Is there a recession?

I don’t see recession any where except in newspapers and expert speak.  Look all around and there is vitality, growth and something is happening.  I was even approached for a Multi Level Scheme recently and these things don’t thrive in a recessionary environment.

Then why are we worrying about the recession, even though the markets (Share Markets) have recovered from the lows.   A recent reading of facts do reveal that the ground situation in the American continent and in Europe  has improved (The Fed Chief got a extension for his efforts in dealing with recessionary environment) but much has been lost and much has to happen before recession is officially called off.

The next few months would be vital and  a clear picture would emerge sometime in October when the next quarter results are announced and government data on various parameters are out.  Much also depend in this country on domestic consumption.  We will be faring better and it would be wise to watch watch other big and small markets/economies are faring.

The ordinary post by an ordinary indian

With 'Swine flu' all around it has became pertinent to think of a answer on the ways and means to face a pandemic. It would be prudent to expect emergency services to take over only after initial attack as taken place.

The question which is paramount is that what do I do when I see a person, which according to me is infected(may be of any disease). Can I get in touch with any public authority having means to address the problem? In the US there is the 911 standard service across the country. It is high time to have such a service in our country also. Look at Indian Railways, they have the 139 all India service. Having a common pan India number would mean that individual can be of use by way of passing information to a centralised authority and the information reaches the desired destination and therefore speedy resolution of the problem can take place.

There is another aspect to it. Many small actions/incidents which go out of control because the proper authorities don't have the information, can be taken care off.

But, for things to happen, someone has to take that initiative.

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Blood

Blood. The word evokes extreme emotions. Today, I donated blood after a gap of 15 years. The experience was the same even after a decade. The sense of pride of doing some thing good, giving back something I have always taken for granted was pervasive. The only thing that struck me is- Why hadn't I donated blood more often? But , then it is never late to start ...

Siddhartha

Increase in everything except pay!

Technorati Tags: Delhi,Schools,Fees

Some news is bound to grab our attention.  The recent being the case for increase in tuition fees for students studying in Private unaided schools to accommodate 25 percent students admitted for belonging to reserved categories and who will not be paying fees as per the Right of Children to Free and  Compulsory education Act, 2009 .   I admit that it may not be a national issue as of now, but the issue has wider ramifications. 

The logic being that, any increase in tuition fees should be justified.  To put in plain English - increase in tuitions should be made in a period manner to account for inflation and any interim or abrupt increase should be for qualitative enhancement of the education experience. 

The ideas envisaged in the Act may be noble, but its implementation requires  sensitive handling.  As for me, I will never be willing to pay anything extra for the same thing.  Will anybody increase my pay for doing the same thing, I doubt.

The Climate has become definitive

I came to Delhi in the early summer of 1998.  It was cooler in the  April of 1998.  But, I never thought it would be equally hot and unbearable in the summer of 1999.  That memory has long been lost in the soothing summer that followed. But again it seems, when we forget history it is bound to repeat itself.  Even with all the modern amenities, the summer of 2009 will be there in my memory for at least another 10 years particulary for the reasons, which I forgot soon after 1999.  Climate is moody and cyclic and it is we who forget but do not forgive.

Sometimes, it may look brazen, sometimes we do blame it on climate change and sometimes we have to blame it on the collective loss of memory to events which have happen in our lifetimes but we have chosen to ignore.  Climate is changing but not in a drastic manner as has been pointed out to us.  It seems that with modern gadgets he have become less adaptable to the changing moods of nature.  With such fast life, even memories which were just five years old seem to have been in our other life.  In the days we live only we are able to digest the varying mood of the SENSEX or NFTY but any normal natural change is beyond our capacity.

When while I write this and feel strongly about it, I am feeling the urgent need to turn on my AC, which I have turn off just to get into a mood for writing this piece.

Billu is only a medium

Billu, the movie starring SRK, Irfan Khan has got me thinking.  Things have changed.  The word ‘barber’ would be made an issue was beyond my imagination.  But in the days we are living, it isn’t surprising.

The issue here is freedom and an environment for creativity.  With all the ado about my country becoming a star among nations, I in the present environment think otherwise. 

True progress or leadership comes from action on the ideas one has.  Ideas are central to leadership of any sort.  In the western continent, citizen follow their heart and not their belly, as we do.  Most are ok, some come out to be extra-ordinary individual with ideas which are life changing.  An environment of freedom and creativity is the key.

Contrary to this, our freedom comes only come from the economic front and other freedoms  flow from it.  In sum, it feels like freedom is not free.  Hence, when the name of a movie is changed for some reason or the other, only because it may hurt individuals from a certain profession, it show that we are not proud to do what we do.  What follow from this is misery..