Issues with so called intellectual elites

http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/A1LPEKiZpUbFCqlh2EsCHL/Modis-puzzling-policies.html

I don't think Modi's term so far has been as great as it could have been. But to say it is the same as Congress rule is a joke. There is a flurry of activity on labor laws, make in India initiative, bankruptcy law, civil aviation, nuclear power,  leadership on environmental issues (at Paris) among other things. Just because some of these have not yet materialized because Rajya Sabha has not passed them is not entirely Modi's fault.

Anyway, why am I even surprised!

Nice guy and is making it count

http://www.livemint.com/Politics/3A588sYtLM7tjYQMlQ4sbJ/The-challenge-is-to-monetize-all-resources-including-data.html

Hmmm..

A lot of effort and time does not get you anything some days - just got to move on!

Legal jargon on the National Herald issue

https://realitycheck.wordpress.com/2015/12/13/national-herald-sordid-case-of-self-dealing-will-test-the-entire-fiduciary-model/

Climate deal in perspective... Not great for developing countries

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/yR00naTy2STJYgIupv2juI/Rich-polluters-want-to-preach-but-not-pay.html

She has a point

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/951641.html

Life is not a competition

Well - the title says it all. Life isn't a competition. There are days like today when you see or hear somebody you know does very well and questions pop up. Am I good enough? Am I not working hard enough? How do I do better than him/her?

Well, after pondering for a better part of 12 hours - the answer I come up is you don't do anything (I know - I am not that smart!). All you can do is wish well to people who are better than you (or anybody else for that matter) and live your life the way you can. You should live your life to enrich yourself as a human being, son, husband, friend, professor or any other role for that matter.

I learnt this lesson very early and still I keep forgetting about it. In my +2 I had a good friend who was way smarter, way humbler and a genuinely nice guy. Obviously, he taught me how to lose even after you gave in everything. But, the experience taught me you cannot be better than everybody. Life isn't that kind of competition. If you want to involve yourself in a competition (i mean if you can't help it) - it has to be with yourself from the previous day. Do your best to be a little better than yourself the day before, the month before or the year before. As long as you dont forget that you should be fine. Remember - better in every walk of life not just work. I hope i can remember this everyday and pursue my life with my positive emotions.

May be in a year or so when I need this lesson again, I will come back to this page and recognize that life is not a competition.

Well put

http://tgs.nationalinterest.in/2015/11/11/take-a-bow-dhruva/

As usual a flawed idea that still has to go on!

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/hnytasM4zVTEWmQnt1fc1N/Replacing-food-with-cash.html

Good that the government is dismantling it.

Virender Sehwag retires

Well he has practically retired long ago - but he officially does so now. He was a pure joy to watch. If I had a dream player to be reborn as I would choose to be Sehwag. He played each ball on its merits and forgot about it the next second. If only i could live with that motto.
Anyway - he retired from cricket in his own cheeky way with the following quote.

I also want to thank everyone for all the cricketing advice given to me over the years and apologise for not accepting most of it! I had a reason for not following it: I did it my way!

Thanks for all the entertainment - I have missed watching you live; of course I still have your youtube videos that I visit often. Be it the first 100 in Bloemfontein on Debut. I remember you play a drive through the covers with a straight bat high on the toes for a boundary  and Geoffrey boycott on commentary approves - "I got to tell you, this lad can play". Was he right or what!

Good luck for the rest of your life!

An archive of all the great pieces on cricinfo - here

I agree with the author's sentiments

http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/Ztn7TNVzfcFEUwTcRtz4hJ/Why-I-wont-return-my-Akademi-award.html

The age

Well - once you get to an age - you have to hear things that happen that are very unfortunate. it makes you feel sad and depressed. But, there is no way to avoid the effects of time.

This is just plain stupid!

http://www.livemint.com/Politics/BHA848bVK23YAoea2Ii9PI/NDA-to-ban-cow-slaughter-in-Bihar-if-it-wins-Sushil-Modi.html

Along expected lines

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/NJkrCa9HnuxzAbX0khDxNJ/Grim-lessons-from-a-lynching.html

Agree

A piece criticizing Modi's and his party's response by Pratap Bhanu Mehta

Have to agree - the responses from BJP ministers is appalling and outright wrong. I mean people getting offended for other people's action is completely illegal. You have no right to tell me what I should eat or not. If you are offended stay home and pray to God for my sins - but how is it ok to kill people to save cows. I mean the religion does not allow killing of cows but it allows killing of people?
Unless BJP gets its act together on their fringe elements Indian progress will lose momentum very soon.

