Posted in Pictures Desi

Lockdown Watch: Recommended Flicks

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Updated: April 29, 2020.

Watched ‘Lunch Box’ this evening in memory of the fine actor Irrfan Khan. I remember him from ‘Life of Pi’ and ‘Talvar’ and of course ‘The slumdog millaionaire.’ His role in Talvar that I watched once in flight made me change my opinion on the notorious (real life) Delhi murder case. Even today’s picture was such a gem. Irrfan’s character so original like the script. Well crafted. No other actor could have fit in.  Just too perfect. That’s what I was thinking.

Mother Goddess cherrypicks the best always from Her Garden.

***********************************

India is on total lockdown since mid March except for essential services.

How do most of us spend our time.

Watching pix in tv, Netflix and Prime of course. Besides cooking, cleaning, mopping, washing, drying that is.

I am on a picture-watching spree as well. I recommend the following Mallu pix (based in Kerala) plus some Tamil films.

MUST WATCH. You will learn the difference between third rate Bollywood and true and original/authentic Indian cinema which is regional,  that way. I just can’t stand Hindi pictures, sorry. To me, Hindi filmdom died with Sanjeev Kumar, Rajesh Kanna, Vinod Mehra and Shashi Kapoor. I miss the charm of Hindi films of the ’70s when Dharmendra and Amitabh Bachchan were the heartthrobs of ladies. Now I feel like throwing up looking at Kareena Kapoor and co. Can’t get more gross.

All the same, the south Indian films have been getting better and better. Tamil cinema of the 70s was matchless and far ahead of times. Groundbreaking pictures were made. Heavy subjects. Please catch ‘Apoorva Ragangal’ starring a very young Kamal Hasan and Rajni Kanth and Sri Vidya in black & white, in K Balachander’s direction, in Amazon Prime. Comes with subtitles. But knowing Tamil sure helps. Because certains idioms and puns have to be heard in local language.

Growing up on south Indian films, I can hardly stand the hollow pictures churned out by Bollywood. With superficial heroes. Heroes shaving their chests ugh omg!!! Rajni Kanth and Chiranjeevi may be overrated superstars down south, but they are a mere 10% of south Indian film scene. The rest, you have to discover. The magic called Indian cinema can work wonders for you,

I will post the flicks that I have watched since lockdown. Highly and heavily recommended:

  1. Trance  (Mallu)
  2. Charlie (Mallu)
  3. Driving Licence (Mallu) (good)
  4. Anveshanam (Mallu)
  5. Uyarae (Mallu)
  6. Lunch Box (Hindi)
  7. Silsila (Hindi)
  8. Ghar (Hindi)
  9. Kumbalangi Nights (Mallu) (sweet)
  10. Ayyappanum Koshiyum (Mallu) (the best best best, go for it)
  11. Amar Prem (Hindi)
  12. Vikruthi (Mallu) (good)
  13. Thappad (Hindi)
  14. Lift Boy (Hindi) (good)
  15. Kabhi Kabhi (Hindi)
  16. Anand (Hindi)
  17. Captain Philips (Hollywood)
  18. Avatar (watched a 1000 times)
  19. Choti si baath (Hindi)(sweet)
  20. Kaadhalum Kadandhu Pogum (Thamizh)
  21. Nadigaiyar Thilagam (biopic Tamil)
  22. Khatta Meetha (Hindi) (sweet)
  23. Padman (Hindi) (unmissable)
  24. One Child Nation (documentary)
  25. Helen (Mallu)
  26. Unda (Mallu) (one of the best)
  27. Badla (Hindi)
  28. Sui Dhaaga (Hindi) (one of the best)
  29. Life in a metro (Hindi)
  30. Wild wild country (documentary) (Netflix)
  31. To Let (Tamil)
  32. Varane Avashyamund (Mallu)
  33. Chandana – the daughter of the Elephant whisperer (Sinhalese) (documentary)(for elephant/wildlife lovers) (Prime)
  34. Mahout: the Great Elephant Walk (Documentary) (Prime)
  35. Mom (Hindi)
  36. Palm trees in the snow
  37. Visaranai (Tamil) (violence content)
  38. Sillu Karuppatti (Tamil) (sweet, unmissable)
  39. Rajnigandha (sweet)
  40. Shakuntala Devi (Hindi) (by far the best, best, best)
  41. Sufiyum Sujathayum (Mallu)
  42. Aakaashantinte Niram (Mallu) (slow pace)
  43. Good news (Hindi)
  44. Parineeta (Hindi)
  45. Stories by Rabindranath Tagore (Netflix)
  46. A suitable boy (Netflix)
  47. Soorarai Potru (Tamil) (inspired by true story)
  48. Koob surat (Hindi)
  49. Masaba Masaba (Netflix)

In my watchlist:

  1. Bangalore days (Mallu)
  2. Super Deluxe (Tamil)
  3. Joseph (Mallu)
  4. Lucifer (Mallu)
  5. Thanmathra (Mallu)
  6. Hindi Medium (Hindi)
  7. Anjaam Pathira (Mallu)
  8. Maheshinde Prathikaram (Mallu)
  9. Thannir mathan dinangal (Mallu)
  10. Thondi muthalum drikshashiyum (Mallu)
  11. Pranjiyettan and the saint (Mallu)
  12. Nandhanam (Mallu)

Other Tamil flicks I recommend: (no Art/Award film):

  1. Papanasam (2016)
  2. Sindhu Bhairavi (1985)
  3. Anbe Sivam (2000s)
  4. Saivam (recent past)
  5. Vinnai Thaandi Varuvaayaa (2000s)
  6. 96 (2018)
  7. Kaadhal (2000s)
  8. Asuran (caution: violence content) (latest)
  9. Kalyana Agadhigal (1980s)
  10. Poove Poochoodavaa (1980s)
  11. Autograph (2000s)
  12. Pirivom Sandhippom (2000s)
  13. Aval oru thodarkadhai (1970s) (b&w)
  14. Avargal (1970s) (b&w)
  15. Apoorva Ragangal (1970s) (b&w) (print not good)
  16. Aval Appadi Thaan (1070s) (b&w)
  17. Oru Nadigai Nadagam Paarkiraal (1970s) (b&w)
  18. Sila Nerangalil Sila Manidhargal (1970s) (b&w)Thanneer Thanneer (1980s)
  19. Raja Parvai (1980-81)
  20. Thunai (1980s)
  21. Keladi Kanmani (1990s)
  22. Kumki
  23. Thillana Mohanaambal (never tire of this classic) (1950s) (eastman colour)

After watching these, let me know why we need Hollywood at all. None of these come under Art film category. Rather, box office hits. Indian regional films can be real good. Sensitive and sensible portrayal of characters. Screenplay and direction a cut above the rest. Great editing with class cinematography. For the art of story telling, you only have to watch ‘Charlie.’ We don’t make sci-fis here sorry. We live in the present, logical world. Not imaginary, illusory. South movies not to be judged with Bollywood eyes. Let me say this, most of the nice and agreeable Hindi pictures have been remakes from south. But I do love mega movies of Bollywood like Padmaavat, not denying. For relaxation at home without headache, for making you pause and think and self-reflect, to be at peace with yourself, to feel good about yourself – you need the south Indian pictures. Bollywood to me mostly is junk. There have been some nice, thoughtful ones like those of Vidya Balan for instance, but a vast majority is utter crap. I am used to watching tanned mustached unruly Tamil heroes with dusky oily haired heroines because, that is how my folks are. I can’t palate the ‘Zindagi na milegi dho barah’ nonsense sorry. It is not my world. I will never belong there.

Posted in Political

Dignity denied at death: Dr Simon Hercules

The neurosurgeon who died of Covid-19 in Chennai was refused burial in the Christian cemetery in Kilpauk and was later buried in a Hindu crematorium in Ayanavaram. Media in India never reported the whole truth. The  media as usual tried to whitewash the incident of attack on ambulance drivers etc., generalizing the attackers as ‘Tamils.’ No mention of the community involved. Like ‘single source’ Tableegi Jamaat, the communal identity of the christian attackers who refused the noble soul a burial in their burial ground was omitted in the mention.

Attack on medical fraternity is unfortunate and India has history on this.

https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/how-dr-simon-hercules-who-died-covid-19-chennai-was-denied-dignity-death-122947?fbclid=IwAR3xv4wuosp3cgxQWwTSrizrD4xVDaIeQWFcD0tnqHtAkEn6sy1QGbxA1ls

This is from a Facebook post:

Anish S Naidu to Dumeels

சொந்த மதமே ஏற்கவில்லை ஆனால் இந்துமதம் ஏற்றது

கிறிஸ்துவர் கல்லறையில் புதைக்க எதிர்ப்பு இந்துக்களின் இடுகாட்டில் புதைக்கப்பட்டார்

இந்துக்கள் யாரும் எதிர்க்கவில்லை

நேற்று கொரானா நோய் தாக்கியதில் மறைந்த டாக்டர். சைமன் அவர்களின் உடல் கீழ்பாக்கம் கிருஸ்தவ கல்லறையில் புதைக்க கூடாது என கிறிஸ்தவர்கள் ஆர்ப்பாட்டம் செய்த காரணத்தினால் டாக்டர் உடலானது அயனாவரம், வேலங்காடு இந்துக்களுக்கான இடுகாட்டில் புதைக்கப்பட்டார்.

அவருடைய ஆத்மா சாந்தி அடையட்டும் அனைவரும் பிரார்த்திப்போம்😥😥😥😥

Finally this son came home. That is how i feel. You can be anything you think, but you are Hindu by race. Hindu Dharma will never abandon you. It is okay, we are proud to have you Dr. Simon. For the selfless service you rendered and for martyring your life in the first line of defence fighting the coronavirus.

Source of this news:

Posted in Pictures Desi

Review: Trance (Malayalam)

Must Watch!

