May? No, Certainly Will - Maybe.

Pic Credit: Heatstreet
http://heatst.com/uk/donald-trump-and-theresa-may-have-beef-shes-chill-with-hillary-though/

With Theresa May taking over as the Prime Minister of the still United Kingdom the may in Brexit is pretty much gone, and it now looks like a certainty. Well almost. After her fire and brimstone talk on day 1 as PM, water was poured to cool the rethoric post meeting with her Scottish counterpart. (Maybe May was cautioned by the Queen). She has already been labelled the "Iron Lady II' and that title may just again be put on hold for now. Not many are pleased by her resurrection of the politically dead Boris Johnson, a hardcore Brexitier as Foreign Minister. What does this mean for the rest of the world? Nothing more than some more speculation.

The World has bigger things to worry about; like the November Hillary versus Trump fight for one, now that Mr Sanders has decided to stand firmly behind Mrs C. Looks like the world may just be looking at the ultimate in woman empowerment. I say may and not certainly will as anything can happen in an election. Brexit showed us that.

If it does happen, will Mrs. C earn the title of "SuperWoman"? She can't be called "Iron Maiden", that would be too confusing, as the real fan of heavy metal music happens to be her opponent. So will she "Roar" loud enough to leave Mr. Trump "Stone Cold" with a "Heart Attack"? She is "Confident" she can, as she is not a "Dark Horse". She has been telling the voters "Believe in me" for she is a "Fire starter" and knows how to "Make a wave". "Don't Forget" she "Really don't care" what the world thinks of her, she thinks she is "One of the Boys" and anyone else's opinion "Will not change a thing".  Pretty sure she must be saying "This is me" and, "I think I am ready" to be President to herself, like she may have sung "I hate you, don't leave me" to Bill.

"So here we go again", presidential elections "Made in the USA", two candidates playing in the "world of chances" while their own "two worlds collide" making the voters go "hot and cold" with each passing day. Do they have what "Legends are made of"? There is still some time for the final "Fireworks" and one of them to say "Hello" as the most powerful man or woman on earth.

Well, I read that Mrs C's taste in music has changed completely since 2011. Her likes include Katy Perry, Demi Lovato and  Adele. I wonder if the campaign had anything to do with it? Influenced by what one calls electorate demographics. I may be "Right as rain" in my assumption. All I can say to Mrs C is that "He won't go" without a fight, that is Mr T. Unlike Sanders who I thought would stand tall as a "Lionheart", he won't say "That's it, I quit, I am moving on". He is no "Day dreamer" and is great at "Turning Tables". He is used to the glare of "Neon lights" and has built many a "Skyscrapers". His words have "Set fire to the rain" and "Rumour has it" that he has "Got Dynamite" expose to take you down, saving the "best for last". He is after all the "One and Only" Donald Trump.

"I'll be waiting" to see who is the one to "Take it all" and cause a "Skyfall", because both of you come in "Many shades of black" and your policies may blow this world to "Kingdom come". "Fool that I am", did I say May? No, you certainly will.

I am not just "Painting pictures" of doom and gloom. So while "it's not too late", "All I ask" with "Sweetest Devotion" to "Stop the world" from becoming another "La La Land"

Finally congratulations Theresa May, and may you rule your Country well.

Trivia : Can you spot the songs by three of Hillary's and my favourite singers?

BREXITUS NON EXIRE - An Independence no one wants.

I don't think Victor Frankenstein had as much regret as David Cameron for letting loose the Brexit referendum. My own personal view is that his quick and emotional resignation was a staged exercise in damage control for the unexpected result. It is exactly what the Greek PM did after such an exercise there, and he is still around. Stepping down has brought the nation some valuable time before it triggers Article 50, much to the ire of the EU Parliament that wants Britain out as of yesterday. Unlike the politicians the football team heard that voice loud and clear and exited itself out of the Euro Cup with a loss to underdogs Iceland.

Unlike what I have heard that the Brit leaders were "stupid" and "irresponsible", I think David and team  (DC) have been very clever. His team now knows:

A) Friends and Foes within and in Greater Europe.
B) The mood of the United Kingdom.
C) Its bargaining SWOT.
D) The regret of the people after the party.
E) The economic mood around the globe, post the event.

With all cards open on the table DC can know call the Royal Flush.

Most markets around the world have recovered strongly having judged that this event is another one like the US Fed rate and will take a decade to have any real impact, leave alone a disastrous one.

