Archives of this column - Part 2 | Part 3

K. B. Ganapathy: Baba Ramdev and Alexander the Great
Alexander said, "If you have no water to drink, how can I alone drink this water?" He then lifted the helmet and splashed the water on the dry sands of the Egyptian desert. Baba Ramdev's refusal to end his fast unless all his followers gathered at the Ambedkar Stadium were provided food and water, reminded me of this historic event of Alexander. This is a great leadership quality. That is why the Emperor of Greece was called Alexander the Great. Read On

India’s Presidential Election: Remembering V. V. Giri and “Conscience Vote”
When the time for electing the President of India by the electoral college comprising MPs and MLAs comes, after the statutory term of five years ends, as it is now, I thought the incumbent President Mrs. Pratibha Devi Singh Patil would be UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi's choice for a second term too. After all, she was hand - picked by Sonia Gandhi for the office — apparently more for reasons of returning a favour in a big way for personal services rendered. Wonder why it did not happen and her choice fell on Pranab Mukherjee, the oldest and most loyal Congressman of them all. Read On

New Moghuls of India
Praful Patel (UPA - NCP) Cabinet Minister and Nitin Gadkari (NDA - BJP) have hosted two of the costliest weddings ever, says the report. The Hindu article mentions many more instances of such spending of looted money by our netas, bureaucrats and industry tycoons as you and I watch the world collapse around us helplessly. What did Chanakya say in his “Chanakya Neeti”? "Do not live in a country that does not allow you self - respect, honour, means of living, a family, kith and kin, friends, well - wishers, ways of education and self - development. Quit such country. It is not fit for living." Alas! Quit and go where? Read On

Remembering a piece of History at a time of Judicial Activism
Indian governance is steeped in corruption. It is all pervasive, both in civil and military administration. Never in my life have I heard the depth, volume and ramification of corruption of the kind that it is today, though there has always been corruption in government administration. But it was always within the comprehensible level of my mathematical knowledge — in few hundreds, thousands, lakhs and rarely in crores of rupees. But since 2010, I have begun to hear of the government losing in lakhs of crores of rupees because of corruption in high places. Take Common Wealth Games, 2G spectrum, Adarsh Housing Society, mining, denotification, defence purchase etc., etc., etc. ad infinitum! Read On

What do you want, Mr. Yeddyurappa? Men worship sun rising, not sun setting
If at all Yeddyurappa had a plan in place to form a Regional Party, as it was rumoured, after quitting BJP, he should have approached other political parties only at the appropriate time, read election time, for alliance and not right away, even before quitting the party. By doing this he would not only be closing his future options for alliance but also losing his bargaining power in sharing of seats. And another more serious issue is that now on, BJP High Command would always look at Yeddyurappa and his moves with greater suspicion. And finally let me recall here what the Roman General Pompey said on losing to his political and military rival Julius Caesar: Alas! Men worship sun rising, not sun setting. Read On

B. S. Yeddyurappa’s Battle for Survival
Look at the Congress and JD (S). They do everything legal or otherwise to protect their leaders — whether it is a sex scandal, corruption or black money in Swiss Bank. In case of Yeddyurappa it looks, after serving BJP and RSS for 40 years he has realised that the very party he worked for and helped to come to power for the first time in the South, has literally disowned him at the most testing period of his political career. A clear case of “Et tu brute”. Being at the threshold of 70, what future awaits this much - hounded old man, only time will tell. Read On

Power & Glory of Girish Karnad - Tears masks, downs pants!
This brief, casual and unwise conversation roused Girish Karnad's curiosity and he asked his mother, what was it all about. She was eloquent: "When you were in my womb, I thought no more children for me. I have already three. Why now? So we went to meet Dr. Madhumalathi Gune of Pune at her clinic. But she never came to the clinic despite our appointment. We waited for an hour and left the place disappointed." "What happened thereafter?" Girish Karnad asked. "Thereafter we never went that side," concluded his mother. Girish Karnad writes that hearing this he felt paralysed. "I was then 35 years old. Yet I sat dazed thinking that this world would have existed even without me. And without me?" Read On

Parade Savdhaan, Parade Vishram, Parade Aramse
The question is asked, why the General is raking up the issue of corruption and poor quality of military equipment now? Good question, but intended to attribute malafide motive to the issues raised by Gen. V. K. Singh and show it as the outburst of a disappointed man. But then look at it this way: Assuming that it is an outburst of a disappointed man, has it not done good to the nation and the army by exposing the corruption in the army so also the poor quality of equipment leading to a threat to our security? Read On

At the feet of Udupi Sri Krishna and Pejawar Mutt Seer at Paryaya
I strayed into an adjacent room. No one stopped me. There were two young Swamis. They told me that was Pejawar Swamiji's bedroom. Unbelievable. Ordinary among the ordinary. A small room of low roof. A small wooden cot upon which was a sheet, not bed. “Yes, this is where he sleeps”, told the young Swami. “Does he sleep alone in this room? No one to attend to him in the night?” I asked. He said he himself or one or two aides would be sleeping on the floor. There was a divan and a few plastic chairs too. There was an attached bathroom — ordinary for present day standards, but clean. I was allowed to see it. I don't think it would be easy to find this kind of total transparency in any Swamiji as in the case of Sri Vishwesha Theertha Swamiji. An ascetic of true Rishi tradition of ancient times in every manner of our understanding. Read On

Our Sand Policy: Ramdas Model
Ramdas should now turn his attention to high - cost projects of government and local bodies, especially involving construction in the name of tourism, public education, convenience, amenities etc., intended mainly to collect kickbacks by the vested interest groups involved in such projects. These high - sounding projects, soon after their “Lokarpane” [dedication to the people], close down — like the one-room museum in the Town Hall with a cost of about Rs. 20 lakh or the Children's Traffic Park which was a gift of the Ideal Jawa MD late Farukh Irani but neglected by MCC. Thank you Minister. Read On

Our Midnight MPs
If your God is really more powerful and not corrupt, He will grant your prayers. Otherwise, you will have no help coming from any quarter —neither from your God nor from your elected representative. And yet you have to live in this land. How? Here is my ultimate mantra for you: Self-help is the best help. Either depend upon your good luck, the power of your tongue — plead like a beggar, flatter, threaten or bribe the government official. You are bound to succeed. Read On

Our Democracy, Bureaucracy, Aam Admi and Anna Hazare
In my opinion, a corrupt official or a citizen is the No. 1 enemy of a country, for it is he who makes the country weak (financially, morally and physically), making it vulnerable to our internal and external enemies. An external enemy can raise his head only when we have lost to our internal enemy. Hence, in State craft, the No. 1 enemy is always the enemy within. Today, corruption is our enemy No. 1. Anna Hazare is fighting this enemy. Let us support him. Read On

A. K. Ramanujan’s Rama, Ravana and Our Gokarna
Ravana's mother Kaikasi being an ardent devotee of Siva, worshipped a Sivalingam. One day, the lingam was stolen by Indra — apparently jealous of not being worshipped by Kaikasi. The old demoness of a mother was so upset that she embarked on a relentless fast. Ah! Yes our leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Anna Hazare must have taken the cue on fast to achieve their goal from Ravana's mother! To think of a demoness being the inspiration for our leaders.… Read On

Steve Job’s Advice to Bill Clinton, Former “Playboy” President of US Etcetra
Steve Jobs, according to what was published in his biography, advised Clinton saying: "I don't know if you did it, but if so, you have got to tell the country." Clinton, according to the book, remained silent for long. Well, understandable. Anyway, what happened subsequently is now buried in history and what a lucky man Clinton was and is. He survived his Presidency, his marriage too was saved and even got a bonus when his wife Hillary Clinton became the Secretary of State of US, just missing the opportunity of becoming the first woman President of USA. If she had become the President, nudging Barack Obama, the Clintons would have been the first couple to become US Presidents. Sex Power Sir, Sex Power! Read On

Reminders to our Rulers and Thoughts on Corruption in America
Many of our Parliamentarians are dumb - dolls, nay scare - crows who never open their mouth in the Parliament, but only stretch their hands to collect or grab money. For them there is a reprimand and a reminder from Manusmruti 8-13. It reads: "Either one may NOT enter the Assembly Hall or, having entered, must speak truth in a righteous way. The one who does not speak and the one who speaks falsely will be a sinner." Well, if this is taken seriously then we will find our Parliament full of sinners with a few distinguished exceptions. And now, being a secular country, we surely need some Arabic or Islamic quotes. Read On

Thoughts on J & K and Prashant Bhushan
I guess our intellectual social activists have a tendency to speak on issues too much when silence is best; to utter words that create controversy rather than set people cogitate on the issue. Prashant Bhushan, a senior Supreme Court Advocate, a social activist and now a prominent member of Team Anna, has now created a controversy by his statement on the Kashmir issue that "The Indian Army should be withdrawn from J&K and if the Kashmiri people did not want to live with India, they should be granted freedom through a plebiscite." Read On

S. L. Bhyrappa does not get Jnanpith Award - Patil Puttappa fires the first salvo and yours truly follows suit
If Dalai Lama could be awarded Nobel Prize for peace, was Mahatma Gandhi less deserving? On the same line of thinking if Kambar, U. R. Ananthamurthy and Girish Karnad could be found deserving, could any reader of Kannada literature deny that S. L. Bhyrappa is less deserving or not at all deserving? The lobby of the secularists, here in Bangalore and there in Delhi, apparently has worked overtime to deprive a deserving candidate, S. L. Bhyrappa, a rightful place in the world of Kannada literature adorned with the ultimate stamp of recognition — a Jnanpith award. It is indeed sad. Read On

Remembering R. K. Narayan
Once when I mentioned about my visits to his house to a friend of mine, I was asked rather mischievously, if I was offered a cup of coffee or tea. I was annoyed and the friend explained saying that he couldn't believe that Narayan invited me to his house and had even offered coffee, for the great writer rarely invited anyone and much less offered the hospitality of coffee. I thought it was a myth created around Narayan because on one occasion I had seen Narayan asking a surprise visitor, whom he reluctantly met, to have a cup of coffee. However, it is true Narayan did not encourage people to intrude upon his time and privacy and it is understandable in his case being a writer. Read On

KBG: The Man – Eater of Bandipur - (With apology to R. K. Narayan who wrote “Man - eater of Malgudi”)
Bandipur National Park was a private Game Reserve of the Maharaja of Mysore till 1947. Now, it is famous as Bandipur Tiger Reserve and a lot of money is spent here for tiger conservation project, known as Tiger Project. Happy days for forest officers... The 23rd July 2011 Tehelka magazine has an exclusive story concerning this Tiger Reserve where hand - raised leopards released to the wild by two members of Mysore royalty — Gajendra Singh and Vishalakshi Devi (sister of the scion of the royal family Srikanta Datta Narasimharaja Wadiyar) — on a “rehabilitation experiment” had gone horribly wrong. Read On

