Let us live every moment of 2012!

December 21^st, 2012 has had been in news for quite some time now and lot of discussions has been there to debate – whether it would be the last day of ours and for our mother earth? This date is said to be known to ancient cultures – as the doomsday! But, as the clock struck at midnight on 31^st December 2011; everyone gathered across the globe in formal and informal parties - welcomed 2012 with cutting of cakes, fireworks, singing, dancing, resolutions, promises and lot of enthusiasm – just the way we should have had.

Every moment that we get in our life – must be enjoyed and put to use in the best possible way, as if there won’t be another! We all know this, but still we keep wasting our time and keep postponing things that we enjoy the most. We keep postponing doing things we love the most – family vacations, playing with the kids, a round of golf, meeting our old friends and alike.

The year 2012 gives us a reason to celebrate it differently – by celebrating the every moment that we get before 21^st December 2012! I believe that nothing will go wrong with us and our earth – as far as the doomsday prophecy is concerned. But, in order to enjoy our life and find a meaning of it for ourselves, let us believe that doomsday prophecy is going to happen for sure – and hence let us not waste any moment of ours.

Let us start loving ourselves,  let us start believing ourselves, let us not restrain ourselves in expressing our love to our near and dear ones, let us start doing things that we enjoy the most – as if there is no tomorrow. Yes, let us start living!

And, as 21^st December 2012- the doomsday would just pass by as an ordinary day; we all would be the masters of our own lives.

Wish you all a very happy new year 2012!

madhukarmohan@gmail.com

In the company of Abdul kalaam and Narayan Murthy

In the first week of September’2011  I got an opportunity to attend Project Management National Conference at Bengaluru. I was looking forward to this conference because of the two very bright luminaries of India who were to address us. And these two luminaries were the real sons of the soil – Ex-President APJ Abdul Kalaam and Narayan Murthy. It was an experience to see them, listen to them and feel the aura of their extraordinary but very humble and noble souls. To me it was an opportunity of a lifetime.

On the opening day of the conference, as ex-President APJ Abdul Kalaam made his entry, he was welcomed by thunderous applause from the audience and everyone stood up to greet him. Thunderous applause was followed by pin drop silence once he took up the dais. Every word he spoke carried lot of meaning and was with conviction and love for the country.

In his speech he spoke about his Vision 2020 for India and how India could achieve it. He talked in detail about the must have qualities of a good leader. I would like to share the qualities he mentioned for a successful leader. The qualities that he mentioned are –

1.            A leader must be a Visionary

2.            Must be a man/woman of Action – to fulfill the vision

3.            Should steer the team in difficult situations

4.            Must maintain transparency

5.            Should give credit for success to the team and take failures as his/her own failure

6.            Be the master of the problem, let not problems become the master

7.            Practice Nobility

8.            Should be a man/woman of Integrity – with the belief to Work with Integrity and Succeed

with Integrity.

A lot more is there I would like to share from the speech and interactive session of Sri APJ Abdul Kalaam , but I might lose the focus. At this point, however, I would like to share the response from Sri Narayan Murthy on a question from the audience. The question was – In your opinion, leaders are born leaders Or Leaders are made? His response was- Leaders are made!

It was a great learning experience and I just wanted to share with you all - about how to being a successful leader in our own sphere of work and life. Let us make ourselves a good leader – a personality - who is respected for integrity, sincerity, inspirational work, ideas, innovations and nobility – equally at our homes, offices and the society at large!

We may also see that times change, but the age-old values that have been the guiding force for the development of civilisations, remains the same- irrespective of time and place.

With best wishes for Navratri, Durga Puja and Vijayadashmi celebrations!

madhukarmohan@gmail.com

And miles to go before we sleep.....

With passing of the resolution in the Parliament on Lokpal Bill on 27^th Aug’2011, India won a battle with itself! And every one won, some reluctantly and some pro-actively. While the world is witnessing violent protests against the high handed governance, the mini peaceful revolution witnessed across India - led by Anna Hazare and his team has further cemented the already strong and vibrant Indian democracy. The resilience shown by our Parliament too has set an example for other nations!

While declaring acceptance of the resolution and announcing the end of his 12- day long fast, Anna Hazare said that the battle is only half won and that the struggle will continue. But, in my view, it is only ‘a quarter win’. Another ‘1/4^th win’ would be achieved  - once the effective Lokpal Bill comes into existence, making it ‘a half win’. And remaining ‘half win’ would make it a ‘full win’ – only when the corrupting factors give way to a corruption-free India and India ranks proudly among the top ten in the Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index!

Going by the recent ranking of India at 87^th position by Transparency International, it is a difficult task for us. But, if we could fast-track rolling of the Lokpal Bill in Parliament by active participation of the common people, I feel – it is achievable.

