<?xml version="1.0" encoding="iso-8859-1"?><rss version="1.0"><channel><title>Diary of Ajit Lakshmiratan</title><link>http://lakshmiratan.rediffiland.com/</link><description>Diary of Ajit Lakshmiratan</description><language>en-us</language><item><title>GANDHIGIRI ON GANDHI JAYANTI</title><description><![CDATA[<P class=MsoTitle style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B><U><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; COLOR: blue; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">GANDHIGIRI EXPERIENCE<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></B></P><P class=MsoTitle style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B><U><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; COLOR: blue; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></B></P><P class=MsoTitle style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: blue">Of course, Gandhism or Gandhigiri as it is now better known works even if it does not have anything to do with values!! (Thanks to Munnabhai) <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P><P class=MsoTitle style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: blue"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P><P class=MsoTitle style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: blue">My experience with Gandhigiri relates to chaotic traffic and driving on Bangalore roads especially on the IT Corridor. I travel from my home near Brooke Fields to office in Nrupathunga road.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>Driving on Airport-Whitefield Road means you are in the stream of white Indicas/Sumos/Qualis cars ferrying call center guys in a tearing hurry. Most drivers have absolutely no idea of lane discipline.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P><P class=MsoTitle style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: blue"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P><P class=MsoTitle style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: blue">Now, suppose you are moving in the left stream of traffic and chugging at 10 kmph and find a parked car obstructing you then have to somehow get into the next right lane to move ahead and for this thrusting out your hand or signaling by indicator will definitely invite aggressive looks &amp; honking from the driver behind. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P><P class=MsoTitle style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: blue"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P><P class=MsoTitle style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: blue">The Gandhigiri trick, for taking a U Turn, I have now learnt from some clever cab drivers is to put on the indicator and at the same time stick out your hand but all the fingers have to be joined together facing the sky like how you would originate flying kiss from your lips! This is similar to the action some pedestrian would indicate to you that your mobike lights or on during daytime.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN><B><I>Now open and close your fingers</I></B>. This signifies to the guy behind "<B><I>Hey, please man please</I></B>" in an imploring way and if need be reinforce the action with a quick reverse peek meek smile and note that guy would definitely allow you to enter the lane in front of him!! <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P><P class=MsoTitle style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: blue"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P><P class=MsoTitle style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: blue">The Gandhigiri trick also works when you have to take a U turn at a median gap but the opposite stream is continuously streaming past not giving you a chance. Seeing you waiting will also trigger a slow driver behind in the stream to accelerate just to get the pleasure of not allowing you!!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>What you have to do is to keep inching forward and when you notice a slightly bigger gap just nudge forward sticking out your hand over the hood all the while with your fingers performing a double action of opening and closing. And when you finally make it just allow the guy to overtake you and flash a smile. In all probability he will smile back!! <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P><P class=MsoTitle style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: blue"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The Gandhigiri trick is to convey somehow to the other guy that you are subjugated and the other car is more important!! <B>Try it out man, it works!!</B></SPAN>]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 02 Oct 2007 20:16:33 +0530</pubDate><link>http://lakshmiratan.rediffiland.com/blogs/2007/10/02/GANDHIGIRI-ON-GANDHI.html</link></item><item><title>national anthem</title><description><![CDATA[<BR><BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid"><DIV><BLOCKQUOTE><P> </P><P>Hi, got an interesting forward...dont know if its really true.</P><P>National anthem..u prob do not know this.