The days of optimism
being defined by half-filled and half-empty glass are over. Now it is the time
of ATM queues where optimism is tested to its utmost. This must be the parting
gift by the outgoing year to the coming one!
Showing posts with label Cartoon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cartoon. Show all posts
Saturday, December 31, 2016
Friday, March 13, 2015
Thursday, March 12, 2015
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Monday, December 08, 2014
Friday, September 18, 2009
The Talks for The Seats
Poltical parties in Maharashtra are entangled in the parleys for seat sharing. Can this be a reason for the deadlock?
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
The supreme court has finally hit the nail. Everyone concerned with the grave situation in the country must welcome the honorable court's ire towards non performance of the successive governments towards the water crisis.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday linked the existence of government to the solution of water shortage in the country. According to the court, government has no right to be in power if it does not solve the problem. It is largely on the one of the famous lines byu Sharad Joshi, veteran farmer's leader : Sarkar kya samasya suljhaye, jab sarkar khud ek samasya hai! (How can government solve a problem, government itself is a problem)
"Government has no right to be in office. You have no right to be in office if you can't provide water," Justice Markandeya Katju heading a bench with Justice H L Dattu told Additional Solicitor General Parag Tripathi appearing for the Center.
The court also constituted a committee to be headed by the Secretary, Union Ministry of Science and Technology as its chairman, and Secretary, Union Ministry of Water Resources as a member, apart from scientists. It said the committee should be entrusted the task of conducting a scientific research on a war footing to find inexpensive methods of converting saline water from the sea into fresh water.
Closer home, city of Pune has its woes of drinking water. Pune Municipal Corporation has gone on record to say that the existing system of water supply is not fully capable to provide water judiciously. Currently, there are 50 tankers providing water to the citizens in city. This arrangement is mainly for those citizens living in suburban areas.
Last year, when the rain god played hide and seek in the early months of monsoon season, there was large hue and cry by corporators belonging to all parties. According to Irrigation Department, the norms for the water supply in urban area stipulate that each person should get 150 Litres. of water every day. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) area gets 11 thousand million cubic meters (TMC) water everyday. This translates into 400 cubic seconds (Cusecs) of water flow. Of this, 40 per cent is relayed to the city from pipelines and 60 per cent through canals. Since the water runs thorough this pipe line for 24 hours, the areas located near this line enjoy water supply all the time. That affects the parts located far away from the water purification centre. However, the good news is that the water level in the dams providing water to the city is four per cent more as compared to last year.
Water shortage in Pune division touched a high in 2003 when following three successive years without rains, as many as 905 tankers were deployed for the water supply. This time around the situation is not so grave, but in nearby Satara district things are in bad shape. The district administration has employed 13 tankers as well as bullock carts to supply water to the people.
On the state level, Groundwater Surveys and Development Agency (GSDA) has completed the Groundwater Resource Estimation of Maharashtra in 2004 on watershed and taluka basis. According to GSDA estimation, out of total 1505 watersheds, 76 are categorized as overexploited meaning that groundwater development is more than 100 percent of the recharge there. 20 are categorized as critical and 163 watersheds are categorized as Semi-critical.
Friday, January 23, 2009
The Tiger Turns 83
It is this kind of monopoly by Uddhav and his cotery over Thackeray that led Raj Thackeray to break away from his uncle, his original mentor in politics. It is an adage in Shiv Sena that Thackeray Sr. can not do any wrong. But it is a fact that he wronged in judging the potential of his nephew. Now Raj, carrying anti-north Indians and pro-Marathi agenda through Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has taken much ground below Shiv Sena's feet and at times SS is found to be dragging behind Raj. The agenda orginally brought in by SS in 1960s was later put on back burner in 1980s when Shiv Sena opted for an alliance with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The alliance adopted an agenda of Hinduist ideology.
Bal Thackeray stands out in many Hinduist parties for his frankness and open headed approach. He is probably the only leader in India who denounces Hindu priests and traditions followed in the temples. He was also the only leader in 1992, after the Babri mosque demolition, to accept the responsibility of the incident. "If the persons (those who brought down the structure) were Shiv Sainiks, I am proud of them," he said publicly at that time. The catch was nobody was and is sure whether it was true. But Thackerey managed to impress public with his boldness and public started to look down upon BJP. More recently does not one saw him welcoming 'Hindu Terrorists? On could mark he was saying that Hindu terrorists are all welcome but they should hit the bull's eye.
In one such instances, he showed to what extent he can go. When the Shirdi's Sai Sansthan decided to install a gold throne for Sai Baba, Thackeray decried the decision. Lokmat, a prominent Marathi daily took offence and criticized Thackeray Sr. sighting his own style of sitting on a throne in his bunglow. Next day itself, Thackeray Sr. sent his own throne to the Lokmat office, saying that the throne was given by his own 'people with love and devotion' and he is satisfied with public's love alone. The incidence created an amusing scene for the media in Maharashtra. Only when the top management officers of Lokamt came and apologised could the throne be taken back to Thackerey's bunglow.
For better or for worse, Maharashtra loves Thackerey Sr. No other leader has managed to draw people's love, affection, anger, frustration, devotion and that too for more than four decades! Even those who have left him for good, like deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal or ex-chief minister Narayan Rane do not shy away from praising or adoring him. It is not easy for outsiders and people with preconceived notions to understand how this man of relatively frail body and no logical reasoning manage to stir up passions in millions of people.
For an unpassioned and detached viewer like me, who has not attended a single rally addressed by him even in my home town but who has immense admiration for the power he holds, it is a sort of unhappy thing that he no more draws cartoon. Given that the cartoon-like politics of today and caricature-like personalities, perhaps he does not require to do so. Whatever old samples of his art I get to see, I enjoy it immensely.
Friday, December 05, 2008
A Million Smile Man
He gave the world Mickey Mouse and has since been making world laugh through various cartoons and stories. Even 42 years after his death, Walt Disney continues to mesmerize the people 
world over. Even two world wars and threat of the terror has not diminished the power of Disney characters to entertain the audience. Today marks the 43rd death anniversary of Walt Disney.As happens with most children, I came across Mickey Mouse early in childhood. I might be five or six years old. Mickey’s 50th anniversary was to be celebrated in that year. Thereafter, Donald Duck and Goofy also came in without any resistance. That delight lasted more than average as I found myself observing the cartoon characters for hours.
I was myself a cartoon lover and an aspiring cartoonist, though I did become one. Therefore I would try to imitate the drawings. I have not seen enough Disney movies in recent times nor do I watch cartoons anymore. But I still adore them. Still, I salute the man who created this wonderful fantasyland.
I think we need more these fantasies than all those extremely sophisticated sci-fi movies or disaster movies. I am sure those terrorist who fed on killing humans like rats have never seen Mickey, Donald or his three nephews. Had they seen it, world could have been much different.