Anwar Rasheed film, acid biting truth. What is happening in India today, what is happening in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and not just the southern states but in the entire country… this mass hysteria, mass christian missionary conversion funded by the foreign church… the christian mafia owning most of Indian media trying to undermine Indian democratic process especially our general elections with planted and/or bought-over intellectuals, cultivated liberals and left wingers (Award wapsi for instance), with the church as the largest real estate owner in Hindu majority India… etc., etc… This must have been corrected right about the time of India’s independence from the British in 1947. Why is Modi winning. Precisely for this reason. The Hindus of India have finally woken up. Some sections still need a rude kick in their groins to rouse them from their dangerous stupor of ignorance.

The miracle aspect in ‘Trance’ is just the tip of the ice berg really. Catholicism/Christianity today is the biggest selling business-trade and No.1 global mafia. I am aware of this universal fraud for decades now, which is why I don’t subscribe to CRY, UNICEF etc., etc., not even PETA. Every damn single charity like them is a facade hiding missionary propaganda and black money. The masses, especially Indian and African are the scapegoats. How deep this cancer has penetrated into India is mindboggling. From tribal belts in the deep to urban centers on the surface, the evangelical mission/ conversion mafia network is far reaching with its deadly tentacles. At par or even worse than Islamic terrorism. In truth, both the Abrahmic folds are equally lethal. Such a greed! Acquisitions and more acquisitions. Is this all they are after.

Show me one another democratic secular nation (not being inherently christian) where this nonsense is permissible. What is happening in India today is human rights violation of highest order. Bribing and emotionally blackmailing for conversion, trapping the hapless in vicious debts funded by the church (this is true of the lower middle classes of Hindu society), unaudited undisclosed fundings from foreign NGOs, tax evasions,… and more than all the privilege to play the minority card and your whim and fancy to manipulate the majority Hindu in India! This is christianity of you!

Hats off to the Trance team for unmasking the true face of Christianity at least as far as India is concerned. I got to watch in person once, a Filipino catholic prayer. I don’t want to reveal where. I happened to be a guest somewhere in Middle East a few years back. A group of girls started praying. First it started with mild prayers – like a plea. Like a loud conversation with god (!), now that itself shook me to the core. Then the momentum built up. And then the crescendo reached a peak as if the girls were possessed as they demanded and screamed and shouted at god whatever!!! To the extent that I started panicking! Omg, in Hindu Dharma we we sing, we dance by way of prayer but i have never witnessed any tamasha or horror show like this! I grew scared of christianity (as I am of Islam always) right then and felt a relief i was not part of this kind of scheme. My mother worked as a teacher in a catholic institution. I am not totally unfamiliar with church. Upto my 13th year, I was a regular visitor to my mother’s convent chapel. We lit candles during Christmas. But that never made us any less Hindu. Never did I feel any bonhomie with Christ. More like a ritual to me. My faith in Hindu Dharma has been that strong and unwavering. Even as a kid, I remember not trusting Jesus!!! Our prayers were more symbolic. My mother had her share of health woes. We never knew they were grave enough to kill her in a young age. But one thing I remember her telling us was, her catholic convent nuns kept calling her to miracle healing meetings. Yes, even in late 1970s and early ’80s, these meetings happened. We used to laugh it off. We thought of this more like a pest, and we shrugged off the invites. And yes again, we were invited as family to these mass gatherings or healing sessions. My mother was an extremely pious practising Hindu. At the same time she would light a candle in her convent chapel. Like more out of respect than faith. Her catholic colleagues hardly understood that kind of sentiment.

It was only as the years, then decades rolled that I became aware what a conceited web of lies and fraud this christian missionary work is. Brainwashing the unsuspecting. If it has to get to that, they wouldn’t rule out even hypnotizing/mesmerizing the gullible. Many times in my life i have been accosted by evangelists in market thoroughfare or at bus stops or at supermarkets or whatever asking me to spare them a few minutes or accompany them to church so that they could tell me about Jesus Christ. Of course they do it to all Hindus and we grin and bear this atrocious nuisance. It was never my intention to abuse their God, but I always took the opportunity to berate their son of god to them just to drive home a point. I wanted to give them back exactly what they dished out to others. I have been bombarded with Bibles by way of unsolicited mail. Happens to all Indians. Only Hindus sorry. Christian missionaries would open the front gate and walk in our house asking us to convert. They don’t even leave our temples free. In front of the temples, they put up speakers and tell us we are worshiping the satan – i mean, our Hindu Gods. Yes, only in front of Hindu temples, never in front of mosques. You know what will happen if they would only approach any muslim for conversion. Yes, this is India for you. Despite Modi, this is still going on nonstop. Modi blocked the foreign NGO funding for conversions, but the story is different now. One comes to learn that, micro funding to individual christian accounts is still happening in entire India to outsmart Modi’s moves. These christian predators are simply unstoppable.

You just have to follow the Facebook page ‘Noconversion’ to take a look at the Trance like mega meetings taking place along the length and breadth of India to turn this majority Hindu nation to christian. In fact, they have a name for it ‘the Joshua project.’ India is unfinished business for them.

