Do Good Now India May 8, 2016
Posted by simarp in : Is anyone listening , add a commentCome on, this is the time to do good, this is the time to Make in India, this is the time to Make India and by this time, I mean now. Let us Make India happen now. To make India happen now, all of us have to participate in doing good in our circle of influence. Thinking that the government can make India happen is foolhardy, we have to start making India happen in any which small way. We have to step out and Do Good on our own, we all await our chance and our chance is now.
We are you, the only difference probably is that at this juncture of our life we have some bandwidth available to put our ideas to action. And we have bandwidth to shift your idea and contribute to action.
A group of professionals from software industry and from rural development have decided to explore the possibility of setting up an Information Technology platform to help the people affected by drought through this project. This is a direct action platform -
- Demand is being assessed and donors are being identified.
- Speed is the essence of this project.
- In less than 48 hours of the project getting a name, first beneficiary has been identified and steps have been taken to get water to reach 70 families every day.
- There is more which is going to happen and we will make every day count and leave its own impact.
Some of the names associated with this initiative is:
- Arun Jain : An IT professional who is a leader in Financial Sector in India
- Yogesh Andlay : An IIT professional with interest in social sector
- Ajay Kumar : An engineer involved in Rural Development and Agriculture
- Project supported by Compare Infobase Limited
This project is shared at http://DoGoodNow.in
Life February 16, 2016
Posted by simarp in : Is anyone listening, Uncategorized , add a commentWhen you think something and your life has some other plans, go with the plans your life has. Rush nevertheless to finish all your open agendas and tasks to best of your ability. If some tasks become difficult to wrap-up, no worries success is never absolute, intention is.
If life tells you to calm down, calm down. Let Adrenalin rest. Be fearless but never be a god. You can’t make everything happen and a time would come when you can’t make anything happen, so everything not happening is far better than anything not happening.
When it comes to life, life is the only elephant in the room, rest all are pygmies, each pygmy has all the rights till the Elephant chooses to walk his way. Don’t fight with the Elephant, don’t fight with life. Let the Elephant do what it wishes to.
Life is like a tree, which grows best when set free, life is free when nothing is owed and when nothing is imposed. When thunders can be heard by the roots and when giants seek shelter under its branches, a tree celebrates a life well lived. A human life is well lived when those who benefit from giving outnumber those taken support and benefit from. When wealth is generated and shared for life and world’s betterment, purpose is achieved.
Wheels Of My Life February 7, 2016
Posted by simarp in : Is anyone listening , add a commentQ: What do you do, Simar?
A: Hmm…
Q: No, seriously?
A: I walk around cities and events?
Q: No, no, tell me, don’t ask me.
A: Err… I help running a trust in memory of a dear friend.
Q: That we know, but what do you do?
A: You mean for living?
Q: Yes.
A: I walk, I listen, I see, I observe, I write…
Q: So you write for a living, right?
A: No, let me think, hmm… I think mentor.
Q: You mentor whom and on what?
A: Anybody on anything…
Q: You are not being cooperative.
A: OK, I will try… I take photographs.
Q: So you are a photographer?
A: No, not exactly.
Q: This is frustrating, you are running in circles.
A: Yes, you got the answer, I run in circles, circles called life.
A: These are wheels of my life, they keep moving, they keep finding new roads.
A: At times I am writing, at times I am reading.
A: At times I am learning, at times I am mentoring.
A: At times I am evolving strategy, at times I am taking coaching.
A: At times I am earning, at times I am giving.
A: At times I am a father, at times I am a colleague.
A: At times I am a cook, at times I am a gourmet.
A: Wheels of my life, they keep moving, they keep finding new roads.
A: At times I am discovering new roads, at times I am living old roads.
A: At times I am a solider, at times I am a farmer.
A: At times I am a saint, at times I am a sinner.
A: At times I am powerful, at times I am weak.
A: At times I trust, at times I love, at times I do both.
