Smriti Irani - weak link in PM Modi's government

Many could not understand why PM Narendra Modi made Smriti Irani as HRD minister. Looking at vast experience Modi has in politics as well as public life, its difficult to believe that he doesn't know how important is HRD ministry. She can be confident to Modi, she must be sincere and hard-working but our complex and demanding education system demands seasoned person who thoroughly knows  nitty gritty and complexity of whole education eco-system. Her record so far is also not impressive and her getting in controversies every other day is expected.

First she got into controversy over circular on 25th December and now row with IIT- Delhi Director!! Its maligning image of government which still has faith and goodwill of millions, who are looking at it with very high hopes.

It should be very well noted that Smriti Irani did not have any administrative experience, whatsoever. And its very well known fact that getting work done through polished IAS officers is not easy task, to say least, especially if you are not learned enough about your ministry/ department.

There are lot of opportunity for sea-change in our education system, but we need a visionary at helm of system. Why thousand of our students have to go outside to take higher education despite availability of best brains right in country? Why we are lacking even behind tiny countries of Europe in education and research? To change all these, required just vision and will, it won't require big money. Smriti might have good intentions and willingness to work day and night, but its not possible for her to draft vision of future India as far as education system is concerned. At least I think like that.

How to fix Problems of India Quickly?

All intellectuals as well as common men are too worried with growing corruption and crimes in India and apparently no light seen in tunnel. People are tired of political parties and leaders. They have faith in Judiciary but off late Judiciary is also getting tainted with charges of corruption and even if people have faith in them, justice takes ridiculously long in India. So there is no hope??
No, hope is there and its rather easier to fix most of the big problem if we have will to take just 3-4 major steps. Many intellectuals are already campaigning for them through INDIA AGAINST CORRUPTION movement. Sadly its not getting any media coverage or very little coverage. Our media has also forgotton its responsibility as one pillar of democracy.
So,What are the steps we could take to eliminate most of the problem?
(1) Have Independent Lokpal institution with power (not what government is trying to bring- a toothless body)
(2)Have Police independent of government (like Election commission)
(3)Have judicial reforms to have faster justice.
Believe it or not, but these three steps will eradicate 80% of our major problems. How? Lokpal,with no control of politicians and bureaucrats will curb the corruption. Independent police comission will break the nexus between criminals and politicians. Judicial reforms for faster justice will motivate people to not indulge in bribing and not to take law in hands. Of course, administrative reforms are also long overdue but we badly need above steps to save our democracy and bring back the faith among common people.

Nitish Kumar's victory in Bihar

Nitish Kumar is on top now a days, every person is praising him for getting record mendate in Bihar, but people are just overlooking the fact that total no. of votes in favour of ruling combine is less that total no. of votes opposition parties together got!! Its true that Nitish's development centred governance tilted general public favour in his side but its foolishness to think that Bihar has overcome caste politics, which has been main cause of its backwardness and explotation over so many years. Yes, there is change in wind and may be number of voters must came out of mindset of caste politics and voted for development only but its more an exception rahter than general trend. Otherwise why RJD, LJP and Congress and others got 61% votes compare to JDU+BJP's 39%?? Its clearly a victory of united NDA ( JDU+BJP) over divided opposition.
Other factor being ignored, while praising all over to Nitish, is Sushil Kumar Modi. As leader of opposition and state BJP chief he had built party at grassroot level over many years of Lalu Raj, he was all these years building the party while remaining in Bihar whereas Nitish was there in centre. As deputy chief minister of state for past 5 years, he was also equally contributing in governance. BJP's preference is more impressive in this election than JDU, they got 92% of seats where they contested. Unfortunately nobody giving even 10% credit to Bihar's Modi of BJP for this landslide win.
So Nitish Kumar should perform more on development front if he wants to rule Bihar for longer and he has to keep his ally BJP alongwith. People who are suggesting him to go alone by dumping BJP actually prompting him to do harakiri. Its unity of BJP and JDU got them this victory in Bihar.

