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Save energy, do not use computers! Duh!So, the date today is 9 November, 2009. 9/11/2009.. Is this India’s or Maharashtra’s 9/11? 20 years back, this was the day when the Berlin Wall was broken, precisely on 9 November, 1989. As per European date system, it is 9/11. It is credited to be the first force that made globalization possible. Such a beautiful event signifying the unity of Germany. The other 9/11, and more famous one was destructive. But, what I see in today’s 9/11 is a wall being created inside India, which might even prove destructive. The lawmakers turning out lawbreakers.
The issue started all with the oath of Abu Asim Azmi being taken in Hindi. Okay, now let me remind you that a politician from Belgaum in Karnataka was made to resign from ministership as he was not able to talk proper Kannada. Rajnikant Gaikwad is a bigger – than – God famous superstar in southern India. He happens to be a native Maharashtrian. Ambumani Ramadoss wrote and alarmed the Tamilian people that certain non – Tamilians, non – Dravidians, outsiders are eyeing to take the seat of Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. The media made hoopla on this as it was all indicating towards Rajnikanth. This famous superstar knows Tamil very well but still the words made by Ambumani Ramadoss, a leader of Indian National Congress and not of any regional party makes such comments.
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Coming to point, let me remind the official language of Maharashtra is only Marathi. Hindi is not an official language of Maharashtra. The official languages of India are English and Hindi. Even when it came to Hindi being the official language way back sometime in 50s, it was made so only because of one vote. That is what Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s book written in 1955 says. There was a tie once, and the second time, only one vote additional in favor of Hindi. As per Wikipedia, what it said was ‘there is no national language of India’. Now, the edit is removed as something happened in parliament in May 2008. Even now, I do not find anything concrete on Wikipedia stating ‘national language of India is Hindi’. All it states is ‘Hindi is the official language of India’. From May 2008, there is no one national language of India, but in fact, they are multiple. Every other regional language generally known is now a national language of India. The list of national languages in India from May 2008 can be found here: Funny thing, English, Hindi and Marathi are all one of the national languages of India. Then why is this issue on Marathi being whipped up all of a sudden? The population of Marathi speakers in Maharashtra is 68% as per 2001 census. Now, it is said to have gone down to less than 60%.
And Azmi is not the only one to take the oath in Hindi. One Thakur from Kandivali too did it. This MLA runs a group of institutions that have a Bhojpuri minority. He is involved into development activities. He never issued any statement of distributing sticks or so, and nor is he involved in any bomb blasts. That is why MNS has no enmity with him and the House was absolutely silent when he took the oath. Azmi was first requested to take the oath in Marathi and later on warned by MNS. The issue is not all against Hindi, but against Azmi who happens to be a key enemy of MNS. Girish Bapat of Pune took the oath in Sanskrit, and many Maharashtrian MLAs did it in English. Azmi was the only target owing to his credentials earlier.
As for today’s issues, I don’t know what has been reported in Hindi media. But, every MLA of the INC, ShivSena, BJP, MNS was in favor of taking the oath in Marathi. Especially, the non – Marathi elected MLAs were in absolute favor of speaking in Marathi, and almost everyone in the House had requested Abu Asim Azmi to take the oath in Marathi. But, he is a 1993 Mumbai blast convict, supposedly having close ties with Dawood and undoubtedly the earlier busted Indian terrorist outfit SIMI. He published a notice in all newspapers that he would take the oath in Hindi and did the nuisance, even after knowing the present scenario in politics of Maharashtra. When a person doesn’t understand the language of request, what does he understand, especially concerning the fact that the person in consideration is a Bombay blast convict? It was only 4 MLAs coming down to the level of violence whereas the other parties kept restraint. I do not wish to see a person like Abu Asim Azmi entering into the fold of Maharashtra politics at all. Hindu Muslim tensions, Bhaiyya – Marathi tensions are all sure to come into the fore once such a nonsensical person is present. He was the same man to speak of sending 20,000 people from Azamgarh along with distributing sticks in Mumbai. The remaining 9 MNS candidates along with the support of almost every other MLA would take care of Azmi in the coming time using the right language which he understands. Let’s hope. I just don’t want any problems in daily life of some ‘bandhs’ from either sides and all the bullshit followed.
