Category: Socio-Political-Economic

Posted in Economic

Don’t Please Shrink The Indian Economy…

Posted on by veeskitchen

Covid 19 unleashed the worst in our midst: a deep sense of insecurity over anything.

For one thing, none of us can be sure who it would strike next and to what extent it would be damaging. The corona virus scare is vicious. It is tending to be more and more of a chain reaction since this March when for the first time we had lockdown nationwide and even worldwide. Economy is at its lowest ebb, wave of unemployment surging, crimes spiking, driving men and women alike to frustration and depression.

Natural reaction for the pandemic among us has been to shut ourselves in from shopping, eating out, socializing etc. Northern Indian labour forces have faced criticism down south for years, but this is for the first time that we see a reversal of situation. Now we want them back even after the shameless unorthodox way we packed them back into trains to their villages. As lockdown eases phase by phase, the labourers are not seen returning in a hurry.

Nobody is simply indispensable and nothing is too very important over our own life. Perhaps Assamese and Biharis have decided to subsist on rations of PDS rice bags for the next 1 to 2 years ignoring our invites. Tight slap on those who want checks on labour movements. Now is truly the moment for lazy Tamil buggers to cash in. So what are you waiting for. Why can’t you simply down the shutters of Tasmac outlets and go for packing banians and knickers in Tiruppur textile factories. Why cannot you double up as kitchen and serving staff of our restaurant businesses. What stops you from giving us a nice pedicure in salons or from working the construction sites. Tamil Nadu is reeling under non-generation of income because our Bihari bhaias have deserted us. But for them, our local economy is in total shambles. This is an eye opener to anyone who boasts about regionalism talking petty politics. India is one single entity. Rest of India is waiting for our North East and Bihari, Jharkhand labour force to return to work. I hope never will they be shown disrespect or paid unjustly. I miss the courteous service of our Nepali waiters and the corner shop Momos and Pau Bhajis. Never shy of street food. Born and brought up in good old Madras, immune from anything to everything.

Together we grow, or alone we perish. Businesses continue to stay closed in Chennai even after government allowed relaxations, as the outstate staff are reluctant to resume work at our beck and call. Call center employees were mocked for their listless careers but since these online services now shut shop by 6 pm, cyber crimes spike after business hours when reporting has to wait for until next morning. No service is thus trivial. We have all been part and parcel of the same machinery that was running smooth until very recently. We could be the ubiquitous tiny nail, yet if we fall out of place, our vacuum can be felt by one and all bringing us all to a grand standstill.

This is why, we have keep this machinery of ours lubricated and functioning. The more we idle our mechanism, the more rust will we heap with our inactivity which in turn will take an even longer timeframe to recover and realign.

Let us play our role to keep things flowing, big or small.

To all those who stay away from shopping or eating out, I would plead not to shrink the Indian economy which is slowly coming to a grinding halt. Go out wearing masks, sanitizing your hands and maintaining social distancing. Help the economy expand if you can, in whatever miniscule way you can.

Sheltering overtly can also lower our immunity levels to my layman knowledge. Going out now and then can give you exposure and who knows antibodies, making you immune to the pandemic. So far as I have seen, the least exposed are the first and worst effected by covid 19. Working people and regular shoppers have mild cases even if they catch infections.

In India, numbers are rising because we are 1.3 billion nation. For such a mammoth population, 7 lakh cases is still miniscule considering especially the density of our population. Under 1.6% casualty mostly because of negligence. Covid care is too very good in India as our doctors now have developed practice in treating the viral infection. Very well tackled by both government and private medical centers, if it comes to that. Excellent recovery rate of over 80%. Coronavirus probably has mutated in India and is now like any other common virus, yet I do not want to underplay how devious and vicious it can be to those unfortunate among us.

First of all, let us believe that even if the corona virus gets us, we will be safe. And most importantly, we are saved from this horror for the rest of our lives. That we passed our exams! I know someone in late 70s who is covid survivor after having had major surgeries for last 10 years. My cousins who recovered from covid 19 say, they are relieved that their turn got over! No, do not believe it can return. You are immune for a lifetime if you get it, believe me.

Still Novel Coronavirus is beleived to stay around for another 1 to 2 years with or without vaccines. So should we live this period in fear and foul mood, crushing occupations and lives? Or shall we try to make the world a better place to live in?

  • Call back your house maid if you have dispensed with her services at the onset of corona. Never cut back on the salaries of blue colour workers who make our lives easy.
  • Get your groceries/provisions in the street corner ‘kirana’ stores typically ‘Nadar Kadai’ or ‘Petti kadai’ in Tamil.
  • Wherever/whenever there is a shortfall due to unavailability, procure groceries/provisions online, as much as possible through desi apps. Small vendors are also listed in volumes in multinational online apps, no harm in going for them either. In today’s globalized economy, we cannot lead insulated lives by ourselves. But as much as possible opt for desi apps if you can.
  • If you cannot eat out, you can still get food parcels. Never hesitate. If you stop eating out, the restaurants will cut down on food preparation and serving and kitchen staff. It will take them all the more longer time to open up to full capacity. Your demand generates employment for interstate populations.
  • If you still harbour doubts, order food at least once a week online.
  • If you are hesitant to shop for clothes and other consumer durables etc., in person, order online. Don’t stop shopping because you are not stepping out much. Life will pretty soon return to normalcy. Believe, you will be well alive and kicking to preen in front of your friends in your latest designer clothes. Shoes, bags, watches, clothes, cosmetics or whatever, go for it if you have not had a pay cut.
  • Do not wait to change your tv or automobile. These are big industries that require your patronage. Without customers if they close, thousands will lose work.
  • Use the services of roadside and other tailors, dhobis, auto walas, drycleaners, plumbers, electricians, carpenters and others adopting safety precautions. Employ them as you would under normal conditions in nonpandemic situations. Pay them fair and never bargain. Small traders and service people are most affected due to Covid 19 restrictions, remember.
  • Regularly buy groceries from street vendors. Remember they got food to your table when rest of the world ceased to function.
  • Patronize small professions like that of even temple priests. Every single life is important in our society needing nourishment. Every time you go out do not forget to get fresh flowers from the old lady in front of temples or enjoy tender coconut from the handstand of a coconut seller sweating under the shade of avenue trees.
  • Visit temples but practice corona lockdown safety measures. Your footfall everywhere counts. It means, you are playing your part in oiling the wheels of the Indian economy.
  • Ask the neighbourhood urchin to clean your car. You won’t get corona from him if you maintain safe distance. Sanitize later if you have to. Be courteous to watchmen, civic workers, traffic constables etc., who are working in stressful conditions.
  • Remember small traders, business community and hawkers and sellers constitute the backbone of the Indian economy.
  • One place you can stay away from is Hospitals. Avoid lab testing and opt for home testing. Now this is available in nook and corner of India.
  • If possible unsubscribe from all desi and international news channels and stop buying newspapers. They are nothing but rubbish. Don’t buy whatever the media pedals. Listen to music and read books instead.
  • Shopping malls are still empty. It is safer right now to go for mall shopping. Take advantage of this if you have to . Mall workers need their jobs as well.
  • Remember, right at this moment, every single one around you is under extraordinary stress brought in by the novel coronavirus. Something unprecedented. Not everyone has the same mentral strength to get through this crisis without physical, moral and/or economic support. In whichever way you can, help someone in need. Make a striking difference. It matters.
  • Last but not the least is the role of the health workers in our midst. Standing ovation to them for their tireless services in these hard times. Medicos or paramedics or nursing staff or civic/sanitation workers/janitors or pharmacists, they all are doing a wonderful job in saving our lives endangering their own precious lives. Hats off to them. Let us keep them in our prayers.
  • Not all courses are online. Some friends’ kids who are in medical college have to repeat their year. Let us be sympathetic to these kids. 2020 is not an year to talk about academic achievements or job prospects. Staying alive is the priority.
  • WFH or Work from Home has proved to an effective and ideal solution to many white collar professionals. It can be extended after the Pandemic is over once and for all, to reduce pollution and unnecessary investments in infrastructure, power usage, fuel etc. So not only is this a cost cutting measure, but an evolution in the pattern we work.
  • Covid 19 also has helped some alternate professions to expand: one is that of logistics. Another is packaging industry. Online shopping has touched a peak in the last 6 months and has improved cashless transactions greatly. Whoever was complaining about demonetization and linking of Aadhar-PAN cards and Phone Pe and BHIM/UPI payments is since unheard of lol
  • October-November will see high schools and colleges opening up in India, with the choice to return to the institutions left to students. Nursery, primary and middle school children will be missing one whole academic year. Which is good, take it from me. I homeschooled my son upto his 7th year in Malaysia. I was his first ever proper teacher.
  • The elderly can be miserable. Take time to talk to them and reassure them keeping a tab on their health parameters.
  • Hopefully interstate travel regulations will ease before December in India. From January I hope for international travel restrictions to ease. I am eager and waiting to fly back to my hubby! Yes, the trauma of divided families is indescribable. The stress we undergo is worrying.
  • Top up your health insurance at the same time. Corona or no corona, it is a must. Also add riders to your life insurance if you can.
  • Kal ho na ho…. well, i must not be saying this but enjoy life to the fullest when you can. Let us not wait for that special day to release our new kurta. Today is that day!
  • Fitness should not take a back seat either. At least walk in your terrace if you cannot go for any other workout in gym. Or take advantage of staggered timings of your reopened gym/yoga studio. Online classes also an option
  • Go back to your music lessons, art classes, other hobbies, sporting activities, clubs, cinemas, cafes, get-togethers firmly adhering to Covid 19 safety protocol. Never miss an appointment or opportunity to feel better.
  • With resorts opening, book your holiday adhering to safety measures with respect to covid. Nothing like taking a break in this season!
  • Cutting down on celebrations is happening but better minimize than eliminate festivity bills. Remember, the big fat Indian weddings are essentially great job spinners for people from different walks of life. Now we have sanitation booths in wedding halls/hotels etc. Catering and costumes to florists and jewelry and music bands, everyone can fit in in our gala traditional weddings.
  • Improvise, innovate, do anything that can employ direct and indirect manual labour generating income. Even a fraction of resumption of regularity and normalcy is welcome move. A big shot in the arms of our self-employed and businesses.
  • Keep the cash registers jingling in shops, small trades and businesses, enable cash rotation.
  • Invest in real estate and stocks. Now is the right time for going for long term investment plans. Buyers market.
  • Vaccines are around the corner. Wherever you are, you are safe and you will get it soon. If you are NRI based in Arab countries, rest assured, the oil rich nations will bulk buy the vaccines before rest of the world. If you are in America or Europe, then it means you are residents of nations that value human lives. They will not hesitate vaccinating their denizens in the first instance possible. If you are in India, hahaha, well we will be supplying vaccination shots to rest of the world. Manufacturing labs are ours, so rest assured. Modi ji will make sure that all 1.3 billion of us get a shot as soon as possible. Believe miracles are possible and this magic is what keeps the world going.
  • Meanwhile I enjoyed the videos of peacocks dancing in the highways of Rajasthan and pachyderms walking through the elephant corridors in India, without a care in the world. Covid 19 scare has changed me in many ways as it has affected everyone around me.
  • Grateful for all that life has bestowed on me so far. Absolutely no regrets. Positive thinking only. Positive vibes. Let us get ready to celebrate Navrathri and Diwali in all fanfare and welcome 2021 with a fresh gusto.
  • Indian economy is everyone’s responsibility. Let’s do our bit to the nation. Let’s rebuild India!

Together let us rise and shine!

Posted in Political History

September 17 Contradictions: Coaxis & Convergence

Posted on by veeskitchen

Not only is September 17 the birthday of our beloved Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, it also happens to be the birth anniversary of E V Ramaswamy aka EVR aka Periyar, who spearheaded the Dravidian movement in the 1940s that led to eradication of untouchability in Tamil Nadu. EVR is credited with gaining entry access for millions of dalits into the state temples that held their doors closed to them until then. In short, EVR bestowed the much denied dignity on hundreds of thousands who were stomped over by the upper classes for centuries playing the ‘caste card.’ To most, it is a legal victory. Only to the traumatized and stigmatized community, it is akin to winning a psychological warfare.

To some of us like me, both Periyar and Modi are equally important. Dravidianism may have fizzled out presently just like the Congress party has lost steam over decades. That does not imply that these entities did not play their crucial roles at very important junctures of time, crafting history.

EVR managed to accomplish what none of the so-called Shankaracharyas of India even dared to attempt. To me this is the ultimate ‘Bhakthi’ or even better, ‘Mukthi.’ Bhakthi must stem from empathy and compassion or is it even bhakthi. What is ‘mandir’ but a huge hollow otherwise. Most often I see a total divorce between religiosity and spirituality (realization). To me, the chappal mala thrown by EVR would have been smilingly received as a garland of roses by Lord Raam. That is Ram to me. That is how I perceive Ram. This Ram i know wouldn’t have even wanted the Ayodhya. This is what maketh Ram. Sometimes I wonder why I have to think like this. But then I remember this is also the land of Ramanuja. This is faith to me. This is the dharma that i have come to believe in. I do not respect any culture or ideology that denies fellow humans equality and justice and dignity in the first place. I have written much on this. I trust our Sanatana Dharma has always been far above all this, but selfish groups reduced us to this lowly levels. If at all reservation has to go once and for all, I request the upper castes to ‘consider working in crematorium for just an year to experience what these downtrodden went through for ages. None stops you from manually scavenging either. Denial of social justice, equality and knowledge sharing and messing up with someone’s self respect and dignity – this is cruelty worst than cold blooded murder to me. This is what the upper castes of India committed through millennia. And we all talk about ‘Black lives matter’ when for eons we thrived suppressing systematically fellow humanity. What a wrong sense of entitlement some of us enjoy thanks to virtue of birth.

Of late a lot of demonizing such a phenomenal man as EVR is happening. How much is he maligned, how much character assassinated decades after he left. This must reveal to you something. That EVR was undoubtedly an epoch in history whether you like it or not.

