4 your Bottoms only

Aaj Ka Arjun

2006-05-21T21:28:00.000-07:00

CNBC TV18 Interveiw - Host: Karan Thapar.

For the first time in last one month, I felt a little bit sympathy for Arjun Singh. Karan Thapar cornered him, the way he always does. Arjun Singh already looks asthamatic, and this interveiw must have left him breathless.

No more words to express to Karan's birlliance. Here is the complete piece.

Karan Thapar: Hello and welcome to the Devil's Advocate. As the debate over the reservations for the OBCs divides the country, we ask - What are the government's real intentions? That is the critical questions that I shall put today in an exclusive interview to the Minister for Human Resource Development Arjun Singh.

Most of the people would accept that steps are necessary to help the OBCs gain greater access to higher education. The real question is - Why do you believe that reservations is the best way of doing this?

Arjun Singh: I wouldn't like to say much more on this because these are decisions that are taken not by individuals alone. And in this case, the entire Parliament of this country - almost with rare anonymity - has decided to take this decision.

Karan Thapar: Except that Parliament is not infallible. In the Emergency, when it amended the Constitution, it was clearly wrong, it had to reverse its own amendments. So, the question arises - Why does Parliament believe that the reservation is the right way of helping the OBCs?

Arjun Singh: Nobody is infallible. But Parliament is Supreme and atleast I, as a Member of Parliament, cannot but accept the supremacy of Parliament.

Karan Thapar: No doubt Parliament is supreme, but the constitutional amendment that gives you your authorities actually unenabling amendment, it is not a compulsory requirement. Secondly, the language of the amendment does not talk about reservations, the language talks about any provision by law for advancement of socially and educationally backward classes. So, you could have chosen anything other than reservations, why reservations?

Arjun Singh: Because as I said, that was the 'will and desire of the Parliament'.

Karan Thapar: Do you personally also, as Minister of Human Resource Development , believe that reservations is the right and proper way to help the OBCs?

Arjun Singh: Certainly, that is one of the most important ways to do it.

Karan Thapar: The right way?

Arjun Singh: Also the right way.

Karan Thapar: In which case, lets ask a few basic questions; we are talking about the reservations for the OBCs in particular. Do you know what percentage of the Indian population is OBC? Mandal puts it at 52 per cent, the National Sample Survey Organisation at 32 per cent, the National Family and Health Survey at 29.8 per cent, which is the correct figure?

Arjun Singh: I think that should be decided by people who are more knowledgeable. But the point is that the OBCs form a fairly sizeable percentage of our population.

Karan Thapar: No doubt, but the reason why it is important to know 'what percentage' they form is that if you are going to have reservations for them, then you must know what percentage of the population they are, otherwise you don't know whether they are already adequately catered in higher educational institutions or not.

Arjun Singh: That is obvious - they are not.

Karan Thapar: Why is it obvious?

Arjun Singh: Obvious because it is something which we all see.

Karan Thapar: Except for the fact that the NSSO, which is a government appointed body, has actually in its research in 1999 - which is the most latest research shown - that 23.5 per cent of all university seats are already with the OBCs. And that is just 8.5 per cent less than what the NSSO believes is the OBC share of the population. So, for a difference of 8 per cent, would reservations be the right way of making up the difference?

Arjun Singh: I wouldn't like to go behind all this because, as I said, Parliament has taken a view and it has taken a decision, I am a servant of Parliament and I will only implement.

Karan Thapar: Absolutely, Parliament has taken a view, I grant it. But what people question is the simple fact - Is there a need for reservations? If you don't know what percentage of the country is OBC, and if furthermore, the NSSO is correct in pointing out that already 23.5 per cent of the college seats are with the OBC, then you don't have a case in terms of need.

Arjun Singh: College seats, I don't know.

Karan Thapar: According to the NSSO - which is a government appointed body - 23.5 per cent of the college seats are already with the OBCs.

Arjun Singh: What do you mean by college seats?

Karan Thapar: University seats, seats of higher education.

Arjun Singh: Well, I don't know I have not come across that far.

Karan Thapar: So, when critics say to you that you don't have a case for reservation in terms of need, what do you say to them?

Arjun Singh: I have said what I had to say and the point is that that is not an issue for us to now debate.

Karan Thapar: You mean the chapter is now closed?

Arjun Singh: The decision has been taken.

Karan Thapar: Regardless of whether there is a need or not, the decision is taken and it is a closed chapter.

Arjun Singh: So far as I can see, it is a closed chapter and that is why I have to implement what all Parliament has said.

Karan Thapar: Minister, it is not just in terms of 'need' that your critics question the decision to have reservation for OBCs in higher education. More importantly, they question whether reservations themselves are efficacious and can work.

For example, a study done by the IITs themselves shows that 50 per cent of the IIT seats for the SCs and STs remain vacant and for the remaining 50 per cent, 25 per cent are the candidates, who even after six years fail to get their degrees. So, clearly, in their case, reservations are not working.

Arjun Singh: I would only say that on this issue, it would not be correct to go by all these figures that have been paraded.

Karan Thapar: You mean the IIT figures themselves could be dubious?

Arjun Singh: Not dubious, but I think that is not the last word.

Karan Thapar: All right, maybe the IIT may not be the last word, let me then quote to you the report of the Parliamentary Committee on the welfare for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes - that is a Parliamentary body.

It says that looking at the Delhi University, between 1995 and 2000, just half the seats for under-graduates at the Scheduled Castes level and just one-third of the seats for under-graduates at the Scheduled Tribes level were filled. All the others went empty, unfilled. So, again, even in Delhi University, reservations are not working.

Arjun Singh: If they are not working, it does not mean that for that reason we don't need them. There must be some other reason why they are not working and that can be certainly probed and examined. But to say that for this reason, 'no reservations need to be done' is not correct.

