Andrew’s Out (rageous)!

‘To err is human’. Of course, no one is perfect and flawless. It was a just another ‘very’ bad for Mr. Steve Bucknor not reaching the higher standards in cricket. Being a member of elite umpire’s panel, Steve has served the cricketing world for so long and has been fairly consistent over the years. Why nagging him for a few incidental Indian encounters!? Emotions apart, this is definitely a close call for the technologies to get involved in the game. One of the best suggestions came to light was, to provide 2 opportunities to each side to challenge umpire’s decision.  

Technically, we are done! But shouldn’t we address the ‘gentleman’ side of the game! Ponting and Symonds, they did not walk after their edge was taken clearly by the keeper. Moreover Symonds accepted, he was out and he was “lucky” not to be given. Where is the sportsman & his spirit of the game? This was a slap on human morality at first. Edged, looked back, taken & ready to go! But NO, the umpire said no. It was the outrageous moment in cricket when Symonds accepted that he was out, to corner Bucknor. I am sure he wouldn’t have any second thoughts like other Australian cricketers. “Is still cricket the gentleman’s game?”

 Sneh Bhavsar  |  Ahmedabad, 5 January 2008

‘Draw the lines and make people walk’

 “The city traffic police department is smiling its way to the bank”, said Vipul Rajput in the Ahmedabad Mirror, 18 Jan. An important issue has been encountered when it’s needed the most. Traffic chaos is getting obvious for the commercial capital. But traffic department is failing to protect the integrity of the parking laws and instead, the objective of the department has shifted; as they seem to be acting like a (money) collection agency. Traffic department rather looks happier appreciating the penalty fees as the revenue, claimed Vipul Rajput. It is turning to be a one more indecent way of generating revenue for the Government as they also sought the income by liberating the liquor prohibition.  

True, the indiscipline prevails among the city-men while driving or chucking their vehicles anywhere on the roads. People are least likely to look for a parking spot, especially for a quick stop. What is adding in their sloppy behavior is the least encouragement from the traffic department; there are a few clearly designated parking zones, but no shared education to follow the parking norms. If we review the department’s efforts, there has been an increased number of towing stations operating in the city. Moreover, consider the cost of the land hired or possessed to place the towed vehicles, the expenses for hiring or buying towing vans, the cost of employing the workforce to lift the vehicles and paying from the ordinary clerk to the duty officers – for 12 functional towing stations. Additionally, towing vans are adding turmoil to the overcrowded traffic (bearing in mind the extensive digging and the BRTS deployment through the city) and leaving the commuters at the risk too, by making frequent trips as they are trying to reach their daily target of 5000 vehicles. These money and hard work could be utilized in educating people about the new protocols of parking, for example: you cannot park in front of public garden. How much of us know about it? People are now getting furious over the haphazard abduction of their vehicles. The senior officer at Drive-In towing station kindly accepts the rage from the commuters. He added, ‘we have presented this situation to the traffic ACP Mr. N G Patel and the higher authorities, there isn’t a real implementation of parking zones.’

It is not about fingering someone but considering it as an issue which could be resolved by positive efforts. Traffic Department should designate the parking areas clearly on each road, near every shopping malls and cinemas, around public gardens and near the street markets too. In many cases people park their vehicles unknowingly. People could be advised and controlled over the parking mess in many ways, but the clear parking indications and uniform allocations would help us better to organize the space and preserve the laws. One doesn’t want to break the law intentionally but proper guidance will encourage them to keep in order. The line must be drawn somewhere, better if the traffic authorities draw some on the streets.   

Sneh Bhavsar |  Ahmedabad, 19 January 2008

Your Development Is Futile!

