Only a month ago, 1411 was just another number without much significance attached to it. Now, almost everyone who watches television even moderately would say that, 1411 is the number of tigers left in India. Thanks to the massive media campaign from Aircel.

For those minority who are not aware of this campaign, let me brief it here in a few words. Save-our-tigers is a massive media campaign by Aircel to make people aware of the extinction of Tigers and there are only 1411 tigers left in India as of now according to their statistics. They have created a website where people like us can pledge our support.

Yes, it helped the average Indian to know that Tigers are at the verge of facing extinction in India. Not to forget, Tiger is our national animal.

My whole point in writing this blog post is not to make you aware of this campaign. For that matter, I think most of the average netizens in India are already bombarded with ads and chain mails about this issue.

Frankly, I really do not understand how am I going to save tigers just by writing a blog post, or updating my Facebook status message, or ‘roaring online’, or twittering. I am not kidding. I seriously do not understand how this is going to help save the tigers, and let alone increase the count. If you have any idea, please do tell me.

I can safely say I do not know anyone who uses Facebook and killed a tiger in his life. So, asking an average Indian to save them is almost useless. And how about asking an average Indian to tell police when you come to know about tiger-hunters. Come on… are you joking, I ask them. Imagine yourself going to a police station or calling a helpline to tell that you know someone who hunted a tiger. I do not see this as practical. Not for a common Indian like me.

Brand-building through campaigns/advertisements with a social issue around them seems to be the new age marketing mantra. Of course, there is no harm in doing that. But I really hate when my inbox gets filled with such forwarded stuff and when I get an SMS asking me to save tigers. Especially when my phone buzzes in the middle of an afternoon nap. Come on… I am not a tiger hunter. Not even in my wildest dreams.

If we really have to support, we must actually help people like the following kid.

Cub Warrior

Of course, I came to know about this kid from this campaign’s website.

If there is something the government can do, is to really take steps to increase the count of the tigers. But how? Hey… can’t they just bring a few male and female tigers together in a dedicated zoo for them? And I am sure they know what to do. They do not need our help. Nature takes care! When there are enough  new tigers, they can be left on their own in the tiger reserves. But, I am no ecologist though.

My point is not to criticize or dismiss such campaigns. It’s just that I really do not understand how they are going to really help the cause practically. And being aware of something really doesn’t always help to solve the problem. Being aware about AIDS is no good when we actually don’t practice safe s_x! I know this isn’t a good analogy, but I hope it helped me to convey my thoughts.

And may be this campaign was actually started with a good intention with no commercial interest. Who knows. Now Aircel guys, don’t sue me for writing this blog post. I have nothing against you. Between, I have an Aircel connection even before you started this campaign.

PS: I wonder how they have come up with the number 1411. I mean how can we really count tigers? And did they count all Tollywood heroes who say they are tigers in every other movie.

But wait, more often than not, these protests are not peaceful as they are supposed to be. It is not simply a matter of closing few buildings and making sure nothing of productive value happens on that day. Vandalizing public property is an almost unavoidable and unfortunate thing and we – common people – have almost come to a situation where it seems to be a normal act unless we ourselves are the victims of the attack.

Coming to the core of the topic, every time a group calls for a bandh, there is a common victim – the innocent bus which can neither speak nor escape when the driver is off the board.

So, in this oddly written article, I am doing the talking for a bus in an imaginary situation on a day when ‘bandh‘ is called by some imaginary group which I do not want to give a name. I hope it will be funny, serious, thought provoking, may be boring… oh… wait… you can just read on I guess…

***

“Driver,” the Bus shouted, “there seems to be a mob coming towards us with a handful of stones and other stuff, please save me. There seems to be a bandh today.”

The helpless driver yelled back at the bus in a voice that is gripped with nothing but fear, “come on… what loss can it cause you…  if your windows are broken, you will get them replaced with new windows at the expense of the government and you should be happy in that way. But in the process of saving you, if I am hurt, no one cares for me. You do not have a family like me who depend on me for a daily living. Let them beat you, anyway you don’t feel any pain. I am going to stop here and get down now. That is the only way to save me and the people inside you.”