Karan Thapar: Fifty years after the reservations were made, statistics show, according to The Hindustan Times, that overall in India, only 16 per cent of the places in higher education are occupied by SCs and STs. The quota is 22.5 per cent, which means that only two-thirds of the quota is occupied. One third is going waste, it is being denied to other people.

Arjun Singh: As I said, the kind of figures that have been brought out, in my perception, do not reflect the realities. Realities are something much more and of course, there is an element of prejudice also.

Karan Thapar: But these are figures that come from a Parliamentary Committee. It can't be prejudiced; they are your own colleagues.

Arjun Singh: Parliamentary Committee has given the figures, but as to why this has not happened, that is a different matter.

Karan Thapar: I put it to you that you don't have a case for reservations in terms of need, you don't have a case for reservations in terms of their efficacy, why then, are you insisting on extending them to the OBCs?

Arjun Singh: I don't want to use that word, but I think that your argument is basically fallicious.

Karan Thapar: But it is based on all the facts available in the public domain.

Arjun Singh: Those are facts that need to be gone into with more care. What lies behind those facts, why this has not happened, that is also a fact.

Karan Thapar: Let's approach the issue of reservations differently in that case. Reservations mean that a lesser-qualified candidate gets preference over a more qualified candidate, solely because in this case, he or she happens to be an OBC. In other words, the upper castes are being penalised for being upper caste.

Arjun Singh: Nobody is being penalised and that is a factor that we are trying to address. I think that the prime Minister will be talking to all the political parties and will be putting forward a formula, which will see that nobody is being penalised.

Karan Thapar: I want very much to talk about that formula, but before we come to talk about how you are going to address concerns, let me point one other corollary - Reservations also gives preference and favour to caste over merit. Is that acceptable in a modern society?

Arjun Singh: I don't think the perceptions of modern society fit India entirely.

Karan Thapar: You mean India is not a modern society and therefore can't claim to be treated as one?

Arjun Singh: It is emerging as a modern society, but the parameters of a modern society do not apply to large sections of the people in this country.

Karan Thapar: Let me quote to you Jawaharlal Nehru, a man whom you personally admire enormously. On the 27th of June 1961 wrote to the Chief Ministers of the day as follows: I dislike any kind of reservations. If we go in for any kind of reservations on communal and caste basis, we will swamp the bright and able people and remain second rate or third rate. The moment we encourage the second rate, we are lost. And then he adds pointedly: This way lies not only folly, but also disaster. What do you say to Jawaharlal Nehru today?

Arjun Singh: Jawaharlal Nehru was a great man in his own right and not only me, but everyone in India accept his view.

Karan Thapar: But you are just about to ignore his advice.

Arjun Singh: No. Are you aware that it was Jawaharlal Nehru who introduced the first ammendment regarding OBCs?

Karan Thapar: Yes, and I am talking about Jawaharlal Nehru in 1961, when clearly he had changed his position, he said - I dislike any kind of reservations.

Arjun Singh: I don't think one could take Panditji's position at any point of time and then overlook what he had himself initiated.

Karan Thapar: Am I then to understand that regardless of the case that is made against reservations in terms of need, regardless of the case that has been made against reservations in terms of efficacy, regardless of the case that has been made against reservations in terms of Jawaharlal Nehru, you remain committed to extending reservations to the OBCs.

Arjun Singh: I said because that is the will of Parliament. And I think that common decisions that are taken by Parliament have to be honoured.

Karan Thapar: Let me ask you a few basic questions - If reservations are going to happen for the OBCs in higher education, what percentage of reservations are we talking about?

Arjun Singh: No, that I can't say because that has yet to be decided.

Karan Thapar: Could it be less than 27 per cent?

Arjun Singh: I can't say anything on that, I have told you in the very beginning that at this point of time it is not possible for me to.

Karan Thapar: Quite right. If you can't say, then that also means that the figure has not been decided.

Arjun Singh: The figure will be decided, it has not been decided yet.

Karan Thapar: The figure has not been decided. So, therefore the figure could be 27, but it could be less than 27 too?

Arjun Singh: I don't want to speculate on that because as I said, that is decision, which will be taken by Parliament.

Karan Thapar: Whatever the figure, one thing is certain that when the reservations for OBCs happen, the total quantum of reservations will go up in percentage terms. Will you compensate by increasing the total number of seats in colleges, universities, IITs and IIMs, so that the other students don't feel deprived.

Arjun Singh: That is one of the suggestions that has been made and is being seriously considered.

Karan Thapar: Does it find favour with you as a Minister for Human Resource Development?

Arjun Singh: Whatever suggestion comes, we are committed to examine it.

Karan Thapar: You may be committed to examine it, but do you as minister believe that that is the right way forward?

Arjun Singh: That could be one of the ways, but not the only way.

Karan Thapar: What are the other ways?

Arjun Singh: I don't know. That is for the Prime Minister and the other ministers to decide.

Karan Thapar: One way forward would be to increase the total number of seats.

Arjun Singh: Yes, definitely.

Karan Thapar: But the problem is that as the Times of India points out, we are talking of an increase of perhaps as much as 53 per cent. Given the constraints you have in terms of faculty and infrastructure, won't that order of increase dilute the quality of education?

Arjun Singh: I would only make one humble request, don't go by The Times of India and The Hindustan Times about faculty and infrastructure, because they are trying to focus on an argument which they have made.

Karan Thapar: All right, I will not go by The Times of India, let me instead go by Sukhdev Thorat, the Chairman of the UGC. He points out that today, at higher education levels - that is all universities, IITs and IIMs - there is already a 1.2 lakh vacancy number. 40 per cent of these are in teaching staff, which the IIT faculty themselves point out that they have shortages of up to 30 per cent. Given those two constraint, can you increase the number of seats?

Arjun Singh: That can be addressed and that shortage can be taken care of.

Karan Thapar: But it can't be taken care of in one swoop, it will take several years to do it.