Let us make a commitment to ourselves, may be in the ‘Wanted’ style of Salman Khan – Ek baar jo maine commitment kar dee, uske baad toh main khud ki bhi nahin suntaa!

But, it is much easier said than done. A lot of work needs to be done and undone!

It reminds me the famous lines from ‘Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening’ by Robert Frost : And miles to go before I sleep!

For us, it is - And miles to go before ‘We’ sleep!

madhukarmohan@gmail.com

Post ‘strong’ Lokpal Bill, Onus of its effectiveness lies on us

It is heartening to see large number of people coming together to lend their moral support to Anna Hazare and his Team. And, it is not confined to Delhi. It is happening everywhere. Anti-Corruption stir has united people from all walks of life, the young and old alike, across the country. And the greatest satisfaction is that this crowd is swelling by the day, it is able to generate heat enough to make the thick skinned politicians wake up from their deep slumber. They all are looking clueless and angry. The sense of disbelief and discomfort can be gauged from the body language and statements of Congress’s spokesperson Manish Tiwari. His "Tum" Corrupt 'Ho' statement for Anna Hazare proves the helplessness of Congress leadership in tackling the 74 year old Gandhian.

Manish Tiwari’s statement also reminds me of the statement given by Digvijay Singh, the Congress General Secretary – referring Osama Bin Laden as ‘Ladenji’, upon the terrorist’s elimination by the US Navy ‘Seals’! For Votes and their chair, our representatives in parliament and state assemblies can go down to any extent and they try to defend it too!

Lokpal Bill is not going to be a quick fix panacea for corruption, but it might be able to put a check on the rampant corruption- to some extent. It may make our lives much easier. It may make our dream-homes- a bit cheaper. It may save us from making unnecessary trips to various agencies, for getting a certificate or our financial dues.

However, the corruption won’t go just by having a ‘strong’ Lokpal Bill. We, as an ordinary Indian, will have to be more vigilant and ‘stronger’ than ever to weed out the deep rooted corruption in our daily lives. We must learn to say ‘NO’ whenever we encounter situations that demand from us ‘under the table’ payments. We need to be a little fearless now in exposing such corrupt forces.

If we are dreaming of a corruption-free India, let us remember that actions speak louder than words. Our very own role, as an individual is more important than the proposed Lokpal Bill. At home, let our children imbibe the right values and virtues from us - by our very own upright actions. This alone would take care of the future course of our nation.

madhukarmohan@gmail.com

Logic(sic) behind Government's Lokpal Bill

Hearty congratulations to everyone on the eve of Independence Day!

This day holds special memories of my childhood days at my village school. As school kids, on this day, we used to go round our village in a procession called ‘Prabhat Pheri’- shouting ‘Vande Mataram’, ‘Bharat maata Ki Jay’ and cheerfully waving the paper flags. It used to fill me with the spirit of a warrior! Sitting in their thatched houses and broken huts, the smiling villagers used to wave at us and their kids would come running and join the procession. More than four decades have passed and this tradition of ‘Prabhat Pheri’ is now no more observed.

In these four decades, most of the thatched houses have now taken the shape of pucca house with concrete ceiling. But the connecting roads, open drainage, waste-pit, drinking water facility remains the same and electricity that remains elusive; it hasn’t changed much in all these years. Yes, here and there, some influential people have certainly made their presence felt by encroaching upon the public property!

The change, or, the status quo in development of our village very well depicts what India achieved in all these years post-independence. Same must hold true for all other villages, barring the lucky few- having a co-villager with them like Anna Hazare or a sponsor like Sai Baba or a few high profile politicians who have done something for their constituency as compulsion!

 As is being debated for quite some time now, the real reason behind our poor development is -corruption. No doubts; we all have encountered it, encouraged it, used and abused it – at some point of our life, in one form or the other. I would be surprised if someone tells me that he or she hasn’t experienced it!

The tussle that is going on between the Team Anna Hazare and GOI on Lokpal Bill needs to be looked with special vision (the Government thinks so)! While Anna Hazare, Arvind Kejariwal and Kiran Bedi are crying hoarse about the fact that the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, MPs, MLAs, municipal councilors, sarpanches, judges, all state government employees, all Group B, Group C and group D employees of the central government - are out of the jurisdiction of Government’s Lokpal Bill; government is trying hard to give some logic(sic) to it, but we the common people and the TEAM ANNA perhaps are unable to understand the governments logic and idea!

To me, it seems that after all deliberations with its erudite ministers and secretaries, government has decided to stem out the rot – right at the roots! That's why, it has exempted all the heads and everyone who play a big role in money minting. Buck will ultimately stop at the door-steps of the common man, the grass root of democracy!