Moving...

http://krishashok.me/2015/09/30/kutty-ambi-1944-2015

Feels like i know a little about this!

http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/vwRsMlvL2yM0e1R6jZmPVP/A-good-marriage-is-a-terrible-burden.html

US Open 2015

Watched the final between Federer and Djokovic. Very sorry to see Roger lose again. It has been a tough three years for me. Hes has lost 2 Wimbledons and 1 US open final. He is working ahrd to keep himself fit and reach the final and he is losing to Djokovic. Djokovic is at his peak (at 28) and Fed while playing very well is a little off his peak - so the result makes sense, but to see someone as gifted as Federer see work so hard and lose is unbelievably hard to digest. But it is a source of inspiration to see him not throw in the towel and the peace with which he said he will be back next year will always make me work that bit extra when needed.

Well played there Roger. 

Shows you know as little about tennis as politics

http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/jSfPlSWs0eXwPI41UHaY7M/Why-I-cant-watch-Serena-Williams-play.html

First and foremost you should not compare players who never compete against each other. Serena and Federer are great in their respective fields. To say one is better than the other is just foolish. Now, in terms of Federer's game being boring - thank god you don't share my views. It is such a relief!

As usual go shut your TV and take a stroll.  Just don't write about tennis. You don't even watch the important matches you duffer!

Real fun piece.. Bachelor folks ..plz take note

http://mudramehta.blogspot.com/2015/09/the-8-stages-of-getting-married.html

Cant agree more

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/jabROfjG3JXNqyR7XgCm0H/Indias-tough-line-with-Pakistan.html

I hope it is this good...

http://www.firstpost.com/business/its-a-big-deal-why-payment-banks-will-change-the-banking-game-for-you-and-me-2400256.html

Agree

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/xLCWEDWXKOmv2PfyTsk7tI/Kashmir-confusion.html

If they put them on house arrest they should at least have continued it until the day of the meet - if the idea was to send a message. What is being done is pointless.

Well.. She still is giving herself

An opportunity to win big tournaments. This should not be forgotten.
http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/RnOZ4pDIlwFfxb3x9sakYO/Still-searching-for-the-big-one.html

This is a great plan

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/9n9WeI5C5ISJI4FJ6CNBHN/IITs-to-ITIsModis-voucher-revolution-in-skill-development.html

Good...

http://www.livemint.com/Companies/FfnSMAXmGd00RIcmJ394LN/Xiaomi-ties-up-with-Foxconn-to-assemble-smartphones-in-India.html

I hope this will create jobs in the area.

Reading this makes me laugh!

http://www.livemint.com/Politics/F7RUmeOwPaylOBOzFxmJNJ/Sonia-Gandhi-rejects-govts-offer-insists-on-resignations.html

A quote from the above link

Sonia Gandhi alleged that the impasse was due to the “gross insensitivity of the Modi government to public opinion, for its absolute silence on acts of monumental corruption, its wilful violations of the law and gross misdemeanours on the part of its leading lights”.

Another August 1

Well August 1 always has a special meaning. I age by one year this day and another TRB deadline passes by. Over the last few years, I have been a slave to the deadline. Yesterday I was up till 6 AM working on some paper. Is this what I really want to do? I want to submit papers but why such a mad rush. I need to contemplate this more carefully. How do I manage a productive TRB season with a little less stress - That is the million dollar question!

Another Wimbledon Final

Federer versus Djokovic did not go as I would have liked. Federer did not bring his A game and he can't beat Djokovic at this level.

Anyway, happy Federer has the will to struggle. Got to give him that. An inspiration for mere mortals like me.

Good moves..

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/FvH6UJt8kq1mXrrwzju2QN/Subsidies-regime-change.html

I hope this really plays out well

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/rsG7CTxahaVxhh1M1hbfjK/Indian-economysprouts-green-shoots.html

Well

Time keeps moving forward. Life seems to be stuck. Again, to be clear, things could have been worse. But where they are also require immense strength to hang on. I hope we have that ability. More hanging in there...

Well, not an AD to be put out by a guy who believes in alternative politics

This is the same old... But even more disgusting!
http://www.livemint.com/Politics/fQ92fZyNF21OB1v78GqNOI/AAP-government-under-fire-for-new-political-advertisement.html

Clearly a bad call!