Let’s preserve R. K. Narayan’s House as a Slice of Heritage
By the way, I wonder why Dr. U.R. Ananthamurthy, who was teaching English in Manasagangotri for many years and known to put his finger in every pie of public cause, has been keeping silent all these 10 years since R. K. Narayan's death on the issue of a befitting memorial for him. Being a great protagonist of Kannada (yes, Jnanpith award!) does he think countenancing a memorial for an English writer may not go well with his ideology or disciples? Read On

The Reason for the Rise and Rise of a Phenomenon called Anna Hazare
In my scrap book I find what Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer, former Judge of the Supreme Court, had said in a lighter vein about our election and the election manifesto: "Do you need an election manifesto showing the way to heaven? Come to India, the one thing that it produces in plenty and which it never exports is the election manifesto." Well, the UPA Government came to power for the second time in 2009 with the help of an election manifesto that promised to bring back black money tucked away in Swiss and other foreign banks and also passing of the Lokpal Bill. What happened? NOTHING… and then came Anna Hazare. Read On

Terrorism by Press and TV?
Now a very insidious campaign is launched by the government saying that Anna's victory in fact was the victory of the media — the Press and TV. Therefore, how to curb the Press and TV is the new headache for the government. If total curb is not possible, for it may then tantamount to censor as during the 1975 Emergency dark days, at least the issue of curtailing the exaggeration by the Press and TV must be considered, as being reasonable restrictions [in the interest of law and order, security etc.] Read On

Is the Government playing with fire?
Out of our 120 crore people, 60 per cent are poor and Anna is poor. If the country's Parliamentary Dictatorship (not Democracy) indulges in crony capitalism and loots not only the State treasury but also the Aam Aadmi through bribes and corruption at every level of administration, people would surely support Anna. Naturally, his stature too will rise to Himalayan heights just as Mahatma Gandhi's who was not taken seriously when he landed in Bombay from South Africa. However, as result of a leadership crisis and also vacuum in the Congress movement at that point of time, Gandhiji rose to become all - India Congress leader. Read On

UPA, For God’s Sake Pass Jan Lokpal Bill or Quit
This kind of open support is rare among these Godmen, Gurus, Jagadgurus or Matadhipathis with their own vested interests to safeguard because of the vast properties they possess. 'Why take on the government? See what happened to Baba Ramdev and others, including Anna, who were subjected to investigation on charges of this, that and even corruption', seems to be the fear of these men of God. By the way where is our Vishweshwara Thirtha Swamiji of Pejawar Mutt? If he was on the side of Rama, as he was when the Babri Masjid was demolished, he should now be on the side of Anna to defeat the Ravana of corruption. Read On

March of Anna: Now What?
The question is: Now what? Anna, a very accommodative person, as Prashanth Bhushan said, had agreed for a two - week (14 days) of fasting at Ramlila Maidan. Well, was this fasting meant to reduce Anna's weight? After 14 days, what? If by then the government does not agree for the Jan Lokpal Bill of Anna's people, Anna should continue the fast or break it to lead a country - wide movement like JP Movement. Anna should not sacrifice his life at the altar of an "arrogant government" but live to fight the battle till the goal is reached. If India loses, who wins? Read On

When British Prime Minister Cameron Ordered for Coffee!
I remember the evening when I had been to a 4 - star hotel in city with a friend for dinner and the argument I indulged in with the waiter at the time of paying the bill to the utter embarrassment of my friend and a profusion of apology from the steward. I regretted it later, though it was a good business lesson to the steward and the waiter. And in good manners to me as well. I was reminded of this unbecoming conduct on my part when I read recently an incident that happened in an Italian hotel at Tuscany. Read On

Parliamentary Dictatorship
If hereafter things go wrong, we will have nobody to blame except ourselves. Not to lay their liberties at the feet of even a great man or to trust him with powers which enable him to subvert this institution. Bhakti in religion may be a road to the salvation of the soul, but in politics, Bhakti or hero - worship is a sure road to degradation and to eventual dictatorship. Alas, today we are witness to many of our institutions, considered sacrosanct, being subverted subtly or blatantly as apprehended by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar. Was he prophetic when he said this? Read On

From Mr. Clean to Mr. Clean Sweep
The worry is that it is not likely to get that money, now or in future. Did we not allow Quattrochi to collect that Bofors loot which was frozen and could have surely gotten back? And let us remember, India has more black money than the rest of the world combined, according to the data provided by the Swiss Bank. So what do we do? Can we do anything at all to get that money back, like Obama's America did last year? Before I or any of our readers could answer this question positively, that is — "Yes, we can," let me narrate a story. And after reading this story, if you are cocksure of your positive answer, "Yes we can," I can only call you an inveterate optimist far removed from the realities of Indian situations and as one not understanding the mind of an Indian. Read On

Media and the Phone - Hacking
Interestingly, I had not heard another synonymous and right sounding word for telephone tapping as the one used these days — “hacking”. It made news in England with the "News of the World", a Sunday tabloid, owned by that tycoon Rupert Murdoch, which was held guilty of phone - hacking (tapping) offence. The Americans too use that word “hacking” for what our newspapers and TV channels, till yesterday, were using “tapping”. Alleluia! Now I find all our TV channels and newspapers, including your eveninger, using the word “hacking” used by the westerners. If imitation is the best way of flattery, even in journalism, here it is, here it is, here it is. Read On

Politics: Hark, BJP High Command: Don't act in haste and repent at leisure
Well, one cannot wish away the family (Parivar - tantra) simply because one is in politics and has occupied a high position. Of course, one should not indulge in crony capitalism or nepotism. Here, the charge is that Yeddyurappa is practicing these evils to benefit his family. But, prove it in a court of law. After all, what one does, whether Sonia Gandhi or Yeddyurappa, should be within the ambit of the law of the land. Which is why it is the cardinal principle in law that howsoever high you are, law is above you. Why fret and fume? If the Congress party Spokesman Manish Tiwari thinks that Yeddyurappa is the “Cauvery of Corruption”, then it can also be said that Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh is the “Ganges of Corruption”, what with three of his coalition colleagues in jail, as also some bureaucrats. Read On

K. B. Ganapathy: Terror Strikes Mumbai
According to a BJP spokesperson, Mumbai is the only city in the world with maximum number of terrorist attacks. If this is true, then the government should think of setting up a special, exclusive intelligence agency for Mumbai with capabilities of gathering actionable intelligence. It must have the cream of our young men and women, brilliant and patriotic and give it a status of a privileged service with salaries that would be more than what is given to our "non - performing" lecturers under the UGC scale. God bless India and may wiser counsel prevail upon our politicians. Jai Hind. Please call Subash Chandra Bose! Read On

Where there is a political will, there is a smooth way to Hill Temple
Last Friday was the first Ashada Friday of this year and like every year there was lot of expectations from the devotees of Goddess Chamundeshwari atop the Chamundi Hill in city about the people - friendly arrangements to go to the temple and offer prayers inside the temple. I have been a witness to this religious event in city for the past 33 years, having personally visited the temple on such occasions. Sadly every year the devotees' expectations were belied either by the local administration or by the District In - charge Minister, whenever such office existed under political patronage. Read On

A Big Question to Small Children: An unedifying conduct of a newspaper editor
Look at a State - level Kannada newspaper that came up with a power jacket and a screaming headline "To uncle CM, a lesson from children," carrying letters from children of high school and below. The newspaper, known to be hostile towards Chief Minister B. S. Yeddyurappa after it got a new editor, had invited letters from the children to "Uncle CM" for publication. The big question: What is your opinion about Chief Minister B. S. Yeddyurappa's BJP government in Karnataka? The big editor has asked this question to children studying between fifth and tenth standards, inviting their answers through letters. What a perverse mind. Why drag children to rubbish a Chief Minister whom the editor does not like? Read On

For God’s Sake, Stop this farce
When many disputes of complex nature are resolved by this method by mutually consenting parties, why not this one? After all, both Yeddyurappa and Kumaraswamy are ready and consenting to swear before Lord Manjunath. Why come in their way? Who is afraid? Certainly not the persons involved. It is other politicians and our religious leaders. But now, it is Yeddyurappa who has backtracked and fooled the people taking cover under the advice of Swamies and Nitin Gadkari. Read On

Crime Beat: Murders Most Foul, Murders Most Brutish – and it is disturbing that they are from Our City
Next, the unnamed "Police sources" informed the media that it could be a case of “supari killing” by a Mumbai gang for money or for professional rivalry. Really, who says our Police are not clever, smart and intelligent? Well, they can display all these traits if they want. Just as they say of "political will" if there is a "Police will" our Police can do, can deliver. Probably, the “Police sources” fed the media with this kind of disinformation so that the kidnappers would take it easy in the knowledge that the Police are on the wrong trail. Well, it seems to have worked, no matter the details of arrests are under wraps. Read On

Law – makers are our problem: Not our corruption!
Sometimes, I wonder, of what avail is all our religious holy books? What do they teach to these corrupt, immoral people in the government service of our country? Do they have a sense of paapa and punya, sin and grace? Do they wish to have a place in heaven or in hell? Or are they getting remission of their sins by bribing the Gods and an acquittal by bribing the politician, police and the judge? Read On

Fasting – unto – Life Satyagraha Baba Ramdev Ishtyle
Let us remember, JP who launched his “Total Revolution” movement that led to the declaration of Emergency did not go on fast – unto - death. Because the Britishers were sensitive, Gandhiji's Satyagraha of fast – unto - death worked. Do you think today's government is sensitive? Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev must be careful before deciding on their next fast – unto - death. Hey Ram. Sound and fury signifying nothing. Read On

Time you said “Yes” to Civil Society, Mr. Prime Minister
Since UPA Government is harping on legal hurdles in getting the black money, why not hire the services of ICAR? Well, when a Police Officer does not want to catch a thief, why will he register a case? Could it be that the members of the UPA have maximum number of secret accounts abroad than others? Why does not the UPA government place the interest of the country above everybody else's? Prime Minister must answer this question. What about the question of corruption? Read On

Kodagu heading towards Eco Disaster

Let Flower and Love Bloom at Cubbon Park Again!!!
The hapless people of Bangalore do rush to the Park for morning and evening walk while those stricken with love find refuge here, so also those who want to do their thing sub - rosa during the inbetween time when there are very few people around. Like at the Hanging Garden area in Malabar Hills, Mumbai. Happy time young folks. But spare a thought for those who are prudes and feel embarrassed on seeing a private affair as a public demonstration. Some like it, some don't. Did you get me Steve? Read On

