Whose culture is it anyway?

What is Culture?

The characteristic features of everyday existence, the set of shared attitudes, values, conventions, or social practices that characterizes people in a place or time.

What happens when people in a place belong to different 'times'? - India happens!

While there are people of who belong to the older generation who think that life should be lived like this and people should behave like this etc.

There is the youth brigade, almost a third of the Indian population, who think they should have the freedom to decide what's right from wrong and chart their own course.

So who's wrong? Neither! as long as each other sets values for only themselves... When the young don't try to set values for the older people why should they set values for us?

Indian Culture has tolerated prostitution, drug and alcohol addiction for hundreds of years. What's wrong with young men and women meeting up and having a drink at a pub?

If we are old enough to decide what's right and wrong for the country and vote aren't we old enough to decide what's right  and wrong for ourselves? Please leave us and 'our culture' alone!

China: Death for two in tainted milk case - When do we see such headlines in India?

A Chinese court has handed down death sentences to two men implicated in a tainted-milk scandal that killed at least six infants and sickened hundreds of thousands of others.

The Intermediate People's Court in Shijiazhuang issued the first verdicts in a nationwide scandal surrounding milk powder tainted with the industrial chemical melamine.

Two men, Zhang Yujun and Geng Jinping, were sentenced to death. Zhang ran a workshop that allegedly was China's largest source of melamine used in the tainted dairy products. Geng was convicted of producing and selling toxic foodstuffs.

The court sentenced Tian Wenhua, the former head of the dairy company at the center of the scandal, to life in prison and fined her nearly $4 million. She was found guilty of making and selling fake or substandard products.

Her company, the now-bankrupt Sanlu Group, was fined more than $7 million. Six other former Sanlu executives were sentenced to jail, for five to 15 years.

The court had announced it would also sentence 21 defendants implicated in the scandal later.

Some parents are disappointed that no Chinese officials have had to face formal charges.

The scandal involving tainted milk broke in September, although Sanlu authorities knew of problems with their company's products months earlier.

Middlemen who sold milk to dairy companies had watered down the raw milk and then mixed it with melamine, which gives an artificially high reading for protein.

Melamine is normally used to make plastics and fertilizer. If ingested in large amounts, it can cause kidney stones and kidney failure. The Ministry of Health said it was likely the tainted milk scandal with Sanlu Group at its centre killed at least six babies. Another 2,96,000 infants suffered kidney stone and urinary problems.


When would we see such quick judgments against corruption happening in India?


Cross posted from Indian Medicos 

Travails of a picked pocket :(

Exams and a bit of shopping done it was almost time to start back to Chennai from the Capital City. Rushed from Pallika Bazaar to Collector's place for a quick bite and to pack up my bags. Collector took a while, but, managed to cook up something good for me. It was kinda getting late for the train and I had to rush back on the Metro from Karol Bagh to the New Delhi Station via Rajiv Chowk. Rajiv Chowk was crowded as always, I dunno if I lost it on the escalator or at the exit of the Metro... But someone had picked my pocket and I had about 30 minutes to catch the train to Chennai.

As soon as I reached the platform of the train to Chennai I started calling up my banks. I had the customer care numbers of both my credit cards so I started off with them first. Both Deutsche Bank and HDFC took less than two minutes each to block my cards. I'm used to Deutsche bank's great service, but, I must admit I was and am surprised at HDFC's quick work... the bank is slow in everything else :-/

I didn't have ICICI's customer care number, neither did any of my friends or anyone in my whole compartment... Called Anuj in Chennai who took a while to get me the number. As I started calling ICICI bank the train started off... I had to listen to the stupid music while on hold for almost 6 minutes and it was more irritating than the noise the train was making. The executive was asking me stupid questions instead of blocking the card. By the time the thief who picked my pocket had swiped my card at a cinema hall!!! The executive refused to move a finger against the culprit as long as I didn't give him an FIR number. I pleaded with him to do something but to no avail... I tried explaining that I was on a train to Chennai and he couldn't have been more inconsiderate... In the noise the train was making he also tried advising me against storing my card number on my phone!!! :-/ It took me almost ten-12 minutes and the call got cut off without signal as the moron at the other end was still advising me!

36 hours later: Me at Chennai... I called all my banks. HDFC and Deutsche bank have already dispatched replacement cards... ICICI tells me that the moron at the Delhi Call centre had only blocked my card and not dispatched new card. The call centre guy at Chennai tried to convince me that I could lodge an FIR about what happened at Delhi in any Chennai police station and also gave me a false promise that all the money would be refunded!

No wonder people have problem trusting ICICI bank with their money and they have to pay Sharukh Khan to endorse them!

24 hours later (that's like 2 working days) I'm in for more shock when my HDFC card arrived. I still can't believe that the bank which take 5 days to credit a cheque dropped at their own bank can act so fast...

1.5K down the drain and a lesson about trust learnt from the 'Hum Nahin Hain na' bank: ICICI!

