Archives of this column - Part 2 | Part 3

K. B. Ganapathy: Thus spake the Godmen on God
The answer was in the form of a question: "Why does a child play?" The inference, apparently, is there is no purpose. A child plays for its own purpose. There is no other motive or goal. So the creation of the world is a child's play for God. Like a child's play or an artist's work, the world evolved itself and is still evolving. The play goes on for ever and ever, ad infinitum. I have always found these spiritual persons very smart in outsmarting those who ask questions relating to God, religion and spirituality. Take for example the question posed by a devotee to Nityananda: Are you the God? Paramahamsa Nityananda simply replies: "I am not here to prove I am God, I am here to prove you are God." Read On

Paramahamsa Nithyananda takes your question….
The volunteers in my hall began distributing paper slips to those who wished to ask questions. I also collected a slip. In the meanwhile, the first salvo was fired at the Swamiji and it appeared to be a Yorker. The ball that lands at the foot of the batsman and difficult to strike. He can't avoid it either. And if he fails to negotiate it, he will be either LBW or bowled. Such was the predicament of Paramahamsa Nithyananda. The question was asked by a senior citizen about the Swamiji being God or Swamiji wanting to prove others are Gods or something to that effect based on an article in which the Swamiji had answered his disciple’s question, "Whether he is God?" Read On

Wicked shall enjoy this world and the world after (If there is one)
I have always been wondering if there is life after death. Rebirth. I know, however, there is death after life (birth). We see living organisms and beings propagating their species with births, in multiples, as if to make up for the deaths. Which is why, human beings are surviving on this planet and the number is increasing in geometric progression. The question before me is: Will I, if not physically as I am, at least in some other form, be reborn? If so, where? In which bloodline? In which race? As a woman or as a man or a eunuch? Physically challenged or as an Atlas or Hercules? Read On

My Road to Odyssey to Hampi
It does not mean the celebration was not needed. It was important to remind our people the glory that was Vijayanagar Empire, which had indeed acted as a bulwark against the Muslim invasion of South India at the given period. The point is, along with the celebrations, money should have also been spent on these two towns as they are our country's one of the most important tourist destinations. Moreover, the National Highway No. 13 as also National Highway No. 63 converge at this point with heavy traffic. Read On

Musings on M. K. Narayanan who couldn’t prevent 26 / 11 from happening
Last Sunday I was reading the renowned journalist and TV personality Vir Sanghvi’s article titled, A security history of part - timers and “what ifs” in the Sunday Express. Indeed he has hit the nail right on the head with a sledge hammer of his pen. It was an elegy written about all those who perished in the 26 / 11 mayhem in Mumbai. He writes about the new National Security Advisor (NSA), who will be appointed in place of M. K. Narayanan who held the job for some years who was responsible for the misfortune of this unfortunate country. Let me quote Vir Sanghvi: "Narayanan is a controversial figure. I’m not going to get into the whole issue of whether Narayanan seriously damaged our intelligence - gathering capabilities (and R & AW in particular) or whether he should have done the decent thing and resigned after the intelligence failures of 26 / 11. Read On

In Search of Justice: Fair, natural and tempered with mercy
It is the duty of all well meaning citizens and the media which is a watchdog for good governance in judiciary too. We are sure your paper will certainly come forward to take the patriotic lead for awakening the people in the interest of justice and democracy." Yes, Mr. Raiyani. I agree. But do you know in India Judiciary is a Holy Cow? Like the King who can do no wrong, so is Judiciary in India. It is the "Contempt of Court" power of the Judges which keeps the media watchdog away from criticising Judiciary. Read On

Kidnap, Missing and Suicide
It may be difficult or impractical to expect the Police to be a perfect law - enforcing authority. Yet, the imperfection in the Police force is dangerously all - pervasive that it is certainly not able to do justice to the people by handling effectively the ever - increasing crimes of various kinds we find today in a scientifically advanced society. Say for example, cyber crime. Be that as it may, after the now infamous Ruchika molestation case of Haryana, which has taken a new turn 17 years after the crime was committed and on learning the punishment meted out by the court to the convict — six months imprisonment and Rs. 1,000 fine — as too apologetic, people are making themselves bold to talk about the ugly face of the Police. Read On

First Court of Criminal Justice under scanner
Sadly even after 60 years of independence, our own people as rulers have not found it expedient to make changes in the criminal law and its procedure in keeping with the spirit and pride of an independent people. To give a small example: Raju, a daily labourer earning Rs. 100 per day beats up Gopal, his fellow labourer. Gopal gives a Police complaint and Raju is arrested. The court grants bail on condition of his furnishing cash surety. He has no money. So he is sent to judicial custody. Read On

Money and Happiness
Can money buy happiness? With this query we should also ponder whether we could do without money. Everybody desires for a life of leisure, security, healthfulness and possessions of varied requirements. Do all these lead to happiness? Can we live without money, social status, comforts and other related factors? Can all of us obtain these in the same degree? Against these arguments, what should an average person do to keep himself happy? Money can buy medicine, but not health. Similarly, money can buy you comfort, but not happiness. Read On

Maa
And as I watched the last part of the film, I couldn't hold back my tears and I allowed them to flow copiously. After all, in the darkness of the theatre my saline emotion was not visible. The only problem was my running nose which betrayed my emotion to those sitting next to me. As I left the theatre I was also left wondering why the film was not titled Maa rather than Paa. Read On