M. R. Shivanna: A Tribute
When he came to me seeking a job in Mysooru Mithra, I was not impressed. He did not seem to know or care for the universally accepted sutra for a successful job - interview, “first impression is the best impression”. The hallmark of a young (and even old) “socialist” of those days was the overused string - bag suspended over the left - shoulder. It was dangling by his shoulder and naturally, I asked him if he was one. And he being reticent by nature, gave a “socialistic” answer — "I carry books in it." One good qualification to become a journalist, I thought. Read On

My Bangalore, Your Bengaluru
I have not lived in or seen all the important cities of our country, but of cities I have seen and lived, I consider Pune and Bengaluru as among the cities I would love to live in. Two reasons: The climate in both the cities, throughout the year, is salubrious. Even summer seems short, temperate and tolerable. Winter and monsoon too are physically comfortable. I felt healthy and enthused during these seasons in both the cities. Read On

Politics: Indian Avatars of Corruption and Concerns!
In India, this is an Age Of Corruption. Like we had the Golden Age of Guptas, Mauryas and Vijayanagar during their rule. The ramification of the roots of corruption and its dimensions, its adverse impact on the development of our country, are felt not by the crony capitalists, the politicians, members of political families and bureaucrats but by the people at large. Read On

Politics: Partisan Governor H. R. Bharadwaj must leave Karnataka
Looking back and looking into the present, it is clear to Karnataka people who are not partisan that there has never been a Chief Minister who has worked his way up from the grass - roots level, from the village level, worked with the farmers for over four decades, climbing rung by rung to a position where he is today. Sadly, the crab - culture of his own partymen has been haunting him like a scourge ever since he became a Chief Minister after suffering the ignominy of being reneged by the one whom he trusted — H. D. Kumaraswamy. Read On

Corruption: Clap, Clap
I have heard of “police lawyers” who will ensure bail even in difficult cases. For a price, of course. I have also heard that magistrates are often intimidated in the matter of bail by the mafia and the lower judiciary, being vulnerable, often give in more out of fear than out of a sense of justice. And if some money comes his way, why not? The system operates in this manner and the in - built problem of this nature can be solved only if there is a total restructuring of the “system” and its operational mechanism. Read On

An evening of fun – filled Cricket Match
While in Bangalore during early '60s, my interest in cricket was because of some West Indian players coming to my neighbourhood house, where english speaking girls lived, on their nocturnal visits rather stealthily. I was a paying guest in a house named “Bethany” at Richmond town and the tongues would begin to wag scandalously, specially among women. I remember being woken up one night by my fellow - paying guest (an African) to be a peeping tom by spying on our neighbour's house where two cricket players, one white and one black, had sought joy. We were two voyeurs! Read On

The Empire Strikes
America had vowed to get Osama bin Laden alive or dead “whatever it takes”. Yes, it took too long a period of 10 years, not quiet admirable, considering the havoc he caused during this period by way of death and destruction. Speed is indeed the secret of real success of a mission. A mission of this nature accomplished after 10 long years is to be appreciated, no doubt, but not necessarily to be applauded as the world is doing now. In the land of the blind, one - eyed man is the King. America is King. Hail Obama! Read On

Lessons in Bargaining: Shoppers’s Dream
Recently I read a book by the Founder of Hilton hotels, Conrad Hilton titled “Be My Guest”. The book is autobiographical which is a worth read for any aspiring entrepreneur. Specially in India because the reader will get many insights into the manner how an enterprise is successfully built — including the art of bargaining. Conrad Hilton recalls the advice given to him by one Christian Father Derasches to overcome problems in business — say your prayers with “Hail Mary” and then “St. Joseph, Pray for Us” (or me) three times daily. And he obeyed the Father and seemed to have benefitted. Read On

Defenders of Corruption and defenders of Democracy - 1
That indeed means, corruption has reached a dangerous level that may destroy our democracy. This is the time to save it. Tomorrow it may be too late. In the midst of all this, Ambika Soni, Sonia Gandhi's crony, utters like a wisecrack that Lokpal Bill should be drafted in a way "acceptable to all sections of the people." What? Including the mafia, the crooks and the corrupt? Perish the thought… And finally, the Chairperson of UPA, the de facto PM of our country Madam Sonia Gandhi, is making some noise. Some hope now. Read On

Defenders of Corruption and defenders of Democracy: Part 2

T. N. Seshan: Remember Him?
Another tragedy for the nation, Mr. Seshan declared, was the public sector. "Indian public sector was the greatest management calamity to hit any country ever." The only bigger calamity Mr. Seshan could think of was the Indian Press. "The journalists are sold for a bottle of whisky." When a student said that it was the same press which had told the world about his greatness, Mr. Seshan said, "If my chastity is being proclaimed by prostitutes, I don't want such chastity." Read On

Gandhigiri to end India’s culture of Corruption
Ironically or sarcastically, I do not know which of the two adverbs was intended, it has appeared under the title “Culture”. Is taking bribe the culture of India? Well, looking at the all - pervasive evil of corruption from the Top to Bottom that we read about in newspapers, magazines and TV channels every day and night, giving bribe and taking bribe seem to have become part of Indian culture, rather than a criminal act. Read On

BJP making way for Siddaramaiah as next CM!
So the opposition will declare a temporary truce. But the internecine war for leadership will begin in BJP with the Chief Minister – in - waiting Anantha Kumar, Shettar (by virtue of being a Lingayat) or R. Ashok (being a Vokkaliga) vying for the Chief Minister's gaddi. At this point, Karnataka voters will get disgusted with BJP and in the next election it is Congress I, JD (S) II and BJP III. Karnataka will have a coalition government with Siddharamaiah, a deserving, competent Backward Class leader and administrator, as the Chief Minister of Karnataka. If this should happen, so be it. Read On

A Nation of Crooks
Yes, how can the traders, businessmen, industrialists and others cheat the people unless the people trust them? That's the paradox in Indian society today. That is also its tragedy. The politician cheats the voter; teacher cheats the students; government officer cheats the public; merchant cheats the customer; charlatan cheats the innocent; police cheats the law... The moment one gets a chance to cheat, he cheats — simply, no scruples, no moral compunctions either. The conscience does not trouble him for he has deliberately numbed it. Such is the state of our nation. Read On

If life is a gamble, play on…. At the Races!
Listen to Dr. S. Radhakrishnan: "Life is like a game of bridge. We did not invent the game or design the cards; we did not frame the rules and we cannot control the dealing. The cards are dealt out to us whether they be good or bad. But we can play the game well or play it badly. A skilful player may have a poor hand and yet win the game. A bad player may have a good hand and yet make a mess of it. Our life is a mixture of necessity and freedom, chance and choice ... We may not change events, but we can change our approach to events." Read On

First Lesson in Politics
Bhagwan's jibes and anecdotes sometimes spring from his creature Mulla Nasuruddin, Here is the one Bhagwan produced in the course of his morning discourses about our present day politicians who are treacherous and without any ethics. Mulla Nasuruddin's son asked him: "Father, you are so engrossed in politics all the time. Please tell me what politics is." Mulla said to him: "It is not possible to put it into words, it is a secretive thing. I will let you experience it." He then asked his son to climb a ladder which was against the wall. Read On

Tale of Two Leaders of Bihar
However, for now it is a nightmare for the bureaucrats of Bihar who are corrupt. The article quotes newspaper reports that over Rs.100 crore had been withdrawn from banks in the capital Patna alone in the fortnight following the first confiscation of a corrupt Motor Vehicle Inspector's house where now the government has planned to start a school. Bihar was listed as the No.1 Corrupt State among all States in the country between 2000 - 2005 during Lalu Prasad's regime. It is hoped that with the cleansing process underway under the new law, corruption in Bihar might come down to a little more humane level. After all, vices like prostitution and corruption cannot be totally eradicated. Read On

To Sir, With Love... And from Sir, a smack!
And the invite had the bombastic bottom line: "God could not be everywhere, so he created mothers." Well, I would add to this what our busy God might have forgotten: Mother could not be everywhere, so she created schools. After the school is created with play home, LKG and UKG before a child is really put on line to regular school, the poor mother is really liberated. It is such a great relief, especially, for a working mother. Read On

In the Land of Kings and Forts - 4
In the 1580s, Akbar took as one of his wives Jodha Bai, the sister of the ruler of Jodhpur. She became a powerful influence on Akbar that she persuaded Akbar to give up certain Muslim customs like “beef eating, use of garlic, onion and the wearing of a beard”. According to Abul Fazl, the author of the 17th century Ain – e - Akbari, the reason for Jodha Bai disapproving the last three things — garlic, onion and beard — could be because "they are inconvenient in kissing." Read On

In the Land of Kings and Forts: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Makara Jyothi: For God’s sake end this fraud
The media, both print and electronic, have a great responsibility in spreading the “glad tidings” of the truth that Makara Jyothi being seen by the pilgrims is not from the high heavens but is being lit as Makara Vilakku by the humble and devout people at Ponnambalamedu on the night of Makara Sankranti. May the truth prevail and precious lives saved. This idea of God. And then followed a fight among humans in his name. Before God came in, the fight among humans was for food and women. This idea of God added one more dimension. Oh, God! In your name so much evil is perpetrated upon the weak among humans. Read On

WikiLeaks spilling beans of High and Mighty
By the way, do you know if the Police had not tapped the cell - phone conversation of the forest brigand Veerappan with his trusted lieutenant Meese Madaiah in 2004, it would not have been possible to trap Veerappan into the imminent need for his eye - operation and then eliminate him? In a civilised society, we should not allow ourselves to be made victims of too much morality or ethics. Right? You are the judge. Read On

On the Rocks! Three Jeers!!!
Unfortunately, our politicians, bureaucrats, Trusts, Mutts and Money Bags turn a blind eye to the sprawling land in hundreds of acres lying vacant between the North face of Chamundi Hill and the Indus Valley Ayurvedic Centre (IVAC). Reason: I see boards and boundary fences suggesting private ownership. If you don't love Mysore, how can you come up with ideas that will enrich our city environmentally, culturally, socially and economically? Read On

The Rise & Fall of an Editor
Briefly, one is the dipping circulation pushing Vijaya Karnataka to the second slot. Alleged reason: Antagonizing one of the major communities with its editorial and news coverage. Two, writing tendentious reports leading to suspicion of journalistic ethics and he was unable to restrain those who were writing such articles or reports. I have perceived it long back, since the time the paper indulged in Ashok Kheny bashing, acting like an agent of JD (S) and H. D. Deve Gowda to an extent it seemed vulgar. Yet our Vishveshwara Bhat is an honourable man and I wish him well. Rise again Vishveshwara Bhat! Read On