The call for a second referendum had gotten louder and louder each day. The result of the first one itself, a close one, is really not binding. More so, it would be very strange for a Nation to follow the voice of a simple wafer thin majority rather than a greater than 2/3rd. Under the circumstances, a vote in the Parliament may carry more weight in deciding the nation's future.

With the three other nations that form a part of the UK wanting to take a relook at their own relationship with England over the exit from Europe, the Queen too may think of reading the Magna Carta or such document to figure out if the House of Windsor can take centre stage again or does such a break up also signal the formal end of monarchy in toto?

The European mainlanders are in no mood to negotiate a loving divorce full of concessions that allows Britain to bake andeat its cake too. The billigerence from the founders was not something that the second largest economy within the Union had expected. One thing for sure, the EU Parliament will get stricter with its members in terms of enforcing full integration which may include currency as well. Will that help or hurt the cause, that is the bigger question.

While all roads do point to an Exit, I am sensing a diversion of sorts that takes this drama on a road to nowhere, and the only sane decision for those on the go would be to pray for a safe and tame return back into the fold.

If the blasts in Turkey last evening are any indication, Europe has more than BREXIT to think about right now.

Happy BREXIT Day

Pic Credit: openeurope.org.uk

I wonder if the release date of the movie "Independence  Day 2" was intentionally changed from 22nd June to 24th June to coincide with the BREXIT result? If the island had not exited the movie would claim that it has not have played any part in influencing the British voters, and now that the exit is a reality, the voters can well get carried away with that patriotic surge watching it.

Truly for Britain, 24th of June may well be its second independence from its own, the first from its own Monarchy and now from its own membership in the European Union (EU). Like it has maintained the face of Monarchy for strategic reasons, it may maintain its links to the EU as well in some form or the other. The big two of the EU, France and Germany may fret and fume, but punishing Britain for exiting is only going to make things worse for the Union. The big two may now have to deal with some of the more integrated EU members wanting to leave, in addition to an increasing voice in their own boundaries that EU is not such a great idea.

The economic community does not seem to share the view of the British people, and markets around the world are falling as loudly as nine pins, India included. My mailbox has received a barrage of emails from my wealth advisers this morning on how I should behave under such circumstances. 33% have recommended I BUY, 33% have suggested I SELL, and 33% trying to convince me to stay NEUTRAL. The balance 1% view is my own, and I think I need to act as I see fit under the circumstances.

I am not going to put my investment view on the blog, as my attempt at econostrology has not delivered stellar predictions. I was half wrong about Bernie Sanders emerging as the Donaldslayer, and the recovery of oil prices happened way ahead of when I thought it would. I was half right about BREXIT that it would be good if it happened but like the Scottish referendum, the vote may be twisted in favour of "STAY". While Bernie may still play some part in the final outcome of US elections and BREXIT may once again send oil prices down, I do feel that my career as an econostrologer still needs to stand the test of time to take any form of credit.

Talking about credit, I am quite sure the PR wing of ISIS must be thinking hard about how to take credit for the first of potentially many tears in the EU fabric. I am also quite sure that the new Mr T will not be booed so loudly in Scotland when he inaugurates the golf course over there. While the weight of the PIIGS in the EU may have been heavy on the minds of the British voters, the refugee crisis may have well been the last straw that broke their back. After all, Britain would be the most favoured nation to settle in for any refugee once given the right to stay in the EU.

The internet is full of the good bad and ugly of BREXIT and again I will not express my own views on the same, other than I am not unhappy that it has happened. My selfish reasons:

1. Pound takes a hit - take more holidays to the UK.
2. Euro takes a hit - take more holidays to Spain and Greece.
    (1 & 2 are subject to the Indian currency climbing against the two)
3. I will feel more at ease paying visa fees for the UK and Euro zone separately. It always bugged me why my long term UK visa was never accepted for entry by the rest of Europe like the sensible Irish did.
4. I may now think of buying a holiday home in Spain if the Brits go on a selling spree.

Enough of my selfishness. I truly feel that the short term pain of the exit will result in a long-term gain for Britain even at the cost of it splintering itself in the near future. Sometimes, losses turn out to be the biggest gains. Neither Scotland, Ireland (N) or Wales will do better by joining the EU. In fact, a tiered commonwealth trading block is what Britain should be after. Despite the distances, the commonwealth nation share a more aligned ideology with the UK as compared to its Euro neighbours. That's one view and there are many others that seem to suggest the rightness in what many in the UK itself call wrong. The Prime Minister being one of them. David Cameron's resignation may add a further spin to the chaos, but the dust will settle and all such analysis forgot.

