Mineral Resources, Poverty, Naxalism!

Isn't it strange that in our country, the region that is abundant in mineral resources like coal, iron-ore, etc., is the region that is economically most backward. Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, and the surrounding areas are blessed with the richest mineral deposits. Yet poverty is rampant in many parts of these states. And these are the regions that are writhing under the stranglehold of Naxalism. For the past six decades, the successive governments at the Centre and at the State level have been unable to eradicate poverty in these areas. Why has there been so little development in these areas? It is such a shame. This shameful neglect leading to impoverishment of hundreds of thousands of our countrymen is one of the reasons why the Maoists are able to move about in these regions with impunity, spreading their venomous ideology.

Paternity of the Rajasthan Royals!

For the past few days, the ownership of the Rajasthan Royals, winners of the first Indian Premier League tournament, is making headlines. Shilpa Shetty and her husband Raj Kundra are just stake holders. It seems Suresh Chellaram, who happens to be IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi's brother - in - law, owns 44.1 % stake. Whereas Manoj Badale owns 32.4 %. The remaining is owned by Raj Kundra, Shilpa Shetty and Lachlan Murdoch.

The bid for Rajasthan Royals was won by Emerging Media Ltd. in January 2008. 2.5 million pounds were paid as earnest money.

The contract was signed in April 2008 by Jaipur IPL Pvt. Ltd., which was incorporated in March 2008.

In May 2008, balance bid amount of $ 77 million was paid by third company E. N. Sports Holding Ltd., based in Mauritius.

In Nov - Dec' 2008, Jaipur IPL wanted to offload its shares in Rajasthan Royals to E. N. Sports Holding Ltd., but failed to get permission from RBI. Despite this Jaipur IPL offloaded its shares to E. N. Sports through a bank.

Now, it is interesting to see who is behind E. N. Sports Holding. It seems Suresh Chellaram own 44 % stake in it, through Tresco International Ltd., Manoj Badale owns 32.41% through Emerging Media, the Kundra family owns 11.7 % via Kuki investments (based in Bahamas) and Lachlan Mudroch own 11.7 % of it through Blue Water Estates (Hong Kong).

Musharraf's involvement in Benazir Bhutto's assassination

A three member United Nations' Commission was set up at the behest of Pakistani Government to inquire into the unfortunate assassination of former Prime Minister of Pakistan - Benazir Bhutto.

The U. N. Commission has held Pakistan's military government headed by Pervez Musharraf responsible for "not adequately protecting" Benazir Bhutto. The present regime in Pakistan is also accused of obstructing the U. N. team's investigation. The official contention that Taleban leader Baitullah Mehsud was behind the slaying of BB was also found to be dubious.

The report goes on to say that the police investigation never really tried to get to the bottom of the slaying fearing involvement of Pakistani intelligence agencies. It also speaks of police destroying evidence.

Pakistan's interior minister is accused of commandeering vehicle meant for BB on the fateful day, thereby leaving her vulnerable.

It also draws a possible link between the independent position taken up by BB on improved relations with India and her assassination.

It'll be interesting to see what action is taken by the Pakistani government on this report.

What caused the cryogenic engine to fail?

The failure of the launch of GSLV-D3 on 15th April, is being attributed to the non-ignition of the indigenously developed cryogenic engine that was being tested in this mission. Now the million-dollar question is why did the cryogenic engine fail to ignite? "The cryogenic engine has not ignited, that is for sure. Why it has not ignited, the reasons have to be found out," is what the ISRO spokesman is reported to have said.

The cryogenic engine uses liquid hydrogen (LH2) at 20 kelvin as fuel and liquid oxygen (LOX) at 89 kelvin as oxidizer. Here is a detailed explanation of the working of a cryo-engine.