This incident reminds me of something that took place 55 years back. The Samyukta Maharashtra Movement. It was the time when a Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti and a Gujarat Mahaparishad had unanimously decided to form two different states out of the then Bombay State or Maha – dwibhashik – rajya. A majority of other states in India were found on linguistic basis. Even then, 105 people have to DIE owing to the pressure of the police enforced by the Indian Congress Party. The place where deaths took place is called Hutatma Chowk and is located in south Mumbai. Motilal Nehru had made a statement long back that ‘Maharashtra is a dirty and rusty part of India that should be straightly cut out of India’ at some point of time. (Source: an article of Prabhodhankar Thackeray written sometime in 1950s, published in a Marathi magazine ‘Marmik’ issue of 16 August, 2009) The legacy seems to have passed to Jawaharlal Nehru and the death of 105 for no real reason only reconfirms it. Okay, coming to the actual point of convergence, today almost all MLAs were united against Abu Asim Azmi on taking the oath in Hindi. But, what we see is the Hindi media and our uneducated politicians from the traditional northern belts whipping up against Raj Thackeray on dividing the nation.
The Assembly was not the right place to beat Abu Asim Azmi.. Somewhere on the streets would have been better. It wouldn’t have suspended the 4 MLAs!
Call me extremist or whatever, but such a person who has a clear motive to cause mischief deserves it.
> 1. What is height of Fashion?
> Ans : Dhoti with a zip .
>
> 2. What is height of Secrecy?
> Ans : Offering blank visiting cards.
>
> 3. What is height of Active laziness?
> Ans : Asking for a lift to house while on a morning walk.
>
> 4. What is height of Craziness?
> Ans : Getting a blank paper Xeroxed.
>
> 5. What is height of Forgetfulness?
> Ans : Seeing the mirror and trying to recollect when you
> saw him / her last.
>
> 6. What is height of Stupidity?
> Ans : A person looking through a keyhole of a glass door.
>
> 7. What is height of Honesty?
> Ans : A pregnant woman taking one and a half ticket.
>
> 8. What is height of Suicide?
> Ans : A dwarf jumping from the footpath on the road.
>
> 9. What is height of De-hydration?
> Ans : A cow giving milk powder.
> 10. What is Height of Kanjoosi ?
> Ans : Banta’s house has caught fire and he is giving
> miss calls to the Fire brigade!!!
There are aplenty of hopeless people around the world. Did they all become hopeless all of a sudden, or did they have any choice? Understanding this is complex. However, I believe terrible helplessness at some point of time makes people hopeless. If they ever had any other choice, they would opt for it!

Image from www.emotionalcompetency.com
This is a song (as well as the whole movie) portrays the helplessness of six different people who are close friends. I have been listening to the songs of this movie, Kaante, since it was released, and I never got bored. Oh, but I felt somewhere I am missing one song out of the movie (which I had heard a lot sometime) and upon Googling for the lyrics, I got it back! Do not know how but I accidentally seem to have deleted this song back. Maybe, because it was Punjabi and I did not even get an essence of it then. It is 6 years that I am listening to the songs of this movie, but I happened to watch this movie only yesterday night on Star Gold.
I am yet to come out with any better movie that portrays the helplessness of people in personal lives so precisely. All actors were great, but Mahesh Manjrekar (originally a director) stood different as an actor in this, and so did Sanjay Dutt. Kumar Gaurav and Amitabh were great as usual. Suniel Shetty and Lucky Ali did not have many dialogues as always but their body language spoke a lot.
As such, this movie is ‘inspired from’ Reservoir Dogs, but many have told me that this one is better presented. Whatever, this post is about the song and not the movie. The song will show the helpless situations of the six friends in the video itself. I found it touching. It is originally in Punjabi, and I got it translated from a Punjabi speaking friend.
I wish I should have heard it daily for the last 4 years!
By the way, this song appears in the movie when Amitabh’s wife (played by Rati Agnihotri) is about to die and Amitabh wishes to get her back. He has no one to live for except her. He is asking for his own thing to God, but he cannot get it. The initial lines are in Punjabi, next two in the brackets are in Hindi, and the last two are in English. If you know any one of the three languages, you will understand!