Driver was the only hope for the Bus from escaping the thrashing that was soon going destroy or who knows may be burn the bus to ashes.

“Please take the turn here,” the Bus requested the driver in a hope to save itself if the driver takes the turn. But the people in the bus shouted that they will be going late if the driver takes that turn. For a moment, the bus forgot about the mob and laughed at the foolishness of the people it was carrying who were still thinking that the mob is not going to attack.

“Driver…” the bus said in pain and with a deep desire to explain its past attacks, “this is not the first time I am experiencing such a helpless situation. Last month, when the opposition party protested against the ruling party’s policies which are slowing down the growth of India, I was attacked. When I was very new and fresh out of the factory, only after a few days on the road, I was attacked by a mob who was protesting for some issue I could not understand. When the mob was about to set me on  fire, fortunately a police jeep came near by with its siren and the mob left me alone even though they had beaten me to death.”

“Bus…” the driver shouted in a hurried voice, ” neither am I interested in listening your past nor am I a fool to talk to you when they are all set to attack you and me if I stay in my seat. I am going to jump and runaway.”

Driver looked through the broken net of his seat’s backrest and found that all the passengers have already left including the conductor. He also jumped out of the driver’s window and moved few hundred meters away from the bus.

Driver had heard the stories of his fellow workers who were attacked by the mobs when those drivers protested not to cause any damage to the bus. So, he never wanted to risk his life and went to a safe place and watched the scene with fear and hope that they will not cause any damage to him. Of course, nothing was wrong from his side, he has a whole family which solely depends on him for survival. And he knew neither he had the power nor the strength to fight the mob.

The bus was alone after all passengers and driver left and wondered if only it can start itself and runaway. Bus thought that man is more afraid not to give too much power to the machines, not in the real world at least, but only in movies where machines are more capable than man. God knows how people went crazy about such movies.

By then, the bus realized that the  mob came so close and were about to hit the glass windows. Somehow, the windows are more vulnerable and people like to destroy them first. May be its the sound of crackling them that tempts the attacker or may  be they find it easy to break the glass than any other parts of the bus.

The bus wanted to get into a conversation with the mob and requested them to listen to what it has to say for few minutes. The leader of the mob, who looked to be in his mid thirties with a flag in his hand, agreed and asked all his followers not to cause any damage till he commands.

“Sir…” the bus said the leader in a hope to save itself,  “I do not know your name nor do I know to which political party you belong. I do not know what for you are protesting. All I want to ask is, in what way is destroying me going to help you achieve what you want to with this protest? It is my sincere question as I am not as intelligent as you human beings who created me in the first place.”

“Listen,” the leader said to the bus. “it’s been happening from the time the buses were made by us. What rights have you got to ask such a stupid question. Anyway as you have asked, let me give you my answer quickly as we do not have enough time to waste. We destroy you to show the power we possess and to let the people know we are united for our cause, come what may”.

“Leader,” the bus said in a voice that is sure going to irritate the mob, “if power is what you want to show, don’t you find any intelligent way other than destroying me? If you want to show how united you are for your cause, I am sure you human beings are clever enough to show the unity in many more meaningful ways than through this unthoughtful act which in no way helps anyone.”

“I am helpless Bus, I am helpless. I have been ordered to destroy at least a specific number of buses today. I cannot do anything but listen to my seniors who called for this bandh in the first place. I do not understand why you are so worried as we are not going to set you ablaze this time. That way you are lucky. We are just going to break your windows, head-lights and few other stuff which the government will replace in due time as the elections are near by. It’s good for you actually. The windows are looking old anyway. Don’t you think we are actually helping you? I really pity you.” The leader said as if he had some concern for the poor and inanimate bus which stood helplessly in front of the mob who were very impatient to wait anymore.

