Happy Independence day

We have seen lot many people coming forward forcing government to introduce reforms. There have been large scale movements we have witnessed. If we are not capable of creating a movement we still can make our country progress.

On this independence day let's take a vow:

That we will not litter rubbish on the roads

That we will follow the traffic rules

That we will make sure before we buy any property, vehicle we follow the set procedures

That we will pay our taxes honestly and timely

That we will conduct our businesses with honesty

That we will do our jobs passionately

That we will not accept bribes or kickbacks

That we will donate some time and money to organizations devoted to social causes

That we will encourage our kids to take interests in sports

And there are many such little changes if we bring in our lives the nation will march forward. Any reformed and progressive nation means reformed and progressive citizens. And at the same time a corrupt nation means corrupt citizens. Think about it!

On this independence day let's take vow that we will reform our nation while bringing reform in ourselves. We do not need a team and schemes to grow our nation but a willingness is enough.

Story of a shrine - Seremban Gurudwara Malaysia

Story of a shrine – Seremban Gurudwara Malaysia

I now have a brick and I will make my palace soon. I now have a piece of land and I will make my kingdom soon. This anonymous saying is a tribute to spirits of Sikhs based in Malaysia. Sikh history in Malaysia is traced back to 19^th century when they have been bought here by British Army and got stationed in places like Penang, Manting and Seremban. The Sikh regiment’s main purpose was to safeguard business interest of British empire especially tin mines in Malaysia. Because of their onerous duty and generous attitude they earned respect among British officers. As mark of respect towards their faith they donated piece of land near to present railway station to build a Gurdwara. In 1905 they moved Gurdwara to its present location on Jalan Templer which now is erected on area almost half acres. Seremban gurdwara foundation was laid down by a British officer and its management comprise of sikh police officers. They slog day in and out to raise it as shrine and adobe of social activities. After independence there was a resurgent of thick set Sikh comprising 600 police officers residing there.

During 1942 Japanese attacked and occupied Seremban. A Japanese soldier hurt a sikh woman because she refused to bow her head. Then all sikh came forward to negotiate and occupied middle grounds with Japanese. As cumulative effect comprising mixed feelings of fear and respect Japanese army funded ration of Gurdwara. Prasad that Sikhs cooked with rice, corn flour, ragi-flour and palm oil was give a nick name of “karate Prasad”. Till 1945 they maintained a cordial relationship with Japanese army and act upon as bridge to connect them to soldiers of Netaji’s Azad hind fauj.

“In proximity of Gurdwara there is a church and hindu temple. We have people from all walks of life taking darshan of Granth sahib”, explains Sardar Payara Singh, an eighty year old strong built sikh who landed in Malaysia in 1949. He is royal descendant of king Johar Singh wala family of Punjab located near Mogha district. “From 1969 onwards I got actively involved in activities of Gurdwara and was president of committee till 2005. After independence of Malaysia this place was renovated and the then second Prime Minister of Malaysia Abdul Tun Razak laid foundation stone. Today we have more than 500 families associated to this shrine. We build it brick by brick and today this two storey has an air conditioned prayer hall, fully operational and well equipped kitchen and store room, a langar and multipurpose hall, a library and several rooms. We have well furnished rooms where people from all over the globe come and stay to devote their time in well being of community.” Said Pyara Singh. Latest trends like Information technology aren’t neglected. With an estimate investment of $ 40,000 committee set up computer labs and automated various day to day activities of shrine.

Under his and Dr. Parim Singh stewardship there was again major renovation costing nearly $ 600,000 out of which nearly $ 250,000 were donated by locals.

“We give kitchen and hall to people outside our community too hold marriage parties at free of cost. We are among the pioneer gurdwara to initiate and establish an English medium school. We provide educational aids to poor and deserving students. We provide scholarships to students who have vested interest in further studies”. Continues Sardar Pyara Singh, “through this place of worship we have successfully connected our generations to spirits and values of Sikhism. We teach them that being a sikh doesn’t mean only to bear 5 K’s but it is about living a devoted life and embracing values that sikh gurus have advocated for. To profess this idea we regularly hold lectures, kirtans, music classes, sporting activities and invite knowledgeable preachers and saint to convey ideas of spiritual up-liftment.”

Very recently Government of Singapore appointed a sikh as chief of their army. This is an epitome of valor and wisdom a sikh inherits in their blood. To spread hands and beg is not they have in their veins. As a result of this quality they have emerged as powerful business community as well in South East Asia and they have played a pivotal role in raising Malaysian economy. During 1927 when economy went under depression the worshippers went out of the way selling their own belongings like jewelry and even livestock enabling committee to continue their services and services never lost momentum till 1929 when balance left was only $ 130.  Majestic and grandeur Seremban gurdwara is symbol of their straightforward equivalence between economic progress and social well being. 