A: I live, I live what is called life.
A: I do work to pay for my living, but I don’t live to work.
Q: So, do I know what you do Simar?
A: I live 
Hindustan Times is insensitive December 23, 2012
Posted by simarprit in : Cities, Delhi, India, Is anyone listening, News, News Reaction , 1 comment so farHindustan Times by-line reads: “Cops use water cannons, teargas to stop mob from marching to President’s house.”
Hello? Mob? Are you sure?
Looks like, they need to learn their lessons in sensitivity, English and journalism, in that order. Yes, mob does mean crowd, but its usage here is incorrect, inappropriate and unacceptable.
Let me explain one by one.
Sensitivity: Next they would call Bhagat Singh a terrorist, 1857 a mutiny and Subhash Chandra Bose one of Hitler’s cronies.
English: This is what Dictionary.com has to say for defining “mob”
1. a disorderly or riotous crowd of people.
2. a crowd bent on or engaged in lawless violence.
3. any group or collection of persons or things.
4. the common people; the masses; populace or multitude.
5. a criminal gang, especially one involved in drug trafficking, extortion, etc.
They could have simply called it a crowd, if that was the intended meaning, why brand it as a mob? It hurts. Those who were protesting there were protesting for a cause, not a cause which would make them richer or was aimed at their sexual gratification, come on. Usage of this word is a heinous crime in itself.
Journalism: As per Wikipedia “Journalism is the activity or product of journalists or others engaged in the preparation of written, visual or audio material intended for dissemination as news, topical information and other contemporary fact, analysis and opinion. Journalism is directed at the consumers of media products, who may comprise nonspecific general audiences, or narrower market segments).
Not even a word of this by-line adheres to any of the operatives behind the word journalism. Who is this by-line aimed at? It looks like this by-line is aimed at scoring brownies with the Central Government. Hindustan Times doesn’t know what “by-line” stands for.
Gentleman and dignified ladies behind Hindustan Times, by-line is an executive summary and editorial message rolled into one, right? We get the message Hindustan Times, your newspaper stands for insensitive, pseudo-journalism written in bad English aimed at protecting your business interests and pleasing your political bosses.
A Dream Called Life February 20, 2011
Posted by simarprit in : Is anyone listening , 14commentsI need an introduction, I need to live
I need to move, onwards is my will.
Opposite forces pull me, and they pull me hard
Values and ethics challenge me, and they tear me apart.
Am I a painter or am I pained
Am I brilliant or just no gain.
Complexities of life, doubled edged knife
Always in doubt, life, an unending bout.
Characters change, but all play games
Games? Oh! I lost to all who came.
Deeply in love is a myth
Nuptial of sorrow and pain is my tryst.
Admire me? Yes, so many
Understand me? Only the uncanny.
I am the speaker, of my life
Unsaid is my longing for afterlife.
Moral? it is a sophisticated abuse
Like an electric bulb without a fuse.
God! Oh God! I have an appeal
My life, this life, does not congeal.
Life has a form
Why? Why for me it is called a worm?
If life had to be this torn,
Oh God! Oh! Oh My God! Why I had to be born?
Do I have to live my entire life,
Bruised, broken and bereft of “life”
I can see the lock, it is big
I can see my grave, which I can’t dig.
Far and away from my arms, lies the calm
Not able to reach, persistent itching on my palm.
Life, this life, I just can’t tame
My veins bleed and I don’t feel any pain.
Why? Why don’t I hear my inner voice
Why? Why can’t I have another choice.
Why? why can’t I have another choice.
BTW: I am the writer but not the narrator in this rendering.
BJP set to win Delhi Assembly November 11, 2008
Posted by simarprit in : India, Is anyone listening, News , add a commentIt looks like the clock has turned full circle, they Delhi lost due to inflation – they are likely to win due to inflation. Vijay Kumar Malhotra maynot be my choice for CM’s post but I can never cast my vote for a Congress candidate. To me to vote for Congress is not an option. Arun Jaitley would have made a much better CM, maybe he wants to play safe and be in the race for PM some day.
More to come
Ticketcounterindia.com Spam Purnima Oswal August 22, 2008
Posted by simarprit in : email, Internet, Is anyone listening, Spam, Spamming , add a comment—– Original Message —–From: Ashu DuttTo: deleted by Simar to avoid further spam back to meSent: 2008-08-22 03:29Subject:FROM: ASHU DUTT, TICKETCOUNTER – YOUR MAILDear Simar:Your name is with us. It is possible it was shared in a meeting/conference etc. Please note that every name and email ID is from our internal databaseIn any case, my aplogies for any inconvenience this may have caused you and we will be glad to “Unsubscribe” you immediately. In any case, all it takes is a simple “Unsubscribe” and we remove the person’s emails addressCould you PLEASE SPECIFY the EXACT EMAIL ADDRESS you are getting the mails in since we cannot find xxxxxxx in our mailing list. Obviously, it is getting redirected through some other email address (perhaps one you used previously)Please send me an email address on which you received the mail and we will be glad to UNSUBSCRIBE immediatelyWarm RegardsAshu DuttTICKETCOUNTER
India Office
R-501, Remi Bizcourt
Shah Industrial Estate
Andheri (West)
Mumbai 400 053, India
Tel: +91-22-6675-6612
Fax: +91-22-6675-6249
Email: ashu.dutt@ticketcounterindia.com—– Original Message —–From: Purnima OswalSent: Friday, August 22, 2008 12:52 PMSubject:FW: PURNIMA OSWAL – TICKETCOUNTER REVIEW FOR BACHNA AE HASEENOFrom: xxxxxx
Sent:Friday, August 22, 2008 8:35 AM
To:Purnima Oswal
Subject:Re: PURNIMA OSWAL – TICKETCOUNTER REVIEW FOR BACHNA AE HASEENO
Importance: High
Please explain from where you got my mail ID, any failure to do so would mean that I proceed against you and your company for spamming and move to get your site banned.
Simar
—– Original Message —–From: Purnima Oswal
To: Purnima Oswal
Sent: 2008-08-22 01:11
Subject:FROM: PURNIMA OSWAL – TICKETCOUNTER REVIEW FOR BACHNA AE HASEENO
Enclosed please find the Ticket Counter Review for BACHNA AE HASEENO
Reviews for other movies are available at www.ticketcounterindia.com
Regards
Purnima Oswal
TICKET COUNTER INDIA
Shah Industrial Estate
Off Veera Desai Road
Andheri (W)
Mumbai – 400053, India
Tel: +91-22-65984129
Fax: +91-22-66756249
Email:purnima.oswal@ticketcounterindia.com
Ahmedabad Blasts Update July 27, 2008
Posted by simarprit in : Blogging, City, India, Is anyone listening, News, News Reaction , 1 comment so farI avoid writing twice on a news, but this one is disturbing me a lot. It is 3:30 AM in San Jose and the restless me is trying to get hold of the actual number of deaths in the Ahmedabad blasts, 40 to 50 is the range which most of the sites are now talking about.
What are the calculations, the masterminds amongst the terrorists would be doing, 3 per blast is good or bad for them. Numbers matter to all, and more over to those who are in the business of fear. I am sure they would have planned and hoped for 100 per blast, yes hoped. Reading across Guardian, CNN, NDTV, Headlines India, Times of India and BBC one just gets one feeling, media would move on, the Government would move on, the terror merchants and there terror network would move on, even the relatives of those who have died would move on, but these 40 -50 lesser mortals would never move again.