<BR></P><DIV><BR><DIV style="WIDTH: 655px"><DIV style="PADDING-RIGHT: 15px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; FLOAT: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; WIDTH: 490px; PADDING-TOP: 0px"><DIV><DIV><U><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: red; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">'Jana Gana Mana' - Just a thought for the National Anthem! </SPAN><BR></U><FONT face=Verdana><FONT color=black size=5><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">How well do you know about it? </SPAN></FONT><FONT color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT></FONT><BR><FONT face=Verdana><FONT color=black size=5><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I have always wondered who is the <STRONG><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">'adhinayak' </SPAN></B></STRONG>and <STRONG><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">'bharat bhagya vidhata'</SPAN></B></STRONG>, whose praise we are singing. I thought might be Motherland </SPAN></FONT><FONT color=black size=5><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">India</SPAN></FONT><FONT color=black size=5><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> ! </SPAN></FONT><FONT color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT></FONT><BR><FONT face=Verdana color=black size=5><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Our current National Anthem 'Jana Gana Mana' is sung throughout the country. </SPAN></FONT><BR><FONT face=Verdana color=blue size=5><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Did you know the following about <SPAN style="BORDER-BOTTOM: rgb(0,102,204) 1px dashed">our national anthem </SPAN>, I didn't. </SPAN></FONT><BR><DIV><FONT size=2><FONT face=Verdana><FONT color=black size=5><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">To begin with, </SPAN></FONT><FONT color=black size=5><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN style="BORDER-BOTTOM: rgb(0,102,204) 1px dashed">India </SPAN></SPAN></FONT><FONT color=black size=5><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">'s national anthem, Jana Gana Mana Adhinayaka, was </SPAN></FONT><FONT color=maroon size=5><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: maroon; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">written by <SPAN style="BORDER-BOTTOM: rgb(0,102,204) 1px dashed">Rabindranath Tagore</SPAN> in honour of King George V and the Queen of England when they visited </SPAN></FONT><FONT color=maroon size=5><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: maroon; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">India</SPAN> </FONT><FONT color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT><FONT color=maroon size=5><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: maroon; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">in 1919. To honour their visit. </SPAN></FONT></FONT><BR></FONT></DIV><DIV><DIV><FONT size=2><FONT size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Verdana> </FONT></SPAN> </FONT></FONT></DIV></DIV><DIV><FONT size=2><FONT face=Verdana color=maroon size=5><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: maroon; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Pandit Motilal Nehru had the five stanzas included, which are in praise of the <SPAN style="BORDER-BOTTOM: rgb(0,102,204) 1px dashed">King and Queen</SPAN>. (And most of us think it is in the praise of our great motherland!!!) </SPAN></FONT><BR></FONT></DIV><FONT size=2><FONT face=Verdana><FONT color=black size=5><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">In the original Bengali verses only those provinces that were under British rule, i.e . </SPAN></FONT><FONT color=black size=5><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Punjab</SPAN></FONT><FONT color=black size=5> <SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">, Sindh, </SPAN></FONT><FONT color=black size=5><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Gujarat</SPAN></FONT><FONT color=black size=5> <SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">, Maratha etc we</SPAN></FONT><FONT size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> </SPAN></FONT><FONT color=black size=5><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">re mentioned. None of the princely states were recognized which are integral parts of </SPAN></FONT><FONT color=black size=5><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN style="BORDER-BOTTOM: rgb(0,102,204) 1px dashed">India </SPAN></SPAN></FONT><FONT color=black size=5><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">now </SPAN></FONT><FONT color=black size=5><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN style="BORDER-BOTTOM: rgb(0,102,204) 1px dashed">Kashmir </SPAN></SPAN></FONT><FONT color=black size=5><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">, Rajasthan</SPAN>, Andhra, </FONT><FONT color=black size=5><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN style="BORDER-BOTTOM: rgb(0,102,204) 1px dashed">Mysore</SPAN> </SPAN></FONT><FONT color=black size=5><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">or Kerala. Neither the </SPAN></FONT><FONT color=black size=5><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Indian