The Shivraj Patil of Delhi : Shiela Dixit

It is strange that for continuously 11 yrs , Mrs Shiela Dixit has been running the government and emerged stronger after every election. To a naive it might seem like the victory of the development politics while to the uninitiated it may be attributed to the fault of the opposition of not being able to provide a viable alternative.
Lets try to put things in perspective and dispassionately analyzse where she has struck the nail . To begin with Delhi , the capital of India always had the first mover advantage. For it represented the pride of India and any foreign dignitary carried the impression that Delhi left on the indelible memory. Successive governments therefore never reined in the purse strings to make Delhi a truly world class city. Infact it acted as a magnet for the whole of North India, where the Human Development Index is such abysmally low that people immigrate to Delhi in search of menial jobs and even worse inhuman living conditions.No wonder the the civic infrastructure was bound to crumble and it did. So why is Mrs Dikshit still a favorite ? This is where the messy politics comes in ... it is deflection of the responsibilty to MCD which is being run by the opposition.
Coming to taking credits , she can even put to shame the left leaders who attribute the financial thawing rather than fearful meltdown to their adamant aggressive agenda while being an outside supporter of UPA. Mrs Dikshit , without blinking takes all the credit for Delhi Metro whicj is unjust considering the fact it is a corporation that is solely out of the purview of government and is run as another corporation. On the issue of transportation , sh undoubtedly has done a good job of constructing one flyover after another and following it with one over the other. But the essence of flyoever is smooth traffic flow and despite her best claims it is not the cure to the problem. Turning to security , she has been crying hoarse of granting Delhi complete statehood to solve the policing issues. One minute .. who is stopping you when you have your very own government at the centre ? Has the delhi assembly even taken the first step to make the recommendation?
Coming to amenities like Electricity , Water and Sanitation, the situation is just not upto the mark . Privatisation of distribution and transmission at the heavy cost of subsidization is not eliminating wastage but transferring annual losses to annual subsidy grants to the private players.
On public transportation front , Bluelines still continue to be meance and despite her rhetoric of banning bluelines they continue to play havoc with lives of road user. DTC , supposed to be the public carrier is not even in the fray of being near a probable alternative to private vehicles. Though new busues are being bought for the government is flush with funds , thanks mainly to VAT , Service taxes , and Income Tax fear that the government has been on a splurging spree.
Housing problem still remains acute with satellite towns the only option to buy flats as the DDA has not lived upto its duty of constructing dwellings to fills the increasingly widening demand supply deficit. Even the much hyped Commonwealth Games is turnig out to be a farce . The preparations are grossly inadequate , the misaapropriation of funds in anyones's guess and the damage to the environment is irrevocable. On the environment , the credit goes to supreme court for sticking to its stand and making all the public transport vehicle srun on CNG. I will tell you something intersting , you just take a Bluline bus , get into a convival consersation with the consuctor and the startling facts start revealing. The owners of blueline buses operate as proteges politicians and police officers which is refelcted in their utter disdain for the law.
On the edcation front , the government might be making big promises but the ground reality remains shak a laka. If you just keep in mind the small geogriphical area , the massive funds generated and correlate the commensurate development you can realize the enormity of the sham. And Delhi voters being the most gullible , naive , scoring lowest on the maturuty index just play subservient to the cunning ways of Mrs Dikshit.

MBA : A Perspective

In India, we have the habit of overdoing things. Whether it be Cricket, Bollywood or even for that matter IT industry. It is in some way a reflection of the depleted society we are living in where there is a serious dearth of heroes ,a vacuum that has to be filled by political figurehead. We aggrandize even the minutest of our achievements , revel at others success as if all the gains are to acrue to us. A similar is the fate of ours with MBA education.
For a developing country like ours , we are always in search of tokens , reaffirming that India has finally arrived on the world economic map. Though benefits derived from the fruits of development should be guiding us in this respect , we just have never had the opportunity to experience it ourselves for they never percolated so deep down the stratum.
And now that the dream has gone sour , it seems we are just back to square zero. Things that were iconic are now being relegated to the backyards.
MBA is just one of the victims. To begin with MBA education like Engineering is not a noble education. It is all about making money for yourself and your business. Society comes in but only in extraction of resources. So when we put MBA education in hallowed portals , we just were not prudent enough.It was naivety to say the least.
This current economic recession has brought in a much needed rationalization. Earlier every Tom , Dick and Harry was a financial whiz , tantamount a runner on crutches challenging Usman Bolt to full country marathon. It was bound to fail , it had no reason whatsoever to be successful. And now that it has happened why are we crying foul? It is because we do not work on Logic, we see a third force coming to our rescue to bring Orderliness.
Our media has played a pivotal role in setting the mess we are in. Journalism has become subservient to government and business agendas. A true reflection is that neither the journalist led by our very own DD News exhibit neutrality and objectivity in reporting events. Even before the trial begins, the judgment is pronounced at the altar of public opinion. And who builds public opinion , again the media. So what they preach is what they get , a classic example of Cob Web Phenomenon.