Funny, the christians want to make India christian, and the muslims want to make India shariah country. Joshua project or Ghazwa Hind? These blood sucking abrahamics have the entire world under their thumb, but that is not enough for them. They want now to possess the land of Dharma. They will go to any extreme to see that one of these two monstrous belief systems of theirs is planted in this country uprooting Dharma. Never. Not in a million, million years will that happen. Just see Wuhan. The coronavirus. I am a firm believer, but i believe in Dharma not in the Abrahamic. Never. Dharma will re-establish itself. Dharma needs no fake propaganda or territorial expansion compulsion like Islam or Christianity so desperately seek to survive. Both these have expanded by destroying native faiths, by erasing native roots. They have this urge to wipe the original always and super impose themselves over natives – which is not true of Hindu Dharma.

In the Trance film, the miracle meetings have focused only on fake healing miracles. One major aspect was missing: that of conversion.

Accepted, as such the film is lengthy and can’t go on over this.

Fahd Fazil is an outstanding actor, i grew up watching his father’s directorial delights in Tamil cinema like ‘Poove poochooda vaa.’ Fazil was a gentle director. Nazriya Nazim is as beautiful and youthful as ever. I have never had an iota of respect for Gautam Menon who I strongly believe is a crypto christian himself, involved with mass conversions in Tamil Nadu. His targets are reportedly Tamil cinema actors, etc. How far this is true is not verifiable but somehow, I believe the grapevine reported in social media. Somehow just despise him, don’t know why. As a copycat director who steals from Hollywood, he never impressed me somehow. I want to believe the worst of him!

Mallu pictures are a class apart. So realistic. Sad, they don’t have all India audience. South Indian films are a cut above the rest of the crap. Especially the third rate Bollywood pictures churned out without a soul these days. Resul Pookkutty who won BAFTA, Academy and Oscar awards with AR Rahman for his sound effects was wasted in the picture. Who was he even roped in.

The honesty of Trance is surprising. So very gutsy. Kerala has had nun rape cases in recent past and the criminally accused pastor has been let off the hook. A nun even killed herself. The church in Kerala is all powerful. Communists hide uncomfortable truths.

This kind of honesty also kinds of troubles me at the same time. So here i am directly challenging the Trance team. How many times you mention Jesus so openly and boldly in the picture. How did the picture even go beyond the censor board? Is this an edited version. If so, how about the full length. Do you the Trance team have the same unwavering grit and honesty in you to shout out Allah and make a film on terror? On Love Jehad in Kerala? On the two Hindu/Christian girls brainwashed and converted, and now in Afghan jail after joining a global network of terror? Or even on TJ currently hogging the headlines for their misdeeds? Real life stories. Any takers? Will Fahd Fasil do the lead role. Will Anwar Rasheed direct such a script. Shame on you guys if you do not have it in you to wash your own dirty linen in public.  Or are we looking at one more cowardly hypocrite Aamir Khan here. Wonder who financed ‘Trance.’ The source is Middle East???

So is all your show of bravery and heroism limited to only criticizing Hindu or Christian folds? Why do you take us for granted? Because we have the ability to look up the mirror and laugh at ourselves? We are literate? We are sensible? We are responsible? You know what is left unsaid.

So we have to give it the Christians and Hindus of India for receiving such pictures with a standing ovation and grand success. Box office hit. Just imagine a picture on Islam on similar lines, you will know where we score on civilization and culture. On even democracy and secularism. You will also know of the true colours of the communist parties.

Indian christians may be proselytizing like prostituting, yet they are an educated lot. They don’t pose dangers to Indian society. To Indian christians, India comes first like for Indian hindus. Which is why we hindus grudgingly tolerate their nonsense. Can’t vouch for such a trust on indian muslims, sorry.

‘Trance’ has been a great picture with its shortfalls. May be award winning material for future. Must be made tax free for screening all across India. This christian missionary fraud needs to be exposed. Soul vultures feeding on the most vulnerable amongst us. If Jesus Christ wants to convert you to christianity, then he is a shrewd businessman, not god. Jesus Christ is not Stayfree or Whisper dear christians, please don’t try to market him door to door!

I have known western christians and arab muslims. These originals are not at all as fanatical or nonsensical as the Asian christians or muslims are. Respects for them.

 

Posted in Political

The Game Changer : HYDROXYCHOLOROQUINE (HCQ)

What is Hydroxychloroquine??? HCQ is nothing but our local improved quinine, the very common Malarial prescription drug in India, mass-produced by BPCW (Bengal Pharmaceutical & Chemical Works Ltd., founded by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray in the year 1892), a loss-making government undertaking on the verge of collapse. The supposed wonder-drug for Covid-19 shot to fame when the US President Donald Trump dubbed it ‘the game changer.’ India previously had ordered a ban on export of the drug, as the covid-19 cases shot up in the country. Trump threatened with retaliation against India if the drug would not be shipped to America.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/trump-threatens-retaliation-if-india-turned-down-his-request-on-malarial-drug-coronavirus-hydroxychloroquine-vaccine-covid-19/story-c1aIImaEGKw893uO01bVQJ.html?fbclid=IwAR1FHNGlJ0pX_IDVpB85AFi31nIOE2dTTNfy4GrsJPJb1rbjsUk5htShZEU

Whether India gave in to US pressure or stood to bargain in the process is a billion dollar question. India is the world’s 9th largest pharmaceutical exporting country. India has been a major exporter of life-saving pharma drugs to poorer SAARC countries in the neighbourhood like Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Maldives and Pakistan whose interests come first too. India on April 7th, partially lifted the ban on export of HCQ that has brought relief to a galaxy of nations looking to India for urgent supply.

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/india-to-supply-hcq-to-nepal-bhutan-and-bangladesh/articleshow/75075658.cms

Over 30 world nations including Middle Eastern countries and European, have requested India for HCQ for fighting the Novel Coronavirus. How to keep up the supply in critical times like these?

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/readersblog/the-keen-observer/trump-vs-modi-pharma-feud-facts-history-part-1-11595/?fbclid=IwAR2bB94uMovdYiAvYnqDYDLxBOF3MuczCXcBSs-RL9E3qVwA_EPcm7Ns7aw

 

How much of this tweet is true is worth debating but knowing what a hard bargainer Modi is, India won’t be the sore loser.

In any case, humanitarian considerations come first. At the same time, there is also a strong case for self-interest which is entirely justifiable. The balancing act of holding stock for the 1.3 billion heads in India and still exporting the vital prescription drug world over can be nerve wracking. To be handled with tactful diplomacy. HCQ export to SAARC nations by India is by way of aid pledged by India to the neighbourhood. India pledged US$10 million to SAARC to fight the coronavirus in Indian subcontinent comprising the seven SAARC nations.

India pledges $10 million as SAARC leaders join hands to fight coronavirus

Shipment to Sri Lanka:

India sends Sri Lanka life-saving medicines, Rajapaksa thanks Modi for ‘warm gesture’

Following the footsteps of the USA, many more like the Brazil, Israel and Malaysia have requested India for supply of HCQ. Brazil belongs with India in BRICK block of nations. Brazil, while seeking life-saving HCQ from India, went to the extent of quoting from Ramayana, Hanuman, the Hindu Monkey God, who uprooted the medicinal Sanjeevani hill from the Himalaya and flew it down to Sri Lanka for curing Lakshmana, breathing fresh life onto him!

https://www.news18.com/news/india/now-brazil-invokes-lord-hanumans-sanjivani-quest-to-request-india-for-malaria-drug-for-covid-19-treatment-2569175.html?fbclid=IwAR2gDssErDI_S0heU-sobmEP62w2NFZIor8Lb5__UDmy9HgSL0RAsLpo8_I

Malaysia, once a friendly nation, turned hostile after inclining to pro islamic-terrorist ideals, shielding Zakir Naik who is wanted in India and siding with Pakistan on Kashmir and other sensitive issues. Bilateral relations between India and Malaysia are at an all time low, thanks to their arrogant and dimwit (ex) PM Mahathir Mohammad. India tackled Malaysia with Palm oil diplomacy already. Now Malaysia has requested India for HCQ for fighting the coronavirus.

https://www.wionews.com/india-news/malaysia-requests-hydroxychloroquine-from-india-291304?fbclid=IwAR3LIYCXsRNzYmlMdnrFf1jnpcA9rNPd-1nReVrmJcQylhfyqPUUCQVkuKA

https://www.wionews.com/india-news/netanyahu-thanks-india-pm-modi-for-delivering-hcq-to-israel-291666?fbclid=IwAR1ovCWNG0rztDa5HUPLsAn_Ub3Yqf00Lv5TEOBsEjL5e7oY82uEhkkk0sA

Israel thanked India for shipping HCQ last thursday. Until now, HCQ is viewed as the best possible cure for Covid-19.

India will supply HCQ to even Pakistan if there is a request. Five Indian Army special officers were martyred in cross-border terror attack by Pakistan in Kupwara only yesterday. Right in the times of coronavirus lockdown worldwide. There is no data on HCQ shipment to Pakistan as quoted by media sources. India exports paracetamol and HCQ to all SAARC countries including Pakistan which also imports lifesaving drugs from India. (However Pak welcome to procure adulterated HCQ and fake and contaminated corona Testing kits from their only ally China. That shall save India some valuable resources).

https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/health/leading-by-example-india-to-export-hydroxychloroquine-help-friends-and-adversaries-alike-amid-corona-crisis/1921229/

No need to thank India, President Trump. We are doing our duty. There is unprecedented demand for HCQ. India has to take care of our 1.3 billion as well which explains the regulation on export of HCQ. UK joined the US, Brazil and Sri Lanka thanking India for the timely export of HCQ for covid-19 cure.

https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/india/trump-thanks-modi-twice-for-allowing-export-of-drug-to-fight-covid-19-1.70889742

https://www.republicworld.com/world-news/uk-news/uk-thanks-india-for-critical-paracetamol-export-amid-covid-19-pandemic.html

HCQ still has to be administered with care as it exhibits proven side-effects. It is mostly meant for health care workers who are constantly exposed to coronavirus infection when treating the Covid-19 patients. Until vaccines may arrive, the HCQ is here to stay.

Hopefully, like Hanuman brought the Sanjeevani in Ramayana breathing fresh life into Lakshmana, India can save millions of lives around the world with the export of HCQ. Many pranaams to our Sanathana Dharma that enables us to come to the aid of world humanity faced with existential crisis like now. Take care, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji! India loves you and needs you.

Posted in Political

Crisis Management.

Crises test the mettle of a man like none other. How one handles pressure, stress, crisis defines him/her. Crisis management underscores the maturity levels in both individuals and nations. Covid-19 is the ultimate reality check for nations. For once, our list of priorities is subject to change. Material aspirations are going for a toss.

So much of gyaan over the Novel Coronavirus.

I can make a gist from what i have read so far in social media and I can add here a few of my own.

  • The power center of the world has shifted from the US to China.
  • China will not care whatever happens to the world. Neither will the chinese feel guilty. And they will do it again without remorse!
  • The healthiest among us are the poorest who can survive against all odds.
  • The wealthiest are the most vulnerable.
  • The last two points apply for nations as well. Poorest nations are more resistant to the coronavirus over overtly sterile and wealthier first world nations.
  • One cannot eat and drink oil and gas. Tight slap to the rich and arrogant Arabs. With not an ounce of any proficiency or sweat, their sense of entitlement to wealth and luxury is appalling. Twisted ideology. The Arab highhandedness directly fans bloody terrorism around the world. This is why it is important to quell the Arab dominance that is made possible only with oil and gas. How long can this status quo exist. Until the fossil fuel runs out within another 20-30 years maximum. Equations are bound to change forever after that, but then Covid 19 is like a teaser already for these badly scared middle eastern nations.
  • Neither can one buy health with the greenbacks. Tight slap to the economically dominant and exploiting first world nations. World can do without your unimportant inventions and discoveries. Laidback lifestyle like in the present lockdown period is better.
  • The volatility and vulnerability of the stock markets and banking institutions and the very basic medical infrastructure in most advanced nations implies that NONE IS INVINCIBLE. Everyone is replaceable. Everybody will be substituted. Collapse of entire health care system in a few European countries like Italy exposes the underbelly of their much touted economic model.
  • Hopefully the warmongering nations have learned their lessons. If only you can make more of Hydroxychloroquine than F16s, world would have been a far better place to live in. Less war and more peace please. Today’s Islamic terrorism had a precedent in yesterday’s Christian wars of crusades. Today’s terrorists are doing nothing that Hitler did not do to Jews or America did not do to Japan.
  • Advanced first world nations that boast of state of art medical research laboratories and five star medical institutions may still not have a supporting/matching system of emotionally tougher or balanced medical fraternity. That precocious gift is reserved for physicians who attend medical schools in third world countries where OPs alone may register at least 500-1000 patients in every single government medical college-hospital forenoon and afternoon. This is why Indian medicos are a global success story. You have to get down on your hands and knees to treat and cure patients if you are a good physician. You have to check the pulse to diagnose without machine help. This is human expertise that comes with practice alone. This is as important as inventing vaccines and new pharmaceutical formula in sophisticated labs in western countries.
  • Government medical hospitals are our lifeline. A big lesson here even for India. I have written a lot about why I am principally against NEET for PG medical admissions. Why service quota is a must for PG seats/superspeciality admissions in our medical colleges. If Ambani and Adani are to take over our rural health care (which can one day happen), then that will see the collapse of India. Increased chance for this scenario when service quota is not favoured for PG medical admissions. Service based reservation for PG seats to atleast 50% is a must. Hopefully, the Indian government will stop following the American model in everything and do an analysis on this. PG seats to reserved category in far flung areas ensured that the medicos went back servicing to their hometowns in the past. One area where reservation has proved to be of maximum benefit to the society at large.
  • Meat does not make one necessarily stronger. Immunity can from curry food and vegetarian cuisine loaded exotic spices and natural minerals and vitamins.
  • Prevention is definitely better than cure. In case you miss the bus, still better late than never.
