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Landings

Thud!!!!!  I woke up with a start. It took microseconds for my aging brains to register where I was. Ohh Ok I am in an aircraft which has just landed in Mumbai.

Over the last 15 years I have had occassion to fly with many carriers across the world, my work being of such a nature that I have to travel extensively.

It is said that the most risky manouvres in flying are undertaken suring landing and take-off.

While take-off deficiencies are felt probably only if something is drastically felt in the cabin, landing is one occasion when each and every passenger will be either shocked or pleasantly surprised.

It was in 1994 or 1991  ..I am not sure that I first had the occasion to fly in an aircraft piloted by Ms Saudamini Gupts ( I am not sure of the surname, but very definite about the first name). Boy!!!  what a landing!!!  She must have been extremely lucky to have achieved that silk smooth landing in Trivandrum after flying all the way from Mumbai which was still Bombay at that time.

Sinre then I have been on flights piloted by the extremely skilled lady about 3 or four times and each time she has not disappointed me.

I only rue that our Indian public does not believe in appreciating a job well done. I am comparing with a flight from Cairo to Abu Dhabi by Gulf Air, which touched down as smooth as silk and I was pleasantly surprised and joined the travelling crowd in the flight that broke out into loud applause at the silken smooth landing.

I do not know what it is with carriers, but without exception I have had rough to very rough landings with Singapore airlines, in all the flights I have had with them. I also have to say that I have flown only SIngapore-Cochin   and Singapore-Kuala Lumpur sector with them.

However, another airlines, a low budget one at that, Air Asia, which operates on the same routes with the same aircrafts have given me an excellent experience all along. ALmost all the flights I have had with this carrier, be it Jakarta, Surabaya, Kuala Lumpur or Singapore have been extremely smooth landings. Hats off to the pilots of Air Asia.

Back home, surprisingly, my experience has been the best wirh our own Indian Airlines. Jet Airways believes in rough landings. They do not know the meaning os a smooth landing.

One journey is worth mentioning. About 4 months back I took a flight from Chennai to Kochi by Kingfisher, which was a 32 seater I think, and propeller driven aircraft.

The flight was so turbulent throughout to the extent theat some people in the flight were seeking out the hostesses for soothing words.

But, the landing!!!!  Probably I would rate that landing as the best ever that I have experienced. I didnt even know when the tyres touched the tarmac!!!!!!!

Landings in the US of A have been the worst ever for me. They thud down, bump up a foot or so and then with a squeal and a screech they regain thewir bearings. The landings there are so like the people there..loud and rough but with no real ill feelings.

Wish they would find out and train more Saudamini Guptas……..

 

 

 

Posted in Life.

4 comments

By Prabod kumar – September 30, 2009


illusions

Back to the land of black gold

where dreams used to be realised

in the heat and dust of the desert

at the expense of love and life

what is the lure that this land holds

why do I have to search for an abode

real estate agents by the dozen

hanker after you with rents as tall as the skyscrapers here

recession they say

rents have come down

i get a measly 650 sq ft for a royal sum

with a bedroom hall and kitchen

sir your balcony overlooks a park the agent says

a park full of synthetic grass

I remember with nostalgia the meadows and plains

in my land  my homeland

and here I am willing to shell out hard earned money

for a view of synthetic grass

maybe just to make it worthwhile

I should take a walk around the park everyday

banging my heels, scratching the synthetic surface

heck even I am paying for the existence of this land

of black gold

with my sweat my blood my tears

yes i do get more money than back in my homeland

my family sustains more than well off

when will I get an eldorado in my home

when will the dreams be built in my home?

dreams fulfilled in an alien land

do not satisfy as much as my own

lemme decorate my flat to my taste

build an India within the four walls of my one year tenancy

am I alone in this?

Of course not..the thousands that are here

Immigrants that are here

All of them are in the same boat I know

Some day..sometime…my Eldorado will bloom

In my own courtyard, of my own choice..

 

 

Posted in Life.

2 comments

By Prabod kumar – September 29, 2009


Adam’s discovery

God said, ‘Adam, I

want you to do Something for Me.’


Adam said, ‘Gladly, Lord, what do you

want me to do?’


God said, ‘Go down into that valley.’



Adam said, ‘What’s a valley?’


God explained it to him.