Why does BHUMI do whatever it does?

Why does BHUMI do whatever it does? Why Education & the Environment?

It's a question lots of people have asked me... Why not clean the beach? Why not fight politics? Why not feed needy children? Why not fight corruption? The list is endless as are the ills that plague this country...
Obviously there are a lots of things a young group of individuals as large as ours can do to Make India a better place but why the focus only on Education and the Environment?

The answer is quite simple, 'We believe that these under-privileged children whom we work with are the latent potential India will need for the future and if we don't act against climate change there simply is no future for India or the human race'

Lastly one of my fav quotes... I think it explains a lot :)
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." - Margret Mead

Cross Posted from The BHUMI, Chennai Blog

Say ‘No’ to an unsafe touch

November 19 is Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse Day. Having to spend more and more time away from parents, it is necessary for you to know how to take care of yourself.

Shreya is nine years old — a happy, smart child. One day, when no one was around she was touched in a way that left her confused; by a favourite uncle. He said he would teach her about growing up and slid his hand under her dress. He told her that this was to be their secret. Shreya was puzzled and didn’t protest. She liked her uncle but didn’t like what he was doing.

When Rahul comes home from school his parents are still at work. He has to wait at his neighbour’s house till his mother returns. The neighbour’s son Naresh is in the final year of college. He owns a motorcycle that he likes to show off. He allows Rahul to sit on it and pretend he is riding it. But there is a deal. Every time Rahul sits on the bike he has to return the favour by touching Naresh’s private parts. He has also scared Rahul by threatening him that if anyone other than the two of them got to know about this, he would kill him.

Have you ever been in a similar situation? If you have or if you find yourself in one, here is what you can and should do. Remember what your parents always told you about not playing with fire, looking to the left and then right and left again before crossing the road and not talking to strangers? These are warnings that ensured you were safe when you were doing certain things.

Now there is another aspect of safety that you should know about — i.e. personal safety. With you having to be home alone with both parents at work or having to travel in the school van or auto with other little children or walk back by yourself from tuition class or dance class or music class or tennis coaching or whatever, in the evenings, keep the following tips in mind to help protect yourself :

If you are home alone and there is someone at the door that you don’t know if you could let in, call mom or dad at once to check or ask the visitor to come back later.

Danger signs
Sometimes people with not-so-good intentions may suggest playing “pants down” games or “doctor patient” games or “Amma Appa” games or may touch your private body parts ( any part of your body that is covered by your inner garments or underclothing) or want to play around with your lips.

If the van driver pinches your cheek or the auto driver places his hand between your legs or the tuition teacher tickles you every time you get a math problem right or the servant strokes your ear in a way you hate or if your family friend or cousin squeezes your breast or grabs your bottom and it feels uncomfortable don’t ever remain silent at such times.

Always keep in mind this important touching rule — if some one touches you in a way you don’t like or that leaves you feeling unsafe or confused or uncomfortable or forces you to touch them in a funny way just say a firm ‘NO’.

Protest loudly and get away from the spot and immediately tell someone who will listen to you and protect you — like your mom, dad, aunt, grandparent or teacher. Keep telling someone till you get help to make the abuse stop.

Nobody can touch you in a way that leaves you feeling unsafe or confused.

Your body is very special and belongs to only you. Nobody has a right to touch your private body parts but to keep you clean or healthy. If when you are being given a medical examination or a bath and the person is making you insecure or uncomfortable, say ‘NO’.

And yes you can always ask for your parent to be with you when the doctor is taking a look at you.

Whenever a person breaks the touching rule (no matter who it is — a relative, family friend or a tuition teacher or someone who works at home) and hurts you not only physically but also by causing you worry and fear, don’t ever blame yourself. It is not your fault at all. The important thing is to tell a trusted adult quickly and get help. Stay safe always. And say ‘No’ when you have to.

From the Young World by Sudha Uma Shanker

Another feather in the cap: News Editor!

Recently, I was invited to join the Editorial board of The Receptor: India's first Career Guidance Mag for young Doctors published by Kalam Books, I was only too happy to join in :) The inaugural issue of The Receptor is out! The Receptor is a unique, interactive monthly magazine specially designed for the young doctors. A powerful punch in terms of customized content, this magazine brings a smart and superior learning experience from one of the best medical publisher.

Features:
News: A mix of local, international, national news that bears relevance for the young doctors
Exam Diary: Notifications about various entrance exams along with details
Mock Test: Each issue carries a mock test of either national institutes or state entrance exams
Recent Papers: Every issue carries a Recent Question paper with answers of either national institutes or state entrance exams
High Yield Topics: Most important topics from various subjects are explained in an easy understandable way.
Ask the expert? Readers queries regarding various exams and opportunities India and abroad answered here
Toppers Interview: Interview with toppers in various exams in India and overseas
Quiz: One can win exciting prizes by participating in the every month quiz
Overseas Guidance: The magazine publishes articles about opportunities in various countries

Halo around the Moon!