God and Man
I have been always wondering how a man can believe in God, heaven, hell and purgatory when he has no direct or circumstantial evidence to believe. In fact, the early man was right in his belief of God because he was a “Nature” worshipper. He feared elements of Nature and therefore thought he could pacify Nature — thunder, lightning, flood, earthquakes, volcanoes, eclipse, comets etc. — by worshipping them, sometimes even offering human sacrifices, all under special names and different rituals. Read On

More Corrupt the Police are, More unsafe are our People
We had always thought at least our Army and Judiciary are well insulated from corruption. Newspapers rarely carried any item relating to corruption in the Army and Judiciary. But today we have Army scams and Judicial corruption almost daily being written in newspapers and shown on TV. Lack of trust in the leadership in all areas of governance is worrying every citizen today. The situation indeed is grim. If a citizen cannot trust a Police Officer, Army General, Chief Justice of the higher court, where shall he go for his security and justice? Are we as a country lost in the limbo of a democratic anarchy? Read On

Remembering Shankar Nag and Gaurima
And what about the sick — either young or old? The state – of – the - art hospitals, whether for heart diseases or cancer, are available only in Bangalore. For all these reasons and more, the traffic congestion is understandable. Only a miracle - man can find a solution for this problem. Yet, without waiting for that miracle man, I went to Bangalore and one afternoon visited Ranga Shankara to see a play. Among the most talented actors and directors of films in Kannada was undoubtedly Shankar Nag, the younger brother of another equally talented actor and former politician Ananth Nag. Unfortunately, God has the habit of calling back to his realm the most talented and the genius amongst humans while they are still young. Exceptions are rare. Read On

Internecine self – destructive war in Karnataka BJP
Is it not proof that Yeddyurappa is capable of tethering the Reddy brothers and his supporters here in Karnataka with the same rope with which Reddy brothers, taking help from the high command, tied Yeddyurappa and parcelled him back to Karnataka? It is reported in today's papers that within hours after Yeddyurappa refused Shettar's request two of the Reddy brothers flew into Bangalore by helicopter from Bellary and went to Yeddyurappa's Dollars Colony House demanding that Shettar's request be granted. But, Yeddyurappa had the guts to tell the Reddy brothers to get lost. Yes, courage is indeed destiny. Read On

Rise and fall of Shobha Karandlaje
While in the Ministry, her performance was without blemish. She was one of the very, very few intelligent, honest, hardworking and competent Ministers in Yeddyurappa's Cabinet. And the only woman Minister. She is also fair looking and pleasing in her manners. Her photographs in media is evidence of her being a person with a highly photogenic face. Not surprisingly, there has been gossip about her relationship with Yeddyurappa but she is nonchalant about the wagging tongues. Read On

The decline and fall of BJP in Karnataka
The political power in Karnataka seems to have slipped, with the connivance of the BJP High Command, to the hands of Reddy brothers. Considering how Sonia Gandhi handled the ambitious son Jagmohan Reddy of the late Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Y. S. R. Reddy, the BJP High Command's handling of the Reddy brothers seems to be a disaster. It also bespeaks of the lack of political acumen and courage on the part of the BJP High Command, which in itself is a divided house, compared to the Congress under Sonia Gandhi. Read On

Modi Bashing
It has indeed become fashionable these days for the secularists, communists and the opposition political parties, so also the minority communities to brand BJP as a Hindu party and for that reason demonize it. When more than 3000 Sikhs were killed in the aftermath of Indira Gandhi's assassination by a Sikh guard, did anyone brand Congress party as anti - Sikh party and demonize it? Let it be. What we as Indian citizens should realise is that in a pluralistic society with different religions there is bound to be a majority religion and a minority religion and therefore whenever there is over - reaction to an incident Read On

Yes, the Winner is Dr. R. Purnima
This one is not a lottery like the Nobel Peace Prize this year. For US President Barack Obama it was a windfall and a lottery. But what Dr. R. Purnima, Professor of English, Karnataka State Open University (KSOU), got — the Fulbright - Nehru Senior Research Fellowship for the year 2009 - 2010 — was neither a windfall nor a lottery. It was the scholarship given to a most deserving person, one who has worked so hard in the field of children's education and for so long, since 1990. She was passionate about what she set out to do, in her own way, for the cause of ALL children. And every child who came under her tutelage was a beneficiary of her kindness and teaching. Read On

Kodagu Safari: Pleasant and Unpleasant
God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh day — Sunday. Why God chose Sunday to rest, only God will know. Probably for the same reason the Christians pray on Sunday and Government and private offices have their weekly holidays on Sunday. Prayer or rest, we usually look for a break from our routine work – a - day life. That was how I escaped from my labour - oriented jail called Mysore to the womb of nature in Kodagu on 18th, 19th and 20th of this month. The word womb is very significant, for that is where we all came from. And while there, we were all safe and secure, free of all worries, till we came out crying. As we grew up, the cry became a complaint about the world outside where we were willy - nilly forced to work and live. Read On

Mysore Airport: An apology and a folly
And imagine, this airport building has three urinary pans (basins) for men, while over 100 passengers can be expected at any given time when a smaller commercial flight lands or takes off. Is it not too inadequate a rest room? And worse, the way these basins are fixed to the wall with separators. The basin seems longer than the ceramic separator and the urinary block is perpendicular to a mirror close to it. As a result, the persons easing themselves at the urinals are reflected in the mirror to be seen by those who use the wash basin. I would like to honour the architect and interior designer of this airport lavatory for his sense of humour or sadism or being a voyeur. Read On