“I am not worried about myself. I am worried because you are wasting the public money which they have paid as tax to the government and actually buying tickets to travel. That is what I am worried about. What right have you to destroy the public property?”  Bus asked slowly assuming a dominating voice.

“I never knew buses know about tax and other stuff.” The leader said rather sarcastically. “From where did you learn all this stuff?”

“That is very simple, I know one thing you human beings find it so difficult. I know how to listen to others without talking much. Everyday, I learn a lot of stuff from the people who sit in my seats and talk about everything under the Sun. The new FM radio that is installed inside me is helping a lot. These days people seldom talk to each other in the bus as they are always busy on their mobile phones.”  Bus said in a voice that seems to dominate the leader. And regretted letting the mob know about the FM radio fearing they would destroy that too.

What the bus did not realize was, it is difficult to convince a group of fools with no brains.

By now, the leader got irritated to a point where he could not tolerate the dominance of the Bus and ordered the mob to thrash it. With in few seconds, there were sounds of crackling and smashing.

The bus silently witnessed itself being destroyed, so did the driver from a safer distance.

After the mob had left the place, the driver came near the bus.

“I am sorry. Next time… I am going to save you no matter what it takes,” the driver said apologetically and started the bus and left for the depot.

***

We have become so habituated to witnessing such scenes of violence on bandhs. Nobody ever questions, at least in public. The country which had fought silently for the freedom without much violence, now seems off the track. Public protests with violent actions have become anything but common.

But, there is hope, that people will realize someday and act more meaningfully.

I hope you liked the article. Would be happy if you share your thoughts using the comments section.

Being the poster boy of Indian information technology industry from many years, today’s confessions from Ramalinga Raju in a five page letter shocked the entire country. No one ever had a single clue about the fraud and today’s developments came as an utter shock to investors, employees and common public. In the letter, though Mr. Raju claims that only he is entirely responsible, it is hard to believe only a single person can falsify balance sheets. The probe will find out what exactly happened and who are involved.

I have a lot of friends working at Satyam and I spoke to few of them today. Everyone is really concerned about their jobs and about the existence of the company.

I really hope somehow Satyam comes out of this crisis, not for the sake of all those big guys at the top, but for other employees who worked like it’s their own company. If the economy was doing good and markets were at peak employees would not be worried as much as they are now. The slowdown and an almost complete stagnation in hiring are adding to the existing worries of the Satyam employees.

The repercussions of this scam on Indian corporate sector are yet to be seen. Major revenues for Indian software firms come from the outsourced projects from other countries.

Being an ex-employee of Satyam, I personally felt very sad when I heard the news on TV and felt sorry for the man, who was only few days ago a role model for many people in the country and now is being termed as the biggest fraudster in India Inc. Anyways, fraud is fraud and there are so many stakeholders who are in a disaster due this unearthed scam that was going on from many years.

Raju is quoted to have written “It was like riding a tiger, not knowing how to get off without being eaten”. But why the hell did he have to do that in the first place?

Is Satyam the only one doing fraud accounting or is it the only one that came into light?

Few days back I have attended a marriage in Hyderabad. It is one of my classmate’s wedding. And let me tell you, the marriage was on a fine Sunday. To my surprise there were more vehicles with this sign saying “on govt duty” than the normal ones. These vehicles are supposed to be used for the official work. But no one cares for what purpose they are used in India. Many officers, who are in very respectable positions use the vehicles for their personal work.

It is not a blasphemy to use a little resources of government for personal use. You might use the vehicle with your own fuel and drive it for personal work. But using the government fuel and drivers for personal work is really not a good thing to do morally.

Whenever respected Abdul Kalam or any visionary talks about India becoming superpower by 2020, these kind of many small things come to my mind. Every citizen needs to be responsible if India will ever really become a developed nation or the number one country.

Congratulations and salutations to all the scientists and everyone who is involved in this history creating achievement for India. You are the real heroes of our country.

