OMG - Brilliant is a severe understatement !

OMG, based on Paresh Rawal's play titled Kishan v. Kanhaiya, is an amazingly scripted movie with an even better direction and screenplay. There is not a single dull moment and you do not get a chance to bat even an eyelid throughout the 2 hour something duration of the film. Everything about the movie is just right.

The story revolves around one Mr. Kanji, a Gujrathi businessman and a self-confessed atheist who is surrounded by God-loving or should we say God-fearing people. He staunchly denies the existence of God and does not pay heed to what his wife or neighbours say. His actions are based solely on this denial and thus he repeatedly disrespects the Almighty. One rainy day of Gokulashtami, his son, instead of studying for his forthcoming exams participates in the local dahi handi, egged on by his mother. When Kanji comes to know of this he rushes to the spot and ridicules the customs and disrupts the proceedings. Just as he is about to leave, a minor earthquake jolts the city. Later, on reaching home, news reports show that the only one shop destroyed in the entire city is but Kanji's. Here begins his journey of proving whether God exists or not. In the process, he is ably aided by God himself in the form of Akshay Kumar, of course Kanji never really accepts this or does he?

 Akshay Kumar's entry as God is simply jaw-dropping and in those terse moments you barely breathe. Such is his awe-inspiring charisma here. He very effortlessly plays the role of God. And Paresh Rawal is at his quintessential best. The sound score does manage to hold your attention and there is some bollywood tadka in the form of a dance sequence featuring Prabhudeva and Sonakshi Sinha. At the risk of repeating myself - everything about the movie is just perfect.

The movie takes a satirical potshot at the ever increasing Religious ‘industry’. It somewhere makes you rethink your concept of God and even reassess your actions. The broad social message hits home hard. It lays bare the unscrupulous practices carried on in the name of God. And you know it’s true which is why it makes a stronger impact. I highly and strongly recommend this movie. I am even already considering watching it again!

 Rating - 4 / 5

Long live the Queen

When one witnesses the pomp and the galore in which people congregated, one cannot but feel envious of the United Kingdom for having a Queen, who has stood by them for 60 years. The attendance of over 6 million people and many more across the globe as they joined in celebrating the Queen’s diamond jubilee, reminds us of the power the Queen wields. The power to unite a multi-racial, multi-ethnic and a multi-cultural society like England’s is but a representation of the well-entrenched institution of the Royalty. All this despite the rains which though are a trademark of the city of London nevertheless are potential dampeners for any event.

The Queen has witnessed United Kingdom journey through the World war, the Independence struggles of her colonies and the subsequent fall of the Empire, the conversion of Britain into a multi-faceted power, the creation of the EU and the fall of the Soviet Union. She has been there throughout. Change always creates stress for those undergoing it. But the constancy of her reign acted as the pillar of support for the nation. She represented an ideology which every constituent of her realm could relate to and fallback upon when times were changing.

Many other countries as elements of the Commonwealth of Nations that the Queen heads also consider her as their monarch. Such a form of constitutional monarchy, to sustain in today’s information age and that too in so many diverse societies speaks volumes of the Queen’s superior accomplishments. She has dedicated her life to the service of her subjects. Her contribution might not have been obtruse but just that fact that she was there meant a lot to the Brits. Several countries including India, replaced the Monarch with the President to overarch above the parliamentary form of democracy. But the President, with due respect, never remained apolitical. On the other hand, the Queen has resiliently stayed away from politics – not even her shadow! But, this never deterred her from supporting causes which were for the benefit of the society. Her steady support to the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa and recognising Mandela even before he was elected as the President, lent a strong credence to the movement. Such is her character.

                Others who don’t have the good fortune of such a Queen can only rue the fact. In India, there is hardly anything that unites the country without there being at the very least, two opposite camps. Even in UK, the situation remains the same. But then, they have Queen Elizabeth II. Here in India, to rally the country in unison is as much a chore as uniting all the nations worldwide for a common cause. There will always be some opposition to any cause, good or bad. The diversity that we are so proud of never fails to not transform into the Unity our forefathers envisioned. There lies the fundamental difference.

The 4 day long celebrations marked by the 1000 strong flotilla and the numerous community lunches, fireworks, beacons evoke a strong sense of belonging not only amongst Her Majesty’s subjects but even in me. For I long the genuine care and warmth that the Queen has shown all along. Long live the Queen and may her subjects continue to prosper. We can only wish that we too are blessed with such a charismatic individual or cause to unite us in our need or maybe just the fact that we are all Indians is reason enough? Hopefully!  Understandingly there will be people who would find the celebrations, the instituion or the expenditure not worthy of any practical reason. But for once let us look at the bright side of things. We are arguably deprived of such joyous occasions in India given the current state of affairs. This occasion merely is a balm. Take it with a pinch of salt but do not avoid the dish altogether.

Long live the euphoria!

Disclaimer: Images used above do not belong to the author. The copyright if any rests with their owners.  The author shall remove the images if any violation of any patents/copyrights is brought to his notice.

How NOT to celebrate someone else's IPL win !

1. DO NOT hold the cup to your chest tightly as if you have won it yourself. Let the real winners share the limelight.

2. DO NOT call the owner of the team as a city boy from your city. He stays miles away in another city.

3. DO NOT treat the whole team as belonging to your city. You just lent it its name. There are hardly any players from the name-worthy city in that team.

4. DO NOT give away gold medals to the players when your state is under a huge pile of debt. Else, do not blackmail the centre to wave it off.

4. DO NOT become an event manager and puppeteer the crowds and the people on the dais to dance to the tune you want them to dance to.

5. DO NOT also become a policewallah and make people stand in a line. You are supposed to be leading the state not the parade.

6. DO NOT control the crowds. Let them have freedom of speech and expression.

7. DO NOT make the country feel people from this state have lot of free time. We toil day after night to keep the GDP afloat.

8. DO NOT use the occasion of someone else's IPL win to launch a PR campaign. Your image will only worsen.

9. DO NOT treat IPL as Olympics. They are but a mere private sporting event with negligible significance. Instead sponsor a few players so they can win us medals in the Olympics and make us proud.

10. And last but not the least, did you seriously fold your hands in a namaste position when the national anthem was being played? Bow down to thee O great statesman!



Disclaimer: The above is a work of pure fiction. Any resemblance to any person, dead or alive or place or whatsoever is purely coincidental. The writer of the blog does not bear any liability whatsoever.