EVR cannot be held responsible for the current political scenario in Tamil Nadu just as Mahatma Gandhi cannot be made accountable for the Congress debacle in present times. Denying EVR the credit for what he truly deserves is appalling. The more he is villainified, the more will some of us defend him staunchly. EVR’s views on women for instance! He was far ahead of his times. Much later in subtler tones we had our own K Balanchander make pictures echoing what EVR spoke of in the 40s and 50s. Periyar did not also mince words and did not hesitate from naming and shaming. He called a spade a spade. If it hurt someone, then how about the Panchamas living in the fringes for centuries. They do not even fall within the four varnas. Outside the varna system. If mere words can wound, then what trauma could harsh realities of life have inflicted not for one year, one century but for at least a two thousand years… Not mere untouchability, even unseeability was in force in many pockets of our society, especially in Kerala that gave us Adi Shankara. This was not a 3000 years ago but until a mere 100 years back.

Admiring EVR does not have to prevent one from being nationalistic at heart. Most importantly, Dravidian values need not have to make one any less Hindu. I am equally proud of what our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji is achieving for India, given the complex times we are living in. EVR mattered in the 1940s quite like Gandhi and Congress were relevant during our freedom struggle. Times change, history is in the making, and in modern India of the 21st century, the need of the hour is a man of steely nerves like Shri Narendra Modi who is resolute, determined, selfless, focused and persevering. With him for our PM, our sense of security is reinforced. We know, we are in good hands. Like EVR, Modi ji in a way restored our self esteem and self confidence.

There is also need for Hindu dharma to rise above pettiness in critical times like these. The Abrahamics are waiting like hawks. No one is dragged against his/her will kicking and screaming, for conversion. Conversion happens because, some among us are willing to accept rewards of any kind for promise of dignity in return that was denied to us by the society we have been part of. The converted are our shame! Will some numbskulls ever get it.

Too many self-appointed guardians of Hindu Dharma today out in the prowl doing more damage than they ever realize. Sickening ‘holier than thou’ attitude.

Living a neutral life, striving to remain sane is not an easy job in today’s India. As for me, EVR and PM Modi are two sides of the same coin.

PS: To those of us who invoke Karma at the drop of a hat, has it ever crossed your petty minds that perhaps Ayodhya was also our Karma. Is it possible that Ram with his acute sense of social justice wanted out of Ayodhya when a section of humanity was barred from His holy abode by narrow minded pompous self-important groups? Ram has now returned to Ayodhya because finally on legit grounds, social justice and equality triumphed in India as it never ever did in over 2000 years. Hail Ram! May be this was the destiny of each and every single Hindu temple struck down by the invaders. Hindu Bharatha deserved every bit of this historical correction.

Posted in Political

We are the Indian Subcontinent, Not South Asia.

Posted on by veeskitchen

Bringing out from backburners one more burning issue. Reason is, i caught even my Prime Minister talking of South Asia, not the Indian Subcontinent in our Independence day address after flag hoisting in New Delhi. I winced in pain. I know I am heard. So here I go:

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(originally penned on December 20, 2014) (with due edits and updates)

http://t.co/hFTI4On5do

Excuse me, we are Indians, NOT SOUTH ASIANS, NOT EVEN BROWNS!

Robin Raphael sometime ago was under investigation by FBI for her alleged spy links during her stint as diplomat in Pakistan. She was well known for her staunch anti-India stance and she is credited with the introduction of the term ‘South Asia’ which region was until then referred to as the Indian Subcontinent. It was supposedly to end the ‘psychological’ superiority of Indians. But what beats me is, why do we Indians have to toe the line. We can continue to take pride in in belonging to/coming from our native Indian subcontinent. The new word çoinage of ‘South Asia’ was meant to appease Pakistan that hated being referred to as part of the great Indian subcontinent, that wanted no part of India whatsoever and no reference in any manner to India.

(Well guys, you cannot write Pak history without mentioning India but India need not have to mention you until 1947. You are one sentence for us, nothing more, in our history text books. Forever you will have to live under the shadows of the big brother India. Live with this now. You simply have NO identity sans India.)

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/Pakistan-lobbyist-Robin-Raphel-under-lens-for-alleged-spying/articleshow/45073087.cms

http://www.niticentral.com/2014/11/08/robin-raphels-illicit-links-taliban-pakistan-lobbyists-244110.html

Well how about the Indian Ocean! So how many nations on earth have an ocean named after them? Live with it guys, again, okay?!

The South China Sea is as petty as China-Chinese. The Indian ocean is vast, mighty, diverse, all consuming, all encompassing.

With ‘South Asia’ the West always wanted to refer to India and Pakistan in one breath. Whereas INDIA IS NOT PAKISTAN AND INDIA DOES NOT BELONG ANYWHERE WITH PAKISTAN. The repeated attempts of the west to tie India with Pakistan is showcased best with the successive presidents of US (and China) for instance visiting India and Pakistan always in one single leg of their journey much to New Delhi’s embarrassment. No America, we are not on same footing: India and Pakistan. And do not hop into your Airforce 1 dear American presidents and put your one foot here in India, with the other in Pakistan….

One more reason we Indians do not like the tour itinerary of visiting heads of the state from the west is, when you try to measure us India and Pakistan in the same wavelength at the same instance, you may lose your objectivity. You will never get the Indian perspective.

I have myself referred to ourselves as ‘South Asians’ sometimes but as much as possible I am trying not to do that. Neither are we Indians ‘brown people.’ I mean we are brown, but not when you try to bring us all together under the same umbrella with Pakistanis and Bangladeshis and Sri Lankans sorry. We are Indians, and Indians only.

The reason some immigrants in UK/US refer to themselves generally as ‘brown’ or ‘south asian’ is, they would rather like to pass off for Indian than Pakistani. Which is not fair to Indians. I am seeing this psychology even in Middle-east. Whereas NO INDIAN would refer to himself/herself as brown or south asian. And never as a Pakistani in a million years!

If India is South Asia, then Mexico is also America, is it not! Let us refer to Mexico as North America in our media!

India parted ways with Pakistan long back. Our children do not like to be referred to in the same context as Pakistan. We are different breed today, different culture, different society.

Don’t the Chinese, Japanese and Koreans merit their own specific identity. Similarly INDIAN IDENTITY IS UNIQUE. 

My appeal to the BJP government would be to initiate and promote usage of the term ‘Indian subcontinent’ once again in our midst, in our media, in our mindset and get rid of the ‘South Asian’ term.

Call me a racist, I don’t care. I reiterate my respects for everyone but I want individuality. India has her own currency notation. How many nations on earth have that – hardly a handful.

rupee-symbol
The Indian Rupee Symbol

Proudly Indian. Proudly Hindustani, Proudly Bharatwasi. I AM NOT SOUTH ASIAN, I AM NOT BROWN, I AM INDIAN AND INDIAN ONLY! And I am from the INDIAN SUBCONTINENT NOT SOUTH ASIA! How much the Hindu Dharma is proving to be an irritant, annoying the west and the islamists! Well WE ARE, AND WE WILL BE! Do what you can! Indian flag flies high in the space and in Dakshina Gangotri, Antarctica!