Then God said, ‘Cross the river.’


Adam said, ‘What’s a river?’


God explained that to him, and then said, ‘Go over to the hill….’



Adam said, ‘What is a hill?’


So, God explained to

Adam what a hill was.


He told Adam, ‘On

the other side of the hill you will find a cave.’


Adam said, ‘What’s a

cave?’


After God explained,

He said, ‘In the cave

you will find a woman.’


Adam said, ‘What’s a woman?’



So God explained that to him, too.



Then, God said, ‘I want you to reproduce.’





Adam said, ‘How do

I do that?’


God first said (under His breath), ‘Geez…..’




And then, just like everything else, God explained that to Adam, as well.



So, Adam goes down

into the valley, across the river, and

over the hill, into the cave, and finds the

woman.


Then, in about five minutes, he was back.




God, His patience

wearing thin, said angrily,

‘What is it now?’



And Adam said….








(YOU’RE

GOING TO

LOVE THIS!)


*




*


*


*


‘What’s a headache?’

 

Note : This is not my creation. I got this as a forward in my college group. Author is unknown to me….

Posted in Lighter Vein.

12 comments

By Prabod kumar – April 20, 2009


Simple Rules in Letter Writing

Dear Friends,

 

I am reproducing a forward I received in our college group. I felt it worthwhile to get all of you to read it.

 

Most of us are professionals in some field or other and we play a part in many forums, where correspondence plays a dominant role. There is every need not only for promptness in correspondence, but also the goodwill content of the letters one writes.

 

In an interesting book entitled “Common Sense in Letter Writing” the author, William H. Butterfield, mentions “Seven C’s” of a good letter.

 

 

“Seven C’s” of a Good Letter:

 

Is your letter correct?

 

Be sure you have correct information before you begin to dictate your message. Check the accuracy of names, dates, facts, and figures. Watch your punctuation, capitalization, spelling, grammar, and avoid misuse of words.

 

Is your letter clear?

 

Every statement should be easy to understand, and impossible to misunderstand. Avoid long, involved sentences. Steer clear of flowery language. Simplicity and directness of expression are the best guarantees of clarity in a business letter.

 

Is your letter concise?

 

Needless words are a serious handicap. They waste time and discourage the reader’s interest. Watch out for empty phrases and irrelevant details. Make every word contribute something to the meaning of your letter.

 

Is your letter courteous?

 

Whatever the purpose of your message, be sure it contains no trace of rudeness or ill temper. The tone of your letter is just as important as its language. Treat you reader as you would want to be treated if you were in his place.

 

Is your letter constructive?

 

It should be written from the reader’s point of view, with emphasis on points that are favourable to him. Avoid any evidence of selfish motives. Eliminate negative words and stress benefits to the reader.

 

Is your letter conversational?

 

Every Individual is required to operate within the symbol system of his culture. He uses recognized patterns of behaviour to demonstrate that he has the qualities that are respected by his fellow men.

 

An easy, informal style of writing gives a letter the human touch. Avoid stilted language and mechanical phrases. Use your own words and let them reflect your personality. Write as naturally as you would talk to your reader. Be friendly.

 

Is your letter considerate?

 

Be sure it contains no suggestion of a critical or superior attitude toward the reader. Be tactful. Try to be helpful in any way possible. Co-operation always helps to win the reader’s confidence and good will.

 

Posted in Blogs.

3 comments

By Prabod kumar – April 15, 2009


do u dare to comment?

I write

you read

you do not read

you comment

you do not comment

if u comment

i get happy

or i get upset

if u do not comment

i get upset?

i get happy?

actually does not matter

a damn

i write

because i have to

because i like to

so who cares

whether you read

or you comment

who cares

whether you even exist

all i write

is for me

is to be read

but then once it is read

why no comment?

if no comment

then why write

so do i write

for you to read

and to comment

who cares?

i will still write……….

but what do i write on?

on me?

naah

on you?

bigger naah

cos i dont know YOU

at all

all I know

is you

are you

I

am I

 

 

 

Posted in Nonsense.

8 comments

By Prabod kumar – March 4, 2009


To my daughter

My Dear Daughter,

 

Tomorrow is the "Big Day" the culmination of your 12 years of school. The Board Exams.

 

You must have heard it umpteen times from all and sundry, "this is the most important exam of your academic life. Your performance in this will decide the future course of your higher education and career. So keep working hard."  So much of advice and caution. You must be tired of hearing them.

 

Parents, teachers, friends, TV programmes, so much so that I suspect even you must have told yourself at times " Baapre.. I have to study its my 12th and I cant afford to watch TV right now.

 

Both your Mom and I are absolutely sure you have put in the best of your efforts over all these years. We recall the many nights you have set the alarm, woke up at odd hours and spent time with your books. We remember fondly the little creases in your brow when you came up against some particularly stubborn problem in some subject. We know what subjects you like and those which you are not particularly fond of. It has made us silently proud that you have been showing considerable sincerity and dedication towards doing what you are supposed to do as a student.

 

Let me also tell you that the qualities you have shown are the ones that have already laid the base for your approach to life in general, when you go out after your education, into the big wide world beckoning you. What we have observed in you, augurs well for your future.

 

Do not feel bad about the odd day when you would have skipped your work and just enjoyed your pastimes or spent time with friends. Such moments also are lessons that mould your character.

 

The Board Exams which start tomorrow are not only a test of your merits as s student but also a benchmark for the success of your teachers, your parents, and also the education system in general. The many thousands of students who will be taking the examinations along with you, each of them will be putting to test, what we as parents or teachers or the system have made education to be.

 

So go out tomorrow, be at your brightest and best of cheer and do your best. You and we know you have put in your best and tomorrow is the test.

 

Do not bother about the results now. Despite whatever you must have had dinned into your ears over time, 12th board exams are most important for any student, but they are not the be all and end all to a student. You do your best and accept the results, whatever they may be.

 

Whatever your performance, remember you are still you, you are our precious daughter.

 

Whatever the results, we Love you.

 

Our best wishes for you. Our prayers and blessings, and I am sure, those of God, will also be with you.

 

Lovingly,

 

Your dad

Posted in Life.

11 comments

By Prabod kumar – March 1, 2009


I and one of the eight others

 

 

He was staring at me, as if I was some alien. In fact the whole restaurant was staring at us!!!

 

There we were, two complete strangers, wearing the same shirts, and looking every inch, every feature, the same. It was uncanny, the similarity and the sheer coincidence of the blue shirts on our backs

 

It was a normal morning, when I walked into the restaurant and ordered my favourite breakfast of one rava dosa and a glass of milk. Two of my colleagues came by and we three were having our breakfast, when one of them stopped eating and looked hard at something behind me.

 

"What's the matter?" I asked

 

She said, “PK, do not look back now, but I think your twin is sitting right  behind you.”

 

I was taken aback. Twin?  Long lost brother who had the "Kumbh Mela" act done to him?? ? Refrains of  some old Hindi song    came into my mind .

 

Pictures of him running in with one sleeve of the blue shirt .I joining from the other side with the other sleeve, Now who will come in with the rest of the shirt and complete the puzzle???  I shook off the mental images  and  desperately searched my memory base to check whether there was any mention of my dad being in Malaysia at any point of time !!!!

 

I stood up and on the pretext of looking for the waiter, I stole a glance at him

 

I was transfixed, he caught my eye..we stared at each other..he stopped eating and stared back the whole restaurant stopped whatever they were doing and stared at us..

 

I felt like I was looking into a mirror in real life!!!  However on closer scrutiny, it was apparent he was younger than me. ( Thank God for that.. at least we didn't enter the world together) But the similarities were so much that we both had to acknowledge each other with a sheepish smile and resume our breakfast

 

It is said there are  at least eight other similar persons to you, in the world. It is a sheer matter of chance whether you meet with one or not. I remember during my college days I used to be frequently mistaken for some other boy named Rajesh. I have not yet met him, but the innumerable times someone or other have stopped me on the streets and started talking to me as if I were Rajesh, remain fresh in my mind.

 

So He did not break the mould after making me !!

 

Wonder whether the similarities would extend to behaviour patterns, likes and dislikes.

 

The next time I see a twin, I tell myself , I will talk to him and ask about these.

 

I drove away from the restaurant, along with my colleagues, wondering at the permutations and combinations He would have to have, to create the billions of Life on earth. And maybe other forms of Life you and I are totally unaware of and may be existing in some other world or planet.