In the meantime, and until chaos prevails, billions will be made and lost. Wishing the brave British voter a "Happy BREXIT DAY"

EU referendum live: David Cameron resigns as UK shocks the world by voting for Brexit

•  Michael Wilkinson, political correspondent 

24 JUNE 2016 • 8:43AM

Auxit, Frexit, Nexit? EU countries may hold referendums following 'Brexit' vote

Published time: 23 Jun, 2016 20:52

Happy (Second) Birthday - Modi Sarkar

Photo Credit: The Wall Street Journal. 

The Modi government turns two,
is it time for us Indians to cheer or boo?
The WSJ* thinks India in much better shape,
post what some consider the ex-govt.'s rape.

The common man often confused with AAP**
still feels trapped like in a pool of crap.
Schemes to uplift the masses announced in plenty
hard delivery of the same near to empty.

Food inflation high, employment is low,
just trumpets of glory the Govt. blow.
Industry struggling, its bearings fully not found.
Agriculture suffering, there is drought all around.

Business and banks are headed for a fight,
defaulters booking their international flight.
Corruption, scams, retribution hog  daily news,
no visible action - just plenty of  conflicting views.

Go ahead with reforms like promised - India prays
The minority opposition halting progress - Govt. says
Inaction in Parliament at taxpayer's cost
has the plot the Govt. lost?

Tons of garbage everywhere in sight,
utility and infra. for most a plight.
For many his rule has lost its sheen,
and India now called the "one-eyed queen".

The PM still speaks to India from his heart,
while most of his people do nothing but fart.
A dream of SMART India he weaves
with admiration for him, world leaders he leaves.

There are three more years for him to go,
will he run it as a one man show?
Will his policies show results in time
of true success will the jingles chime?

To be fair - give him credit where due,
he won't give up or bid adieu.
Respect he has won on foreign soil,
made friends for India, with a lot of toil.

From now on until May next year,
too many events that this world should fear.
And, in this very torrid time
Modi has to make India Shine.

Clutching on to the hope of seeing better days,
This Nation in him hope lays.
For the day the corrupt pay for their sin,
And we all celebrate democracy's win.

All we can do is wait and see
Meantime I award his govt. a "C".

* The Wall Street Journal
** Aam Aadmi Party.

The Modi-fication of Mumbai 2014-2034

THE PLAN In a PPT format

Lately, the music player in my brain has been playing Billy Joel's "I'm moving out" repeatedly, and the only reason being the revised draft development plan 2014-2034 (DDP) for the city of Mumbai. Guess, if it is passed, then I will not just be singing that song, but looking at moving out.


The plan is already 2 years behind. Last year the Chief Minister ordered the planners to re-work the plan based on the heavy criticism it received from various citizen bodies. Is the revised plan any better? Depends on whose point of view one looks at it from, and with the criticism received so far, looks like it may end up on the drawing board again, leaving much of the City's development until then in a state of whimsical arbitrage and dangerous consequences.

Well, I am not going to criticize the plan. There are several doing that already. To add to it, the City's civic authorities are also being hammered in the press for the massive corruption unearthed in the roads and drainage contracts. Not that it makes much difference 'cause it never did. The money siphoned shall never return and no officer of consequences will ever get punished. The reason is very obvious. If the DDP is a window into what will happen next, it is nothing short of party time for the officials.

My humble observations and comments for the non-bots that read me:

1. Increasing the buildable Floor Space Index (FSI) across the city will not make real estate cheap, it never has. It will only make the land bankers richer. Hence, the cost of acquired land, from a builders perspective will not change.
2. Affordable housing will remain a myth if the job is left to private builders, and quality a myth if the civic bodies execute it.
3. A slum dweller rarely finds living above the ground liveable. Something about the fresher than toxic air on the ground not being agreeable. Or, is that the occupant has to actually pay for the water, electricity and amenities used? Cheaper to pay a fixed lump sum to the slumlord billionaire and live in "Hotel Slumdog" - everything included. So the SRA allotted flat is rented to someone looking for affordable housing and the slum dweller goes back to living on encroached public lands for almost free.
4. Open spaces, parking spaces, cultural spaces, recreation spaces all contribute to the City's quality of life. But who cares when the only yardstick for measuring QOL is money, "doesn't matter black or white" (credit - MJ).
5. Nearly half the City would be ineligible for FSI 2 until the CRZ (Coastal regulation Zone) and airport funnel restrictions are sorted. With the way IS and others are making inroads into this Country, I wonder if anyone would like to live in a building with a helipad on top unless you have made it to the top 1000 in the City.
6. Skygardens on the top of buildings - nice, but what about light hitting the roads? One can already smell the neighbours breakfast, and I am talking about that lives in the building and not the apartment next door. So would it not have been better to attach FSI with progressive setbacks and land consolidation? With enhanced FSI the City should have restricted building footprint to 33% of land area and height no greater than 5 - 10 times road width. Playing cricket on a roof top is as unsafe as playing on the road, but I assume, as always, that situation would be addressed after it happens and not before.
7. Water, drainage, roads. The City's natural water bodies can just about fulfill the needs for a year, and if the rain Gods decide to play traunt, then I don't know who this City can turn to? On the other hand, millions of gallons of treated and raw sewage is disposed off into the sea each day with no real arrangement for water recovery. Going vertical is great, City needs it as there is no land, but has anyone passed through the manmade vertical jungle of Lower Parel lately?
a) The connecting roads are woefully inadequate.
b) People using the road are in desparate need to use the loo or attend some funeral. At least the driving sense suggests it.
8. Schools, hospitals, musuems, fire stations, police stations, community centres. Where are these in the whole equation? While there is a whole lot of money to build statues to commemorate glorious kings of the past, is there is no money for civic facilities for the people in the present? Each and every one of these facilities could be named after the Great Maratha and the people would bless his soul and the people responsible for building it.

Instead of modifying the plan, had the Civic authorities looked at MODI-fying the plan, a lot of problems could actually be solved. The SMART way of going about would be to find ways and means of reducing the population of Mumbai. On the other hand, with millions of unsold homes, would it not be cheaper to ask developers to sell 1/3 rd of them to the City at cost and it, in turn, the City could sell them as affordable homes?

I am not sure if any of the scammed money will ever return to the coffers like it should- despite all the political noise in the centre that it will.  But surely, most of that Rs 5,000+crores that leak out as contracts for roads drains, and other such nice works each year from our civic budget will be saved henceforth, and can be put to good use - right? Sorry wrong question.

Rs 5,000 cr scam in BMC road works, alleges Congress

— By FPJ Bureau | Mar 04, 2016 01:28 am 

Mumbai: It will take Rs 2,000 cr to make Shivaji statue environment friendly

Does Mumbai really need 11 lakh more houses?

The state’s plans to build more houses in the city is just a sophisticated land-grab scheme.

Hussain Indorewala is an urban researcher with the Collective for Spatial Alternatives and an assistant professor at the Kamla Raheja Vidynidhi Institute of Architecture in Mumbai.

Mon, May 02 2016. 02 08 AM IST

Experts raise doubts about Mumbai’s development plan

Revised development plan for Mumbai’s development till 2034 has a bold but challenging proposal on creating affordable housing

BMC proposes 2 FSI in revised draft DP 2034

GEETA DESAI | Thu, 28 Apr 2016-08:00am , dna

Doing away with the controversial area-based variable floor space index (FSI) concept in the earlier draft, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has proposed a uniform two FSI in its revised draft Development Plan 2034 for the city. The civic body has also proposed high FSI of 5 for commercial purposes.

In the revised draft DP, the basic zonal FSI of city and suburbs is maintained along with the fungible FSI.

Mumbai: Modifications in development plan for transport projects get easier

MMRDA will not require sanctions for realignment of existing corridors or any new projects  GEETA DESAI | Mon, 9 May 2016-05:40am , dna

Draft Development Plan 2014-2034: 4 sq m open space per capita to be retained across Mumbai

On Monday, the BMC decided to retain this at 4 sq m across the city as prescribed in the previous DP.

Smart cities will tackle rapid urbanization: PM Modi

IANS | Jan 3, 2016, 07.12 PM IST

The B2B of Saving Democracy

It's B2B (or Back 2 Beef time) in the State of Maharashtra. The Bombay (Ahem! not Mumbai) High Court passed a judgement on the 6th of April 2016, that eating, importing and possession of beef is not a crime in the State of Maharashtra while upholding the ban on cow slaughter. It dilutes the enactment of the Maharashtra Government passed in March of last year that was viewed by people from all communities as strangulation of constitutional rights assured by this Democracy. But, how does one prove that the beef consumed, transported or stored is imported from out of the State? The onus to prove otherwise is on the authorities. Then, everyone knows that those in power know how to abuse it too like it happened in the case of a building called "Adarsh".