Ocean</SPAN></FONT><FONT color=black size=5><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> nor the </SPAN></FONT><FONT color=black size=5><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Arabian Sea</SPAN></FONT><FONT color=black size=5><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> was included,(they were directly under Portuguese rule at that time.) </SPAN></FONT></FONT><BR><FONT face=Verdana color=black size=5><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The Jana Gana Mana Adhinayaka implies that King George V is the lord of the masses and Bharata Bhagya Vidhata is 'the bestower of good fortune'. Following is a translation of the five stanzas that glorify the King: </SPAN></FONT><BR><FONT face=Verdana color=black size=5><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">First stanza: (Indian) People wake up remembering your good name and ask for your blessings and they sing your glories. (Tava shubha naame jaage; tava shubha aashish maage, gaaye tava jaya gaatha) </SPAN></FONT><BR><FONT face=Verdana><FONT color=black size=5><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Second stanza: Around your throne people of all religions come and give their love and anxiously wait to hear your kind words. </SPAN></FONT><FONT color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT></FONT><BR><FONT face=Verdana color=black size=5><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Third stanza: Praise to the King for being the charioteer, for leading the ancient travelers beyond misery. </SPAN></FONT><BR><FONT face=Verdana><FONT color=black size=5><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Fourth stanza: Drowned in the deep ignorance and suffering, poverty-stricken, unconscious country? Waiting for the wink of your eye and your mother's (the Queen's) true protection.</SPAN></FONT><FONT color=black size=2> <SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT></FONT><BR><FONT face=Verdana><FONT color=black size=5><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Fifth stanza: In your compassionate plans, the sleeping Bharat ( </SPAN></FONT><FONT color=black size=5><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN style="BORDER-BOTTOM: rgb(0,102,204) 1px dashed">India</SPAN></SPAN></FONT><FONT color=black size=5><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> ) will wake up. We bow down to your feet O' Queen, </SPAN></FONT><FONT color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT><FONT color=black size=5><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">and glory to Rajeshwara (the King). </SPAN></FONT></FONT><BR><FONT face=Verdana color=black size=5><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">This whole poem does not indicate any love for the Motherland but depicts a bleak picture. When you sing Jana Gana Mana Adhinayaka, whom are you glorifying? Certainly not the Motherland. </SPAN></FONT><BR><FONT face=Verdana color=black size=5><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Is it God? The poem does not indicate that.It is time now to understand the original purpose and the implication of this, rather than blindly sing as has been done the past fifty years. </SPAN></FONT><BR></FONT><DIV><FONT size=2><FONT face=Verdana color=black size=5><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Nehru chose the present national anthem as opposed to Vande Mataram because he thought that it would be easier for the band to play!!! </SPAN></FONT><BR></FONT></DIV><DIV><DIV><FONT size=2><FONT size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Verdana> </FONT></SPAN></FONT> </FONT></DIV></DIV><DIV><FONT size=2><FONT face=Verdana color=black size=5><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">It was an absurd reason... </SPAN></FONT><BR></FONT></DIV><FONT size=2><B><FONT face=Verdana color=#ff8100 size=5><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: rgb(255,129,0); FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Wake up, it's high time! Shouldn't Vande Mataram be <SPAN style="BORDER-BOTTOM: rgb(0,102,204) 1px dashed">our National Anthem </SPAN>. </SPAN></FONT></B><BR><FONT face=Verdana><B><FONT color=#ff8100 size=5><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: rgb(255,129,0); FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Come Join together to put Vande Mataram as <SPAN style="BORDER-BOTTOM: rgb(0,102,204) 1px dashed">our National Anthem</SPAN>. </SPAN></FONT></B><B><FONT color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT></B></FONT><BR></FONT><DIV><FONT size=2><B><FONT face=Verdana color=#0021bf size=2><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: rgb(0,33,191); FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Please dont break the chain lets see how many people are coming to know about it. </SPAN></FONT></B></FONT></DIV><DIV><FONT size=2><B><FONT face=Verdana color=#0021bf size=2><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: rgb(0,33,191); FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Be Indian Proud to be Indian.