A Decade of Blogging - Thank You and Indology Series !!

Its ten years since I started this blog - The Journal Journey. First blog published in Jan 2010 and then it became a part-time interest..!!

Why it all started? Well it was mix of reasons- an idea came in discussion with friends, along with a need to record the contemporary issues in a place which can be munched sometime in future. Off course I don’t have hesitation to accept there was long gap in the continuing the posts and the actual momentum gained much later.

There are occasions when new articles was posted on regular basis and there are years when I have posted sporadically, nonetheless ensured the blog is alive till date. In this period was able to cover many contemporary issues ranging from self-reflections to politics to environment to travel and being nostalgia.

Thanks to all the encouragement from readers. I still remember had shared my first blog link to some known contacts through mail seeking feedback. I should acknowledge, for most of the blogs till date have got reaction, either through comments directly in the blog or in person connects.  I also enjoyed the moments when people asked for new one whenever there is delay, such query creates motivation to write further.

In this ten years lot of changes has happened in all of us including our connects, interests, hobbies and one notable change is the reviewed interest in our “Indianness”.

With this background, from 2020 will be adding “Indology” series along with continuing the contemporary topics.

Under Indology (meaning - related to Indian history, literature, philosophy, culture etc.) will be posting articles on some unknown facts, lesser known mythological characters and stories, historical topics, mystical subjects . Wish I will be able to give justice to this vast subject called India and its unique history.

Eagerly looking for feedback and suggestions, as always, expecting it to continue…!!

A New Tax Reform –Benefit for All!!

Introduction:

As the preparation for the 2020 Budget will kick start in few weeks, proposing this idea to Government which might be useful not only to individual tax payers but also to the organizations and Administration.

One of the biggest challenge we are facing in any major Indian city is Traffic. We are spending hours while commuting to work, wasting manpower, burning fuels, creating pollution and ending up with frustration and ill-health.

The measures taken by authorities to improve the situation is only a small step. Major problem is how to involve all the stakeholders in addressing this issue.

With creation of new type jobs from late 90’s, the once so called luxury and dream purchase –two and four wheeler has become a common commodity.Cheap loans from banks is also pushing more vehicles in to road.

It is becoming very common to have one or two personal bike / car and not to depend on the public transport. With increasing salary it is also easy to afford and maintain as it is only a part of the income earned.

Peak hours traffic shows the above examples – big cars with single person driving occupies majority of jams and in between are numerous bikes trying to squeeze in, either on road or pavements. This is common especially in front of IT Parks and Industrial Areas.

Many of the companies are also providing bus facilities as part of their benefit schemes, however very few employees are using it. If we question what makes them not to use such facilities – most of them will talk about being independent and also to some extent social status.

This is not only creating chaos on the road but also causing India a big lose in terms of fuel import to keep feeding these vehicles.  Approximately India imports 82% of its oil need at a staggering cost of $ 112 Billion!!

No matter how much road expansion we keep doing, if there is no control on the number of vehicles on street, it will never solve the problem or rather we might end with only roads all over!! This obviously causes destruction of greenery, water-body and complete ecology resulting in deteriorated health.

Suggestion:

Mayor of Colombian capital Bogota once said “A developed country is not a place where the poor have cars. It's where the rich use public transport” we need to encourage more number of people to go for such modes.

With lakhs of employees commuting daily to their workplace, why don’t we encourage employers / organizations to provide Bus / Cab facilities to their employees and motivate employees to use it?

To boost this, as part of tax structure can we introduce below scheme:

• Individuals  using public transport / mass transit / company provided cabs or buses should be given tax rebate as part of their income tax rebates
• Companies which provides bus / cabs to their employees should be given corporate tax benefit while they are filling their annual returns.

General mindset of commoner is to save money whenever such offers are made from Government. If it is part of incomes tax rebates, sure more number of people will start subscribing for mass transport. Even companies will encourage it since they will also get tax benefits. 

Government will not be under loss due to such schemes, because it will be saving in millions by reduced fuel consumption resulting lower import of oil. Cost of expanding roads and environment destruction can also be avoided.

