Ray of Light
Ray of Light - Sun streams out - Shot taken on Whitefield Road, Bangalore. Evening around 6PM.
SRK denied ‘VIP’ treatment.
Please dont take me wrong. But, I do not think, there was anything wrong in what the US immigration did. Shah Rukh Khan (SRK) is not a VIP. Film stars are not VIPs. They do not get diplomatic immunity. People like Prime Ministers, ex-Presidents, Ministers for External Affairs get diplomatic immunity. They do far far far more important and critical work than, um film stars. I am not saying acting is not difficult, but please, acting does not guarantee diplomatic immunity or for that matters any special treatment in matters concerning a country’s security. I am not saying this, because it was the US. I would have said the same thing, even if it was the Somalian immigration did this, or, the New Zealand customs did this.
The very fact that he was ‘upset’, and then became ‘angry’, and then ‘humiliated’ fueled more anger and humilation in me, as an Indian. He said “He thanked God that his son was not there with him”. Why? He did not want his son to see reality? He wants his son to be in the same fairy tale world he is in, and he can also become “angry”, “upset”, and “humiliated’, 10 yrs from now, when he starts acting (we all know, sons of Bollywood stars become Bollywood stars). And guess what, the US immigration give a totally different account, which if it is true, makes me more angry at SRK. The US immigration says that, he was identified for secondary questioning, and he had to wait his turn with several others. That waiting time was 1 hour. And then he was called, asked some questions, and let go. This is nothing out of the ordinary. Maybe for SRK, the Khan, it was very out of the ordinary – maybe he has never ever waited in line before. Duh. Good for him. More reality for him.
Today it is SRK, tomorrow Amitabh ? Next who ? Rajini ?? Then Suruli Rajan ? Kovai Sarala ?? Where do we draw the line ? India has a hundred film stars – each of them a VIP in their own right (and dreams?).
Anyways, I thought I would rant a bit about this here.
Happy Janmaashtami
source: krishna.com
Happy Krishna Janmaashtami all. For Non-Indian readers, today is the birthday of the Lord Krishna.
Random (tamil) Punch Dialogue
Raghuvaran voice (RV) to be in deep throated croaking voice:
RV: Gun irukka? (Do you have gun ?)
Police: Irukku sir. (Yessir)
RV: Bullet?
Police: Irukku sir. (Yessir)
RV: Enga ? (where?)
Police: Pocketla sir.
RV: Govt edhu kuduthaalum pocketa ? (whatever govt gives, you put in pocket?)
Police (squirming)
RV: Bullet gunla irukkanum. Moolai thalaila irukkanum. (Bullet should be in gun. Brain should be in head!)
Waah. Waah. What thatthuvam (logic)! Whaah.
No entry tax – Karnataka – Sensible judgement.
Wah. I was waiting for this stupidity to end. Thank God for a sensible judge who overruled it. Karnataka forces people to pay entry tax (and it is as steep as 12% for cars/scooters/…) whenever you buy a vehicle outside the state and bring it in. It was the main reason, why I sold my WagonR in Noida, came to Bangalore, and then bought my new car. Add to the woes, the road tax in KA is probably the highest in the country too.
…road tax in the state is supposed to be the country’s highest. Road tax on cars below Rs 5 lakh is roughly around 10.8%, and from above Rs 5 lakh it varies between 13.75% and 17.5%. The tax in New Delhi is 4% and in Kerala it’s 6%. –source
Phew, and now a sensible judge has overruled this. I particularly like the wordings that were used. Beautiful.
Justice Kumar observed that the makers of the Constitution had favoured free movement and exchange of goods throughout India, which is necessary for the economy and for improving living standards of the country. In his 200-page judgment, he noted that Article 301 emphasises that the economic unity of the country would provide the main sustaining force for stability and progress of the political and cultural unity of the country. Justice Kumar pointed out that in the present context of globalisation, privatisation and free economy, the national boundaries and barriers should be sidelined for the benefit of economic development of the world, “If a state’s economy should be prosperous, because of the tax holidays and lower tax rates, it only shows a mature political leadership vibrant tax planning and marshalling resources available in the state. It is worthy of emulation by other states by free flow of trade and commerce from such a state to neighbouring states.”
Army Recruitment Violence
Just read this news article, about violence at an army recruitment camp in Uttar Pradesh. Brings out a few thoughts/questions:
- The violence apparently started because the candidates thought there were some irregularities in the enrollment. Is this really happening ? The US is also fighting a similar battle. Some very startling news arising out there, on enrolment based on color.
- Ok, say that there was some evidence for this irregularity, is arson and violence, the way it should be handled. Are these ’so-called-candidates’ the right ones, if they react to this like this. What will they do in the army? The army is all about obeying the commanding officer, whatever. And when I say, “whatever”, I mean “whatever”. This is what I have heard. Arson, violence ..? I cannot digest this.
- The state government issued a statement to the central government, telling them to intimate the state government, before such camps are handled. Is that the solution? In my parlance, that is called “passing on the buck/blame”.
Abstract photo – Towering Inventor
The inventor building in ITPL towering above. Seen from the atrium in the basement – glass ceiling of the Cafe Coffee Day.Black-and-White postprocessing to get the patterns to stand out.
All rights mine, mine, and mine alone 
Shot with my trusty Nokia 7210.
D.K. Pattammal – R.I.P
The Hindu says it beautifully -
In the passing away of Carnatic musician D.K. Pattammal, the music world has lost a veteran who sang with emotion and had an uncompromising adherence to pitch, rhythm and clear enunciation of lyrics.
We will always remember her “Theeradha Villayattu Pillai” and “Shanthi Nilava Vendum”.
Power cut magic
There are power cuts on a regular basis now in Bangalore. And sometimes, like I was yesterday, I get into a very creative mood. And without much ado, I present my camera phone photography (a wee bit of post processing done on it).
Candle in a holder, taken from directly above it.
Rajasthani Jharokha artwork on the wall, illuminated by my LED torchlight
‘The China effect’
Wow. Anything about China is huge, right? The country is huge. Population is huge. Large production economy. Um. I looked at my blog stats today, and what do I see. A 3X jump from yesterday.
And then I go and see, what caused this peak! And guess what -
Yep. The Gao Kao post lifted the curve nice and high. Wow, is all I can say.