Let Yeddyurappa Stay - Angels are not on their way to Vidhana Soudha
The BJP high command should not indulge in a suicidal bravado to prove a point to either Congress or the JD (S). If it does, it would look naive as well. Anyway, we are not ready for another election so soon. After all, Yeddyurappa has won the two no - confidence motions just last month and therefore, what he gained in the Assembly should not be taken away by his own party's high command at Delhi. Such an act by the BJP high command would be worse than the perfidy committed by H. D. Kumaraswamy against Yeddyurappa. It is, therefore, not surprising that the RSS, the mother of BJP, is said to have asked the BJP high command a very pertinent question: "When the Congress is not yielding to your demands, why are you acting so hastily in the case of Yeddyurappa?" Read On

Dharmasthala: Pilgrim’s Progress and Peace of Mind of a Kind!
At Dharmasthala, I was lucky to meet the Chief Trustee, Dharmadhikari who presides over the temple affairs. He was to Dharmasthala what Pope is to Vatican. His word is law — divine law. I had seen him on a number of occasions on the dais, presiding over functions and giving speeches. First time I saw him was in 1993 August, at the Ashoka Hotel in Bangalore. I was recuperating in Ashoka after a heart bypass surgery at Wockhardt Hospital. While taking a walk in the campus, I saw some people gathered at a place bordering the garden. With natural curiosity, I walked up to the place and was told on enquiry, the speaker was Dr. Veerendra Heggade of Dharmasthala. So I lingered on. Read On

Gandhi’s Epistle to Obama - 20
In 2007, I was in the US and was a witness to the Presidential election “hangama” between John McCain of Republican Party and Barack Obama of Democratic Party. Barack Obama was, of course, the star and the toast of the world — what with invites from Germany, France, Egypt and other countries to address public meetings. On return, I wrote 20 epistles to Obama in my column Abracadabra seeking his patronising concern for India's problems, including terrorism. The 20 articles were later produced into a book under the title “Gandhi's Epistle to Obama”. Now that Barack Obama is in India on a three - day visit (today being the last day), I thought it would be interesting to reproduce the last of the series of 20 articles I wrote. Here it is: Read On

Dasara This Year: A Critique
From next Dasara, it is best if the authorities issue general passes and be done with it. And don't spend so much on such costly printing and bogus passes which has no significance in the eyes of the Dasara volunteers deputed to seat the pass - holders. The only beneficiary seems to be the printer. To go back in memory, as I remember, Sri Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar sat in the golden howdah for the last time in 1969, following the abolition of Privy Purse and the Maharaja financially found himself unable to continue the royal tradition of Dasara which entailed huge expenditure to the royal exchequer. Read On

On my special journey to Bengaluru
Recently, when I was in the US, I read two books and one was “Be My Guest” by Conrad Hilton — the man who pioneered 5 - star hotels all over the world. In the early days of his life in a Godforsaken border County of Socorro, New Mexico territory, he was his father's Man Friday and ventured into many adventures to earn a living. See where he ended up? Hilton hotel is still a big name even after him. And he became a legend. In the case of Capt. Gopinath, however, the disappointment is that he tempted, nay, inveigled the Aam Aadmi to fly offering lowest fare and then dropped him like a hot potato when he found the managing of the ever - growing Air Deccan unmanageable, as he confesses in the book. Read On

Absolutely Honest Khushwant
We began with small talk — about Mysore and Bombay. In the meanwhile, two empty glasses appeared with a soda bottle. Apparently, this was pre - arranged. Khushwant Singh smiled a visible smile this time and asked if I drank. I thought the IAS officer had already briefed Khushwant on this about me! At this point, we were discussing Gundu Rao, the then Chief Minister of Karnataka. But where was the whisky bottle? The whisky bottle materialised; quarter of Bagpiper from Khushwant Singh's inner pocket under the sweater he was wearing. I smiled. What else to do? But continued with the peroration about Gundu Rao. "What is the name of the drama company he was talking about?" he asked, keeping the bottle on the tea - table. "Indira Gandhi Kripa Poshitha Nataka Mandali," I said. "That's how he calls the Congress party," he laughed, showing a streak of his white teeth. Read On

Ground Zero Controversy
In San Francisco, I saw coloured people keeping Barack Obama's cutouts of modest size in their kiosks and distributing fliers supporting him for the Presidency. It was a foregone conclusion that he would be the winner. And indeed, he won. All the issues like whether he was a Muslim or a Christian; black or white, were brushed aside. But this year, it was different. The issue of whether he was a Christian or a Muslim was discussed this year in newspapers and television channels. I thought it was a settled issue. Another issue was the proposed mosque near Ground Zero of 9 / 11 which is being hotly debated. Read On

Travails of Air Travel in the days of Bloom and Gloom
Now – a - days you are not an “important” guest at all. That may be in the advertisements. Your check - in is without grace or smile. "Fill the form," says the front office clerk pushing the sheet towards you, demands your credit card or cash in advance and gives an electronic card, the key to the room, and turns away. You get into the security lift which you operate yourself by using the room card and that is it. You are a faceless guest and a faceless air - traveller. You have nothing to brag about your air - travel or a 5 - Star Hotel stay these days. My recent visit to the US proved this situation abundantly for me. Let it be. Read On

The honest always stand alone, but can survive only with luck
Somiah tells us of his meeting with the legendary Gen. K. M. Cariappa, later Field Marshall, who had settled in Mercara after retirement in March, 1957. Attired in his long - sleeved silk shirt, Somiah walked the distance to the General's house and knocked on his door at 12 noon sharp. Let me quote Somiah himself: "The General himself opened the door and on seeing me attired informally, he asked me to wait outside. A minute later he opened the door with a tie in his hand and ordered me to wear it. I donned the tie and went inside and found him fully attired in a three - piece suit to receive me!" Somiah was served a three - course lunch with a butler in attendance. Read On

Manivannan: A man for all reasons
From a known “demolition man”, Manivannan got transformed in Mysore, the royal city, as a “Dasara man” for his extraordinary skills in overcoming many hurdles and making the conduct of Dasara a smooth and hassle-free one within the given budget and time. He had the unique honour and privilege of conducting Dasara three times successively. In fact, it was a spectacular success with more innovative ideas that also came from the District in - Charge Minister Shobha Karandlaje — from 128 usual programmes, Shobha and Manivannan took it to 300. From city, for the first time, Dasara went rural. Remember “Dasara Darshana” for our village folk? Read On

Gone away, For a while
Parents, these days, make it a point to take their children away to new places during the summer or other vacations. So also the schools are advised to take the students, compulsorily, on an annual excursion to expose the young minds to new people, new places, and new experience. Be that as it may, I ventured out this summer with a couple of my family friends to Himalayan foothills to experience the mighty hills (before whom any tall and powerful man will feel humbled) and its cool climate. It was towards the East of our country to Gangtok (Sikkim), Kalimpong and Darjeeling. Read On

All about the War between MRC and JWGC
All's well that ends well. Sadly this cannot be said after April 28 meeting of the Deputy Commissioner, P. Manivannan, with the Managing Committee members of the Mysore Race Club (MRC) in an effort to resolve the confrontation between the MRC and the Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Golf Club (JWGC). The temporary truce that was declared, following the meeting, seems too weak even though the confrontation has ended for now. The battle lines are clearly drawn between the MRC and the JWGC and the focus will now shift to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the MRC Ltd., and the JWGC. Read On

Mr. Jeevan Kumar Gaonkar, IGP: Thank You, Sir
Some achievements and his novel ideas are worth recounting, though briefly. There was a racket which was rampant in Mandya district involving Police, lawyers and doctors in which false accident claims were made against insurance companies. Nearly 100 cases of this nature were unearthed because of Gaonkar's initiative and commitment to truth. The tip of the iceberg was exposed by an insurance company when it filed a case against the Police investigation and those who made the accident claims. May be sooner than later many Police officers, lawyers and doctors would be brought to justice while this racket itself has, it is believed, come to an end for the time being. Read On

Old Memories….. Golden Memories
The old man, who was so possessive of this treasure of a watch, had it always with him even when bed - ridden during his last days. But sadly about 15 days before he passed away, the watch was found missing only to be found after a thorough search in the garden, smashed and dumped in a flower bed. The work of some domestic hand as retribution for reprimanding him! For fear that it might further devastate an old, dying man, the fate of his beloved watch was not revealed to him. If he had missed anything in his life at the time of death, probably it was his favourite West End wrist watch! Read On

God, Give me this day my daily non – poisoned food!
Let us believe “You are what you eat”, but what when you do not know what it is that you are eating? What we feed ourselves with has definite and lasting implications on our health, there is no doubt. To wit, why do we pop in a pill after eating a sumptuous hearty festive dinner or belch like some strange animal's love - call? I think after sex, food is man's greatest desire or vice - versa and he will do everything in his power to fulfill his desire. Ask Swami Nithyananda of Bidadi Dhyanapeeta! Read On

Nightmare of Imagining India
The point is, this man, Nandan Nilekani, seems to have deep concern for “developing” this country that seems “reluctant” for such efforts. After all, a pig is happy where it is! As it is!! Yet, there are people like Nandan Nilekani who have ideas and visions for getting our country out of this morass and rut. They are idealists, not entrepreneurs. While the former thinks of people, the latter thinks of profit. Some of the quotes and ideas I have found in the book so far are both revealing and interesting. For example, he writes what Leo Tolstoy wrote about India that was enslaved by the British (after being enslaved by Muslim conquerors). Tolstoy writes: "What does it mean that thirty thousand people, not athletes, but rather weak and ordinary … have enslaved millions of freedom - loving people? … Do not the figures make it clear that not English but Indians have enslaved themselves?" Read On

Capt. G. R. Gopinath: Man of Destiny - 5
Now let me quote Gopinath himself: "The Swamiji had asked John what he could do for him. Did he have a wish? If so, Swamiji would pray that the wish would be fulfilled. John Gray had a career wish. He wanted Oprah Winfrey to invite him to the Oprah Winfrey Book Club. Oprah Winfrey is the most celebrated talk show host in the world … we listen to John’s story with rapt attention … John continued, "I told Swamiji I wanted to be invited to Oprah’s Book Club." The Swamiji blessed him and said, "You will hear from Oprah." Read On

Capt. G. R. Gopinath: Man of Destiny: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