The GSLV took off at 4:27 p.m. normally. It developed problem only when the cryogenic engine should have ignited at exactly 304 seconds from lift-off. Scientists at ISRO are puzzled as to why the cryogenic engine failed to ignite even though the vehicle had been repeatedly reviewed by experts in cryo-technology and was given a go-ahead. Even though the cryo-engine was required to fire only for 720 seconds on flight, it had been tested on ground for a total of 7,767 seconds. The problem appears to be that the ignition of the cryo-engine taking place in space vacuum cannot be simulated on ground. Apparently, even after passing umpteen number of tests on ground, the cryogenic engine cannot be guaranteed to fire in space.

So until we have mastered the art and science of cryogenic engine technology, Indian Space programme seems to be a gamble in uncertainty!

Skewed Sex-Ratio in Punjab!

"The Hindu" dt. 16.04.2010 carried an interesting article. This article revealed that the sex-ratio in Punjab was totally skewed. The incidence of female foeticide is assuming alarming proportions. It is not only being practiced by the illiterate rural population, but what was more shocking was the fact that this is more prevalent and popular in the urban literate elite population.

Further, it was found that mothers who already had a female child were more likely to practice female foeticide than mothers who already had a male child.

This trend practically explodes the prevalent myths that this social evil was a result of parents' inability to meet dowry and marriage expenses in a society where marriages were an occasion to display opulence and were to be celebrated with great pomp and show. It is the perceived social disgrace of not having a male child that has prompted mothers to resort to female foeticide. Further, division of property which resulted from giving birth to a female child also contributes to the rise in this social evil.

Here are some revealing facts -

• Sex Ratio at Birth (considered to be a more accurate indicator of female foeticide) was 776 : 1000 in 2006 as compared to 798 : 1000 in 2001
• In urban areas it was found to be 761 : 1000 (as per National Family Health Survey)
  
• The ratio was found to significantly lower among educated mothers (Class X and above), it was found to be 683 : 1000 as compared to 869 : 1000 among illiterate mothers
• Sex Ratio of last birth (i. e., when first child is female) was 504 : 1000, whereas when the first child was male the ratio was a healthy 1003 : 1000

From the above facts, it is evident, that what is behind this evil practice, is not the economic background of the parents but it is the social stigma attached to the parents of a girl child, that is behind female foeticide. Moreover the article goes on to reveal that a whooping 70% of girls undergoing high school education who were surveyed revealed that they would not prefer to give birth to a female child. They were probably influenced by the plight of their own mothers and the discrimination meted out to them in their families and in the society in general.

This social evil is not a new phenomenon. It has been prevalent for hundreds of years. Previously also people used to abandon their girl-child on streets, garbage bins, public parks, etc. Now with the advance of science and technology, especially with the advent of diagnostic tests for the determination of sex of the unborn child, people are resorting to selective foeticide. In a way science and technology has been contributing to the murder of the girl-child.

If this trend is allowed to continue, then God alone knows what will become of our society.

GSLV-D3 launch fails

India's space programme, which has achieved major successes in the recent times, suffered a major setback when its ambitious GSLV-D3 launch vehicle failed and tumbled down into the Bay of Bengal off Sriharikota on 15th April, 2010 (yesterday).

On test was the indigenously developed cryogenic engine which powered the Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle. The vehicle itself was not destroyed as it landed harmlessly into the Bay of Bengal.

This launch was crucial for the Indian Space programme. If it had been successful, then India would have achieved self-sufficiency in cryogenic engine technology. Previously, Russian built cryogenic engines were used in the five GSLV flights from 2001 to 2007. The cryogenic technology is essential in putting heavy satellites (GSAT-4 in the present case) into a geo-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 36,000 km. ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) had been working tirelessly for more than 17 years to develop a cryogenic engine.

ISRO Chairman K. Radhakrishnan, is reported to have said "We are not sure whether the cryogenic main engine did ignite. We have to confirm this after looking at various parameters that were monitored during the flight". However prima facie, it appeared that the problem lay with the ignition of the cryogenic engine, which after firing for 720 seconds, would have put the GSAT-4 into orbit.

With this failure, the fructification of the Indian dream of an indigenous cryogenic engine has been postponed indefinitely!

I stand corrected!