India in Antarctica. Dakshina Gangotri. Instead of Kashmir, Pakistan can root for a slice in Antarctica and Outer Space if you guys think India and Pak are one and the same. Offload that donkey Imran Khan in Antarctica ice! South Asian Bullshit. Don’t give us that crap. We are the Indian Subcontinent and Indian Ocean is our backyard playground!

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I take this opportunity to clarify one more fact: been mentioning this in many of my posts:

MOGHULS WERE NOT INDIAN. WERE THE BRITISH INDIAN? Moghuls were barbaric Afghan tyrants and marauders who ravaged, looted India and that’s what they will remain to the native Hindu majority of this nation to eternity. Yesteryear Taliban precisely!

Posted in Political

Greta Thunberg, Muslims MUST have an autonomous state in Sweden-Norway!

Posted on by veeskitchen

Sweden and Norway must allow immigrant muslims to form independent states in Scandinavia because this is what human rights is all about. Extremely pleased with happenings in the Swedish and Nordic nations. Valiant struggle for worthy cause! Noble mission! LIBERATE THE SWEDISH AND NORWAY MUSLIMS NOW!

Let Greta talk about human rights violation of Swedish and Norway muslims next time. On how the racist Scandinavian law enforcement targeted muslims. It is important for Swedish muslims and Norway muslims to have their own autonomous Sharia states within Sweden and Norway. India must do whatever in Her capacity to ensure just that. For a starter, we can offer to negotiate for a separate state for muslims in Sweden and Norway with respective governments.

Greta, what a dream come true to have the caliphates coming up in Norway and Sweden first and foremost in Europe! Every Human Rights Activist’s dream! Let us move towards realizing the vision! Looking forward to your opinion and lecture on this!

By the way,

NO NARENDRA MODI IN NORWAY/SWEDEN

NO HINDU MAJORITY IN NORWAY/SWEDEN

NO RASHTRIYA SWAYAMSEWAK SANGH (RSS) IN NORWAY/SWEDEN

NO HINDUTVA IN NORWAY/SWEDEN

NO AMIT SHAH/AJIT DOVAL IN NORWAY/SWEDEN

NO RAM TEMPLE/AYODHYA IN NORWAY/SWEDEN

NOT EVEN A TRUMP IN NORWAY/SWEDEN!

AND OFCOURSE

NO REPUBLIC TV & ARNAB GOSWAMI IN NORWAY/SWEDEN!

Posted in Political

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A HINDU AND A MUSLIM

Posted on by veeskitchen

Difference between a Hindu and a Muslim is….. BANGALORE.

And None can love India the way Hindus can. And never will muslims be capable of loyalty or gratitude ever. Biting the hand that feeds probably runs in their volatile blood.

No Hindu will have the heart or inclination to do to Bangalore what the muslims did.

Violence in Bangalore erupted after someone (names avoided) posted in social media, caricature of a self-proclaimed prophet. But beforehand, dirtiest caricatures of Hindu Gods and even of our PM were posted in social media by a ‘peaceful’ inviting equally dastardly (favourable) comments. The Hindu tweet was in response to the earlier muslim tweet.

No property was destroyed, no arson broke out and none was killed even if the Hindu gods were desecrated-degenerated by the muslim in social media but Bangalore burned when a single Hindu reacted very mildly despite blatant targeted provocation by the muslim miscreant.

Only absolute hate-filled useless and brainless humans can act so devilish and inflict so much of violence and loss of property under the circumstances. You can see this psychopathic streak in all islamic nations. The way the entire episode was orchestrated with the help of left leaning media was even more deplorable.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/bengaluru-violence-how-rioters-launched-guerrilla-like-attack-against-cops/articleshow/77516069.cms?fbclid=IwAR0CwtI4nTGEgqu7ch84A13UIL7z2C7sZUWy4zVMGCoecqf7v_eeZ7swh3Q

It shows, followers of bloody violence will NOT ever be civilized. They are the cancer of our nation, cancer of the world.

I breathe a sigh of relief that in my time atleast, India is still Hindu majority and not gone to these DOGS. In my secular, democratic nation, a Hindu gets booked for this worst series of events that shook Bangalore very recently. This is why we have to enforce with immediate effect Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and must also initiate steps towards building a Hindu Rashtra.

Also time to hunt down the Rohingya and Bangladeshi vermin in the country and send them packing. Not a single one of them must remain in Indian soil.

As i have mentioned before in my blogs, world reserves the best punishment for this senseless thankless community: SHAME.

In world history, their faith will always be demeaned, their lot will be shown disrespect, each and every one of them will be suspected of being a potential terrorist, they will not be trusted, they will be denied equality and dignity. History will record them as TERRORISTS, world will fear them, loath them not because they are heroes, but because they are cowards who will not stop from destroying, destructing because this is what their culture is about and this is what they are capable of given their low IQ (congenital). This is what their religious philosophy is about.

My heart bleeds and my blood boils when i think of what these terrorists did to Bangalore. Slave mentality of the converted sheep who have no identity, who have no shame calling the next door arab uncle their dad.

Posted in Environment, Political

NEW EDUCATION POLICY (NEP) 2020 & ENVIRONMENT IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA) draft 2020

Posted on by veeskitchen

Let me do a copy-paste recap job on New Education Policy 2020 from the social media.

New Education Policy 2020

1. 10+2 board structure dropped
2. School structure will be 5+3+3+4
3. Up to 5 pre school, 6 to 8 Mid School, 8 to 11 High School, 12 onwards Graduation
4. Any Degree will be 4 years
5. 6th std onwards vocational courses available
6. From 8 to 11 students can choose subjects
7. All graduation courses will have major & minor
Example – science student can opt Physics as Major and Music as minor. Any combination can be chosen
8. All higher education will be governed by one authority.
9. UGC AICTE get merged.
10. All University government, private, Open, Deemed, Vocational etc will have same grading and rules.
11. New Teacher Training board will be setup for all kinds of teachers in the country, no state can change
12. Same level of accreditation to any college and based on its rating college will get autonomous rights and funds.
13. New Basic learning program will be created by government for parents to teach children up to 3 years in home and for pre school 3 to 6.
14. Multiple entry and exit from any course
15. Credit system for graduation, for each year student will get some credits which can be utilized when a break is taken in course and could come back again to complete the course.
16. All school exams will be on semester basis twice a year.
17. The syllabus will be reduced to core knowledge of any subject.
18. More focus on student’s practicals and application of knowledge
19. For any graduation course, if a student completes only one year, will get a basic certificate, if complete two years, then will get Diploma certificate and if completes full course then will get degree certificate. So no year of any student will be wasted if a break is taken in the course in between.
20.All the graduation courses fee of all Universities will be governed by single authority with capping on each course.

Education system to be at par with education in modern countries and future of our children to be brighter.

