Airline rates are full of air, bubble

A bubble always bursts and that is what is witnessing in the aviation tickets in India. The bubble is gone and people are returning to old ways of Indian Railways. But what is not palpable is the cheating process the airlines adopt to woo the vulnerable customers. But to my surprise, I found India is not the cheating capital of the world. In fact it is the European Union where a study by European Commission has found excess charging, failure to show taxes and other charges in the original fare etc. The difference between the Indian government and the European Union is that the latter could force offending websites to close next year if they fail to improve.
Try an airline search and find out why taxes are three times the airline fare? Can it be true to be believed? If yes, why should the airlines operate for such a small amount? Take the case of the figure mentioned here. If an Airbus A 320 or Boeing 737 can carry on an average 150 passengers and given the fact that there is 80% occupancy, the total amount that the airlines earns for a flight from Ahmedabad to Goa with a change over in Mumbai is Rs 1,70,000. With four landings and four take offs and a host of other charges, is this a viable option? If it is true, then why is that the taxes are not bifurcated? Why is that taxes differ from airline to airline?
A classic case of how British Airways made a mockery of their promotional schemes can be read in my earlier entry. Read it here

Charity without clarity

I always wondered why people ill-treated the so called low caste strata of the society. I could not get answers to hundred of millions of money spent on fireworks that lasts just seconds while a large majority of people in and around starve. I also couldn’t fathom the large invites sent to all sundries even by not so rich people for their children’s wedding. All these money could have been used to fund some one’s education, some one’s starvation and someone’s upliftment. I would have left wandering to find the answers to these silly questions had I not found answers the other day.

In my neighborhood itself, the residents would shout at the sweepers, who belong to the Bhangi community, one of the lowest among the lowest strata. It is interesting to note here that there are upper and lower castes among the lower castes itself. Vankars in Gujarat would not allow a Chamar to enter their house or touch their utensils. Being a person who extensively covered social issues, I had strict instructions to my family members to treat them at par with any human. In fact I would also advise some of my neighbors to give some respect to these people. None of them would allow them enter their house, leave alone touch them. By evening they would come to collect the leftovers. I was against giving these leftovers and so refused to part with them even if I had to force the dogs to finish it. I continue to believe that self respect is something that you cannot buy. It has to come from your actions, deeds and your way of thinking.

So one day I risked myself to ask the guy to stop the begging so that people look at him in a respectful way. He gave me a hard look and then without uttering a word, went down. Called for the lift from the third floor to reach down. He again looked up and disappeared leaving me in disappointment and gasping for answers whether I have asked something impossible or if I have hurt the sentiments of the guy. My friend who was standing nearby said I could even face a jail term for insulting him. “There is a provision that if he complains that you have insulted his caste, there is a non bailable warrant against you the next moment,” he left me speechless.

Not that I never knew these rules but I was left recollecting and noting down what exact conversation took place between us. I was left counting at the number of organizations working for the so called welfare of this strata of the society and none of them could stop this bad practice of collecting left overs. I am told that these left overs are sold to the cattle herders at a premium and very few use this as their supper. The sweeper at my apartment consists of the entire family. By 10 in the morning, the work is finished and they would sit idle till noon in some corner before leaving home. When I changed my old car to a new shining one, I thought of giving some income to the teenaged boy during this time and asked him whether he attends school. He told me his school ended forever when he was in 3rd standard and that is a long 7 to 8 years back. I offered him a sponsorship of fee, books and uniform for the rest of his schooling life if he attends the school. In return, he just need to wash my car every morning. He flatly refused saying he need to earn money instead of attending school. “Yes, I understand. I am giving you this soft work so that you don’t feel I am doing a charity on you,” I told him in my chaste Gujarati. Over and above the school expenditure, I offered to pay him Rs 200 per month. He even refused that and told me plainly that he would prefer cleaning toilets and take up a broom than doing any other work. I wasted a cool hour and a half trying to convince him and take him beyond his family occupation of cleaning toilets but to no avail.

That was two years ago. Early this year, his sister was getting married and they came up with a letter from the chairman of the society asking for financial help to each and every resident of the society. Very few helped and those who helped gave them the traditional Rs 11. My neighbours gave them Rs 5 each. I gave them Rs 101 and wished them luck. Also promised to give some cloths as soon as I get time to dig out my storage. During these times, the complaints that the residents had about them never ended. Our neighbours reprimanded us of why we are so soft towards them. But we had no complaints against them. ‘No, these people deserve worst treatment, my dear,” said one of them. “Otherwise, they will start ruling you.” Silly, we just brushed it off.

