India

We, the Philanthropists

Ensures1 Comment

My eyes popped up when I saw this headline while surfing on the web – “Salaried class : IT exemption limit raised” To my disappointment and utter sense of disbelief, I discovered when I read it the 3rd time that it was not a “:” but a “Want” in that headline. A classic case of “Mind read what it wanted not what the eyes saw”

Mind reads what it wants, not what eyes see
Mind reads what it wants not what eyes saw

After all,  it was “only” a demand from a lowly Class of downtrodden and roughshod population of this nation – the salaried class, as if they have any rights to demand.

When I walk into the Income Tax Department office, my heart swells with pride for what I do, the most philanthropic act anyone can do, in fact. Looking at those seated, snoring, behind their desks amidst the pile of files – I couldn’t help watch them with a glint in my eyes and wonder with pride, ” here are those folks in India that I feed, nourish and nurture”

Taxes that we Pay help a needy man catch up on sleep
Taxes that we Pay help a needy man catch up on sleep

And when over ambitious Justice Katju blames me for malnutrition, I obviously have reasons to take offense. And I distinctly remember I also fed this juvenile Katjus via my tax payment (even today feed him in the form of  post retirement doles, pension and position) and yet this thankless luminary debunks this and cites malnutrition. I would accept if he appears anything but malnourished, I am not speaking mentally malnourished here, for which I cannot be held responsible. Here is another friend Mediacrooks delivering the Justice that Justice demanded for 10000 killed in Gujarat.

And we have yet another Member of Parliament – the famous one whose “sweat” costed him a cabinet “seat”.  Do I pay my taxes to pay this Chivalrous MP who “takes a good 10 days (NaMo said this on 6th Feb 2013)” to discover that Air is not important and think of something else to pour (a Whiskey or Rum?) to make the glass full. Not surprised someone who has worked hard(ly) to earn that Sweat Equity for his “then” invaluable Friend.

Rejoinder for NaMo Half Glass Remark at #SRCC
Rejoinder for NaMo Half Glass Remark at #SRCC

As someone said, while Optimistic Tax Payer who saw the Glass Half full haggled with Pessimistic Tax Payer who saw it as Half empty, an Opportunist mixed his drink and walked away evading his taxes (not naming since he is already busy suing a famous journalist and why add myself into his “To-Be-Sued” list)

I have some serious doubts on how my Tax money is spent.  Why should I pay for upkeep of Mughul Gardens just for the enjoyment of  the “One” who has been rewarded by Tax Collector (Government) as a perquisite for favor done earlier?  Just an old couple who are past their prime to enjoy them, walking with a bunch of guests who drop in once in a while all for free.

Mughal Gardens in Rashtrapati Bhavan
Mughal Gardens in Rashtrapati Bhavan

Why not ask them to “pay and use” like our Sulabh Shouchalayas. I am sure it is not as taxing for them as it is for me to pay for it

Unlike Rashtrapti Bhavan this place keeps my neighbourhood clean
Unlike Rashtrapti Bhavan this place keeps my neighbourhood clean

I was travelling in Mangalore some time back. Saw that Government has hired so many life guards, again paid by taxes we pay. I am not forcing those going for a swim and why the heck should I pay to pull them out of troubled waters? Let those who want to go for a swim realize that every action has its consequences and cannot be spoilt by this Nanny Government at my cost.

Panambur Beach - Rocky & Dangerous
Panambur Beach – Rocky & Dangerous
The Samaritans who risk their lives to save others' lives
The Samaritans who risk their lives to save others’ lives & I pay for it

We are slowly becoming a nation of entitlement. Free Water supply in  Bengaluru‘s Lalbaugh  is another such overindulgence. Early morning joggers (Yes they have united under the banner of Lalbagh Walker’s Association) come there to enjoy their freebie at taxpayer’s expense (During later hours there is an entrance fee) and if they feel thirsty let them carry their water bottles (and not litter the place with empty ones – cleaning up for which I pay again)

Glass House, Lalbagh, Bengaluru
Glass House, Lalbagh, Bengaluru

Now that I have given very few examples to buttress my point, Increasing Taxes or the exemption limit is no solution. NO TAXES is the solution. We are a nation who probably spend more to collect our taxes than the tax amount itself. Do away with them. Anyway we are taxed on every item that we buy. Go after those big fishes. Taxes from just 100 of them, who anyway pay pittance as as taxes are enough to take care of the nation. Salaried Middle class has been more than philanthropic till date. Spare us now. Finance Minister of UPA please note the above. In case you are not able to do anything much, pass this on to Finance minister of the NDA.

