My Unpublished Letters (contd)
4. OH! LORD RAM!
E'mailed to TOI on 09-18-'07 :
Ref. "Lord Ram is imaginary : MK" (Sep. 18). In today's context , any one , perhaps except a few such as VIPs, is obligated to keep ready and tender a proof of one's own (photo) identity, even for trivialities like delivery of a mail by a courier.
No wonder MK has demanded a proof of -
Ram' s identity and His qualification in engineering!
PS: THOU, THE CREATOR THYSELF, ART NOW AT THE MERCY OF NONE OTHER THAN THE ONE CREATED BY THEE!!
ANYWAYS, IS THAT NOT THE WAY OF TODAY'S WORLD ???!!!
DOES THAT "I" IN "VIP" / "VVIP" STAND FOR THE PROVERBIAL "I ? " WHICH HAS REMAINED TO HAUNT THE MINDS OF THE SOCALLED SEEKERS OF THE TRUTH OF LIFE OF MORTALS , FOR EVER ?
IS IT NOT A CRYING NEED OF THE HOUR THAT WE SHOULD NOW HAVE ONE MORE CATEGORISATION - "VVVIP"?
Friday, September 21, 2007
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
3. E'mailed to Business Line on 08-23-'06
QUOTE
This refers to "SEBI to resume UIN registration" (Business Line, August 23). As regards PAN, under the Income-tax Act/Rules, it is made mandatory, only in the case of, among others, a person chargeable to income-tax and if the value of any of his transactions in ecurities/shares exceeds the minimum prescribed (Rs 1 lakh/50,000). However, SEBI has, ignoring the aforesaid basic criteria, issued two directives purporting to make PAN mandatory for all demat account holders and all entities/persons transacting in the cash market, effective from 1st October 2006. As such, the directives, in so far as they mandate PAN on a blanket basis, contrary to /overstepping what is provided in the Income-tax Act/Rules are prima facie in excess of the powers of SEBI.
As regards UIN, this is going to simply add to the already existing list of several identification numbers for different purposes, including direct and indirect taxes, passport, electoral roll, etc., but may eventually serve no significant purpose. For, as past experience might have demonstrated, the present regime of several identification numbers has the necessary consequence of the utility or efficacy of all or many of them being diluted. Instead, why not our country emulate the wisdom of Singapore, where every person is, right from his birth/coming into being, compulsorily allotted a single identification number (known as NRIC) and required to quote it for almost all practical purposes, governmental or otherwise? As that might, for obvious reasons, ensure the sole underlying objective of an overall effective governance and enforcement.
UNQUOTE
PS: According to a rcent media report, the value of the demat accounts frozen pursuant to SEBI's mandate on PAN run into over a lakh of crores in rupees (?).
QUOTE
This refers to "SEBI to resume UIN registration" (Business Line, August 23). As regards PAN, under the Income-tax Act/Rules, it is made mandatory, only in the case of, among others, a person chargeable to income-tax and if the value of any of his transactions in ecurities/shares exceeds the minimum prescribed (Rs 1 lakh/50,000). However, SEBI has, ignoring the aforesaid basic criteria, issued two directives purporting to make PAN mandatory for all demat account holders and all entities/persons transacting in the cash market, effective from 1st October 2006. As such, the directives, in so far as they mandate PAN on a blanket basis, contrary to /overstepping what is provided in the Income-tax Act/Rules are prima facie in excess of the powers of SEBI.
As regards UIN, this is going to simply add to the already existing list of several identification numbers for different purposes, including direct and indirect taxes, passport, electoral roll, etc., but may eventually serve no significant purpose. For, as past experience might have demonstrated, the present regime of several identification numbers has the necessary consequence of the utility or efficacy of all or many of them being diluted. Instead, why not our country emulate the wisdom of Singapore, where every person is, right from his birth/coming into being, compulsorily allotted a single identification number (known as NRIC) and required to quote it for almost all practical purposes, governmental or otherwise? As that might, for obvious reasons, ensure the sole underlying objective of an overall effective governance and enforcement.