Star - to be or not to be

Star - To be or not to be
Look above your head a widespread sky. On that sky see those shining and twinkling stars. What we see as shining star is actually continuous burning flame. This is what life of a celebrity, rich and famous (read) star is like. That burning ambition to be somebody got them at the top. Nevertheless they have to keep burning to maintain their shine. 
World admires their shine. What is more, people make celebrity as their role model. This ardent desire to be like star makes many followers to climb higher and they wish to touch the sky alike their role model. And this is a lifetime achievement of rich and famous when people follow their footprints. Hordes of cameras, hundreds of people are behind them. They want to know how they live their life as simple as how their bathroom looks like or what is their favorite color. What is their favorite time activity, who was their past beau, how they rose from rags to riches. Indeed a celebrity’s life is talk of the town. 


People look at their fortune but not spending of millions that they are doing to sustain stardom. On all the way to road to success they have won true enemies and false friends. Their personal life is a public show. Their personal affair makes the headline. Moreover they cannot come out in open freely to see the sky. Sometime they again look back at those lanes where they dreamt of becoming a star. They miss those moments and seldom weeps in a dark corner of their mansion. 


While seeing pains of life of rich and famous most of the time people do not want to become glitterati. In my opinion there is nothing wrong to be a shining star but it is matter of regret to be a falling star. Rich and famous have to pay the price of stardom they have achieved. Every achievement they make comes with a price tag. People who maintain their celebrity status for long have actually planned and visualized it while they were on streets. They calculated the price they will pay on road to stardom. Similarly one who has an ardent desire to become rich and famous should also know the price tag. They need to learn from lives of people who chose this path knowing pros and cons. In brief one who wants to become a star should know that he/she has to burn his/her life. 

Think before you smoke

Doctors worldwide are raising concerns on number of deaths happening due to lungs cancer. Globally governments have expressed their concern over cause of cancer I.e. smoking. They are pondering over new rules to exercise control over this habit that is taking toll over health of many. 

It's astonishing that it's not smokers whose health is more at risk but it's passive smokers who are more prone to risk. Both categories are prone to risk of getting lungs cancer and diseases related to heart. 
Gravity of problem is serious and all steps taken have proven futile to erase problem of smoking 100 percent. Given fact that you cannot force anyone to stop smoking is major hurdle which hasn't been overcome. 
Forcing directly means snatching away their fundamental right. 

We should take consequences to economy in consideration if smoking get banned totally. First it will affect revenue that government earn in form of taxes and duties imposed on sales of tobacco. Secondly, at minor level it will affect paper industry and hundreds of vendors selling cigarettes will loose earnings. Contradictory to it if government gain money in form of taxes they are imposing on sales of tobacco it could be utilise to improvise health services while slashing cost of such services. In my opinion government should hike the tax resulting in an increase in price of cigarettes. This in turn will discourage people to consume less cigarettes. 

Policing all vendors is almost near to impossible as police cannot deploy extra force to see ban being observed by vendors and consumers. Making stringent laws doesn't mean that you can stop people smoking at public places. Rather they will find covert ways to continue with the habit. 

We agree that smoking should be banned but at the same time we need to ensure that individual shouldn't be deprived of their fundamental rights. Celebrity endorsement, ban on public places, encouragement to quit can minimise the problem but cannot erase the problem completely.

Mahatama Gandhi

Mahatama Gandhi

In a marathon race there is one difference between winner and looser.  The winner runs that extra mile that the looser is not able to run. This is applicable on our life and great people’s lives. They go an extra mile to serve the purpose. They take control over their life and renounce worldly pleasures and serve humanity at the cost of their life. One such person who influenced thoughts of many had the habit of walking miles and miles reaching out people. Spreading the message of peace and brotherhood he lead the Indian independent movement and bought down mighty British rule in India with his non violent movement.
When whole world was fighting a violent battle with guns for freedom from colonial rule, he lit the lamp of truth and peace in South Africa. When he was thrown out from the first class coach of train on Durban platform and was slapped that slap shook his soul. That was an awakening of a man who studied law in England and who was a very shy and reticent person. A short and fragile person who took mighty British Empire by its thorn was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi alias Mahatama Gandhi. He urged people to let down their guns and adopt non violence and advocate for their own rights. He asked for the basic right to live as human in a free and liberal society with equal rights during the time when racial discrimination was order of the day.
He raised his voice but not hands. He raised his concerns not pains. He devised techniques of protest advocating for truth. Protest march, fasting, sit down, non cooperation were some of his popular weapons he used against British killing their willingness to rule. Be the change what you want to see in the world said that he changed many peoples’ lives. 

Pune’s traffic problem – diagnosis and possible solutions

Pune’s traffic problem – diagnosis and possible solution

One of the way to get rid of problem is to bring it in limelight and to create uproar so as to create pressure on decision makers to come aboard and solve it. It is the best way not the only way. This statement made fits very well in context to Traffic problem in Pune. It’s not matter of a day or two but we have witnessed augmenting menace on roads for years and raised our voices blaming a system. It is time to ponder over other ways than blaming Ms. PMC and Mr. Politician.

At first hand we have to take responsibility to curb out this chaos on roads at personal level because at first we are victims of it affecting our lungs, eyes, hearts every part of body. Some youth organization came up and did some voluntary work distributing stickers and requesting people to obey traffic rule.

