Can Terror ever be removed from the face of earth? Really speaking, it is totally impossible to remove terror from the face of earth. Terror has been there from the origin of the earth. It is about transfer of property away from the deserved. It later on went on to become state policy, when terror was used to extend empires. Now, expecting mankind to unlearn the fruits of terror is neigh impossible. However, there maybe a possibility to keep the common man sufficiently away from the precincts of terror.

Who is a terrorist?

Well there are 2 kinds of terrorists:

(a)                Brand A (alienated): Ones who are motivated by reason other than direct gains (indirect gains to their family members and perpetrators are there). Here the victims usually do not have any option since the terrorist has no prior or future (proposed) dealing with the victim.

(b)               Brand B (societal): Ones who stand to gain directly from terrorism, with the victim going to lose some value. This being a resolvable position, usually the victim succumbs to the threat and chooses the lower (in his eyes) of the 2 or more proposed losses (scenarios).

Which is more dangerous?

Well the Brand A terrorism is pronounced to be more dangerous by most of the people, mostly, since there is not much room for negotiations with them. However, actually the second one is usually the root cause of most terrorism, since when consistently Brand B terrorism brings fruit to people, they move towards the Brand A Terrorism.

What is actually Brand B Terrorism?

It starts from anything like your landlord terrorizing you or your tenant terrorizing you. It could be a lendor or the lendee. It could be your boyfriend terrorizing you or your girlfriend. It could be your husband, wife, in-laws or every parent or child. And when the public recourse is full of leeches a lot of people succumb to this brand of terror. Here, are laid the roots of a terrorist. Anyone who learns that the world can give you something that you don’t deserve by terrorizing it, has become a terrorist. And sadly, the people expected to protect you have for their own reason become part of the whole deal and join in to take their piece of cake from the situation. And these are none other that the Police, the Lawyers, and others who are excepted to make life easy for you in these circumstances.

Can terrorism be removed?

Well, since any action against the Brand A community (possible terrorists) usually would justify the crucification analogy drilled into the heads of terrorist, since it would touch a lot of innocent people, you can’t possibly cure terrorism by force. And use of force would mean other people getting subject to force would harbor grievances against the force and may end up siding with the terrorists. Unbridled love can only stop terrorism. However, in this world with its shortages providing unbridled love to people, who are idling their time and have no positive value or contribution is tough. However, the means is to provide love to people who bring some value to the world, however, small it may be. And on top of it, protect them from those who are not ready to add value but who want to steal value. This is a tough call.

So what’s the deal?

It means, that to root out terrorism, we only need to fortify, purify and speedify our justice delivery system and to allow no tampering with it. Well that is so easy and yet sounds so out of reach at the same time….

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Yes and No!

Recap: B. Ramalingam (Ramalinga) Raju and Rama Raju the entrepreneurs behind India’s No. 4 company Hyderabad based Satyam Computer Services, a Global IT giant (No. 1, 2 and 3 are Infosys, TCS, and Wipro) have announced that they have been fudging their books. B. Ramaligam Raju was the Chairman of Satyam Computer Services, and Rama Raju (his brother) was the Managing Director. So, I present a simple analysis on how it would affect various relationships like company-shareholders, share markets, balance sheet figures/ analysis, public-private companies, foreign investors, mergers, employees, clients, lenders and finally Satyam itself. So off we go…

Will it affect the share market?

Satyam was listed in BSE, NSE, and NASDAQ, so surely, the score of armchair entrepreneurs who rely on the books to place their bets would surely be affected. Since books are their only means to analyze a company. However, it is the share market, which affects such companies and not the vice versa. So, accept for the share price of Satyam this should not affect the share market. Thumbs Up.

Does this mean that we can’t rely on the balance sheet figures any more?