My Comment:

If New Education Policy is indeed implemented successfully, it will prove to be a turning point in Indian history for the better. Long since overdue. Vocational education and training to be at par with academic studies, which is a welcome move. Education will cease to translate to mere book knowledge. Practical application of one’s learning will gain impetus. School and college drop-outs will be minimal. Education being equally skill-based and on even footing with academic proficiency can ensure dignity of labour and bring about a more equitable society in the long run. Special children will stand to benefit. Knowledge imparted to be qualitative. Quality of manpower will see tremendous improvement. Holistic approach to Education. Development can be wholesome. We can have a far mature society in the making.

However the new policy sounds too very ambitious, but then knowing Modi and his demonetization and Balakot surgical strike and even the implementation of NEET for Medical entrance throughout India in one stroke and of course the revoking of article 370 in Kashmir, I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets things rolling as soon as possible, beginning with teachers’ training on war-footing basis (this is more important than going on war really), upgrading our schools’ infrastructures, overhauling the entire education system which is in kind of a mess… although I can’t rule out the possibility of the first few batches becoming the experimental scapegoat… Streamlining such a massive machinery of education is no easy task in India, especially given the very brief time frame…. then again I pin my faith on the one-man-army called Modi. No, he isn’t really a one-man army or your usual sycophant surrounded by gibberish fools. I understand, a totally dedicated, devoted team of thousands of engineers and medicos and technocrats and scientists and educationists and bankers and others work for PM Narendra Modi fashioning his policies for the nation over which the bureaucrats and Delhi Babus of the ministry have hardly a say. This education policy so well outlined could be the brainchild of such an expert team. How to standardize education in rural and urban dwelling. A big challenge here.

Environment Impact Assessment Draft 2020

The best efforts ploughed in by our prime minister with the New Education policy 2020 may come to a naught if EIA (Environment Impact Assessment) 2020 is to be enforced as well.

The draft EIA paves way for environment clearance for future (foreign) (mega) investments in India without adequate notification and assessment of the impact on nature and wildlife in India. Most of the protective measures instituted so far for safeguarding the natural environment in India can be bypassed, should the EIA draft 2020 be approved. This means, our rivers can get even more polluted or even be sucked up dry, and India can be completely depleted of its natural resources such as water, minerals, metals and forest wealth in no time. If the draft EIA is facilitated at the behest of MNCs, then in less than hundred years, India could become the next Somalia so that the present generation capitalists can live life kingsize.

https://www.indiawaterportal.org/articles/environmentalists-voice-concerns-against-draft-eia-notification-2020

https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/tnm-explainer-why-are-activists-and-experts-against-draft-eia-2020-129566

Every highway bisecting the elephant corridor in India is one more nail in the coffin of India’s natural environment. Shiva can never become the Adi Yogi turning back pachyderms descending down the Velliangiri Hills of the Blue Mountain (Eastern Ghats) of southern India. Their home is lost. Pathanjali the ancient Yogic Guru, can have nothing to do with the Ayurveda brand promoted by destroying the forests of Assam. This is the only Dharma that I can reckon with.

https://sanctuarynaturefoundation.org/article/eia-2020-legitimises-environmental-damage

One of the best things about Nehruvian era was the unwavering protection of our reserve forests that are the natural habitat of some of world’s most endangered and exotic species of wild life, animals, birds and plants. These are the very lungs of India in this 21st century. India’s forest cover has remained vastly untouched over decades. Disturbing or encroaching upon Reserve Forest range and/or harming wildlife are non-bailable criminal offences. Forests department is very much functional. Which is why actor Salman Khan got into legal trouble when he shot the blue buck, a native species.

https://www.outlookindia.com/outlooktraveller/travelnews/story/70392/guinness-world-record-for-indias-tiger-census

Indira Gandhi directed the Project Tiger which is bearing fruits today. India accounts for maximum number of tigers in the wild in entire world. India is also home to over fifty percent of the world’s elephant population.

https://swarajyamag.com/magazine/the-other-side-of-indira-gandhi-how-she-helped-save-indias-wildlife-habitats

Elephant population in the country is estimated at 29,964 as per the census conducted in 2017. The South Region accounted for 14,612 followed by North East with 10,139 elephants. The tiger population across the country is estimated at 2,967 as per the 2018 census

https://www.indiatoday.in/fyi/story/elephants-assam-india-poaching-deaths-population-1314727-2018-08-14

The current government has a policy for compensatory afforestation when prime forests are claimed for development purposes. However in truth, the secondary forests can never make up for and match the primary forests limb to limb. Despite our best and no holds-barred conservation efforts, forest cover in India is steadily shrinking, with loss of natural habitat for our wildlife reported every single day from every corner of the country.

https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/wildlife-biodiversity/world-elephant-day-india-s-jumbos-stare-at-a-worrying-future-66127

Science is for arts’ sake, never vice versa. This is my last word on EIA if this controversial amendment is to go ahead.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/centre-gives-over-rs-47000-cr-to-27-states-for-green-activities/article29289605.ece

Prime Minister Modi’s ‘Man vs. wild’ with Bear Grylls seems a cruel joke now.

The rich bio-diversity we have in India is unparalleled in any other part of the world, except for Africa. Gir Lions to Asian elephants, and Bengal Tigers to Single horned Assamese Rhinoceros, with the spectacular array of flora and fauna we boast of, along with the brilliant plumage of avian population co-existing with the 1.3 billion strong humankind is a miraculous feat we can find nowhere on earth. Well, I remember once driving through the sandalwood forests in Kerala-Tamil Nadu border. Sheer magic in the air. For how long shall we have this precious cherished gift? Man-Wildlife conflicts are on rise but so far we have been able to arrive at a truce. For the first time in Indian history however, nature stands to be beaten black and blue and man will trudge on merciless, leaving in his wake the carcasses of rotting wild elephant and tiger…

The price we have to pay for wanting to become the next China!

Posted in Political

Continuing Atrocities Against Hindus In Pakistan

Posted on by veeskitchen

Updated July 23, 2020

Torture and massacre of minority Hindus in Pakistan is no news. Hindu population in Pakistan stands decimated and is on the brink of extinction in their very native soil. From over 12% in 1947, it is now under 1% which must explain the systematic Hindu persecution in the country. Everyday news from Pakistan is of abduction and rape of Hindu girls who are then sold to prostitution and/or converted to Islam forcibly married to muslim men. Even so, two recent videos that surfaced in social media shed shocking new insights into cruel fates of Hindus hanging by bare threads for survival in Pakistan.

One is of the demolition of a wall of a Hindu temple in Islamabad, Pakistan by Pakistani muslims. A second is of a Pakistani Muslim father looking on proudly as his child not even about 10 years, threatens with killing every Hindu if the Hindu temple is constructed in Pakistan. The boy of such a tender age already bears the markings of a perfect future global terrorist, clearly a terrorist in the making.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mso9VhRXdLQ

(A third is the brutal killing of a Pakistani Hindu man butchered to pieces. It is a gruesome video that I opt not to share.)

Obviously, both might not have made to headlines in any Arab news agency or to the media news like BBC or CNN.

