Monday, November 28, 2011

SOLUTION?

Last Saturday I was enjoying cup of tea after morning walk before next chore of grooming our dog when there was a call on my mobile. As it was little early for telemarketing calls I picked up expecting it to be from someone well known. Sure enough, it was from a good friend whom I had known for more than 20 years and we had been in the same organisation at one point of time. I had shifted to another. We shared a lot of common interests and outlooks to life. Though we did not meet so regularly but kept in regular touch updating each other. He told me that he had just got an invitation to attend a seminar on rural development with emphasis on role of women in it and since I am associated with a NGO working on same issues he wanted me to join him. I had just half an hour to get ready as he was coming to pick me up to reach venue which was a decent hotel in NCR, about 30 to 40 minutes drive from our place.

We got there well in time and found that the persons were still trickling in. We completed registration formalities and were enjoying a cup of coffee near entry to conference hall when I noticed him go still suddenly. He was looking intently towards reception of the hotel which was a little distance away. I followed his gaze and saw a couple standing there facing the receptionist. The man took what looked like keys and the couple turned to go towards lifts. I realized that the girl was daughter in law of my friend. He muttered something like “ What is she doing here?” By then the couple had gone out of our sight. He turned towards me and told that she had left before him saying that she had to go to office for task review meeting. I told him that may be the meeting was here but he did not take that. He then told me that he would like to find out what was it and asked for my help. I advised him to let it be as it might not be something worth it. But he was firm and requested for my help. I then told him that he speaks to her when she gets home or we meet her here to let her know we have seen her. He chose second. So we sauntered to reception and I told the girl there that I knew the man who had just left reception but was unable to recall his name adding if he was attending the seminar or was staying there. She told me with little smirk that he was neither but being a good friend of their Director Marketing, he visits them off & on to utilize room facility for an hour or so. I told her that it was not that important but I was just thinking to say hello to him if possible. She informed in conspiratorial tone that they are not to be disturbed till he orders something. I asked her if she could let me know if we could see him later. She agreed and gave us the room number. So we returned to seminar which was about to start. He was lost in his thoughts and I too felt little upset after learning what we did.

We went back to reception after little less than an hour. She told us that they will be leaving in another ten to fifteen minutes as he had ordered coffee and snacks. So we went upto the room. It was a corner room at the end of passage. I restrained my friend from knocking , telling him that let her come out and find us there. Next five minutes were real agonizing while waiting near the window at the end of passage overlooking main road.

She was stunned and turned pale on seeing us when she came out of the room. Before my friend could say anything, I told her that we would talk later once we are free to do so and steered him away. I kept an eye to ensure that they were following us. We went down together in the same lift and I kept holding onto his arm to see that he does not say anything. That man looked as if he gauged the situation and as soon as lift reached ground floor he quickly muttered something to her and moved off at brisk pace.

PS : This will become a long post, so I will share what happened after that in next post.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

FORTY YEARS!

Today evening 40 years ago we got married. I have already said how was this journey in my post TERE BIN JEENA.... a few days ago. It has been sugar and spice in right mix. So here is something what people say to bring little smile :

A couple on their Golden Jubilee relived their honeymoon. When they returned, friend in the bar asked him how was it. He told that everything was same, they went to same hill station, stayed in the same hotel, they got the same room and stayed for the same number of days. He looked a little sad. On asking he said,” But there was one difference, last time it was she who cried but this time it was me.”


Wife got up in the middle of night to find husband missing. On looking she found him sitting in the living room crying. She was alarmed and on her asking the reason, he asked,” Do you know today we complete 25 years of marriage?”

She,” Oh, yes! Isn’t that lovely?”

He,” Remember your father who was in police had caught us doing naughty things and put a gun on my head saying that if I did not consent to marry you he would have me locked up in jail for 25 years?”

She,” Yes, how sweet of you to have chosen the former!”

He,” You know, had I not, today I would have been a free man.”



Young boy,” Daddy, do you spell marriage as m i r a g e?”

Father,” No son, but they are very akin.”


Friends were discussing how they fail to win an argument with wife and they were surprised when a meek looking man said that in any argument with his wife he has the last word. On their insistence he told, “ I always say I AM SORRY.?


Marriage – It is an institution where a man forfeits his bachelor’s degree while a woman gains master’s degree by default.

Saturday, November 19, 2011

FOLLOW UP ON PREVIOUS POST

There was response as expected to my previous post. After first two comments I realized that it is required to tell that I am talking about Legalizing Corruption. That is why I added PS to the post.

I am giving below some of the comments and my replies for you all to decide if what I say is right :

Blogger Kanupriya said...

Who was this role model???

November 14, 2011 11:17 AM

Blogger Neha said...

What is this about, Jack uncle? I seem to be lagging behind in all matters related to general affairs these days :(

November 14, 2011 9:19 PM

Delete

Blogger sulagna ™ said...

ya.jack uncle whom are we talking about..i know you probably will not eb able to write the name but do drop me a mail .

Blogger Movingcloud said...

Hello Jack!

His idea about legalizing corruption is not complete without saying 'Legalizing Only Paying Bribe' not entire give & take.

If a person accepts bribe he is punishable.

The suggestion has sarcasm, wherein its accepting the fact that things in India aren't moving without paying bribe at all.

If you dont pay the bribe your work is highly impacted & paying bribe is illegal or if payee succumbs he may be booked for the offence as well.

Imagine corporates announcing in their annual reports - We have paid so many crores for a babu in this dept & we have paid so much for another politician etc for they wont do their work normally...