Arjun Singh: I don't know whether it can be taken care of straightway or in stages, that is a subject to be decided.

Karan Thapar: Let me ask you bluntly, if you were to agree to compensate for reservations for OBCs by increasing the number of seats, would that increase happen at one go, or would it be staggered over a period of two-three or four year old process.

Arjun Singh: As I told you, it is an issue that I cannot comment upon at this moment because that is under examination.

Karan Thapar: So, it may happen in one go and it may happen in a series of several years.

Arjun Singh: I can't speculate on that because that is not something on which I am free to speak on today.

Karan Thapar: Will the reservation for OBCs, whatever figure your Committee decides on, will it happen in one go, or will it slowly be introduced in stages?

Arjun Singh: That also I cannot say because as I told you, all these issues are under consideration.

Karan Thapar: Which means that everything that is of germane interest to the people concerned is at the moment 'under consideration' and the government is not able to give any satisfaction to the students who are deeply concerned.

Arjun Singh: That is not the point. The government knows what to do and it will do what is needed.

Karan Thapar: But if the government knows what to do, why won't you tell me what the government wants to do?

Arjun Singh: Because unless the decision is taken, I cannot tell you.

Karan Thapar: But you can share with me as the Minister what you are thinking.

Arjun Singh: No.

Karan Thapar: So, in other words, we are manitaining a veil of secrecy and the very people who are concerned...

Arjun Singh: I am not maintaining a veil of secrecy. I am only telling you what propriety allows me to tell you.

Karan Thapar: Propriety does not allow you to share with the people who are protesting on the streets what you are thinking?

Arjun Singh: I don't think that that can happen all the time.

Karan Thapar: But there are people who feel that their lives and their futures are at stake and they are undertaking fasts until death.

Arjun Singh: It is being hyped up, I don't want to go into that.

Karan Thapar: Do you have no sympathy for them?

Arjun Singh: I have every sympathy.

Karan Thapar: But you say it is being hyped up.

Arjun Singh: Yes, it is hyped up.

Karan Thapar: So, then, what sympathy are you showing?

Arjun Singh: I am showing sympathy to them and not to those who are hyping it up.

Karan Thapar: The CPM says that if the reservations for the OBCs are to happen, then what is called the creamy layer should be excluded. How do you react to that?

Arjun Singh: The creamy layer issue has already been taken care of by the Supreme Court.

Karan Thapar: That was vis -a-vis jobs in employment, what about at the university level, should they be excluded there as well because you are suggesting that the answer is yes?

Arjun Singh: That could be possible.

Karan Thapar: It could be possible that the creamy layer is excluded from reservations for OBCs in higher education?

Arjun Singh: It could be, but I don't know whether it would happen actually.

Karan Thapar: Many people say that if reservations for OBCs in higher education happen, then the children of beneficiaries should not be entitled to claim the same benefit.

Arjun Singh: Why?

Karan Thapar: So that there is always a shrinking base and the rate doesn't proliferate.

Arjun Singh: I don't think that that is a very logical way of looking at it.

Karan Thapar: Is that not acceptable to you?

Arjun Singh: No, it is not the logical way of looking at it.

Karan Thapar: So, with the possible exception of the creamy layer exclusion, reservation for OBCs in higher education will be almost identical to the existing reservations for SC/STs?

Arjun Singh: Except for the percentage.

Karan Thapar: Except for the percentage.

Arjun Singh: Yes.

Karan Thapar: So, in every other way, they will be identical.

Arjun Singh: Yes, in every other way.

Karan Thapar: Mr Arjun Singh, on the 5th of April when you first indicated that the Government was considering reservation for OBCs in higher education, was the Prime Minister in agreement that this was the right thing to do?

Arjun Singh: I think, there is a very motivated propaganda is on this issue. Providing reservation to OBCs was in the public domain right from December 2005, when Parliament passed the enabling resolution.

Karan Thapar: Quite true. But had the Prime Minister specifically agreed on or before 5th of April to the idea?

Arjun Singh: Well, I am telling you it was already there. A whole Act was made, the Constitution was amended and the Prime Minister was fully aware of what this is going to mean. Actually, he had a meeting in which OBC leaders were called to convince them that this would give them the desired advantage. And they should, therefore, support this resolution. And at that meeting, he himself talked to them. Now, how do you say that he was unaware?

Karan Thapar: But were you at all aware that the Prime Minister might be in agreement with what was about to happen but might not wish it disclosed publicly at that point of time? Were you aware of that?

Arjun Singh: It was already there in public domain, that's what I am trying to tell you.

Karan Thapar: Then answer this to me. Why are members of the PMO telling journalists that Prime Minister was not consulted and that you jumped the gun?

Arjun Singh: Well, I don't know which member of the PMO you are talking about unless you name him.

Karan Thapar: Is there a conspiracy to make you the fall guy?

Arjun Singh: Well, I don't know whether there is one or there is not. But fall guys are not made in this way. And I am only doing what was manifestly clear to every one, was cleared by the party and the Prime Minister. There is no question of any personal agenda.

Karan Thapar: They say that, in fact, you brought up this issue to embarrass the Prime Minister.

Arjun Singh: Why should I embarrass the Prime Minister? I am with him. I am part of his team.

Karan Thapar: They say that you have a lingering, forgive the word, jealousy because Sonia Gandhi chose Manmohan Singh and not you as Prime Minister.

Arjun Singh: Well, that is canard which is below contempt. Only that person can say this who doesn't know what kind of respect and regard I hold for Sonia Gandhi. She is the leader. Whatever she decides is acceptable to me.

Karan Thapar: They also say that you brought this issue up because you felt that the Prime Minister had been eating into your portfolio. Part of it had gone to Renuka Chaudhury and, in fact, your new deputy minister Purandar Sridevi had taken over certain parts. This was your way of getting back.

Arjun Singh: No one was taking over any part. This is a decision which the Prime Minister makes as to who has to have what portfolio. And he asked Mrs Renuka Devi to take it and he cleared it with me first.