</SPAN> </FONT></B></FONT></DIV><DIV><FONT size=2><B><FONT face=Verdana color=#0021bf size=2><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: rgb(0,33,191); FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT></B></FONT> </DIV><DIV><FONT size=2><B><FONT face=Verdana color=#0021bf size=2><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: rgb(0,33,191); FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Jai Hind</SPAN></FONT></B></FONT> </DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 02 Oct 2007 09:13:57 +0530</pubDate><link>http://lakshmiratan.rediffiland.com/blogs/2007/10/02/national.html</link></item><item><title>grit and commitment</title><description><![CDATA[<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><SPAN style="COLOR: blue"> <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="COLOR: red; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Narrow'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P><H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT color=#ff0000><FONT face=Arial>She stood up by staying seated<SPAN style="COLOR: black"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></H1><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 12pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Narrow'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><B><I><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: blue; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt">ROSA PARKS,<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST</SPAN></I></B><B><I><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black"> (unwitting though)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></B></P><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 4pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Narrow'"><BR style="mso-special-character: line-break"><BR style="mso-special-character: line-break"></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Narrow'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P><P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><BR><FONT size=2><FONT face=Verdana><SPAN style="COLOR: blue"> There are some people who are accidentally thrust into history books. Rosa Parks was one of them. A resident of Montgomery, Alabama, in the American south at a time when racial segregation rules applied in virtually all spheres of life, Parks made history by refusing to give up her seat on a <B>bus</B> for White passengers. On December 1, 1955 she had boarded a bus in downtown Montgomery after work and sat in the seats reserved for </SPAN><B><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext">Blacks</SPAN></B><SPAN style="COLOR: blue">. But when several White passengers boarded the bus and the White-only seats became full, the bus driver asked Parks and three other </SPAN><B><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext">blacks</SPAN></B></FONT></FONT><FONT face=Verdana><SPAN style="COLOR: blue"><FONT size=2> to get up. <BR>   Parks refused to comply and was arrested. She was charged with violating segregation laws and released on bail the same day. This would spark off what is now known as the </FONT></SPAN><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: blue; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt">Montgomery Bus Boycott</SPAN></B><SPAN style="COLOR: blue"><FONT size=2>.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></FONT></P><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B><SPAN style="COLOR: red; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Rosa Parks would later write, "People always say that I did n't give up my seat because I was tired but that isn't true. I was not tired physically, or no more tired than I usually was at the end of a working day. I was not old, although some people have an image of me as being old then. I was forty-two. </SPAN></B><B><U><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: red; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt">No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving in." <o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></B></P><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B><SPAN style="COLOR: red; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><BR></SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"> The day of Parks' trial marked the beginning of a boycott of buses for 382 days by the </SPAN><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt">Black</SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"> community. The case would eventually reach the US Supreme Court where the court outlawed racial segregation on buses. The boycott was also the launching pad for the best known black civil rights activist </SPAN><B><SPAN style="COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt">Martin Luther King</SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P><P class=MsoBodyText2 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><BR><FONT face=Verdana color=#0000ff size=2> For her singular act of courage Parks was later dubbed (sic) the mother of the modern-day civil rights movement When she died in 2005, US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice paid the ultimate tribute to Parks. If it weren't for Parks, Rice said, she would never have had the opportunity to become