Yes, this might reduce demand in automotive industry for newer personal vehicles however it will create employment for trained drivers and mass vehicles.

This might be only a small suggestion, which will have challenges to implement, however, with tumbling environment condition, there is urgent steps to be taken by Corporate and Government to safeguard the larger interest. Let’s brainstorm them….

(Postscript - While writing this blog remembered about an article which I discarded without publishing in 2012-13, only to see it became a big news after few years and regret I didn’t publish.

Title was - Make in India vs Made in India..!!

Even now I am not sure if this proposal is best, however recording it here for any future reference, as there is need for alternative for sure)

Celebrating Democracy….. in India!!

We have come long way in being part of political and electoral process in just 10 years.

In 2009 when campaigning and asking people to vote (including statement – any one is ok, but please vote!!), many asked what the use is?!! They had lost hope,cynical and felt politics is not for educated, youngsters.I still remember spending my 100 SMS package promoting election and in that exhausting many messages,convincing people why they should vote!! Nevertheless,the interest level among them didn’t increase and rather I got advice to stay away from it.

Then came the silver lining in 2014 when large number of youths started attending political rallies,volunteers meet etc. especially for BJP,might be due to series of scams we had witnessed by than ruling government , fear of national security etc. promoted this change. In one of the meet in Bengaluru,first time I saw houseful attendance in a large convention hall.People from all background had come to register as volunteers.

2019 took things to different level.Same contacts who were not even interested to discuss in 2009 were promoting NAMO in a big way.Followed them and others in various social media and felt there is greater participation and interest this time by people.Many conclaves were conducted, in neighborhoods, addressing specific issues which would cater different sets of people.Tools like WatsApp and Facebook played bigger role in communicating the message.

Most of the volunteers I met were professionals, businessmen who were not member of any political party but joined together at their individual level & friends circle. No matter whom they supported, this kind of participation itself is great positive impact on our society.

Today, when the mandate was getting delivered,many called/sent messages wishing and congratulating the victory!! Felt like there is some festival and people are celebrating. Yes, indeed,it is "festival of democracy”, which many countries dream of having.I also came across people distributing sweets in neighborhood and some households preparing it for dinner. And yes, they were not part of any party politics but for sheer respect for a leader.

With this, it ends the first part, to vote and select. Next, let’s no matter whom we preferred,voted and will be ruling ( as the majority will get the power as per democratic process), it’s time to get involved in the governance, in whichever form and forum we get opportunity to participate... To make a stronger and secured India.  

Before I conclude, we always heard- Yatha Raaja, Thatha Prajaa (rough translation: like king, citizens behave)

Is it just coincidence, unlike past, citizens are also showing great interest in issues pertaining to country, being nationalist and saying “India first”??!! food for thought...

Jai Hind…!!

Can we afford another Accidental Prime Minister…?

As the battle of 2019 draws closer, it’s time to voice the opinion in forums. It has the risk of being called Bhakt but then it doesn’t matter, since it’s better than being a Chela of dynastic politics.

Though personally refrained from posting much of pro-government related info from many years, few incidents made to rethink.

Few months ago, saw a post saying King XYZ built Fort, Emperor ABC built Palace but Modi could build only toilets and few others saying he is fit for that only. Well people don’t realize, infrastructure is also of prime importance along with monuments. In 2014 the rural sanitation of India was 39% and today it has crossed 92%.

Irony was when the Statue of Unity got inaugurated and same people questioned on why to spend crores of money when India has so many other issues!!   

Well in democracy everyone has right to raise their opinion and it’s the beauty of system and I am not against it.

However, it is also phase where we need to share the positive work being done from past few years. Yes, I do agree there were few flaws but the schemes introduced outnumbered defects and that information need to be shared to the mass. There are hundreds of topics we can be proud of – from Udan to Generic Medical to Neem Coated Urea to National Security to River Port Systems.

Recently observed series of deleterious propaganda on various forums without giving a single appreciation to government with sole objective of creating negative opinion during elections.

It's time for people to shun the shyness and be open and accept that they support the government and talk for it. If we think anyways we don’t care such negative news over the actual good work done and ignore it, this will lead to catastrophic effect.