The Real Fighter : Shibu Soren

Few people can replicate what Shibu Soren has accomplished. Even fewer would have the morals so low (if any) to have made a return to politics after unceremoniously being thrown out of office. And no one can present a picture a candor and calm as he maintains despite the very clinching evidence of his wrongdoings.He is "GURUJI", and why not he should be. He has inspired a breed of rogue, crass league of politicians whose moral decay and corruptible value system has made politics a challenge for the honest upright Indians striving to bring India back to its days of glory.

For the uninitiated , a brief of his political (mis)deeds are documented for which tangible evidence has been collected by the ever alert Indian media.

May 23, 2004: Joins as Union minister for coal & mines

July 24, 2004: Resigns after non-bailable warrants are issued in the Chirudih massacre case

Nov 27, 2004: Returns as Union coal minister after getting bail in the case

March 2, 2005: Quits Union cabinet, sworn in as Jharkhand chief minister

March 11, 2005: Steps down after losing confidence vote

Jan 29, 2006: Back in Cabinet

Nov 28, 2006: Quits after conviction in Shashinath Jha murder case.

Aug 22, 2007: Acquitted in the case

Aug 27, 2008: Sworn in as Jharkhand chief minister

Jan 12, 2009: Quits after losing the Tamar by-poll

The person inflicting the humiliating loss happens to be one from his own party peer. Even his record is so maligned , that convicts charged with Rape, Murder and Dacoity would be having a glimmer of hope of returning to the civil society.

Our "GURUJI", is a quintessential power monger who has lost all the sanity and morality to pursue his goals of clinging to power. It is a matter of immense humiliation , disgrace that it our lot to ruled over by such devious scoundrels . It is even more worrisome that political compulsion is preventing the justice play truant to the course of law.

Why I am Happy to Not get to IIMA

Not getting to IIM , Ahmedabad though not delibrately has been a fabulous thing that could happen to me . In its trails it has bought a change so urgently needed . It has led to an image makeover , an evolution of cognition beyond the realms of excellence and some hard grounding to the vacillations and vagaries of life.

Coming back to the point(s), the list is limited , but I shall make every attempt to stretch it for my merriment......

• At such a ripe age , exposing myself to the rigour of academics would not only have been harmful , but fatal likely. Though hard work never killed anyone but why take chances.
• A new wave of education is emerging in India of campuses that are virtual, where the cart is kept before the horses. I can proudly claim to be an output of the system. Having spent , squandered (more appropriately) in India's finest sprawling campus at Roorkee, a change should be welcome .
• John Milton's Paradise Lost , it is better to reign in Hell than to Be Reigned in heaven , aptly captures the mood to be counted among the best without laboring much.
  
• With the economy in recession, it would have put more pressure or categorically put more humiliating to not manage a High Paying I- Banking dream job , that from the very outset seemed improbable considering my limited abilities. I will now at least reason to stand my argument a chance to sustain logic.
  
• Not having a campus comes with its set of merits. And one that begets your attention is the relaxation to arrive late in lectures albeit TPG, RG. An inveterate ritual for me , it would have landed me short of attendance in WIMWI every now and then.
• Cost consideration, also support my involuntary decision to not get through WIMWI . With tuition fees set exorbitantly, it would have strained my limited resources to fund my MBA that increasingly is losing its sheen thanks mainly to the crookedness of once mighty but now defunct i-bankers of the ivy leagues.
• Not being the very best , compels you to learn how to prevaricate. It is a different experience altogether to stand your ground despite yourself being not convinced of the flimsy nature of your argument. It is one of the most important lessons , which only not going to WIMWI could have taught me.
• At my current institute , it dawns upon you how age is fast catching up with you when the majority of the class would not have seen the light of the day while I was on the verge of abanding suction milk bottles to be taken over my milk teeth. It makes you sombre , responsible and above saintly of the lot.
• In WIMWI, I would have severely missed the City of Joy , whose attraction goes beyond the intellectual stimulus to the hormonal erotic stimulus the ever dapper looking , exquisitely dressed bong babes provide in glittering streets and corridors of City Centre of Kolkata.

How Winters Have that Sensuous Charm.