I stand corrected! In my previous post, I had claimed that Sachin Tendulkar was the first person to score a double hundred in ODIs. Actually Sachin is the first batsman to score the double hundred. The first person to do so was Ms. Belinda Clark of Australia playing against Denmark in the Woman's World Cup in India, about 13 years ago! Here is a link to her site at Wikipedia.

Sachin's Double Hundred in 2nd ODI against South Africa!

If any cricketer deserved to get a double hundred in ODIs, it was Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. And today was the day, ordained by Lord Almighty, when Sachin accomplished the milestone. Today he has become the first person on planet Earth to have scored 200 in ODIs. That too, against South Africa! And what style! Hitting 25 fours, he now holds the world record for most number of 4s in a 50 over match, a record that was held by Sanath Jaisurya (?) with 24 fours. His 200 was instrumental in helping India to post a mammoth total of 401 runs against South Africa in the second 1-day match that was being played at Gwalior. India went on to win the match by a margin of 153 runs. But this match will be remembered for the scintillating knock of 200* by the maestro. Truly he is the best ever! Better than Bradman himself. A true genius and humble to the core!

पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदम्

पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदम पूर्णात्पूर्णमुदच्यते ।
पूर्णस्यपूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते ।।

This is the first verse of the Ishavasyopanishad (ईशावास्योपनिषद). The beauty of this verse is that in just two sentences it describes the essence of the Divine. It says -

"Aum Purnamadah Purnamidam Purnatpurnamudachyate

Purnasya Purnamadaya Purnamevavashishyati"

If one were to translate it word - to - word, it would mean -

Purnamadah - That is complete

Purnamidam - This is complete

Purnatpurnamudachyate - from what is complete comes out completeness

Purnasya purnamadaya purnamevavashisyati - If completeness were to be removed from completeness, what remains is again complete.

So -

"That is complete; This is complete and completeness emerges forth from completeness.

If from completeness, completeness were to be removed, what remains is again complete."

What is 'That', that is complete? What is 'This', that is again complete? What is that 'completeness' from which 'completeness' emerges? and finally how does completeness remain when completeness is removed from completeness? Completely bewildering to us.

No wonder then, that India is the birthplace of Zero; for what is said about completeness in the above verse, definitely holds for zero as well - if you take away zero from itself, what remains is again zero!

द्वा सुपर्णा

द्वा सुपर्णा सयुजा सखाया समानं वृक्षंपरिषस्वजाते ।

तयोरन्यः पिप्पलं स्वाद्वत्त्य नश्नन्नन्योऽभिचाकशीति ।।

This beautiful verse, occurring in the Rg Veda, enunciates the Eternal Triad - Atman, Paramatma and Prakriti -

"Two birds (सुपर्णा), eternal friends (सखाया) , inseparable (सयुजा), perched together on a Tree. The first one enjoys the fruit borne by the tree, while the other merely observes in silence."

The one that enjoys the fruit is Atman, the individual soul, while the one that observes is Paramatman. They both, inseparable friends that they are, are perched on the Peepal Tree, which represents Prakriti. The one that performs Action is the individual soul, the Atman. Having acted, it enjoys the fruits of the Act. Paramatman merely watches. Paramatman neither performs Action nor enjoys subsequently the fruits of the Act.

This verse brings out the relation between the three components of the Eternal Triad. Atman and Paramatman are joined together in a relationship of eternal friendship as allegorically stated in the phrase - सयुजा सखाया. While the former performs actions and enjoys the fruit of his actions, the later merely enjoys in being the Silent Witness to the Acts of Atman. Atman interacts with Prakriti whereas Paramatman remains aloof, merely observing.

No bids for Pakistani players for the 3rd Edition of IPL

None of the competing teams of the IPL chose to bid for any of the Pakistani players in the recently held auction for the 3rd edition of the IPL. Understandably, the Pakistani players are feeling insulted. They feel that they have been humiliated by the IPL deliberately. Players like Shahid Afridi were very vocal in their criticism of the so-called "boycott". However since there are certain issues regarding grant of visas, none of the team-managers was willing to take a chance.