Its mysterious but true.....Andhra students are most taegeted

Indian students are going in large numbers overseas these days for higher study and better future. The top two destinations are USA and Australia. In past year, there were several incidents where Indian students were attacked, sometime brutally in Australia. There were some incidents reported from USA too. Also in few incidents were there where students robbed, murdered or committed suicides. What surprized me very much is that in most of these cases, may be 90% time, victims were native of Andhra pradesh!!!
Why this is so? Is this because percentage of Andhra students going abroad is much higher than other states of India? Or because Andhrites are more taking part time jobs and so exposed more to risk? I really don't know and unable to guess any reason.
Just now saw the news that 22 year student was shot dead in USA, and guess what, he was also an Andhrites!!!
This thing was puzzling me every time I used to hear this kind of news where our Indian students were involved and over past one year or so, It has become mystery for me!

"GOD" Sachin: Are we not going overboard?

Sachin Tendulakar has completed his 50 test century- no dispute that its EXTRAORDINARY feat. His commitment to game and country is beyond doubt and he keeps on putting smiles on billions of Indians for past 21 years. But equating him with GOD is something not called for. The moment he completed his 50th ton , whole media is flooded with praising him- he deserved it rightfully- but media has gone overboard telling him and comparing with God. And its not general public, which anyways get carried away both in success and unsuccess of anybody, but learned cricket journalist too joined the bandwagon in terming him 'God'. I have seen multiple articles in newspapers, in one of that journalist mentioned that "only god could achieve this (50 century)", other wrote "it was looking like as if God himself was playing at Centurian"....
If you tell him Superhuman, Yes- I can understand, but just tell somebody God for achieving something great- Isn't it insult to God?
This is same media, which makes ones life miserable when one is unsuccessful. I remember, this same media had predicted that Sachin's career is all but over way back in year 2000 when he was struggling with form and injuries.

Bad effects of mobile usage

Telecommunications is booming in India and people are happy the way communication has become easy. Those were the days when we used to stay in long que at STD/PCO to communicate to our dear and near and were cursing ourselves when we had to call somebody in odd hours, for not having a private phone. But too much of use of mobile phones may create serious health hazards in coming years. First, In India nobody cares for health of general public and Goverment's apathy towards that is well known. Second, there is no awareness about ill effects of wireless communication. We are not following any standards as far as putting mobile towers in residential areas or near public places like schools. Even if we are following, its more on paper. We are not having any rules and regulation about SAR value of mobile handset and Indian market is free for all. SAR value determines radiation emitted by mobile handset and hence its suitability of use without adverse effect on health. Goverment is least bothered and Telecom companies too are least interested in creating public awareness on too much use of mobile phones. I will write more on this in coming days and I wish my fellow Indians will help me in creating awareness about this topic, however small it may be. We should feel some duty towards our society.

Fight over Belgaum

Maharashta and Karnataka are fighting over Belgaum now a days. When people outside India read or hear about this, they can't stop themselves from laughing. Even we think sometime whether we should laugh or cry....These states are not able to take care of tousand of villages they have and fighting over for more 800 villages!!!! I think they have forgotton that ultimately states are created for better administration only and we all are part of a country called India. Instead of giving proper administration to their respective states, they are fighting for some more part of soil!!!! Look at Maharashtra- big part of it, Vidarbha wants to part away from main state as people feel government apathy towards them in that part about problem they are facing everyday. So many farmers- numbers are in hundreds, and may be in thousand are committing suicide every year and couldn't do much to stop this trend, what they will achieve by merging 800 more villages in Maharashtra?? How does it matter if more people in Belgaum speaking Marathi rather than Kannada? By that logic, in Bangalore, more people speak languages other than Kannada as its cosmopolitan city, so should it be not part of Karnataka? These politicians are just wasting time and money on unnecessary things rather than concentrating on serving the people and look after serious problems all our states and India are facing......very disappointing state of affairs and most of the intellectual people are feeling themselves helpless.