Having grown up in Delhi and having put up major tenure of my stay in North India , winters occupy a special place in my heart and mind. The warmth of the quilt , the serving of hot steaming tea , the ringing of Christmas bells and the jubilation and festivity of new year grandeur add th xing to the mood. Moreover the winters are the time when I start appreciating the bounty of nature's beauty in all its might unleashed but previously not taken cognizance by the ever sub concious mind. Then how else can you explain that sunlight so omnipresent but registered and taken delight only in winters. Wow what an ecstasy it is to get your body served the warmth in the countering presence of chill.
Winters more than for anything else is well rounded for bringing an aura of laziness , of a laid back attitude . It is the period of time where we realize that getting immersed in the daily chores is not the sole purpose of living. Making money, constant bickering over minutest of things just do not let us see the big picture of charm , splendor that lies untrodden by our tangent eyes. The pain of leaving the warmth of the quilt to face the might of winters in all its Armour equipped fully is a nightmare we fantasize avoiding. The coyness of having every one of our loved ones in our company watching a movie with all the winter gears on , is a delight.
Talking of winters how can we forget the blinding that engulfs Delhi. It is heavenly gift bestowed on Delhi . With visibility playing truant , cancellation of flights is too small a price to pay for the picturesque delight we see unfold before our eyes if we are on late night or early morning drive. It makes you secluded from the world , you can afford to be yourself , the world is not watching you. Strolling through the fog brings a degree of adventure into our lives devoid of anything remotely linked to adventure.
Especially winters are the time when whole of North India is out in the open , blazing its frozen body under the glowing firmament in the sky that plays hide and seek , much when the desire is there for it to not do it. Talking of winters and sun , it would be unpardonable to not mention the goodies of groundnut, jaggery products that awash the markets as well as the pockets of children , who on their mother's insistence play obedient and dutiful child.
Winters of Delhi have a regal charm associated with them . The end of Raj has not completely brought the legacy to an end. Infact whatever traces remain , I have a lurking feeling they find a vent out in the winters. There is definitely a theory but it is too loosely bound , mentioning it now would amount to inchoate talk.
Winters are the time when events such as fairs , book festivals are scheduled on a regular basis to make people come out . In Delhi Trade Fair is another big catch for the ones looking to get a glimpses of the future of trade and commerce. It brings to the city a businesslike ambiance that to the abhorrence of average Delhite we decry Delhi of in comparison to Mumbai.
Another common but more ugly side is the stark contrast people at the struggling end of making a decent living feel . Rudimentary shelters , insufficient infrastructure to fight the vagaries of nature and lacuna in the winter clothing's feel the pinch all the more severely. Every now and then the news channels relay people succumbing to frost bite. In a civilized society , this is such a bad commentary on the state of affairs. It is a reminder of the stark differences that exist in our society when a group of people barely clothed enough to fight winters , letting the heat of faintly glowing garbage remains provide comfort ,albeit temporary to them.

How to Remove Genuine Windows Notification from WIndows XP Operating System

It is one of the most irritating things cropping up every time we start the Windows XP , for those who still believe Bill Gates as Satan. This notification however does not find any listing in the Add/Remove program utility, hence it is extremely difficult to remove it from the list of programs. However there is a way to circumvent it. But a word of caution before proceeding further:Do create a back up of your registries in case of anything goes awry.
So here we go

• Go to Start menu
• Execute the Run command
• In the window , type 'regedit'.
• A window opens up listing all the registries.
• Ctrl + F and search for 'wgalogon'.
• Delete the registries by deleting the whole folder.

Simple You are Done With the Menace

Hope this works , it worked in my case.

Happy Surfing.

Academic Mediocrity

Ever since I entered the precincts of B-School, I was always fascinated by academic excellence. It was deep rooted ideology where I desired to counted not among the best but the very best. A feeling of ecstasy used to run down my spine with the sheer mention of academic brilliance. The very thought of great minds at work with their stupendous effort leading the charge of developing the world we desire for, just made the field of academics a fascinating one. To be a part of the world where we still are not guided by the whims and fancies of an eccentric corporate beast, just seduced me.
But it was never so easy to begin with. As the ones who shall be leading the intellectual brigade , one needs to be thorough with whatever he is pursuing academically with a proof. And that proof is CGPA on the higher side, an abhorrence for corporate culture , leftist leanings and ascetic lifestyle. On a scale of 10, I will score the highest on all the parameters but the first one. Having identified this as my weak link , I wanted to have the first mover advantage. But as is incorrectly Well Begun is Half Done, I just lose the zing in the end. Even the system must share certain blame where dishonesty does not lead to competition of equals but of unequals.

My Weekend Sojourn.

