Trip to Airport via Nandi Hill

On 18th December 2011, me and my 5 friends (Anupam,Pawan,Plaban,Ashok and Debasis) set out on our bikes , destination Nandi Hills. We set out at 4 AM from Bangalore. It was a chilly night .It was a new experience to travel on Bangalore roads sans any traffic and jams. The plan was suddenly made and we expected it be a fun trip.


The 1st phase went well and we reached Mekhri circle in little time.From Mekhri circle we hit the 6 lane expressway to airport.Now things started going off the script. First of all the cold was chilling and biting. Second there was dense fog. I have never seen such a dense fog in Bangalore ever.Practically we cant even see few feet ahead. Finally we stopped at a roadside shop to have some tea.It was desperate necessity as we were numb with cold.I was having problem even opening my mouth.It was frozen.


Having wasted lot of time for tea we started again. Due to the dense fog we missed the sign for Nandi hills and kept going. That was our first mistake.When we reached near the airport instead of going under the over bridge we went over it. We only realized our mistake when we have reached airport itself!!!And we were not the only ones. There were other groups also which has done the same mistake.


From there we made a U-turn. Here another tragedy happened with us.The over bridge is forked and me and Pawan took the wrong side.By the time other could calls us and inform we were already 1.5 kms ahead.Once our mistake was discovered we had to walk back the entire road as it was quite risky to drive back in a narrow high speed one way.This also ate up lot of our time.

Finally we were able to reach the correct turn at the over bridge.By the time we got on the correct road it was 5:30 Am and it was getting bright.Hoping against all hope we hasten our speed to see the sunrise.By the time we got to the Nandi hill road we were running out of time.It was getting very bright.Driving through a hill is never easy.This time also it was no exception.We slowly started making our way up the hill.With every passing minute it was getting brighter and the sun was rising higher and higher.We also saw an accident (NOT serious) happening at a bend. Regretfully we were not able to stand and watch the fight.


After reaching the summit we wasted some more time in parking our vehicles and answering all sorts of call of nature.After that we started climbing the hill which another 10 minutes. By then the sun was high in the sky.So instead of watching the sun rise we watched "Rised" sun. Plaban's rant of  "Ghar chalte hain yaar" had obviously started once we have reached the summit.


Although the we failed to accomplish the main objective of the trip, the trip in itself was not a total bust. We took a lot of snaps in various positions (no pun intended). Also we saw a lot of girls, beautiful girls, in Nandi hills. The crowd was better than the one available in FORUM in week ends. After having a heavy breakfast of dosa, idly-vada and bread omlet  we decided to head back (Plaban home sick rant had nothing to do with it!!!).


All in all it was great trip. We had lot of fun while traveling and pulling each others leg.Hope we have more similar trips in future.

Team Anna and Lokpal Dilema

Since last few months the mainstream media has been flooded with reports and news items about the famous (or infamous?) Lokpal controversy. Many people have many views and they have been discussed in detail in media.There are two viewpoints ,one of the Civil Society,now known as Team Anna in media, and Government or politicians view.Let see each of them one by one.

Civil Society View

1. The Lokpal institution should be powerful ombudsmen against corruption.
2. All Indian citizen should come under purview  of Lokpal institution including PM and high judiciary.
3. The Lokpal will be financially, administratively and functionally independent from the government. Thus making it free from Government interference.
4. There should be a committee to choose the Lokpal. The committee will consist of PM,opposition leader,Supreme court judges etc.
5. The Lokpal should be able to investigate, prosecute and also convict a person found guilty.
6. To attach or confiscate property made form ill gotten wealth.
7. To initiate Sou Moto appropriate action under the Act on receipt of any information from any source about any corruption.
8. For the purposes of investigation of offenses related to acts of corruption, the appropriate Bench of the Lokpal shall be deemed to be designated authority to approve interception and monitoring of messages of data or voice transmitted through telephones, internet or any other medium as covered under the Indian Telegraph Act read with Information and Technology Act 2000 and as per rules and regulations made under the Indian Telegraph Act 1885.
9. The CAG will be empowered to conduct an annual financial and performance audit of the Lokpal.

The above mentioned points are very few selected points which I have  choose to mention here.If you need to see the detailed draft you can go to the rediff  site which explains each draft in detail.