  • Strong and able leadership can work wonders for a nation. India is fortunate to have Modi leading us at this time of crisis. Decisive leadership can make a huge difference and can impact on the destiny of a nation. War time or peace time, statesmanship can go a long way in nation building. In India’s case, whether it is dealing with Balakot or with China on Bhutan border or on removal of article 370 on Kashmir or now when it comes to handing the coronavirus crisis, we Indians are grateful that our PM Modi is in charge. I wouldn’t trust the nation in any other hands. Vote wisely.
  • The poorest always have the biggest heart. Be it individuals or nations. India still helps its neighbourhood and poorest nations with free medical supplies. We bill only America and Europe! My maid, my autowallah, my temple priest – everyone I approached to help refused help. In fact, they in turn help others who they can.
  • Being the big bro, comes with responsibilities. Respects for the way India took control and initiative with SAARC. Leadership in peacetime crisis demands more maturity and statesmanship and diplomacy in my half-baked opinion (!)
  • Never be ashamed of learning from the experienced, even if it is your worst adversary. Never be ashamed to seek help if it is life saving. You have to live first to sustain your big ego.
  • Civic administration and government departments are like the nervous systems of nations. In India, provisions and monetary help were distributed at lightening speed before the masses could get restless.
  • Farmers are life givers like healthcare workers. How many farmer suicides does India record every year. Not a single farmer suicide must be allowed to happen in future. Without agriculture and our marginal and small farmers, where will we be. My heart bleeds at the senseless spate of farmer suicide that is taking a big toll in rural India.
  • MNCs directly responsible for ruining rural India and Indian agriculture and even our health care system. No more privatization please. Our railways and national carriers and rural health facilities must belong with government.
  • Healthcare workers and sanitation workers and farmers and our police force are the real life heroes who we ignore in everyday life. Sanitation workers do not even command dignity of labour in our mindset sadly.
  • Filmy heroes are big ZEROES. So are the sports persons and other page 3 celebrities. None of these count in the times of crisis.
  • Covid 19 is one great universal equalizer – we have to give it to virus.
  • Medical insurance is necessary.
  • Government medicare in India is by far the best. No waiting queue in India even for open heart surgery or kidney transplant or knee replacement and the costs are a fraction compared to that in America or Europe. Most Indians do not realize how gifted and better placed we are.
  • Our wealth can dwindle in matter of minutes and we can do nothing about it. I saw my stucks crumble in matter of days. Nothing is safe that way. Bank deposits or stocks or gold or immovable assets … nothing matters when your very life is at stake. Liquidity is anyday the most prudent financial option. Cash is cash and no card or ATM can replace hard cash ever.
  • Kirana stores are our lifeline again. Yeah, that corner shop in our street. I buy my daily needs there. I am now ordering online because my kirana store owner has finally downed his shutters and i am left with no supply.
  • We can survive without fast foods. Burger and chips are what they are: trash. If eat it , then don’t blame your health care system.
  • In India, there is a dire necessity to check the growth of the Biriyani joints. Unhealthy spread of nonvegetarian food habits in a predominantly vegetarian nation.
  • Homefood can be nutritional and tasty at the same time. Homefood grows on you. You have to habituate yourself with homefood and once you get addicted, you can’t ever appreciate restaurant food. I have restaurant food not because I love it but because I want to take a break from my kitchen sometimes. There is simply no comparison between homefood and restaurant food.
  • What is this processed food. We in India do not have that much. We cannot live from packet to packet. I don’t even buy ginger-garlic paste. Everytime I grind it fresh for instance. Forced to buy packed groceries now because of demand situation and unavailability of certain groceries. Only until the lockdown period.
  • Most of us can work from home.
  • Women transform homes into heavens. Family is family. No replacement or substitute for that. Sometimes now in the lockdown I am reminded of the sweet old ’80s when we had no computer or terrorism or even satellite tv.
  • Wildlife is on freerun. After all, we humankind have been the virus all along! Heartening to listen to bird chirps and watch in the media, clippings of wildlife straying into thoroughfare emptied of human presence. How long can this tranquility last. Let our wildlife enjoy this brief respite to their hilt.
  • Nature has a way of restoring balance always. Please let some of us stop reproducing like rats and rabbits, consuming more of the natural resources in the process. A family with 2 kids has the same and equal rights to resources as a family with a dozen kids. 10 buckets of water for instance for both families for a day. Rationing must be on this principle.
  • Sky is clearer and brighter. No polluting vehicular smoke. Pin drop silence.
Posted in Political