There are large number of people who are fence sitters with no awareness which side of the story to trust nor part of any ideology. If we don’t share the positive news, than sure we will lose them.

At this point of time we don’t have any other mass leader who can pull everyone together. We know what happened when a strong leader is not chosen, how small parties play their self-centered politics.

No sapling will become tree overnight, let’s give chance for the just sown seed to grow, after all we had patience for 60 years, and another few years should not be a problem.

Even after all this, if NDA loses in 2019, its ok, it is people opinion, but at least there will be no regret that common people should have joined hands to educate others on above factors.

At the end,the big question is -Is India ready for an Accidental Prime Minister in 2019 ..?

An Untold Story of a Kannadiga

Hey, can I stay in your place for few days till I settle down and decide my further course of action? With empathy, I allowed him in and felt happy of helping someone.

Staying in my house, he started comparing everything to his home back in his native. I had brand new car, but he felt his was better, introduced him to Masala Dosa but he felt Italian food always good, I had marble flooring, but he felt mosaic is better… it went into my nerves, he always appreciated something outside and though didn’t always criticize, didn’t either acknowledge the shelter he lived in.

As things were going further I was thinking what or who is wrong… was feeling somehow this has to stop but how, it was kind of restless discomfort… and then alarm rang, it was 5.30 AM.  Thank God… it was a dream.

Now, replicate this dream to reality outside world. Do you see a similarity?  If you are a native living in Bengaluru from few decades, for sure you will relate this.

This blog is not against any one. In global environment, it’s obvious and necessary to allow people to travel and settle across world. However, when people become Romans in Rome, why they don’t become Kannadigas in Karnataka? In-fact, every individual living here irrespective of their language is a Kannadiga, isn't it ? 

This is also not a story limited only to Karnataka. Replace the language and state to any other metropolitan city anywhere in India, the feeling of respective natives will remain same.

Having lived here for decades, seeing city getting transformed literally in front of our eyes, the life of an ordinary Kannadiga has changed from feeling proud owner of the cultural & historical roots to being lost in bustling dusty city.

In fact we had so many classmates who could speak, write and score better than natives in Kannada subject. That’s how they had assimilated in to the society.

Then what went wrong? Is the influx of people post IT boom or we losing interest in our heritage?  Is the shyness of showing our richness or inhibition to stand in front of others?

We have rich and invaluable memories in us. Take examples like Karaga. For unknown, it’s a centuries old festival of old Bengaluru, celebrated midnight till dawn, but only those who have participated will know the vibrancy in it. Kadalekai Parishe (groundnut festival) is another tradition of city, however how many of us actually speak with pride on it or how many newly settled learn about it.

Speak of Dr. Raj movies or Shankar Nag's ideas, it won’t get recognized and topic of someone having 8-10 packs will be discussed with great interest.

Try speaking of growing in this city, spending hours in flying kites, playing tops, it will get cut shot of how in some other place it is grand ignoring the experience we had. 

Describe the elegant monuments of Badami, Pattadakal or the beauty of Dasara procession, it won’t get much mileage since the importance will be for some other celebration 1000 km away.

I think the problem is in two folds. One,we as the native need to be more proud, educated, esteemed about our culture, heritage without getting in to arrogance and with mutual respect towards fellow Indians. Teach our children the native language and speak in it, anyways at school they get introduced to English.

Second, it is important for others who have made this place as their home to fuse with local culture & celebrations without losing their pride. This helps them to enjoy this beautiful city beyond IT Parks and Malls.

Wishing every one who have made this state their home, Happy Karnataka Rajyotsava..!!

Tribute to a True Leader …

Sometime in 1996, laying on hospital bed, my grandfather wanted to know what happened to the just concluded General Election results. Someone said - BJP got more seats and might sworn-in.

Within short time, a TV was arranged with antenna connection (Since cable TV was not available) inside the ward and then moment arrived, next few days – Atal Bihari Vajpayee became PM for first time.

Being a RSS Volunteer and erstwhile Janasangh (now BJP) worker, grandfather felt delighted. Though he was in pain due to ongoing treatment, he was happy that there was a new era in Indian Politics.

