I'm Lucky

Is India ready for Aam Aadmi's car

2008-01-13T03:49:00.005Z

Mr. Ratan Tata has promised to deliver the common man's car at a price tag of Rs. 1 lac soon. The announcement and the display at "Auto Expo 08" has certainly had its impact even though there is a wait of 6 months for the roll out of "NANO". Two-wheeler manufacturers are expected to lower the prices in a nation where the daily retail business in the villages and small towns runs on two-wheelers. Other players in the Four-wheeler segment are plotting to come up with their low budget cars as well.

A small child on the fuel tank and the second child between the father and the mother riding the motorbike is a common sight in any Indian city. Mr. Tata's promise provides these families with an opportunity to own their new car. But what do we really achieve? Is India ready to absorb the explosive growth in the increase in the number of vehicles on our roads? Will we be able to ensure a healthy environment for our children if not concerned for ourselves? Is this the only priority that we have? Will our roads be safer with more vehicles with the same kind of infrastructure?

The path of economic development that India is revving upon is flawed and we have lost track of our priorities. The single-most evidence for the same is that the rich becoming richer and the poor poorer. A car tagged at Rs. 1 lac is not the common man's priority. Food, sanitation, infrastructure, education, employment and empowerment are the priorities for the "Aam Aadmi" of India. The quality of these facilities and its availability make the nation and its people proud in the sight of the world.

Statistics show that there has been a 100% increase in the Total Sales of Passenger cars in India in a 5 year period of 2001-2002 to 2006-2007. The low budget cars would act as a catalyst and result in an exponential growth in the production and sales of cars. In a country where development towards infrastructure takes a back seat, such a growth is unwelcome. Even though I do not have statistics at my fingertips, I can blindly say that the death tolls due to road accidents is also on the rise.

The toll on the environment is also deadly. A Green Earth is only a matter of discussions, seminars and symposiums. Very little is being done to control, if not reverse the negative effects our new lifestyle has had on the environment. A vehicle stamped at Bharat IV or Euro III standards do not guarantee a pollution free environment. All it ensures is a lesser amount of emission. The key to reduction in emissions are Carpools, promoting public transport and the use of non-conventional energy sources.

The Central and State governments should aim for healthy partnerships with the Private Sector to invest in the Infrastructure and Public Transport. Everybody has a social responsibility in the evolution of their country and its ordinary citizen. The Tatas, Birlas, Ambanis and the Mallyas have a bigger role in helping the society and providing back to the society. They should be in discussions and dialogues with the government and the people on projects that would bring about basic infrastructure, sanitation and public transport for the ordinary as a favour to the nation that has provided them with opportunities to grow.

"Been sitting in my Post for a long time now." - Masoud

RIP - Family (Paleolithic Age - Very Soon)

2007-04-08T12:27:00.000+01:00

This post of mine is sparked by a recent new article in the BBC, Ugandan adultery law 'too sexist'. The Ugandan law allowed men to cheat on their wifes. But in an attempt to honour the equality of rights for men and women, the Ugandan judiciary has made such a carnal act, legal; instead of curbing the rights of men. However shocking and lamentable the news is, it is a reality and does impact the institution of FAMILY, the first school of man.

The institution of FAMILY has been regarded as sacred even by primitive societies. According to anthropologists, the origins of strong Monogamous Societies date back a long time in the history of mankind. This sanctity of relationships within the family is even prevalent in some of the American Indian tribes and the aborigines of India, Africa and Australia.

Family is where man learns justice, passion for his kin, sacrifice and above all, love. This is what makes him a complete man. The breakdown of the extended family to pave way for nuclear families was the first blow in the overall development of the human being. He was by then becoming more selfish, the orientation being more towards, myself, my spouse, my kid and nothing more.

The degradation of the moral standards has worsened the situation further. Other economic and social factors hasn't helped either.

Sooner or later, man would be deprived of the benefits that family has provided him from time immemorial. How easy would it have been, if these values and virtues can be administered in a packaged form as a capsule or a vaccine during childhood or tinned food or vanilla or strawberry flavoured dishes. Ohhh!!!