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/raf6fi7nP7gmw7T0rEy9qO/Fadnavis-proposes-Modi-disposes.html

Good overview of the north east policy

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/d3rlEpkYREWBzKlFDrttNO/Is-there-a-Modi-doctrine.html

French Open

I am not a huge fan of the clay courts at Roland Garros - but for once I watched the final with interest. It was a good match and I like both the players - making it hard to choose a favorite. But I did lean towards Stanislas Wawrinka and am happy he won. Until he reached the 2014 Australian open final I never knew much about him. But it was when he reached the final and defeated Nadal in the final that I started reading about him.

He has this quote tattooed on his left arm
"Ever tried. Ever fail. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better."

If I could have a motto in life - this is it. I will support Stan in the future also for one simple reason. His philosophy to life. Here is a man who fought odds - he might not be as talented as his countryman Federer, or as mentally strong as Nadal or as good all round a Djokovic, but he fought and played just for the sake of paying without ever believing he will win. That is the path to bliss isn't it - do your job without worrying about the result, doing ti better than the last day. Well one only can hope for such unbelievable strength!

Congratulations Stan!

Hope I will remind myself this on the innumerable occasions where I get pissed because some things did not go my way - "Try again, Fail again, Fail better"

Poignantly put

Today is the end of sheloshim for my beloved husband—the first thirty days.  Judaism calls for a period of intense...
Posted by Sheryl Sandberg on Wednesday, June 3, 2015

The sordid tale

of how a reputed PhD turned into nothing but a paper pusher for 10 years. See the piece here

Something good

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/VPZLNIWkBTnXRZRbbnUXHN/Why-the-Irish-vote-is-important.html

Nice advice

http://m.firstpost.com/politics/modis-year-2-focus-must-jobs-jobs-jobs-needs-gang-five-deliver-2260926.html

Freedom of speech changing under NDA - think again!

People conveniently forget the past...
http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/7i7CEeDJn95sNH1qS9PeZI/Not-much-to-set-the-Congress-BJP-apart.html

Fighting for an acting secretary's appointment is pure bull

An elaborate reasoning for why what AAP is doing is wrong!
http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/BFxtePsFb6XrvJpYHgOgAP/AAP-anarchy-and-the-Constitution.html

Everybody sees what they want to see

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/fkddFDv4Eg9rNdE4QrxEUP/An-unsurprising-first-year-in-power.html

The article above is an example of how people only see what they want to. To be clear, I am also not immune to this issue. With age this will only get worse. How can rational decisions be made if people (including me) are so rigid in their opinions and philosophies. God knows!

Have to agree

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/N39Ui8FbvIrEyJyi1NcL2O/The-growing-vigilantism-of-Indians.html

Well...

I am not sure the exact reason but somehow I was very tired over the entire 4 months. It was meant to affect everything. Hopefully, things will get better from here.

Scary

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/rMeDU9CtityYmitldjmwPN/Trinamool-and-the-art-of-poll-management.html

Love the title for this one

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/VtELgNqrJE5Y0x2ECGTRGO/AAP-split-Much-ado-about-nothing.html

As usual... Overreacting journalism

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/5Fl2woXwnVYQJKlfbrxTpN/Ten-tips-for-a-civil-society.html

Only time will tell

about this - But the author does have a point.

Wonderful piece on economics of Net Neutrality

http://www.livemint.com/Industry/hz8BtbDLFnLkV69HU2EWUP/The-ambiguous-economics-of-Net-neutrality.html

Again, it is not clear how net neutrality works as of now. Under this situation maintaining it is better.

Well

What can you do?

Things go against your plans and nothing you do can change that. The hardest part is to see the people close to you suffer immensely for something we could not have controlled. But, this is life - creating self doubt and creating obstacles. The best we can do is be happy and give your best. If it does not work out the way you want it.. May be it wasn't meant to be. So, let us see how the future unfolds.

Hopefully we will have the strength!

A sensible piece

recognizing unilateral action of US alone was not what brought Iran to the negotiating table here

See for example this sentence

As noted, countries like India and South Korea, who don’t feel threatened by an Iran nuclear weapon, will be only too happy to find a pretext to break out of the sanctions—perhaps tentatively at first but in a rush as others do. It will be hard to argue the rationale for sanctions, which, from the perspective of nearly every nation, will have achieved their purpose—bringing Iran to the table to negotiate serious limitations on its nuclear program.