Angry over perceived IPL snub to its cricketers, Pakistan has threatened to respond in a "befitting manner", saying the manner in which its players were "insulted" showed that India is not serious about the peace process. The more vociferous among them have already called for a boycott of all things Indian like Indian movies and TV serials. The Pakistan Government has cancelled the visit of a Pakistani parliamentary delegation to India, following this so-called "conspiracy" against the Pakistani cricketers. The Government of India has denied any role in this boycott of the men in Greens.

Whatever may be the reason for this "boycott", for the Pakistani players it seems to be a case of -

"बड़े बे-आबरू हो कर तेरे कूचे से हम निकले ..... "

Shivraj Patil made the Governor of Punjab!

Shivraj Patil, whose stint as the Home Minister of Union of India was abruptly and a tad ingloriously terminated following wide spread criticism of his approach towards tackling terrorism, has been rehabilitated as the Governor of Punjab. It is strange that a person who was probably the worst Home Minister India has ever seen, has been entrusted with such an onerous task. I hope Mr. Patil would do justice to the confidence imposed on him. The eyes of the nation would be riveted on him.

वाइ एस राजशेखर रेड्डी का निधन

कल से लापता मुख्यमंत्री राजशेखर रेड्डी का हेलिकॉप्टर आज प्रातः ढ़ूँढ़ लिया गया।मुख्यमंत्री के साथ यात्रा करने वाले उनके चार अन्य अनुचरों के शव कर्नूल से ७० किलोमीटर दृर नल्लमल्ला जंगलों से निकाले गए। पाँचों शवों को पहले कर्नूल फिर दोपहर कोहैदराबाद लाया गया। कल प्रातः ९ बज के ३५ मिनिट से उनका चॉपर लापता था।
१९४९ मे जन्मे वाइ एस, पिछले साड़े पाँच वर्षों से आँध्र प्रदेश के मुख्य मंत्री रहे। काँग्रेस के लिएयह एक भारी झटका है। राज्य के वित्त मंत्री रोशय्या को मुख्य मंत्री नियुक्त किया गया है।परन्तु वाइ एस के सुपुत्र वाइ एस जगन को मुख्य मंत्री बनाने की मुहीम जारी है।
मनुष्य को कभी घमण्ड नहीं करना चाहिए। १ सितम्बर के "द हिन्दू" के अनुसार वाइ एस नेकहा -
"the main Opposition, Telugu Desam Party, would be wound up in the days to come .... " अर्थात आने वाले कुछ दिनों मे मुख्य विपक्ष दल - तेलुगू देशम समाप्त हो जाएगी।ऐसाकहने के दो दिन के अन्दर ही स्वयं वाइ एस परलोक सिधार गए। परमात्मा उनकी आत्मा कोशान्ती प्रदान करें ।

विलास राव देशमुख - बहुत देर कर दी हुज़ूर जाते - जाते

मुंबई में हुए आतंकी काण्ड के बाद गत सोमवार को महारष्ट्र के मुख्य मंत्री विलास राव देशमुख ने अपना इस्तीफ़ा पार्टी आला - कमान को भेज दिया था। काफ़ी सोंच - विचार के उपरान्त आला कमान ने आज उनका इस्तीफ़ा मंज़ूर कर लिया। चलो देर आए दुरुस्त आए। विलास राव जी के बारे में हम इतना ही कह सकते हैं - "बहुत देर कर दी हुज़ूर जाते जाते ..... "

Times Of India

The government is trying to lock the doors of the stable after the horses have already escaped.

Check This Out!!!