Canon Powershot: ISO200, Exposure 2 Seconds

 Canon Powershot: ISO400, Exposure 4 Seconds

Shot at 11pm IST today...More effects of pollution?

Dasavatharam Movie Review

I know it's like 80 days since the movie released... But I guess it's never too late to write about a great movie. The best avatar of Kamalhaasan is definitely the invisible 11th one of the Story & screenplay writer. An intricately woven plot of ten seemingly unrelated characters and storylines merging towards the end with Kamalhaasan's commentary on the society and satire neatly woven in all along the way.

The criticism that the movie lacks a story line is stupid, considering most of the events in the movie happen in a span of about 72 hours.

It's easier to describe the movie through it's 10 characters so I'll do it that way. If you've not watched the movie then U probably shouldn't read this. But if you're like the scores of people who missed lots of minute details maybe this post is for you.

The Movie begins with Kamalhaasan (Govindaraj Ramasamy) addressing a huge crowd. He begins by explaining the butterfly effect and the Chaos theory! Kamal's commentary on the society begins too... He starts off by saying long before the English came here to divide us or religions divided us... we as a country were still fighting among ourselves. We're even fighting now!

Nambi: A Temple priest, who is dumped into the sea with the stone idol he prays because he defies the religious wishes of the king. He chooses to die with the idol over his family. It's pretty obvious what Kamal feels about idol worship and people who blindly follow god.

Govindaraj: The hero of the movie is a biologist who's involved in developing biological weapons for the USA even though his conscience is clearly against it. Isn't everyone like this? When his boss tries to sell off a potent biological weapon he fights them off and gets shipped to India along with the germs.

During a song In Govind is shown stepping out of a god's picture. Is Kamal trying to say Govind is like god's incarnate? or everyone who fights for good is god maybe? :P

Entry Asin the Heroine, in an extremely irritating character! She's a Brahmin? gal who lives in a Mutt and is attached to 'god' So when the vial of germs is put inside the statue of a god she clings to the statue and Govind through the movie. I used to like Asin before the movie... You'll understand if U have watched the movie. It's surprising Govind the brilliant scientist never thought of giving a whack on Asin's head and retrieving the vial to safety!

Govind & Asin have more than one discussions about caste. Asin is a stereotype upper caste girl (old lady?) who asks what caste he is. When she realises that he isn't upper caste she walks into a toilet to prevent him from touching the idol. Kamal quips 'You (people) feel god is better kept in the toilet than coming into contact with us'

Christian Fletcher Rocks! He's an ex CIA agent, mercenary He's single minded in his pursuit to recover the vial to his corrupt bosses. In the climax when he and Narahashi are fighting he quips "remember Hiroshima?" For which Narahashi replies "remember Pearl Harbour?" :) Fletcher also says "Here (India) anybody could get away with anything!" This is how foreigners think about India I guess!

Balarama Naidu, RAW officer, is a stereotype Police officer. He leaves the audience in splits with his Telugu accent and dialogue delivery. He's given the task of interrogating Govind the terrorist and recovering the vial of Germs. Once when Govind is almost caught at Kalifulla's house the first thing he asks Kalifulla is if he's from a terrorist Organisation. He then rounds up the whole village for interrogation at the local mosque, typical police behaviour when they're clueless!

Vincent Poovaraghavan is probably the most meaningful crater in the whole movie. He fights against illegal sand mining.

Avatar Singh is a singer, Avtar Singh is shown contemplating in front of a Sikh Religious Guru's pic as he gets closer the pic is replaced with Kamal's reflection! Kamal sort of acquits himself for Nambi's folly as Avtar Singh by choosing his family over his profession.

George Bush is portrayed as George Bush needs no description!

Krishnavaeni Paati has a small role to play

Kalifulla Khan is shown as a soft kind hearted Muslim, breaks the stereotype of the image people associate with the religion nowadays

Shingen Narahashi, Japanese martial arts trainer who avenges his sister's death, provides for some action at the climax with Fletcher

When Fletcher loses to Narahashi and ingests the germs and a large quantity of Common Salt is required to neutralise the germs. At that moment (on the morning of 25th December 2004) the Tsunami strikes and does the job! Kamal has tried to say there's some good even in that disaster. I'm surprised it didn't offend people.

With the Tsunami the statue of Vishnu along with Nambi's Skeleton chained to it? lands on the Beach! Implying God came with the Tsunami!!? When Govind rues at all the destruction and death, Asin says God sent the Tsunami to neutralise the Germs. Govind, offended asks why the all powerful god killed so many people Asin replies imagine how many lakhs would've died if the germ had spread! Kalifulla and his entire village is inside the Mosque when the Tsunami ruins his village.

At the end when Govind (Kamal) and Asin fall in love (OMG!) Kamal says 'When did I say God isn't there, I only said it would be nice if God is there!'