Akhilesh Yadav - the new youth icon in Indian politics

It is interesting to see how the electorate in the biggest state in India selected a new youth icon Akhilesh Yadav.

The mindsets are changing. The younger generation is voting for hope. They are hoping that youth icons like Akhilesh can make Uttar Pradesh a better place to live.

My five points for Akhilesh:

- Urbanise the villages and the towns (the mantra from Lee Kuan Yew, the ex-premier of Singapore)

- Induct educated people with clean images as ministers

- Cleanse the bureaucracy

- Have a goal to create at least 5 cities in UP to compete with modern cities like Singapore, Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur

- Last but not the least, make a determined effort to weed out corruption and corrupt people

All the best to you Akhilesh. May God be with you in making you take on a very challenging responsibility that can take you places.

Greg Chappell on Indian Culture

It is amusing to hear Gregory Stephen Chappell aka Greg Chappell on Indian Culture.

Link to the article: Greg Chappell attacks Indian Culture and Cricket team

What surprises me is, during the years 2005 to 2007, while he was being paid by India, the Indian money, belonging to Indians, by Indians of Indian culture, he didn't have an iota of negativity on the same culture, the hand that was feeding him.

Now at his 64th year (yeah he was born in the year 1948), he suddenly realises that he has misgivings about  Indian Culture. Frankly who cares? No wonder our Dada Saurav Ganguly treated this loose tongued chappie appropriately while he was Indian coach.

I thought Australians did sledging only on cricket field that too by jealous juveniles. Looks like they have moved to the next level with seniles like Greg Chappell lecturing the world on Indian Culture!

Greg blames(?) the 'poms' (first time I heard that Britishers were also know as this!), the current state of Indian Culture. Mr. Chappell, were you born when Britishers were ruling India? Were you in India when Britishers were ruling India?? Are you holding any authoritative qualification on Cultures???

So, if he thinks that Australia or Australians have a better culture, he better know that, the same has been borrowed from the poms but the Australians compete fiercely among themselves with such insane comments.

What exactly is your problem Greg? or who exactly is your problem against? Are you still nursing the wounds of a bruised ego that you are trying to take revenge by blabbering such idiotic comments?
suggestion... get over it, pal.

Frankly, now I have a feeling that chaps like Greg Chappell may be circulating stories about Indians and Indian culture in local press, which manifests in the angry ourbursts against our children who go to Australian universities to acquire knowledge (for a hefty sum of course). Suggest Australian government does muffle such stray gods (misspelt on purpose) like Greg Chappell from keeping foot in their mouths.

Yeah that's right, Mr. Chappell, if guys like you continue to do such antics, you need to be careful before you put another foot in our holy home land. True, in our Indian Culture, we adore cricket and cricketers, but don't have patience for lunatics, bull-shitters and sledgers like you.

I am aware there are a number articles, blogs that are tearing Greg apart. Please do your part, leave your sincere feedback on the comments made by this guy. Thanks.

Half of India still defecates in the open

When I read this story in TheEconomicTimes, the other day, my stomach cringed. During my Bombay days 20 years ago (I am politically correct in calling Bombay as it was known so 20 year ago), while travelling in local trains from Dahisar to Churchgate, we all used to ensure that we keep away from the open defacating sights.

I feel deeply sorry that these undignified actions are still prevalent and as the newspaper report says fifty per cent of our Indian population (sans a choice) defecates in the open.

On one hand we have a clutch of ministers both at the centre and in the states, who are looting the country with crores and crores of rupees or a bunch of ministers watching porn clips blatantly in assembly floors. On another hand we have these unscrupulous businessmen fudging books of accounts, blatantly divert money into a gambling ventures like IPL. Most atrocious is that in our country we have business magnates who build a USD 1+ billion houses just adjacent to the pavement where a poor man from a poor state is making a living in a tiny tent. Where is the country going? Why can't we ask questions? Why is Government no accountable for punishing such frauds?

When Anna Hazare raises the issue, why the so called elite in Mumbai shies away from supporting him in this noble cause?

Basically, we Indians are a 'Sab Chalta Hai' 'Main Akela Kya Kar Sakta Huun' lot.

It is high time we all Indians at least those who are staying overseas restore the dignity of our brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers and children by providing this simple requirement of a covered toilet.

Lets all do our bit. My suggestion, whenever we visit our villages or towns, lets take an oath to take along with us at least two such mobile toilet collapsible booths. Am sure we all can afford that. With our selfless acts, lets provoke the profits hungry commercial organisations to take this up in orchestrated manner. For the time being, lets leave the government to concentrate on churning out statistics like this to make the world laugh at us!

Next time I visit my place in India, I promise to provide these mobile collapsible toilet booths to at least two families. Those who are with me, please leave their pledges in the comments box. Much appreciated.

Or if there is a true NGO with sincere intent of raising the standards of Indians, lets us know and I will be the first one to donate for this much needed cause.