Log on to : http://www.timesofindia.com

शिवराज पाटिल - दस्विदानिया

आखिरकार हमारे माननीय गृह मंत्री शिवराज पाटिल ने त्याग पत्र सौंपा। उनका कहना था कि वे हर एक आतंकी घटना से सीख रहे हैं। उनके कार्यकाल में इतनी आतंकी घटनाएँ हो चुकी हैं कि उनको बहुत कुछ सीखने को मिला होगा। दुर्भाग्य की बात यह है कि जो कुछ उन्हों ने सीखा उसको उन्हों ने अमल में नहीं लाया, वे सिर्फ़ कपड़े बदलते रह गए। हर आतंकी हमले के बाद उनका हास्यास्पद बयान एक formality बन कर रह गया था। शायद पी. चिदांबरम बनेंगे अगले गृह मंत्री। वित्त मेंत्री के रूप में चिदंबरम साहब ने देश की अर्थ-व्यवस्था का बंटाधार किया, अब देखना यह है कि गृह मंत्री के रूप में वे क्या गुल खिलाते हैं।

आतंक का अन्त

पिछले तीन दिवस से मुम्बई आतंक के घेरे में जकड़ी हुई थी। पिछले तीन दिवस से सुरक्षा बल मुम्बई को आतंक से मुक्त कराने में लगे थे। ओबेरॉय तथा नारीमन हाउज़ में छिपे आतंकियों को तो कल ही मार डाला गया था। आज ताज को भी आतंकियों से मुक्त कराया गया। ताज की मुक्ति के अभियान को "Operation Black Tornado" नाम दिया गया था। पता चला है कि कुल दस आतंकी भारत समुद्र के रास्ते आए थे। उन दस आतंकियों में से नौ को मौत के घाट उतार दिया गया एवम एक को ज़िन्दा पकड़ लिया गया है। जीवित आतंकी से षडयंत्र का परदाफ़ाश होने की संभावना है। सरकारी विज्ञप्ती के अनुसार लगभग २०० व्यक्ति मारे गए हैं जिसमें २० विदेशी यात्री भी हैं। एक अनुमान के अनुसार लगभग ४००० करोड़ का नुकसान मुम्बई को पिछले तीन दिवस में उठाना पड़ा।

मुंबई पर एक और आतंकी हमला

मुंबई में आतंकवादियों के अनेक दस्ते घुस आए हैं और इनहों ने सोलह अलग - अलग स्थलों पर हमला करने की ख़बर आई है। मुंबई की दो पाँच-सितारा होटल - ओबेरॉय एवम ताज में आतंकी घुस आए हैं और कई लोगों को बंधक बना लिया है। बंधकों में कई विदेशी सैलानी भी हैं।

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उधर नगर में जगह - जगह पर अंधा - धुंध गोलीबारी की गई है। अब तक ८० लोगों के मारे जाने की एवम २०० लोगों के घायल होने की ख़बर है। बताया जा रहा है कि ये आतंकवादी समुद्र के रास्ते मुंबई में घुसे। भारत के इतिहास में यह सब से बड़ा आतंकी हमला है। इस प्रकार का फ़िदायीन हमले की घटनाएँ अब तक सिर्फ़ कश्मीर में देखी - सुनी जाती थी।

शेयर मार्केट में उथल-पुथल ।

पिछले दो - तीन दिनों से सेंसेक्स में भारी उथल-पुथल मची है । अमेरिका के शेयर बाज़ार में भारी गिरावाट के कारण भारतीय शेयर मार्केट में अफ़वाहों की भर-मार है । असल में अमेरिकी मार्केट के दो धुरंधर - लेहमैन बंधू एवम मेरिल - लिंच भारी नुकसान झेल रहे हैं । मेरिल - लिंच को तो अमेरिकी सरकार ने बचा लिया किन्तु लेहमैन - बंधुओं की मदद के लिए कोई आगे नहीं आया । लेहमैन ने भारी - रिस्क वाले क्षेत्र में भारी मात्रा में निवेश किया था मुख्य रूप से रियल एस्टेट में । रियल एस्टेट का मार्केट आज कल काफ़ी मन्दा चल रहा है । यह मार्केट अब तक सब-प्राइम (Sub Prime) संकट से नहीं उभरा है । गत वर्ष कई अमेरिकी वित्तीय संस्थानों ने ऐसे लोगों को कर्ज़ दिया जो कर्ज़ अदा करने में सक्षम नहीं थे । इन लोगों ने कर्ज़ चुकाने के समय अपना मूँह फेर लिया । सब-प्राइम lending की मार सब से ज़्यादा रियल एस्टेट के क्षेत्र में लगी और यह मार्केट इस मार से अब तक नहीं उभर पाया है । लेहमैन ने पता नहीं क्या सोंच कर इस क्षेत्र में अंधा - धुन्ध निवेश किया कारणवश उसे अब भारी नुकसान उठाना पड़ा । लेहमैन का दिवालिया निकला है ।