The girl returned after marriage. Her husband also worked as a sweeper in some society around us. We asked, to our neighbour’s discomfort, if the marriage went well. My wife reminded her that the old clothes promised are on its way any time. We were cleaning the house and so we next day we had double the normal garbage but only one fourth of the average daily dumping our neighbours usually have. We found that except our garbage, all the garbages were cleaned by this newly wed bride. We thought she had missed us this time. Next day when asked, she flatly refused to take the garbage saying she will not touch it because it was too heavy. Have to pay extra bucks to carry it. My wife was not surprised but I was. She just called me in asking if I need any more live examples of these people behaving with people who show them respect. “It is just an odd case dear,” I refused to endorse her. Days and weeks after that, she just refuses to touch our garbage and this time the excuse is we have not paid her boni – the bonus during Diwali that she thinks is her right to demand for. Should I pay it or risk being a courier guy to the garbage? I will have to take a decision this weekend. In the meanwhile, please continue your fireworks and big parties since you may also have faced a similar situation. But wait. Given a chance, I would always go back and think the same way I thought at the beginning. After all there is always the other side of the story.

Loo liberates you, literally

Loo is not a common phrase in India. It is a common problem instead. It is shared by millions. No, not the loo but the problem. The United Nations estimates 2.6 billion people are without it and India's Rural Development Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh is investing $A3.79 billion in sanitation projects. I had the opportunity to do a number of features both print and audio on sanitation for various agencies I worked for. Fortunately none of the agencies were Indian because a problem in India is a problem for foreigners and not for Indians. The Gujarat sectarian riots of 2002 are not a problem for any one in Gujarat. It is a problem for people outside Gujarat. People across the world expressed remorse at this unfortunate happening, no body in Gujarat even bothered to look into it. No wonder these happenings makes interesting news for non-Indians.
During my early days of reporting, the state transport buses were the best way to reach wherever you need to reach. Undoubtedly, it still maintains that credo. To reach to the remote rural areas, these buses were my companions. I would take an overnight state transport bus so that I can avoid a nights stay in a hotel, would do the same that evening so that my two nights are in moving vehicles. In case of any delays, railway platforms acted as my suite. The benches and dogs were my companions in smaller stations. In stations like Mumbai, the local constables always would come and wake you up. But they avoid well dressed people. I enjoyed doing all these adventures. What I never enjoyed is getting a decent loo. My morning is incomplete without spending at least two English newspapers on a toilet seat. I don’t have that luxury in remote locations so I had no option but to approach toilets run by institutions like Sulabh International. I don’t know why they suffix international to their name but their approach was too local. Normally I would wait till the morning rush is over. But that never happens in a place like Mumbai and so I join the queue. I have a brief case with me and the toilet seat is Indian while I don’t have a newspaper to read. Your turn comes and you get in. You try to get a dry place to put your luggage and lo behold, the first knock comes from out side. Chalo Niklo, the guy with a stick outside would order. Hey, I haven’t even thought of even anything closer to loo and if you ask me to get out, what the hell I was standing for an hour’s queue. His problem is that there is another set of people waiting to get in. And as you touch your trouser zip, the second knock comes. Chalo Jaldi Niklo. I would not care. Instead I was treated with beats better than Jhankar beats. I would close my eyes and enjoy it as much as the audience enjoys in percussionist Sivamani’s drumbeats.I am happy to know that participants from 44 countries are grappling with health and sanitation issues and worse that I face in public places in a World Toilet Summit held recently in New Delhi. Sanitation problem endangers almost one-third of the world's people. I am also delighted that the top boss of the guy who used to order me, Chalo Niklo, founder of Sulabh International, Bindeshwar Pathak, opened the meeting by calling for a war footing in the effort to meet 2002 Millennium Development Goals. How far this is possible is a matter of debate.
It was one of the sanitation stories that I, along with a journo friend of mine, approached Mr Ishwarbhai Patel, Director, Safai Vidyalaya (The Environmental Sanitation Institute) in Ahmedabad. He takes pride in people calling him Mr Toilet. In the long conversation I had with him, a lot of information flowed. Interesting among them was his explanation about a design he has developed for rural folks. He explained in details how a person would defecate, the route on which the shit would flow and where it will reach. I was listening this with great eager and a little bit of bitterness. But his enthusiasm explaining this was more overflowing than the agony faced by the person early in the morning in any Indian village or a slum with a bottle of water in his hand. But before we began this, he had called up his peon and whispered him to bring something for us. We thought it would either be tea or coffee. In the middle of his explaining the road map from defecation process to destroyal, the peon came up with a tray. There were three ice cream scoops. We had great difficulty to even accept it not because we have diabetes but the colour was yellow. He continued to explain us how a person generates on average 400 grams of feces and 1.3 kilograms of urine daily. He then forced us to finish the ice cream before it melts. His story continued for another hour but we finished our ice cream within a minute.