Well, there is now a fourth video surfacing, of a 1700 ancient Buddha desecrated and destroyed in Pakistan, with Pakistanis stepping on the Buddha with their foot. Heart-stopping footage. How about getting some return respect of same degree for their own belief system now. I have grown up believing that whichever civilization or nation that desecrates Hindu/Buddhist temples/Gods live to realize their past Karma the way we see today in Afghanistan, Iraq etc., and this video could be the ultimate proof of why this deep-rooted Hindu philosophy of justice is proving to be true. Hindu-Buddhists are passive by nature and in India’s history of over 10,000 years, we have hardly invaded a foreign nation. Never plundered by aggression and destroyed native cultures and decimated the original sons of soil, to live a proud and opulent life the way Islamists have done. Even today, India’s conflicts are about protecting our own sovereign territory. Defensive, over offensive. Which is why whether China or Pakistan, their future generations will pay back their bad Karma one day.

The British were in India for 300 years, but they never razed a single Hindu temple. Temple histories and edicts in some cases reveal, how the British were in awe of Hindu Gods. Quite a few of them paid obeisance to ancient Hindu temples and contributed towards their upkeep. Prime example, Eri Katha Ramar temple, near Madurantakam, Tamil Nadu.

The other day I was watching Vox You Tube video on Kashmir. Not a single mention of the massacre and ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri Hindu pundits in 1990 by the Kashmiri Muslims who hunted down and chased away the Hindus overnight, burning villages and towns, raping Hindu women and killing in cold blood the Hindu men who dared to stay back. The Kashmiri Hindus who fled the valley have ever since been living as refugees (IDP) (Internally displaced persons) in refugee camps near Delhi, with their homes and wealth and belongings taken over forcibly by Kashmir muslims. How can a media report ever be complete without an honest mention of them. However Burhan Wani made it to the Vox report. Not surprising.

All these go on to show how mainstream media is paid media and how journalists don’t hesitate to sell their soul if it can butter their bread. Intellectual Honesty: not a characteristic trait of any political columnist or journalist or media person/house.

There is no way we passive Hindus can win against this kind of hatred, barbarity and cruelty. But we win when we defy them in every way, refusing their supposed maker, denying their faith, disrespecting their community, cold shouldering them in international arena and isolating them, and forever branding them as terrorists in our hearts and minds. The universe has awarded these violent perpetrators of inhumane crimes SHAME. Their bloody brutality will go down in recorded history, forever tainting their origins and beliefs and customs and general life. World will always nurture this phobia against them and treat them with indifference. May be this is the best punishment of all.

Posted in Political

DRAGON SLAYER

Posted on by veeskitchen

https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/india-china-tension-35-chinese-troops-dead-in-clash-with-indian-army-us-intelligence-says-report-5415491.html?fbclid=IwAR2wzpGYqNabfhnMqaCHzRqjJwtRaisrOCMWLuf386bQnieTnv6brFc2p8Q

This time China has bitten more than it can chew. India of 2020 is not the same as India of 1962. The Elephant has an indelible memory. The Elephant will neither forgive nor forget. China will be sued in international courts and be made to pay back each and every nation/economy ruined by the chinese.

Shameless remorseless China with not an iota of conscience has not even begged forgiveness from the world community for the endless misery it has caused to entire humanity with its China virus. Let us call it China virus officially from now on, no more Novel coronavirus. Will the Indian media and Indian govt do it? Let us represent Hong Kong, Tibet and Taiwan as independent nations in the maps across India and entire globe. My heart goes out to the Indian army men who martyred their lives because of unprovoked attack by the chinese executioners in the Ladakh Himalayas on their illegal incursions into Indian territoty, but who claimed 43 chinese lives in return. India may go down in world history for taking on China and killing the chinese in hand-to-hand combat primitive style. India will not allow China to get away. China can step back in defeat of course. Taiwan, Hongkong, Tibet please take note. You can. You will. You must.

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3949620?fbclid=IwAR1CNvobLJwJwREJLOC6YqqA6jkYKzB63qiNoB7Q5zWsR-_txgPGjPGicaY

Pakistan is China’s pimp. Sums up in one word the typical Pakistan character (if there is any character at all). India will know where to play the card and when.

Pakistan’s pimping is legendary. Pakistan will be consumed in due course by China. Right now of course, the Chinese are ingesting salami strips of Pakistan. The monkey and the cat story.

Superb write-up:

Posted by Rakesh Krishnan Simha on Tuesday, June 16, 2020
Posted in Socio-Political

Two Sides Of The Same Coin: India Vs China Perspective

Posted on by veeskitchen

Watched the picture ‘Padman’ based on real life story of Arunachalam Muruganantham from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, with Akshay Kumar in the lead.

Not really new to local scene, it still is a powerful message to hit rural India. Firstly, womanly matters are deemed too private in India. At least that is how it was until very recently. Now that even I can bring myself to write about it, I guess we are changing.

How a school dropout single handedly takes up the women’s hygiene issue is astounding. But knowing about the steadfast determination of fellow Tamils especially from the south of the state, I am hardly surprised. I was browsing a Whatsapp post that was comparing the Dravidian women with Aryan women. Modern historians would like to challenge the Aryan invasion theory. I wouldn’t want to get into that. Seetha from Ramayana and Nalaayini are two women from northern India who were pitted against Kannagi of Silapathigaram, and with Manimegalai and Kundalakesi of the south to showcase how liberated women from Dakshina Bharat were even 2000 years back, from before the birth of Christ. We had women court poets. Excavations in Tamil Nadu reveal a very literate society with constructed grammar and literature in usage at least two millennia before. Whatever happened to us in the interim ages. Murugantham’s clamour for a solution to women’s health woes somehow reminded me of our roots.

Muruganantham aka Padman is invited to TED talks, to Harvard, to all the IIMs in India! Unwavering he says, he will not commercialize his invention of breaking down the complex and 10-million US$ sanitary napkin-making machinery into simpler uncomplicated production units hand-operatable by villagers, because, that will defeat the very purpose of his intention and invention. He refuses to be bought over by corporates and uses his Indian patent to take the new economic sanitary pad revolution to rural India personally so that the illiterate and poor women of our villages would stand to benefit. What a refreshing change to the mindless commercialization of anything and everything. I am neither a capitalist nor a communist. In India too, we have a mixed economy with active participation of both private and public sectors when it comes to nation building. The key sectors such as our nationalized banks, central insurance agencies and railways are with the government so that the profit making by private enterprises would not deny essential services to the economically vulnerable sections of the society.

You need to be a very balanced humanbeing to deny yourself the golden chance of becoming a billionaire after all the spade work that you put in. Hats off to Padman. The picture in question is based in Madhya Pradesh to give the idea the pan-India appeal so that it reaches every nook and corner of India. You need to get a grasp of the socio-cultural undercurrents, the local customs and practices, the ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’… and what a delicate subject to touch. Every single reaction of the villagers in the movie is justifiable really. You can call them country brutes but then I live in such a society. May be not exactly being urban based, but then India is like a huge village even now…

The Padman’s naive and yet bold initiative is what touched my heart. His single-minded pursuit of his ambition and confident drive. And his strong determination in adhering to the very purpose of his pet project not to be side-tracked to becoming one more money minting modern day start-up.