Rise and fall of Rangayana from B. V. Karanth to B. Jayashree
Question from Jayashree: "Shall we perform Kindari Jogi?" Reply by the artistes: "We did it when we were young. Why not we take up other adult plays or a new one?" Jayashree's reply: "What? By suggesting 'Kindari Jogi,' did I make a mistake?" With this kind of attitude, artistes say, no fruitful discussion was possible. She herself was the problem, according to insiders. Having said this, there is very little to say something good about the old artiste - government employees of Rangayana either. They seem more audacious than poor Jayashree, according to some insiders. I understand that these Rangayana artistes are already steeped in the most pernicious government culture of asserting rights without responsibility or accountability. As I know it is only in a communist country that a performing artiste is a government servant. Read On

Much ado about Dasara Invite &…. The Congress Charade
The Congress seems to be in a hurry to topple the BJP government. Like a lawyer who has neither law nor facts on his side bangs the table to confuse or intimidate the judge, the Congress has decided to intensify and widen the area of its protest, after the failed siege of Vidhana Soudha on 26th September, taking the protest down to districts and taluks. Congress and JD (S) seem to forget that they too, while they were ruling us not long ago, were guilty of the same kind of allegation that they are accusing the BJP of now. Hear this. The JD (S) spokesperson Y. S. V. Datta says, "How long can we keep quiet when the State's economy is in shambles and people are fed up with Chief Minister B. S. Yeddyurappa's misgovernance? So JD (S) has organised a protest on October 12." How long? JD (S) ruled in partnership with BJP for 20 months. Can’t Datta allow BJP to complete at least 20 months before organizing the protest? Read On

Our Netas and their Life - Style: Cattle class or Gandhi class?
It is strange that though all our politicians have gone on junketeering to America and most of them know English, none could understand the joke that was except Dr. Manmohan Singh. It is time the Prime Minister took a class on “joke appreciation” for his Ministers and other Congress leaders including Sonia Gandhi and Ashok Gehlot, the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, who wanted Tharoor to quit as a Minister for his controversial remarks. I think Gehlot should have been an Arab and a Minister in Saudi Arabia! Read On

A People’s Gentleman Police Officer: Kempaiah IPS - 4
In retrospect, Kempaiah would not have quit in a huff as it were, if only DGP Ajay Kumar Singh had not officially reported the Aug. 13th incident to the government. A few days back when I made a courtesy telephone call to Kempaiah, his voice betrayed his feelings: "I treated Police as my religion. It was my life breath. My devotion to duty as a Police officer was total. I am deeply hurt, pained so much. As an officer I was expected to deliver and in all my postings I delivered. Naturally, I earned my promotions. Now I am leaving with a heavy heart." I asked about the Siddharamaiah factor. "No", he said firmly. "No politics for me in service." To my question "What next?", he said "I have not decided yet." "Politics?" I pursued. "No I have not thought of it yet." "Well then, how about writing a book," I suggested. "Yes, that's a good idea. I will consider," he said and thanked me for calling him. Read On

A People’s Gentleman Police Officer: Kempaiah IPS: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Jaswant’s defence of Jinnah
Every student of history knows what Mahatma Gandhi had sworn regarding the partition of the country. He had said, "Partition would take place only over my dead body." What happened? No wonder the former RSS Chief K. S. Sudharshan speaking to the Press had said that Jinnah was committed for a unified India and if Mahatma Gandhi had insisted that partition should not happen, then it would not have happened. Well then, now that partition has happened, Sudharshan is holding Mahatma Gandhi responsible. Is he thus endorsing the views of Jaswant Singh? Read On

Kodagu Safari: Predicament of Police
Last Thursday I was in Kutta, a border town South of Kodagu, on some errand. My host and relation, who is a local coffee planter, had a call asking him to participate in a meeting at the Kutta Police Station. Since it was a Citizens' Committee meeting, I too decided to accompany my relation. I thought the Police Station was very strategically and logistically located on the road leading to Kerala — a golden road carrying spices, coffee, paddy and timber, main agricultural produce of Kodagu, both legally and illegally, including cattle allegedly to the slaughter houses in Kerala. Read On

Tale of Two Statues
We have heard of “dinner diplomacy” between countries and with regard to China, whom America did not recognize for many years after communists came to power, we used to hear about “ping - pong diplomacy” between China and America. The dinner diplomacy is expected to do miracle in the relationship between two countries probably because of the belief in the saying, 'the family that dines together stays together.' Though it is also said that “the family which prays together stays together”, it may not be possible where the religions of the two countries are different and as such not inclined to pray together meaningfully. But you can never say. After all in politics, pretence is also part of the art of success. Read On

Rock Garden: Drop the idea, Go for Botanical Garden instead
Reading about the proposed or planned “Rock Garden” in our city "to add to city's glory," as one newspaper headlined it, I was taken aback. Rock Garden is okay in Ramanagaram, especially where the film Sholay was shot or in some desert land, may be in the nearby Talkad, where plants and trees don't grow, but certainly not in our city. I was also shocked to read that the 30 - acre land, already enclosed by MUDA with a compound wall in front of the Lalitha Mahal Palace hotel, is being suggested by the Father of Rock Garden Nek Chand Saini of Chandigarh, who, it was reported, stayed in Mysore in the month of July for four days. Read On