secretary of state. </FONT></P><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Narrow'"> </SPAN></P><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Narrow'">posted by Ajit Lakshmiratan<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Narrow'"><?xml:namespace prefix = v ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" /><v:shapetype id=_x0000_t75 stroked="f" filled="f" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" coordsize="21600,21600"><v:stroke joinstyle="miter"></v:stroke><v:formulas><v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f></v:formulas><v:path o:connecttype="rect" gradientshapeok="t" o:extrusionok="f"></v:path><o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></o:lock></v:shapetype><v:shape id=Pc0021200 style="WIDTH: 90pt; HEIGHT: 76.5pt" alt="" type="#_x0000_t75" o:spid="_x0000_i1025"><v:imagedata o:href="http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getimage.dll?path=TOIBG/2007/08/19/2/Img/Pc0021200.jpg" src="file:///E:/DOCUME~1/LAKSHM~1/LOCALS~1/Temp/msoclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg"></v:imagedata></v:shape><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> <o:p></o:p></P>]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 13:25:47 +0530</pubDate><link>http://lakshmiratan.rediffiland.com/blogs/2007/08/21/grit-and.html</link></item><item><title>Richie Rich</title><description><![CDATA[  <DIV style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 1.5pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none"><P><FONT color=#0000ff><B>Subject:</B> Earning per minute Shah Rukh Khan<BR> <BR>What: Actor<BR>How much: Rs 247 per minute<BR> The King Khan, who started off modestly as a 'Fauji', made about Rs 13 crore last year. This included his endorsement deals for Pepsi, Hyundai Santro - and of course, wetting himself in a bathtub, surrounded by women for HLL's Lux. How much per minute?<BR> <BR> Brij Mohan Lall Munjal<BR> <BR>What: Chief of Hero Group<BR>How much: Rs 255 per minute<BR> The patriarch of the Hero Group received the Life-time achievement award for 'Excellence in Corporate Governance' by the Institute of Company Secretary of India this year. Brij Mohan Lall Munjal earned about Rs 13.4 crore last<BR>year. He continues to be the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer and fuels his bank balance with Rs 255 per minute.<BR> Sachin Tendulkar<BR> What: Cricketer<BR>How much: Rs 1,163 per minute<BR> India's most loved sportsman makes a lot more than most CEOs of Indian companies; going by his annual remuneration for 2004-2005. Breaking it down, his three-year contract for endorsements is worth Rs 180 crores. He is also paid Rs 2,35,000 for a five-day test match and Rs 2,50,000 for one dayers.<BR> A little bit of elementary math: This highest paid cricketer in the world makes around Rs 61.15 crore a year, or Rs 1,163 per minute<BR> Dr A P J ABDUL Kalam<BR> What: President of India<BR>How much: Rs 1.14 per minute<BR> Before taking on the reins of this country, Dr A P J Kalam played a leading role in the development of India's missile and nuclear weapons programmes - so much so - that he's fondly referred to as the 'Missile Man'. In the early<BR>1990s, he served as scientific adviser to the government, and his prominent role in India 's 1998 nuclear weapons tests established Kalam as a national hero. For all his work in his present capacity as President of the world's largest de mocracy, Kalam draws an annual remuneration of Rs 6,00,000 or Rs 1.14 per minute.<BR> Mukesh Ambani<BR> What: CMD of Reliance Industries Ltd<BR>How much: Rs 413 per minute<BR> Head honcho of the $16.5 billion Reliance Industries Limited, Mukesh Ambani was ranked the world's 56th richest man in Forbe's list. But since this is only about salaries (and the like), we'll completely ignore his other earnings. Last year, Mr Ambani earned Rs 21.72 crore; a neat growth of 87 per cent over his previous year's earnings. He makes not less than Rs 413 per minute.<BR> <BR>Amitabh Bachchan<BR> What: Actor<BR>How much: Rs 361 per minute<BR> Kaun Banega Crorepati? Apparently, Mr Bachchan! With more endorsements and film releases per year than successful actors half his age, Bachchan's take-home last year was around Rs 19 crore - that's Rs 361 per minute. <BR> <BR> Dr Manmohan Singh<BR> What: Prime Minister of India<BR>How much: Rs 0.57 per m inute<BR> An economist by profession, Dr Singh has formerly served in the International Monetary Fund. His economics education included an undergraduate and a master's degree from Punjab University ; an undergraduate degree from Cambridge ; and a doctorate from Oxford University . One of the most educated Indian prime ministers in history, Singh also served as the finance minister under prime minister Narasimha Rao. In his present capacity, Singh is paid Rs 3,60,000 annually, i.e. Rs 0.57 per minute. Of course that does'nt include his perks!!