Precious Preparation/Sowing/Harvest Time Lost

This post was originally penned last evening. Here is an update today which is heartening:

https://krishijagran.com/agriculture-world/center-take-measures-to-ensure-smooth-harvesting-of-rabi-crop-and-sowing-of-summer-crop-amid-lockdown/

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Original Post:

More than the Covid-19 scare, I am gripped by another fear now: what shall happen to us next year.

India has had bumper harvests last three straight years. We are the world’s largest record food grain producer. World’s No.1 milk producer. We are cashing in presently our yesteryear’s reaping. We are sitting idle right now doing nothing because Corona has forced us in to this tight corner. No other way out.

Govt advises against panic buying, true there is no need to do that so far. Until now groceries have been arriving regularly and every neighbourhood is well supplied. There are adequate stocks of essential medicines and anything and everything you may need for survival. But for how long can this go on. (Booked my LPG refill two days back and got it in 24 hours. Kudos! With a rate reduction, thank you PM Modi!)

Today I heard Sadhguru talking about the impending food crisis once this is over. But even before he talked about this, i’ve been asking my maid whether farm activities are on in rural areas. She is from a village 100 km from Chennai and talks to her folks over phone almost every single day. She said, some farm workers are going to work while others aren’t. Agricultural activity is slack, but can’t say there is nothing happening. Without sales, flowers are withering in sun, without buyers, fresh milk is thrown in thousands of liters to waste. Vegetables and fruits are rotting without reaching markets in towns and cities. No mutton supply as transport is stalled to metros. Chicken and eggs are in good supply. I have a couple of fruit and vegetable vendors wheeling their carts into my street. I use every such opportunity to replenish my grocery stock. However I am aware, we are enjoying the harvests of last season. The new season has not yet begun for us sadly.

As Sadhguru rightly pointed out, this is harvest season in the north, while it is preparation time for the soil in the south. The south harvest was over with Pongal/Sankranthi in January. In fact I was asking about this to my maid who told me that near her place closer to Kanchipuram, small and marginal farmers were going in for short term crops like groundnut and greengram. In Tamil Nadu, from tv news I gathered that the floriculturists were moving over to short term commercial crops. Now neither do we have harvest nor cultivation in progress. So what do we have in store for next year. India is a monsoon dependent country. Time before monsoons (March to May) are very important for sowing and preparation.

I am sure, this scenario is not India specific but is universal. One reason why President Trump has been reluctant to go in for a total lockdown of the US. However, are we left with any other choice.

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/video/liters-of-milk-thrown-in-ponds-drains-during-lockdown-1662003-2020-04-01

https://www.news18.com/news/india/assam-farmers-forced-to-throw-away-thousands-of-litres-of-milk-daily-as-coronavirus-lockdown-hits-dairy-biz-2556577.html

https://www.cnbctv18.com/healthcare/15000-litres-of-fresh-milk-30000-kg-vegetables-thrown-away-what-one-day-lockdown-costs-us-5558981.htm

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/city/bengaluru/thousand-of-litres-of-milk-wasted-in-karnataka/videoshow/74912026.cms

https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2020/apr/03/no-takers-veggies-rotting-at-koyambedu-market-2125034.html

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/veggies-meant-for-export-rot-at-airport/articleshow/69392071.cms

https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-thousands-associated-with-flower-business-in-haryana-hit-hard-by-coronavirus-lockdown/349863

https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Flower-industry-hit-hard-as-pandemic-dries-up-15164257.php

I can go on and on and on.

Yet, let me clarify here, this social distancing, this lockdown is the need of the hour in the interests of a larger cause.

Most hit will be our farmer community whose investments have turned to dust already. Govt of India is doing their best to compensate farmers for their losses. Provisions of rice, wheat, pulses and sugar bags were distributed free in my street PDS under police vigilance. My maid got my share and I asked her to keep the government assistance of Rs.1,000/-. It will go a long way in helping her family have a normal life as her daily wage earner husband is currently unemployed. My regular autowallah called me even as I was thinking about him. I would like to help both these families more but they are very proud people even if poor. Both my maid and my autowallah refused financial aid from me and said, what the government is doing for them is more than enough for them. Extremely proud of these two families. Poor so what. My autowallah saves well and has a robust bank balance. The poorest of India are taken good care of. The corporation wedding hall near my residence now accommodates the homeless who are provided free three square meals a day.

I am yet to contribute to our PM’s fund which i will be doing anytime now.  I am waiting for the initial wave to subside.

To NRI community working and living in Arab countries, there is a cause for concern. Imports of food and dairy products must have trickled down to minimum. Cargo flights may be operating as yet, however when the local markets in the exporting countries do not function, what will be there to ship? I did spot a cargo flight I guess, the lone flight in the skies a couple of days back. Eerie sight! Rich, arrogant nations that thought that anything and everything can be bought over with oil and greenbacks have been taught a unforgettable lesson. It is all becoming one vicious cycle! Finally what will subsist us will be our own good Mother Earth with her gift of Farm Produce.

Someone posted this on social media:

Before the lockdown was announced for 21 days and we guessed what was coming once it was out that PM Modi intended to address the nation, what did we rush to buy and stock:

Food, food and more food.

Nothing else mattered.

None of us rushed to buy gold or diamond or oil or sedans or clothes or branded accessories for that matter.

On the lighter side, a friend posted:

‘My kurtis and saris are begging me to wear them as they pondered, ‘so is she on holiday’

My jeans replied, ‘if she is on holiday, then she would be wearing me! no she is not!’

And then my nightie shot back, ‘oh she works from home and i am on 24 hour duty now!’

Although I laughed loud at this, can’t help thinking on that.

Hopefully normalcy returns soon to our lives.

Having clearer skies and bluer oceans makes me feel good, seeing wildlife and birds have a free run delights my heart yet soon some day, things will be back as they were before.

However I am in no rush to come out of lockdown. Prepared to wait it out.

If a second phase of lockdown has to follow, i am for that too.

My humble plea is that, agricultural activities be exempted from lockdown wherever and whenever possible. With due precaution of course. India feeds not only 1.3 billion heads, but a host of other nations. Dozens of nations live on our food grain export. We can live without their oil and gas. They cannot live without our food and diary.

I look forward to the day I can preen in front of my friends in my new designer sari…  To restore balance, we can have a 24  hour lockdown every sunday in India in my opinion from now on.