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After Mumbai Attack, people on vigil
Bhupinder Kohli
New Port, US

The ghastly mumbai terror attack has caused an international rage, with people not ready to wait for any government, ngo or politicians to act.
Around a hundred Indians descended at Town Square of Newport (Jersey City) in United States observing a vigil for mumbai terror attack; paying a homage to those innocents who lost lives in 26/11 on Saturday. National song echoed in the streets of United States, with people determined to not collect donation this time but pool in ideas to fight terrorism and act at grass root level, themselves!
Interestingly, this mass procession was not initiated by any of organisations or ngo but a group of ‘14-common Indians’ residing in Newport.They are sick of just mere living room discussions on terrorism every time terror stucks back home, so decided on saying it in morose yet bold voices “…can’t bear it anymore.”
Well! tears rolled down the cheeks of many as they looked at the pictures of victims, while lighting candles in their memory. “To channelise our approach we should sponsor Indians for finest of courses on anti-terrorism,” opines Mandeep Chadha.
They are not a part of any organization nor intend to make one. Their sole goal with this vigil is to remind one and all everyone that even a single voice can make a difference.
“We are group of common men don’t intend to form any committee but fight in capacity of a layman. We want to convey a message that we all (Indians, Americans, Israelis, etc. everyone irrespective of nationality and religion) have to unite and standing against terrorism for a better future,” says Nikhil Kumar, one of the intiators of the mass procession.
This problem is definitely bigger for them the economic recession that each of them is braving every minute on the foreign land. Brijesh Jaggi, a software consultant from Mumbai who didn’t enjoy the thanksgiving party as feared safety of his people, shared his monologue of questions that kept bombarding him for past ten days, “When will we learn to vote sensibly?…. Can’t we develop a blue print to fight terrorism?… Why innocent lives time and again?”
While 25 years-old Sarabjit Kuckreja comes up with a suggestion for Indian government to make one-year army training or atleast self-defense courses compulsory at teenage level. Just after a minute of silence observed by the gathering I even overheard a gal in mid- twenties murmuring in choked voice “Tell me, I can fly down to the very spot and be a part of anti-terror mission.”
Besides the brainstorming of fight terrorism, these Indians abroad conveyed a strong message for the whole country: ‘We may be away from our homeland, but our hearts still beat for India and we will always be there for our nation.”

No place for violence in futuristic governments

Ideally there isn’t, and will never be, any room for violence in the world… but ironically, we all are living with it, facing it, and continuously complaining it…
Playing devil’s advocate to envision a better, peaceful world, we all accept nonviolence, yet lack in its implementation. Only panacea to violence is common, all governments’ need to make sincere efforts to address the basic human needs: hunger, shelter and employment. When a person is deprived of either of these, anger – a common human trait – is triggered. In a developed economy like United Kingdom, the gravity of homelessness and related issues say it all. Whatever case may be, if violence occurs, must be criticized there and then as a shameful failure to implement nonviolent tools for settling disputes and achieving ends.
Futuristic governments must also refrain from political moves and motives that give birth or support violence. In addition, governments should renounce the right of their internal police or of anyone else to use violence in any situation. Costa Rica has taken a giant leap in this direction by formally renouncing the right to defend itself, much less to attack others. It exemplifies governance through no violence; for rests all governments to follow. Even Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution – Renunciation of War – is equally inspiring but hardly goes as far as should have.
Even in current scenario, defining a nation’s strength in terms of the national territory is a passé with power becoming synonymous to economic health and growth of a country. Drawing sped-fast changing curves, ever-evolving economic world is highly competitive. Your say in the international political community is in direct proportion to one parameter, economic health of your nation. And, that’s what the futuristic governments will be mainly strategizing.
Liberalization, privatization and globalization have swept the entire globe, changing the facade of not only the world economy, also of the international politics. Global empathy is increasing as global village is evolving every second with mushroom growth of MNCs. They bear corporate responsibility of striving for better living standards internationally. This global connect is strong and meshed across continents. People belong to one international community, living in harmony and working in synchronization across waters irrespective of varied backgrounds and ethnicity. What is common is the zeal of mankind to progress.
And, special thanks to internet and e-commerce for dissolving the boundaries. With cyber world’s development – e-commerce, blogging and chat there is no room for virtual boundaries. Across the globe be connected in just few seconds. The increase in communication between the people of different nations has made the international public strongly connected and voiced. Virtual trade and friendship across the globe is connecting people like never before. So the global village demands respective governments to pay heed to not only progress of respective country, rather of the international community vis-à-vis of the mankind with no room for violence.
When we talk of international community, it’s not only the economic progress or tackling human violence; futuristic governance demands the handshake between all governments for global governance of environment. Or else, with signals like melting ice caps of Alaska, the very existence of mankind is in question. Recent reports from Greenland show outlet glaciers moving meters per hour and rapidly thinning. To address the consequent ecological changes and natural challenges like global warming, green house effect and depleting fossil reserve, etc. we need to pool in our resources and expertise for combating and curbing at least predictable natural havoc for the existence of mankind.

