This beautiful piece was sent to me by my dear online friend Mohana Vilashiny, whom I affectionately call Darling. I was reviewing my old emails when I found this. I immediately emailed it to many of my other friends and now I thought of posting it on my blog. This is really good and hope everyone enjoys this.
Love, SUN-GOD.
=====================================================================The Paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower view points. We spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness. We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one-night stands, over-weight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.
Remember: spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.
Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.
Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.
Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there Again. Give time to love, give time to speak, and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
HOW TO STAY YOUNG
1. Throw out non-essential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctor worry about them. That is why you pay him/her.
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.
3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. "An idle mind is a devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.
4. Enjoy the simple things.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.
7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever your home is your refuge.
8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, to the next county, to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.
10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity. AND ALWAYS REMEMBER: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
Friday, 9 May 2008
Freefall!
By Desaraju Surya
Hyderabad: It's a strange paradox. Prices of essential commodities have been skyrocketing but rates of mobile handsets are falling. They will become even cheaper in the coming days as the retail Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) handset market is going to be stirred with the entry of telecom major Reliance Communications (RCom), a Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group company. RCom, which is already into the Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA) handset business, is set to make a foray into GSM handset retailing as well in a month. Apart from the petty vendors, major business houses like Essar Group, RPG and Subhiksha are currently in the GSM handset retail business through a chain of stores, mostly confined to major towns and cities. Their size is also very small and hasn't helped in market consolidation. Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Fresh stores too have been selling mobile handsets but on a smaller scale. Major mobile manufacturers like Nokia, LG, Samsung, and Sony Ericsson have also opened exclusive outlets but only in select towns and cities. Reliance, however, will have its footprint virtually everywhere, thanks to its existing network of stores and that gives it an edge over the others in the business. Market sources also feel that Reliance's entry could lead to consolidation of the handset business and make it more organised. Market sources said RCom has already signed agreements with major handset vendors, including LG, Samsung, Motorola, Sony Ericsson, Spice, Fly Mobile andHTC while it may also enter into an agreement with Nokia, which is the leader in mobile handset market in the country now. "With the kind of discounts that Reliance can offer, thanks to its bulk orders with handset manufacturers, customers will get to benefit a great deal. At the sametime, the smaller players, particularly those unorganised, will be badly hit," a Nokia Priority dealer pointed out. Market sources recall that it was RCom that virtually changed the mobile business by offering handsets for as low as Rs 500 in its initial years and even now the cheapest handset (CDMA) is being offered for just Rs 777. Information gathered from the Cellular Operators Association of India points out that the mobile handset market might cross 100 million this year against the last year’s estimated size of 70-75 million units. However, the handset replacement rate has fallen from six months to eight months. Already, the mobile handset market is in disarray what with margins becoming wafer thin. "Even on a high-end model, the profit margin is a mere Rs 100 because of the intense competition. Besides, with the launch of new models virtually everyday, prices are falling significantly," G Ramakrishna, a leading mobile dealer, said. In the past 15 days, prices have fallen by Rs 50 to Rs 200 per handset and with about 40 new models expected to be launched into the market in a few months, rates are set to drop further.
Sunday, 4 May 2008
BUBBLE BURST!