Thousands of middle class families in India dream of owning a car. This is the day to celebrate for all these families. The dream has indeed come to reality and Tata’s have kept their promise of making a peoples car.

Following are the pictures taken from ‘Tata NANO‘ website.

We may expect to see it on the roads in the second half of 2008.

There is a mixed response for this move from the general public and experts. While Kiran Bedi says its a good move and made at right time, there are few other who are not convinced with the idea. ‘Those posing a real threat to our security can easily rustle up some counterfeit ID proof without much trouble,” says advocate, Supreme Court, Prashant Bhushan.

Only time will tell whether this is going to be another tool for the police to harass the public or this move is really going to make Delhi a more safer place to live. But, when people can get fake passports and visas, and cross oceans, what’s the point in imposing these kind of laws?

What about all those labor and other working people who do not have an identity card to show? Most of them are migrated from other parts of the country to earn a life. Is it the end for these people? Delhi police really have to think about the solutions to answer these questions before imposing this law. You cannot simply assume that every citizen in this country has an identity proof to prove that he or she is an authorized citizen of this country to live in or to visit Delhi.

From my knowledge, security needs to be addressed in a long term basis. Short term solutions like these are not going to help much and sadly they may cause more problems for the citizens.

Harnessing the latest information and communication technologies to provide more foolproof solutions like smart cards for every citizen are really going to help. Though these kind of solutions are budget heavy, they can successfully be implemented in long term.

Anyways, no solution can be foolproof, at least in the near future. We have seen this many a times. Educating the citizens to become more responsible should be the first priority.

IBNLive has an interesting story on fake identity cards: Fake identity cards for Rs5,500.

SaferIndia.com extends help to people whose complaints are unheard by police. The service is launched under the project “Mission Safer India” by non-government organisation India Vision Foundation. SaferIndia.com will act as a bridge between complainants and police services to seek appropriate redress. People can log on to the website and e-mail their complaint to the group which will forward it to the State police headquarters.

Find out more from TheHindu article ‘Kiran Bedi launches website‘.

Its really great to see these kind of initiatives which harness the latest technologies to solve common man problems. More importantly being backed up by respected personalities like Kiran Bedi.

Though the service seems to be promising and a definite hope for the needy, who are neglected by the police authorities, website itself is not very impressive right now. I will write more about the website, design and other technical stuff in my next post.

Blind people browse the web using assisting software. But they are available only in developed countries. The cost of these softwares is very high and its very difficult for an average visually challenged Indian to buy and use.

Nethrodaya cyber cafe uses JAWS as the screen reader software to assist the visually challenged people to browse the web and operate other computer applications.

Sify has joined its hands with the cafe and provides free unlimited data transfer for this cyber cafe.

Nethrodaya is founded by C. Govindakrishnan. He was born with visual impairment. He founded the Nethrodaya Organiztion on October 2, 2002 with a vision to create a suitable environment for nurturing the abilities and talents of the visually impaired.

This is a great step and they are planing to launch similar cyber cafes in other cities.

Can you imagine a day without Internet? We use Internet for our assignments, projects, research and we learn more from Internet than reading books. But it is very difficult for blind or visually challenged people to browse the web as we do very easily. They have every right to access information as we have. These kind of initiatives will definitely help them.

If you are really interested to see how visually challenged people browse the web, see the following article.

Screen Readers and Web Accessibility: Must Watch Video by Yahoo Engineer

He returned to India in 1991 after working in US for 2 years. He has recently published a series of articles on the topic 15 Years as an Entrepreneur where he explained his journey as an entrepreneur.

In the current Web 2.0 revolution in India, there are so many young entrepreneurs dreaming to make it big. Blogs like this will definitely inspire and encourage these next generation entrepreneurs in India.

Personally I would like to see the established entrepreneurs in India start blogging and share their experiences to inspire the wanna-be entrepreneurs.