wiping techniques. To promote rural employement under NEGRA, Tamil Nadu Ass Wipers will also employee rural youth who would visit homes in distant rural settlements and wipe asses at no cost. An Ass Wiping tax will be levied on drinking water to cover the expenses incured in promotion of tissue paper.

Telecom Reforms: The chief spokesperson of  BMK has announced that the stolen 2G spectrum is in safe custody of BMK and it will be deployed for exclusive use in Tamil Nadu. This announcement has given major boost to Tamil nationalism. If elected, BMK will launch mobile TV version of Progress Channel in Tamil and Sinhalese to educate the masses about the progress of their projects and how they have fulfilled the promises made in election manifesto. New technology will be sourced from Somalia and it will enable the news of progress and project completion to be broadcast much before their launch.

Good amount of 2G Spectrum is expected to remain underutilized even after the implementation of above projects. To make good use of the remaining spectrum, BMK has brokered a deal with a major DTH provider and has promised to distribute free settop boxes along with free 5-year subscription of Progress Channel. The spokesperson added that the kickbacks from the DTH provider will be securely transferred to a Swiss bank so that prime time could be focussed on government progress reports rather than scam stories.

Defense: BMK has promised to increase the budgetary allocation for defence of Sri Lankan Tamils. A Bofors Tank Factory will be set up with the help of Mr Q to produce tanks exclusively for use by Sri Lankan rebels. The tanks will be provided free of cost to them. They will only need to bear the cost of the wheels, body, cannon, and cannon balls. BMK chief has already appealed to the residents of  Tondiarpet to give up land for this nobel cause.

Women's Reservation Bill: BMK's Women Wing chairman has announced that they will continue to fight for the upliftment of women and increase the number of women in the parliament. Towards this, she added, BMK will blackmail the coalition government at center to amend the Hindu/Islamic/Christian Marriage Laws. The ammendement would legalize the BMK leaders right to polygamy. In this way, they will be able to field more wives in the future elections and consequently put more women in the parliament.

Political Reforms: The above amendment will also ensure that generation after generation of BMK leaders are available to serve the public. Since all the MLAs and MPs will be from same family, there will be no disagrement in workings of the government.

Fishing Community: The plight of fishing community has not gone unnoticed by the BMK central command. They have vowed to address the issues of catchment area of Bay of Bengal being over-exploited and devoid of fish stocks. As soon as BMK is elected to majority, which they are certain of, free spoken Sinhalese classes with be held in costal districts of Tamil Nadu. This will enable the fishermen to speak in Sinhalese and escape when caught by Sri Lankan navy while fishing in Sri Lankan waters. This step would encourage more fishermen to venture out of Indian sea teritory and fish in Sri Lankan waters rich in fish, and hence, improving their life style.

Urban Development: As a sideeffect of rapid development and urbanization (thanks to the present BMK government), the issue of street dog menace has gained significance. BMK has promised to tackle it in the next 5 years of their governance. BMK Youth Wing has come up with an extremely innovative idea to install free condom vending machines specifically designed for Indian street dogs. The machines and the condoms will be designed, manufactured, and distributed by Singapore Cannines keeping the needs of Indian street dogs in mind. All of the equipment will be imported and the project will not be outsourced to India in order to maintain the high quality.

Monday, March 28, 2011

Change your DNS, Wait!

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Are you frustrated with slow broadband speed? Looking for a hack to increase internet speed dramatically? Search no more! Here comes the insanely easy tricks that would magically improve your browsing experience.

Well, those are the common punch line one would find on the websites and blogs trying to "sale" you tips to increase broadband speed. How mean! Those nice guys are trying to help me fix my internet and that too free of cost. And you, the useless oxymoron, say that they are trying to "sale" me the tips. Disgusting!

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Bandaje Arabi and Ballal Rayan Durga - January 2011

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Going Nowhere 3 - Bandaje Arabi and Ballal Rayan Durga

Location: India>Karnataka>Dharmasthala>Ujire
Trek Date: January 15-16, 2011
Trek Organizer: Ravi S Ghosh
Trek Participants: Jayanthy, Nayeem, Rekha, Sriram, Vimal, Raj, Ravi, Sourav, Veena, Gopal, Arasu, Lakshmikanth, Srinivas, Jinu.
Details of the trek: Trekwiki
GPX File: Yet to be published.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Dosa and Morality - How religion fails to preach morality

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Courtesy: Wikimedia 

No one likes to have dosa which is not straight out of the tava and so, no one minds to wait in queue when it is severed hot. The queue is generally a tad long for it as the entire office rushes to the cafeteria at exactly nine and they have to be served one at a time. People here are generally lazy and enjoy the conversations while in queue. However, few individuals would rather like to pass their time standing outside the queue and are at times in hurry to bypass it.

On such a Friday morning, two devoutly religious colleagues joined me at the end of such a queue.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Drunken Religion

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The fact that a believer is happier than a sceptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one. The happiness of credulity is a cheap and dangerous quality.

– George Bernard Shaw

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Unknown Knowledge

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It's better to know that we don't know rather than not to know that we don't know.

Friday, January 21, 2011

What We Read

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There is a column for spirituality and a column for horoscope, but none for rationality, not one for skepticism.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Freedom of Speech

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Democracy grants freedom of speech but only till the words start criticizing the authority.

Free From Democracy

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Strange is the fact that democratic governments do not entertain the right of its people to free themselves from the democracy.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Pride of Inheritance

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Living with pride of inheritance is akin to driving with alcohol in blood. Both are fatal, to self and to others.

Explanation: Inheritance refers to values we inherit by our birth, by allegiance to a community and not earn. Nationality, religion, castism are such. If we take pride in these, if we get high on these, we risk not just self but others as well.

The Running Nose

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Anala made a mistake of informing me and Shivi that she is having a runny nose. We tried to interpret what it meant and here is the discussion to arrive at a conclusion.


Anala: You've been invited to this chat room!
Shivi has joined

Anala: ahem !
Ravi: yeh kya hai.. group sex!!!! i mean group chat.
Anala: yeh group chat hai..taaki tum dono mere peet peeche kuch secret na share kare. argh
Shivi: abe Anala needs help with her nose

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

The Logic of God

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Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able?
Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing?
Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing?
Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing?
Then why call him God?

- Epicurus, Greek Philosopher (341 BCE - 270 BCE)

Musing: Greeks were getting smarter, Christianity made them dumb.