Most of them are excellent points and  can really bring some amount of accountability into the public functionary.But I have reservations about point number 5 and 7.
According to point 5 Lokpal alone will be investigator, prosecutor and can also convict a accused.Now this completely belies any logic. A single agency can convict or prosecute . In my opinion the Lokpal must investigate and like current practice should file a charge sheet in court.This is most democratic way and the best way to maintain justice. Courts must be the only authority to convict and prosecute a accused.Giving Lokpal these power will set a parallel institution outside the ambit of constitution.This could lead to misuse of power even at the Lokpal office.What type of misuse? Well let your imaginations run!!
 Point 7 talks about what crimes comes under the ambit of Lokpal.According to civil society  draft any cases of corruption brought to notice from any source should be investigated. While it looks right on a first glance there are graver implications.Anyone can stop any initiative,tenders, defense tenders etc. Any person with malicious intent can hold up any work or project just by complaining to the Lokpal.For example, any defense contract can be withheld by merely complaining to the Lokpal and that can put country's strategic security in jeopardy.This provision could also kill the creativity and innovation in public works as many would fear that stepping out of prescribed procedure could bring him under investigation.While I agree that point 7 can not be done away with but it should be with proper safeguards and protocols.

The Government View

1. The committee to choose the Lokpal will comprise only of politicians,bureaucrats and judges.Obviously the number of politician on the committee will be much more.
2. The Prime Minister and higher judiciary shall be exempted from Lokpal.
3. The Lokpal should not inquire into any action related to MPs and others members of parliament which has been taken inside a parliament.

The detailed government draft can be read at the rediff's site.

If one goes through the draft minutely then it can be seen the government draft clearly protects the high and mighty from clutches of Lokpal. After all as per our most esteemed Pm said last week "If we go after our politicians like this we might make India a police state!!!!". Politicians must be protected after all.

After June 20 when the draft committee negotiations fell through due to differences between Civil Society and Government committee, the government has been completely non-committal on the Lokpal bill. They even gave indications that while the bill may be introduced but not passed in the parliament.

We may see a weak Lokpal bill being passed in the monsoon session of the parliament.This would virtually ensure a Government win. But for a bill that has been rejected by Parliament for 42 years getting passed is its self an achievement!!!! 

Well Winston Churchill once said "If we leave India, It would be ruled by goons !". Sadly after 60 yrs of independence we are moving towards that path.

MMRCA : The Agony of Selection

On 27th April 2011, the GOI  declared the first down select of the multi billion dollar MMRCA competition. To every body's surprise including mine, two down select platforms were European platform. Not American Not Russian but European!!!!!!!! The Eurofighter Typhoon consortium (comprising of Germany,Spain and Italy) and French Dassault’s Rafale were invited to extend their commercial bids. All four other firms were informed that their platforms did not made the cut.

There were 6 fighter platform fighting for this lucrative deal also called the "Mother of all Defense Deals ". The US giants Lockheed Martin and Boeing fielded their world famous fighters F-16 IN Super Viper and FA-18 Super Hornet respectively.The Swedish fielded their small, multi role and very agile platform Gripen NG (Next Generation).The Eurofighter consortium came out with their Typhoon, currently the newest and most advanced 4.5 generation fighter. The French put forward their newest fighter in the block Rafale.Our most trusted partner Russia flew in with the MIG-35 (higher version of MIG-29 which is already in use with IAF).

The decision took everybody by surprise (except the MOD and IAF of-course!) that two European platforms were chosen. Considering the American diplomatic muscle all expected one of the American platforms to be a down select. The F/A18 SH was the favorite of many. It is a combat proven platform and also a very good aircraft. The F-16 was out of contention and was probably never considered seriously as same platform is being used by Pakistan.The IAF was actually very apprehensive about American platforms due to sanctions,tech denials and various agreements required to buy the American platform which severely restricts the operational freedom of the platforms. Headline today defense journalist Shiv Aroor has written an excellent piece about IAF reservations regarding American equipment.

As for the Russian platform, it became a no-entity once the field evaluations were over.The IAF were convinced that it is nothing but a MIG-29 platform with a new engine.Considering that IAF was looking for something that is cutting edge in terms of technology, MIG-35 never was supposed to make the cut.

The Gripen , Swedish aircraft, was touted as the independent choice.Sweden is not a political heavy weight but it offered a splendid platform and Gripen was bang for the money. But I think 3 factors ruled out Gripen:   

1. Gripen's specification is much similar to Indian home grown fighter LCA Tejas. Selection of Gripen could be a death blow to the LCA.This is something the MOD and IAF both wouldn't want.
2. Gripen being a single engined fighter had a inherent disadvantage.A twin engine fighter is always preferred over a single engined fighter in terms of reliability in case of emergencies.
3. The engine for Gripen is an American engine. Thus there was always fear of  American sanctions.Moreover there was doubt over American support if Gripen wins defeating a American platform.

The two chosen platform Eurofighter Typhoon(ET) and French Rafale are the newest fighters on the block.ET offers India the most latest technology in aerospace and that also with the promise of full ToT (transfer of technology).The Rafale a/c is derived from the Mirage-2000s platform which is most trusted by the IAF. Also the French factor looms large which is very comforting for the IAF. One must remember that France refused to put sanctions on India after 1998 Pokhran test but rather stepped up defense cooperation. Also during Kargil war IAF made few modifications to its Mirages which were not allowed as per contract with France.But France very maturely did not raise any concern about that (mature because France saw long back the potential of doing business with India). It was all settled quietly within diplomatic channels without anything coming in public domain.