By Desaraju Surya
Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh government which reaped a rich harvest by selling land in and around Hyderabad, riding on the artifical boom in real-estate market, is now hit by the ebb. While the real-estate market in general is witnessing a slowdown due to lack of buyers, big-time realtors who purchased large extent of government land at fancy rates are showing no interest to pick up more land being offered by the government agencies. This is upsetting the government's plans of propping up much-needed revenues for infrastructure projects. The government is apparently losing its own game, thanks to the prevailing downward trend in the real-estate market. The Y S Rajasekhara Reddy government unabashedly pursued real-estate business through its agencies like Hyderabad Urban Development Authority, Andhra Pradesh Housing Board and AP Industrial Infrastructure Corporation and pushed the realty market in many a case contributing to the abnormal and even ridiculous spurt in land values in the last four years. In a way, the hike in values appeared to be in sync with the actual market scenario but, as widely feared, the market has gradually hit the slump. Both the Huda and the APHB -- the biggest sellers of land in recent times and, of course, the beneficiaries of the boom -- vouch that the slowdown in the real-estate market across the country is leaving its impact on Hyderabad as well. These two agencies of the state government that earned hefty profits by disposing of large extent of land in and around Hyderabad, mostly for housing projects, for exorbitant sums are now finding it difficult to sell even prime land. After the miserable Empire experience, the Huda in fact cut down the upset price by Rs 2 crore per acre but still found no takers and was left searching for other options like joint development ventures. Similarly, the APHB could not find takers for its Bay Ridge block in Raidurg. Major real-estate firms, particularly those from north India that made a beeline for Hyderabad and jacked up land prices, are now apparently backing off. Realtors are citing many reasons for this: the international scenario, the fallout of dollar crash, volatility in the stock market and a liquidity crunch. Another important reason is the big real-estate companies that put in huge money on land here are now tied up with project development works. The companies will now have to complete these projects, make money and put it back in fresh ventures. "This is a cycle. Unless we complete the projects, at least in phases, we can't obviously invest afresh," a major realtor pointed out. "The slowdown is not restricted just to Hyderabad but other parts of the country as well. This could be a temporary phenomenon," joint managing director of Omaxe Limited Sunil Goel observed. Omaxe was one company that purchased a 25-acre block in the Huda's Empire venture a few months ago. The major real-estate companies that generated billions of rupees from the stock market are now feeling the pinch with fluctuating fortunes at the bourses. This is also impeding investments on land, market sources say. The market forces, however, aren't willing to say the situation has worsened and will lead to a crash in prices. "Land is a constant, so is demand. Though not a fall, the rates may stabilise at best for a while," a top official of APHB observed. His observation leaves the impression that the government agencies haven't lost hope on the market as yet. The next round of land auction may well prove a point.
Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh government which reaped a rich harvest by selling land in and around Hyderabad, riding on the artifical boom in real-estate market, is now hit by the ebb. While the real-estate market in general is witnessing a slowdown due to lack of buyers, big-time realtors who purchased large extent of government land at fancy rates are showing no interest to pick up more land being offered by the government agencies. This is upsetting the government's plans of propping up much-needed revenues for infrastructure projects. The government is apparently losing its own game, thanks to the prevailing downward trend in the real-estate market. The Y S Rajasekhara Reddy government unabashedly pursued real-estate business through its agencies like Hyderabad Urban Development Authority, Andhra Pradesh Housing Board and AP Industrial Infrastructure Corporation and pushed the realty market in many a case contributing to the abnormal and even ridiculous spurt in land values in the last four years. In a way, the hike in values appeared to be in sync with the actual market scenario but, as widely feared, the market has gradually hit the slump. Both the Huda and the APHB -- the biggest sellers of land in recent times and, of course, the beneficiaries of the boom -- vouch that the slowdown in the real-estate market across the country is leaving its impact on Hyderabad as well. These two agencies of the state government that earned hefty profits by disposing of large extent of land in and around Hyderabad, mostly for housing projects, for exorbitant sums are now finding it difficult to sell even prime land. After the miserable Empire experience, the Huda in fact cut down the upset price by Rs 2 crore per acre but still found no takers and was left searching for other options like joint development ventures. Similarly, the APHB could not find takers for its Bay Ridge block in Raidurg. Major real-estate firms, particularly those from north India that made a beeline for Hyderabad and jacked up land prices, are now apparently backing off. Realtors are citing many reasons for this: the international scenario, the fallout of dollar crash, volatility in the stock market and a liquidity crunch. Another important reason is the big real-estate companies that put in huge money on land here are now tied up with project development works. The companies will now have to complete these projects, make money and put it back in fresh ventures. "This is a cycle. Unless we complete the projects, at least in phases, we can't obviously invest afresh," a major realtor pointed out. "The slowdown is not restricted just to Hyderabad but other parts of the country as well. This could be a temporary phenomenon," joint managing director of Omaxe Limited Sunil Goel observed. Omaxe was one company that purchased a 25-acre block in the Huda's Empire venture a few months ago. The major real-estate companies that generated billions of rupees from the stock market are now feeling the pinch with fluctuating fortunes at the bourses. This is also impeding investments on land, market sources say. The market forces, however, aren't willing to say the situation has worsened and will lead to a crash in prices. "Land is a constant, so is demand. Though not a fall, the rates may stabilise at best for a while," a top official of APHB observed. His observation leaves the impression that the government agencies haven't lost hope on the market as yet. The next round of land auction may well prove a point.