Karan Thapar: So there is no animus on your part?

Arjun Singh: Absolutely not.

Karan Thapar: They say that you did this because you resented the Prime Minister's popular image in the country, that this was your way of embroiling him in a dispute that will make him look not like a modern reformer but like an old-fashioned, family-hold politician instead.

Arjun Singh: Well, the Tammany Hall political stage is over> He is our Prime Minister and every decision he has taken is in the full consent with his Cabinet and I don't think there can be any blame on him.

Karan Thapar: One, then, last quick question. Do you think this is an issue, which is a sensitive issue, where everyone knew there would have been passions and emotions that would have aroused has been handled as effectively as it should have been?

Arjun Singh: Well, I have not done anything on it. I have not sort of what you call jumped the gun. If this is an issue, which is sensitive, everyone has to treat it that way.

Karan Thapar: But your conscience as HRD Minister is clear?

Arjun Singh: Absolutely clear.

Karan Thapar: There is nothing that you could have done to make it easier for the young students?

Arjun Singh: Well, I am prepared to do anything that can be done. And it is being attempted.

Karan Thapar: For seven weeks, they have been protesting in the hot sun. No minister has gone there to appease them, to alley their concerns, to express sympathy for them. Have politicians let the young people of India down?

Arjun Singh: Well, I myself called them. They all came in this very room.

Karan Thapar: But you are the only one.

Arjun Singh: You are accusing me only. No one else is being accused.

Karan Thapar: What about the Government of India? Has the Government of India failed to respond adequately?

Arjun Singh: From the Government of India also, the Defence Minister met them.

Karan Thapar: Only recently.

Arjun Singh: That is something because everyone was busy with the elections.

Karan Thapar: For seven weeks no one met them.

Arjun Singh: No, but we are very concerned. Certainly, all of us resent the kind of force that was used. I condemned it the very first day it happened.

Karan Thapar: All right, Mr Arjun Singh. We have reached the end of this interview. Thank you very much for speaking on the subject.

Of Swiss Alps, Scottish Highlands, Dutch Windmills

2005-09-01T00:23:00.000-07:00

Do check out what Ishan has to offer. Good travelogues, and much more.

Regression to apes?

2005-08-31T08:46:00.000-07:00

Nobody writes here anymore, eh? Everyone too busy rearing children, producing children, or finding agreeable incubation chambers, or, in the worst case, keeping the available reproduction machine happy and pliant? Or, is it pursuit of Dinero?

Bah, how we have regressed from 1999.

Yours truly,

For the drunks amongst us...

2005-08-04T00:49:00.000-07:00

OLD AGE AND ALCOHOL
*

The joys of life at 92
By simple facts we prove to you.

The horse and mule live 30 years
And know not a thing of wine and beer

The goat and sheep at 20 die
And never taste of Scotch and Rye

The cow drinks water by the ton,
And at 18 is nearly done,

The dog at 15 cashes in
Without the aid of Rum and Gin

The cat in milk and water soaks
And then in 12 years, it croaks.

The modest sober bone dry hen
Lays eggs for Nogo then dies at 10

All animals are strictly dry,
They sinless live and swiftly die.

But Sinful, Ginful, Rum soaked men
Survive for three score years and ten.

And some of us, they are quite a few
Keep drinking till we be 92

Now all take heed to this advice
Take from life its every spice.

Hic!
---------------------------------
May you all live till 92. Amen.

1136434

2005-07-29T10:12:00.000-07:00

For those of you who are bachelors, or for whom the present marital situation is not "working out" and wish to explore other opportunities in more salubrious environs, I would like to advertise id#1136434 from Rediff's Matchmaker site. If I was the marrying kind, which thankfully I am not, and the Lord above and the ladies below concur, I would give Ms Biswas serious consideration. If you are sitting there with your mouth open going "From where the cluck...", don't worry, it is not that deep a mystery. She popped into my world view via a little window on rediff's site; a window that leads to a gallery of poor souls who don't know what they are getting into. If you wish to pass over this opportunity to relocate to S.California, please let Darpan Biswas know. He may be interested.

If it sweetens the pot - I have heard from reliable sources that bangalans are very good for ... oops sorry this is a U rated family friendly site.

Finally, if you are afraid that Cambridge has thrown me out and I have taken up alternate employement, rest assured. I am doing this out of my interest in the welfare of the 4Bot bachelors. Go boys, or at least Saurabh.

Whao code!!

2005-07-28T01:35:00.000-07:00

In 1994, during a meeting of the C++ standardization committe, Erwin Unruh discovered that templates can be used to compute something at compile time.He wrote a program that produced prime numbers.

The intriguing part of this exercise, however, was that the production of the prime numbers was performed by the compiler during the compilation process and not at run time. Specifically, the compiler produced a sequence of error messages with all prime numbers from two up to a certain configurable value. Although this program wasn't strictly portable (error messages aren't standardized),the program did show that template instantiation mechanism is a primitive recursive language that can perform nontrivial computations at compile time. This sort of compile-time computation that occurs through template instantiation is commonly called template metaprogramming.

He had used the Metaware compiler and coaxed it into issuing error messages that contain successive prime numbers. Here is the code that was circulated at a C++ committe meeting in 1994 (modified so that it now compiles on standard conforming compilers)

( Extract and code taken from the book C++ Templates )

I checked that error messages containing all the prime numbers are produced on SGI(cc,octane), HP(aCC,iophp1), linux(cc,hilbert). However, on AIX, SUN and windows, the instantiation is stopped only after the first error message. No more templates are instantiated and hence we get only one prime number.

Travelling

2005-07-21T02:40:00.000-07:00

As far as travelling is concerned, I am off from Stuttgart to Italy (Venice/Florence/Roma/Bari) for a week, so expect little of my (blogging) wisdom.

Also, best of luck to Kankani for he treads the path of no return.