I doubt whether you can find a soul or story like this in China. Was watching ‘One child nation’ – the award winning documentary. The very chinese ruthlessness is so disturbing. Such a coldblooded calculation about everything. Remorseless. This you can notice from how they haven’t had the decency to apologize to the world community for destroying so many economies and for being solely responsible for wrecking havoc of unimaginable magnitude across the entire globe, with thousands of lives lost.

How can we even compare India with China. Padman for instance, is one of the million reasons, why we shouldn’t. You know, one thing common about both Padman and One Child Nation is that, both deal with fertility issues of women with the supposed weaker sex at the receiving end. How we go about these sensitive matters is the question. Both are physical to say so, but take a heavy emotional toll on women as well. It was sickening for me to watch the chinese documentary (of course not made by chinese). These are the guys who manufacture plastic rice, plastic eggs and add melamine to baby food. What standards are they setting for the world now. How can China even be deemed a super power. Is this really some growth story. Where is the heart and soul in chinese. Or is their heart made of plastic as well.

Indian kids who go to the US for university education bring back stories about China from their chinese friends. There is no mention of ‘Tianenmen square’ in their history. Kids born after 1990 have been ‘tutored’ into believing and contesting that the Tianenmen NEVER unfolded in their soil. It is shocking how the communists have successfully erased a political memory from the psyche of an entire nation. Reminds one of George Orwell’s 1984. If this is the nation that is to become the no.1 super power in future, then it is doomsday for Planet Earth. This country China does not believe in barring ivory trading or whaling. They think they own up everything from Tibet and Hongkong and Taiwan to Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh but do not have an ounce of honesty or shame in them to own up to the Novel Coronavirus Pandemic. China is the cancer of the world. China is the one truly lethal virus that we are all fighting. Only the sidekicks Pakistanis will lick the chinese boots like their lapdogs. All for a few crumbs of bread, what else.

Now no more does poverty in India concern me. The Covid-19 scare is revealing to us the humane side of the Indian society. The poorest amongst us are the strongest physically and emotionally. As for economics, they can survive with bare minimum. The truly handicapped are the better-do-do among us.

Heartwarming real life story of Arunachalam Muruganantham shows how humanity still has a chance in India. Our temples and classical music and dance forms and lighthearted movies reveal to us the beautiful side of our human nature. Science exists so that art can flourish. Not the other way around.

India too has populations issues. I am not saying ours is a land of milk and honey. Family planning is mostly suggested to us Indians. The choice is ours to make.

A pregnant wild elephant that forayed into a Kerala village was fed with a pineapple laden with firecrackers (to ward off the animal feeding from on agricultural farms). As the cracker exploded, the elephant with its bleeding mouth ran with searing pain to the river nearby. Refusing to be rescued by the forest officials, it died standing for hours in river water moving an entire nation. Now this is our headlines. The young mother elephant with its unborn calf in the womb broke a billion hearts as the nation mourned for the mother-child duo that bore the brunt of extreme barbarity at the hands of humanity. I remembered how China refuses to curb ivory trading and in fact deals in and promotes trades in wild life skins, hides, organs, teeth, nails etc endangering myriad species that are already in the verge of extinction. Who can stop them ever. When I think of the agony of the mother elephant, I think of how millions in this country of mine hold unshed tears for the voiceless gentle beast demanding justice to be served to the assailants. Mistakes and horrors happen everywhere, but there must be a willingness to acknowledge and admit to them and correct them.

China will NEVER pass the acid test of Democracy & Secularim. China will die and dissolve into thousand parts if they are put to this imminent test someday. China feeds and thrives on suppressed human rights. Now that is a simmering volcano that is bound to explode one fine day.

This soulless nation China can never become a super power or world leader in true sense. We must not allow that from happening either. Let India develop at her own pace. We are in race with none. Let us work and learn to serve not always with a profit motive. Let us go to the mandir, let us do the bhajans, let us dance and sing or just waste away lying bored in the sofa doing nothing. Let us laugh with friends, go out and have a jolly good time not making money. Because, this is how we are meant to be. We are not robots. Not everything is for sale in India as in China. Not everything has to have a price tag.

One of the greatest regrets of my life, is to stop with one kid. But that was a decision based on my circumstances. I see the lower middle class women in my city voluntarily opting for family planning. Not everyone goes for a second kid. This is an informed decision, not an enforced one. The success of India lies therein. But this applies only to Indian Hindus and Christians and Sikhs who put nation first over their religious affiliations. India is fighting the population jehad as well yet, family planning is not mandatory for us.

I would never want India to become the next China. Not in a million years. Let us see to that we are always the country where God wants to dwell in, not the devil. Let us be that divine spiritual beautiful temple, not a glazed lifeless mall that is China. The Padman Muruganantham with his life mission of taking affordable sanitary napkin to rural Indian women and the women of China abducted for sterilization, with their homes pulled down for going for a second pregnancy are the defining differences between us.

Posted in Political

Time To Call It A Day: TASMAC & PDS In Tamil Nadu/India

Posted on by veeskitchen

No one died of non consumption of alcohol in Tamil Nadu since this March 25th. Not many make effective use of the rice rations in Tamil Nadu either. The subsidized/free provisions meant for the BPL families, distributed through our nationwide network of PDS (Public Distribution system) outlets are invariably sold in the black market to make a fast buck. Last heard, rural Tamil women use the 20 kg rice issue for cattle fodder.

India Lockdown 1 started by the midnight of March 25th for a period of 21 days. Lockdown 2 followed from/after April 14th. Lockdown 3 commenced on/after May 3rd and currently we are in Lockdown 4 that began on/after May 17th.

After every enforcement and release of a lockdown, certain restrictions have been lifted. This was to ensure that the return to normalcy could be seamless and smooth. In any case, Section 144 was imposed absolutely in the first phase that still saw the essential services such as food and health, banking etc., functioning. Public transport ceased in totality. Malls, restaurants, cinemas, educational institutions and places of worship remained closed. Farming, food deliveries, milk and grocery supplies and other crucial economic activities were permitted during lockdown 2. Lockdown 2 also eased restrictions on street hawkers who brought fruits and vegetables to doorsteps, as the general public continued to stay home. Lockdown 3 was a bit more relaxed with more services including those non essential resuming. Proprietors of small business were allowed to reopen. Air-conditioning to be switched off. Lockdown 3 also marked the country into 3 zones: Green, Orange and Red. Green zones were those that recorded no fresh Covid positive cases. Barring entry of outsiders, the zones were opened up completely. For instance, the Coimbatore district in Tamil Nadu fell under green zone. Even in the green zones, economic activities have been permitted with certain conditions strictly: Social distancing and donning a mask have been made mandatory.