Monday, 28 April 2008
Top Heavy Bottom Loose
By Desaraju Surya
Hyderabad: "Top heavy and bottom loose."
That is how the Andhra Pradesh police force stands today. The state police department has as many as eight officers of the rank of Director General of Police (DGP) and 29 of the rank of Additional Director General of Police (ADGP). While S S P Yadav is the Director General and Inspector General -- the top boss of the police force in the state -- there are seven others of the DG rank: P V Naidu, M L Kumawat, M V KrishnaRao, K R Nandan, A K Mohanty, PG Kumar and R R Girish Kumar. Of them, Kumawat and Krishna Rao are on deputation to the Government of India while others are serving in various capacities in the state. Of the 29 ADGs, four are on Central deputation and the rest are in state service. With too many senior most officers in the police ranks, the government is finding it difficult to accommodate them in suitable posts. In fact, the number of sanctioned DGP posts is two and ADGs is a mere six but with the swelling numbers even the most experienced officers are landing in nondescript posts that actually serve no purpose.
Consider the posts like commissioner of printing and stationery, ADGP(Police Transport Organisation), ADGP(Home guards), ADGP (welfare), ADGP (Organisation), ADGP (Co-ordination) and many such others. One might wonder what such top-ranking officers do in those posts. "Practically nothing. In our parlance they are loopline and punishment postings. It's a 'no work-full pay' privilege," a senior IPS officer observed. The job profile of the high ranking officers may look bleak but nothing denies them privileges like a bullet-proof SUV, posse of gunmen, perks and other monetary benefits associated with the post and everything else that one could command! Earlier, there were not many posts at the top level but subsequent to the enhancement of retirement age from 58 to 60 years, the top ranks became crowded and every officer had to be accommodated somewhere or the other. Such vagaries gave birth to posts like chairman, AP State Road Safety Authority (an organisation that exists only on paper), Additional DGP (Human Rights), ADGP (Legal), to name just a few.
"When I joined IPS, there used to be a post called Inspector General (Welfare and Sports). Later, it was split into IG (Welfare) and IG (Sports). Now, welfare is looked after by an ADG. Posts like ADG (Battalions), ADG (Provisioning and Logistics) were unheard of," a middle-level officer pointed out. Police sports are conducted once in two or three years but an IG heads that wing -- without any work. Likewise, police officials themselves say the commissioner of printing and stationery is the most "useless and redundant" position. While annual promotions necessitated creation of new posts for officers, internal politics in the police department,coupled with political whims, have also led to unwarranted postings on many an occasion. The recent posting of A K Mohanty, a DGP-rank officer, as the Road Safety Authority chief is a classic example. While that is the case with the police top brass, acute shortage of junior officers for field positions is also hitting hard. The state got only 19 IPS officers (regular recruits) between 1997 and 2005. For many years during the period, the state was allotted just one direct recruit officer a year, depriving it of the services of young and dynamic officers for field positions in the districts. Interestingly, as many as 14 non-cadre officers were conferred IPS in 1998, seven in 1999 and seven more in 2000 but they stand no match to direct recruits, a top police officer remarked.