My Fan Club is increasing. Part I

My fan club keeps on increasing. It has reached such a level that many folks close to me have stopped talking to me.

Yes I am talking about people who ‘fan’ me out because they don’t like me. They don’t like my face, my figure, my colour, my wardrobes, my shoes, what I do, what I write, what I talk and the list is endless. I can understand about my face, colour and figure because that is what I don’t really take pride in. My cholesterol level index is competing with Mumbai Sensex. An hour of evening walk has not done any wonder for me because I always skip this with one or the other reason. I started yoga but I have found out many excuses to excuse myself from such an important and easy life saving mechanism. I can also understand about my wardrobes because many of my trousers and shirts are pre-earthquake and pre-Gujarat riots era clothes. They are nostalgic for me because they saved me from many blushes with death, rioters and accidents. But it remains with me for reasons beyond that. These are the clothes which we left behind when we ran for life from the trembling buildings that we lived.
Bata, Lee Cooper, Ambassador, Nike, Adidas, Crockett and Jones, Oxfords, Monk style, Loafers, Hush Puppies, Edward Green. Nope. these are not the brands that I wear. I have a pair of shoes that I have bought for Rs 500 which is still loyal to me in terms of its stitch and sole. Now comes the profession that I am in, Journalism. I have never been able to get out of my journalism kindergarten since the last fifteen years because talent is something that I lack. I compensate that by talking too much. Many of my fans just hate me for this talk. My language is very poor and so neither can I write nor can I speak any language like ‘a knife on butter’. This is primarily because I have grown up with many languages surrounding me. Malayalam, Bengali, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, Sindhi and English. Fortunately I don’t understand a word of any other south Indian languages than Malayalam. So which one to master on? I could not understand this and in trying to get a grip of which language I should master on, I grew up and it was time to choose a profession. Since I barely managed to get the passing marks in my tenth, twelfth and graduation, I could not follow my friends who managed to squeeze into MBA and MCA. I was left with gasping for something to do when I was in the third year of my college. So I tried following every Malayalee on the street. That was I how appeared for Staff Selection Commission examination and to my surprise, I managed to pass. I thought I was the cleverest person in the horizon because I could pass a general aptitude test, albeit of a lower intensity.
But once in a government job, I realized that every Tom Dick and Harry was getting through this examination and faster and swifter to better position that what I am. I was again grounded. But I managed to get many fans in the government building where I worked. They still remember and ‘adore’ me. But I decided to leave the organization and follow my passion of getting into a profession that I always dreamt of. But the problem was that I could not write, my English was not upto the mark and the editors to whom I mailed my stories still rue editing my stories. But I managed to get into this profession by hook or crook but never on an employee basis. The reason was that I could not pass a single test that these main stream newspapers put on me. So much so that one of the newspapers refused to part with me the answer sheet saying it is too much a crap to even look at it or waste time discussing it. They gave my to correct some two hundred spellings. Since I use MS Word Spellcheck, I failed miserably. So I was back to the freelance work. Being in freelance job, you report to so many people that you lose count of how many organizations you worked for. In each organization, my fans got multiplied. Many of my fans believe I act as if I know every thing. Many among these say please stop this ‘I-know-it-all-attitude’. While I was taking a walk this evening, I thought I should reflect on this alleged ‘I-know-it-all-attitude’ of mine. Whether I am seriously showing this or is it because of my habit to raise rebellion in all the places where I worked?(a sort of Indian leftist party attitude) Is it because I always tried to reach that extra mile – even at the cost of antagonizing some close people? Or is it because I really have this ‘I-know-it-all-attitude’? I took a brisk walk and contemplated on what could be the reason.
Will post that in the next posting.

Kiddy Puzzles

As the Gujarat elections nears and as the parliamentary elections looms large, thanks to the nuclear deal, I came across some interesting puzzles related to elections. Many of these puzzles were devised by kids – as kiddy as 8th standard. I found it interesting. Have a look below.