Well, book building is not as new a phenomenon as newspapers would have us believe. It has always been the public company’s bane that it never reflects it’s true worth on paper. No public company will show an accurate account of what it’s worth. It is like a movie heroine who would always present a larger than life figure. Since, we do not complain about a movie heroine till she’s caught in her own web, similarly we would only criticize the company which over hinges or over leverages its worth. Usually, these company’s skeletons tumble out after persistent market downturns. So in no way are such company’s responsible for the downturns. So go on and rely on the balance sheets, but watch out for companies that regularly and consistently over perform, without having any special USP/ innovative products to justify the same.  Thumbs Up.

Do all companies cook their balance sheet to upscale their achievements?

Sad, but true for all public companies. Same as the reverse is true for all private companies (unless they plan to go public sometime in future). Thumbs Down.

Would this affect Indian software industry?

Employee POV:

Well employee morale surely goes down and this would reflect in their work. The competitors’ employees’ salaries also would get squeezed because of (a) excess manpower availability and (b) perception that the company’s margins are lower that what is shown. Finally, the IT profession, currently highly valued by public would go lower are some other careers come back in reckoning (is the marriage market listening?). Thumbs Down.

Investor POV:

Well from the investor POV (point-of-view) surely it would mean a temporary slowdown on Buying and Mergers. However, anyway, investors scrutinize such companies very thoroughly and would usually spot the fudging. Neutral.

Client POV:

From Client/ customer’s POV, it should not affect since the company did not shortchange it’s customers. However, some large project customers may be cautious about the continuity of the company. However, since a company is an Entity on it’s own. Hence it should survive this. Thumbs Up.

Lender POV:

It indeed is a troublesome thought that the company seems to be totally bankrupt. Which would mean, that it could get cash strapped enough, to be unable to pay the salaries in the short term. But if it manages this phase it can pull back, since it is not a product or a core-industry company but a services company. And services companies don’t have any heavy incubation periods. Or in other words there is no product life cycle it can get caught in. However, because of the same reasons the margins are usually low, since their assets keep getting revalued at current prices (salaries keep getting revised to suck any extra profits). Some people may disagree with this – but the truth is that if the salaries of the staff are not revised the top-management revises theirs, so rarely would you find extra cash with such companies. Thumbs Down.

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Religion is a belief.

A belief is a widely professed line of thought.

A strong thought does not need support.

A thought that needs support is like an effervescent bubble, it has to burst one day, like the thought of terrorism or the thought of regionalism.

In fact, support belittles the thought that it professes to support - like a religious terrorist belittles the God he professes to support.

That God is no God who needs support to exist.

Whether, you may believe or not believe, but please don’t try to support religion.

Think.

Think.

Think harder.

(the underlying message is : religion is not so small that it needs your support)

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I am as pained at the terror attacks as anyone else in India. And even sad at the failure to let the terrorists in so far in India to be able to hit at some well recognized places and hold fort for a long time.

Well, the similarity ends here as I see that most of the people who appeared on the television to air their comments are baying for blood. No I’m not so highly impressed as some others at the commando’s work. Since, all of the hostages got killed, due to probably the politicians’ pressure to get this drama off the national news channels. And helped by the public, who egged on for a T20 finish!

I am also not impressed by the national news channels coverage of the event, who in their enthusiasm were letting out critical information, and none of the political or police was ready to ask them to shut up till they clear the situation.

Even the comments of the captured terrorist, ( hailing from Faridkot in Pakistan) which were sensitive information, were turned into a jingoistic ballad about Pakistan.

And to top it, now the baying for blood stance of people who want heads to roll.. makes me think that the politicians had attacked mumbai. Well, there was certainly a gaffe by a few politicians, but certainly, making us believe that the situation was preventable, is akin to laughing at our own intelligence. The truth is that if well armed and well trained people fed on jingoist religious diet, are let loose within the common masses at any time, there are going to be casualties much before help arrives. Let us not force politicians to take decisions which are going to cost us dearer in terms of the spend out of our taxes. Whether the NSG is located in Mumbai or Delhi, they can’t reach any spot with 30 minutes to save the damage. So, what is the point creating unnecessary expense. And again, an IL 76 cannot be stationed on all locations and would not be required all the time except when you want around 200 commandos to report to duty.