Until then let me go and meditate to find my Solace in His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ‘s The Art of Living Ashram hoping against hope that I see a NO-TAX regime.

Sunset Through Vishalakshmi Mantap is The Art of Living Ashram
Sunset Through Vishalakshmi Mantap is The Art of Living Ashram

Bollywood, Drugs, Ethics, Politicians – A Heady Mix

Ensures12 Comments

A Transcript of His Holiness Pujya Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar of  The Art of Living speaking on Bollywood’s complicity in current degradation of Societal Values

(I have attempted transcription of the talk as delivered verbatim, in order not to lose the purport in the process of scripting)

Question: Dear Guruji, Adi Shankaracharya was a Sanyasi. Yet He established various methods of Puja and Worship. What is the significance of Idol Worship in Spirituality? A recent Bollywood Cinema has shown it in bad light

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Sri Sri Ravi Shankar : Just imagine that there was no Idols at all in this country, no temples, no photographs, no paintings-Mankind would have been in a big loss. Just imagine there were no Sculptors, you would have never known how the people in the past would have looked like. Just imagine there was no Michelangelo, his paintings ; no Ravi Varma, and there is no painting of any sorts, the world would be such a dull place.

Similarly just imagine a world without any music, without any dance, without any festivity – you know these people systematically attack the values of this society or the culture of the country, they are into some mischief, I tell you. They say all Ashrams are bad, you cannot put all Ashrams in one basket and say they are all hopeless. You cannot say all temples are simply looting money.

Rudra Puja
Rudra Puja

What do these people do? What do the Bollywood do? Each of those actors sometimes come and sneeze in front of the camera and takes crores of Rupees. For Vicks advertisement they had to come and just sneeze 2 times. That’s it! 2-3 crores they take home. What do they do? Drink, go for drugs go to parties drink and waste the money. Whose money are they wasting? Public’s! And that too poor people who go for entertainment, pay so much of their hard earned money and these money in crores go to the pockets of these Bollywood actors and actresses. And their lives, I tell you is miserable. It is misery in bundle. And immoral, unethical behaviour – they may talk about ethics but if you see their personal life, you cannot find ethics – most of them, many of them. And they say there should be no idols, there should be no puja, don’t go to Satsangs, Dahi Handi (Curd Pot) mat karo. Arre! Dahi Handi is a beautiful festival remembering Lord Krishna‘s life story and people enjoy. Holi is a festival, Ganesh is a festival. These festivals bring color to the Society. That is what India is. Just imagine, no temples at all, no Murthis (Idol) at all, no figures at all – It won’t be India. It will be like Afghanistan, where 2000 year old Bahmiyan Buddhas were destroyed. What is there? Just Desert.

Bamiyan Buddha, Afghanistan (Doesn't Exist now)
Bamiyan Buddha, Afghanistan (Doesn’t Exist now)

No! these people have ulterior motives and they want to take our country towards Naxalism. Because they don’t want Ethics and Religion to blossom. What do they do? They take religion to beat up religion. This is the new trend that has come up in this society.
How these these politician do? They create their own enemy and make them stand against them. And they go on abusing the politician. So all those who are against this politician will go that guy who is his enemy. And then he wins the elections, and then he takes them within himself. This is what happened with NCP. What is NCP? They all went away from Congress. People voted for them because they are not with Congress and they joined Congress back. First they deceived Congress, then they deceived people. What happened to Prajarajyam in Andhra Pradesh, this famous actor (Chiranjeevi) was made to stand against Congress party and people had a big hope. This guy would give us a change and would make a difference. All the opposition vote he cornered which would have otherwise gone to another party. Six months later he went and merged with Congress. These are deceptions.

Sworn Enemies?
Sworn Enemies?

Similarly you would see in Bollywood, anyone wearing a tilak will be a villain. Someone with a choti (a hair tuft) has to be a bad guy.

Stereotyping
Stereotyping

And they bring dignity of people who are practicing ancient wisdom or religion into a very bad light so that young people can go away from that. More young people move away from traditional values, they can make them susceptible for drugs, alchohol and cigarettes. All these lobbies work towards this. Because what stops youth from using drugs is, I tell you – it is their Religiosity.

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Our Heroes and Role Models???

When youth is away from religiosity the drug market flourish very well. This is the whole lobby that is working. The drug lobby, alcohol and cigarette lobby and the Bollywood. Do you now see how the market works?

People who go to temple or Gurudwaras or church –people with religious bent of mind or spiritual bent of mind don’t go to drugs. For that you have to first cut the youth from going to these places and then they can influence them, “Hey, C’mon take the drugs” That is how they have done it.