Thus spake the Godmen on God
The answer was in the form of a question: "Why does a child play?" The inference, apparently, is there is no purpose. A child plays for its own purpose. There is no other motive or goal. So the creation of the world is a child's play for God. Like a child's play or an artist's work, the world evolved itself and is still evolving. The play goes on for ever and ever, ad infinitum. I have always found these spiritual persons very smart in outsmarting those who ask questions relating to God, religion and spirituality. Take for example the question posed by a devotee to Nityananda: Are you the God? Paramahamsa Nityananda simply replies: "I am not here to prove I am God, I am here to prove you are God." Read On

Paramahamsa Nithyananda takes your question….
The volunteers in my hall began distributing paper slips to those who wished to ask questions. I also collected a slip. In the meanwhile, the first salvo was fired at the Swamiji and it appeared to be a Yorker. The ball that lands at the foot of the batsman and difficult to strike. He can't avoid it either. And if he fails to negotiate it, he will be either LBW or bowled. Such was the predicament of Paramahamsa Nithyananda. The question was asked by a senior citizen about the Swamiji being God or Swamiji wanting to prove others are Gods or something to that effect based on an article in which the Swamiji had answered his disciple’s question, "Whether he is God?" Read On

Wicked shall enjoy this world and the world after (If there is one)
I have always been wondering if there is life after death. Rebirth. I know, however, there is death after life (birth). We see living organisms and beings propagating their species with births, in multiples, as if to make up for the deaths. Which is why, human beings are surviving on this planet and the number is increasing in geometric progression. The question before me is: Will I, if not physically as I am, at least in some other form, be reborn? If so, where? In which bloodline? In which race? As a woman or as a man or a eunuch? Physically challenged or as an Atlas or Hercules? Read On

My Road to Odyssey to Hampi
It does not mean the celebration was not needed. It was important to remind our people the glory that was Vijayanagar Empire, which had indeed acted as a bulwark against the Muslim invasion of South India at the given period. The point is, along with the celebrations, money should have also been spent on these two towns as they are our country's one of the most important tourist destinations. Moreover, the National Highway No. 13 as also National Highway No. 63 converge at this point with heavy traffic. Read On

Musings on M. K. Narayanan who couldn’t prevent 26 / 11 from happening
Last Sunday I was reading the renowned journalist and TV personality Vir Sanghvi’s article titled, A security history of part - timers and “what ifs” in the Sunday Express. Indeed he has hit the nail right on the head with a sledge hammer of his pen. It was an elegy written about all those who perished in the 26 / 11 mayhem in Mumbai. He writes about the new National Security Advisor (NSA), who will be appointed in place of M. K. Narayanan who held the job for some years who was responsible for the misfortune of this unfortunate country. Let me quote Vir Sanghvi: "Narayanan is a controversial figure. I’m not going to get into the whole issue of whether Narayanan seriously damaged our intelligence - gathering capabilities (and R & AW in particular) or whether he should have done the decent thing and resigned after the intelligence failures of 26 / 11. Read On

In Search of Justice: Fair, natural and tempered with mercy
It is the duty of all well meaning citizens and the media which is a watchdog for good governance in judiciary too. We are sure your paper will certainly come forward to take the patriotic lead for awakening the people in the interest of justice and democracy." Yes, Mr. Raiyani. I agree. But do you know in India Judiciary is a Holy Cow? Like the King who can do no wrong, so is Judiciary in India. It is the "Contempt of Court" power of the Judges which keeps the media watchdog away from criticising Judiciary. Read On

Kidnap, Missing and Suicide
It may be difficult or impractical to expect the Police to be a perfect law - enforcing authority. Yet, the imperfection in the Police force is dangerously all - pervasive that it is certainly not able to do justice to the people by handling effectively the ever - increasing crimes of various kinds we find today in a scientifically advanced society. Say for example, cyber crime. Be that as it may, after the now infamous Ruchika molestation case of Haryana, which has taken a new turn 17 years after the crime was committed and on learning the punishment meted out by the court to the convict — six months imprisonment and Rs. 1,000 fine — as too apologetic, people are making themselves bold to talk about the ugly face of the Police. Read On

First Court of Criminal Justice under scanner
Sadly even after 60 years of independence, our own people as rulers have not found it expedient to make changes in the criminal law and its procedure in keeping with the spirit and pride of an independent people. To give a small example: Raju, a daily labourer earning Rs. 100 per day beats up Gopal, his fellow labourer. Gopal gives a Police complaint and Raju is arrested. The court grants bail on condition of his furnishing cash surety. He has no money. So he is sent to judicial custody. Read On

Money and Happiness
Can money buy happiness? With this query we should also ponder whether we could do without money. Everybody desires for a life of leisure, security, healthfulness and possessions of varied requirements. Do all these lead to happiness? Can we live without money, social status, comforts and other related factors? Can all of us obtain these in the same degree? Against these arguments, what should an average person do to keep himself happy? Money can buy medicine, but not health. Similarly, money can buy you comfort, but not happiness. Read On

Maa
And as I watched the last part of the film, I couldn't hold back my tears and I allowed them to flow copiously. After all, in the darkness of the theatre my saline emotion was not visible. The only problem was my running nose which betrayed my emotion to those sitting next to me. As I left the theatre I was also left wondering why the film was not titled Maa rather than Paa. Read On

God and Man
I have been always wondering how a man can believe in God, heaven, hell and purgatory when he has no direct or circumstantial evidence to believe. In fact, the early man was right in his belief of God because he was a “Nature” worshipper. He feared elements of Nature and therefore thought he could pacify Nature — thunder, lightning, flood, earthquakes, volcanoes, eclipse, comets etc. — by worshipping them, sometimes even offering human sacrifices, all under special names and different rituals. Read On

More Corrupt the Police are, More unsafe are our People
We had always thought at least our Army and Judiciary are well insulated from corruption. Newspapers rarely carried any item relating to corruption in the Army and Judiciary. But today we have Army scams and Judicial corruption almost daily being written in newspapers and shown on TV. Lack of trust in the leadership in all areas of governance is worrying every citizen today. The situation indeed is grim. If a citizen cannot trust a Police Officer, Army General, Chief Justice of the higher court, where shall he go for his security and justice? Are we as a country lost in the limbo of a democratic anarchy? Read On

Remembering Shankar Nag and Gaurima
And what about the sick — either young or old? The state – of – the - art hospitals, whether for heart diseases or cancer, are available only in Bangalore. For all these reasons and more, the traffic congestion is understandable. Only a miracle - man can find a solution for this problem. Yet, without waiting for that miracle man, I went to Bangalore and one afternoon visited Ranga Shankara to see a play. Among the most talented actors and directors of films in Kannada was undoubtedly Shankar Nag, the younger brother of another equally talented actor and former politician Ananth Nag. Unfortunately, God has the habit of calling back to his realm the most talented and the genius amongst humans while they are still young. Exceptions are rare. Read On

Internecine self – destructive war in Karnataka BJP
Is it not proof that Yeddyurappa is capable of tethering the Reddy brothers and his supporters here in Karnataka with the same rope with which Reddy brothers, taking help from the high command, tied Yeddyurappa and parcelled him back to Karnataka? It is reported in today's papers that within hours after Yeddyurappa refused Shettar's request two of the Reddy brothers flew into Bangalore by helicopter from Bellary and went to Yeddyurappa's Dollars Colony House demanding that Shettar's request be granted. But, Yeddyurappa had the guts to tell the Reddy brothers to get lost. Yes, courage is indeed destiny. Read On

Rise and fall of Shobha Karandlaje
While in the Ministry, her performance was without blemish. She was one of the very, very few intelligent, honest, hardworking and competent Ministers in Yeddyurappa's Cabinet. And the only woman Minister. She is also fair looking and pleasing in her manners. Her photographs in media is evidence of her being a person with a highly photogenic face. Not surprisingly, there has been gossip about her relationship with Yeddyurappa but she is nonchalant about the wagging tongues. Read On

The decline and fall of BJP in Karnataka
The political power in Karnataka seems to have slipped, with the connivance of the BJP High Command, to the hands of Reddy brothers. Considering how Sonia Gandhi handled the ambitious son Jagmohan Reddy of the late Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Y. S. R. Reddy, the BJP High Command's handling of the Reddy brothers seems to be a disaster. It also bespeaks of the lack of political acumen and courage on the part of the BJP High Command, which in itself is a divided house, compared to the Congress under Sonia Gandhi. Read On

Modi Bashing
It has indeed become fashionable these days for the secularists, communists and the opposition political parties, so also the minority communities to brand BJP as a Hindu party and for that reason demonize it. When more than 3000 Sikhs were killed in the aftermath of Indira Gandhi's assassination by a Sikh guard, did anyone brand Congress party as anti - Sikh party and demonize it? Let it be. What we as Indian citizens should realise is that in a pluralistic society with different religions there is bound to be a majority religion and a minority religion and therefore whenever there is over - reaction to an incident Read On

Yes, the Winner is Dr. R. Purnima
This one is not a lottery like the Nobel Peace Prize this year. For US President Barack Obama it was a windfall and a lottery. But what Dr. R. Purnima, Professor of English, Karnataka State Open University (KSOU), got — the Fulbright - Nehru Senior Research Fellowship for the year 2009 - 2010 — was neither a windfall nor a lottery. It was the scholarship given to a most deserving person, one who has worked so hard in the field of children's education and for so long, since 1990. She was passionate about what she set out to do, in her own way, for the cause of ALL children. And every child who came under her tutelage was a beneficiary of her kindness and teaching. Read On

Kodagu Safari: Pleasant and Unpleasant
God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh day — Sunday. Why God chose Sunday to rest, only God will know. Probably for the same reason the Christians pray on Sunday and Government and private offices have their weekly holidays on Sunday. Prayer or rest, we usually look for a break from our routine work – a - day life. That was how I escaped from my labour - oriented jail called Mysore to the womb of nature in Kodagu on 18th, 19th and 20th of this month. The word womb is very significant, for that is where we all came from. And while there, we were all safe and secure, free of all worries, till we came out crying. As we grew up, the cry became a complaint about the world outside where we were willy - nilly forced to work and live. Read On

Mysore Airport: An apology and a folly
And imagine, this airport building has three urinary pans (basins) for men, while over 100 passengers can be expected at any given time when a smaller commercial flight lands or takes off. Is it not too inadequate a rest room? And worse, the way these basins are fixed to the wall with separators. The basin seems longer than the ceramic separator and the urinary block is perpendicular to a mirror close to it. As a result, the persons easing themselves at the urinals are reflected in the mirror to be seen by those who use the wash basin. I would like to honour the architect and interior designer of this airport lavatory for his sense of humour or sadism or being a voyeur. Read On