Another New Year

2007-01-16T20:14:00.000Z

Back from my hibernation and I am ready for the New Year to reveal itself. Every single day that passes by, has a lot to teach.

My career as a software engineer has taught me to work in an "AGILE" manner and thus the need for resolutions on an yearly basis has become irrelevant. New Year Resolutions ranging from, "I am going to be a better person", "gonna loose my weight", "will concentrate on my studies" and many more have remained mere resolutions.

I decided not to have a New Year resolution for 2007. Nowadays, I just make a resolve when I feel necessary. This way I do not have a big guilt associated with breaking a "New Year Resolution".

On a lighter note, I suppose there are people like me in the software engineering profession who would like to institutionalise this practice. For people not involved with Software engineering, software engineering and its life cycle is a bit of a sophisticated one. It includes requirements, design, build and testing. To keep up with deliveries, projects move into "Agile" mode. How to identify such a project is to ask team member for a delivery date or a document or the process they follow and they would reply, "We follow an Agile process".

"Do you lead an AGILE life, by the way?"

A pinch of salt

2006-12-02T15:02:00.000Z

While having dinner last Wednesday, I inquired slyly as to whether the gravy was a bit more salty. And there came the reply from my wife, "Is it?", with a grin.

The reply was a perplexing one as the it didn't quite answer my question and I still had to figure out the answer.

The incident was forgotten as the burden of my new job took toll until the weekend. Weekends are a great time and I thought I would help my wife in the kitchen. For some reason, during the preparation, I was asked to add the salt and the dish turned out to be saltier than it should have been. I have never been a cook except for an occasional omelette, boiled eggs, tea and coffee.

The same weekend, I had the honour of adding salt into another dish while assisting my wife and luckily enough it was just the right amount of salt.

I now wonder whether my wife intentionally asked me to help her out to add the salt to the dishes. Well, I had learnt a wonderful lesson and got a good story for my blog.

Moral of the story, "Add only a pinch of salt to prepare your dinner."

Mr. President's War of Error

2006-10-08T06:08:00.000+01:00

A banner showing Iraqi and American babies during an Anti-War
rally in Times Square, New York City on Feb 15 2003.

The message from the banner is very clear. The plight of Iraqi population has reached its peak during the so called War on Terror (to be read as War of Error) by Mr. Bush and his comrades.

I have treasured the innocent smile of a child as one of the most delightful moments in my life. To see a child in pain has always troubled me.

After I had taken the snap, I have wondered many a times as to what conversation would have happened between the Iraqi and American dolls had they been alive. Ali(left) and Jack(right) are fictional characters and any resemblance is merely coincidental.

Jack: Hai, Ali. How are you doing?
Ali: Hello, Jack. Life isn't all that great here and I am afraid for my family and myself. What about you?
Jack: I am doing great. I have a new toy that dad bought for my birthday.
Ali: You are lucky to receive gifts. What is your new toy?
Jack: Well, dad bought me a gun. It makes a crackling noise and lights up when I pull the trigger. I also have a fighter jet.
Ali: I am afraid of guns. Our town is full of people with guns. It makes me feel sick when I go outside with my mother.
Jack: I am sorry about what is happening in your country. Even our President is to blame about the situation.
Ali: Thanks Jack, for your understanding of our people's suffering. My mother says that our town used to be a great one and remembers the good days she had when my father was alive.
Jack: I am sorry about your father. What happened to him?
Ali: He went to work as usual in the morning one day and didn't turn up in the evening. The next day my family came to know about his death. I wasn't born then.
Jack: I am sorry, Ali. I hope and pray that you will be safe.
Ali: Thanks for your concern.

A Glimpse of the Anti-War Rally. Bush seems to have
defied democracy. After all, the protestors were
dispersed by the NYPD's mounted unit!!!

The life of Iraqis as I understand haven't improved after the regime of the "tyrant" but has deteriorated. The country has plunged into confusion and chaos. Why then did "Mr. President" haste to "liberate" Iraq if he could not do a better job than Saddam?