Moreover apart from buying 126 a/c in MMRCA competition (worth 10 billion dollars), this deal will be a commitment to partnership from the buyer and India for the next 40 years. 40 years is the expected life cycle of the MMRCA in the IAF inventory. Moreover it is also speculated that the order could go up to 200 a/c due to high rate of attrition currently in the IAF.
So the question is with whom India will be comfortable for next 40 years in diplomatic dealings? With Americans it is love and hate situation.Some times we are friend and sometimes we are not. Moreover with the US being the major supplier to Pak , the GOI may have doubts have about restrictions put forward by US in case of war with Pak.
The Russians although have been a steady partner through the decades, but some deals have been buffeting this steady boat for last few years especially the fell out due to Admiral Gorshov aircraft carrier re-negotiations. Also with India already committed to buying as many 272 SU-30MKIs and around 250 FGFA, its not prudent to put all the eggs in one basket.

ET is a consortium of few countries namely Germany, Spain and Italy. Will India be able to negotiate the sensibilities and maintain partnership with all the 3 nations at the same time given the fierce European competition culture? Or will India be very comfortable in dealing with French for next 4 decades it has done so in the past? The future only holds the answer to these questions.

My vote was and will be always with the French as they proved many times to be a trust able partner. Moreover the promise of full ToT along with the source code for Radar is a very tempting(Radar needs to be programmed for mission according to mission parameters.The mission parameters are highly secretive and and divulging to them to companies of other countries can seriously blunt India's offensive edge ). The only drawback of Rafale is its high price (around $80 million/aircraft). But again the other chosen platform ET is more than $125 million dollars/aircraft.

Whatever may be the choice The agony of selection continues and will do so for few more months.

BOOM BOOM Afridi

The above title of the topic could suggest to readers that I might be talking about the old and brutal Afridi technique of batting. Well I am sorry to disappoint you on this score. The BOOM BOOM Afridi of the cricketing field has disappeared (alas!) long back. But after 2011 world a new BOOM BOOM Afridi has emerged.

For people who are not updated with recent developments , here is a refresher: I am talking about Afridi's  new statement deliveries which has mystified many and all (just like his 140 km/hr googly in the world cup).

His 1st comment about Indians "I think, they (Indians) will never have hearts like us (Muslims and Pakistanis). I doubt even they have such large and clean hearts that Allah has given us."

Stumped or bowled????? That's a questions everybody is wondering silently in India and some section of Pakistan. It is quite mind boggling for me as to why Afridi made such comment. Both India and Pakistan both played a fantastic semi-final match and the deserving team won. Afridi himself accepted that in India. A sudden U-turn (the Wrong one!! delivery). Is the loss still ringing in his ears? Or is this another ploy to distract public from the perception of loss to India (We all know how difficult it is for Pakistanis to accept defeat from India)?

His 2nd comment about India "It is really difficult to live with Indian or to have a long-term relationship with India. Nothing will come out from any talks between us, you can see how many time in last 60 years we have had friendship and how many times the things have gone bitter." Indeed our relation has gone bitter Mr.Afridi. But was it because of us or you people. It seems that Afridi also needs coaching  in Indo-Pak history (ofcourse, along with the batting coaching. He is being again taught HOW TO BAT).

His 3rd comment "Our media (Pakistan Media), which is criticized by people, is hundred times better than theirs (India Media)." Now that's a interesting comment. How can you compare Indian media with Pakistani media. There is no comparison at all. Indian media is huge  and free from any government control. whereas the Pakistani media is sadly still controlled strictly by the government.So Afridi's comment are not only mystifying but also weird.

Why Afridi made those comments are anyone's guess. Maybe it was done to divert the public attention from the loss they suffered at India's hand. Or maybe since these comments were made in a television show they were purely for public consumption. Whatever may be the reason Afridi's comment were most undignified, untimely and were said in a very poor taste.

What Afridi should realize is that he is the caption of a national team and the words coming from him will be given importance. He should also realize that cricket is the only sports that has been able to diffuse tension between the hostile neighbors many times.

Well we all hope that in future Afridi will be able to control his temper and probably his mouth. These unthoughtful comments have already cost him a lot of fans and goodwill in India. He mustn't lose more. He should remember that he has lot of fans in India also and they look up to him.

We all hope that in future will Afridi go BOOM BOOM on the field not off the field.

CONGRATS TO TEAM INDIA

Congrats to team India on their spectacular win over SriLanka!!!!!

We are now WORLD CHAMPIONS 2011!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL

New Year begins,
let us pray that
it will be a year with New Peace,
New Happiness
and abundance of new friends,
God bless you
through out the New Year.