And please, the protection asked for by some mumbaikars, should also be extended to each and every citizen of the country.. or let each person wanting to be over-protected pay extra for it. Did not 2 prime ministers of this country (Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi) given the maximum protection possible, get slain by terrorists? So what protection level can be given to common man? Let us be practical!

The only way out is to be responsive to situations. And give swift decisions and justice and then carry out the edicts.. Only this can deter terrorists.. as inaction allows more terrorists to be born.

And please cut the rhetoric.. don’t take us back from here..

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I think it is silly discussing it here in Peter Booth’s article. There’s a court set up and they have to decide based on evidence. Peter Booth was not there, neither were you all or I. No point discussing the morality of Ponting or Tendulkar here. We all know who was not playing fair, but the racist remark allegation should be proved only in the court setup by ICC, not you or me. You can check out this article for statement of facts, just facts.

About Booth’s remark about who runs the game, obviously he knows who does right now, so no point lamenting. People have controlled various things at various times, so no pointing ruing what is today a fact. The cricketers earn their bread from the ones who pay the money.

Third point is we are discussing a racist remark not racism which is a much higher thing since it is about biases and prejudices which impact a race’s personal growth and is beyond things said in a fit of rage to each other. It is more likely to be a well thought of and continuous set of actions. Racism is something which is much beyond these silly discussions and banana courts (nothing to do with monkeys). It is much bigger and has a very ugly face, which most of the people indulging in cerebral punching here do not understand. Some of them here (going by the language they use) are much more racists than any person you know.

Please don’t leave racist remarks. I doubt if anyone’s personal knowledge about how another country works is credible enough to be celebrated. We in India can never understand that Bastard can mean your friend, similarly i don’t expect people in Australia to understand that monkeying around in India doesn’t mean a sadist is at work. That’s the only reason that a nation has risen to defend a thought that is alleged. (words don’t count here only the intended meaning)

People consider that the owned occupation of Australia NZ and USA by whites as racist, since it is about the rights of aborigines, maurees and Red Indians. but that is not something an Englishman would ever agree to. Living in another country is ok, but owning it 100% ahead of the original race?

I will leave you with this thought.

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Andrew Symonds was he called monkey by Harbhajan?
Andrew Symonds says yes he was called, whereas Harbhajan denies.
Inconclusive, since except Andrew Symonds no one knows that. Neutral.

What evidence is there regarding the abuse?
Sure, the video shows them (Andrew Symonds and Harbhajan Singh) having a friendly chat, and there was no anger on Andrew Symond’s face. The video is the only evidence as nobody could have heard the personal friendly discussion they were having. Sachin Tendulkar denies it while Matthew Hayden says he heard it. So, it’s one’s word against another. So no evidence. Neutral.

Is monkey a racial abuse?
Mostly, No! Well it matter about what we think about our forefathers - monkeys. I think here we would need a dictionary of racist words since a lot of words are confusing. Is Gay a racist word? Is bastard (uttered by Brad Hogg for the Captain Anil Kumble) racist? Well, one thing is certain. Monkey may be abusive to some extent, but ranks way below Bastard and F***er. Thumbs Down.

Is there a resemblance between Andrew Symonds and Hanuman - the monkey God?
Hanuman is the monkey God, and the paint on the face of Andrew Symonds strikingly resembles the way Indians drew their God. And that said, the image that comes to every Indian’s mind on seeing these images is the same. You check out these images yourself and decide. So, it is same as calling Inzamam an “Aloo” potato, or Harbhajan a “Turbanator” - hats off to Inzamam and Harbhajan since they grin and bear it! Thumbs Up.

Is the punishment justified?
Well, since there is no evidence of an abuse, and there is a debate on the word being a racial abuse, a maximum of verbal reprimand or a 10% match fees is the maximum they could have gone just to send a strong message. Racial abuse is a strong charge, and surely different from abuse, and cannot be made without strong evidence. Thumbs Down.