Saturday, 19 April 2008
Shameless
By Desaraju Surya
Hyderabad: When it comes to wasting public money, none can beat our netas. They eat away crores and crores of rupees under one guise or the other -- all in the name of "public service." Clearly, there is no accountability on part of our so-called people's representatives and they conveniently get away with what all (wrong) they do. The Andhra Pradesh state Information and Public Relations Department (I&PR) recently published two glossy books containing Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy's reply to the motion of thanks to the Governor's address -- both in the Assembly and the Legislative Council. Publication of such books is as a part of the unabashed publicity blitz launched by the Y S Rajasekhara Reddy government in this "election year." The books were distributed to the MLAs and MLCs in the Assembly and the Council, which is a colossal waste as none of the members care to read those books. These books are also being sent to the districts for public distribution (read the Congress cadres). The I&PR special commissioner C Parthasarathi, however, pleaded ignorance about the cost incurred in bringing out the two books. He said there was nothing unusual about the books and only 1000 copies each were printed. "We only tried to present the Chief Minister's speech rather differently and hence included some photographs highlighting various schemes," Parthasarathi tried to reason. Senior legislators, however, said such ostentatious books were never published in the past to highlight the Chief Minister's address to the Assembly. "It is nothing but blatant misuse of public money. The Rajasekhara Reddy government is trying to come back to power only through publicity. Hundreds of crores of rupees is going down the drain in the process," TDP MLA Payyavula Kesav alleged. Entitled "Naa prajalaku teliste chalu..." (It's enough if my people know), the 72-page volume-1 contains the Chief Minister's reply to the Assembly while the 80-page volume-2 "Kapatam leni naa prajala kosam..." is his reply to the motion of thanks in the Council. The foreword to the volume-1, by an unidentified author, says: "This oration is fit to be included as a lesson in the curriculum for contemporary political science students." Absolutely ridiculous! Both the books are splashed with photographs of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, including her very recent trip to the state for the inauguration of the Pushkara Lift Irrigation Scheme and the Hyderabad International Airport. Of course, numerous pictures of the Chief Minister taken on various occasions like his participation in the Chief Ministers' conference with the Prime Minister, inauguration of different schemes, his district tours and also his address to the Legislature. Ironically, Rajasekhara Reddy was the same person, as the then leader of opposition, who criticised his predecessor N Chandrababu Naidu for "wasting public money" on unwanted "publicity hype." Once in power, Reddy conveniently seems to have forgotten the value of people's money!
Hyderabad: When it comes to wasting public money, none can beat our netas. They eat away crores and crores of rupees under one guise or the other -- all in the name of "public service." Clearly, there is no accountability on part of our so-called people's representatives and they conveniently get away with what all (wrong) they do. The Andhra Pradesh state Information and Public Relations Department (I&PR) recently published two glossy books containing Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy's reply to the motion of thanks to the Governor's address -- both in the Assembly and the Legislative Council. Publication of such books is as a part of the unabashed publicity blitz launched by the Y S Rajasekhara Reddy government in this "election year." The books were distributed to the MLAs and MLCs in the Assembly and the Council, which is a colossal waste as none of the members care to read those books. These books are also being sent to the districts for public distribution (read the Congress cadres). The I&PR special commissioner C Parthasarathi, however, pleaded ignorance about the cost incurred in bringing out the two books. He said there was nothing unusual about the books and only 1000 copies each were printed. "We only tried to present the Chief Minister's speech rather differently and hence included some photographs highlighting various schemes," Parthasarathi tried to reason. Senior legislators, however, said such ostentatious books were never published in the past to highlight the Chief Minister's address to the Assembly. "It is nothing but blatant misuse of public money. The Rajasekhara Reddy government is trying to come back to power only through publicity. Hundreds of crores of rupees is going down the drain in the process," TDP MLA Payyavula Kesav alleged. Entitled "Naa prajalaku teliste chalu..." (It's enough if my people know), the 72-page volume-1 contains the Chief Minister's reply to the Assembly while the 80-page volume-2 "Kapatam leni naa prajala kosam..." is his reply to the motion of thanks in the Council. The foreword to the volume-1, by an unidentified author, says: "This oration is fit to be included as a lesson in the curriculum for contemporary political science students." Absolutely ridiculous! Both the books are splashed with photographs of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, including her very recent trip to the state for the inauguration of the Pushkara Lift Irrigation Scheme and the Hyderabad International Airport. Of course, numerous pictures of the Chief Minister taken on various occasions like his participation in the Chief Ministers' conference with the Prime Minister, inauguration of different schemes, his district tours and also his address to the Legislature. Ironically, Rajasekhara Reddy was the same person, as the then leader of opposition, who criticised his predecessor N Chandrababu Naidu for "wasting public money" on unwanted "publicity hype." Once in power, Reddy conveniently seems to have forgotten the value of people's money!
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