Muhammed (PBUH) - post Pope Benedict's lecture

2006-09-30T19:46:00.000+01:00

Muslims all over the world regard Muhammed peace and blessings of Allah be upon him with reverence and respect. Muhammed is the role model for Muslims in all their transactions, wordly and spiritual.
In fact, the Faith of a Muslim is incomplete or void without that respect or love for the final prophet whom Quran describes as the Mercy for the entire Universe.
Narrated by Anas: The Prophet said, "None of you will have faith till he loves me more than his father, his children and all mankind." (Sahih Bukhari Volume 1, Book 2, Number 14:)

After the acceptance of the Oneness of the God Almighty, love and respect for the final Messenger is one of the main foundations on which a Muslim builds his life. But for the open and transparent life of Muhammed pbuh, Muslims would not have been able to comprehend the Quran.

Does the Muslim of today really love Muhammed? A superficial examination will show that Muslims love Muhammed. The violent protests against the Danish cartoons, burning the effigy of the Pope, the shouts and violence in the streets were all for the sake of the prophet. But what is to love a great character, what is the real essence of loving somebody more than your father, your son or anybody else? Simply put, it would be to follow the path of the great man, to build one's character and live the modest, gentle and noble life Muhammed has preached and practised.
We sent thee not, but as a Mercy for all creatures. (21:107)

And thou (standest) on an exalted standard of character. (68:4)

Narrated by Masruq: "We were sitting with 'Abdullah bin 'Amr who was narrating to us (Hadith): He said, "Allah's Apostle was neither a Fahish (one who speaks bad words) nor a Mutafahhish (one who speaks obscene evil words to make people laugh), and he used to say, 'The best among you are the best in character (having good manners)."'" (Sahih Bukhari Volume 8, Book 73, Number 61:)

How gentle is the Muslim of today? What virtue and nobility does he hold? Why do Muslims get provoked so easily? Haven't the Messenger of Allah been rebuked by his own people?
And to say: What! shall we indeed give up our gods for the sake of a mad poet? (37:36)

Did Muhammed or his companions ever strike in retribution against such accusations? Muslims should ponder on these questions. The Muslim society should have countered the situation with more dignity and in a more civilized manner as is expected out of them. The path that Muslims ought to have taken is that of the prophet they respect - to invite people with wisdom and good intent and to cooperate in all that is good and to forbid evil.

The Pope's reference of the medieval Byzantine emperor may or may not represent his picture of Muhammed pbuh. But the time Pope chose to deliver the lecture was untimely. There is no doubt that the Pope has his right to speech. But highest office of the Roman Catholic Church should have been more careful with a statement that was sure to hurt the feelings of a large population.

A better understanding among people about the culture, history, religion and civilization of others around them would help them to live amicably as children of Adam pbuh.

In the beginning there was...

2006-09-07T21:28:00.000+01:00

Genesis
I am not good at story-telling and never was. So let me get to the matter straight away. Well, to decide whether there is any matter at all, it is up to you, the readers to decide.

I had been wondering for quite a long time as to what blogs are, how bloggers benefit, how much of bits and bytes of rubbish (or whatever of 1s and 0s) are stored and accumulated everyday and what purposes it serve. Finally, I decided to blog myself. Well, for no specific reason. The only reason I could possibly think of is to better understand the questions I have stated.

And thus it gives birth to Masoud's Blog.

My intentions
My intentions are straight-forward. I would like to key in my thoughts, my comments, my views on topics that concern me. These views/thoughts are mine and I do not associate it to anybody else except in circumstances where there is an exclusive mention. The comments posted by other readers are their views and may or may not be inline with my views.

Get set, ready, go
Having said that I think that it is time to get started and post my first blog. I welcome honest and healthy dialogues and thus would encourage my Dear Readers to post their comments. As this is a moderated blog site, I would still continue to monitor the posts. But I assure you that any comment posted with sincere intentions and are not offensive (sexist, racist, obscene, hatred, discriminatory - what offensive means) will be honoured.