This take on recent polls, is my take on you and all the Gujaratis. Gujaratis are far far behind from the thought of nationalism where the nationalism is the principal and has to prevail in every member of the democracy. We are very much at the individual level; you ought to rip off that cover. Gujarat is still more of a shame to India than a proud of India in all over the world. Do not ask those money minded gujjus in London or New Jersey how they feel about the Gujarat and Modi, but asks the world. Even you can ask the other states of India. It is not the benchmark to believe that you are the best person if papa, mama and didi believe so, you should ask neighbors, friends, colleagues and even the society. Put the self on the surface – let it be commented it self. People want to look Modi, people want to dance Modi. I am heart-ripped because of this selfish, stiff and soulless mindset of Gujjus. Modi is a good leader and knows the ways to win the elections. Getting the top rank in the school examination and being a scholar are completely diverse. Being an ideal leader and winning the election to become chief minister are also completely different.  

The definition of the development is completely diverse for India in every manner. Centralization does not work for us; Distribution is the must for us. We don’t need to raise 5 malls in every area; we need to raise 5 farmers in every village. There are lots of things that I am and you are (not personally you) not enough sensible to say, but we can at least comprehend the things and not just follow the mass. Also the so called development and economic growth are coming down to Gujarat because of the individual business endeavors, outsourcing and over all India’s product dominance in the market. India is having intelligence overflow (Giddens: International social science author) and that has resulted in an economic growth and we have gone through this process over more than 40 years not just last 10 years. And the ‘malai‘ we professionals and executives are eating now, is the outcome of this stirring process of the Indian global injections. I will say hundred times – it does not coexist with development to filter the growth areas and the growing mass. If you don’t get it, I reiterate in simple words, “It is not possible to talk about hindutva & development together. Any development is futile without the intact harmony and rational environment.” It is not the development of Gujarat what you see. It will not be the Gujarat you may be wanting.   

Sneh Bhavsar

Ahmedabad, 27 December 2007

A Little About Lending

India is the place to be. Growing economy, developing businesses and booming employment. Survey said Indian youth seems the happiest in the World and enthusiastic as well, and obviously the reasons are mentioned. They are more financially adventurous than before. India is experiencing lending boom which is a well-known characteristic of an economically growing institution. Banking sector has gone beyond the horizons and we are having a huge number of Business entities providing loans, mortgages and credit services. It has became more easier for a common man to reach his pictured dreams of having a beautiful house in a suburb, having an A-class car in the front patio and having all technological joy-toys.

Where do all these things lead to? Recently, Britain’s Northern Rock has faced a tremendous crisis. They asked the Bank of England to cover the crisis and that means heavy money. Due to the democratic policies it is all transparent to the general public. Hundreds of people queued up to withdraw their life savings and they could not convince themselves even though the British Government assured that their money is safe. People withdrew nearly 3 to 4 billion pounds in 3 days and more are awaited. Result, it gets worse. Northern Rocks shares are broken by 58%. The government is calling it an international crisis but it is solely a British constitution and it has nothing do with any of the international economic event. The complete blame goes to the Northern Rock management and they did not control the way it went to that stage. And in fact, over 500,000 owe more than 20,000 pounds in one or the other way. (Source: BBC News UK website)

In India, it may be just the beginning. It has happened before as well and we have seen the crowds not the queues in front of broken banks. The scene was significantly smaller. As recently read in a local newspaper, borrowing money from the banking societies and other financial bodies has been easier nowadays. You just have to providing proof of address, proof of identity and salary slips and you will get the loan by end of the day if it is not a huge amount. Financial companies are not the less to do anything to get the customers who invest the money as well. Home loans, business loans, personal loans and car loans, we know them all. But let’s hear some more, loans for home appliances, electronics, furniture and many more. More amazingly, people are buying cooking oil and grains with the installments like ten rupees a month. People are not hesitated to borrow money for anything. It sounds a positive change if we take the availability of the resources in account, to everyone and it also leads to a standard living style for a common man, but just the external. Consequences are not foreseen yet. We are not unaware about the outrageous national debt. It is true that we are an upcoming economy but still we don’t have enough resources to cover any huge crisis as such. Financial Companies are making most it, and there is nothing wrong but they must be sure to whom they are lending and how much they should!? Government also must have the control over financial activities around the country. We will not be able to appreciate any crisis as such but till then enjoy the credits; I call it plastic money…

Sneh Bhavsar

London, 21 September 2007