Are the issues (of bad umpiring decisions and racial abuse charge) linked?
Well they are getting linked by media and the crowds. A lot of people see it as a attention diverting tactic which is expected to move the focus from the bad umpiring to the racial abuse event, at least temporarily till the hurt of being cheated settles down. Bad tactic. Thumbs Down.

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Sports and Expectations

Trying to understand the role of Unfair expectations and violent behavior (in sports, government, friendship and even marital relationships) through sports. The various players in each area may have new names, but all of these roles are required to flame tensions.
Note: This is not a story about the fall of India and Pakistan Cricket Teams, but of Soccer, Domestic Violence, Career Struggle, and all our personal problems at one go.

Why do people spill out on streets and damage property when their favourite team loses? (why does the same thing happen when our representatives/ government takes out a bill which is not fair to all and which was not part of the election agenda)

The main cause of violent behavior is HIGH EXPECTATIONS. We cheer our national/ city team due to our birth-affiliation. Now media drums up a picture which may not be in line with realities. Actually our expectations here are BORROWED EXTECTATIONS - they are given to us by the Media - or in other words these are media’s expectations.

Usually this is the PROCESS:

1. An unfairly high rating given to team by national media
2. Advertisers surpass their budgets to drum up people’s expectations further
3. Advertisers play on national sentiments to garner high sales (to cover up for their advertisement costs)
4. Pages getting dedicated to the Team as well as advertisements on these pages giving people a belief that they are backing the right horse
5. This all puts the team under huge pressure.
6. This pressure actually divides the team since no one would like to show up as the villian in the unlikely scenario of a loss. So all players are playing for their safety and team victory is a second goal.
7. The team loses due to pressure to similarly ranked opponents quite easily and sometimes can be beaten by other low ranked opponents.
8. Once the Team loses to an easy Opponent, the pressure on them is increased, as worried Advertisers/ Media/ Betters/ Fans start calling the players individually
9. Media now enters a Banned Domain. They start playing to the galleries. They start advising Players on how to play. They are advise Captains on whom to play. Obviously this advice is not for the players (usually they don’t get to hear it), it is for the Fans. So, if the team loses, they come out Shining! (if the team wins their theories still stay as they didn’t get tested). So, in the end, like an astrologer, they always win the heart of their readers. Readers, Who, end up thinking of media as being the EXPERT and the coach, captain and team as being foolish.
10. Violence takes root in terms of violent words flying (Media), altercations in press and finally physical violence (Fans).
11. Now starts the catharsis. Left with no option, but to appease the fans (especially if they are a large Voter Bank), measures are promised and heads have to roll.
12. IT IS NOT GOING TO BE A DIFFERENT STORY THE NEXT TIME.

Take the case of Indian Soccer / Football. Why has there never been a hue and cry over their losses? Because there are no unfair expectations.

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It is a very sad situation when (probably) factor’s related to one’s first love (cricket) lead to the person’s death. Bob Woolmer is no more.. This article is not to hail him as a Champion, but to look into the reasons of such incidents.

1. Did Pakistan lose track?

Pakistan lost the plot in their games surely, and all people in it are responsible for the loss. This includes Selectors, Captain, Coach, and the rest of the team. There is no doubt about this. And a defeat is a national concern. Thumbs Down.

2. Is a defeat a national concern?

A defeat is a national concern, and fans are known to go berserk all over the world after defeats in popular sports, especially when any team loses easy matches or loses to unworthy (percieved) opponents. This usually happens after World Cup matches or important championships. Surely, a defeat is a national concern - no doubt about it. But it is surely, not a matter of Shame!! Thumbs Up.

3. Is Media’s role reasonable?

Media’s role changeover from reporting to driving is a major cause of concern. The 4 pillars of a democracy are Government, Defence/ Military/ Police, Justice and Media. They play important roles in Governing / Managing, Protecting, Redeeming, and Reporting. However media is trying to play each of the 4 functions to some extent and is especially to provide instant justice. The reporting has become more opinionated than ever. Media should keep analyzing individual player performances and but leave suggestions to improve out of their ambit (especially blame fixing), and leave that to the Captain Coach and Selectors. Thumbs Down.

