40!

I need some clever things to write in my blog on this half-time of life. 

Remembering the Leader

In these times of acute leadership crisis in our country, I suddenly remembered the one who we practically insulted into retirement.

We call our politicians Netas (Leaders). The true meaning of the word is obscured in these troubled times. Do they inspire us? Do they motivate us? Do they show us the right way? Do they stand beside us in difficult times? Do they scare those who are out to harm us?

Are they one of us?

So how come they are Leaders?

That man who we insulted, told our opponents in no uncertain terms "Dont mess with us". He inspired his followers. He stood up for them and he made a nation believe that we can. Sourav Chandidas Ganguly; sportsman and a leader! A leader more like who we need now in this hour of desperation for the country when we are searching for our self-esteem and belief in ourselves.

Probably, he is also one who needs to hear a sorry from all of us.

Focus on Prevention first and cure later

I am totally against Draconian Laws in an immature democracy like ours. Anyway, there is no accountability of police and authorities; to give them more power in teh form of sweeping laws will be disastrous for civil society. They will put you in jail for 6 months by making up a wierd story (eg, Arushi case) and ruin your entire life -- you can do a fat lot about it. So laws have to give everyone a fair chance to trial.

Secondly, my position above should not be confused with fast-tracking justice. That is essential, and can be done through special courts with time-bound mandate. Its the lack of this which makes a situation like Maqsood azhar -- after his arrest, his associates can plan and execute a plane hijack with time to spare! The entire 1st round of Nuremberg Trials for WWII war criminals took just 11 months!

And finally, key to "preventing" terrorism is not strengthening laws, its in strengthening the intelligence setup. Laws are aftermaths of an act of terrorism, and frankly, strong laws and punishment are never deterrents for terrorists like its for civil society -- by definition, these are demented people. The only way to prevent terrorism is to strike at its root through intelligence. All these body searches and metal detectors (the last mile of defence) are also deterrents (for eg, most bombs in the past few years have been planted in open markets and not in shopping malls) but cant root out terrorism.

So lets all hope that our intelligence gathering, distribution, analysis and response improves. Otherwise we are all toast. As they say, security has to succeed everytime, terrorist only need to be successful once to create havoc.

PS: India is the only democracy I know of where winning an election is termed as coming to "power". Everywhere else, they assume "office".

Is it Really about the Law?

All our media seems to be suggesting we need stricter anti-terrorrism laws. I say no. You had that in Kashmir, look what you did. Stricter laws are not safe in the hands of semi-trained policemen and politicians, not in a country where there is no accountability of authority -- I mean you can be hauled of to jail for 45 days if someone used you open unsecured wireless connection or if they think you saw your daughter with your servant in objectionable but not compromising position...allt hat crap. Draconian laws are not for Democracies.

We dont need any stricter laws than we already have. We need the political will for enforcement.

Can I call you just once more?

Maa?
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Anythings Possible

On this day of April 16 exactly an year back, I smoked my last cigarette.

There has been a few things in my life that I thought I would do; and went and achieved it. This feat still stands as one of those things I never thought I could ever do. As such, I rank this as one of the greatest achievements in life.


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Big Problems?

A small planet of a medium sized star in a corner of the galaxy and I am in it, bothered about my problems! Seriously, how big can my problems be?


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Those Days of our Lives

It was one of those days when the world seems to be closing in all around you leaving no room for manuoevre. The days which force you to go in the direction it decides to take you and you are not your master anymore.

Unconsciousness, hospital, court, new doctors showing up, old judges not showing up, another hearing date, another travel logistics to keep the date, incessant professional commitments, home making, love thy wife, daughter, mom, dad, neighbor, dog and doorman, taxi refusal, over charging, it all started when it was still dark and it hasn't ended yet. I fear worse is still in store.

Need a break, a real break!


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Awakening of a New Father

I was going out for office when Tumpa told Tiasha "Baba Ke tata koro!" (Say bye to Baba). Struck me odd for a moment. The term "Baba" conjures up a different image, another man who I know from childhood.

I suddenly realised, Hey! I am it too!

3's Company

I can hardly recall when's the last time I have gone through as much stress as I am under now. Usually my stress arises from the fact that I am not a people's person, and in my job, I have to be one. An introvert thrown to the lions cant be good for the introvert -- cant be good for anyone for that matter, but atleast if you are a generally social person you have a chance. Lions are considered to be one of the most social of animals, so I guess you can pat the maned bloke on the back if you can get close enough and say "Hola Amigos" or something of that sort. For an introvert, if we get close enough to the lions, we are probably being the dinner.

Currently, my stress emanates from the fact that I have to quietly do some work for 3 companies. One that thinks I am positively an architect, one that assumes I am probably a Project Manager, and one that insists that I am her husband!

The Flat that we dreamt of is now ours, officially. And then we, this 3rd company, decided that we need to furnish it and do the interiors nicely to - pardon the cliche - make a home out of a house...whatever.

For those architect couples reading this blog (no one does, ever, I think) trust me, dont try this at home. Its one thing to design for others, its another thing to design for yourself, or even better, your goodself. Typically, after we put the baby to sleep and have our dinner and sit in front of the comp, its usually 11pm and then by the time we are through with discussing and disagreeing and agreeing and finally the dust settles, its close to 1:30 in the morning.

As a professional, its hard to admit this in public, but the truth is that I have come to realise in the last 3 weeks of tryin gto do our own home how much disservice we do to our clients. The question is not really of money, the quantum of it, but rather the value you bring out of it. When it comes to your own hard earned money, the amount of thought and iterations and brainstorming and argument that goes into every line that we draw! -- I think in 3 weeks I could have finished designing and made a half decent presentation to boot. And why the hurry for others and why not for my own house? Am I not losing money too if there is a delay? I am paying a high rent for my current residence, a steep maintenance for the new flat without using it and every month I delay, I lose.

One of the reasons to blame is a term called 'professionalism' which has come to be interpreted in quite a wrong way these days. I will take this up in the next blog.