Rise and fall of Rangayana from B. V. Karanth to B. Jayashree
Question from Jayashree: "Shall we perform Kindari Jogi?" Reply by the artistes: "We did it when we were young. Why not we take up other adult plays or a new one?" Jayashree's reply: "What? By suggesting 'Kindari Jogi,' did I make a mistake?" With this kind of attitude, artistes say, no fruitful discussion was possible. She herself was the problem, according to insiders. Having said this, there is very little to say something good about the old artiste - government employees of Rangayana either. They seem more audacious than poor Jayashree, according to some insiders. I understand that these Rangayana artistes are already steeped in the most pernicious government culture of asserting rights without responsibility or accountability. As I know it is only in a communist country that a performing artiste is a government servant. Read On

Much ado about Dasara Invite &…. The Congress Charade
The Congress seems to be in a hurry to topple the BJP government. Like a lawyer who has neither law nor facts on his side bangs the table to confuse or intimidate the judge, the Congress has decided to intensify and widen the area of its protest, after the failed siege of Vidhana Soudha on 26th September, taking the protest down to districts and taluks. Congress and JD (S) seem to forget that they too, while they were ruling us not long ago, were guilty of the same kind of allegation that they are accusing the BJP of now. Hear this. The JD (S) spokesperson Y. S. V. Datta says, "How long can we keep quiet when the State's economy is in shambles and people are fed up with Chief Minister B. S. Yeddyurappa's misgovernance? So JD (S) has organised a protest on October 12." How long? JD (S) ruled in partnership with BJP for 20 months. Can’t Datta allow BJP to complete at least 20 months before organizing the protest? Read On

Our Netas and their Life - Style: Cattle class or Gandhi class?
It is strange that though all our politicians have gone on junketeering to America and most of them know English, none could understand the joke that was except Dr. Manmohan Singh. It is time the Prime Minister took a class on “joke appreciation” for his Ministers and other Congress leaders including Sonia Gandhi and Ashok Gehlot, the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, who wanted Tharoor to quit as a Minister for his controversial remarks. I think Gehlot should have been an Arab and a Minister in Saudi Arabia! Read On

A People’s Gentleman Police Officer: Kempaiah IPS - 4
In retrospect, Kempaiah would not have quit in a huff as it were, if only DGP Ajay Kumar Singh had not officially reported the Aug. 13th incident to the government. A few days back when I made a courtesy telephone call to Kempaiah, his voice betrayed his feelings: "I treated Police as my religion. It was my life breath. My devotion to duty as a Police officer was total. I am deeply hurt, pained so much. As an officer I was expected to deliver and in all my postings I delivered. Naturally, I earned my promotions. Now I am leaving with a heavy heart." I asked about the Siddharamaiah factor. "No", he said firmly. "No politics for me in service." To my question "What next?", he said "I have not decided yet." "Politics?" I pursued. "No I have not thought of it yet." "Well then, how about writing a book," I suggested. "Yes, that's a good idea. I will consider," he said and thanked me for calling him. Read On

A People’s Gentleman Police Officer: Kempaiah IPS: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Jaswant’s defence of Jinnah
Every student of history knows what Mahatma Gandhi had sworn regarding the partition of the country. He had said, "Partition would take place only over my dead body." What happened? No wonder the former RSS Chief K. S. Sudharshan speaking to the Press had said that Jinnah was committed for a unified India and if Mahatma Gandhi had insisted that partition should not happen, then it would not have happened. Well then, now that partition has happened, Sudharshan is holding Mahatma Gandhi responsible. Is he thus endorsing the views of Jaswant Singh? Read On

Kodagu Safari: Predicament of Police
Last Thursday I was in Kutta, a border town South of Kodagu, on some errand. My host and relation, who is a local coffee planter, had a call asking him to participate in a meeting at the Kutta Police Station. Since it was a Citizens' Committee meeting, I too decided to accompany my relation. I thought the Police Station was very strategically and logistically located on the road leading to Kerala — a golden road carrying spices, coffee, paddy and timber, main agricultural produce of Kodagu, both legally and illegally, including cattle allegedly to the slaughter houses in Kerala. Read On

Tale of Two Statues
We have heard of “dinner diplomacy” between countries and with regard to China, whom America did not recognize for many years after communists came to power, we used to hear about “ping - pong diplomacy” between China and America. The dinner diplomacy is expected to do miracle in the relationship between two countries probably because of the belief in the saying, 'the family that dines together stays together.' Though it is also said that “the family which prays together stays together”, it may not be possible where the religions of the two countries are different and as such not inclined to pray together meaningfully. But you can never say. After all in politics, pretence is also part of the art of success. Read On

Rock Garden: Drop the idea, Go for Botanical Garden instead
Reading about the proposed or planned “Rock Garden” in our city "to add to city's glory," as one newspaper headlined it, I was taken aback. Rock Garden is okay in Ramanagaram, especially where the film Sholay was shot or in some desert land, may be in the nearby Talkad, where plants and trees don't grow, but certainly not in our city. I was also shocked to read that the 30 - acre land, already enclosed by MUDA with a compound wall in front of the Lalitha Mahal Palace hotel, is being suggested by the Father of Rock Garden Nek Chand Saini of Chandigarh, who, it was reported, stayed in Mysore in the month of July for four days. Read On

Leadership Crisis
Before Nehru died the question generally asked by all sections of the people was: After Nehru who? Many even thought that after Nehru it was deluge! Many had speculated on many names. I do not think Lal Bahadur Shastri who succeeded Nehru was one among them. If it were so, the always stand - by Prime Minister and the senior - most Congressman Gulzari Lal Nanda would not have been sworn - in as a stop - gap Prime Minister. After Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi succeeded him and continued to rule the country as the Prime Minister till 1977. Read On

America’s Hidden Agenda
If England is a nation of shop - keepers, America is a nation of marketing wizards. They are so good they will sell you their tomorrow's product today for cash and deliver the product next year by which time an improved version of the product will already be in the market. This often happens with their war machines. After all, today they are world's number one “merchants of death”. Look around the world and you will find America's involvement everywhere, either in the form of covert or overt supply of military weapons or in the form of humanitarian aids, supplying food, clothes, medicines and materials for constructing roads, bridges, houses, temporary shelters etc. By adopting these tactics, they would in time align the foreign policy of those countries in America's favour. Read On

Stray thoughts on a strange Indo – Pak joint statement
In one sense it was a case of the Prime Minister and his team scoring a self - goal for India. It was like the nursery rhyme: "Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the king’s horses, And all the king’s men, Couldn't put Humpty together again." All the persuasive skill of the Prime Minister and the oratorical skill of his Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, backed by Sonia's solid support, could not undo the joint statement. It was like trying to unscramble an egg. Indeed, the joint statement has become a fait accompli. Read On

Land Scam: Honour among Thieves
It was surprising that the former Minister had the gumption and temerity to say something which only an irresponsible and a shameless person would utter on a serious subject that it was. If he had said it in a lighter vein, by way of a banter, it would be quite another matter. This was what he said, posing a question: "I belong to Arya Vysya community. My profession is doing business. As such what is wrong if I had bought the land for the Housing Board from my brother?" Surprisingly, Chief Minister Yeddyurappa and his Ministerial colleagues successfully warded off the opposition attack and vehemently justified the purchase of lands by the Housing Board paying higher price. Read On

May Chamundeshwari help save Chamundi Hill and Her Abode!
I ask why Tirumala - Tirupathi model? Can't we think on our own? The deity is different, the topography of this hill is different and the people who visit the temple here too are different - a mix of tourists and pilgrims - unlike in Tirumala - Tirupathi where each visitor is a pilgrim. The area available for development too is restricted here unlike at Tirumala. Why then imitate? Bankruptcy of new ideas, new thinking, new imagination, new vision? Does our Chief Minister want to destroy the Hill by making it a concrete jungle with guest houses? Already there are massive, ungainly structures built more to spend the "allocated" money rather than for any need. Read On

Rain: The Power of Prayer
And finally, as I was cud - chewing on this subject of God responding to our prayers, a thought crossed my mind. Why the same God did not respond to the prayers during earlier droughts, especially when Ramakrishna Hegde was the Chief Minister? May be because he was a Socialist and a Secularist! But then H. D. Deve Gowda of JD (S) too is a Secularist and yet God seems to oblige him! I am simply unable to understand the mind of God!!! Read On

End this Obsession with Statues
Is there a need for these statues even on a reciprocal basis? I say a big NO. More than Tamilians of Chennai, we Kannadigas at Bangalore are buying trouble - both immediate and in the future. Soon, there will be a suggestion for Ramaswamy Naiker's, Annadurai's, MGR's and why not Karunanidhi's statues in the areas where Tamils are in majority in Karnataka or in Bangalore. And can this be arranged on reciprocal basis as with Tiruvalluvar or Sarvajna? After all, Karnataka does not have one charismatic Chief Minister or leader equal to those of TN mentioned above. Read On

Musings on Religious Conversion in India
There is a school of thought which condemns mass conversion of poor illiterate people promising them social status and material benefits which, according to this school, is not correct, not moral for the reason it amounts to enticing them through allurements. They are not changing their religion on their own volition after understanding the superiority of the religion which they are going to embrace. Now the question is: What's wrong if the conversion is going to benefit him one way or the other? Read On

Stray thoughts on Tree  Felling for Road  Making: Why not a tree maintenance department?
A young boy was driving alone in his car on a wild stormy night. It was raining heavily. He passed by a bus stop and saw three people standing, waiting for the bus. One was an old lady, who looked as if she was about to die. The second was an old friend who had once saved his life. The third was a young girl he had been dreaming about. In the young man s car there was space for only one person as the smart seats in the rear were folded up and loaded with luggage. Thus he was left wondering whom he should choose to offer the lift. He was caught in a moral and ethical dilemma. Read On

Don t fell trees: But make the Road. How?
BJP Government's decision to ask the authorities to build the four - lane Lalitha Mahal Palace Road without cutting a single tree is like the Pharaoh of ancient Egypt asking Israelite slaves to make bricks without straw. But the BJP government should also remember what the leader of Israelites, Moses, told the Pharaoh in retort: If you shall want us to make brick without straw, we shall want you to build your city without bricks . Now the people of not only Mysore but also those who use this road should ask, If you want this road to be built without felling trees, then we want you to build our city without roads . Read On