Orange zones are moderate centers with minimal recorded corona virus cases. Risk factor here for covid 19 infection to become community spread is perceived to be very low. Selective economic activities have been reinstated in the zone, with total covid containment viewed as a near possible reality. The next move will be progression to green zone with all loopholes plugged. Kerala and Bangalore (where liquor bars have been doing booming or perhaps record business since day 1 of reopening) may fall under Orange zone. Even BBC and CNN got stumped with the mind boggling sales statistics in our third world nation liquor bars. Bangalore is not only the Silicon valley of India being the backoffice for the entire world, it also boasts of Asia’s largest pub and brewery. Bangalore’s pub culture is legendary.

Red zones are those that sustain yet virulent hotspots where areas are cordoned off to contain covid spread by the super-spreaders. Chennai is unfortunately still the red zone. In red zones, except for the barricaded localities, limited economic activity is permitted in other non-infected areas. Freelance semi-skilled blue collar workers such as electricians, plumbers, carpenters, masons etc., have since resumed working, adopting social distancing and mask wearing safety procedures.

However, downed shutters it is for liquor bars in red zones in lockdown 4. TASMAC outlets run by the Tamil Nadu state government , were about to be opened for want of funds. New kid in the block Kamal Hasan, the actor turned politician, obtained an injunction order from court that stayed the reopening of TASMAC in the state, much to the chagrin of a disgruntled state government. It is open secret that TASMAC is gold mine for our treasuries to dip into at their convenience. Along with Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Board that governs Hindu temple managements alone syphoning off collections that can put the entire SAARC block to shame with their immense volumes. Interestingly, ‘the dry spell’ that has lasted for almost 60 days in the state (and mostly in entire India except for those  metros like Mumbai and Bangalore) with the closure of TASMAC did not kill anyone – not even the so-called hardcore addicts. No expensive detox routines and spas. Nobody speaks of splitting headaches and withdrawal symptoms. House maids and such women workers in menial jobs married to wife-beating alcoholics wasting their entire day’s earning in TASMAC now gossip of husbands chopping vegetables and cooking rice and roti sharing domestic responsibilities. There has been a whole loss of one major earning in the family – the head of the family is at home. Anyways, corona or not, Tamil Nadu govt gives everything free: from rice to cash subsidies. If your kids attend corporation schools, mid day meal is free (with egg served thrice a week and banana too) for them, and also a laptop and a bicycle to go to school. Diwali and Pongal means freebies such as new clothes (sari and dhoti). Pregnant women, widows, the issueless poor – you name the destitute, they all get subsidies ranging from 1k to 1.5k every single month! Why should anyone work for an honest living.

(The last but not the least spoiler is the MNREGA, the minimum employment guarantee scheme introduced by Sonia Gandhi’s Congress govt that assures a daily average wage of Rs.90/- for minimum 100 days an year, whether or not you work or laze around. All you have to do is, fix your thumb impression. Agriculture is in doldrums in the state as the marginal and small farmers do not have it in them anymore to engage in productive farm activity. Why should they. And then the shameless Tamils have the audacity to complain that the Bihari and Bengali are stealing their jobs! The north Indian labourers from Jharkhand, Bihar, Chattisgarh, the north easterners from the 7 sister states such as Assamese etc., and the Nepali are our lifeline really. But for them, the south India and especially Tamil Nadu and more particularly Chennai will come to a grinding halt overnight. It is easy to dismiss the migrant labourers as ‘panipuri wale’ as we would like to. But no, they are here to stay. They work our restaurants to our rice mills and our textile units and factories to small scale industries. They are our technicians and our pizza delivery men. Boy, don’t they learn Tamil quick! So where is the Tamil worker? At TASMAC 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 4 weeks a month, 12 months an year. No wonder our government is dying to open up the state run liquor outlets (what a state business to have. have you come across any government running liquor chain) to fill the emptied coffers overnight.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/sales-of-rs-45-crore-recorded-on-first-day-of-opening-of-liquor-shops-karnataka-excise-department/articleshow/75541529.cms

https://www.mumbailive.com/en/civic/coronavirus-latest-news-maharashtra-has-reported-liquor-sale-of-rs.-62.55-crore-in-2-days.-total-16.10-lakh-litres-sold-from-3543-shops-during-the-lokdown-49142

Who says India is a third world nation.

Is MNREGA a curse or a blessing? In case of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, etc., at least, there seems no justification for the scheme to continue.

PDS ration shops have to go in the metros for the starters. The worst fallout from PDS to me is, the making of a lazy society who have no shame living on welfare. Pointless queues are the only spot where the blue collar population of Tamil Nadu may appear brusque. The rations are up for the grabs of black marketeers. Why not an equivalent subsidy in the place of PDS rations, as with the case of LPG refills. Govt can rethink on the issue. It is true, in times of emergencies such as even the present Novel coronavirus pandemic, the PDS proves to be an effective way of transferring rations/utilities. If PDS has to go, government has to devise a secondary means of functional mass/public distribution of provisions should situation present itself.

TASMAC however has no such strings attached like the PDS or MNREGA. TASMAC closure can be made permanent. When some state governments such as Gujarat have had prohibitions for decades with a roaring success, why cannot Tamil Nadu follow suit. Kerala government too as such is raring to open the liquor outlets vying with Tamil Nadu.

Coronavirus is bad news to rest of the world. To some communities however, it is a blessing in disguise. Husbands and wives and the children and the helpless aged parents are for a very first time in our living memory, finally happy. With very minimum or almost nil income, there is still so much to smile and hope for in the BPL rungs of our society. No drunken brawls in the bars and in the streets, no wife beating, no abusing the kids…. we have precious harmony in families that used to be torn apart by ugly spats every single day of their lives. And what it did take for such a peaceful heaven to descend on us is the Novel coronavirus pandemic – the Covid 19 scare, and the ensuing back-to-back lockdowns. But more than anything, it is the closure of TASMAC that is working wonders for our lower middle classes who have been through hell, with hopeless alcoholics for head of the family. Or, it can be like this. Let TASMAC sell liquor on Aadhar basis. Those of the denizens who can afford TASMAC must not be entitled to any government sops. No more PDS rations either. Does our government have the nerve and honesty to go about this exercise free and fair. Because, none of us tax paying citizens would want to foot the bill for state subsidies and rations to families who can afford TASMAC.

TASMAC online! Now what is this!  Such a creepy thing, is all I can say.

Undeniably, Indian economy is having it rough. There is massive unemployment surge, cash crunch, revenues strapped treasury in the case of state-central governments, crimes happening, migrant matters, natural woes and calamities, defence issues, etc., etc. This is on top of Covid 19 scare. Is TASMAC panacea to all that has gone wrong.

Thank you guys for going nicotine-free during the lockdowns, maintain status quo. Cigarette smoke is reportedly a very potent corona carrier.

Finally, free our temples from the clutches of state governments that rob us of our legitimate collections that must benefit the Hindu community. When the church and the masjid that are on conversion spree flush with NGO and hawala fundings from overseas remain autonomous, why are Hindu temple revenues channeled to government treasury.

A small beginning is made:

https://swarajyamag.com/news-brief/tamil-nadu-government-gives-free-rice-to-mosques-in-state-gets-slammed-for-asking-temples-to-donate-to-cms-covid-19-fund

Kerala HC To Hear Petition On Temple “Donating” Money To CM’s Relief Fund