At this ripe age , I am finally doing what I should have done ages back. I am flirting with fire, i am flirting with seduction or to say it blatantly I am try to woo fairer gender. Accompanying me here are my batch mates and my fully nurtured frustration.
As a religious schedule , I reach out to City Centre looking dapperly dressed, The most Hip and Happening place in the Salt Lake, if not whole of Kolkata. And Oh My Mime, there you realize the fury of God's creativity. Items , Babes just line up to show what they have : Assets and we just do not let them down. It is quite obvious I seem to think , that why men in their prime in the company of other men be milling in the crowd had it not been "Dostana". But I have a feeling , they enjoy it. Knowing very well whats on store why would you play with fire. Boy they play and play amazingly well.
Ladies from all genre are a treat to watch. At times it becomes extremely difficult to not ogle at maternal ladies still in their prime with meticulously dressed sarees and that deep cut neck blouse that keeps male hormones working overtime. You just cannot stop wondering why Bong Babes are still ruling the roost in Bollywood. The answer is "They Just Have No Competitor".

To understand the magnanimity of the prowess of these Bong Babes , one of my friends aptly quotes "Bengal ! Improving India's average". Infact when we stare at their assets , there is lurking feeling that they just relish it. At times we the hunter is hunted , but this is what adds to the Bong babes Sensuous charm.

Sitting at one of the most prominent balustrades just overlooking the Tea Junction, we are unleashing the terror of eve teasing. Not a single damsel passes which is not registered by our probing amorous eyes. At times we just do overdo things much to the annoyance of their male counterpoints. However justification is easily derived from Keats "A Thing of Beauty is A Joy Forever".

Our flirt with ridiculity has taught us a lesson that we always wanted to be taught . Brain * Beauty = Constant. Then what else would explain cogently the fact that their boyfriends are a just a shade of them. The babes are silken , lustrous , sensuous ,while the blokes are just another brick in the wall. Is it the money power that is dictating it. We have that sniff that it is exactly that.It should not be any other reason, therefore money commands power , MBA delivers it and once rejuvenated for academics excellence we head straight to our places reinvigorated to make the best of the time before we come back again.

How to build creativity.

It is the oft quoted , most abused and seldom followed phrase that corporates have unleashed to propel their profits. It masquerades as a serious attempt to bring semblance and order to the way businesses are run. I am talking of Out of The Box Thinking. The focus is so much on the end result that the process which lays the foundation is given the royal ignore. However as human race finds itself in tumultuous times , with its lot of miseries increasing rather than decreasing , the time has finally come to develop that process , that bloody process analogously nurtured by Greg Chappel but decried and ridiculed unbound by one and all, which actually laid the foundation for India's cricket stupendous success.

As individuals there are certain things that we can do to inculcate that mode of thought process. To begin with always think of half glass empty. It is the first and needless to say the foremost step in realization and actualization of the problem. The half glass full is of no concern but the other half is.

Then follows the process of following the course of action that will lead us to remedial measures. It starts with having diametrically opposite view of the world. As famously quoted by the George Bernard Shaw "The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man". The idea is to develop alternate thinking , inculcating the ability to seep through the intricacies and just grasp enough details of the problem that you attack the problem in an unconventional way.
Another important component is that of conviction.If faith can move mountains , conviction can cause dogmas to loosen their strangle hold. To convince others who are equally dogmatic and rigid , we need to be supremely convinced in our conviction.It is no easy task to make others change their carefully ideology . But this is where we have to demonstrate that zing where we make things happen. Believe it might seem intransigent but Earth was never the centre of the Sun.

The Receding Hairline : A cause of Anxiety

I am just out of my teens. I am flirtin with manhood and yet I find myself in a precarious situation where with every passing day I carry less of burden of what should have been more: My Glowing Shiny Silken hair.

What a loss it has been and what is even more astounding is the acceleration it is picking with increasing course curriculum and tighter exam schedules. My french beard to an extent is compensating for the loss in density but now that I am flirting with the idea of shaving of that frenchie , I find it very scary to let only my countable silken black blades of grass do the scalp hiding and machoism flaunting stuff.

Everyday time and again as I stand before the mirror I find numbers decimated . Even friends and foes alike have started exemplating the receding curve to IS-LM models in economy in an effort to lend some enthusiasm to menial macroeconomics. I also join the gang but somewhere down the line that fear lurks, is the fact of the matter so evident.

But now that the inevitable in imminent , I am on lookout for the positives. I think a frenchie might just compliment shiny lustrous bald. It will catapult me into the league where I will consider myself to have seen it all and now aloof. It will make me further oblivious of how I look. It will help me in fighting the dreaded inflation monster with reduced spending on expensive luxury hair care products. Wow ....a Whole new world of untrodden confidence and debonair carefreenes opens up.