One Year of B. S Yeddyurappa
Compared to the handling of similar issues in Orissa and Bihar, Karnataka's BJP is far, far better both in checking the repetition of such incidents and in taking legal action against the culprits. It is to be remembered that during the 6 years of NDA government at the Center led by BJP, the communal riots and clashes were minimal and were curbed whenever it raised its ugly head, without favour or fear. Could be, being already branded as a Communal  party, BJP (NDA) did not want the Secularists to get a chance to criticise it. However, there could always be exception under any government, due to individual officer's or politician's failure or bias. Therefore, we the people of Karnataka may hope for the next four years of peace, prosperity and all round development, paving way for a Ram Rajya under the leadership of B. S. Yeddyurappa. Read On

Field Marshal K. M. Cariappa: Reminiscence
Field Marshal s son says: "I agreed because I believe my father was unfairly criticised for the statements that he made on some of the political and defence issues of his time, and wanted to do something about it. Also, here in Coorg, it was believed that he did not do enough for the erstwhile princely State or for our community, the Kodavas." I could give only a cursory reading to the book as the photographs in it, being of vintage value, were too distractive for me to concentrate on the text. As such I do not know to what extent the Air Marshal was able to vindicate his avowed reason for writing the book. Read On

After the Parliamentary Polls
One important feature of this Parliamentary election was the appearance of the Third Front and the Fourth Front that took premature birth as a challenge to the Congress and the BJP, considered the First Front and the Second Front. Fortunately for Indian Democracy it was a case of infanticide for the Third and Fourth Fronts by the voters. In the past, it used to be pre - poll alliances by the two acknowledged national political parties (leaving out the Communist parties), the Congress and the BJP. Sometimes, depending on the number of seats won by the alliance partners, a post-poll alliance used to be stitched together by Congress and BJP known as UPA and NDA respectively. Read On

Bofors Cover  up: What leading Columnists of India Say
When L. K. Advani raised the question of many billions of Indian money being stashed away in secret accounts in banks all over the world, specially in Swiss Banks, the Congress was quick to react saying it was an election gimmick and asked why raise the question now, after more than two decades? Not surprisingly, the losers of this stolen money, the citizens of India, asked a counter question: Why not ask the question now? The spokesperson of Congress blushed. Unwittingly, Advani, in retrospect, seems to have acted as a last whistle blower on this scam. Read On

Quattrocchi Charade: Play on Congress and NDA? Both talk more, Work Less
In war we hear about what is commonly known as scorched earth policy . A scorched earth policy is a military strategy or operational method which involves destroying anything that might be useful to the enemy while advancing through or withdrawing from the area. In ancient times it was also known as burning crops so that the advancing army may not have the benefit of feeding the army that is set to march on its belly as it were. In the present day, this scorched earth policy includes destroying telecommunication, roads, bridges, transportation and industrial sources. Read On

Musings on Challenges facing our Netas: Terrorism and Black Money
This one is a good question, most pertinent question, among all the questions raised by the Congress spokesperson. Probably, the then Finance Minister in the NDA Government, Mr. Yeshwant Sinha, might be able to throw some light on this question and give an answer. Of course, I have mentioned of the fate of Bofors loot above. But what about others who looted our country? Could it be that among the thieves who have lodged their money in Swiss and other banks are also some of the BJP politicians, industrialists and IAS, IPS, IRS friends of BJP? Read On

Laughing waters of Hebbal Lake: KIADB has the last laugh
But the point I want to make here is about the manner in which KIADB, with its headquarters in Bangalore with a Chief Executive Officer who is an IAS, manages the affairs of Hebbal Industrial Area which is one of the oldest, started in early 1980s. The first phase of Hebbal industrial area has about 2000 acres of land acquired in the 80s and took about 30 years to develop, if what we see today is development. Till the time Infosys came there in the year 2003, occupying an area of about 250 acres, half of Hebbal industrial area was lying just vacant because of poor infrastructure and prohibitively heavy cost of corruption, which still continues. Read On

It is a boom time for Astrologers
The moot point here is the credibility that one can attach to the predictions made by these astrologers. Of course, at the end of the day it is like one s belief in God and attributing the good that happens to the God and the bad also to His will. If the prayer is not granted, strangely, the person does not blame the God but blames himself, with his inner voice muttering: "After all, I might not have offered my prayers sincerely or observed the rituals of the prayer meticulously." In either case, it is the God who triumphs, just as in the case of astrological predictions, where it is the astrologer who wins irrespective of whether the politician wins or loses in the election. Read On

Third Front Rings the Alarm Bells: Wake up Advani, Yeddyurappa!
Gone are the days when patriotic citizens voted in the name of Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru, Subhash Chandra Bose and their policies and principles. For today s voter, patriotism or principles of economics, social justice and national security are passing. For him, the annadhata is the best bet. He who provides him with roti, kapda, makan and bijili, pani, sadak, is the right person to deserve his vote. Yet, there is a catch in this supposition. A voter may yet ignore a candidate or a party which promises all his personal needs mentioned above and as a contingency personal plan will vote for a candidate who belongs to his caste or religion or one who is likely to favour him at a future date when need arises. Read On

Dr. Yeddyurappa, I presume? No?
It is not known what prompted our Chief Minister to suddenly declare that the prefix Dr. should not be used before his name, but I am sure his followers might not heed to his advice and will continue the practice. I am sure the print and electronic media will follow his advice. Well, I am wrong. This morning I saw a 4 - page supplement on Dr. B. S. Yeddyurappa in The New Indian Express! That is life in India for all of us. Learn to accept what you cannot change. Read On

Thus spake the Godmen on God
How smart! You are pleased to know about yourself, about you being a God, which you yourself did not know. At the same time, you are overwhelmed because Paramahamsa Nityananda has proved himself to be so self - effacing despite being a God. In fact, his answer assumes that he is God all right and he is going to prove you are also God. Happy, you. Osho Rajneesh is an expert in this kind of rigmarole or jugglery of words. Those who have heard him or read his books will vouch for what I say here. They do come up with smart statements which will overawe the listener. Read On

Pub Culture: Ah! What a Life!!!
However, a greater question will remain unanswered, what is our culture? Has anyone defined it? Is Fashion Show part of our culture? If not government may have to ban it too. Cry. Cry. What will our Prasad Bidappa do then? Pity. To cut a long story short, in our present society, fundamentalists among all religions apart, it is impossible to bring culture under the steel frame of the religion or law. And what about the money to run the Government? Vice is part of all Governments all over the world. Read On

B. N. Kenge Gowda: A Gentleman politician among the ordinary
A true Gandhian. We exchanged greetings. I asked him in Kannada if he had come there to get the animals released. He smiled and gave a reply like a typical politician in Kannada: No, no. I have come to help these poor people . I was quick to respond: That means these cows would be on the roads again tomorrow... He smiled, his gentle smile. All - knowing smile. "They must eke out a livelihood, Sir. I will ask them not to leave their cows on the roads." No wonder even now we see stray cattle on our city roads. Read On

Should India rely on the support of UN, USA and England over Kashmir and Terrorism? No, No, No
Listen to M.J. Akbar: "Who gained from terrorism in Mumbai? There is only one winner. The Pakistan Army. The disgrace into which it had been dragged by Pervez Musharraf has been erased; it is wrapped once again in the blanket of confrontation with India." Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India, are you listening? It is said those who do not learn from the past history are bound to repeat the same mistakes and suffer for it. India presently seems to be in such an unredeemable situation. Read On

Gandhi s Epistle to Obama - 3
You have spoken of Afghan problem being your key priority after Iraq in your foreign policy concerns. However, you have clubbed my country with a special mention of Kashmir as if it is also a country along with Iran and Pakistan. How could you do this? There is no internal conflict in India as in Afghanistan and Pakistan or as between Hamas and Israel that's going on now. We have certainly a dispute with Pakistan. That is, Pakistan should return the POK? Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. Read On

Gandhi s Epistle to Obama: Part 1 | Part 2

Bring back the Ganjifa Art Museum
Because of the evil of corruption, these politicians and bureaucrats are ready even to sacrifice a good culturally important project. Here is one example where a culture - related project on an ancient art of India was called off simply for the reason the promoter - artist of the museum refused to share the Government's annual grant with the Director of the Department of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Karnataka. As a result, the museum, which was started in city in 1996, was closed down Read On

24 Days and It is Okay &.
One cannot say nothing has been done for the reason New Delhi has been busy receiving guests from America, England, France and other countries. These foreign guests offered sympathy and condolences to our Indian Prime Minister, to Sonia Gandhi, to our Foreign Minister and the Defence Minister for the death of innocent victims and martyred security personnel in exchange for tea and biscuits from the Indian host. In the next few days, everything will be forgotten by the faceless (heartless?) Indian Government. It may even take pride in the fact that there was no communal backlash, life is back to normal and thus the Mumbaikars have defeated the objective of the terrorists! Read On

Thank You, I m Humbled!
It was an avalanche of felicitations for me after November 1. On November 2, I returned from Bangalore richer by Rs. One lakh and 20 gram of gold. Till last year, the reward money was a pittance. Many told me that I got the award rather late in life. But in retrospect, there is no cause for regret. So thank you Sarkar! And since then, not a day was spent without some individuals or organisations felicitating me, either in our office at Bannimantap or at a function outside. Read On

A War of attrition to bleed India
Here the political power is unipolar so also very strong. This is what many so - called intellectuals and political pundits tell us. But then, look at America. It is also a democracy and possesses immense political power capable of policing the whole world. Therefore, it is a moot point, why Indian democracy cannot be as vibrant and also a strong political power as America to address the challenges of 21st century? Read On

My encounter with a tribal Kudiyara Muthappa
I told him he should have asked the concerned officers. Kudiyara Muthappa told me, "Sir, I did ask one Prakash, the Engineer of Nirmithi Kendra who executed the job and who was responsible to make the road spending, if careful, little less and if careless, a little more. However, Rs.13 lakh was the money for constructing a 2 - km road as estimated by the Nirmithi Kendra. The Engineer s reply was, "Don t ask me, ask your MLA. Go and complain to the MLA. Don t talk to me." Read On

When will Karnataka politicians think of Karnataka?
The Congress, which has ruled Karnataka for over 40 years since Independence, has very little to show for such a long rule. For much of our present day miseries and problems related to the basic requirements of a civic society like water (both for drinking and irrigation), electricity, roads, housing, education and health, we can squarely blame the corrupt and poor governance of the Congress. Read On

Will India be a Majority  Non  Hindu nation by 3000 AD?
He said: "The first millennium saw the cross planted in the soil of Europe (which became true) and the second in America and Africa (which also became true). May the third Christian millennium witness a great harvest of faith on this vast and vital continent." The Indian or Asian continent. Who knows this may also come true. Amen. Read On

