Opinion: SEZs - The Nandigram Massacre

One of the headlining events of the Indian political scenario this year, I'd say. Nandigram was a burning example of how policies and concepts take indefinite time in a democracy like ours to fully see the light of the day.

CPI(M) cadres kidnapped, killed, raped and did what not in order to ensure that the SEZ isn't deemed, well, a SEZ. It goes to show how much the Left has at stake in West Bengal. Beware BJP. Beware Congress.

They already swept the government off it's hinges regarding the nuclear deal. Something that wasn't appreciated by the nation as such. The deal's for civilian good. With inflation on the rise, an alternative source is needed sooner rather than later.

Happy New Year to readers.....

Back from the slumber.....

Hello ladies and gentlemen reading this blog. I am back from my post-CAT hibernation and also glad to announce that all my future posting will be done "exclusively" from the scenic beauty of Infosys' campus in Mysore, Karnataka, India. CAT was dull, to say the least. No expectations as such. Happy new year to all out there and may it bring the maximum happiness possible.

Heary congratulations to Narendra Modi for regaining the Gujarat throne. No one even came close to the so-called merchant of death. He's a great personality, no doubt. Let's hope the people of Gujarat continue to progress under him. But they could be in for some bad news if the NDA win the general elections in 2009. Although LK Advani is currently the prime ministerial candidate, Modi could apparently stake claim.

The world's largest democracy moves on, unstoppable as such. I'll write next on some of the axis-tilting events that we witnessed in 2007. Adios.

Of CATs and dogs.....

With the nation's sexiest exam coming up and with 2.5 lakh more human heads set to roll, I am awaiting my debut. The Common Admission Test, conducted by the IIMs, takes place on November 18th and the tension is building up.

I don't know if I am a cent percent prepared to give the toughest exam in Asia, but I am looking and dreaming for the other side of this 2.5 hour odyssey - A life to cherish. It would be awesome to get in. But it is also one of the toughest things to do in our lives.

Greatness awaits people who can put the pencil marks on the right circles and steer ahead of thousands of similar others. And this greatness brings in honour and admiration. Who doesn't like that, damn it.....

PS: The dog in the headline meant that you have to study like a dog. Hey, what does that mean now?

Where is the love?

If any caring human has heard the beautiful number "Where is the love?" from American band Black Eyed Peas, it's definite that his heart would warm up with emotion. The song's lyrics speak exactly of the situation on hand.

Talking from an Indian perspective, I'd say that it is the highly irresponsible media that stands out in terms of brain corruption. They are like terrorists who let you live after corrupting your brain and thinking to such an extent that you will begin to doubt yourself at certain points.

Everything in life comes down to how much you can believe in someone's clean-hearted efforts. If you'll notice, most people doubt each other, doubt the government, doubt the system, doubt their heroes even. It's getting worse. People are not willing to believe. Where is the love?

The media is like "civil war" in terms of battle. They love to generate stories and circulate terror. Remember, the morning newspaper you buy is actually a bomb ticking away.....

Sons of a step mother

With a few hockey players threatening to go on a hunger strike, it does hurt the soul a lot. The Indian obsession with cricket makes sure that heroes of only a certain kind are loved and respected. It was a great triumph but the hockey team's Asian Cup triumph was no mean feat either. To score 57 goals, concede 5 goals and go unbeaten in a continental tournament is as good as winning the Twenty20 World Championship.

The problem is that no one cares. It may be noted that the Indian national hockey team is the country's MOST successful sporting teams, but the least appreciated. Indian dribblers are hailed as great players by European nations but in India nobody cares. It is the step-motherly treatment dished out to them that hurts the most.

Given the kind of extremism that cricket will touch in times to come, I suggest India abandon the rest of it's sports teams and allow players to play for other countries in which they can live and settle in. At least they will love them and give them due respect and recognition.

The Indian media also plays spoilsport. The Twenty20 World Championship win was given extensive coverage, while the Asia Cup was almost ignored. The media has corrupted the mind that cricket is the greatest thing to happen in terms of sport. When it actually is the worst.

Cricket has had an easy take in India. Given the least amount of hard work done(in hockey and football, you have to first QUALIFY for the major tournaments) in getting to the tournaments, it is always easier to pull off a title triumph. It all hurts.

Even Shah Rukh Khan, who is an actor and who has nothing to do with sport directly, is given space in the sports pages just because he ATTENDED the final.

How worse can it get.....