The President is coming... but why the hullabaloo?

       India is an indirect democracy. We elect our representatives who in turn elect their leader or the Prime Minister to 'lead' the country. But as per the Constitution, the 'head' of the country is the President. The President is generally regarded as a mere titular head with the Prime Minister alongwith his cabinet colleagues wielding effective executive power. The President is aided by the Prime Minister and his council of ministers and his decisions are bound by their advice. Before the 42nd amendment, which was brought in by Smt. Indira Gandhi, it was a mere convention that the President would act in accordance with the advice of the council of ministers. Post the amendment, it was constitutionally mandated that he so act.

       So given this background and the understanding that the President is only and only a figurehead and that is how the legislative elite would want him to be, why this sudden flurry about who should be our next President? Nowadays, I have developed sort of a pessimism (which I am sure many would have developed too). I can't believe that whatever is happening is happening without any vested interests making it happen. And too much is happening for me to actually want it not to happen for the better. So this theory.

       The Congress, which is leading the ruling coalition has kept its cards close to its chest. It has been very discreet about the choice of its candidate and at the same time holding back-channel meetings with allies and like-minded parties. The BJP has been more vocal about its preferences. But, the what-could-have-been-the-coup-de-grace came from Selvi Jayalalitha. The TN Chief Minister went all guns blazing, after garnering support from a few other regional parties like the BJD and tried to portray a 'tribal' leader Mr. Sangma, as the next President. Mr. Sangma on his part too began openly canvassed for support. Never had the country seen any person so openly asking to be made the next President and that too because he was a 'tribal' leader. His party, the NCP, categorically maintained its distance from him and around 8-9 'tribal' leaders from the Congress recently denounced his nomination too. 

       But, the moot question remains. why all this drama? The President does not have much authority or real power right or does he? Article 74 would want us to believe that he does not. But there is a big weapon that the President carries. The Pocket veto! For a bill to become an Act and have the force of a law, it has to receive the assent of the President. The President can suggest changes but these need not be accepted by the Parliament. But, the President can also withhold his assent i.e. keep the bill with him for 'consideration' and let it be there for eternity or till the next President arrives. This way he can effectively checkmate the Government and stall any of its agendas. 

       Dr. Kalam became the first President to use another related power, the power of returning the bill to Parliament for reconsideration. He received the Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification Amendment) Bill 2006 duly passed by both the houses of Parliament. It, inter alia exempted MPs from being disqualified for holding certain offices of profit under the government. He returned it with his suggestions under Article 111. This raised a big hue and cry and the real power of what a President is capable of was unravelled. So also President Pratibha Patil has withheld her assent to the Gujarat anti-terror bill thereby creating hurdles for it to become an Act.

       As seen above the President can wield immense power though he seldom chooses to use it. He can be a tool to keep the opposition-ruled states in check but at the same time he can keep the ruling party guessing too. It's not for nothing that the political parties are taking such efforts, staking their own reputations to get their own candidates elected. What the third-front has done by suggesting Mr. Sangma's candidature is to effectively try to have a say in the decision making at the national level which it presently does not have the legislative capacity to do. It is a very clever political ploy which if reaches fruition will usher a new era in Indian democracy where we would have a ruling majority, an opposition and a President representing the third front. What will happen to the nation is something that only time can tell. But one thing is certain. The President is coming.

       Rise all you old faithful men! The President is coming!

Why Congress should call early polls!

        The Political circus in India has taken a drastically new meaning. Scams, defections, crimes are but minor incidents now what with holding the Government to ransom and creating insurmountable obstacles for the State in the name of Federalism and protecting Minority interests being the order of the day. Actions when done in the name of a higher objective should pass all tests of probity and should embrace what can be called a deliberative approach - it cannot be my way or the highway!
        Global ratings agencies have and rightly so changed the outlook for India's sovereign rating to negative. It's the domino effect and this was just one of the last dominoes standing. Our external image has taken a massive hit due to the inability to project India as a land which welcomes investments and supports inclusive growth. India has been forced to hide its face due to the many policy rollbacks and failure to get legislation passed as originally envisaged or announced, much due to the hand-cuffing by allies and the opposition. Take opening of multi-brand retail, the rail budget, the war on tax havens, retrospective legislation, the Teesta water sharing pact with Bangladesh, etc as examples. The list is just endless. Without going into the merits of either incident what I wish to highlight is the lack of consensus and willingness to cut across party lines to act in the interest of India as a whole.
        Federalism is not bad. Nobody expects the opposition to be hand in glove with the ruling party. Safeguarding multi-party interests is not a faulty policy either. But what comes first and should always be our main focus area is India. India as a nation. India as one country. What is happening today is not only obnoxious but also tends to nauseate oneself. India is not your conventional federacy like the US or Australia. Article 1 of the Constitution defines India that is Bharat as a Union of States. We have forgotten that we are supposed to act like a Union and not like a gathering of states with vested interests.
        With due respect, if a Government cannot lead the country to greater good, cannot take policy actions, cannot but sit with hands folded and wait for its 5 years to end, then the time has come to put it in it's papers. And it would be for it's own good. 1.5 more years of self-inflicting damage will do no good. Instead it might result in lesser seats than now. Also, India cannot continue to suffer from vote-bank politics which will be the flavour of the season in these final months. From subsidies to loan write-offs to reservations to money to appeasing gullible sections of the society. No. India cannot continue to bleed. But nobody is blaming the Government here. What India needs is a single party Government and not a coalition with every constituent harbouring different agendas. Rather, it would most benefit India if Congress comes to power on its own strength rather than an UPA-type system. That would lead to faster decisions and an effective climate for growth. Sometimes I cannot but wish the Congress and the BJP should come together and lead the nation out of the rut. But then so much for wishful thinking.

ICAI arbitrary rules - CA answer sheets photocopies allowed under RTI !

Since the SC ruling in August I had been working on getting photo-copies of my CA Final answer sheets. My application was rejected. I filed the first appeal. My first appeal was rejected. I filed a second Appeal with the Central Information Commissioner. Within 3 days thereof I received the photocopies. A week thereafter ICAI came out with a notification allowing photocopies to be provided of CA exam answer sheets. After going through the high-handed rules, I humbly appeal to ICAI as follows.