</FONT></P></DIV><FONT color=#0000ff>Indra Nooyi<BR> What: New Pepsi Chief<BR>How much: Rs 2,911 per minute (from October 11)<BR> Chennai-born 50-year-old Indra Nooyi was the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of PepsiCo, the US-based soft drink major. In that capacity, her remuneration stood at $5 million (over Rs 23 crore). With her promotion this year, Nooyi becomes one of the highest paid CEOs in the world, with an announced remuneration of $33 million (approximately Rs 153 crores). This means Nooyi makes a whopping Rs 2,911 per minute.<BR> <BR>*All figures based on media reports<BR> I started calculating my salary. Such currency (fraction of paise) is yet to be invented!!!<IMG src="http://immail.rediff.com/htmledit/emoticons/red5.gif"></FONT>]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 20 May 2007 19:17:54 +0530</pubDate><link>http://lakshmiratan.rediffiland.com/blogs/2007/05/20/Richie.html</link></item><item><title>orkut</title><description><![CDATA[hi friends, Check out orkut.com.....become a member and add me as your friend just like rediffiland..................lots and lots of happenings just like rediffiland...........]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 30 Apr 2007 21:12:52 +0530</pubDate><link>http://lakshmiratan.rediffiland.com/blogs/2007/04/30/orkut.html</link></item><item><title>Simple, practical &amp; cheaper options</title><description><![CDATA[<P><STRONG><U><FONT color=#ff0000>Case 1</FONT></U></STRONG><B><BR></B><FONT color=#ff0000><B>When NASA began the launch of astronauts into space, they found out that the pens wouldn't work at zero gravity (ink won't flow down to the writing surface). To solve this problem, it took them one decade and $12 million. They developed a pen that worked at zero gravity, upside down, underwater, in practically any surface including crystal and in a temperature range from below freezing to over 300 degrees C. And what did the Russians do. They used a pencil.</B><B></B></FONT></P><P><STRONG><U><FONT color=#ff0000>Case 2</FONT></U></STRONG><B><BR><FONT color=#ff0000>One of the most memorable case studies on Japanese management was the case of the empty soapbox, which happened in one of Japan's biggest cosmetics companies. The company received a complaint that a consumer had bought a soapbox that was empty. Immediately the authorities isolated the problem to the assembly line, which transported all the packaged boxes of soap to the delivery department. For some reason, one soapbox went through the assembly line empty. Management asked its engineers to solve the problem.</FONT></B></P><P><FONT color=#ff0000><B>Post-haste, the engineers worked hard to devise an X-ray machine with high-resolution monitors manned by two people to watch the entire soapboxes that passed through the line to make sure they were not empty. No doubt, they worked hard and they worked fast but they spent a big amount to do so.</B><B></B></FONT></P><P><B><FONT color=#ff0000>But when an ordinary employee in a small company was posed with the same problem, he did not get into complications of X-rays, etc., but instead came out with another solution. He bought a simple industrial electric fan and pointed it at the assembly line. He switched the fan on, and as each soapbox passed the fan, it not only blew the empty boxes out of the line but also cooled the surrounding area.</FONT></B></P><P><FONT color=#ff0000><STRONG>Moral: Always look for simple solutions. Devise the simplest possible solution that solves the problems. Always focus on solutions & not on problems. So the end of the day the thing that really matters is HOW ONE LOOKS  INTO THE PROBLEM  and resolve early.<BR><BR>(send as a forward to me via email)</STRONG></FONT></P><br><img src="http://ri.rediffiland.com/homepimages/home1/169/63dfce9450fff966d10c31aa1569918a/homep/images/1177902313">]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 30 Apr 2007 08:51:45 +0530</pubDate><link>http://lakshmiratan.rediffiland.com/blogs/2007/04/30/Simple-practical-cheaper.html</link></item><item><title>you have mail!!!!!!</title><description><![CDATA[  <P><FONT size=5>Got an interesting forward from someone............</FONT></P><P><FONT color=#0000ff>Junior asks his dad: "Daddy, how was I born?"         <?xml:namespace prefix = v /><v:shapetype id=_x0000_t75 stroked="f" filled="f" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" coordsize="21600,21600"> </v:shapetype></FONT><BR><BR><FONT color=#0000ff>His dad sighs and replies, "Ah, my son, I guess one day you would have to find out anyway!</FONT></P><P><BR><FONT color=#0000ff>"Well, you see, your mother and I first got together in a chat room on MSN.</FONT></P><P><BR><FONT color=#0000ff>Then I set up a date via e-mail with her and we met at a<BR>cyber-cafe.<BR><BR>"We sneaked into a secluded room, where your mother agreed to a download from my hard drive.<BR><BR>"As soon as I was ready to upload, we discovered that neither one of us had used a fire wall, but it was too late to hit the delete button.<BR><BR>"Six weeks later your mum sent me an instant message saying her operating system was showing signs of unauthorised program activity from a self-extracting file which had implanted itself in her BIOS.</FONT></P><P><BR><FONT color=#0000ff>"Then nine months later a little Pop-up appeared and said: "You've Got Male"!