4. Is the unruly crowd at player’s homes behavior correct?

Just like the media role, the extension of public into the personal life is unacceptable. However, this behavior derives from high media attention given to players, and targetted rundown of individual players by the same media creates confusing signals in the society which are exploited by political parties. It is for individuals not only to abstain from participating in such activities but to counter such activities through writing or intervention. And never to vote for people involved in such events. Thumbs Down.

5. What do political parties have to gain from this?

Political parties use these events as nurseries to nuture future leaders (sic). It is sick but true that these kind of people are future leaders, or conversely, most of the current leaders have been through this behavior. It is tough to accept that our leaders are also part of this, but it is true. Such events also come as a shot in arms for opposition parties, since cricket defeats can also be portrayed to magnify government failure is other areas. Rot is thus set. Thumbs Down.

6. Why did Woolmer die?

Whatever the cause of death, personal, professional or third party, it is definate that the pressure on him was immense, and after a certain limit, the physical pressure bearing capacity of the body becomes important, however tough your mind is. That’s where age, physical health and surely mental conflict come into play. And historical tensions pile up e.g. fate dealt him bad blows 3 times in the world cups - Twice for the Soth Africa team and now for the Pakistan Team. Woolmer’s physical capacity to bear jolts must be going down with each unexpected result.

Facing charged crowds in Pakistan and India is a tough task and it was eventual that Woolmer and Inzamam would have to go back and face the crowd (actually you have to face the media more than the crowd and media tries to infuriate the crowd). This is a major factor. Thumbs Down.

7. Does this affect the teams and players?

Yes, the high pressure gets into the teams and the play style turns defensive, which is not the way the game is to be played. You cannot play to avoid defeat, and Victory is not equivalent to avoiding defeat! A person playing to avoid defeat has already lost the match/ battle in his mind. There is only one way out - Media should please stop getting into the role of Captain, coach or Selector. They should concentrate on reporting. Thumbs Down.

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The row between Cricket Batting legends Sunil Gavaskar and Allan Border was a show of pent up anger dating back from the Bedi vs Bob Simpson series in 1979 which India almost won despite unfavourable (read highly biased) umpiring by Australians:

1. Gavaskar - Quoting David Hookes incident:

This is perhaps the only incorrect reference/ remark in the whole episode.

David Hookes or anyone else, the quote was out of context and Gavaskar lost track of his argument from here, allowing the Aussies to defend themselves. Thumbs Down.

2. Ponting defending sledging by referring to it as a cultural difference:

Sure there are cultural differences and India and West Indies are at one end of the cultural spectrum and Australia and England the other end (England has lately moved to the centre of the spectrum). This end of the spectrum is red (blood), and they sure play the game hard, and would resort to any style to win - in fact winning is everything. Remember how Bob Simpson was never given out in 1977-78 series led by Bishan Singh Bedi where the Aussies could not stand up to the Indian Spinners so only their partisan umpiring saved the day for them. I don’t know how many remember the Trevor Chappel underhand delivery? New Zealanders surely do - and would never forget that. Or more recently Ponting sledging the minnow nations play - well he should go to the football world cup and take a stand there first. Similarly, England resorted to Bodyline, Vaseline (John Lever in India) and even through racial means which they abandoned later (discrimination at MCC, etc). At the West Indian and Indian end of the cultural spectrum (which is white as in peace) we’ve always known that the game has to be played fairly and even tampering the psychology of the opponent is not fair. Now this is another matter whether tampering with the psychology is fair or not, but it is a part of the game tactics. Thumbs Down.