Dear ICAI,
There is something called as Parliament is supreme. No one can use delegated authority to make laws (rules) contrary to laws made by parliament and assented thereto by the Hon’ble President. It would tend towards being declared ultra vires.
With due respect, the rules made by your Council go against the very intention of the legislature and are in effect violative of the RTI Act. It would be better if you wake up and change them suo moto. I am making an honest effort in wide public interest to list down the illegality of your rules!
Inter alia,
1. You cannot restrict it to exams happening November 2011 onwards. The RTI Act was enacted in 2005 and so the right vested then itself. Also the Hon’ble Supreme Court ruled in August 2011 that all answer-sheets are open under the RTI Act.
2. You cannot limit the application period to 75 or 90 days as the case may be. There is no such limitation under the RTI Act.
3. Whoa, you just increased the fees within 2-3 days of issuing the earlier notice? Shame on you! You cannot charge an exorbitant 500 (earlier 100) or 750 in the case of late application (earlier 200) per paper or otherwise. The RTI Act states that the charges are to be ‘reasonable’ and as may be prescribed. The charges prescribed are Rs. 2 per page or actual charges of printing as may be the case.
4. There is no format prescribed and which is the essence of keeping the law user-friendly. You cannot prescribe some arbitrary format and force people to write in their own handwriting.
5. No fees are to be charged for mere inspection of information. SO you really cannot charge 500/750 per paper either!

Without prejudice!
Issued in public interest!
Please do spread the message!
Let me know if any of you need any help!

CA Satsheel Redkar

The wrinkles on the roads!

in a country like india, where penury or abject poverty is taken for granted for the masses to live in, there arise those situations where such incidences do make you think rather than simply walking by. i have always found it very unbearable to watch the aged in utter misery alongside the roads of mumbai (i better write mumbai, although i prefer its colonial counterpart, for satisfying the egos of people who would protest for nomenclatures but not for the needy) . the sheer site of those once existing smiles lost behind layers of wrinkles; those tear-filled eyes behind broken, cello-taped, thick glasses; their bones which seem to be waging a war against their skin to tear through; those soiled, torn patches of cloth that they wrap around themselves for warmth (i wonder what the recent chilly winters might have done to their internal warming systems when we were busy wrapping ourselves under cozy wollens) ; or the stale, left-over morsels of food which we waste, that they lap up to barely fill their hungry stomachs.

it simply pains to see an old person, and especially an old woman, just to scrape through their daily existence, doing manual labour at an age when they should be playing with their grandchildren.

the other day i was taking a break from studies at the library and was outside a sandwich counter. whilst waiting on the sandwich, an elderly man came and sat near us. i noticed he was carrying a cup full of water. he then silently opened a pack of parle-g biscuits, having placed the cup besides him. i was shocked when he took out a biscuit and actually dipped it into the water, before he ate it. it was a very pathos-filled sight, and i stood looking at him.

a few days later, at the same place and at the same time of the day, came an old woman, frail looking, wearing a saree and carrying a large plastic bag. my friend had just thrown a used bottle on the ground. she came and silently picked it up. she looked around for anymore waste which she could collect and sell to earn a few rupees for her small meal at night.

these are instances which make you stop and spend some time to think about these very people, who in their youth would have certainly looked after their kids, but had now ended up on streets.

think. ponder. do your bit.

if you can't spread smiles, at least make sure you don't let smiles fade away!!!

I can't fight this feeling anymore!!!

And even as i wonder,
I'm keeping you in sight
Your a candle in the window,
On a cold dark winters night
And I'm getting closer then i ever thought i might

Baby i can't fight this feeling anymore,
I've forgotten what i started fighting for,

And if i have to crawl upon your floor
Come crashing through your door

Baby i can't fight this feeling anymore I can't fight this feeling any more

Courtesy: The movie - Dr. Seuss' Horton hears a who...

Don't leave me Ajji...

i want time to turn back,

go back to where she was hail and hearty,

taking care of me when i could barely manage to walk,

running behind me with the lunch in hand,

waking me up early for school,

cooking all that i loved to eat,

parenting me when my parents were at office.

but as time went by,

you had become a child,

ever so sweet and innocent,

it was now time for us to take care of you.

you never were any trouble for us,

instead, you were the driving force of the house,

once that kept us busy but happy all day long,

never for once, letting boredom creep on us.

all that now remains are her memories,

as fresh as the morning dew,

with the warmth of the cup of tea,

on a winter morning.

the house now is bereft of its cutest member,

the room is vacant now,

but we still peep in the room out of habit as we pass by,

we still head to your room first after entering the house,

it will take us time to get used to your absence,

but i know, you are watching over us from above,

and will always provide light whenever we need,

i love you ajji...

i want to laugh...

i want to laugh,

buzzing more than the swirling bees,

more brightly than the dancing sunflowers,

more sparklingly than the twinkling stars,

more freshly than the gushing rivers,

more melodiously than the infinite ragas;

i want to laugh,

not at anything or anyone,

but because laughing heartily is a gift,

He has bestowed upon us,

it is only once your forget how to laugh,

is when you realise its importance!

So laugh without caring what the world says,

laugh because it will spread the joys that need to be shared,

and will lead to more joys being created where there are none...

Just Perception...

it just doesn't seem right,

feel's like there is something amiss,

sometimes, it feels so good,

and suddenly,

the faint smile doesn't turn into the fervent laughter,

that i love laughing to my heart's content,

does not help my case,

it just makes me realise how fickle it is,

visiting me at its own convenience,

i know i'm not alone,

but when the smile goes away,

with its aura goes the gaiety...

but contrastingly,

i feel i'm blessed,

compared to the poor, orphaned kids,

dirtying their day away on the streets,

its just a matter of perception,

just plain perception...

the small little sparrow's story

the sparrow didn't know what had gone wrong? all was fine a few moments ago and it was not that the world had come to an end suddenly, but the birds whom the sparrow considered close, suddenly began showing their true colours. the sparrow was distraught. it had always been nice to its fellow birds, helping them whenever they chirped for it, ensuring they got the best nests built and even made sure that the worms they ate were fine and tasty. the rate at which the sparrow lost birds it could call friends was alarming and the sudden vacuum they created was tough to handle. the sparrow was left alone. not only in the physical world but also emotionally and mentally. it was left alone to fly the daily path and walk down the road alone. at every pebble, it remembered the gaiety that once existed and the bond it shared with the fellow birds. could they actually be called friends, thought the sparrow. these definitional thoughts were always futile, knowing well that a mere word or two won't bring back lost friends. the sparrow walked further down the bylane. it realised that there was a pattern to these friendly departures. it now struck the poor little sparrow that these friend-birds were its latest accomplices. it had so happened that at certain points in time, given the prevailing circumstances, these new entities had become very close to the sparrow. so much so that, even the sparrow had wondered as to how stranger birds could become such good friends so soon. they had become friends and had now ceased to be one at the same speed and with the same velocity, although equal and opposite. as the sparrow hopped to further introspections, the road led to a small curve. the sparrow decided to take the bend rather than fly to some other lane. with every hop, skip or jump, more realisations flew in. it seemed like, these were waiting to be unveiled, simply bidding their time, maybe for the sparrow's solitary attention. the birds whom the sparrow had given its time whenever they needed it had moved to greener pastures or rather greener fields where they would get better worms to feed themselves with. but then why had they moved away? maybe they took the sparrow for granted? or was it the other way round? either of them could have felt that where will the other bird go - it has to come to me only for friendship! but that was not to be the case with the little sparrow. friends it had. loads and loads. but it was in search of the perfect friendly birds, birds whom it could trust with the deepest secrets of the bird-world and with whom it would have an assurance of being always there, not for any material gains but for the sheer magic, that is friendship. just as the other birds moved away, the sparrow tried making new friends on the new road it was traversing. the same incidents and similar conditions emerged and once again it made friends in much the same way that it earlier had. but this time the sparrow was scared and apprehensive. it was bitten not only once but many times, and hence was shy to go all out to make the new birds its friends! slowly the sparrow came out of its shell. friends it did make, but it is now left for the forthcoming harvest season to judge whether the new birds also prove to be like the earlier ones. not friends but teachers!

DIPLOMAS IN DEMAND

OPTING FOR A POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA PROGRAMME CAN PROVE TO BE A WISE OPTION FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE THE TIME AND RESOURCES TO PURSUE A FULL-TIME MASTER’S COURSE. SATSHEEL REDKAR AND RUCHI CHOPDA ELABORATE ON THE ADVANTAGES OF A PGDP

he increasing number of students looking to equip themselves with additional qualifications other than a mere graduate degree has led to a steady rise in the demand for postgraduate diploma programmes (PGDPs). These courses are not only popular among graduates, who do not have the time to devote to a regular master’s programmes, but also among professionals who desire to keep themselves up-to-date with the current market trends. Disciplines which have been a hot favourite among diploma students include hotel management, finance, management, mass media, law and computer application among others. So what exactly are the benefits of pursuing a PGDP? UNLIMITED OPTIONS The sheer diversity of PG diplomas is immense. Consider this - you can opt for a PG diploma in fields as niche as library automation and networking, school leadership and management, folklore and culture studies and even acupuncture! Diploma programmes offered by institutes are extremely niche. This is beneficial for students who know exactly what they want. Thus, if you are looking to pursue a programme specifically in say creative writing you do not have to pursue a course that will train you in all aspects of media where creative writing will be just one module. Your focus will be the focus of the course. DEGREE VS DIPLOMA Unlike a conventional master’s programme, that lasts for a minimum of two years, the duration of a postgraduate diploma programme (PGDP) varies from one to four years. Furthermore, a PGDP offers you the flexibility a normal fulltime degree would not. It can either be pursued via the full-time, part-time or even the distance learning mode. Classes for most of these courses are either held late in the evening (on weekdays) or on weekends. This allows you to gain knowledge in your chosen field without severely disturbing your existing work or study schedule. Another added advantage of these courses which usually aim to prepare students to be job ready is their high placement records. Explains Mohit Gadodia, who recently completed his PG Diploma in Marketing from a well-known institute, “Colleges try to push for the placements of their PG diploma students over their regular master’s students when it comes to campus placements. This, for the simple reason that a PG diploma is offered by the college and not the university. Hence, its success depends on the placements the institute is able to offer.” PRACTICAL APPLICATION Another edge that diploma programmes offer students is the fact that they are usually more contemporary and market oriented than their corresponding master’s programmes which are essentially theoretical in nature. For instance, a PG Diploma in Hospital and Health Management or clinical cardiology involves hands-on training with practicing doctors as part of the course. Similarly, colleges providing professional diploma programmes too incorporate practical training as part of their syllabi wherever it is required. Shares Yashshri Soman, who recently completed her PG Diploma in Social Communications Media from Sophia Polytechnic, “We had to plan an advertising campaign right from scratch. We were required to conceptualise the campaign, make the logo, posters, etc, for the same and lastly present the campaign to a jury that consisted of people from the industry. This exercise helped us actually go through the entire process of making an ad campaign rather than merely learning it from the book.” Thus, a student not only acquires the modern-day acumen essential for getting a job but also gets the opportunity to put into practice the classroom lessons on the job. Concurs Neha Kapoor, a journalist by profession, who is simultaneously pursuing her PG diploma in creative writing from a popular institute in South Mumbai, “Having completed my degree in mass media a long time ago I was at a loss when it came to actually putting the theories I had learnt to practice. The course I am currently pursuing has a mix of professionals and fresh graduates and therefore presents me the opportunity to learn what is going on in the professional world beyond the confines of my office. I put to use all the lessons of my weekend diploma classes to solve the challenges at my workplace. It works amazingly!” LEARN WHILE YOU EARN As mentioned, a diploma programme can be simultaneously taken up while pursing your job. This is especially beneficial for those who cannot afford to give up their jobs for financial reasons. Though the fees of a PGDP are often higher than regular postgraduate degree programmes, the specialised knowledge one gains at one’s leisure more than makes up for it. As Rajas Rane, an ex-student of the PG diploma in business design programme at Welingkar Institute of Management says, “The course helped me to get a job in my field of study and have direct application of my knowledge.” WORD OF CAUTION However, as in every case where popularity often leads to unscrupulous players in the market, the demand for PGDPs has led to a number of dubious institutes offering courses in various fields. Thus, it is crucial for students to conduct a thorough check on the validity of the course and the affiliation/ registration of the institute. The accreditation can be checked from the official sites of the UGC or the NAAC or AICTE or such other assessment and governing bodies. Career counsellor Jayanti Ghose concludes with a crucial piece of advice, “A student must define the purpose of pursuing a PGDP in order for it to meet his/ her expectations. A fulltime professional PGDP helps a graduate in seeking related jobs. However, a parttime or distance education diploma related to the kind of job one is already doing may add weight to the graduate's CV, but may not directly lead to a job. If the diploma course being pursued is not in line with the individual's abilities and personality, then a prospective employer may not give it any importance.”