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Prof. V. M. Sholapurkar of CAVA and his failed mission
If our country is not making progress the way it is possible and to its full potential, it is because of our corrupt Ministers, indifferent bureaucrats and the crab - culture amongst our technocrats, creative people and intellectuals. CAVA is one such example. I request the present BJP Government with Shobha Karandlaje as the District in - charge Minister to take up this issue and restore CAVA to greater glory as conceived by Prof. V. M. Sholapurkar Read On

Black Man s burden: Barack Obama, A President for all reasons
When White man was ruling India, he always thought he was a Good Samaritan come to help poor Indians and called his rule over us as a White man s burden . Now, for Obama, it is a Black man's burden . After all, is he not expected to save America from its present economic meltdown  and end all American foreign wars? Read On

Kannada and Deepak Thimaya
Karnataka seems to lose many court cases not for want of merit but by default. Two examples will suffice. And I have chosen these two for the reason they have made news. I am sure there may be many cases our State might have lost for reasons of deliberate negligence (to help the opposite party) or due to the incompetence of its Advocates. The mishandling of Cauvery Tribunal case is well - known. The high cost of this case is also well-known. Whose money is it, anyway? I am a witness to the proceedings of this case before the Tribunal for two days in Delhi many years ago when everything went against our State. Read On

BJP: Winner takes all &.. And God laughed for the third time!
I do not know if there is God in some form who is interested in human affairs. However, when I saw B. S. Yeddyurappa sworn - in as the Chief Minister of Karnataka on his own right and with the requisite majority of his own party MLAs (no matter, three short was soon cobbled up), I started getting a feeling that after all there might be a God who is watching the human affairs. Like the Big Brother of Communist Russia. Read On

Musings on Religion, Future Religion and Conversion
Let us also remember what Pope John Paul II said when he visited India on Nov.8, 1999 during the Papal High Mass, The first millennium saw the Cross planted in the soil of Europe and the second in America and Africa. May the third Christian millennium witness a great harvest of faith on this vast and vital continent? There is no mincing of words about Pope s (read Christian world s) intention about conversion. Indeed he must have found India, the most fertile soil to plant his Cross and expect a rich harvest of converts to his religion. And why not? Read On

Corruption shall reign Supreme - Are we fit to rule ourselves?
How much money our corrupt politicians, bureaucrats and industrialists have stashed away in Swiss Banks? The estimate about Indians holding money in secret Swiss Bank accounts is around 1,500 billion dollars. Translated into rupees, it comes to some Rs. 6,75,000 crore at the foreign exchange rate of Rs. 45. Put differently, if India's deposits in Swiss Banks were to be distributed among 45 crore people (out of our country's 100 + crore) each one will get Rs. one lakh. Lok Ayukta sleuths have done it again. Read On

Where is our Country heading?
While the Centre shall render unto the States that which are of States, the States too should render unto the Centre that which are of the Centre. Only then can we have Unity in Diversity and be able to steer the Ship of State called India through the high seas of governance smoothly. Let our politicians think about the country, not of the impending election. If India loses, who wins? Read On

A Wednesday: Day of a stupid Common Man!
I strongly recommend this film to the "Stupid Common Indians" who form the bulk of our population. In the matter of containing terrorism or punishing those who are caught, we cannot compare ourselves to the White man or the Chinese. But at least, we can see this film and derive vicarious pleasure! After all what else can we do except grin and bear the scourge of terrorism? And we are not as intelligent as that Stupid Common Man Nasiruddin Shah of the film! Read On

Can Yeddyurappa be Karnataka s Narendra Modi minus &..?
If the Congress and other opposition parties in Gujarat can live with Narendra Modi for so many years opposing him at every stage, except at the stage of Narendra Modi s policies related to economic and industrial development of Gujarat, why not our Karnataka politicians ? Read On

GOK: A Matter of faith
Reading the news that a Christian nun from a Kerala village, Sister Alphonsa, who had died 62 years ago, was canonised as India s first woman Saint by Pope Benedict XVI yesterday at St. Peter s Square in the presence of 5,000 Indians and thousands of others, I could not but think of one particular miracle among many attributed to her. That miracle is the healing of a young boy s clubfoot or twisted feet as some newspapers described it. Read On

Appreciation: Woman Power
And finally, there was another complaint. It was: Shobha, Shobha, Shobha everywhere. Every event was inaugurated by Shobha except where CM did the honours. Couldn't she allow other Ministers too to have the privilege? We have seen this happen in the past creating chaos and confusion with the political followers of each VIP, crowding places, cornering contracts, foreclosing invitations and passes etc., etc. Did any BJP Minister complain? Nah. Then why bother. Be happy. After all, all is well that ends well. Read On

It s your life: What about Morning Power Walk?
Did you get the message, old man? So keep moving! I have been seeing an advertisement about Johnnie Walker Scotch whisky with a huge visual and a one - liner message which simply says, "Johnnie Walker, Keep Walking". I have taken this message very seriously. Have you? Moral: Be a moving target, never a sitting duck! Read On

Dasara Disappointments
According to him, these are the important symbols of a heritage city. These are the heritage tags that must be preserved. Apparently, his disappointment came when a bus load of tourists from the West he had sent to Mysore telling them the city's beauty and glory, called him in Bangalore to say the fountains and the gardens he had so alluringly told them were missing. Read On

A Tale of Two experiences: What I saw and what I heard
In the midst of commotion and controversies following attacks on Christian churches in Karnataka and terrorist serial blasts across the country by religious fundamentalists and fanatics, I had some uncanny experience, which I wish to share with my readers. The first experience was when I visited a small township, Ponnampet, in Kodagu on 26th Friday, Sept. 2008. Read On

Musings on Suttur Seer s pious Hopes!
Kumaraswamy realises the evils of corruption and dishonesty that are deep rooted among our politicians, himself included. At least to that extent he is honest, unlike others who display a shameless ostrich behaviour burying its head in sand pretending the hunter does not see it! Remember, we are the only country in the world where all politicians are rich and voters are poor. Rich, anyway, don t vote! If prayers can move mountains, as Bible says, prayer should also be able to remove corruption and violence in our State. So, let us pray. Read On

Of Human Bondage: Meet Tomasz the Pole
Last Thursday I had an unusual and also unlikely visitor. His name was Tomasz Poplawski. He is not from Russia as his last name may suggest or the spelling of his first name may indicate. He is actually from Poland but immigrated to Canada in 1983 as a young boy with his parents and sister. In fact, they were actually fleeing from the communist Poland via Holland seeking refuge in Canada. When I asked how his father could manage to escape from communist Poland, he had an interesting way of narrating it. Read On

Nationalised Banks for Employees Only!
Delayed transactions, lack of punctuality as the staff arrive late at 9.30 am instead of the scheduled 9 am, as it is accountable to none because the Senior Manager's writ doesn't run among his own staff members. The staff members also keep chatting among themselves and keep the customers standing for at least half-an-hour or so Read On

Pain of delivering a Nuclear Deal
A friend of mine Mr. Brijesh Kalappa, Supreme Court Advocate, has drawn my attention to this editorial which is an in depth analysis of the Nuclear Deal (which nearly brought down the UPA government following the withdrawal of support by the Left parties). I thought I should share it with our readers who may not have seen the editorial. Read On

Farewell to HSK
One was too much. And now one more was devastating. When GTN passed away, a void was created not only in the cultural world of our city but also in this paper for which he was a columnist on a variety of subjects with special emphasis on music and astronomy. Astrology bashing was another of his pastime with support from this newspaper. Now HSK is no more creating yet another void in the Kannada literary world Read On

If Amarnath Issue is irrelevant in J & K
The Grasshopper thinks the Ant's a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the shivering Grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the Ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while others are cold and starving. NDTV, BBC, CNN show up to provide pictures of the shivering Grasshopper next to a video of the Ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food. The world is stunned by the sharp contrast. How can this be, that this poor Grasshopper is allowed to suffer so? Arundhati Roy stages a demonstration in front of the Ant's house. Medha Patkar and Tan Shyamoli go on a fast along with other Grasshoppers demanding that Grasshoppers be relocated to warmer climates during winter. Read On

An appeal to S. A. Ramdas, MLA: Give us a Botanical Garden
Hope our Administrators and Planners have vision and do not turn myopic focusing only on day  to - day administration. After all, it is our country. We must try to build our city today for the tomorrow of our children even if politicians and officers belong to some other city! Couple of years ago I had taken some politicians to Tavarekatte on way to Chamundi Hill for showing them the location for a dream Botanical Garden. As expected nothing happened. Read On

Some thoughts on Terrorist attacks on our country & Security Concerns
Do we have anything like this directly attached to the PM s Office? Do we have a mission regarding homeland security? None in place. Which is why, the Centre and States are speaking in different languages. Advantage terrorists and their patrons. Mere condemning terrorism will not help halt future terrorist acts. Our ability to defend ourselves against terrorists has become questionable. Read On

American Blacks: Pride and Prejudice
The importance of the colour of one's skin can be understood only when a coloured ordinary person (read a person who is not white in the accepted Western sense) is among the whites. The unease, the diminished feeling. VIP coloured persons are, of course, exempted. This could be experienced by a coloured person who lives in Europe, England and America, especially North America including Canada. Read On

Cry, My beloved Country! Our Rulers, Our Judges
Some of these politicians belonging to different parties do certainly know the good that will come out of this nuclear deal which is much more than the evil that it may produce. Yet, due to self-interest they are going to sacrifice the greater interest of our country. Whatever happened to that noble motto Service above self ? Read On

Saluting my teacher, mentor and hero
July 18, is Guru Poornima day. A Day to remember our Gurus, teachers. One of my most revered Guru and mentor G. T. Narayana Rao passed away on June 27 when I was out of the country. I thought I must pay a personal tribute to GTN today, being an appropriate day, though belatedly. I was in the midst of a formal dinner in Houston, US, at a restaurant when my cell - phone rang. Usually, I switch it off on such occasions. This time, strangely, I forgot to switch it off. So, when the call came I interrupted the amiable conversation and took the call. It was my son, Managing Editor of this paper, Vikram Muthanna. Read On

Kabhi Busy Kabhi Lazy in America!
Once this man Vs woman, Black Vs White battle was over with Hillary reluctantly conceding defeat after prolonging the agony for anybody's comfort, I was wondering what other interest I should follow to keep myself lazy, not busy. I hit upon the cinema, Sex and the City. The best news is not that the film is good or bad or sexy, that it grossed over 55 million dollars in the very first week of its release. It is about four New York women of age past 50 indulging in sexual escapades and also falling in love with their husbands once again at the end, like the born-again Christians we hear about. Read On

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