 

Posted in Life.

8 comments

By Prabod kumar – February 26, 2009


THE GREAT OBAMA TRICK

The Great Obama Trick

 

 

Two days back, I read an article in the Malaysian paper Strait Times, titled "Obama aims to control "exploding" deficits.

 

Budget deficits today for the US, stand at US $ 1.2 Trillion!!! ( One Trillion = 1000 Billion)

 

Elsewhere, I read that this deficit was US $ 438 Billion for fiscal year 2008. ( 1 Billion = 1000 Million, 1 Million = 10 times 100,000)

 

What exactly is this deficit? How did it accumulate? Layman as I am, this means that the US is in debt to the tune of this mind boggling amount.

 

To me, it means that they have been borrowing left, right and centre???   Come again, is not borrowing the prerogative of  third world countries??? US as a developed nation is supposed to lend, not borrow.

 

The where exactly did these deficits come from???  Is it related to the price they set for themselves? I mean, you ask any American to change a light bulb, he will charge you a hundred dollars whereas a Mexican, legally in the US would probably do it for  25 dollars. If  he happens to be an illegal immigrant of which there are many in the Big Apple, he will do it for 5 US $.

 

Which means, applying the ratio above, the trade deficits can be as less as 300 billion  or even 60 billion US $.

 

Of course, it is not that simple. The projected deficits cost may have a major content of capital goods. Still, there must be a major component of labour.  The point is, as is their wont, they price themselves so high for their own good.

 

Take a look around any shopping mall in the US. One can hardly find anything that is authentically made in the US. Everything, literally everything comes from the developing nations, and of course China.

 

The decline, the depression in US started long back mainly based on the unwillingness of the citizens to work. Lazy as they are, depending on outsourcing simply because third world countries offer cheaper labour, has led them to be totally dependent on others for their daily needs. All the while paying for such services, which if were done within, would have cost a bomb.

 

In 2005, while I was in US, one of my colleagues returning to India wanted to buy a pair of jeans which are authentically "made in USA". We searched high and low, finally locating a pile of jeans in JC Penney, Kansas City, which was stacked so high that it was obvious none touched that pile of jeans. The reason? Very obvious .  Each piece priced at 130 US $ while the pile of jeans next to it was so glaringly superior in quality yet priced at 20 US $ per piece. But, made in Sri Lanka!

 

Having said that, it is interesting to note as said in the article in Strait Times, that last Tuesday, 17th of February, 2009, Mr President signed away US $ 787 Billion as a stimulus package to be infused into the industries in US, to generate, in his words, .." because of this recovery plan, three and a half million Americans will now go back to work doing what America needs done.." 

 

I wonder whether they are willing to price themselves reasonably, or still stick to outlandish rates for their "work".

 

Where exactly will this US $ 787 Billion come from? Definitely not the tax payers money? He has said that he will cut down on Iraq War spending, he will tax the "wealthiest" Americans more, he will increase import taxes. Wealthiest Americans being the ones who make more than US $ 250000  a year.

 

Which brings me to think of the purported reason for the depression. Loan defaulters from the big borrowers in real estate business in US. Real estate prices touching sky high limits, once the balloon burst, they defaulted on payment leading to collapse of some major banks too. The US $ crumbled and the repercussions felt world over.

 

Now, has he said a word against these defaulters? For sure the numerous real estate companies are known and have assets accumulated  over time? Why is there not a word of penal action against them? Are the laws in US  so easily managed that they go away scot free?

 

Why is he silent on this?  Does it have something to do with his election funding???  In my bird brain I cannot but link these two.

 

Most of the sources for his election funding have not been disclosed, and have been clubbed under "small contributors"  ( read less than 200 US $) which need not be disclosed under US laws. A major part of this from other countries, there is much speculation where these funds have come from.

 

"More than half of the whopping $426.9 million Barack Obama has raised has come from small donors whose names the Obama campaign won't disclose." So reads the lead-in to an article published  by Newsmax".    Source ' Read the link  below

 

http://www.thetrumpet.com/index.php?q=5581.3894.0.0

 

The same article in Strait Times goes on to say " a complete recovery requires stemming the spread of real estate foreclosures and falling home values, stabilising and repairing the banking system in order to restore the flow of credit to families and businesses  and reforming the broken regulatory system that made the crisis possible.."