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Client.asp?Daily=TOIM&showST=true&login=default&pub=TOI&Enter=true&Skin=TOINEW&GZ=T&AW=1277112388609

The Administration of Politics

"The democratic method is that institutional arrangement for arriving at political decisions which realizes the common good by making the people itself decide issues, through the election of individuals, who are to assemble in order to carry out its will." But as Joseph Schumpeter puts it, “The democratic method is that institutional arrangement for arriving at political decisions in which individuals acquire the power to decide by means of a competitive struggle for the people's vote”

Politics is a fine act of juggling, not necessarily between the good of the people and the law of the land, but more often between vested self-interest and the vested self-interest. Although, it might seem that it essentially is a simple task, no one would know better than the politicians and those who carry their orders. Policies are framed, crores are sanctioned in grants and wavers, schemes are drawn, files are made, all this to achieve the common good of the common man. Various forces play on the mind of the politician when decisions are taken. The Political class achieves its objectives by surreptitiously ‘ordering’ the administration to do their bidding in the process to maintain a clean image.

But is it that easy for a politician to make decisions? Wouldn’t the tribulations that plague the society be relegated to unknown territory, decades ago, if these policies indeed worked? And does merely having an efficient administration suffice in the intense job of managing an entire nation? Politics and Administration go a long way in satisfying the “people’s” wishes. But does every wish of the common man get fulfilled? If Nokia were to produce mobiles which would never have any technical problems, would you have gone back to Nokia, ever? A similar logic applies to Politics. Politics is the art of getting people to depend on you, rather than teaching them how to fish.

Political compulsions frequently force administrative decisions which might not be good in the long run, but ‘appear’ good in the short run. Take for example, the Singur plant. Fighting for the rights of the farmers, Mamata Banerjee, forced the Tatas out of Bengal. The administration of that state couldn’t do much, but the Political class of Gujarat rolled out a red carpet for the Tatas. To take a look at the compulsions, we have the farmers’ ‘apparent’ interest on one hand, and the progressive industrialization of the state to create more jobs on the other. The ‘Ma, Maati, Maanush’ cry of the Bengal Tigress, has today lead her to thumping victories in the local elections. But then, could the administration have done anything to stop her? Was it a calculated risk or a farcical silence? It was nothing short of vote-bank politics though.

These are local issues. Similarly, there is the diplomatic tightrope to be managed. At any given point of time, there have been atleast two states or two nations at loggerheads. So when there are two parties a politician needs to please, he would delay taking any decisions and ensure that his popularity isn’t affected on either side of the fence. Take the Canadian Visa row for example – India did not criticize the Canadian authorities and merely expressed a meek displeasure and ‘gave time’ to the Canadian’s to ‘correct’ their stance. For the record, India is to conclude a civil nuclear energy deal with the Canadian’s this year, not to forget the trade balance has been in India's favour ever since 1993. India's total exports to Canada were Rs 3507 crore in 2003 whereas imports amounted to Rs 3336 crore. A curt reply from the foreign secretary would have had far reaching consequences and thus the foreign office feigned initial ignorance.

But why give so much importance to the people or the diplomatic relations? As Joseph Schumpeter describes a politician, “What businessmen do not understand is that exactly as they are dealing in oil so I am dealing in votes.” As mentioned earlier, it is about making decisions which have a profound positive effect on oneself. And why would the executive deny helping the corrupt politicians, if they can fill their own pockets too? According to a Forbes report, in Bihar, more than 80% of the subsidized food aid to poor is stolen by corrupt officials. But this is corruption, just one of the facets of politics and administration.

To exist in politics is a profession in itself. So when you are in power, you need to quickly make your bucks, unless you are 100% sure, you will be back in the seat of power even after five years. Commercially, it does not seem to be wrong. Profit is what should motivate you and it well is. But then are your social responsibilities not of any importance? And should you not be responsible for the amount in salary that the government pays you?

But we do have success stories. Incidences wherein the Political class have formed an intrinsic mechanism with the administrative wing, to rise up to all possible challenges the nation might face, the country coming first and last always, in Swami Vivekananda’s words. We have empirical evidence that when personal goals are subservient to the nation’s pride, there is efficiency and an effective administration, not only of the policies, but also of the future of the nation. We have examples in the nations such as Norway, Switzerland, etc, where even the politicians lead an honest life, quite unbelievable but true. What we need is mass awareness, not only of our rights, but also how to use them. We need to evolve a system of good governance and accountability. As Ruth Grant puts it, “Ingenuity in devising effective mechanisms, and the ability to synchronize their operation, will be more important for controlling abuses of power than a single-minded and mechanical application of the ideals of democracy.” Our objective should be to produce and sustain various kind of accountability systems based on a positive reception of the conflicting and complementary possibilities within the democratic structure.

My 2nd Article in Education Times - this time on CPT

SUBJECT SMART

WITH THE COMMON PROFICIENCY TEST (CPT) ONLY A FEW WEEKS AWAY, ASPIRING CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE BUSY WITH FRANTIC PREPARATIONS. SATSHEEL REDKAR, ALL-INDIA TOPPER, CPT-2007, SHARES SUBJECT-WISE TIPS ON HOW TO ACE THE EXAM

Entering the final few weeks, the last lap, and the foremost lunge towards the CPT? You have prepared for months, all through your Class 12 exams and devoted a lot of time, effort and patience. But what can you do to give your preparations the perfect finishing touch? What does it take to ensure that your name features in that elite list of merit rankers?
The Common Proficiency Test, or the CPT as it is more popularly known, is the entry level ie lowest/first level at which a student can start pursuing the Chartered Accountancy course. Till a few months ago, one could begin their Articleship training right after clearing CPT, however the rules have changed and now one also needs to clear the Integrated Professional Competence Course (IPCC) after clearing CPT to begin the Articleship training. The revamped format should put less pressure on students, as now the fate of which firm they train with does not wholly rest upon the CPT scores.
Nonetheless, it is imperative to put in your best in CPT and to begin with, you need to first assess yourself and understand where you stand. Only once you realise how prepared you truly are, will you be able to move ahead in the right direction. The CPT is made up of four distinct subjects divided into two sessions.