Wow! Just a few days back the same Court ordered the demolition of the very same scam-tainted 31-floor apartment building that has been mired in controversy since the start of this decade. It gave people some degree of hope that someday, the people who abuse power in this Democracy will get punished. personally, I feel that the order delivered only 50% justice as the genuine eligible buyers will suffer under the order.


Lately, be it the case of  Choppergate or Coalgate or one of the many national scams; booking the "King of Good Life" - Vijay Mallya or its "Emperor" - S. Roy; punishing corrupt builders or greedy bureaucrats and occasionally politicians even; deciding on the odd-even traffic scheme in Delhi or animal rights; taking on NEET1 or triple 'talak" ; imposing President's rule in Uttrakhand and Arunachal or the overruling it; granting bail to a JNU student (Kanahiya) or denying bail to an ex-DU professor (Geelani); the voice of the Honourable Courts, be it the Supreme Court or the High Courts in various States has been quite audible. More ferocious than their bark has been their bite, and one wonders if they are executing their right role - that of a democratic watchdog or are they in their judicious blindness, also being used to settle scores. Are they helping in saving democracy or... It's a different matter that the Courts have a backlog of 31.4 million cases, some going back to the time this Nation was born (1947) or even before.

The Indian National Congress (INC) led by the Gandhi family (jocularly referred by some as "Gandhi INC.") have reasons to believe that democracy in India is in danger and needs to be saved. As much as the Nation has been amused by the "Save Democracy" march which many called the "Save Dynasty" march, the world was not amused at the amusing Mr. Donald Trump's victory in being nominated as the Republican Party's candidate for a stint in the White House. The fear of his rule has pushed the Democrats (though not necessarily believers in democracy - just like those in the INC) to seek funds to not just save the democrats or democracy in the USA but "Save the World" itself.


Looking at the situation around the world, theorist have begun to debate the efficacy of the democratic system itself, asking if there is true democracy functioning anywhere in the world? North Korea seems to think it does, at least for one person - it's rule of KIM, by KIM, for KIM, and the world powers just let him, unlike many such leaders that have been ousted from Iraq, Libya; with current attempts ongoing in Syria to help people in those nations lead a truly democratic life. Kim must be doing something right to keep his place as did his father as did his father.

No wonder new leaders around the world have therefore adopted Kim as their role model. Going by their behaviour and way of running their nations, it certainly seems plausible.

But then one wonders if some species of the human kind deserve a democratic system? Was Winston Churchill right in his assessment? Guess it's time to go Back 2 Basics of understanding what real democracy means and can it, like an endangered species, be saved?

Baghdad

Tripoli

We require more than 70,000 judges to clear pending cases: CJI TS Thakur

Mon, 9 May 2016-07:26am , PTI

Justice TS Thakur once again expressed concern over the shortage of judges in the country, saying, "we may now require more than 70,000 judges to clear the pending cases."

The Indian court case that started in 1878

MUMBAI, April 29, 2016

Updated: April 30, 2016 07:28 IST

Demolish Adarsh Society, Bombay HC directs Ministry

What the Bombay High Court verdict on beef ban means

Maharashtra Beef Ban: The law had been amended to include Section 5 D that banned people from possessing meat of cow, bulls and bullocks, slaughtered within or outside the state.

Written by Aamir Khan
MumbaiUpdated: May 7, 2016, 

The Jai Ho of Patriotism

Last year, I remember attending a movie on Independence Day, at a PVR cinema hall near me. I don't exactly remember which one, but the rendition of the national anthem screened brought out the patriot within; and, at the end of which there was a natural urge to shout out 'Jai Hind', which I did unabashedly. I guess it takes just one to set off a chain reaction, and what followed was a booming echo created by a large part of the audience. I had a big smile of satisfaction and my accompanying friend a look of disgust. 'This is so embarrassing,' he said. Maybe it was to him, but I would certainly do it again, not that I need to publicly express my patriotism, rather, because it made me happy to express it. Did it make my accompanying friend an anti-national for being embarrassed? Hey! this is a democratic Country and he has an equal right to feeling the way he did or does he...?