They asked what is freedom to me…

Not only the existence of a human being makes him alive… it’s his freedom to be himself – to express himself, to do what he believes in. Being a social animal, of course, this freedom comes with a share of rights and duties. But being an Indian woman the word freedom has a different meaning to me. More so, as many-a-times a woman in India is deprived of the essence of word ‘freedom.’ Forget about the freedom to do what she wants, she is not even allowed to express herself in matters concerning her own life. Be it education, employment, marriage or other issues, she often dwells in the shadow of her parents, guardians, brothers; ages as the responsibility of her husband and die as a dependable on her children, actually sons only. Somehow the facet of modern India is witnessing a swift change, with the rural India yet to evolve.
I call myself a privileged soul, being born in a family that is liberal and has made me to enjoy the freedom to carve my own way, take decisions, voice issues and also the responsibility of mistakes I made. I realize the importance of this freedom bestowed by my family and urbane society with a great sense of responsibility. Be it the society that I am part of or the professional world; freedom cannot be defined without a set of responsibilities.
When a woman seeks freedom her self-responsibility increasing by manifolds. The limitations are must to be self-imposed while enjoying the liberalities. Recently news-screens flashed a story of a young girl employee with Wipro, Pune, being raped and killed by a cab driver. This horrendous incident again reminds that we women live in a society where the freedom exists within defined boundaries only.

Another Leap for Automotiv Industry - Corrosion Prevention Audit

Casting heavy financial effects and in-a-fix situation for equipment, corrosion is a devil that causes major degradation process. Even in developed countries the loss due to corrosion is quite high to the extent of 3% to 4% of GDP. In India also, an estimated loss of Rs.36000 crore (US $ 8 billion) occurs every year due to corrosion.

Corrosion of assets and environment degradation are issues which directly or indirectly rust an important area of each life, not only the material things. Corrosion makes components and structures in industry and infrastructures fail prematurely and cause significant economic losses. All metals corrode over time when exposed to moisture and in a tropical country like ours; the intensity of corrosion is very high at some places. The metals are subjected to the slow chemical attack due to high humidity, exhaust emissions, sunlight, seasonal temperature variations, industrial chemicals, etc.

To keep corrosion at bay, the industry needs to pay due attention to maintenance of the plant and equipment. On a serious note, if neglected, the damage inflicted by this devil, named corrosion, can go so far as to necessitate the complete replacement of the installation. At times, this can lead to sudden burdening of the company with non-planned investment, besides, production outage and, consequently, considerable financial losses along with other far-reaching consequences. Strict vigil and timely action through regular corrosion prevention audits can only avert the hazard. these audits that asses every accept of rusting and corrosion initiating aspects, is a great leap in thge direction of corrrosion prevention.

Another dimension to gala festive season

India is known as the land of rich culture and heritage. Be it Eid, Deepawali, Durga Pooja, Gurpurabs, Christmas or Lohri, each festival has its own charm. With celebrations becoming more important than the occasion itself, the essence of traditional celebrations has been lost somewhere down the line.

My eight-year-old niece, Tanya Sethi, who is elated to be part of pre-Deepawali celebrations, with mom getting her dresses and guest list prepared, papa busy buying gifts for everyone, grandma planning the pooja ceremony, and elder bro burning rubber to buy best of crackers… there is complete festivity around!! But when I asked Tanya if she knows why we celebrate Deepawali, her reply was: “Its party time and something to do with history. (After a pause) God Rama. I remember I had an essay last year in my syllabus.” That’s where we seem to have lacked in passing our culture to the progeny.


No doubt India has succeeded in keeping the traditions alive but not maintaining the status quo, amidst the consumerism and globalized celebrations. It’s a healthy sign that the tradition has seeped into globalization. Sweets are exchanged on Deepawali not only between friends and family but also corporate sector, firms and clients. But not sweetmeats, rather Swiss chocolates or labeled mithais are preferred. The tradition is same but the trends are ever-changing, instead of silk clothing, we all prefer branded labels. At times, the corporate sector also miss uses the occasion by giving costly gifts as legal bribe to the influentials.

Apart from the auspicious time and effervescent mood, which manifests itself in a high propensity to spend, there are some critical drivers of the ‘festive phenomena’ which are pivotal in enabling this increase in consumerism. Not only high and mighty, but also middle and upper middle class want to enjoy the temporary increase in disposable income, courtesy the Festive Bonus.