 

I have two questions here. Why is it that families have to be in credit as a rule? Where I come from, a loan is taken  in very exceptional circumstances.

 

Does the above statement infer that had the regulatory system been more efficient and doing what they were supposed to do, this crisis would not have come about? Why does not someone come clean about the failings of the regulatory systems????

 

In short, Mr President wants to pump in money into the system to generate more work and wages thereof, and give the wage earners more credit. The wages he facilitates will go towards paying off the loans he disburses. And he calls it a recovery.

 

Whereas, the real recovery lies elsewhere. Generating more purchasing power by facilitating wages and credits will mean that the US market will flourish once again. As such US by itself is more than 30 % of global demand. All other countries look to US to sell their own goods and services. And get paid in US Dollars.

 

Therein lies the hitch. A fat lot of other nations have their foreign exchange reserves in US dollars and they cannot afford to let the US dollar drop into oblivion. So, come what may, they collectively will see to it that the US economy recovers. Whether it be lending long term credits or agreeing to hefty increases in import duties, the US has other countries by the balls.

 

And therein lies a tale ..  Whether  it is Obama or A or B or C the US economy will recover at the cost of other nations ..

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Politics.

6 comments

By Prabod kumar – February 25, 2009


Love is timeless

Time was when love gave a lot of pain

Waiting for you, yearning for that glimpse

Time was when love meant I hated the holidays

Because I could not see you


There was a time when nothing mattered beyond that few hours of togetherness

To see, to talk, to exchange little vows of a long life together ahead

Time used to stand still when I was with you

And time became endless when you were away …


Now, time with you is precious in the love

A touch a gentle massage on my tired feet

Time flew when our kids grew up…

Yet love remains timeless, ever so fresh…


Time is when we grow old together..

Love is all the times we have been together..

Timeless it seems our love for each other..

Love has grown along with us, endless like Time.

Posted in Love.

7 comments

By Prabod kumar – February 19, 2009


OF PINK CHADDIS AND YELLOW LANGOTIS

Another busy day at work, dealing with the numerous queries from site and generally making my presence felt. Dreading next week when I have to go for yet another trip to Indonesia..this time a long absence from Kuala Lumpur, which i have come to love  ….a place close to my heart and stomach..actually thats what matters more than the heart :P

Drowsing at my PC after lunch and browsing idly through rediff, my eyes caught the words Pink Chaddis.

Thinking it must be something about a superman re-do, I couldnt believe my eyes  when I read about this campaign.

Lol, the lady(ies) have spunk, I should admit. I simply love these new age females. Strong, they know what they want, and to hell with gender equality. They must be more equal than the males :P

Why should girls not have a beer or two? Would it damage Indian culture to that extent? Or is the venerable ram sevak, the Upholder Of Indian Culture (UOIC)scared and insecure that the females in his circle, if exposed to such freedom would abandon him?

What is the point in forcibly making someone toe to a type of behaviour? Why not let everyone live freely and with their principles?

If principles and attacks on Indian culture are what the UOIC is bothered about, I would have expected him to train his goons.. guns…barbs…gundas..on that venerable genre of creatures called politicians… are they upholders of Indian culture? Read any newspaper any day and one will find emough instances of criminal behaviour by politicians that would make the nation cringe in shame….

why does the UOIC train his goons..guns..gindas..only on helpless nobodies  who are these girls????  is he scared to take on those who are really at fault  in damaging Indian Culture? 

Or is it that he is a politician too???

Culture and Heritage….  go to any historical monument in India and you will find it defaced by the general public…be it ignorance…or  just plain wickedness, it is a well known fact that such edifices that are standing testimony to our great past  are under threat…

The UOIC would have used his time well if he had decided to put a stop to such vandalism…

but alas!!!  he had to pick on defenceless girls… 

if it is females he is bothered about, why not try and stop the females of bollywood…???  we read everyday about some spat or other….some swap or other….and generally behaving drunk and dunk in public..after parties…  are such acts embellishing our culture??? 

Either the UOIC endorses such behaviour by the rich and mighty, or he is a downright coward…to have done what he did….

I would much rather have sent yellow langotis  than pink chaddis… 


 

Posted in Life.

5 comments

By Prabod kumar – February 19, 2009