I particularly agree with this conclusion

Enacting new, tough sanctions in an effort to force Iran toward a “better” deal would mystify and alarm the rest of the world, isolating and weakening us. Such sanctions would crumble under their own weight —amounting to, as Shakespeare said, “sound and fury, signifying nothing.”

Investing in Iran?

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/J1pYbXycT1QU223GalnNKK/A-nuclear-deal-that-sets-Iran-free.html

Interesting

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/BnYwqj4x263BRafc39whYO/Remembering-Narasimha-Rao.html

Nice piece

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/3m459KQ0a4pwCb1ntev2KM/Giving-it-up-voluntarily.html

Good if it works out

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/TafBuh8rTArGWnnCeUyomM/The-solar-price-revolution.html

Idealistically this us true.. But i see practical value in what the govt is doing

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/fcr8KU3jXRAVXqhCqwYqDK/The-politics-of-building-memorials-in-India.html

If this is true.. Then its outright disgusting

http://www.livemint.com/Politics/nGAxWtNY6LMrNVUGJGemHK/Calls-offering-crores-to-support-BJP-were-made-with-Kejriwal.html

Good piece

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/lNKcsuArsta4yushnlQ9cI/Jagdish-Bhagwati--The-false-alarm-over-Christians-in-India.html

AAP story

With the events in the recent past, the sheen of AAP victory has been reduced. It is very hard to say who is right or wrong. But, it is clear power has brought its own challenges to the organization. Will the party be able to recover from the internal squabble will be determined over the next few months (or a year or two). Fortunately for Arvind Kejriwal - he has time to get things right yet - as he has started his term recently. We will see how things pan out.

Something to ponder over

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/VfLes8iltrCgEYrZZNLkpI/Indias-Pakistan-policy-in-tatters.html

South Africa

Well - I don't follow cricket as I used to - it is very exhausting mentally when you invest in the game. It takes a toll on everything. Yesterday's match was no different. It is easy to accept losses for some teams. For example, if Australia loses, I don't give a second thought - in fact I am ecstatic. But when the losing team is South Africa - it always hurts. I watched them lose their 1992 semi-final due to rain. then the Klusener world cup lost in madness. today probably was the least controversial of all - but hard nonetheless. I watched  SA bat and rain interruption hurt them more. But they should have defended close to 300 - sadly the wait continues for them. Watching AB, Steyn and others cry makes it unbelievably hard - I mean it is just a game - but who are you kidding - it is everything for those folks. Watching them despair makes you realize how hard it is for them. And it for me too. May be I am getting old to feel such despair.

And for New Zealand - well done; great game and great for their country. I mean a tiny nation of 4 million - yes - we have more people than that in a part of Mumbai - yet to produce such great teams speaks volumes! More importantly they produce nice guys who play cricket (unlike their neighbors!) - good for them!

A must read

to understand the reasons for lack of conservative thinkers in India by Guha - very long article but useful to skim through some of the historical aspects.

Well... It has been a bad week for AAP

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/DabvXLHg3RXhq7TfBDGRRL/Arvind-Kejriwal-has-a-lot-to-answer-for.html

Does n't make sense

http://www.livemint.com/Politics/T6vxyVlGa0SuYHMCMD7YBI/Investors-fret-as-government-defends-reopening-coal-mine-bid.html

Have to agree

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/Z5bI40GV1nQoOZaqMbCEwI/The-ageold-illness-of-a-newborn-party.html

Well said

Javed Akhtar's comments here

I think banning the movie is bad... The chilling psychology should be heard and altered

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/34Ls4cgDsZaDbEH8TdLBmN/Why-Indias-Daughter-should-be-seen-in-India.html

Have to agree. The outrage is as usual misdirected

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/aUJEeNQwcrCeIi02j7QP2J/Leslee-Udwin-No-Honey-Singh-Yes.html

Cant agree more -

with Ugra's sentiment here. I really hope 5 day cricket stays - well if not there is not much reason to follow cricket - because from there its only downhill.

Common sense

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/zSJwkT2FHT3TmhJWiCzoOO/Good-days-in-Delhi.html

Good move to take it to the States

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/hzak9GHb7RGqVy7IqiWb1I/Finance-Commission-report-NDA-resets-the-federal-polity.html

Here begins Subsidy Raj in a different form

I have no problem with discounting price of water and electricity for the poor. But poor people dont have enough appliances and devices to spend 400 units. I dont think you can spend 400 units with just fans, lights and even a fridge. Even an AC running for 8 hours only spends 5-6 units. So, to spend 400 we are looking at a house with multiple appliances such as fridge, AC and more. Now, I find it extremely hard that people who live in these conditions are poor. I am ok with even a small charge for up to 100 units. But to give a 50% discount to people who dont need it is plain wrong. My parents use an AC in the summer and they barely hit 200 units. I would love to see how many people benefit from this. I am guessing close to 60-70% of Delhi. Oh sure, everybody in India is poor.