Adding fuel to this extra purchasing power is the ignition provided by heightened activity by market players offering alluring schemes and irresistible purchase offers. This results in an explosion of purchase and consumption pattern.

Interestingly, this change in consumption patterns is associated with intrinsic traditional rituals of specific purchases like utensils and home appliances on Dhanteras. Deepawali, Durga Pooja & Gudi Padwa are focused not only around new clothes but also largely around giving ‘homes a makeover’ by spring cleaning, fresh wall colour, furniture and furnishings. Vijaya Dashmi is a time when automobile sales spike. While a majority of festivals see consumers go into a self-indulgent mode with acquisitions for self, there are also those festivals which arouse a generosity of gifting to others – Eid, Deepawali and Christmas.

Let’s introspect whether we are celebrating the festivals in their true spirits!

INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM

In India public and private media is on guard of democracy; the fourth estate is strong and effective. Despite several aberrations, what effectively monitors and upholds democratic values is investigative journalism. However, Indian bureaucracy, notorious for its red tapism, does not easily part with even ordinary information, never mind the information acts on the book, and those who really want to expose do not trust the press. Investigative reporting scrutinizes and exposes the wrong-doings of those in authority, which hurt public interest and make them accountable to the people.

Be it bringing brutal realities of Nithari case, multi-crore Stamp Paper scam, Telgi case, or Fodder Scam - journalists are lead by nose for news. With the sole aim of bringing down the reality to public, they struggle to bring the reality to light. If documents, receipts, accounts, papers or files are not forthcoming as proof, journalism now thrives on major supporter – Technology. What better option can a sleuth have than a spycam? The two of them are team enough to dig out bare facts, and put them live on screen.

What started as Tehelka’s sting operation has evolved as a new trend in the history of Indian journalism where each corrupt hand is under constant threat. Whereby investigative journalism is disciplined, rigorous and demanding there are few incidents of fraudulent reporting driven by personal, political goals. Even the recent Delhi School Teacher –Uma Khurana case has opened another chapter of corrupt reporting to investigative journalism, raising questions over the credibility of media. Where Ethics to journalism is soul to body, a partial, fame-driven approach mars its entire purpose.

Where press serves as the watchdog; now checks and balances are also required to maintain to the standards of the free press of India.

FEELING THE HEAT

FIRE BROKE IN THE MARKET THAT JUST OPENS TO BACKYARD OF MY HOUSE IN MOHALI. WE WERE HARDLY 4-FEET WAY FROM ATLEAST 30-FEET HIGH FLAMES.

THE AUTHORITIES DIDN'T PAY ATTENTION TO THE BACKSIDE OF THE MARKET AS THEY WERE IGNORANT OF THE FACT THAT AFTER MARKET HOUSES ARE AT STAKE NOW. PEOPLE OF THE AREA WERE NOT BOLD ENOUGH TO EFFECTIVELY COMMNUICATE TO THE AUTHORITIES THAT THEIR HOUSES ARE AT STAKE.

BEING A JOURNALIST I CHOSE NOT TO BE MUMP; AND HAD TO SHOUT, CRY AND PLEAD, SIMULTANEOUSLY, TO MAKE THEM LISTEN TO ME IN THAT CROWD OF OVER THOUSAND: "WE NEED FIREBRIGADE TO SAVE THE HOUSE LANE CONSISTING OF TEN HOUSES."

EVEN HELD THE FIREOFFICER BY HIS COLLAR AND SCOLDED THE S.P. TOO. INDEED, IT PAID. THINGS WERE IN CONTROL IN NEXT FEW MINUTES. AND FROM A JOURNALIST BECAME A NEWSSTORY CONTENT, MY PHOTOGRAPH APPEARED IN NEWSPAPER NEXT DAY.... I COULD NOW WELL REALSIE THE HEAT OF BEING A MATTER OF NEWS CONTENT.

SOME CAME TO PAT MY BACK, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO FAILED TO DEMAND THEIR RIGHT TO SAFETY. I FELT ASHAMED THAT HOW BAD ARE WE HOMO SAPIENS AT COMMUNICATING, WHETHER SAYING THE BARE TRUTH OR LITENING TO OTHERS.

AT OTHER MOMENT FELT SORRY FOR COMMONMAN IN INDIA WHO HESITATES TO SAY OPENLY WHAT HE FEELS, EVEN IN DEMOCRACY. I AM A JOURNALIST SO HAPPEN TO COMMUNICATE BEST OF MY ABILITES.

LISTENING IS IMPORTANT BE IT YOUR INNER VOICE OR OTHER PERSON'S POINT OF VIEW (IT CAN CURB NUMEROUS CONFLICT AND TRUOBLES)...