The events of the last two months, concerning the "Bharat Mata ki Jai" (BMKJ) row, has made me wonder - what next? So many politicians and so-called leaders have come up with their own versions of what exactly does and does not constitute patriotism is a major source of confusion and embarrassment for me as a citizen of this Nation. Let me lay out a few examples:

A person shouts his or her lungs out to scream whatever constitutes a patriotic slogan but:

1. has engaged in destroying or defacing public property on purpose;
2. has under-reported or evaded taxes or holds undisclosed wealth overseas;
3. has paid bribes to get work done or escape punishment;
4. has taken bribes for doing the work for which that person has accepted wages;
5. has intentionally refused to perform obligated duty;
6. has no sense of civic duties (leave alone know what civic sense means);
7. has profited from a situation of national calamity;
8. has no respect or regard for or the rights of fellow citizens;
9. has participated in activities that are classified as illegal, immoral or unconstitutional;
10. has encouraged hate by any means or created differences between fellow citizens; and much more, but I am sure you get the drift.

Does that person really qualify as a patriot then?

I don't know. So I looked up the definition:

patriotism

ˈpeɪtrɪətɪz(ə)m/

noun

1. the quality of being patriotic; vigorous support for one's country.

   "a highly decorated officer of unquestionable integrity and patriotism"

   synonyms:

   nationalism, patriotic sentiment, allegiance/loyalty to one's country,loyalism; More

anti-national

adjective

1. opposed to national interests or nationalism.

   "an anti-national political agenda"

By that count, the very people who are going around enforcing patriotism may just be guilty of being deemed....

Just before the BMKJ issue erupted, there were a couple of cases where some members of the audience in a movie theater were abused and/or assaulted and/or evicted by fellow patrons for failing to stand up on the screening of the national anthem. Normally, one is expected to follow the custom as a mark of respect even though the law in India does not make it compulsory to do so.

Even before that, back in 2008, India's tennis ace Sania Mirza, the very person who won many honors for this Nation was accused of disrespecting the National Flag when in a TV interview, she was seen sitting with her feet pointing to the flag. Yet, each year, just a day after independence or republic day celebrations, millions of flags, big and small, made of plastic or paper, are thrown away as trash. Disrespectful - yes for sure, anti-national or unpatriotic?

An intellectual debate on the origins of our Nation will be deemed provocative or anti-national by some idiot wanting his or her 10 seconds of fame in any form of media.

I am an Indian and so I ask, where does the word India come from? Is it the Hindi translation of the word "Bharat"? No. The English word India comes from the Persian "Hindiya" (The land of Hindu). What the Persians actually meant was Sindhiya or the land of Sindhu, but the phonetic pronunciation of S in Persian is H. Soon the people in the land of the Sindhu came to be called Hindus. The concept of the land of Bharat comes from the name of a mythical king who at one time ruled over much of what constitutes the Indian sub-continent. In an agrarian and nature grounded civilization, land was addressed as "mother" out of respect for the food, water and all else essential that it provided. So also the rivers, cow and numerous trees were respectfully called mothers. So obviously, the land of Bharat became "Bharat ki Maata" or mother of Bharat. The name Bharat itself is masculine so it is unlikely that the people would have coined a term "Bharat Maata". In the modern context and translated "Mother of Bharat" became "Mother of India" hence "Mother India". At some stage during the freedom struggle, the concept of Mother India was idolized and elevated to a status of a Goddess that accepted people of all faiths as its children.


My interpretation may be questioned and debated and disagreed by others, but what cannot be questioned or debated or disagreed by anyone is that we freed ourselves from foreign occupation in 1947; since then how much better have we become as a civilization been under the rule of our own? If foreigners came to rape, abuse, and pillage "Bharat Maata", how different have her own children been? Worse. Maybe good old Winston had read us well. Each day we hear of one shocking scam after another. We read of the destruction of our resources. We witness blatant disregard for our laws. If we had real respect and patriotism in our blood for the land we live in, this Nation would not have the need for "Swaach Bharat" or "Beti Bachaoo" or "Ganga Bachaoo". If there is a scheme that is needed then it is "Desh Bachaoo" (save the Nation) from its very own people. We are not Indians. We put religion followed by caste followed by a linguistic state before our nationality. So one calls him or herself Hindu - Brahmin - Maharashtrian or a Muslim - Shia - Gujarati so on and so forth, but seldom an Indian.

Then where exactly is India or Bharat Maa in this equation?

Tomorrow is 1st of May. Labour day and  Maharashtra Day. Do I for safety sake end this blog by saying "Jai Maharashtra"?

My embarrassed friend from the first para told me "Dude, just say Jai Ho! Let the other side add the rest".

So a big Jai Ho to whatever.