Am I Right, Sirji?

madhukarmohan@gmail.com

While USA kills Osama on Pakistani soil, Pakistani terrorists enjoy hospitality in India!

The biggest manhunt ultimately came to an end, and what a dramatic way to finish! While Pakistanis slept, US Navy Seals sealed the fate of Osama. Death of Osama has given a fresh lease of life to Obama and people in general and Americans in particular have heaved a sigh of relief and felt a sense of satisfaction of having taken the long due revenge. With this, an era of global terrorism is over, hopefully.

The commando operation while establishing the increased presence of USA in Asia region also establishes the vulnerability of developing nations, including India. Operation by US Navy Seals also proves that Might is Right. Will USA ever tolerate such operation on its own soil, for eliminating the most dreaded terrorist, by any other nation? Never.

Today an Indian daily apart from the graphic detailing of Seals operation also published a photograph of Activists of Jamat-ud-Dawa in Karachi, mourning over the death of Osama! The mourners were visibly crying! Human heart and psyche is really difficult to understand. Else, how can one explain the tears in the eyes of these mourners - on killing of Osama – when Osama himself was a hardcore terrorist and directly responsible for brutally killing and ruining the lives of innocent kids, women and men! More than three thousand lives were lost in a few moments due to the horrific crashing of planes by the terrorists that pulverized the Twin Towers on 9/11. Did these activists ever feel sorry for the innocent lives lost to bullets and bombs around the globe?

While in a swift commando operation USA successfully eliminated Osama on Pakistani soil, Pakistani terrorists enjoy hospitality in India after terror strikes that shook the entire nation in 2008. Death sentence has been proclaimed and upheld in the law of court, but Kasab lives on!

As per a TOI report dated Feb 22, 2011; Rs. 45 Crore has been already spent on Kasab’s stay in India and daily expenditure of about Rs. 9.0 lakhs is incurred on him. And going by the history of 27  similar petitions waiting for consideration since 1997, it is estimated that a decision could be taken for his case only by 2018. Till then, he will enjoy the hospitability of our government.

Why do we want to keep him alive? Only to show to Pakistan and the world that we have a living proof of Pakistani terror hand? Or, to fish out all the possible details on Pakistani terrorism, their training centers and hideouts? And what would we do with all such information? And with all such info - Can we strike the way US did- to eliminate the Dawoods and other dreaded terrorists? In all probability, a big NO!

Then why waste huge sums of public money on a terrorist? Either hang him without any further deliberation or send him back to Pakistan thru Wagah Border with full honor. At least tax money could be put to better use.

And my worst fear is – longer we keep the terrorists like Kasab and Afzal Guru alive, more the chances of another drama by terrorist organizations by staging hijack and demanding for their release with a safe passage to a haven! May be, government has forgotten the hard lesson learned during hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC 814 that led to release of three dreaded terrorists including Maulana Masood Azhar. Are we just waiting for it to happen again!? I am clueless.

madhukarmohan@gmail.com

Who would you nominate on the panel for Lokpal Bill?

The wish to have an anti-corruption ombudsman is not new. Lokpal Bill was first introduced way back in 1968! And subsequently in 1971, 1977, 1985, 1989, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2005 and 2008, but unfortunately they were never passed. All these years, politicians have been successfully able to avoid it for reasons well known to them. Were they sincere to their office and the oath they took while assuming their offices!

The root of corruption that took birth with emergence of a new political class – post independence, has by now developed a well established system that has pervaded and got well entrenched into our civil administration, judiciary, government offices, business houses and into every facet of life that affects the life of a common man. I feel that almost 100% of our grown up population must have had first-hand experience of corruption – in one form or the other.

After all these years, a momentum has been created against corruption. Anna Hazare has been able to create a lot of awareness among the masses on the Lokpal Bill and provide the much needed thrust to pressurize the political class to re-draft the Lokpal Bill and pass it in the coming monsoon session. However, all this effort may go down the drain and 2011 too would appear in the above referred list of years when a failed attempt was made to get the Lokpal Bill passed. Hence, it is very important to keep up the momentum.

The most worrying factor today is non-availability of enough persons from civil society with un-doubtable integrity and enough intelligence who can be on the panel for finalisation of the Lokpal Bill. The CDs involving Bhushans with some shady deals are said to be available! Kejriwal and Karnataka Lokayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde are the members who can be depended upon. Who else?

Since the proposed Lokpal Bill is primarily to rein in corruption, only personalities with impeccable track record should be nominated on the panel- whether from political field or from civil society. Given the powers to nominate, I would have nominated these two members for sure- Mr. Abdul Kalaam and Ms. Kiran Bedi – for their integrity, for their passion towards their profession, for their commitment and for the values they have stood for.

Who would you nominate on the panel for Lokpal Bill?

madhukarmohan@gmail.com