SESSION – I
(Two Sections– Two hours – 100 Marks)

Section A: Fundamentals of Accounting (60 Marks)

Section B: Mercantile Laws (40 Marks)
SESSION – II
(Two Sections– Two hours – 100 Marks)

Section C: General Economics (50 Marks)

Section D: Quantitative Aptitude (50 Marks)

The current guidelines of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, India (ICAI), the statutory body that conducts and regulates the CPT, say, A candidate shall ordinarily be declared to have passed the test if he obtains a minimum of 50 per cent marks, subject to the principle of negative marking, in a manner as may be specified by the council from time to time. In its current format, the negative mark-ing is 25 percent or one-fourth of a grade.

‘SUBJECT’IVE SMARTNESS

1. Fundamentals of Accounting
The ICAI certainly lays more emphasis on this subject as is evident from the marks weightage. Since this is the base of your CA career, you are expected to be strong with the fundamentals. The basic concepts should be studied thoroughly and one should pay more attention to theory, as previous years have seen more weightage being given to theory questions. Manish Modi, a practising CA who teaches accountancy at Pinnacle Education advises, “Students must concentrate on mastering the theoretical questions that can be asked from various aspects of the syllabus.”
Since long questions cannot be asked for one mark, CPT usually has a. One long problem and four-five small
questions based thereupon b. Small questions for one mark each Hence one definitely cannot leave the lengthy questions while studying as that means risking four or five marks at one go.
Apart from the theory questions, areas that could be focussed upon include calculating depreciation via various methods, computing discount/ interest on bills, consignment and joint venture problems, goodwill, and others.

2. Mercantile Laws
Assuming the CPT to be the first time that many students study law, the syllabus covers basic and structural laws. Beginning with the Indian Contract Act, 1872 (Sections 1 to 75); the Sales of Goods Act, 1930 and the Partnership Act, 1932 are included herein. Keshav Thakkar, who secured the fourth rank in CPT-2008, explains, “There are three acts of which, The Contract Act is undoubtedly the most important and complex. Case studies/ illustrations for the provisions are a nice way of understanding the relevant laws. It is best to clear out all of one’s doubts and leave no ambiguity before the paper.”
Dhawal Vora, who had missed the All-India merit of the CPT (August 2007) by merely two marks adds, “Be clear with similar sounding concepts in order to avoid confusion during the exam. The ICAI is known to test you on such concepts.”

3. General Economics
General Economics is made up of two parts – Micro and Macro.
In Macro-economics, expect around four-five questions on statistics. Also, there have always been a few general knowledge questions in relation to economics. So, it would do a student well to start reading the newspapers. While seeming trivial, these marks prove useful in turning average/ good marks into a merit rank-deserving result. Vora, now a final year CA student, from his own experience shares, “It is essential to have a good grip on economics so that you can complete the 50 questions quickly. This will leave you with ample time for Quantitative Aptitude. Prepare yourself to wrap up economics in not more than 20 minutes.” He says he finished economics in only eight minutes but was still just barely able to finish Quantitative Aptitude.
Another important piece of advice from Mahesh Deshpande, General Economics teacher at Gurukul Academy, is, “Although you will not be asked to draw graphs, it is important to practise them to get the required conceptual clarity.”

4.Quantitative
Aptitude
On Quantitative Aptitude, Sudhir Kamath, who teaches Mathematics at Eskays Learner Academy, says, “One should focus on the basics first which have to be strong. Study the entire module which should generally guarantee you a score of 40+ in Quantitative Aptitude. During the exam, it would be better to attempt the economics paper first and to try and finish it within 40-45 minutes. The balance should be kept for Quantitative Aptitude.” He also says that as a strategy, ‘do not waste time on any one single question.’
While the module covers many things, it is just enough to perhaps score average marks. To do better than most, you will also have to put in more effort than is expected of most. Try reading from other sources on certain topics. This applies especially for statistics and particularly the last chapters.
Hrishikesh Samant, Rank 3, CPT (August 2007 ), has a few suggestions for students studying Quantitative Aptitude, “Write down all mathematics and statistics formulae in a book and do repetitive reading. Also get comfortable with using the calculator. It proves a boon in an exam alongwith learning the shortcuts. If you have the time, then practise from other books. Do not forget to time yourself in such a manner that while solving, one problem does not take more than a minute and a half or two at the maximum. This will help you conserve time for the tough questions.”
When one sees the CPT as a whole, one comes across four subjects at a time. Here is where management tactics come into play. So how does one balance time amongst the four subjects?
Again, Samant offers some very important tips.

a. In economics, undertake rapid reading (as many number of times as possible) so that you can make out the correct statistics out of the four options that are given in the MCQs.

b. For accounts, focus on Schedule VI disclosures and scan through Basic Accounting Standards (Chapters 1, 2, 6, 9, and 10) apart from Basic Accounting Conventions and Assumptions.

c. When looking at Quantitative Aptitude, preferably revise only formulae and try solving papers.

d. Review all the important provisions and check if you can recollect its content and a related case/ example when revising law.
In addition to the above Thakkar advises to solve the model question papers provided by ICAI to gain sufficient practice. He says, “Law and statistics are the subjects to focus on in case you want to cross 160. Statistics carry a very high weightage in the 50 marks paper.”

Some general suggestions to keep in mind:

1. Since it is a multiple choice questions-based exam, one need not mug up everything. A general idea on most things will help in answering correctly as after seeing the options it becomes relatively conveni ent to recall the right answer.

2. If the ICAI persists with the 25 percent negative score, the probability is that of every four questions that you answer, one might be correct. Thus, the equation becomes +1 - 0.25*3 = +0.25. On the other hand, if you don’t answer any of the four questions, you straight away lose those four marks. But then, do your own math and this certainly does not mean that you fake anything!
3. If you have started studying only now, start with the basics of accounts and economics and become thorough with it. Study micro-economics first and then head over to macro. In Quantitative Aptitude, practice the statistics part well in addition to probability and permuta tions and combinations. Studying the initial parts of The Partnership and The Contract Act would do you well too.
4. As Thakkar says, “The study material is the primary basis on which the papers are set. Studying from other books should be in addition to and not instead of it”.
5. And finally, get off the internet and concentrate hard on your studies. This one month of hard work will ensure better returns later in your life. Good luck, follow the given tips, and do well!