Why is that the symbols like donkey are not used in elections
Ans : Because the candidates cannot present themselves as symbols

If Iran has hidden nuclear arms underground, where should India hide?
Ans : In fair price (PDS) shops

In India politics those who were divided yesterday are united today, those united today will be divided tomorrow? What do you understand from this?
Ans : Unity is the root of division

Most apt election speech
Ans : My dear voters. For your safety, security, peace of mind and peace all around, I appeal to vote for me and send to parliament ASAP.

In Hollywood, there is an aware for the worst film. What about India?
And : The only difference is that in India it is given by government of India in ‘best film’ category

If the political leaders go on a hunger strike?
Ans : Export of food grains

Why do the ministers cut ribbon even in literacy camps?
Ans : Because any other type of inauguration will start with writing an alphabet

“Only Congress can save India” Who said this?
Ans : India, because only India can save Congress

Ans : What is the reason for political instability at the center?
Janta Dull

Christians and Gujarat elections

Gujarat is best known for its violence against minorities more than the founder of the non-violent movement – Mahatma Gandhi. It started with Christians and went on to Muslims and now both are at the gunpoint of the right wing BJP government. Stories from this region have focused almost around this aspect. BJP seems to be unassailable in Gujarat and as long as BJP remains in power, this aspect will remain the focal point and stories generated are likely to follow threadbare portions of this angle. The ongoing rebellion within the BJP, I believe, is just a farce because no one has grown bigger than any right wing party in any part of the world(hey there are exceptions everywhere). Right wing politicking is based on ideologies and individuals do not matter here.
Once upon a time, Christians were the target and many believed they bore the brunt for political reason. It may be true because the attention post 9/11 turned to Muslims. Unlike in other parts of the country, clergy in Gujarat have not been able to focus on anything other than the usual offensive against the community. Bishops in Gujarat have seldom issued a press statement and even if they have, it has been through priests well connected with journalists.
Church in Gujarat is dormant and very boring. Unless provoked, it has no action. And ‘unfortunately’ there are enough provocations for them only to react. There are many reasons for that. Take for example constructing a Church in a piece of land owned by you. You will never get a permit for this. And so are the cases of many events where the Church may have plans to implement but walk out fearing repercussions. This can be best illustrated in a couple of charismatic conventions, which was one of the most low profile programmes conducted. Church in Gujarat is hundred years young. And it is still in its infancy having all sorts of troubles that all churches universally had – especially power struggles and clergy-laity differences. But these struggles are not new and so it is not newsworthy and so goes unreported. But dormancy by no way means the church is inactive. The Church executes some of the best social and educational responsibilities in the state. Their presence in some of the remote areas is commendable. But it is not vibrant as it is in some of the Indian states. With elections dates close to Christmas, Christians will hope their celebrations are not spoiled.

Technology and religious reporting

Three years ago, Executive Editor of the religious news agency I worked for asked a common question during one of our annual seminars. His question was simple. Have you heard of 3G? Most of us knew. He went on to explain how the agency could upgrade technologically by adopting the latest technology in future – may be to provide news headlines by sms or present WAP versions of the site for mobile users. I was thrilled then because I am a technology and gizmo freak. And since I was also working with audio features, I suggested we start audio stories along with print.
Three years and a few hundred stories later I found the same agency more primitive than it was ever. The photos were discontinued citing poor response from the clients. But how can you sell a photo if haven’t shown it to your client? From a paid site, the agency realized its folly and became a free one. But it has not been able to even drag itself with technology. So all the 3G dreams went to drain. As a punch line of an ad goes - first dream, then believe and create. The agency celebrated its silver jubilee by merely dreaming. It never learnt to believe and create. What it created became archives much before it became news. That is the reason the best stories ever told by countless reporters remained only in archives.
To tell the story of the people of God in India more effectively first we need to find people who will be using those stories. There may be a sizeable number of clients who uses this agency stories but I don’t think numerically that is enough. The agency produced the best stories from Asia and if only the Almighty is expected to read those stories, it is of no use. Technology helping those stories to reach to a wider audience was never taken seriously.
During two decades of reporting stories from Asia, one feature of this agency was accuracy. People trusted the agency for its truthful reporting. But imagine the crime of keeping those stories under the wraps just because you don’t have technological expertise. The agency could not progress in terms of technology, speed and innovation. It remained buried under quality and accuracy.