UNQUOTE
PS: According to a rcent media report, the value of the demat accounts frozen pursuant to SEBI's mandate on PAN run into over a lakh of crores in rupees (?).
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
SWAMILOOK
My Unpublished letters (contd)
2. E'mailed to TOI on 09-02-'07
QUOTE:
THE REPORED BAN ON YOGA BY A COUPLE OF CHURCHES IN UK, COMMENTED ON BY SRI SRI AS UNFORTUNATE (TOI , SEPTEMBER 2), DESERVES TO BE RANKED AS THE MOST CRUEL JOKE OF ALL TIMES. THE PERPETRATORS OF THE BAN OUGHT TO HAVE REALISED THAT IT IS NO DIFFERENT FROM ANYONE TRYING TO BAN, THAT TOO IN THE NAME OF RELIGION, THE GOD-GIVEN PULSE RATE OR BREATHING RATE OF HUMANS.
UNQUOTE
2. E'mailed to TOI on 09-02-'07
QUOTE:
THE REPORED BAN ON YOGA BY A COUPLE OF CHURCHES IN UK, COMMENTED ON BY SRI SRI AS UNFORTUNATE (TOI , SEPTEMBER 2), DESERVES TO BE RANKED AS THE MOST CRUEL JOKE OF ALL TIMES. THE PERPETRATORS OF THE BAN OUGHT TO HAVE REALISED THAT IT IS NO DIFFERENT FROM ANYONE TRYING TO BAN, THAT TOO IN THE NAME OF RELIGION, THE GOD-GIVEN PULSE RATE OR BREATHING RATE OF HUMANS.
UNQUOTE
SWAMILOOK
MY UNPUBLISHED LETTERS
1. Letter to Times of India (e'mailed on 06-29-'07)
QUOTE:
THE REPORT THAT COMMECIAL VEHICLES ARE TO GO OFF ROADS FROM JULY, 1 (TOI JUNE 29) WOULD NOT AT ALL HAVE SURPRISED THOSE IN GOVERNANCE AS WELL AS THE COMMON MAN. INDISPUTABLY, THE PROPOSAL THAT THE VEHICLES SHOULD COMPULSORILY INSTALL SPEED GOVERNORS HAS BEEN CONCEIVED OF IN THE LARGER INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE. AS SUCH, ANY RESISTANCE TO THE MOVE FROM A LIMITED SECTION, THAT TOO WITH PATENTLY NO RHYME OR REASON, OUGHT NOT DETER THE GOVERM\NENT FROM GOING AHEAD AND THERBY DEMONSTARATING THAT IT HAS THE COURAGE OF ITS CONVICTION. THE MOVE ALSO REQUIRES, RATHER DESERVES, TO BE FULLY SUPPORTED BY ONE AND ALL. FOR, MOST IMPORTANTLY, THERE COULD CONCEIVABLY BE NO LEGAL OR MORAL SANCTION OR WARRANT FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO EVEN DEFER ANY LONGER THE BRINGING INTO FORCE OF THE MANDATE; BESIDES, OF COURSE, ENSURING A STRICT ENFORCEMENT OF THE MANDATE.
UNQUOTE
PS: Soon thereafter, the concerned authority has, in its wisdom(!?), put the proposal in cold storage, for reasons known only to it.
1. Letter to Times of India (e'mailed on 06-29-'07)
QUOTE:
THE REPORT THAT COMMECIAL VEHICLES ARE TO GO OFF ROADS FROM JULY, 1 (TOI JUNE 29) WOULD NOT AT ALL HAVE SURPRISED THOSE IN GOVERNANCE AS WELL AS THE COMMON MAN. INDISPUTABLY, THE PROPOSAL THAT THE VEHICLES SHOULD COMPULSORILY INSTALL SPEED GOVERNORS HAS BEEN CONCEIVED OF IN THE LARGER INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE. AS SUCH, ANY RESISTANCE TO THE MOVE FROM A LIMITED SECTION, THAT TOO WITH PATENTLY NO RHYME OR REASON, OUGHT NOT DETER THE GOVERM\NENT FROM GOING AHEAD AND THERBY DEMONSTARATING THAT IT HAS THE COURAGE OF ITS CONVICTION. THE MOVE ALSO REQUIRES, RATHER DESERVES, TO BE FULLY SUPPORTED BY ONE AND ALL. FOR, MOST IMPORTANTLY, THERE COULD CONCEIVABLY BE NO LEGAL OR MORAL SANCTION OR WARRANT FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO EVEN DEFER ANY LONGER THE BRINGING INTO FORCE OF THE MANDATE; BESIDES, OF COURSE, ENSURING A STRICT ENFORCEMENT OF THE MANDATE.
UNQUOTE
PS: Soon thereafter, the concerned authority has, in its wisdom(!?), put the proposal in cold storage, for reasons known only to it.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
SWAMILOOK - musings
All about backbone
Mr U is always in the habit of complaining about his poor health or ailment, though, on the face of it, not worth caring for - for example, some times excess sugar, at times no- sugar.
He mentioned once about going to a specialist for having his back examined. Pat came a sarcastic remark from his credulous listener: Was it to check up whether he (Mr U) had a backbone at all?
Mr U was well known for his glutton like appetite, especially for home made food. In the style of a royal, he used to carry in a stylish manner a whole lot of stuff for lunch, and start looking forward, with a fervor, the time for going into it. Come lunch time, he would ceremoniously take out, and spread them on his office table, after carefully putting aside the files, etc., that got usually lifted only for this purpose, go about the routine with the gusto of an army cadet doing his daily rounds.
Outlook on life:
By and large, interests in life have, over the decades, undergone a material- nay, to put it aptly, an immaterial change.
To trace from childhood, as a youth, bachelor, then married, tending to middle aged, lastly but unavoidably oldish– likes and dislikes have been undergoing an unpredictable change right through, for good or bad
Until peeping into thirties, no idea about value of money - Is one really right in thinking that it does have value!!
Of course, the so-called values have changed, dramatically - or have they really changed as perceived?
Morality or Virtues on the one hand and unquenchable aspiration for wealth on the other- for obvious reasons, both have no meeting point
If one were to embark on a little bit of soul searching:-
It is beyond one’s comprehension as to why/where have gone those good old days of - righteousness, joint family, inner beauty, truly learned, friendly, camaraderie, deep-rooted ties of kith and kin; so on, so forth?
Mr U is fond of always talking about the affluence of his offspring – two sons and two daughters, but he himself having been pushed to a old age home; but has never been heard complaining.
Mr UV is often heard complaining about the unkindest cut of all received from his offspring- this one blessed with only one son. Instead, should he not really thank God for having only one, not more, to regret about.
Mr UVW with no issues – has been living in some place; but he has nothing to complain or boast about – may be, a staunch believer in typical Hindu philosophy.
Ideally, what is called for is a total detachment from an overwhelmingly materialistic world; as the present generation, but for a few and rare exceptions, is left with no affinity or love. Perhaps, that helps one to try and attain such detachment sooner, than later; hence a blessing in disguise.
Eighty, Not Out:
As a wise man once lamented –
After 50 - every year a grace
60 - every month a grace
70 - every day a grace
80- every moment a disgrace
In a Music hall:
Mr U is always seen as a front liner, though not only a stranger to the musicologist but also to the art of music itself. He makes sure to enter the hall only after all others have settled in their seats and the artist has started his debut. As he enters, he bows in a semi- Japanese style, raises the left hand a little, about 45 degrees, directed to the dais. Often, goes unnoticed by the artist concentrating on his alapana. Granting luck, at times, out of chivalry and etiquette, the artist gives a thin nod and bears out semblance of a smile – not necessarily in recognition – may be, just to acknowledge, as a matter of courtesy. Mr U, having his ego satisfied, and after landing in his seat, rotates his head sideways to the point of straining, craning his neck and glancing to the rear, to see whether his and the artist’s reciprocate gestures have been noticed by anyone. He is soon heard humming- though the vocalist is apparently in no need of a second fiddle – invariably out of tune.