Yaar Mangiyasi Rabba Tetho Ro ke, Kedi Main Khudaai Mang Laayi
Mar Jaan De Kisi Da Mainu Ho Ke
Kedi Main Khudaai
(Yaar manga tha Rabba Tujhse Ro Ke, Kaunsi Maine Khudaai Maang Li
Mar Jaane De Kisi Ka Mujhe Ho Ke, Kaunsi Khudaai)I only asked for my dear (wife), I did not ask for your (God’s) kingdom
Let me die for the sake of my dear, I am not asking for your (God’s) kingdom…
Kinniya Duawan Mangga, Koyi Vi Na Manni Jaaye
Kaanu Roz Roz deve sanu dhokhe
Kedi Mein Khudai
(Kitni Duayeein Mangu, Koi bhi Na Mani Jaaye (or sunee jaye)
Kyun Roz Roz De Mujhe Dhokhe, Kaunsi Khudaai)How many times I’ve prayed, not a single one is reaching you,
Why give me trauma everyday? I did not ask for your kingdom…
Pyaar Mera, Kar Rabba Mere Hawale, Yaar Bin Dil Mera Kaun Sambhale
Cheez Apni Hi Mangi Maine Tuhjse, Kedi Mein Paarai Manglaayi
Mar Jaan De Kisi Da Mainu Ho Ke, Kedi Main Khudaai
(mera pyar, kar mere hawale rabba, yaar ke bina kaun dil sambhale
cheez apni hi mangi thi maine tujhse, kaunsi parrai (kisi aur ki) mang li
Mar jaane de mujhe kisi ka hoke ..kaunsi khudai….)Give me my love (wife) back, who will look after me without my dear?
I have asked for something of my own, did I ask for anything of others?
Let me die for the sake of my dear, I am not asking for your (God’s) kingdom…
Mera Ye Naseeba, Hai Meri Nahin Sunta
Sapno Ke Jaal Yeh To, Roz Roz Bunta
Kabhi Sun Le Tu Meri Bhi Duhaai, Kedi Mein Khudai
(meri ye kistman , hai meri nahi sunti Sapno Ke Jaal Yeh To, Roz Roz Bunti
Kabhi Sun Le Tu Meri Bhi Duhaai, Kaunsi Maine Khudai)O my luck, doesn’t even listen to me, weaving out dreams of its own daily and daily,
Sometime listen to my two lines of prayer, I am not asking for your (God’s) kingdom…..
Economic recession has hit countries the entire world hard. It included even the most booming ones like India and China, where the estimated growth was not reached. In case of India, it happened to achieve lesser growth than the expected even though the economy did expand. So, a question remains which countries survived the economic recession best?
Answer – Australia
Servcorp carried out the survey. The countries that were worst hit were all the Western ones. The unemployment is growing high in the developed West, whereas it went up even in the Third World Arab countries, which are traditionally having a high unemployment. In the survey too, the list does not have any name in the top 10 except for Canada.

Image Credit : Digital Inspiration
It seems having a not – so – open economy helps. The external diseases do not hit hard enough, but conversely when the world economy booms, the external growth does not come in fast too. Followed by Australia were China and India/Singapore. New Zealand stands at ninth stop. Many names are from the Eastern world. Clearly, this is the century where rise of the Asian countries phenomenon can be seen. In his book, ‘The Post – American World’, Fareed Zakaria talks in detail about the phenomenon which he calls ‘The Rise of The Rest’. It means the rise of other powers apart from America.
The 19th century belonged to the British, the 20th century belonged to the Americans, and it seems the 21st century belongs to Asians!
As for the major western powers, there were all booming when the world markets were booming. The effect of recession they felt was also high when the global recession took place.
It is not so easy to say whether an open economy helps or not. In most cases, an open economy only helps. If the whole world opted for open economies, well, the world would be much more free, peaceful and prosperous then. Countries indulging into free trade do not have any skirmishes or any problems with each other. That is the beauty of free trade.
A British politician, Richard Cobden once (1857) said:
“Free Trade is God’s diplomacy and there is no other certain way of uniting people in the bonds of peace.”
[Source]
At this time of recession, Obama’s policies are turning out more protectionists. Pranab Mukherji, earlier Foreign Minister of India had also accused him for the same. This same mistake was done by the Western countries back in ‘70s and the outcome was nothing good. What different can we predict in case of America?
Coming to the survey, when people in Australia were asked which countries do they find surviving the recession best, Australia was the answer from their side as well!
Still, I do have a doubt. The survey was carried out by Servcorp. It seems an Australian based firm, and if you observe, the countries that you find there in the survey list are very close to the ones where the firm has its locations!
Now, that is quite fuzzy, but still I would rather rely this as Australian Dollar is hitting high from last eight months even in the times of recession.
The survey is can be found by clicking here.
The top countries best surviving the global recession:
1st – Australia
2nd – China
3rd – India and Singapore (equal)
5th – Hong Kong
6th – Canada
7th – Japan and Qatar (equal)
9th – New Zealand
10th – Malaysia, Sweden and Vietnam (equal)