Reliance Fresh and Rural Economy

‘Dr S Ramadoss, the Pattal Makkal Katchi leader, is spearheading the opposition to Reliance Fresh on the ground that it will break the backbone of the rural economy in the southern state’

Nothing can be more rubbish and irrelevant than this statement. How can Reliance Fresh or for that matter any retail chain break the rural economy? On the contrary it will enrich the rural economy. This has direct relevance to why Radio news was never allowed in private sector in India. Here is how.
Imagine a professional radio news service all across the country. It has expose and news and analysis on what is happening in the country, information on the prices of commodities that a rural person needs from time to time, weather information and forecast that helps him to make decisions on his crop patterns, wisdom so that he can vote for the best possible candidate.
Hey stop here. What is that last point? Wisdom so that he can vote for the best possible candidate????
This is what hurts people like S Ramadoss and for long Mrs Indira Gandhi who had a stranglehold on the airwaves in the country. If you give rural guy wisdom, how on earth is he going to vote for you? So information was kept away from him. He could not afford a newspaper or a magazine. Television was far from his reach and even otherwise state run channels are no place to judge the government. The cheapest was radio and politicians from Jawaharlal Nehru to Ramadoss knew very well how catastrophic it would have been if news on radio was allowed.
Ramodoss should understand that we have reached from Nehru’s dream of self reliance to Reliance Fresh. Imagine a scenario where the farmer bids his product. He gets highest possible price. The farmer will not depend on the all powerful agriculture marketing committees, he will not depend on minimum support price or he will not even be indebted to the local Bania or Pathan.
Heritage Foods, Reliance Retail, Bharti Retail, Spencers Retail, Tatas and a number of bidders will make a beeline for the best product. When the farmer realizes high prices, he will have more options for himself and his family. His son will get educated. He will choose to migrate to a city nearby or choose to be a modern farmer. He will subscribe to the best possible views and analysis because of the education and then what happens to people like Ramadoss?
They will be dumped in political wilderness. So who is more interested in not allowing Reliance Fresh operate with profits? Rural economy or Urban politics? You judge.
We have lost the ability to judge political parties or ideology. The Left parties are projected as the messiah of the poor. But what is the basis of this statement? Each Left party ideologue have their children study abroad – most of them in the US against whom they are making this hoolaulah.
When the nation needs leadership to overcome deadly floods in most part of the country, Karat & Co is debating 123. When homeless people are crying for help, they are in serious debate how to derail the government.

Oh duck, where is this country going??

Octavio Quattarochi Effect

It has been a long time since I got myself silenced on commenting and venting out my frustration through blogging. But I could not take it anymore when my 8 year old daughter predicted that the prime time news will always have one name that she is familiar with – That of Italian businessman, Octavio Quattarochi. Oh duck. How come she doesn’t know who is who of the country that she began her googling of Quattarochi?
Well, that is because our politicians never learn. They are still dissecting Quattarochi for their political gains. Sessions after sessions – meant to take decisions for millions of poor in India – are still wasted on this Quattarochi phenomenon. And this debate is for kickback on arms that India bought and won major battles. If you cant understand why this happens how come I should do that.
Tomorrow’s history books may or may not have our national leaders but it will certainly have Quattarochi. Not only parliamentarians waste time on this issue but even courts, public prosecutors, investigating agencies, external affairs ministry, PMO, leader of opposition, various political parties and oops, the list is endless, have not done a good job either.
What the duck we are talking about? We have many others pending. We have to cater to the growing young generation who has nothing to do with Bofors or Quattarochi. C’mon guys talk something like BL-5C, Xbox or some fancy names that they are interested in? What are you joking about? Quattarochi????

Oh God please end this TAMASHA !!!

British actress Elizabeth Hurley's Indian wedding to businessman Arun Nayar has become the biggest nuisance in India. Not only this never ending marriage occupied prime space in the media, but the journalists got beaten up too.

I have not seen a single film by Hurley. I don’t have an idea what business Mr Nayar is doing either though he is always addressed as a leading Indian businessman.

What I know is that two failed people in their respective fields are turning their failure into a huge success by playing with their marriage. The Indian media is dancing to their tunes.

There are thousands of other issues to be covered. I cant understand why the journalists should crowd at the airport to their wedding hall – not even leaving the toilet areas – to cover an event that is important to no body in this country. What are these scribes doing by presenting a picture or a story of the couple to their readers? Have they ever asked us if we are interested in their stories about the couple?

Let them marry or go to hell. Please leave sacred news space reserved for more important issues please?