Traffic on any given road is like free flowing water and traffic signals serve the purpose of dam restricting & controlling movement and speed of vehicles. With given 105 chowks on near about 1000 sq. km of road is not a control measure but has totally affected flow of vehicles. Take a drive from Deccan corner to PMC HQ. You will come across some six signals at a stretch of road less than 2 kms of distance. One signal, two signal, three signal…and dam of patience got broken there and people start breaking signal rules. A India based software firm helped traffic police of London to overcome traffic related problem that they did virtual mapping of road and saw painful areas of situation. A similar approach has to be adopted by traffic department when it comes to planning movement and flow of vehicles other than blaming Ms. PMC and Mr. Politician for non-cooperation when it comes to widening of roads.

It is prime time when colleges should brood over to contribute to this gigantic problem and have to come forward to rescue of ‘Oxford of East’. We must follow South Korean example where every citizen came forward to wipe off debris and took vow to keep their streets clean and free from debris. Student population forms a major chunk of biking on the road. Authorities must think over on how to control this while only few have come forward and deployed buses for students. It's one of the way to create space on roads.

Local companies must enhance their social responsibility. Recently, one company decided to call off their operations from city. It’s running away from the problem and not a solution. But joining hands with traffic department sorting while discussing it can be of the way other than blaming Ms.PMC and Mr. Politician. Its time to control biking on the roads and to create space for large vehicles to carry people. It can be one of the way but not the only way. It is time to encourage cycling at least twice in a week. It is time to join hands to sort this problem and it is the only way to combat it, which is affecting our mind, body and souls including Mr. Politician and Ms. PMC.

KHADKI - PRIDE PREJUDICE AND PLACE OF HONOR

There is one common factor that is common between battles and Sports and if you wish to see a rare combination than turn your wheels to Khadki.

Khadki a battle ground of historic importance, now house to Bombay Sappers, ammunition factories and a war cemetery. And some of the finest sportsman has come out of this land of spirits.  The common thing that connects is spirits. “I am honored to serve these dead people sleeping beneath concrete”. Said Mr.Behnwaal of Khadki War cemetery, which is maintained by funds, provided by commonwealth countries “many have come to salute their spirits from far off east and west. And the list include all the chiefs of UK defense forces” says Mr.Behnwaal who adds that a piper of British Army who spend his retirement income on visiting all the war cemeteries around the world and played pipe till his last breath in the honor of soldiers. Sevak Nayyar CEO Khadki Cantonment board adds,” like lot many people from Milkha Singh’s village followed his path when he made it big on track and field. But I am not aware who has started this movement. Here hockey players are in plenty. There is demand for hockey if somebody else approach we are open to it.

Agrees M.Pillai father of Dhanraj Pillai  “In fact we are thankful that they are contributing to Hockey and other games”. He came here with this father in pre independence time and settled down here while he played for India and his coming two generations are dedicated to it. “From Ammunition factory ground I have seen many players coming out and shining at international scenario. During rains whole Pune and Khadki is flooded the ground dries with in five minutes after rains that I haven’t seen anywhere in India as long as I served as coach to many teams” authenticate Pillai whose son is fighting a tough battle to prove his love and continuity for Hockey.

It is amazing to see sports all around in Khadki. Everything to anything is being played out here. Cricket, Football, Boxing, Karate, Hockey, Swimming, you name a game sportsman of the same are there. “From alone Bombay Sappers there are some 45 players who have represented India in different competitions. Five are Arjun awardees and to add more the very first Dhyanchand award for sports came to us.” Boasts Lt.col. Sunil Kumar of Bombay sappers. It was established in 1820 and looking at its valor, glamour and gorgeous nature Queen named it as Royal Engineers corps. And at that time commanders gave a special room to sports and till date the tradition is followed. While they command some 3 param vir charka till date, in pre independence time the company was entitled with one Victoria Cross. “Every year we send Talent scouting team to rope in more and more talent in sports from all over country and followed by their recruitment in Army. And from here many have made it big internationally and the list includes Sub. Shivaji Bhosale first Indian boxer to fetch medal in commonwealth games, Col. M.S.Pillai who sat a record while winning national championship for five times col.J.S.Rawat who set a new record in Ranji trophy acclaiming two hat tricks in Ranji trophy” claims Sunil Kumar.

“After I completed my tenure with Army I chose to settle down here. I was recruited owing to my skills in Boxing and from here my career took a flight in fight” says Ajit Singh, ex-olympian and International boxer whose fight with the than world champion Gama in Mumbai in 80’s is still remembered. He is living a low profile life and actively involved as coach in boxing, “It’s been years teaching boxing and under my hand came out boxers who took their career to even International level”. In a nearby school he has been teaching boxing for more than a decade during evening hours. “I have special sentiments for this place as not only I was champion of rings but created many such champion of rings”, concludes Ajit Singh.

Khadki boys have a rare quality that they never give up till the last drop. So we have tried many methods to raise tempo of our team also we should trykhadki. Its weather, healthy food, cheap living could turn them into a spirit-ful fighter as games are won by spirits rest everything is just training.