3. Ponting - on Gavaskar Chauhan walkout:

Well that incident is a blot on Gavaskar’s otherwise spotless career (besides the Kapil Dev drop in Calcutta). Still, let us understand, they didn’t resort to sledging and their decision was hurting none other than their own team and Chauhan in particular (he lost what was in hindsight was probably his last opportunity to score a test 100). It is still much better than Aussies tricking to keep out Murali through various unfair means. It is a well know fact that only the actions of cricketers from the sub-continent have been found incorrect. Ricky Ponting, what do you say to that? Thumbs Down.

4. Ponting - on Adam Gilchrist walk out without being given out:Cosidering that Ricky Ponting did not take it lightly, and did not like Adam Gilchrist’s walk says a lot about how Aussies play their cricket - i.e. not in the best of sportsman spirit. Thumbs Down. The bottomline is that some teams want a fair results, and some teams want to just win. And recently since they have been winning, they have not been found to be a Champion, they’re just winners. West Indies were Champions. Champions are winners whatever the results. Thumbs up.

5. Border - on how Gavaskar played his cricket:

Well Gavaskar surely played it better than Border who just kept on and on till he could cross Gavaskar in the number of runs he scored - and at what average? If Border wants to refer to Gavaskar’s ODI career, well, that is about India taking time to adapt to the new style of playing cricket and Gavaskar’s 36 runs in the world cup, was the bottom. Thereafter Gavaskar adapted well and had a score of good performances. Finally it is a fact that India and West Indies took the cup much before Australia could stand up and be counted. Even Sri Lanka took it before them. Thumbs Down.

6. Border - Quoting David Hookes incident:

This is perhaps the only incorrect reference/ remark in the whole episode.

David Hookes or anyone else, the quote was out of context and Gavaskar lost track of his argument from here, allowing the Aussies to defend themselves. Thumbs Down.

7. Darren Lehmann - joining the controversy:

Darren who? Well, what is the need of Darren now to get into the controversy? Thumbs Down.

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A joker wore dhoti kurta, an ancient dress, though more symbolic of Gandhi to the present generation, and gave a stupendous performance of pole dance

1. The boy was Indian.

An Indian is expected to have more respect for it’s leaders, though parody as a form of expression is not a very acceptable thing in India. However for parody you need to exaggerate the characteristics of a person/ event, whereas this person did not exaggerate any such fact. He merely vulgarized his performance and was not an art form by any means. Thumbs Down.

2. Uploading of Content on YouTube.

These counter border channels defy all means of restrictions imposed by governments. It is befitting in a sense that now it is up to the receiver to decide on the acceptability of the message and the government would have to stop playing a role in that. Thumbs Up.

3. Outrage of Indian IB Minister against 2 Indian TV Channels

Indian Information and Broadcasting Minister showed his outrage against 2 Indian TV Channels who showed the video in their news. Thumbs Down.

Indian Information and Broadcasting Minister showed his outrage against 2 Indian TV Channels who used the video to lace their news and up their viewer ratings. Certainly not desirable. And surely reporting through a sensationalism is more deplorable than even the actual act. Press needs to regain its humility while reporting and not act as a Justice Delivery Van. Thumbs Up.

4. Inability of Indian Government in challenging YouTube in a large way

Time for governments to delicence Communcation and the control thereof. Selling of costly rights to broadcasts have been reduced to a mere hoax by the onslaught of Web, and VOIP. Why do you need to control and artificially raise prices of things that are available at a pittance anyway through technology that is a child’s play now. Thumbs Up.

5. How is Gandhi’s image affected?

As a leader of immense proportions he is not affected at all by such trivial matters. These small incidents however bring back his memories and it is good in that manner. They cannot indignify any person than the person who performed the act, since he has to carry the burden in front of his friends, family and colleagues through out his life. Thumbs Up.

6. Who is Gandhi?

Gandhi, or more popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi is the indian leader who led the freedom movement on a very unusual non-confrontationist agenda and did not give Britishers a platform to fight back. He used his knowledge of law to the fullest extent and was a natural ally of Jawahar Lal Nehru, another lawyer. The Gandhian style of operation extended itself to Nelson Mandela and many others after him who used his style to lead their nations to independence. Thumbs Up.

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