</FONT></P><P> </P><P><BR><BR></P>]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 28 Apr 2007 09:13:49 +0530</pubDate><link>http://lakshmiratan.rediffiland.com/blogs/2007/04/28/you-have.html</link></item><item><title>Simple solutions</title><description><![CDATA[  <P><STRONG><U><FONT color=#0000ff>Case 1</FONT></U></STRONG><B><BR></B><FONT color=#0000ff><B>When NASA began the launch of astronauts into space, they found out that the pens wouldn't work at zero gravity (ink won't flow down to the writing surface). To solve this problem, it took them one decade and $12 million. They developed a pen that worked at zero gravity, upside down, underwater, in practically any surface including crystal and in a temperature range from below freezing to over 300 degrees C. And what did the Russians do. They used a pencil.</B><B></B></FONT></P><P><STRONG><U><FONT color=#0000ff>Case 2</FONT></U></STRONG><B><BR><FONT color=#0000ff>One of the most memorable case studies on Japanese management was the case of the empty soapbox, which happened in one of Japan's biggest cosmetics companies. The company received a complaint that a consumer had bought a soapbox that was empty. Immediately the authorities isolated the problem to the assembly line, which transported all the packaged boxes of soap to the delivery department. For some reason, one soapbox went through the assembly line empty. Management asked its engineers to solve the problem.</FONT></B></P><P><FONT color=#0000ff><B>Post-haste, the engineers worked hard to devise an X-ray machine with high-resolution monitors manned by two people to watch the entire soapboxes that passed through the line to make sure they were not empty. No doubt, they worked hard and they worked fast but they spent a big amount to do so.</B><B></B></FONT></P><P><B><FONT color=#0000ff>But when an ordinary employee in a small company was posed with the same problem, he did not get into complications of X-rays, etc., but instead came out with another solution. He bought a strong industrial electric fan and pointed it at the assembly line. He switched the fan on, and as each soapbox passed the fan, it not only blew the empty boxes out of the line but also cooled the surrounding area.</FONT></B></P><P><FONT color=#0000ff><STRONG>Moral: Always look for simple solutions. Devise the simplest possible solution that solves the problems. Always focus on solutions & not on problems. So the end of the day the thing that really matters is HOW ONE LOOKS  INTO THE PROBLEM  and resolve early.</STRONG><B></B></FONT></P><P><FONT color=#0000ff></FONT> </P><br><img src="http://ri.rediffiland.com/homepimages/home1/169/63dfce9450fff966d10c31aa1569918a/homep/images/1177730333">]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 28 Apr 2007 09:08:28 +0530</pubDate><link>http://lakshmiratan.rediffiland.com/blogs/2007/04/28/Simple.html</link></item><item><title>Positive thoughts</title><description><![CDATA[Hi friends, Check out an interesting site hosted by a friend of mine. <BR><A href="http://www.indiapositive.com">www.indiapositive.com</A>]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 20 Apr 2007 09:33:25 +0530</pubDate><link>http://lakshmiratan.rediffiland.com/blogs/2007/04/20/Positive.html</link></item><item><title>Something very different</title><description><![CDATA[<FONT color=#ff0000 size=4>Decided to do something very different today -b'cos of Republic day- so instead of the daily  morning walk I headed towards the airport and joined a band of sweepers sweeping the airport road. Most of them were wearing radium coated reflective jerseys and i cajoled one meek fellow to part with it for sometime, of course for a price. I have'nt swept my home for as long as i can remember and here i was hanky tied over my face and in total anonymity  sweeping the road and learning the tricks of the trade by the minute from the band of sweepers. Since it was early morning &amp; misty the flights had'nt landed as yet it was an easy job but......................................................................<BR><BR>1.  This is a job you have to do always bending down. A back breaking job no doubt!<BR>2.  The litter on the road is awful--sticky bubble gum caked with mud -paan which does'nt come off easily--I saw some sweepers removing these firm implantations with their fingers!!<BR>3. Easiest was sweeping the leaves from trees but then the heap of collected debris always had plastic cups/dung/pan parag pouches/cigarette butts/crushed bottles/discarded slippers/ &amp; a whole host of a variety of discards.<BR><BR>Within minutes after  the flights landed in the airport the road was a race track with taxis speeding at breakneck speed to their destinations. Some of them opening their windows to fling their cigarettes or spit out paan (so early in the morning!!). Some of the cars were pretty close to my sweeping colleagues.  My heart goes out to those sweepers who toil to keep our city clean which gets dirty by the minute. <BR> <BR>Getting back home, I thought you should  know of this experience &amp; maybe you will personally do what I did and mail your experience.</FONT> ]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 26 Jan 2007 13:11:09 +0530</pubDate><link>http://lakshmiratan.rediffiland.com/blogs/2007/01/26/Something-very.html</link></item></channel></rss>