Soon after, grandfather passed away, however, he left this impress memory in me on how a leader can bring in smile even in agony.

This was the time I was entering high school and my thought process was getting developed. Started following Politics and Current Affairs in details and identify my alignment on political system.

Between 1998-2004, Atalji ruled India for 6 years. In this tenure, we had examples of extending friendship through Lahore Bus and teaching treason a lesson through Kargil War. Courage of facing world through Nuclear Test and sanctions by super powers. A PM with Poet in him without losing firmness on the governance along with many best projects for India.

By 2004, being a student of history, had read glimpse of erstwhile rulers in Independent India and Atalji’s rule made me a restored Nationalist and have a clear view on politics.

He was true statesman, who stayed away from politics after losing unexpectedly in 2004, which only enhanced his stature.

His demise today, bought lots of fond memories and feeling of vacuum. True loss of a Ratna living with us in our Bharat. His life will be remembered for many generations to come… This is a tribute from a common man with ashrutharpana ….a rare for a politician. 

Maut Ki Umra Kya Hai…? Do Pal Bhi Nahi. ….. Zindagi Silsila, Aaj Kal Ki Nahi - ABV

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Celebrate the Great Indian Marriage – a Different Perspective

When our state is busy preparing for an election season, when all the social groups, newspapers and TV channels are full of for and against discussions and turning every event in country in to politics, thought of giving a break to it and write something about another season in a different perspective – The Wedding Season.

Wedding Season!! Yes, the topic for this month blog is all about the great Indian Marriages and the economics behind it.

Our Indian culture gives a great importance to the marriage. It’s a celebrating moment, not only for groom and bride, but, it’s a festivity to their family, friends and extended circles too.  It’s months together planning, working for weeks and gathering for days in names of rituals, programs, and fun.

As Indian economy is growing, the celebration is also reaching different levels. Few years ago, if any marriage is happening in Palace Grounds (one of most prominent venue at Bengaluru), it used be talk of the town and if someone gets invite , it was a must attend program. However, now, it has become a common sight with many families able to spend crores for wedding of their daughter or son and there are regular invites for such grand events.

Nevertheless, whenever a grand wedding is happening, I have come across  debates among friends, relatives, even in Media about how and why the respective families are wasting money. There will be endless comments, mostly criticizing on food varieties, fireworks, musical events, richness etc.… however, it’s time to look at such programs in a different perspective and not be a critic.

If anyone is spending crores of money for such event, that means they can afford it and they are purposely conducting such marriage. Why should people be critical on it when the organizers are not anxious about it?  No one will spend exuberant if they don’t have money or can’t afford it.   

The most important note of such events is, how it helps in improving the Indian economy. Yes, the more such rich wedding happens, the more economy grows. How...?

When an affluent family spends more and more money for grand programs, the money accumulated in them will come out to market. They are removing money from their caskets and market will witness flow of cash.

Look at the economic impact. A grand event results in creating jobs to hundreds of people. Starting from security guards, housekeeping, entertainers, caterers etc. otherwise they would have ended up in unemployment, indirectly even their family is benefited.

It also helps numerous industries. Take any event for example and recall the elements it had. From paper cups to popcorns to garments, from photographers to drones, from tissues to cab services there is a direct demand created across manufacturing and service sectors. Don’t forget the grandiose silk sarees and jewelry business which runs mostly on such occasions.  Any such increased production & services also helps in overall growth of industry with back and front end chains getting activated for supplying raw materials , logistics etc. With all this, tax collection for Government will see steady increases.

It doesn’t end here.  The most important benefit will be for Farmers!! From humble banana leaves to hundreds of kilos of vegetables, pulses and grains, fruits, flowers for decorations there is a chain of demand created across sectors.

With so many benefits, no matter if we can’t afford for such grand celebration or not, next time, when you get an invite, don’t heed to the critics and their comments, instead, do attend, bless the couple, enjoy the ambiances, meet people, have royal food, feel proud of our heritage and at end, have gratitude that some more cash is out in market and you supported economy and employment..!!