Leadership Crisis
Before Nehru died the question generally asked by all sections of the people was: After Nehru who? Many even thought that after Nehru it was deluge! Many had speculated on many names. I do not think Lal Bahadur Shastri who succeeded Nehru was one among them. If it were so, the always stand - by Prime Minister and the senior - most Congressman Gulzari Lal Nanda would not have been sworn - in as a stop - gap Prime Minister. After Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi succeeded him and continued to rule the country as the Prime Minister till 1977. Read On

America’s Hidden Agenda
If England is a nation of shop - keepers, America is a nation of marketing wizards. They are so good they will sell you their tomorrow's product today for cash and deliver the product next year by which time an improved version of the product will already be in the market. This often happens with their war machines. After all, today they are world's number one “merchants of death”. Look around the world and you will find America's involvement everywhere, either in the form of covert or overt supply of military weapons or in the form of humanitarian aids, supplying food, clothes, medicines and materials for constructing roads, bridges, houses, temporary shelters etc. By adopting these tactics, they would in time align the foreign policy of those countries in America's favour. Read On

Stray thoughts on a strange Indo – Pak joint statement
In one sense it was a case of the Prime Minister and his team scoring a self - goal for India. It was like the nursery rhyme: "Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the king’s horses, And all the king’s men, Couldn't put Humpty together again." All the persuasive skill of the Prime Minister and the oratorical skill of his Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, backed by Sonia's solid support, could not undo the joint statement. It was like trying to unscramble an egg. Indeed, the joint statement has become a fait accompli. Read On

Land Scam: Honour among Thieves
It was surprising that the former Minister had the gumption and temerity to say something which only an irresponsible and a shameless person would utter on a serious subject that it was. If he had said it in a lighter vein, by way of a banter, it would be quite another matter. This was what he said, posing a question: "I belong to Arya Vysya community. My profession is doing business. As such what is wrong if I had bought the land for the Housing Board from my brother?" Surprisingly, Chief Minister Yeddyurappa and his Ministerial colleagues successfully warded off the opposition attack and vehemently justified the purchase of lands by the Housing Board paying higher price. Read On

May Chamundeshwari help save Chamundi Hill and Her Abode!
I ask why Tirumala - Tirupathi model? Can't we think on our own? The deity is different, the topography of this hill is different and the people who visit the temple here too are different - a mix of tourists and pilgrims - unlike in Tirumala - Tirupathi where each visitor is a pilgrim. The area available for development too is restricted here unlike at Tirumala. Why then imitate? Bankruptcy of new ideas, new thinking, new imagination, new vision? Does our Chief Minister want to destroy the Hill by making it a concrete jungle with guest houses? Already there are massive, ungainly structures built more to spend the "allocated" money rather than for any need. Read On

Rain: The Power of Prayer
And finally, as I was cud - chewing on this subject of God responding to our prayers, a thought crossed my mind. Why the same God did not respond to the prayers during earlier droughts, especially when Ramakrishna Hegde was the Chief Minister? May be because he was a Socialist and a Secularist! But then H. D. Deve Gowda of JD (S) too is a Secularist and yet God seems to oblige him! I am simply unable to understand the mind of God!!! Read On

End this Obsession with Statues
Is there a need for these statues even on a reciprocal basis? I say a big NO. More than Tamilians of Chennai, we Kannadigas at Bangalore are buying trouble - both immediate and in the future. Soon, there will be a suggestion for Ramaswamy Naiker's, Annadurai's, MGR's and why not Karunanidhi's statues in the areas where Tamils are in majority in Karnataka or in Bangalore. And can this be arranged on reciprocal basis as with Tiruvalluvar or Sarvajna? After all, Karnataka does not have one charismatic Chief Minister or leader equal to those of TN mentioned above. Read On

Musings on Religious Conversion in India
There is a school of thought which condemns mass conversion of poor illiterate people promising them social status and material benefits which, according to this school, is not correct, not moral for the reason it amounts to enticing them through allurements. They are not changing their religion on their own volition after understanding the superiority of the religion which they are going to embrace. Now the question is: What's wrong if the conversion is going to benefit him one way or the other? Read On

Stray thoughts on Tree  Felling for Road  Making: Why not a tree maintenance department?
A young boy was driving alone in his car on a wild stormy night. It was raining heavily. He passed by a bus stop and saw three people standing, waiting for the bus. One was an old lady, who looked as if she was about to die. The second was an old friend who had once saved his life. The third was a young girl he had been dreaming about. In the young man s car there was space for only one person as the smart seats in the rear were folded up and loaded with luggage. Thus he was left wondering whom he should choose to offer the lift. He was caught in a moral and ethical dilemma. Read On

Don t fell trees: But make the Road. How?
BJP Government's decision to ask the authorities to build the four - lane Lalitha Mahal Palace Road without cutting a single tree is like the Pharaoh of ancient Egypt asking Israelite slaves to make bricks without straw. But the BJP government should also remember what the leader of Israelites, Moses, told the Pharaoh in retort: If you shall want us to make brick without straw, we shall want you to build your city without bricks . Now the people of not only Mysore but also those who use this road should ask, If you want this road to be built without felling trees, then we want you to build our city without roads . Read On