लेहमैन एवम मेरिल लिंच जैसे दिग्गजों के लड़खड़ाने का असर भारत में भी देखा गया । भारतीय मार्केट, जो पहले से ही ढगमगाया हुआ था, और गहरे संकट में उतर गया है । पिछले कुछ समय से विदेशी निवेशकों ने भारी मात्रा में भारतीय मार्केट में निवेश किया था । अमेरिकी मार्केट में गिरावट के कारण ये निवेशक अपना पैसा भारतीय मार्केट से भी निकाल रहे हैं । इस लिए भारतीय मार्केट में भी गिरावट आई है । सेंसेक्स १३००० पर पहुँच गया है, एन एस ई ४००० के नीचे उतर गया है । लोगों की घबराहट बड़ रही है । इंदोर में एक ब्रोकर ने आत्महत्या कर ली । हैदराबाद में एक ही परिवार के तीन लोगों ने आत्महत्या कर ली । वित्त मंत्री चिदम्बरम के अनुसार भारतीय निवाशकों को घबराने की कोई ज़रूरत नहीं है ।

बेंगलूरु, अहमदाबाद और अब - दिल्ली

कल शाम दिल्ली में पाँच बम-विस्फोट हुए जिसमें अब तक ३० लोगों की मृत्यू हुई है और लगभग ८०लोग घायल हुए हैं । यह विस्फोट, करौल बाग़, Connaught Place, बाराखंबा रोड तथा ग्रेटर कैलाश - १ में एम् - ब्लॉक मार्केट में हुए हैं । ग्रेटर कैलाश में दो धामाके हुए । इंडियन मुजाहिदीन ने इन धमाकों की ज़िम्मेदारी लेते हुए कहा है कि ऑपरेशन BAD (Bengaluru, Ahmedabad और अब Delhi) पूरा हुआ । पहला धमाका ६ बज कर १० मिनिट पर करौल बाग़ में गफ्फ़ार मार्केट में हुआ और फिर ३५मिनिट के अन्दर ४ और स्थलों पर धमाके हुए ।

हैदराबाद, जयपुर, अहमदाबाद, सूरत और बेंगलूरु जैसे महानगरों पर से हो कर आतंक की काली छाया अब पता नहीं किस दिशा में अग्रसर है । सरकार मूक - दर्शक बनी हाथ पर हाथ धरे बैठी है । सत्ता के लोभी मंत्रिगण मगरमच्छ के आँसू बहा रहे है । कुम्भकर्ण की निद्रा से जागे हमारे गृह मंत्री परम आदरणीय श्री शिवराज पाटिल ने आतंकियों को चेतवनी दी है कि धमाकों के लिए ज़िम्मेदार लोगों को कड़ी से कड़ी सज़ा दी जाएगी । जिस अफ़ज़ल गुरू ने संसद भवन पर हमला किया था उसे तो आज तक कोई सज़ा नहीं दी गई । उसे तो जेल में हिफ़ाज़त से रख कर खिला पिला कर तनदुरुस्त बनाया जा रहा है । आज तक एक भी आतंकवादी का बाल भी बाँका नहीं किया गया है । कितने बम - धमाके हुए, कितनों की जानें गई पर किसी भी आतंकी को सज़ा नहीं हुई है । इस लिए आतंकियों के हौसले बुलन्द हैं । वे बिना किसी रोक - टोक के जिधर चाहे उधर विस्फोट पर विस्फोट कर रहे हैं । और हमारी सरकार मगरमच्छ के आँसू बहाते नहीं थकती ।

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