Tele Tales - My CEB Lead EducationTimes Article

TELE TALES

DID SOMEONE SAY ‘SMALL SCREEN’? THE ERSTWHILE POORER COUSIN OF MOVIEDOM HAS GOTTEN LARGER THAN LIFE, AND IS IN A LEAGUE OF ITS OWN. SATSHEEL REDKAR AND MILI SEMLANI PRESENT DETAILS ON THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO TV WANNABES

Lights, camera, action! These words might conjure images of Bollywood glamour and song and dance routines, but as with everything else in the entertainment business, times are achanging, and the focus of a large part of India’s acting talent, has switched to the booming television industry. Saonjivkumar Pahwa, Co-Producer of Baabarr, explains, “Many people are intent on being seen on, or working for the big screen, and are willing to work for less money. As a result, character/ junior artists are paid less in movies than they would be paid for working in television shows.” This is one of the factors that has made the television industry very popular with professionals. According to a FICCI-KPMG survey, the television industry is projected to grow
at a rate of 14.5 per cent over the next four to five years, attaining the Rs 473 billion mark. No longer the big screen’s poorer cousin, the television industry in India (the third largest television market in the world), has witnessed the launch of a slew of new channels in recent years. Whether it’s daily soaps, comedies or reality shows, musical programmes or quiz shows, there are a host of opportunities for aspirants in the television business today.
SURFING CHANNELS
While film may be a competitive, difficult medium to start with, the sheer number of television shows and channels ensure many aspiring actors get a break, and perhaps, later move on the big screen. Besides acting, opportunities in the television industry include direction, cinematography, editing, script and screenplay writing.
PRODUCERS: The television industry offers aspirants with an interest in production, an open platform to step up and prove themselves. After completing a TV production course, students can start their careers as independent producers or executive producers. There is also the option of working with a producer as his assistant. A television producer’s responsibilities begin with making certain everyone makes it to the set on time, to ensuring all production activities proceed smoothly until the end of the post-production stage, when the show is ready to be screened. Pahwa agrees, “A producer has to do everything, right from conceptualising the show, to acquiring finance, and project and time slots from the channel, to making arrangements for food and lights. But he has to start with enlisting the services of a director and writer.” There are innumerable TV channels in India that offer jobs to students trained in the field. You can join a TV channel that is of interest to you, or opt to work for a specific programme.
Actors: If you intend to act on TV, you might need to brace yourself for hectic schedules, with shooting continuing even until the last minute for daily soaps. Tanvi Hegde, who plays the protagonist in Son Pari, offers, “Talent and passion coupled with formal education and a sound knowledge of technical know how paves the way to success in this industry.” Even so, acting is a tough profession, so be prepared to struggle initially, when you queue up for one audition after another.
As Gautami Kapoor, popular television actress reveals, “It is a myth that television is a lucrative field. The struggle period is too long, while success can be short lived. Your initial remuneration can be as meagre as Rs 1000 to Rs 2000 per day. The field is extremely competitive and uncertain, and people in the industry follow the mantra, ‘out of sight is out of mind’.” She also stresses that long, incessant working hours leave little or no time for a personal or social life. The working conditions can be strenuous, and with no fixed job hours, television can be a very challenging work atmosphere. Junior artists get an even worse deal. They might need to report to the set at 7
am, when all they have is a five-minute role at 7 pm. Chitralee Chogle, a college student in Mumbai, is an aspiring artist who has acted in a few television serials, and also worked as an assistant director for one. She suggests, “Actors with talent will definitely make a mark, but you need to remember to work hard and be flexible about matters, keeping yourself ready to take up new challenges at all times.” Directors: A director brings ideas to life. Whether it’s decisions related to set designs, costumes, auditions, or other creative aspects of television shows, a director must be adept at all these tasks. However, to be a director, one must possess the requisite skills and be passionate about creating something. Janardhan Bhende, who began as an apprentice cameraman, and has steadily risen to the profile of a reality show producer for a dance show, explains, “Though there are a few aspirants who are genuinely talented, and these often find success, there are many others who do not possess that talent and come to reality shows, attracted by their scope for stardom.”
Cameramen: Cameramen or cinematographers are responsible for capturing scenes on camera. They need a certain degree of imagination in order to visualise frames and shooting angles. Sebastian Anthony, assistant cinematographer for movies like Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham and Aks, and now, an independent Director of Photography, offers, “As a part of the system, and not the system in itself, a cameraman should only advise or lend support to his director. Initially, one would need to assist a professional cameraman on the sets to learn the tricks of the trade.”
K U Mohanan, Director of Photography for films such as Don and Aaja Nachle, believes that without professional training, a cinematographer will not be able to handle equipment. He says, “Earlier, most aspirants pursued training at FTII, but many more institutes have come up as of late. With respect to skills, handling the equipment and camera are foremost. Also, playing with the light and postproduction work, such as digital analysis, Photoshop, etc, play a very important role in making you a better cameraman.” Editors: Editors decide what stays in the final cut, and what gets canned. An editor needs to rely on his own resources - good judgement, creativity and observation skills. Omkar Patki, an editor, who has worked with leading production houses, shares, “Editing is easy, rewarding and creatively satisfying, provided your concepts and skills are in sync with the script.”
Both editing and camera work are very technical fields, and it is best that anyone aspiring to pursue a career in these areas comes armed with a degree in the subject. Most film and TV institutes have cinematography and editing courses available.
The television industry has more opportunities to offer, including scriptwriter, storyboarding artist, pre-production/ line manager (dealing with budgets, scheduling, location, etc), artist co-ordinator, studio director, studio floor manager, soundman, production assistant, lighting man, console operator, online/ offline editor, visual effects artist (for opening sequences, VFX in shows, etc), music director, props manager and many more.
PICK YOUR PLATFORM
Aspirants can opt to work with production houses, TV stations, product design and R&D companies, the Internet, broadcast companies, companies that set up TV studios and stations, and need the technical expertise, or animation studios working for TV shows.
MOOLAH MATTERS
The television industry certainly does not send you home empty handed. The pay/ wages are earned daily, and not monthly. To begin with, if you are an actor/ actress playing a small character role, your pay starts from Rs 1000 and goes up to Rs 3000 per day. As you progress in your career, and your character is shaped into a long-term character, you start earning Rs 3000 to Rs 5000 a day. Cameo roles for better-known actors can fetch about the same amount. However, once the audience starts to recognise you, and begins appreciating your role, your daily income may go up to between Rs 5000 and Rs 1,50,000. That’s not the end of it. Once you establish
yourself and can command your time, you can adjust two to three assignments in a single day, which means you can earn in the range of Rs 4,50,000 in one day.
For directors, the pay structure is entirely different. A director may earn a salary, some minimum guarantee, or may even engage in profit sharing. Sometimes, a well-known director can be paid simply for lending his name.
Although television is one of the most lucrative industries, the instant fame and accolades that follow are remarkable as well. For most people, television brings lasting reognition and a place in the hearts and minds of millions of viewers. INSTITUTE INDICATOR
Film and Television Institute of India, Pune (www.ftiindia.com) Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute of India (srfti.gov.in) Asian Academy of Film and Television (www.aaft.com) Mass Communication Research Centre at Jamia Millia Islamia (www.ajkmcrc.org) Xavier’s Institute of Communications (www.xaviercomm.org) Symbiosis Institute of Mass Communication (www.simc.edu)