No one is talking about Bangalore blasts today, 48 hours is what it took for everyone to move on, a search on Google for both Bangalore Blasts Suspects and Ahmedabad Blasts Suspects, got an unexpected first result – http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rlz=1T4GGIH_enIN234IN234&q=Ahmedabad+Blast+Suspects - Al Jazeera. Yes Al Jazeera network’s english website. No CNN, no BBC, no Times of India, no NDTV. Ruthlessness of the conspirators is demonstrated amply by the fact that they planted bombs near/ inside the hospitals – objective can be nothing but if you survived so far, die now.
Ahmedabad blasts have something more in them, they bring back unpleasent memories of series of communal violence incidents which have been happening in Ahmedabad and other areas of Gujarat for about a decade now. Gujarat has suffered, it was coming up very well and would have beome number one on per capita income in India in these last ten years. Every blast takes it back, demotivates some, cautions others, investment climate does suffer.
India as a nation needs to practice zero tolerance when it comes to such acts, we need political will and quick execution. I am sure our police would know the sympathizers if not the accused very well. Just lock them up and hang couple of them after every incident. On the other hand, work towards economic integration of both the communities, economic ties can sometime be thicker than religion.
Thank Usha for a more balanced update: http://blogs.mapsofindia.com/2008/07/27/ahmedabad-blasts-update/
Hello to H.H. The Dalai Lama!!! July 6, 2008
Posted by simarprit in : Is anyone listening, Uncategorized , add a commentIn flight discussions on transcontinental flights are probably the fastest learning and knowledge sharing places.
Just before we could disembark, I got finally talking to the gentleman who was siting on my right and working hard through the flight, (yours truly was too blotted up to do anything in this flight hence was watching everyone else… LoL). As we got talking the gentleman asked me are you a Sikh, and on my saying Yes I am, the conversation became instantly interesting. He told me that he had gone to Amritsar to visit Harmandir Sahib as part of a documentary project called The Invocation, http://www.TheInvocation.com. Emmanuel mentioned that he met the “Second Highest Religious person” present at Sri Harmandir Sahib. This “Second Highest Religious Person” would need some probing around and is beyond the scope of this post. Emmanuel Itier also mentioned that after a quick 5 hour visit of the city of Amritsar they left for Dharamshala by road.
Dharamshala to me is synonym with His Holiness The Dalai Lama, the face of “Freedom for The Tibet Movement” and one of the most hallowed religious/ spiritual personalities of the world. My immediate question was “so did you interview His Holiness?” I am sorry Emmanuel, on the hindsight I should not have asked this question. Emmanuel answer was stiff “No.” Here are those few sentences which Emmanuel shared hurriedly in detachment and disbelief. I have tried to keep them as verbatim as possible:
- They had requested for an appointment.
- They were informed that His Holiness is in Dharamshala.
- They met two secretaries of HH The Dala Lama.
- The Secretaries confirmed that they understood the project and decided not to bring the request for an appointment to the notice of His Holiness.
- The Secretaries despite a series of correspondence and first level references didn’t budge at all.
- The Secretaries to The Dalai Lama maintained that they had all the wisdom and the authority to decide who can meet His Holiness.
- They saw lot of monks.
- They saw lot of monks in constant argument and squabbles.
- The halo around Budhism and His Holiness didn’t prepare them for what they saw.
- His Holiness was resting and had no other engagements.
- They got an impression that maybe donations ease the path for meetings with His Holiness.
I am surprised. It looks more like Corporate or a Self Styled Guru’s office approach and doesn’t at all go with image of the Dalai Lama. Here is a quote from the official biography of His Holiness “on the level of a human being, His Holiness first commitment is the promotion of human values such as compassion, forgiveness, tolerance, contentment and self-discipline”. My concern is Emmanuel couldn’t see any of this in his visit.
I am sure the secretaries wold get to see this post as The Tibet is very active o the Internet, the issue is would they re-look at their systems.
This is my Hello to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, anyone who can share this with him would do good to all those who believe in the aura of His Holiness. As do I. I understand fully that His Holiness just can’t grant all appointments, but it is the experience of a documentary film maker which troubled me and made me write this post.