One Year of B. S Yeddyurappa
Compared to the handling of similar issues in Orissa and Bihar, Karnataka's BJP is far, far better both in checking the repetition of such incidents and in taking legal action against the culprits. It is to be remembered that during the 6 years of NDA government at the Center led by BJP, the communal riots and clashes were minimal and were curbed whenever it raised its ugly head, without favour or fear. Could be, being already branded as a Communal  party, BJP (NDA) did not want the Secularists to get a chance to criticise it. However, there could always be exception under any government, due to individual officer's or politician's failure or bias. Therefore, we the people of Karnataka may hope for the next four years of peace, prosperity and all round development, paving way for a Ram Rajya under the leadership of B. S. Yeddyurappa. Read On

Field Marshal K. M. Cariappa: Reminiscence
Field Marshal s son says: "I agreed because I believe my father was unfairly criticised for the statements that he made on some of the political and defence issues of his time, and wanted to do something about it. Also, here in Coorg, it was believed that he did not do enough for the erstwhile princely State or for our community, the Kodavas." I could give only a cursory reading to the book as the photographs in it, being of vintage value, were too distractive for me to concentrate on the text. As such I do not know to what extent the Air Marshal was able to vindicate his avowed reason for writing the book. Read On

After the Parliamentary Polls
One important feature of this Parliamentary election was the appearance of the Third Front and the Fourth Front that took premature birth as a challenge to the Congress and the BJP, considered the First Front and the Second Front. Fortunately for Indian Democracy it was a case of infanticide for the Third and Fourth Fronts by the voters. In the past, it used to be pre - poll alliances by the two acknowledged national political parties (leaving out the Communist parties), the Congress and the BJP. Sometimes, depending on the number of seats won by the alliance partners, a post-poll alliance used to be stitched together by Congress and BJP known as UPA and NDA respectively. Read On

Bofors Cover  up: What leading Columnists of India Say
When L. K. Advani raised the question of many billions of Indian money being stashed away in secret accounts in banks all over the world, specially in Swiss Banks, the Congress was quick to react saying it was an election gimmick and asked why raise the question now, after more than two decades? Not surprisingly, the losers of this stolen money, the citizens of India, asked a counter question: Why not ask the question now? The spokesperson of Congress blushed. Unwittingly, Advani, in retrospect, seems to have acted as a last whistle blower on this scam. Read On

Quattrocchi Charade: Play on Congress and NDA? Both talk more, Work Less
In war we hear about what is commonly known as scorched earth policy . A scorched earth policy is a military strategy or operational method which involves destroying anything that might be useful to the enemy while advancing through or withdrawing from the area. In ancient times it was also known as burning crops so that the advancing army may not have the benefit of feeding the army that is set to march on its belly as it were. In the present day, this scorched earth policy includes destroying telecommunication, roads, bridges, transportation and industrial sources. Read On

Musings on Challenges facing our Netas: Terrorism and Black Money
This one is a good question, most pertinent question, among all the questions raised by the Congress spokesperson. Probably, the then Finance Minister in the NDA Government, Mr. Yeshwant Sinha, might be able to throw some light on this question and give an answer. Of course, I have mentioned of the fate of Bofors loot above. But what about others who looted our country? Could it be that among the thieves who have lodged their money in Swiss and other banks are also some of the BJP politicians, industrialists and IAS, IPS, IRS friends of BJP? Read On

Laughing waters of Hebbal Lake: KIADB has the last laugh
But the point I want to make here is about the manner in which KIADB, with its headquarters in Bangalore with a Chief Executive Officer who is an IAS, manages the affairs of Hebbal Industrial Area which is one of the oldest, started in early 1980s. The first phase of Hebbal industrial area has about 2000 acres of land acquired in the 80s and took about 30 years to develop, if what we see today is development. Till the time Infosys came there in the year 2003, occupying an area of about 250 acres, half of Hebbal industrial area was lying just vacant because of poor infrastructure and prohibitively heavy cost of corruption, which still continues. Read On

It is a boom time for Astrologers
The moot point here is the credibility that one can attach to the predictions made by these astrologers. Of course, at the end of the day it is like one s belief in God and attributing the good that happens to the God and the bad also to His will. If the prayer is not granted, strangely, the person does not blame the God but blames himself, with his inner voice muttering: "After all, I might not have offered my prayers sincerely or observed the rituals of the prayer meticulously." In either case, it is the God who triumphs, just as in the case of astrological predictions, where it is the astrologer who wins irrespective of whether the politician wins or loses in the election. Read On

Third Front Rings the Alarm Bells: Wake up Advani, Yeddyurappa!
Gone are the days when patriotic citizens voted in the name of Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru, Subhash Chandra Bose and their policies and principles. For today s voter, patriotism or principles of economics, social justice and national security are passing. For him, the annadhata is the best bet. He who provides him with roti, kapda, makan and bijili, pani, sadak, is the right person to deserve his vote. Yet, there is a catch in this supposition. A voter may yet ignore a candidate or a party which promises all his personal needs mentioned above and as a contingency personal plan will vote for a candidate who belongs to his caste or religion or one who is likely to favour him at a future date when need arises. Read On

Dr. Yeddyurappa, I presume? No?
It is not known what prompted our Chief Minister to suddenly declare that the prefix Dr. should not be used before his name, but I am sure his followers might not heed to his advice and will continue the practice. I am sure the print and electronic media will follow his advice. Well, I am wrong. This morning I saw a 4 - page supplement on Dr. B. S. Yeddyurappa in The New Indian Express! That is life in India for all of us. Learn to accept what you cannot change. Read On

Thus spake the Godmen on God
How smart! You are pleased to know about yourself, about you being a God, which you yourself did not know. At the same time, you are overwhelmed because Paramahamsa Nityananda has proved himself to be so self - effacing despite being a God. In fact, his answer assumes that he is God all right and he is going to prove you are also God. Happy, you. Osho Rajneesh is an expert in this kind of rigmarole or jugglery of words. Those who have heard him or read his books will vouch for what I say here. They do come up with smart statements which will overawe the listener. Read On

Pub Culture: Ah! What a Life!!!
However, a greater question will remain unanswered, what is our culture? Has anyone defined it? Is Fashion Show part of our culture? If not government may have to ban it too. Cry. Cry. What will our Prasad Bidappa do then? Pity. To cut a long story short, in our present society, fundamentalists among all religions apart, it is impossible to bring culture under the steel frame of the religion or law. And what about the money to run the Government? Vice is part of all Governments all over the world. Read On

B. N. Kenge Gowda: A Gentleman politician among the ordinary
A true Gandhian. We exchanged greetings. I asked him in Kannada if he had come there to get the animals released. He smiled and gave a reply like a typical politician in Kannada: No, no. I have come to help these poor people . I was quick to respond: That means these cows would be on the roads again tomorrow... He smiled, his gentle smile. All - knowing smile. "They must eke out a livelihood, Sir. I will ask them not to leave their cows on the roads." No wonder even now we see stray cattle on our city roads. Read On

Should India rely on the support of UN, USA and England over Kashmir and Terrorism? No, No, No
Listen to M.J. Akbar: "Who gained from terrorism in Mumbai? There is only one winner. The Pakistan Army. The disgrace into which it had been dragged by Pervez Musharraf has been erased; it is wrapped once again in the blanket of confrontation with India." Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India, are you listening? It is said those who do not learn from the past history are bound to repeat the same mistakes and suffer for it. India presently seems to be in such an unredeemable situation. Read On

Gandhi s Epistle to Obama - 3
You have spoken of Afghan problem being your key priority after Iraq in your foreign policy concerns. However, you have clubbed my country with a special mention of Kashmir as if it is also a country along with Iran and Pakistan. How could you do this? There is no internal conflict in India as in Afghanistan and Pakistan or as between Hamas and Israel that's going on now. We have certainly a dispute with Pakistan. That is, Pakistan should return the POK? Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. Read On

Gandhi s Epistle to Obama: Part 1 | Part 2

Bring back the Ganjifa Art Museum
Because of the evil of corruption, these politicians and bureaucrats are ready even to sacrifice a good culturally important project. Here is one example where a culture - related project on an ancient art of India was called off simply for the reason the promoter - artist of the museum refused to share the Government's annual grant with the Director of the Department of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Karnataka. As a result, the museum, which was started in city in 1996, was closed down Read On

24 Days and It is Okay &.
One cannot say nothing has been done for the reason New Delhi has been busy receiving guests from America, England, France and other countries. These foreign guests offered sympathy and condolences to our Indian Prime Minister, to Sonia Gandhi, to our Foreign Minister and the Defence Minister for the death of innocent victims and martyred security personnel in exchange for tea and biscuits from the Indian host. In the next few days, everything will be forgotten by the faceless (heartless?) Indian Government. It may even take pride in the fact that there was no communal backlash, life is back to normal and thus the Mumbaikars have defeated the objective of the terrorists! Read On

Thank You, I m Humbled!
It was an avalanche of felicitations for me after November 1. On November 2, I returned from Bangalore richer by Rs. One lakh and 20 gram of gold. Till last year, the reward money was a pittance. Many told me that I got the award rather late in life. But in retrospect, there is no cause for regret. So thank you Sarkar! And since then, not a day was spent without some individuals or organisations felicitating me, either in our office at Bannimantap or at a function outside. Read On

A War of attrition to bleed India
Here the political power is unipolar so also very strong. This is what many so - called intellectuals and political pundits tell us. But then, look at America. It is also a democracy and possesses immense political power capable of policing the whole world. Therefore, it is a moot point, why Indian democracy cannot be as vibrant and also a strong political power as America to address the challenges of 21st century? Read On

My encounter with a tribal Kudiyara Muthappa
I told him he should have asked the concerned officers. Kudiyara Muthappa told me, "Sir, I did ask one Prakash, the Engineer of Nirmithi Kendra who executed the job and who was responsible to make the road spending, if careful, little less and if careless, a little more. However, Rs.13 lakh was the money for constructing a 2 - km road as estimated by the Nirmithi Kendra. The Engineer s reply was, "Don t ask me, ask your MLA. Go and complain to the MLA. Don t talk to me." Read On

When will Karnataka politicians think of Karnataka?
The Congress, which has ruled Karnataka for over 40 years since Independence, has very little to show for such a long rule. For much of our present day miseries and problems related to the basic requirements of a civic society like water (both for drinking and irrigation), electricity, roads, housing, education and health, we can squarely blame the corrupt and poor governance of the Congress. Read On

Will India be a Majority  Non  Hindu nation by 3000 AD?
He said: "The first millennium saw the cross planted in the soil of Europe (which became true) and the second in America and Africa (which also became true). May the third Christian millennium witness a great harvest of faith on this vast and vital continent." The Indian or Asian continent. Who knows this may also come true. Amen. Read On

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Prof. V. M. Sholapurkar of CAVA and his failed mission
If our country is not making progress the way it is possible and to its full potential, it is because of our corrupt Ministers, indifferent bureaucrats and the crab - culture amongst our technocrats, creative people and intellectuals. CAVA is one such example. I request the present BJP Government with Shobha Karandlaje as the District in - charge Minister to take up this issue and restore CAVA to greater glory as conceived by Prof. V. M. Sholapurkar Read On

Black Man s burden: Barack Obama, A President for all reasons
When White man was ruling India, he always thought he was a Good Samaritan come to help poor Indians and called his rule over us as a White man s burden . Now, for Obama, it is a Black man's burden . After all, is he not expected to save America from its present economic meltdown  and end all American foreign wars? Read On

Kannada and Deepak Thimaya
Karnataka seems to lose many court cases not for want of merit but by default. Two examples will suffice. And I have chosen these two for the reason they have made news. I am sure there may be many cases our State might have lost for reasons of deliberate negligence (to help the opposite party) or due to the incompetence of its Advocates. The mishandling of Cauvery Tribunal case is well - known. The high cost of this case is also well-known. Whose money is it, anyway? I am a witness to the proceedings of this case before the Tribunal for two days in Delhi many years ago when everything went against our State. Read On

BJP: Winner takes all &.. And God laughed for the third time!
I do not know if there is God in some form who is interested in human affairs. However, when I saw B. S. Yeddyurappa sworn - in as the Chief Minister of Karnataka on his own right and with the requisite majority of his own party MLAs (no matter, three short was soon cobbled up), I started getting a feeling that after all there might be a God who is watching the human affairs. Like the Big Brother of Communist Russia. Read On

Musings on Religion, Future Religion and Conversion
Let us also remember what Pope John Paul II said when he visited India on Nov.8, 1999 during the Papal High Mass, The first millennium saw the Cross planted in the soil of Europe and the second in America and Africa. May the third Christian millennium witness a great harvest of faith on this vast and vital continent? There is no mincing of words about Pope s (read Christian world s) intention about conversion. Indeed he must have found India, the most fertile soil to plant his Cross and expect a rich harvest of converts to his religion. And why not? Read On

Corruption shall reign Supreme - Are we fit to rule ourselves?
How much money our corrupt politicians, bureaucrats and industrialists have stashed away in Swiss Banks? The estimate about Indians holding money in secret Swiss Bank accounts is around 1,500 billion dollars. Translated into rupees, it comes to some Rs. 6,75,000 crore at the foreign exchange rate of Rs. 45. Put differently, if India's deposits in Swiss Banks were to be distributed among 45 crore people (out of our country's 100 + crore) each one will get Rs. one lakh. Lok Ayukta sleuths have done it again. Read On

Where is our Country heading?
While the Centre shall render unto the States that which are of States, the States too should render unto the Centre that which are of the Centre. Only then can we have Unity in Diversity and be able to steer the Ship of State called India through the high seas of governance smoothly. Let our politicians think about the country, not of the impending election. If India loses, who wins? Read On

A Wednesday: Day of a stupid Common Man!
I strongly recommend this film to the "Stupid Common Indians" who form the bulk of our population. In the matter of containing terrorism or punishing those who are caught, we cannot compare ourselves to the White man or the Chinese. But at least, we can see this film and derive vicarious pleasure! After all what else can we do except grin and bear the scourge of terrorism? And we are not as intelligent as that Stupid Common Man Nasiruddin Shah of the film! Read On

Can Yeddyurappa be Karnataka s Narendra Modi minus &..?
If the Congress and other opposition parties in Gujarat can live with Narendra Modi for so many years opposing him at every stage, except at the stage of Narendra Modi s policies related to economic and industrial development of Gujarat, why not our Karnataka politicians ? Read On

GOK: A Matter of faith
Reading the news that a Christian nun from a Kerala village, Sister Alphonsa, who had died 62 years ago, was canonised as India s first woman Saint by Pope Benedict XVI yesterday at St. Peter s Square in the presence of 5,000 Indians and thousands of others, I could not but think of one particular miracle among many attributed to her. That miracle is the healing of a young boy s clubfoot or twisted feet as some newspapers described it. Read On

Appreciation: Woman Power
And finally, there was another complaint. It was: Shobha, Shobha, Shobha everywhere. Every event was inaugurated by Shobha except where CM did the honours. Couldn't she allow other Ministers too to have the privilege? We have seen this happen in the past creating chaos and confusion with the political followers of each VIP, crowding places, cornering contracts, foreclosing invitations and passes etc., etc. Did any BJP Minister complain? Nah. Then why bother. Be happy. After all, all is well that ends well. Read On

It s your life: What about Morning Power Walk?
Did you get the message, old man? So keep moving! I have been seeing an advertisement about Johnnie Walker Scotch whisky with a huge visual and a one - liner message which simply says, "Johnnie Walker, Keep Walking". I have taken this message very seriously. Have you? Moral: Be a moving target, never a sitting duck! Read On

Dasara Disappointments
According to him, these are the important symbols of a heritage city. These are the heritage tags that must be preserved. Apparently, his disappointment came when a bus load of tourists from the West he had sent to Mysore telling them the city's beauty and glory, called him in Bangalore to say the fountains and the gardens he had so alluringly told them were missing. Read On

A Tale of Two experiences: What I saw and what I heard
In the midst of commotion and controversies following attacks on Christian churches in Karnataka and terrorist serial blasts across the country by religious fundamentalists and fanatics, I had some uncanny experience, which I wish to share with my readers. The first experience was when I visited a small township, Ponnampet, in Kodagu on 26th Friday, Sept. 2008. Read On

Musings on Suttur Seer s pious Hopes!
Kumaraswamy realises the evils of corruption and dishonesty that are deep rooted among our politicians, himself included. At least to that extent he is honest, unlike others who display a shameless ostrich behaviour burying its head in sand pretending the hunter does not see it! Remember, we are the only country in the world where all politicians are rich and voters are poor. Rich, anyway, don t vote! If prayers can move mountains, as Bible says, prayer should also be able to remove corruption and violence in our State. So, let us pray. Read On

Of Human Bondage: Meet Tomasz the Pole
Last Thursday I had an unusual and also unlikely visitor. His name was Tomasz Poplawski. He is not from Russia as his last name may suggest or the spelling of his first name may indicate. He is actually from Poland but immigrated to Canada in 1983 as a young boy with his parents and sister. In fact, they were actually fleeing from the communist Poland via Holland seeking refuge in Canada. When I asked how his father could manage to escape from communist Poland, he had an interesting way of narrating it. Read On

Nationalised Banks for Employees Only!
Delayed transactions, lack of punctuality as the staff arrive late at 9.30 am instead of the scheduled 9 am, as it is accountable to none because the Senior Manager's writ doesn't run among his own staff members. The staff members also keep chatting among themselves and keep the customers standing for at least half-an-hour or so Read On

Pain of delivering a Nuclear Deal
A friend of mine Mr. Brijesh Kalappa, Supreme Court Advocate, has drawn my attention to this editorial which is an in depth analysis of the Nuclear Deal (which nearly brought down the UPA government following the withdrawal of support by the Left parties). I thought I should share it with our readers who may not have seen the editorial. Read On

Farewell to HSK
One was too much. And now one more was devastating. When GTN passed away, a void was created not only in the cultural world of our city but also in this paper for which he was a columnist on a variety of subjects with special emphasis on music and astronomy. Astrology bashing was another of his pastime with support from this newspaper. Now HSK is no more creating yet another void in the Kannada literary world Read On

If Amarnath Issue is irrelevant in J & K
The Grasshopper thinks the Ant's a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the shivering Grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the Ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while others are cold and starving. NDTV, BBC, CNN show up to provide pictures of the shivering Grasshopper next to a video of the Ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food. The world is stunned by the sharp contrast. How can this be, that this poor Grasshopper is allowed to suffer so? Arundhati Roy stages a demonstration in front of the Ant's house. Medha Patkar and Tan Shyamoli go on a fast along with other Grasshoppers demanding that Grasshoppers be relocated to warmer climates during winter. Read On

An appeal to S. A. Ramdas, MLA: Give us a Botanical Garden
Hope our Administrators and Planners have vision and do not turn myopic focusing only on day  to - day administration. After all, it is our country. We must try to build our city today for the tomorrow of our children even if politicians and officers belong to some other city! Couple of years ago I had taken some politicians to Tavarekatte on way to Chamundi Hill for showing them the location for a dream Botanical Garden. As expected nothing happened. Read On

Some thoughts on Terrorist attacks on our country & Security Concerns
Do we have anything like this directly attached to the PM s Office? Do we have a mission regarding homeland security? None in place. Which is why, the Centre and States are speaking in different languages. Advantage terrorists and their patrons. Mere condemning terrorism will not help halt future terrorist acts. Our ability to defend ourselves against terrorists has become questionable. Read On

American Blacks: Pride and Prejudice
The importance of the colour of one's skin can be understood only when a coloured ordinary person (read a person who is not white in the accepted Western sense) is among the whites. The unease, the diminished feeling. VIP coloured persons are, of course, exempted. This could be experienced by a coloured person who lives in Europe, England and America, especially North America including Canada. Read On

Cry, My beloved Country! Our Rulers, Our Judges
Some of these politicians belonging to different parties do certainly know the good that will come out of this nuclear deal which is much more than the evil that it may produce. Yet, due to self-interest they are going to sacrifice the greater interest of our country. Whatever happened to that noble motto Service above self ? Read On

Saluting my teacher, mentor and hero
July 18, is Guru Poornima day. A Day to remember our Gurus, teachers. One of my most revered Guru and mentor G. T. Narayana Rao passed away on June 27 when I was out of the country. I thought I must pay a personal tribute to GTN today, being an appropriate day, though belatedly. I was in the midst of a formal dinner in Houston, US, at a restaurant when my cell - phone rang. Usually, I switch it off on such occasions. This time, strangely, I forgot to switch it off. So, when the call came I interrupted the amiable conversation and took the call. It was my son, Managing Editor of this paper, Vikram Muthanna. Read On

Kabhi Busy Kabhi Lazy in America!
Once this man Vs woman, Black Vs White battle was over with Hillary reluctantly conceding defeat after prolonging the agony for anybody's comfort, I was wondering what other interest I should follow to keep myself lazy, not busy. I hit upon the cinema, Sex and the City. The best news is not that the film is good or bad or sexy, that it grossed over 55 million dollars in the very first week of its release. It is about four New York women of age past 50 indulging in sexual escapades and also falling in love with their husbands once again at the end, like the born-again Christians we hear about. Read On

Archives of this column - Part 2 | Part 3

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