Uday Ravi Koduru
A total cricket freak, I love hanging out with friends and family, and enjoy watching Bollywood movies. I have learnt that going after what you believe in is the key to success.

Aditi Gala
Sometimes crazy, sometimes wise. At times, juvenile, and at times, unbelievably kind. I am a dreamer and a doer. A true Mumbaikar, who lives life by the Hakuna Matata policy. Books, literature and movies are a passion.

Korbo Lorbo Jeetbo Re

Running past flickering crowds wandering aimlessly outside the stadium, we finally reached Gate 2, in the hands of the security. Ajinkya was as usual getting hyper restless. I Amar and Kunal cared more for our throats than the 2 minutes of the inaugurals. So we filled our hands with 5 cans of soft drinks and rushed up the stands. The Captains it seems had returned from the stage and currently they were preparing for the next performance. Our seats were not what one would envy us for. But then that didn't matter at all... Finally we settled ourselves and began texting/calling the entire world that we were at the IPL! How typical! The performances were lukewarm considering the scale at which the event was taking place. But hell... I got to see ABBA perform , L-I-V-E! Beat that! The others were a shade of what their fame speaks about them. Deepika was hardly visible from where we sat but the crowd seemed to be ignorant of this fact as they cooed at her steps. The other performances came and went by, making me quite impatient for the start of the match. The teams made their presence on the field at around 8 p.m. and began practising. Why couldn't they practice before, unnecessarily wasting time now. The captains walked in with Ravi Shastri and the Match officials for the much awaited toss. Gilli won the toss and the Deccan Chargers chose to field. Before the match began, I was quite unbiased when it came to supporting either teams. Who cared if Kolkata won or Hyderabad? Was playing? Then why take borrowed tension? The toss took place even as the other players were busy practising. I didn't get who won but KKR were certainly batting first. The ground was cleared and the players assembled to take their positions.
suddenly a voice spoke, much like Dumbledore, asking the captains and the referee whether they were ready to start the play. This was a new innovation and took most of us by surprise as we soon found out that it was Rudi Koertzen, the on-field umpire. I guess it was Vaas who came to bowl first. Let me inform you that watching a match live is not very amusing for your eyes. It's very tough to identify anyone. Unless of course you are their wives. Anyways, so Vaas starts the run up. The entire stadium went silent. And a collective aaaahh erupts as it's a first ball DUCK!!! Hahaha!!! KKR 1 down for none! And then Dada walked in, with him the stadium went up dada, dada, dada... 4th ball and Dada also got out! It seemed KKR were going to get bowled out in a few overs.
Ajinkya had other plans as usual and I feel he certainly has the leadership instincts. He went to the next level to look out for better seats. He came back to call us and we nervously vacated our seats.
The view from the second level was more spectacular but the guards didn't allow me and Amar to enter and asked for our tickets. I like an obedient chap gave him and was directed to my original place. Kunal and the others managed to sneak in though. We went downstairs with a dejected face. But we weren't going to accept defeat yet. I suggested that we try going to the upper level from another entrance. Alas! The guard here too was vigilant and asked me for my ticket. Maybe he wasn't wearing specs as he coolly allowed us to enter and make ourselves comfortable. The match wasn't helping to make our situation entertaining. It was simply drudging along.
Although, Amar was very happy KKR was losing, I was more worried about the match getting over soon and we not getting our Paisa vasool! The match progressed and KKR got a useful partnership to post a 161er for Dc to win! Meanwhile we had managed to shift ourselves to where the others were located. The match looked livelier from there. The crowd was better and more engrossed, with people having their loyalties set. In front of us was a group of 6-7 guys. What caught my attention was the fact that one of them was constantly eating. And eating not only what was in his hands but also from everyone else's stuff. I found that very funny. Anyways the break went by and the second half resumed. The match got interesting with a few not so early wickets. The crowd caught the electric atmosphere and was charged enough to generate a few Mexican waves. There were a few feeble attempts by a guy straight down in front of us. He was by far the most enthusiastic. Shouting, egging others to shout, dance, dancing himself, drinking, telling the people from adjacent stands to respond to his Mexican wave calls... Rising with the crowd for the waves was an enchanting experience in itself. Amar wasn't enjoying the proceedings though. He was aghast with DC losing wickets after wickets and KKR tightening the noose. Quite a few celebs had turned up to cheer for KKR such as Arjun Rampal, Dino Morea, Juhi Chawla, et al.
The crowd was also enjoying the visible pleasures of the so-called 'cheer' leaders. They seemed to cheer any side which scored or took wickets. Identity crisis!
The people in front of me has already started fighting for every Six or every Wicket! They were visibly divided into 2 camps - one for the Bongs and the other for the Nizams! Swearwords were simply pouring from both ends. The match was nearing its end and it was getting tenser. Every ball counted and every run mattered. Majority of the crowd seemed to support KKR, courtesy SRK. Finally KKR won, not by bowling the other side but by exhausting the quota of 20 overs.
It was a perfect ending the beginning of season 3 with a last over finish! KKR had finally won their first match.
All I could say was,
The Bongs have it, The Bongs have it, The Bongs have it !!!