2011 in review
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 28,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 10 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.
Sociology of Flatulence
In Deepa Mehta’s movie ‘1947: Earth’ (1998), a Muslim Character tells his Hindu Friend:
“अरे तुम हिन्दू इतनी फलियाँ और गोबी खाते हो, कोई हैरानी की बात नहीं कि तुम्हारे योगी हवा में उड़ते हैं. किसी दिन पादते-पादते कहीं जन्नत ही ना पहुँच जाएँ “
“Are tum Hindu Itni faliyan aur gobi Khate ho, koi hairani ki baat nahi ki tumhare Yogi hawa me udte hain. Kisi din paadte-paadte kahin jannat hi na pahunch jayen ……(You Hindus eat so many beans and cabbage, it’s not surprising your Yogis levitate; they will probably fart away to heaven).
In many societies, flatulence (breaking wind or more commonly known as farting) in public is regarded as embarrassing but, depending on context, can also be considered humorous. In many cultures, people will often strain to hold in the passing of gas when in polite company, or position themselves to conceal the noise and odor. In some other cultures, it may be no more embarrassing than coughing. The social acceptability of flatulence-based humor varies over the course of time and between cultures. For Example in Japan, farting is included in human nature; and during early years of marriage most married men and women engage in flatulence in front of their spouses in order to reinforce their relationships. In ancient Japan, public contests were held to see who in a town could fart the loudest and longest. The Winners of the contest were awarded many prizes and received great recognition. Donald Richie notes in ‘Discover Japan vol.2 Words, Customs and Concepts’, Kodansha, 1983, p.192-193) that the fart (he or onara) – is omnipresent in Japanese literature and the arts: From Edo-period scroll paintings to Ozu Yasujiro’s Ohayou (1959). It is not at all embarrassing.
In some Arab societies, flatulence by the guest after a good meal is considered a sign of fulfillment and gratitude.
On the contrary, in Baluchistan and Pashtunistan (the region encompassing Afghanistan and Pakistan), flatulence is considered quite a bad habit. There were folk-tales where people had to leave their villages because they farted in public. Two brothers were so embarrassed after farting during the game of volley-ball, that they committed suicide. On a different note, US marines stationed in Afghanistan are advised by their commander to refrain from engaging in bodily acts of flatulence in public.
In an Interesting fable from Akbar-Birbal Series, there is an instance of social outcasting after engaging in the act of flatulence in public. Once Birbal farted loudly in the the court of emperor Akbar. According to prevalent practice, Birbal was asked to leave the capital for engaging in this embarrassing act. Birbal went away to countryside. Since Birbal was a great friend and a counsel to Akbar, he missed him dearly. So after a few months, he asked Birbal to come back to capital. When Birbal returned, Akbar asked him for his work during last few months. Birbal told him that he was growing pearls in the field. Akbar was surprised. He asked him to the show his crop of pearls. So Birbal took him to his fields, and when asked to show the pearls. Birbal said, only that person can pluck the pearls from the plants who has never farted in his life, or the pearls will turn into water. Akbar queried all present to say whether anybody is there who has never farted. There was no one who had never farted. Akbar realized his mistake and said sorry to his friend Birbal.
In a little know African country named Malawi, the government had proposed a bill prohibiting farting in public, which led to huge public ‘backlash’ and the government had to roll back the bill.
There is a story of a man in Iran regarding his flatulence in public. He was so much tormented for being called a padela (a farter), that he decided to leave the country. Similarly farting is considered a serious incivility by Russians and in some cases, it has resulted in divorces and fighting among the couples.
Flatulence in general by children is usually considered an object of amusement and is joked upon in many cultures including India, Mongolia and America.
In the translated version of Penguin’s 1001 Arabian Nights Tales, a story entitled “The Historic Fart” tells of a man who flees his country from the sheer embarrassment of farting at his wedding, only to return ten years later to discover that his fart had become so famous, that people used the anniversary of its occurrence to date other events. Upon learning this he exclaimed, “Verily, my fart has become a date! I shall be remembered forever and ever.”
It is not surprising that flatulence has evoked varied interests in people leading to creation of various flatulence related humor shows on TV and literature. But there is more than what goes with the wind…:-)
Miracle of God Called Life
Life is a gift of God!
Life is wonderful and all the people who live in it, make it more beautiful and livable. There is no better intoxication than the life itself. We never realize the importance of anything till It starts drifting away. We all feel the same about life too, when its starts sinking away.
Then we realize how good it is. How beautiful is to wake up one lazy morning with your loved ones. Smile softly and blink with misty eyes. Make some Green tea or coffee and talk tit-bits between the sips. May be some biscuits or some left over Walnut cake from the last night will make it more interesting. Get up and go for a walk together on the small hills nearby. On the way slowly climbing the high rising stairs. Stopping a bit for taking a gush of air and smiling at each other.With red ears…say it loud, OH we did climb it….:-) Later taking big strides on the small sparsely crowded road and thinking of which vegetables to buy. Looking at other people doing their chores. Basking in the sun. Making some small talk over surroundings. Staring at the distant mountains and while coming back buying banana cup cakes. Climbing down to home and making some nice healthy breakfast of Brown bread Egg-cucumber sandwich with some cheese. ‘Dark honey laced non-milk Tea’ to give the company. Sitting lazily in the courtyard under the winter sun. Mules walking in a single row far away. Somewhere near a small stream is flowing away past the tall pine trees. Two Mongoose playing hide and seek with us while nibbling at the bread thrown for them.Thinking that life is indeed GOOD.This nonetheless looks trivial but believe me, we will all realize that this is a royalty which you would never want to lose. This is an eternal truth that:
We all will grow old one day, and we will not be able to DO even simpler things, what we can do now without much pain.
But God gives us a superb chance to live it out once.
God blesses us with his/her wonderful gift called LIFE and a wonderful bio-machine called body. All this is made possible by a good and healthy body.
Wondering, why I have become such a big fan of life?
Here is the secret………….. I have realized that there is nothing more precious than Life and is incomparable to any other worldly thing. Life is great with a healthy body and mind.
Today (19/11/2011), I received another great message from the Almighty to celebrate the best things he has given to us. I am lucky and happy that my 7th judgment Day came and went like super blessing by GOD. God really you are GOOD ALL THE TIME. I pray and wish all who are facing judgment days in their lives (like my Uncle…he is a great survivor, Steve…Guy who made me cope with it, and all out there fighting back with vigor)…May God bless them with life and we will bask in his/her glory. May Lord Ganesha showers them all with his love and care like he does to me.
Thanking people who love you, is like giving pennies when you should be giving the diamonds. But nevertheless. I would like to thank in manifolds to Dear GOD for all his care for me, papa-mummi for their love and impeccable devotion to GOD, Dr MSA, Dr AA, Dr Verma for their super extraordinary skills and concern, Mrs Mary for keeping me in her mind and prayers, Suresh & Girdhar for standing by my side, KL for concern, Aps for still calling and believing my old talk, RVS for ignoring , KKK for absolute faith in me and your vegetarianism and last but not the least ‘YOU’. You are the fuel which keeps the flame of my life burning.
Thank you all!……Love you all!
Good advice:
Drink Plenty of water
Try to Be a Vegetarian as much as possible
Drink plenty of Tulsi-Green Tea
Cut on Sugar and take Honey instead
Eat Colorful fruits and vegetables (more colors are more better)
Avoid fatty food and junk food
Do some yoga or any other exercise everyday
Eat food prepared by someone who loves you or make it yourself…:-)
2011 के लंदन के दंगे: कुछ सवाल और कुछ जवाब
सचमुच वर्ष 2011 के लंदन के दंगे निन्दनीय हैं। लूटपाट और हिंसा को कभी भी सही नहीं ठहराया जा सकता है परन्तु पूरे प्रकरण को आपराधिक अवसरवादिता करार देने से मुझे इनकार है। लंदन के दंगों से जुड़े कुछ पहलू पेश हैं:
१. अप्रैल 2011 में अश्वेत रैप गायक स्माइली कल्चर की पुलिस के हाथों मौत के बाद 2000 से अधिक अश्वेत लोगों की हिस्सेदारी में एक बहुत बड़ा अहिंसक और शांतिपूर्ण प्रदर्शन स्कॉटलैंड यार्ड में आयोजित किया गया था पर जिसे शायद ही किसी ने गंभीरता से लिया था। यहाँ देखें http://tinyurl.com/3qptxkj
२. दक्षिणी लंदन की अश्वेत जनता IPCC (Independent Police Complaint Commission) पर भरोसा नहीं करती और पुलिस के स्टॉप एण्ड सर्च कार्यक्रमों से नाखुश है। यहा देखें http://tinyurl.com/3vw7ds3
३. टॉटनहम जहाँ दंगों की शुरूवात हुई थी, वहाँ बाल गरीबी के आँकड़े पूरे लंदन में चौथे स्थान पर हैं और वयस्क बेरोजगारी राष्ट्रीय औसत से दोगुनी है। देखें यहाँ http://tinyurl.com/3khht7g
४. OECD के अनुसार यू.के. में सामाजिक गतिशीलता अन्य समृद्ध विकसित देशों के मुकाबले कम है यानी गरीब घरों के बच्चे आमतौर पर अंतत: गरीब ही रह जाते हैं। देखें यहाँ रिपोर्ट http://tinyurl.com/y9ojpab
५. उपभोक्तावादी संस्कृति के प्रभाव से लूट्पाट का मुख्य निशाना मुख्य रूप से बड़े स्टोर थे और लूटपाट को अंजाम देने वालों वयस्कों और किशोरों का सारा ध्यान महंगे फैशनेबल कपड़ों, जूतों, स्मार्टफोन, लैपटॉप, फ्लैटस्क्रीन टी.वी. आदि पर था। उनके लूटपाट का मकसद पेट भरना या पैसे कमाना न हो कर हर कीमत पर ब्रांडेड उपभोक्ता उत्पादों को हासिल कर उच्चतर प्रतिष्ठा प्राप्त करना था। देखें यह खबर http://tinyurl.com/3mazhep
६. भविष्य के प्रति निराशावादिता और अपने हमउम्रों के सामने इज्जत पाने की होड़ में कई युवा और किशोर दंगों में शामिल हुए थे। देखे http://tinyurl.com/43lxn6k
कुल मिलाकर कहा जाए तो लंदन में दंगे क्यूँ हुए इसका जवाब इतना सरल नहीं है जैसा कि यूके के प्रधानमंत्री डेविड केमरोन कह रहें हैं। गौर करने की बात यह है कि भारत में भी दंगे मूलत: आर्थिक कारणों से ही होते है, नाम चाहे धर्म का हॊ।
Some Great Facilities for Travelers Coming to Delhi
Two Good News for Travelers arriving in Delhi from anywhere in the world. First one, now they can keep their luggage at the Left Luggage for few hours to days by paying the requisite charges at the Left Luggage Counter / Clock Room at New Delhi Airport (Indira Gandhi International Airport). This will enable them to avoid travelling with the heavy luggage if they are on short trip to Delhi and surrounding areas. The Left Luggage counter is located near Terminal -3 Skywalk Level. See the pictures for deatails
Clock Room / Left Luggage Counter New Delhi Airport
Rate List Left Luggage Counter New Delhi Airport
The second good news for travelers is that Delhi Metro and Reliance have collaborated to bring Delhi Airport Express Line from New Delhi Railway Station to New Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport! Service is also available from New Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport to New Delhi Railway Station.
- Train starts from New Delhi Railway Station and stops at Shivaji Stadium, Dhaula Kuan and Aerocity (Palam) Stations before reaching New Delhi Airport and BACK
- Train Speed 135 Kms/Hour
- Travel Time is 18 Minutes only
- Train is available every 20 Minutes
- First Train at 5 Am and last at 11 Pm
- Fare is 80/- Rs only
- Luggage Check-in facility available at New Delhi Railway station and Shivaji Stadium Station for Domestic Airlines
- You can carry up to 64 Kgs of Luggage in the Train
- Seats are comfortable and spacious (unlike Delhi Metro normal Trains). Here is the route map
Route Map of Delhi Airport Metro Express
Some Pictures
The Train - Delhi Airport Express
Station Delhi AIrport Express
Inside the Train Delhi Airport Metro Express