Mr U, incidentally a nephew to relate by blood, is known for his extremely impulsive nature. He has the inborn tact to talk to anybody and make friends. On those occasions whenever I chance to be by his side, he would take upon himself the pleasure of introducing also me to the newly made friend of his; least bothering himself to notice as to whether the latter likes it or not.
All about backbone
Mr U is always in the habit of complaining about his poor health or ailment, though, on the face of it, not worth caring for - for example, some times excess sugar, at times no- sugar.
He mentioned once about going to a specialist for having his back examined. Pat came a sarcastic remark from his credulous listener: Was it to check up whether he (Mr U) had a backbone at all?
Mr U was well known for his glutton like appetite, especially for home made food. In the style of a royal, he used to carry in a stylish manner a whole lot of stuff for lunch, and start looking forward, with a fervor, the time for going into it. Come lunch time, he would ceremoniously take out, and spread them on his office table, after carefully putting aside the files, etc., that got usually lifted only for this purpose, go about the routine with the gusto of an army cadet doing his daily rounds.
Outlook on life:
By and large, interests in life have, over the decades, undergone a material- nay, to put it aptly, an immaterial change.
To trace from childhood, as a youth, bachelor, then married, tending to middle aged, lastly but unavoidably oldish– likes and dislikes have been undergoing an unpredictable change right through, for good or bad
Until peeping into thirties, no idea about value of money - Is one really right in thinking that it does have value!!
Of course, the so-called values have changed, dramatically - or have they really changed as perceived?
Morality or Virtues on the one hand and unquenchable aspiration for wealth on the other- for obvious reasons, both have no meeting point
If one were to embark on a little bit of soul searching:-
It is beyond one’s comprehension as to why/where have gone those good old days of - righteousness, joint family, inner beauty, truly learned, friendly, camaraderie, deep-rooted ties of kith and kin; so on, so forth?
Mr U is fond of always talking about the affluence of his offspring – two sons and two daughters, but he himself having been pushed to a old age home; but has never been heard complaining.
Mr UV is often heard complaining about the unkindest cut of all received from his offspring- this one blessed with only one son. Instead, should he not really thank God for having only one, not more, to regret about.
Mr UVW with no issues – has been living in some place; but he has nothing to complain or boast about – may be, a staunch believer in typical Hindu philosophy.
Ideally, what is called for is a total detachment from an overwhelmingly materialistic world; as the present generation, but for a few and rare exceptions, is left with no affinity or love. Perhaps, that helps one to try and attain such detachment sooner, than later; hence a blessing in disguise.
Eighty, Not Out:
As a wise man once lamented –
After 50 - every year a grace
60 - every month a grace
70 - every day a grace
80- every moment a disgrace
In a Music hall:
Mr U is always seen as a front liner, though not only a stranger to the musicologist but also to the art of music itself. He makes sure to enter the hall only after all others have settled in their seats and the artist has started his debut. As he enters, he bows in a semi- Japanese style, raises the left hand a little, about 45 degrees, directed to the dais. Often, goes unnoticed by the artist concentrating on his alapana. Granting luck, at times, out of chivalry and etiquette, the artist gives a thin nod and bears out semblance of a smile – not necessarily in recognition – may be, just to acknowledge, as a matter of courtesy. Mr U, having his ego satisfied, and after landing in his seat, rotates his head sideways to the point of straining, craning his neck and glancing to the rear, to see whether his and the artist’s reciprocate gestures have been noticed by anyone. He is soon heard humming- though the vocalist is apparently in no need of a second fiddle – invariably out of tune.
Mr U, incidentally a nephew to relate by blood, is known for his extremely impulsive nature. He has the inborn tact to talk to anybody and make friends. On those occasions whenever I chance to be by his side, he would take upon himself the pleasure of introducing also me to the newly made friend of his; least bothering himself to notice as to whether the latter likes it or not.
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