Its his frustration that he put it like that saying only legalizing bribe giving is left, for companies to work in a competitive world....

Am in the same field & was in the same company before.. we keep hearing so & so asked so much bribe for so & so proj. After 3 months some company would get the same project for higher cost & lower quality bcos you know they 'paid him'...

Btw am not supporting the idea of legalizing corruption..

November 15, 2011 4:13 AM

Delete

Blogger Mannu said...

Work Hastening Fees ! He has a point, uncle Jack. U see, in case of Passport making, there is one system of "Tatkal" which has higher charges than normal route of 2 months, which in a sense is 'legalisation of corruption'. Problme and irony and funny part is __ even in 'Tatkal', the passport gets delayed unless u "bribe" him. ! So the other young man, (myself being first one:p) loses the strength of his argument, although not the truth of it.
Same applies in Train 'Tatkal' services.
In short, we should conclude that bribe is something which has to be necessarily 'il-legally' paid..and if u make bribe 'legal' by any form and make-over, it loses it's charm.
Just as sex is pleasure as long as it is secret and amorous. After marriage, couples lose interest.
Rape is forceful and only the victim has right to claim f it different from a consensual sex. Maybe then, lesson is that let 'monetary exchanges', a la Bribe, happen, but still have a panel to adjudge the event should any person, a la the victim, rise up to put his claim that it is Corruption.
Important point will be-- 1) To have an Institution to adjudg the claim. 2) the instituion should work fairly, and itself not become subject to 'monetary exchanges'. 3) Adjudging of claims for the cases when third party has risen it who has suffered his interest his the monetary exchange. (in Carnal descriptives, it is like a spouse making claim of cheating, an Adultry).

Quite a lesson and analogy to understand the Corruption ! Good work.!:-)

November 15, 2011 8:40 AM

Delete

Blogger Jack said...

KANUPRIYA :

A few days ago it was in ToI telling of one member of India Inc making such statement and again on 14 Nov it was repeated naming Mr Adi Godrej backing suggestion of Mr Kaushik Basu, Chief Economic Adviser to legalize bribes. He of course put a rider in his backing with maximum limit. I have scanned this news but have not been able to paste it in my post for you all to read it. Take care


NEHA :

Please read what I told Kanupriya above. Take care


SULAGNA :

I have told Kanupriya above who it was. You may read that. Take care


RIA :

Please read my reply to Kanupriya above. Take care

November 17, 2011 5:03 AM

Delete

MOVINGCLOUD :

Welcome to my space. I do not think it was said in that speech that takers will be punished. If he meant it as sarcastic remark on inefficiency of Government to curb corruption, it is well said but if it is in serious note, well then I stick to what I said. I too have had enough exposure in corporates and have been able to avoid it most of the times. I would have welcomed if he had said "
LET US ALL FROM BIG HOUSES TAKE A PLEDGE NOT TO PAY BRIBES TO GET ANY WORK DONE NO MATTER EVEN IF IT MEANS WE STAND TO LOSE A CONTRACT OR ANYTHING. WE SHOULD NOT LET OUR COMPETITION LEAD TO THIS CANCER. Take care


MANU :

TATKAL service is on paying higher fee officially and that does not go into the pocket of concerned BABU. Even in that there are greedy BABUs who will ask for MITHAI. What you say by forming an institution to adjudge if it is corruption or not amounts to saying that IF RAPE IS COMMITTED WITHOUT MUCH OF VIOLENCE IT MAY NOT BE CALLED RAPE. Please read my reply to Movingcloud above. Take care

Monday, November 14, 2011

WHAT DO YOU SAY?

I am struck so numb and speechless by what a very prominent, intelligent, highly educated and role model for many youngsters has suggested which amounts to - if a criminal activity cannot be curbed or controlled, it be legalized and given a fancy name. And there are some takers for this. May I have audacity to ask them should we not legalize RAPE too as that too seems difficult to curb or control and what he suggested for legalization is nothing short of Rape of our Nation?


PS : This has been necessitated after first 2 comments as I felt that the main issue may escape memory. Suggestion was made to legalize CORRUPTION and a fancy name, something like hastening fee for work, was suggested for it.

Friday, November 4, 2011

PLEASE DO NOT ACCEPT THIS

This I am sharing with a heavy heart. Yesterday we had to attend cremation of a young girl of 25 years and married just over 8 months ago. She is alleged to have committed suicide by hanging herself. I never expected her to do that as not only her parents are well educated, she too was professionally qualified. She was our niece from wife’s side. I had seen her grow from baby to fine young lady. Though we did not meet very frequently but were in regular touch with them.

What made me share this is due to what I learnt. I am told that she had told her mother few times that she was being ill treated and even beaten for various reasons including dowry. She had shown bruises to her but her parents for the sake of not letting their prestige be tarnished told her to adjust and settle down. They did not tell anyone about this situation, not even her DADI ( grandmother ). It is said that there was a fight prior to what happened. I do not know whether she was killed or committed suicide, but if it was later, she was driven to it as she did not expect any support from her parents. Looking at them wailing, I felt that would they ever be able to overcome their feeling of guilt. For her untimely departure from this world, I hold them as much responsible as her husband and in laws.

I know that in any marriage there are some hiccups before settling down, minor or even major but when it comes to physical violence, it is a BIG NO NO.

My sincere advice to girls is PLEASE DO NOT ACCEPT PHYSICAL VIOLENCE under any circumstances. If parents are not supportive, share this with someone you trust. And for parents, PLEASE DO NOT TRY TO MAKE ALL LOOK GOODY GOODY lest you face similar situation.