I am not well versed in the water usage numbers but giving it free is not correct. They could have a small fee for upto say 10k and increase progressively. The lack of any thought and pure populism of the measure irritates me to no end. Isn't this corruption? I give you free/discounted  power/water - you vote for me. In my opinion this is the same as paying money to vote - here the difference is you pay money from the govt. I just hope this does not give rise to multiple rounds of dole out at state levels.

For all the AAP supporters once in a while please question!

http://www.livemint.com/Politics/l1g7h9mfl0VPci7SqqKsyL/Delhi-govt-cuts-power-tariff-by-50-for-consumption-up-to-40.html

Update: Deputy CM himself claims 90% of Delhi will benefit from electricity bill - so 90% of Delhi needs subsidy for electricity without establishing that the DISCOMS are cheating! (link here)

Not the right move

Irrespective of how Bihar ended up in this situation BJP should not support Manjhi - he comes across as a very improper politician and supporting him will not be correct! Link here

Have to agree.

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/vuebwz2qFn2zz5EzczLz2L/A-warning-letter-from-Indian-industry.html

Oh God. He starts again on his national ambition

http://www.livemint.com/Politics/fMl5owlJlyBZo0SAtQ2W8M/Manish-Sisodia-to-be-deputy-chief-minister-of-Delhi.html

Delhi election

AAP did a great job in Delhi - nice that they will get a full 5 year term to govern and we can see their policies in action.

My only concern is I hope the BJP does not see this as a vote against reforms - it is not. Kejriwal spent the last 9 months focusing on Delhi and deserved to win. He realized his mistake in the Lok Sabha and in my opinion deserves a second chance for his perseverance. Again, I dont subscribe to the idea that people with good character and good intentions make for good leaders - I am still against the entitlement culture and lack of economic rigor in what AAP proposes but it is better to evaluate them when in power rather than talking about ideas. So, let the experiment begin. 

Nice piece on why Srinivasan got away for so long

see here

Nice discussion

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/hB9ahMGpvWDeBQY0PjhreJ/The-spurious-debate-on-the-preamble.html

Budget will be the key

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/xTuiktuVw6Nz5czMMpZ3hK/322-billion-reasons-to-fix-the-economy.html

This isn't correct

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/l7ThUHOzcRIVNeEl636BwJ/An-attack-on-the-right-to-liberty.html

Nicely put

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/1t4ztJCzq8z32v9UJldvNM/Dial-G-for-governance.html

Nice post criticizing PK

http://m.firstpost.com/bollywood/pks-error-attacking-sacred-valid-way-critique-religion-2028367.html

I don't want to read too much into the movie. It was an ok movie. I see that Hinduism gets the brunt of criticism but that is possibly because Hinduism happens to be the major religion. But I do agree with the article that the criticism is quite superficial and fails to appreciate genuine love and faith. For example, PK makes fun of rolling on the temple floor - but isn't it up to the practitioner to do what they want? I mean it might seem funny but it is an issue of faith and discipline - which is harder to discuss but easy to ridicule.

Anyway...

Well put

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/Zv4x2bzjl2EoajWNcCQ2mL/An-agenda-for-the-Niti-Aayog.html

Nice report card on Modi government so far

http://www.livemint.com/Politics/1RsmuBucCTDybDqeAYBSCK/For-NDA-now-comes-the-hard-part.html

This will be good.

I would love to see Arvind Panagariya head NITI.

http://www.livemint.com/Politics/nmAleMcNemZNMnlfzof1cM/Arvind-Panagariya-tipped-to-be-Niti-Aayogs-vicechairman.html

Good one!

http://www.livemint.com/Politics/97nqkeb2tfQKpqpSnwqy2K/Ministry-of-railways-take-steps-to-decentralize-power.html

2015

Well - another year has passed. 2014 has been a happening year for me. a lot of thing changed - move from Montreal to Orlando. But, life is proceeding as usual. The transition is going Ok. Hopefully 2015 will make it more stable.

Lot of things happened this year - as usual some good and some bad. Overall, I am happy and fortunate to have this life and I am thankful for that.

Happy New Year all!