1348066424_Subsatnce
Sniffing Correction Fluid

A large percent of Punjab has been addicted this way. It is unfortunate. So painful to see a community like Punjab who were so robust & vibrant is going in this direction which is self destructive. And Children!!

(The following part edited/added with transcript of talk with the Updated video link) Courtesy: Sri Dinesh Ghodke

The Art of Living  took a very bold step in filing a case against the Eraser (Correction fluid), typewriter eraser ink, banning that. Went to Supreme Court and got the order in our favor. Its all done by Art of Living volunteers. Because this eraser ink, you could get it in any shop and the children, kids used to take it,  sniff it and use it to get high! So we made an effort to fight that. Now the government has banned that eraser ink, whitener. The whitener has been now banned! Similarly drug de-addiction program is happening in Punjab. But you know this lobby is so big! That’s why I want everyone of you to volunteer in bringing about spirituality to people.

Correction Fluid Banned in Punjab
Correction Fluid Banned in Punjab

In last month, we had 150 internationals from all over the world… from Russia, from other places went on padayatra in Andhra Pradesh, some parts of Karnataka, to bring the awareness in people. Spirituality is important! You all sing and dance meditate, participate in the cultural programs. This message was very well received from the people in the villages and unfortunately, Bollywood is destroying these fibre by projecting it all in a very negative light.

And who is funding this? Its coming from Dawood type of people, not all though… I wouldn’t say all of them are bad; generalization in any field is not wise but I see that this lobby of druggist and terrorist and unethical people are playing havoc through Bollywood!

(Check these links on Dawood-Bollywood Nexus : Pls note it is Not part of the talk: 1) Sanjay Dutt 2) Mafia Investments in India 3) Akshay Kumar 4) Stars to Attend Wedding Bash  )

You can view the Original video of the  talk uploaded on The Art of Living ‘s official Channel here

Don’t Mess with Hindus – A Report

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Read the Report on Southern Region Patriotic Tweeples Conference held on 2nd December 2012 in Bangalore (Originally Published on http://www.mediacrooks.com)

One of the greatest modern-day astronomers, the late Carl Sagan stated: “Vedic Cosmology is the only one in which the time scales correspond to those of modern scientific cosmology”. Sagan was an atheist, so religion didn’t influence his findings. Another astronomer corroborated the accuracy of the Vedas by stating that the movements of the stars calculated 4,500 years ago, does not differ by a minute from the tables of today. While scientists have growingly come to acknowledge the Vedas, the basis of Hinduism and Hindu culture, it is our own ‘Fiberal’ Social Scientologists and the ‘Fiberals’ in the media who often heap the most abuse on Hindus and Hindu culture. Some are even ignorant which “invented” religions started the concept of killing for their faith.
 
Rajdeep Sardesai is a family-man. Like any parent he wants his kids to grow up in an India where no one kills in the name of religion. It’s a nice thought. John Lennon did ask to “Imagine no religion”. But what does Rajdeep have to say to parents who often shower abuse in public with statements like calling Lord Ram a “Divine Encroacher”? What does it teach children when someone calls “Indian males ugly”? What does Rajdeep say when a fellow media crook calls Ram a D***? What does it say about an Editorialist who runs an anti-Hindu channel? What does it say about Editorialists who didn’t report a single communal riot of the NINE in UP in the last 6 months? If Rajdeep wants an India free of religious violence he and his friends in the media must acknowledge that religious-violence wasn’t invented in India. It came from foreign deserts. Rajdeep’s deputy called people on SM “Internet Hindus” as a derogatory term. What does Rajdeep have to say? Well, far from feeling offended Hindus now wear that term as a proud badge much to her annoyance.
This post is not directed at Rajdeep but draws his attention to what he can correct without any help from anywhere. And now Hindus on the net and on the ground are starting to say “enough is enough”. People on Twitter, often called ‘Tweeple’ are now frequently gathering to discuss the media and other social and economic issues. One such meet was held in Bangalore on December 2, 2012 and promoted under the tag #SouthPTC. Prominent speakers were Subramanian Swamy (SS), S. Gurumurthy (SG), Prof. R. Vaidyanathan(RV) and MR Venkatesh (MRV). These gentlemen are well-known, well-respected and frequently appear on TV panel discussions. They were also joined by many Tweeple in making presentations. Here’s a report on the meet sent in by N. Suresh (@Surnell). The report is in Suresh’s own words and I have only edited it for length. Invite you to read: