In response to 'August 27 - The saddest day for Parliament'

I have never blogged my comments which I post on other news websites on their stories.

Today I am doing so... Earlier this morning, I wrote a comment on the blog post of Mr. C P Surendran, a poet and writer, who it seems, has become a victim of identity crysys after taking up Journalism.

To read his article/blog post please click here -

http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India-Circus/entry/august-26-the-saddest-day-for-parliament .

My comment is as follows:

Mr. Surendran,

When the parliament and the parliamentarians do not act as per the will of the people of their own constituency, it is then when people like 'TEAM ANNA' rise so that the parliamentarians do what their people are asking them to do.

As per me, it was the best day for INDIA after its independence day in 1947, as for the first time ever, 'We the People' could make things happen without being in the parliament, which our representatives were not doing for their own interests.

If the parliament has to mould (or mold) its ways for something which is correct, it is surely not a sad day. It is rather a proud day for all the people of India, and for once, for the parliamentarians as they have passed a resolution which in the most truest form, the people of India wanted them to do.

Hope some sense prevails in your mind, just as Times of India says 'let the truth prevail'...

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Sidharth Mehta

Dubai, UAE

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Sid Mehta, Sidharth Mehta, Siddharth Mehta, Blog, Sidharth Mehta Blog, Siddharth Mehta Blog, C P Surendran, Times of India Crap, TOI Crap, Editor TOI, Nonsense, Anna Hazare Times of India, Articles, Identity Crysys, Pathetic Journalism

The Dance with Death - 'Bomb'BAY

14 July 2011,

The city of dreams was attacked again. Yes, yet again.

3 years back, I left Bombay for good, just a day before 26/11 happened. I used to frequent Leopold's Cafe, the Sea Lounge at the Taj, and lived bang opposite where the Indian governments son-in-law Ajmal Kasab was caught. Watched it live on TV for 3 continuous days, and the only thought which came to mind was, why the hell did I have to leave the city a day before all that happened. Somehow, I wanted to be in the city when all of it was happening.. The pain I felt sitting in Delhi and watching it happen on screen made me cry for being helpless and not able to do anything for a city which I love the most. Just to be there with the people of Bombay, would have given some peace to my heart....

Fast forward to 2011, the cowards choose to attack the city again, this time with bombs at three different crowded places killing and injuring innocent people. One question always come to my mind, and which I want to ask these cowards:

- Why do you always keep attacking and target innocent civilians and the general public?

What do you achieve? Do you think it matters to the Indian Government or politicians? They are sitting ducks and shall continue to do so, until and unless you bang someone from within them... If you aim is to create fear in the minds of the public, then you are mistaken, as getting killed by a bomb blast is better than to die of hunger. Be it Bombay or any other place in India, the public will come out of their shelters and do their normal work and routine to feed their families. Conclusion- stop doing it. You are seriously not achieving anything, and simply wasting your time.

On the other hand, our media has no apathy left with the public. They come out with news headlines such as "Day after serial blasts, Mumbaikars venture out boldly'. My question to the media -- Do the people of Bombay or India have any other choice but to go about their routine work? To call this the spirit of Mumbai, it is like hiding the inefficiency of our security and political network. Politicians come out with statements such as these to save their @ss, the media should not!.

Numb.....

Sidharth Mehta

Dubai, UAE

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Mumbai Attacks July 2011, Mumbai Bomb blasts, Pathetic Journalism, Indian Government, Terrorist Attacks Strike Bombay, 13 July 2011, 26/11 Mumbai, India, The Great Indian Nightmare, Incredible India!, Sid Mehta, Sidharth Mehta, Siddharth Mehta, Inbuss, Infinity Business School Alumni, Dubai, Identity Crysys, Identity Crisis, Blog, Sid Mehta Blog,

Pathetic journalism - India 'quietly' begins combat drone project

What I read on the TOI online version today morning is incredibly funny, informative and at the same time equally pathetic. I am not sure, if this news article was on the front page of the print version as well, but to have it on the front page of the TOI website written in big bold letters gives it plenty of eye balls for sure.

This is how the heading goes:

' INDIA QUIETLY BEGINS COMBAT DRONE PROJECT ' (Read the article here)

When you go through the article, a number of times the project is described as a top secret project for the defence authorities. I wonder, if the project was so secretive, who gives TOI the right or freedom to go and publish all this information for the common man to read. If DRDO (Defence Research and Development Authority) has gone ahead and given statements to the media/TOI, that is further stupidity on their part.

Ironic is TOI's title of the news item. Read between the lines, and you would notice 'QUIETLY', whereas, TOI has been screaming out loud about the news on its website.

TOI online editor, the time is ripe for you to quit..

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Sidharth Mehta

from the Emirate of Abu Dhabi - UAE.

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Key tags - India, Incredible India, Pathetic Journalism, Times of India, Pathetic Journalism TOI, India Journalism, Identity Crysys, Identity Crisis, Sid Mehta, Siddharth Mehta, Sidharth Mehta, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Inbuss, Infinity Business School Alumni,

Tongue in cheek

I thought the below headline on The Times of India website was quite funny and precisely 'tongue in cheek'.

True depiction of Incredible India!

Travel travails: Fog halts planes, Gujjars trains

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To all the unlucky travellers, Happy Journey! ;o

Sidharth Mehta

Dubai, UAE

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Fog delays travel - India, Gujjars Trains, Incredible India, The great Indian Nightmare, The Times of India, TOI, Hindustan Times, India News, Sid Mehta, Sidharth Mehta, Siddharth Mehta, Dubai, Identity Crysys, Identity Crisis, Blog

Last 3 months....

First of all, apologies to all my regular blog readers, for my disappearance from the blogosphere in the last 3 months or so. I was kept busy between switching jobs, and a much needed holiday back home - India. I shall try my best in future to not make you all wait for so long! (Assuming, you wait for my posts ;o ).

My travels took me to Delhi and Jodhpur, with my friends and family in Dubai missing me for almost close to a month!. It was after 3 years that I stayed in Delhi for more than a week continuously, and honestly had a great time catching up with a lot of friends and family (Cant believe, I still managed to not meet a lot of them!!! Apologies...).

This trip turned out to be quite special, for the sheer reason, that I could meet few friends whom I had not met for as long as 6 years! Obviously, meeting with cousins and family as well made it really special, all the more as it was around the festival of Diwali. In my itinerary, I really wanted to add Bombay, as few very special people of my life live there..... regretfully, I just could not make it.

Other than meeting up with friends and family, one thing what I did the most was clicking photographs. Be it Jodhpur, or while travelling within Delhi, the Olympus was always with me. Many of my closest friends would agree when I say, that I have been passionate about photography since a very long time now, going back as much as 8-9 years. My grad college buddies used to tag me as 'the official photographer of the group', a title I was and will always be proud of! So, this time around, I took a further step, and actually went out just to click pictures, and trust me, going out and clicking just about anything is a different high altogether. It surely enhanced my skills too..... I am attaching few of the pictures here to this post, and would love it if you guys could leave your comments about them on the blog. If you do like them, please check many more on my photography page on Facebook - 'Shoot at Sight Photography' (Don't forget to 'like' the page)....

So this was all about the last 3 months..... There were a lot many issues/events which happened in the last 3 months, and I honestly regret not writing about them (like the 2G scam, Adarsh society, etc), but I am sure there would be plenty more issues which will keep alive on the blogosphere in future.

Take care,and stay safe!

Sidharth Mehta,

Dubai, UAE

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Sidharth Mehta, Delhi, India, Sid Mehta Blog, Sid Mehta, Sid Mehta Dubai, Siddharth Mehta, Sidharth Mehta Jodhpur, New Delhi, Identity Crysys, Identity Crisis, Incredible India, The great indian dream,

Amazing Advertisements - The Coke Side of Life

An amazing advertisement...........

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Sidharth Mehta

Dubai, UAE

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Key Tags: The Coke Side of Life, Amazing Advertisements, Coca-Cola Small Man Advertisement, Coca-Cola Amazing Advertisements, Coca-Cola Advertisements, Coca-Cola TV Commercial, Coca-Cola, Coke Advertisements, Coke, Sidharth Mehta, Full Start., Identity Crysys, The discussion begins here

Overheard in Dubai - Oldest Animal on Earth

Another addition to my series "Overheard in Dubai" which consist of some funny instances which happen/I come across in this city .... Read on and enjoy...

A young boy asking his father...

Dad, do you know which is the oldest animal on this planet?

Father - Son, it should be some specie of Dinosaur ....

Son - Not at all... It is the Zebra.....

Father - Hmmm, Is it? Never came across that fact... Why do you say so?

Son - Well, because it is Black & White ......!!!!

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Like it? or not? Feel free to put across your comments below on the blog!

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Sidharth Mehta

Dubai, UAE

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Key Tags - Overheard in Dubai, Just Like That, Identity Crysys, Full Start., Sidharth Mehta

The Mockery of Indian Hockey

It is no less than a tragedy that the National Sport of India - Hockey is yet again in shambles, this time thanks to the governing body - Hockey India. After not been able to qualify for the Beijing Olympics 2008, no one thought of an even worse scenario for Indian Hockey. But, the last few days seriously was a mockery of the way hockey is governed in India.

Hockey India officials, were swift in blaming the players, that Money is more important for them than playing for the country. Not even once, did they realize that most of these players hail from very poor backgrounds, and really hockey is the only option they have for earning their own bread and for their families. The players have full rights to not play if they are not paid their dues. Someone somewhere has to take a stand, and the players chose the perfect time 6 weeks before the biggest tournament for Hockey, the World Cup. The governing body needs to realize that it is not cake walk, that you could just send any Tom, Dick and Harry to a world championship, just because your national team is not willing to play/practice. Worse enough for Hockey India, Tom Dick and Harry also refused to play, and instead gave support to the national players.

Surprising was, that the higher authorities sitting in the ministries and government were silent onlookers to the entire tamasha. I think someone needs to remind them, that we are talking of our national sport here, which is only spiraling downwards each passing day.

It is time that people start raising their eyebrows, otherwise we shall continue to have turmoils like this for not just Hockey, but many other sports only because of the way they are governed in our country.

Someone posted on twitter the day before - "If you want to help Indian Hockey, start watching it!". ...

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Sidharth Mehta

Dubai , UAE

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Key Tags - Hockey India, Hockey India Crisis, Hockey World Cup 2010, Players Payment Hockey India, Indian Hockey Federation, Mockery of Hockey, The Great Indian Tamasha, The Great Indian Nightmare, Incredible India, Sidharth Mehta, Identity Crysys, Full Start.

Movie Review - 3 Idiots - Five Point Something

Movie Review - 3 idiots

Director: Rajkumar Hirani

Genre: Comedy

Cast: Aamir Khan, Sharman Joshi, R Madhavan, Kareena Kapoor, Boman Irani, Omi Vaidya

Producer: Vidu Vinod Chopra

Rating - 5 point something....

When was the last time you died of laughing? and when was the last time you literally cried of laughing?

3 idiots does that to you.

Film-making is an art, and this film is surely one of the greatest art works to come out from Bollywood, and shall be crowned one of the best ever movies in a lifetime. The film is just not a laugh riot, but has it's parts of key learnings for the society, a stamp of the genius director - Rajkumar Hirani.

Aamir Khan surely has a magic wand, whichever project he takes, does record breaking business and usually leaves a big impact on the minds of the people. More than the film's own marketing, the word of mouth publicity of the film works wonders for his films.

The film is not just for the youth, but is equally for all parents and elders in our society, who throw their children in the race for coming first in their entire education life, and also expect them to win all the time. Never ever do they realize the pressure being put, which multiplies with each exam they give, and which eventually bursts in the form of suicides and deep depressions. I think, it is the most important social topic ever been taken and made a film on, as the consequences of this kind of pressure only brakes a human being.

Thankfully, the film has done full justice to the topic, in a very subtle manner, with great moments and laughs, which will stay in our minds and hearts for a very long time, and maybe also forever by actually transforming the way people think.

If we talk about performances, each and everyone has excelled in their respective roles. The casting is done to perfection.

You would actually believe that Aamir Khan is a 21 year old engineering student. He looks as fresh as he did in Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak. The 100% he gives to all his projects is evident by the amount of weight he has lost for this film after Ghajini. He totally looks his character, and plays it exceptionally well. 'Rancho' touches every heart.

Madhavan has never been so totally in sync with his character in any of his films. Even he looks fitter, and the wildlife photographer look of his in the film really suits him.

Sharman Joshi, by far is the most underrated actor in the Hindi film industry today. His comic timing is extra-ordinary, and transforms himself from a light mood to a very serious mood with great panache.. I would not be surprised to see him in serious roles as well in future. Surely, a big star in making, and one to watch out for.

Kareena, even though had not much to do in the film, but really looks good, and feels nice to see her do a role which is not about flaunting her size zero figure. Rather, she was told to gain some weight for this film, and it is evident as well.

Boman Irani, as Virus - the college dean, once again will get applauded for his fault free acting, and for bringing to life every individual's school/college principal.

Omi Vaidya as Chatur - the silencer is a great find for the film industry. A theatre artist in the US, hope he does a lot more films in India. Watch out for him in the speech he delivers.

In the end, would just like to say, All Is Well.

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P.S - As a reader and a great fan of Chetan Bhagat, he surely deserves to be given much more credit for this movie. 70% of the movie is based on the plot of the bestseller book 'Five Point Someone'. Rather, few scenes are exactly picked from the book. The characters are defined in the book just as they are shown in the film, only difference is the main character on which the book is based is not the main character in the film. Ryan from the book is Rancho (Aamir) in the film.. There are few changes done to the story, but you can't call it an original. The screenplay might be different and Abhijat Joshi should be given credit for that, but 70% of the story is surely adapted from Five Point Someone. The theme of the film is the same as the theme of the book.

A word for Aamir - You would add a lot more fans to your already huge fan base all over the world with this movie. Read the book, and then make statements, otherwise an equal number of your fans would be upset with you, including myself. Just giving some credit to an original writer even if just by words being spoken, would not make your or the film-makers stature go down. Hope this controversy ends soon.

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Sidharth Mehta,

Dubai, UAE

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Keywords - 3 idiots, Five Point Someone, Aamir Khan, Sharman Joshi, R Madhavan, Kareena Kapoor, Boman Irani, Omi Vaidya, Rajkumar Hirani, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Chetan Bhagat, Controversy, Rancho, Movie Review- 3 Idiots, Times of India, Hindustan Times, Sidharth Mehta, Identity Crysys, Sidharth Mehta's Blog, Full Start

Photography - Jebal Hafeet - AL AIN - UAE

Recently, I got the chance to click some pictures at Jebal Hafeet in Al Ain (UAE). Few of you might find the place familiar as the movie Race (Saif, Akshay Khanna, Katrina, Bipasha) was shooted here. The scenes in the end of the movie when Saif & Akshay are racing, is shooted at this locale.

I will quote Wikipedia here to tell you more about this place -

"Jabel Hafeet is a mountain primarily in the United Arab Emirates on the outskirts of Al Ain. The mountain actually straddles part of the border with Oman. The Jebel Hafeet Mountain Road extends for 7.3 mi (11.7 km) up the mountain, rising 4000 ft (1219 m). With 21 corners and three lanes (two climbing and one descending), the immaculate road was called the greatest driving road in the world by Edmunds.com. The road scales the mountain and ends at a parking lot with only a hotel and a palace belonging to the country's rulers. Part of the Climax of the Bollywood film RACE was shot in the Jabel Hafeet mountain."

Do post your comment about the pictures.
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Sidharth Mehta
Dubai, UAE
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Key Tags: Al Ain, Jebal Hafeet Photos, Al Ain UAE, Jebal Hafeet UAE, Abu Dhabi, Race Movie Locations, Sidharth Mehta

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Perspective: The Disaster of India's Disaster Management Plan

The biggest known fact about India's Disaster Management Plan is that, it is the biggest disaster in itself. Once and on many more uncountable occasions it has failed, and failed miserably to say the least. Without doubt, it shall continue to fail, given how it is being planned and managed till now, until and unless a dramatic and much required light of pleasant change embarks upon the policy makers of the world's largest democracy.

National Disaster Management (NDM) Authority of India takes care of disasters only which are natural in nature. Which means, only natural calamities like Floods, Draught, Tsunami's, Earthquakes etc, is what comes under the NDM. Even though this scope of work was acceptable may be in the past, surely in times such as now, where man-made disasters like Terrorism, happen if not more, but as frequently as natural disasters in India, the scope of work of the NDM needs to be expanded urgently. (http://www.ndmindia.nic.in/)

The main reason why disaster management is not taken seriously in India, is that the cost of a life of a common citizen in India is not at all important for the state. They hardly care how much blood is on the street, untill and unless someone dear to them/or someone like them is targetted.

The above is represented well in what the Deputy CM & Home Minister for Maharashtra, Mr. R R Patil, said in his infamous quote about the 26/11 Mumbai Attacks - "Bade shahron mein aise ek-do haadse hote rahte hain... Woh 5,000 logon ko marne aaye the, lekin humne kitna kum nuksan hone diya".

With all due respect to the late CM of Andhra Pradesh - Mr. YSR who died in a helicopter crash after his helicopter was missing and off the radar for almost 20 hours - Just take a look at what the Government actions were after the helicopter went missing:

5000 army men, an ISRO Remote Sensing Aircraft, a Sukhoi 30 fighter jet, 14 search choppers, the forest dept., Police, CRPF, Paramiliatary Forces, Tribals, Guides, and much more, all mobilised in not more than 3 hours for a missing CM. Obviously, the government was sleeping during 26/11, where they delayed calling the NSG's, did not have an aircraft ready to airlift the commando's from New Delhi for Mumbai, which by the way is our Financial Capital and should have commando's stationed there permanently anyways.

Worse, after reaching Mumbai, the NSG commando's were taken to Taj & Oberoi in BEST buses!! Were all the choppers of the Indian Air Force not airworthy which were stationed in Bombay, that they could not be air lifted and taken to ground zero? Our polititians & policy makers were trying to figure out how bad the situation was for the city, and only then wanted to call for the Army, NSG, Naval Commando's and the likes.

I think the best case study for "How to make a Disaster of Disaster Management".

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Sidharth Mehta

Dubai - UAE

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Key Tags - Disaster Management India, Terrorism Disaster Management India, Mumbai 26/11 Disaster Management, Biggest Search Operation in India - Andhra Pradesh CM goes missing & eventually died, Disaster Management Plan India, Disaster Management Analysis India, Incredible India, Sidharth Mehta

DEBATE - Swine Flu - Is it all over ?

It was not even a month back when the first swine flu death happened in India of a 14 year old girl in Pune. Soon after, within another 10 days the swine flu toll in India rose to around 25.

If you are thinking that this post is about discussing the reasons of the spread of swine flu or the measures being taken in India and worldwide to curb the spread of it, well then you are wrong. Surely, I would be discussing few measures or rather few measures not been taken by the Indian Government, but would also be discussing something very peculiar and strange about how the Indian Media is reacting in the last couple of days/weeks.

Less than 10 days back, I travelled to New Delhi from Dubai, and was expecting to be checked thoroughly by the health officials at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, and thought it would take a good 2 hours before I could leave the airport premises. It took me flat 20 minutes to be out of the Airport after I unboarded the aircraft! Even though, my family and I were pleasantly surprised to be out of the airport so soon, which was faster than even the usual when no such flu scare etc is on, the thought of not been checked at all for swine flu, and signing just a declaration that I have no flu like symptoms made my mind boggle. Making my irritation grow further was the fact that the Health Officials were not even wearing the special N-95 masks which are the best for curbing the flu, but were just wearing the usual face mask.

I asked at the airport around, if the thermal machines which were supposed be installed were already done or what? The answer from the aiport officials ranged from a 'not yet' to 'no idea' to 'ask health ministry'! I thought 'WOW', our country where each government boast about 'India Shining' and slogans alike year after year, just can't take proper measures to curb a flu from spreading, forget actually curbing it! The Health Minister, for the spread of Swine Flu, was busy accusing the dead child and her family for switching hospitals in Pune, and helping the flu spread!! Mr. Ghulam Nabi Azad should resign from his post simply for the sake of Humanity. Before making his statement, he forgot that the small girl who died did not develop the flu herself, but she also got it from someone else, and that the spread would'nt have stopped by her not shifting hospitals.

With the speed at which the flu is spreading in India, and the measures being taken which are astonishingly yet not surprisingly pathetic, the number of cases and the seriousness of this entire pendemic in India shall affect majorly even the Commonwealth Games Delhi 2010. The government other than facing the huge infrastructure/construction problem for the games, would also have to deal with the health scenario. The way things are going, it seems it shall only lead to shame.

Now coming to the peculiar and strange part regarding how the Indian Media is acting in the last couple of days/weeks.

I am sure not many of you know what is the death toll due to swine flu in India currently. Make a guess - 30? 45? 60? 80?. The current death toll due to swine flu in India is 105 (September 02, 2009). Yes, in two weeks time from 25, we have gone up to 105, and the print & TV media has almost done a blackout on news related to Swine Flu. When the death toll rose from 1 to 25 in a week, The Times of India, during that week, on its website had a countdown meter showing the number of deaths rising each hour, and each day, almost as if how 'cricket runs being scored' are shown on News Channels and News Websites. Go watch any news channel, and you would feel as if there is nothing in this world called Swine Flu!

What do you think? Does any reason come to your mind why such a drastic change in the way the media is reacting in the last few days? Surely, it is the government which has gone up to every media house in the country to make them agree on resisting from showing news regarding Swine Flu. Obviously, I am speculating here that the Government and the Media together have taken few steps, but surely, it seems to be a joint effort, otherwise our media which likes to sensationalise every 'Tom, Dick and Harry' issue would have never tone down their stand, specially for a real issue such as this!

You do not have to be a rocket scientist or an intelligent political analyst to guess why these steps has been taken. Obviously to stop the spread of the scare/panic amongst people in the country, as higher the scare, higher the chances of public opinion going against the ruling government. Few people might counter by saying that less the scare, less the chances of spreading the flu, and leading a normal life, etc. Bullshit and non justifiable nonsense if you think like that!

I think it is the most pathetic and foolish step to be taken by the government/media both, if they have. In our country, people wear masks only when there is a real scare in the public. It is not Japan, where people wear masks even if they have just a mild fever. For god sake, the government should realise that they are governing India, where 90% of the people are proven affected from the 'Chalta Hai' syndrome. By reducing the scare and the panic amongst the people, the number of deaths shall only rise, as the lesser number of people would then take precautions. Case in point - Since the last two weeks of blackout of news of swine flu, the number of cases and deaths have multiplied manifold. We have close to 4200 cases tested positive for H1N1, out of which 675 alone are in New Delhi, leave aside the epicentre of the flu in India, Pune (cases as on 2nd september 2009).

For once, I really hope, that India TV & Rajat Sharma and the likes of them sensationalize this issue and let the scare and panic grow in the public, as only then, the rate at which the deaths are happening would reduce, because the government as usual is only speaking and not taking the required actions.

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Sidharth Mehta

Dubai, UAE

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Key Tags: Swine Flu India, Media Reaction to Swine Flu in India, Swine Flu Cases in India, Government Measures to Curb Swine Flu in India, Swine Flu Airport Measures, Swine Flu, H1N1 Pendemic, Commonwealth Games India Swine Flu Scare, Sidharth Mehta Infinity Business School, Sidharth Mehta Dubai,

Disclaimer

This is a personal blog. The opinions expressed here are my own and not of my employer, or those who have a link to this blog, or of my mom, dad, brother, uncle, aunt, grandparents, and any other blood relations. Also, since I am a normal human being, having an open mind, my opinions and thoughts change time to time. The intent of this blog is to provide a temporary snapshot and overview of various thoughts running around in my brain, and therefore a lot of written stuff on the blog which is of a past date or time, may not be the same, or even similar to what I might think today or at present.

You are free to challenge or disagree with me, or tell me I’m completely insane, by posting on the comments section of each blog entry, but I, and only I, keep the right to delete any comment for any reason whatsoever. The reason for deletion,if done so, shall be posted on the comments section where the comment was posted originally.

This blog might also knowingly or unknowingly link to content that could be obscene, useless, useful, hate-filled, scary, wonderful, harmful, bad, good, etc. In no way, Sidharth Mehta or his blog condemn, is responsible, or endorses such content.

This work by Sidharth is also licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.

Life -- Thats the best way to put it !

Money has no memory. Experience has. You will never know what the total cost of your education was, but for a lifetime you will recall and relive the memories of schools and colleges. Few years from now, you will forget the amount you paid to settle the hospitalization bill, but will ever cherish having saved your mother's life or the life you get to live with the just born. You won't remember the cost of your honeymoon, but to the last breath remember the experiences of the bliss of togetherness. Money has no memory. Experience has.

Good times and bad times, times of prosperity and times of poverty, times when the future looked so secure and times when you didn't know from where the tomorrow will come... life has been in one way or the other a roller-coaster ride for everyone. Beyond all that abundance and beyond all that deprivation, what remains is the memory of experiences. Sometimes the wallet was full... sometimes even the pocket was empty. There was enough and you still had reasons to frown. There wasn't enough and you still had reasons to smile. Today, you can look back with tears of gratitude for all the times you had laughed together, and also look back with a smile at all the times you cried alone. All in all, life filled you with experiences to create a history of your own self, and you alone can remember them all.

The first time you balanced yourself on your cycle without support... The first time she said 'yes' and it was two years since you proposed... The first cry... the first steps... the first word... the first kiss... all of your child... The first gift you bought for your parents and the first gift your daughter gave you... The first award... the first public appreciation. .. the first stage performance. .. And the list is endless... Experiences, with timeless memory... No denying that anything that's material cost money, but the fact remains the cost of the experience will be forgotten, but the experience never.

So, what if it's economic recession? Let it be, but let there not be a recession to the quality of your life. You can still take your parents, if not on a pilgrimage, at least to the local temple. You can still play with your children, if not on an international holiday, at least in the local park. It doesn't cost money to lie down. Nice time to train the employees, create leadership availability and be ready for the wonderful times when they arrive. Hey! Aspects like your health, knowledge development and spiritual growth are not economy dependent.

Time will pass... economy will revive... currency will soon be in current.... and in all this; I don't want you to look back and realize you did nothing but stayed in gloom. Recession can make you lose out on money. Let it not make you lose out on experiences. .. If you are not happy with what you have, no matter how much more you have, you will still not be happy.

Make a statement with the way you live your life: How I feel has nothing to do with how much I have.

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Source: Identity Crysys !(if you got what I mean; UNKNOWN)

Of Sidharth Mehta and his Madness !

Here in Dubai, we have weekends on Friday and Saturday. I had been contemplating of starting my own blog for ages now, but never actually sat down to do it! Thanks to this particular weekend, where I don't have office work to bring home, I could take the plunge(a heavy word to use here,but so be it!) to start a blog.... 

I would like to thank Pranoy (a good old school friend) and his terrific blog which gave me the kick last week to start a blog on an immediate basis!

For all those who don't know me...(I am not so scary as shown in my picture attached! )

I am just another normal human being living a not so normal life. All the madness around us, makes this life not so normal. 

Hours of thinking and contemplating about business ideas, when to take the plunge, never content with the job in hand, plans to get into politics, starting up a 'stand-up social activist group', critisizing the 'damn what the hell' sort of people all around you, which includes politicians - the so called public servants, few not soo good friends having attitude problems , and also few good looking strangers who remain either strangers forever or get into a group of people whom I refer to as 'Known Ajnabee's'. 

As the tag line states, this blog would be 'discussing anything to everything',  which surely includes my interests in people, politics, military intelligence (non classified info obviously!), cricket, formula 1, business ideas, movies!, music, stock markets, art, photography, and also myself, other than the things which is material matter in our lives.

Thanks for visiting my blog, and hope it turns out to be an Interactive Madness Un Limited session for you. Enjoy, and do post your comments...