The time traveler's wife

2005-07-19T03:34:00.000-07:00

Well, this time, in order to control my perpetual insomnia, I picked up this book "The time traveller's wife" by some lady Audrey Niffenegger. It was thick, and as my sedation levels while reading, are directly proportional to the thickness, so I thought, it would be an ideal solution.
It back fired -
For the past two nights I am devouring it, like any thing...my insomnia has been aggravated, after a reading of 2-3 hours, it takes another 2-3 hours, to get the build up out of my mind...before i get into anything closer to a sleep.(some crucial 5-6 hours a day wasted...)
story is original, well not so original, in terms of ideas, but original as a combination of unoriginal ideas, mix-up adventures of time travel jumbled with the raptures of a love story.
presentation is different, but then these days every writer is experimenting, so may be an average attempt, reminds a lot of the plot flow in "The flowers for Algernon".
Style, full of similes, some of them are impressive.

i cannot give my last impression, as i am yet to complete, but till now it had been fullfilling.
just googled, looks like some movie adaptation carrying Brad Pitt and Jeniffer Anniston is on its way....
These japs..... they only keep those english books on the shelf, for which there is a movie.

Sagai Ki Badhai

2005-07-17T21:34:00.000-07:00

Many Happy returns for the day to both Rakhi & Kanks. Now, until the first kid is born, this is going to be the happiest day in their lives. The real count down for loosing bachelorhood starts now.

Jokes apart, it's a big occassion. Best of luck for the future to both. I and Shalini tried calling yesterday, but with no success. Tried calling on Kanks' cell, Rakhi's cell, Shipra's cell but all were either swtiched off or not reachable. Tried calling Kanks' house landline number, but as my guess was nobody was home.

Badhaiyan once again, enjoy the moment - both of you!

The founder is away...

2005-07-06T03:37:00.000-07:00

... so it seems the others won't play? Where the *bleep* are the rest. Just because I am taking an ill deserved rest in Scotland, does not mean that the rest of you hard working folks cannot come and say something to keep my spirits up while I carry the 4-bot flag up Ben Nevis. Where is the 'All for one' guys?

Oh, and happy birthday to Anant, who I once thought would be the leading literary light of this enterprise. Unfortunately, he has not even switched himself on.

Ok, got to clim a few hills before it rains. As they say in the Catalans: So many hills, so little time.

Hypocrisy

2005-07-02T11:05:00.000-07:00

It has been sometime since I have written something ... Today is a day when after a long long time I have not gone to office and I feeling a bit relaxed ... Had a long sleep today ... Actually had many long sleeps today ... Kept going to bed after every attempt to leave it ... Feeling a bit annoyed at not doing anything for the whole day ... But hey !!! isnt that something that I wanted to do for so many months now ... In fact what I really want to do it to take 2-3 weeks off and just stay at home for the entire duration ... Last few months have been fast ... but every standard ...

Anyways ... enough about that ... Let me go back to what I wanted to write about ...

Lying in the bed today I was just oozing along ... and remembered one of the episodes of Big Fight ... The debate program that now ex NDTV anchor Rajdeep Sardesai used to host ...

The episode was on the topic 'Has the sex come out of indian closets' or something like that ... There were three guests as usual to debate the topic ... one of them was some lady social worker who was of the view that india has always been a liberal contry it is just that libery has not been publicised and commercialised on the screen or on media (print, electronic or any other) .... then there was this ex editor of some soft porn magazine (forgot the name of the magazine) ... And finally ... The reason why I am writing this post ... There was Ms Mallika Sherawat. (By the way that reminds me of a cartoon in the Metro that talked about Ms Vs Miss Vs Mrs ... If you are not aware of the difference ... then google for it or check dictionary.com ... makes for an interesting read) ...

Anyways so coming back to the topic ... The thing that struck me in that debate was one of the lines of arguments that Ms Sherawat took ... The argument started with the assertion that her movies have been accepted by public in general and it is not only the quintessential 'tharki' bachelors that flock to theatres screening the likes of Murder et al but also families ... And thereby any criticism of hers amoun to hypocrisy ... Why ... because of one hand you are ready to watch the movies on the other hand you would not let your own daughters and sisters to do the same ... Now where did she get the idea of the whole families (And I use the word family here not only for Just Miyan biwi but for more complete family) going to watch her movies but that again is not the reason for this post ...

What struck me was the argument that if you are watching her movies and I would even go further that are also enjoying it ... Then it is essential for you to be ready to let your daughters and sisters do the same ... Never raise a word against it ... Rather be supportive to them ... Afterall isnt it something that you enjoy when Ms Sherawat was doing it ... So how can you now fret and complain when your near and dear ones are doing the same ...

Now I may be missing something big here ... But if I am not ... Then dont we all eat 'Paan' ... use Rikshaw when travelling ... Employ labourers to do the jobs like whitewashing, domestic help and many other such things ... Dont offices employ peons and clerks ... and the list goes on ... and dont we all enjoy the fact that they are there ... but how many of us want our own kids to be doing the same job ... rather even how many of these same people want their own kids to be doing the kind of job that they themselves are doing ...

They are providing a service and we are using that service ... That in no way means that we should be ready to provide the same service ourselves or not try to avoid letting our near and dear ones having to provide that service to fulfill their needs ...

Is that hypocrisy ... I have never heard anyone saying so ... So what is so special about the service that Ms Sherawat is providing ... there is a need in the society to have people like her who probably help in some kind of catharsis and some plane ... She is happy to provide that service and a section of society is happy to use this service ... And that is the end of it ...

Or may be as I said in the begining ... I am missing something big here ... There actually is something special about Ms Sherawat or what she is providing ...

Google Maps

2005-07-01T04:13:00.000-07:00

Check Out Earth Satellite Map. . It's cool. Download the free executable and install.

For India, only Delhi is supported upto buildings & roads. For rest of the country, it's only a physical map but it does give up the names of the places like Malihabad, Gonda, Chakeri when zoomed closer.

Heavy Weapon Deluxe

2005-06-23T08:07:00.000-07:00

Well yes I finally did it...
bought my first software.
as expected, it is nothing else but a video game. Past few weeks, i was busy playing with java 3D, and in a random spree of googling,
i reached this site www.popcap.com, lot's of free online games there.
Most of them were regular geek stuff, tetris type... blocks, cubes and color matching...
(as if we were some ape subjects of a psychological experiment...)... then I struck gold...
Heavy weapon deluxe...
an arcade like... full time bang bang.... mind blowing.... you can try it....online for free, and dont be afraid...
if popcap puts up any activX component on your PC, it does not hurts your PC, of course they have to sell stuff from that
portal.
the online version is just a glimpse of the delicious mayhem in store. With weapons like.... LASER anhillator, homing missiles, defense shields, defense orbs and even nukes, if you think you can crack it in no time... hehehe... I also thought so.... I bought the full version, and after a week of struggle I am still stuck at the 6th stage (Antagonistan) .... where the screen turns into a rain of nuclear bombs.... a single drop and you loose it...

Kanpuri kisse: IIM ki pareeksha

2005-06-22T17:02:00.000-07:00

Ek baar do bachche the. Mano unke naam the RK aur GP. Dono ne IIM ki pareeksha ke liye jor se padha. RK ne thoda jyada, aur GP ne ho sakta hai thoda kam. Hona kya tha. RK ka hua, aur GP ko mila gham. Khair daru RK ne chadhai aur GP ne usme gham dubai. RK ne jyada chadhai. Saath mein khoob khana bhi khaya. Bas RK ko laga hagga. Fir kuch aisa hua

RK: Yaar GP hagga laga hai.
GP: Maar aa.
RK: Yaar hil nahi pa raha hoon.

GP usko sandaas tak sambhal ke le gaya.

GP: Lo.
RK: Yaar patloon nahi khul rahi.

Chalo bhai woh bhi kara gaya.

RK: Yaar baithunga to gir jaoonga.

GP RK ko pakad ke khada raha.

Pet halk hua. Ab?

GP: Saale, jo bhi ho dhounga nahi.

GP ne RK ki patloon chadhai. Bistar pe letaya. Chitthi chodh di ki subah uth ke dho lena.

4Bot series

2005-06-22T16:56:00.000-07:00

Here is something for people who can't think of what to write. Launch a mini series of your own, or something that was common for all of us. For example, amongst loud cheers and mugs of beers I launch the mini series "Kanpuri kisse" above. You are all invited to writer humorously, or not, about any particular episode from your IITK days.

Similarly, after two posts on music, Nandan should cosider launching a Music review series. Chauhan, a film review series. I know you do one on your blog, but you can re-review older movies. I am sure there are ones I have not seen. Zakaku - philosophy. Anyway, you chaps get the drift?

Wishing Loveena

2005-06-22T00:14:00.000-07:00

Many happy returns for the day to Loveena from all of us. This time, the son also gets to enjoy her birthday day for the first time. Double whammy!

D - The Music

2005-06-22T00:13:00.000-07:00

Was listening to the sound tracks of D-The movie.. have never seen any trailers or other visuals of the movie, but the sound track sounds original. Initial feeling about the movie is that of yet another "Company" stereotype, but the music is really ear catching.
First time a mature use of Hard rock notes and noise in a desi movie sound track.
The reverberating beats in "Ball Breaking version" of "Ek Pal ki zindagi", makes you forgive the accented hindi of the singer.
Had not been the depressing notes and composition, (might be the requirement of the script), the grandeur of the musical arrangement (instruments and variations) is good enough for a Disney animation theme.
The cast consists of strange names, only Chunkey Pande is recognizable, looks like more money has been spent on the music than on the movie.....
Hope movie matches itself with the music.

Changing Times ...

2005-06-21T12:58:00.000-07:00

Today I had a sort of a fight one of my colleagues in the project ... and it set me thinking ...

There was a time when it was unthinkable for me to be working with someone whom I don’t like ... but today here I am ... working with people whom I don’t like or I don't really gel with ... Not only that I am working with them ... I manage to say Good Morning ... Crack some jokes here and there ... and even exchange some niceties with them at times ...

Ditto for domestic life ... Staying with three other Infoscions ... I am on talking terms with just 2 of them ... And that too is limited primarily to just exchange of pleasantries here and there ... When did I ever think I can stay like this …

How times change and how you grow … Dunno whether it is for good or for bad … but this is what it is …

It's Ten Years Now !

2005-06-17T02:43:00.000-07:00

Today it's 17th June, 2005. Almost 10 years ago, on 15th June, most of us would have been a nervous lot. Kanpuriyas would have known a day earlier. Some enterprising non-Kanpuriyas must have got it on the night between 14th-15th June from the local Times Of India office.

I got the news this way.

Numbers say it all

2005-06-16T21:49:00.000-07:00

Life has been busy lately. The post from Toshi sums up the situation perfectly. Toshi, if you do get to know the secret of managing your time do let all of us know.

Expanding a little on I.'s observations Kahan hain Qayamati nazarwaale? , here are some interesting statistics from the 4_bot group

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
2005	35	115	35	24	29	41
2004	39	25	49	59	34	84	113	59	123	42	53	48
2003	124	97	94	72	68	55	63	42	105	55	38	25
2002	79	67	53	83	103	66	105	106	92	141	70	102
2001	276	219	221	293	397	95	153	173	136	164	75	90
2000	132	109	44	22	311	167	231	257	491	362	293	159
1999						1		38	9	387	102	146

Another interesting data would be the "activity per user chart".

The Daaani post left me in splits. And the follow-up from I. on knowledgable Japanese reminded me of a conversation with my Japanese teacher when Japan was in grip of a "severely hot weather" (in quotes).
T: Is India hot too?
Me: Yes. More than 500 people have died so far in the state of Andhra Pradesh.
T: Is it? Don't they have Air Conditioners in their homes?
As you would guess, there was nothing I could do to enlighten her so I just muttered a sheepish 'no' and continued with my lesson.

Well the "hot summer" season is approaching soon, and that would mean a respite from all the rain and the typhoons. Just wish there were some nice white sand beaches near by.

Abhishek for 4botty

Ye khushi

2005-06-15T07:27:00.000-07:00

Ye batao ke tum log itne khush kyon deekh rahe in tasveeron mein. Kya duniya ki peeda tumhe aanch bhar nahi chuti. Shyam shyam, ghor kalyug. Yahan main ghar ki yaad mein udaseen, aur wahan aap log khilkhila rahein hain...

Great photographs though :-)

Mahabaleshwar Photos....

2005-06-14T21:22:00.000-07:00

mein to sachitra varnan apni us trip ka nahi kar sakata ... hope manish will post it soon...

You guys can see the photos using the link below-
http://share.shutterfly.com/osi.jsp?i=EeANGrFkxbsWjDpg

-Ashish

Leaving Infosys....

2005-06-13T03:18:00.000-07:00

Wanted to write a lot on this..
but as of now bear with just one liner .......

Mein Infy se Qualtech move ho raha hoon....
To sabhi bhai logon ko suchit kiya jata hai.. from next month onwards I will be found in Cannaught Place Delhi.. rather than Pune's FC and MG road...

Anyone can drop anytime to take a guided tour of our capital !! -:)

- Ashish

Muscular memory?

2005-06-12T08:33:00.000-07:00

Aj mera bahut bada wala kata ... matlab aj fir se bahut bada wala kata
... Yahan par ek jagah Pt. Hari Prasad Chaurasia ka show hone wala tha
.... ham subah subah badi ummeed se pahunche ki ticket le kar sham ko
dekhne jayene ... par sala poori building band ... 3-4 chakkar lagaye
building ke par na admi na admi ki jaat .... chale aye wapas hilate hue
...

Maja to tab hai jab kat bhi jaye, lekin hilana band na ho. Kaise manage karte ho. Or is it muscular memory.

Posted on behalf of S."Z". Srivastava.
-------------
'Orrible 'Enry strikes again.

..., kintu bachcha paida ho jata hai...

2005-06-12T08:26:00.000-07:00

Hum dono miya bibi jage hue hain .... ek doosre ke time mgmt ka dukh
baat rahe hain ... puranedin yaad kar rahe hain .... bachon ke
pahlewala ....jab khali ek doosre ke sath ghumne jaate the aur fursat
ke maukon pe doston ko lambi lambi mail likha karte the .... aisa
lagta hai ki shayad aisa samay kabhi tha hi nahi .... agar raha bhi
hoga tobahut arse pahle ... ya sapnon mein.... 1 se 2 hone mein shayad
jyada farak nahi aata hai par 2-3 hone ke baad sab kuch badal sa jyata
hai...khushiyan bahut jyada badh jaati hai par samay bahut kam ho
jaata hai .... 2-3 tin to log hazaron salon se hote aaye hain zaroor
koi trick hotihogijisko seekhne mein 15 mahine se jyada lag jaata hai
.... hum log us enlightenment ka intazaar kar rahe hain .... Tab tak
sabki lambi mails aur blogs padh kar khush hote hai aur Muskaan ka
smile kar ke "Papa" bol kar hug karne se ....
Aaj main Rajeev ko bahut yaad kar raha tha .... pata nahi kaise par wo
khali 4 ghante sokar(ya ussebhi kam) kaise kaam chala leta hai ....
lekin fir laga ki jitna samay hai usmein bhi sab kuch kiya ja sakta
hai....Kohli tum IITmein itna kuch kaise karlete the ? roj
nahana,hagna,shave karna,kamrasaaf rakhna,nashta karna,class
jaana,tennis khelna, swimming karna, GH jaana, notes
lena,assignmentkarna, baal theek sizeke rakhna, chithi likhna, apna
bistar theek se rakhna, apni study table theek se rakhna,jute salikese
rakhna,kitabein lagakerakhna, ......

Kholi, kaise?

Posted on The Toshniwal's behalf by 'Orrible 'enry.

An accountant, me?

2005-06-12T07:20:00.000-07:00

If I read it correctly, I am described as a "genius with books" by MSC below. Pardon me, but that sounds like an euphemism of an accountant, with, possibly, a rather flexible moral spine. I protest.

By the way where in the name of his wife's honour is the thorough gentleman?

Daaaa Niiiii Series ..... Continuation

2005-06-10T04:29:00.000-07:00

too much mote!!
sahi incidence tha...
Aisa to nahi per ik incident mere saath TISCO mein bhi hua tha..

Plant mein ik bangali labour tha. id din plant mein lunch time mein control room (rolling mill)mein aake woh bola.
Worker - Sahab! pipe bolata hai.
We thought there is some problem in machine and vibration level is higher than expected. We went to that place and checked the pipe. There were no issues. Then, he said again while peeping and pointing his hand inside the pipe .
Worker - Sahab! pipe bolata hai.
Then we also saw inside the pipe, and found a "Wasp"(Burr) there.
Then we said - Pipe mein wasp hai.
Then worker said - Haan wahi to main keh raha hai. Pipe bolata hai. Hum bongali mein "Bolata" ko "Bolata" bolata hai, aap "Bolata" ko kya bolata hai?

And we couldn't stop laughing!! :) :) :)

Raat Kali Ek Khwab Mein Aayi

2005-06-10T02:54:00.000-07:00

Kal California mein 4bot ke do puraney bewadey fir se ek baar saath baithe. Khoob bani jab mil baithe deewaney do. Chaappa chappa charkha chala, bauni bauni beriyon taley.

Phir un do diwano ne us sheher se, na raat ko aur na dopahar se, balki apni subah se humari raat ko phone mila diya. Bewadey itney tunn the, aur mai itni neend mein ki kaun kisi awaaz kis halaq ki hai, kuchh der se samajh mein aaya.

Per dono the bahut hi mood mein. Kafi der bakar hui, hapar-hapar hui. Akhir 4 bot ke puraney chat server per login jo kiya tha. Maine bhi nirash nahin kiya. Daastan-e-dil bayan hue, kuchh raaz-e-dil jaane-anjaaney zuban per aaye. Kuchh parda-nasheen bakait beparda hue hain lihaza qayamat bhi asakti hai dilwalon ki dilli mein.

Is naadani ko agar nazar andaz kerde, to bahut maza ayaa. Kuchh idhar-udhar ki baatey hui, aur kuchh udhar-idhar ki bhi saath mein hui. Toshniwal office jaa raha tha, Gupta ko apney ghar mein chhod ker. Muskaan ko uski mummy potty kerwaney gayi thi. Aur mai yeh gana gaata hua wapas soney chala gaya....

Raat Kali Ek Khwab Mein, Aur Galey Ka Haar Hui..

Kahan hain Qayamati nazarwaale?

2005-06-10T02:00:00.000-07:00

After MSC's "chapu" intro, and Nandan's "mast" description of the well informed Japanese, it is time for the rest, or, at least, some of the less constrained denizens of the 4Bottom family to say something. We started out as 14 heads, lost one to the wing opposite, and then, in my opinion, have lost one more in the past two years. Right Shukla? (That is a red herring.)

What is it chaps? Work? Wife? Better taste? To paraphrase Shylock: "Do us four not work? When we type, do our fingers not hurt". Ok, I don't work, but the other three do.

By the way, I think there should be a 4Bot Translator permanently on the side, so that the verbally uninitiated can appreciate our lingua franca, and not go "What in the name of Jesus' middle finger is 'chapu'?". Any, suggestions? volunteers?

Daaaaa Niiiii

2005-06-09T06:15:00.000-07:00

Haan to is ajeeb o gareeb zamane me jab Pataudi is on a run, and Advani does not know where he is standing....
This initiative by DIS (I know DIL is daughter in law or Dad in Law, still trying to make something good of DIS), is a fine distraction from www.samachar.com.

Blog ki meri aaj ki paribhasha hai... "Khabarein jo aap padhna chaahein..."

Kal do Japani bandon ke saath mai aur ek aur desi, ek Indian restaurant me gaye the... ab is restaurant me kuchh badhiyaa quality ki Hindi sikhaane ki kitaabein thee.... badhiyaa se matlab, comics jaisee, chitrakaari bhari hui...(these guys can read verbose stuff, but cannot learn much, they need drawings to make any mark).

Dono lage masti maarne, ek ne kitaab uthaaee, aur khud ki or ishaara kar ke bola "Ameer" aur phir doosre ki or ishaara karke bolaa "Gareeb", apni or ishaara karke bolaa "Samajhdaar" aur doosre ki or ishaara kar ke bolaa "Moorakh"...

aise hi chaltaa raha... "Taaqatwar"-"Kamzor", "Furteela"-"Sust","Naya"-"Puraana" and so on and on....all this they were saying in thier typical Japanese accent, (unnecessary stress on vowels, as there is no concept of consonants in Japanese)
they seemed to be enjoying it...thoroughly. Then suddenly he said - "DaaaaaNiiiiiiii" and emphatically pointing to the other "Maaaaa Khiiiiiiii Chooooosu"

It took me a while before I could stop laughing and concentrate on the tandoori taang in my dish.

Now A Full Splash

2005-06-09T03:59:00.000-07:00

Tested waters, now a full plunge shall be taken. For introduction, we must let the readers know that this is a group blog. We are the erstwhile inhabitants of a nondescript wing, in the longish vestibules of Hall # III, Indian Institute Of Technology, Kan(hi)pur.

Nondescript it was till 24th of July, 1996. Then descended a band of fourteen which gave that first-turn-left-corridor a new identity. The 4Bot. It bustled with activity, and jostled with the hurly & burly of the times. Remember, all of them were just next door blokes - all different colours - but there combined potential energy was awesome.

There was a just-missed-throughout-ten-pointer with a killer smile, a true blood engineer with a flute, a cultural secretary with terrific brain speed, a festival coordinator with acute sharpness, a computer-hacker turned disciplinary-probatory with an incredible wit, a philosopher surrounded by girls, a practical businessman on whom you can rely your life on, a genius with the books, an intellectual in love with grammar, a brain wizard with a twisted tongue, a short memory machine, a through gentleman with OLQs, and a chat server host.

In short, they ruled the campus. Now, many of them don't rule their lives, but spark is there. That wing has been long left, but identity retained. This blog is launched without much fanfare, but is intended to keep the mast of 4bot high.

Life has completed full circle and its that July of 1996 again. Rewind.

Further information

2005-06-09T03:36:00.000-07:00

I should mention that whenever you want to change something in the blog, i.e., do something other than post you have to logon as admin. The login and password have been e-mailed to members, but in case you forget, do ask me. This was done to separate the composite personality of the blog from the idividuality of the post.

So, when filling in something in "About me" log in as admin.

later laddies.

members

2005-06-09T03:23:00.000-07:00

Each member is encouraged to put down something in the "About me" section. This is not really about the member, but rather what he thinks makes a person a 4botty.

So, put down a couple of movies that you think a 4botty must like, a couple of songs that he must like, a line or two describing what a 4botty is like. etc. etc.

Do you understand me?

Don't describe yourself, but a 4Botty. Your posts will be individual, but the blog's identity will be composite. Kapisch?

Testing

2005-06-09T02:42:00.000-07:00

The vanguard of 4Bot is testing waters with a nimbly inserted overgrown toenail.