The Samajwadi Party (SP), headed by Mulayam Singh Yadav released its manifesto over the weekend. Nothing unusual as this is the election season and all potential candidates are making promises to the ‘aam’ janta to secure their vote. But the provisions, rather promises in the SP’s manifesto make for a shocking read. SP wants to curb and in some instances remove the usage of computers. They also want to abolish English – Medium Schools. Their argument, these actions would create a level playing field for all and generate jobs.
I can’t really speak for the whole country but I am sure that the urban population is probably outraged or at least gravely concerned.
Take a look at the statistics of the English language alone:
· Over 700 million people, speak English, as a foreign language
· More than half of the world's technical and scientific periodicals are in English
· English is the medium for 80% of the information stored in the world's computers
Speaking fluent English is one of the major competitive edges that India possesses over China, in the service industry. Moreover a well educated workforce makes India an attractive prospect for foreign business investments.
As far as the use of computers are concerned, perhaps the people at SP should be given a tour of the may InfoTech campuses across the country! The Information Technology (IT) industry in India is one of the fastest growing industries with valuable brand equity in the global markets. The IT industry in India comprises of software industry and information technology enabled services (ITES), which also includes business process outsourcing (BPO) industry. India is considered as a pioneer in software development and a favorite destination for IT-enabled services. The IT sector is perhaps one of the major components of our nation’s revenue machinery. Even outside the IT sector computers have enabled to streamline many business processes. The biggest example of course is the government’s own Indian Railways. Banning the use of computers wherever manual work is possible is nothing short of placing the country back into the Stone Age!
The party has also proclaimed an end to mechanized farming and high corporate salaries. I might be able to make peace with the latter, but the same argument stands for mechanized farming as it does for the use of computers. Considering that India is still an agrarian economy, the use of technology would greatly aid the nation’s agricultural productivity and output.
It seems that the party has taken its party symbol (a bicycle) a little too literally and is now intending to bring us all to the good old days of the pre-independence era!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
In Praise of FRIENDS
In the early 90’s, the television scene in the US was brimming with new-age, tongue-in-cheek plots for new shows. Many failed, some ran for a few seasons, but few have found the same cult status success as the hit TV series, FRIENDS.
With its pilot episode airing in 1994, the cast (relatively unknown at the time), was instantly catapulted to stardom and each one of them became overnight sensations across USA. The cast included David Schwimmer (Dr. Ross Gellar) who plays the nerdy paleontologist , Courtney Cox (Monica Geller), is an obsessive compulsive chef, Matthew Perry (Chandler Bing) is the resident funny man, Lisa Kudrow (Phoebe Buffet) is the eccentric masseuse, Matt LeBlanc (Joey Trivioanni) is the dim-witted actor and Jennifer Aniston (Rachel Green) is an executive at a Fashion House.
Set in the bustling city of New York, the show chronicled the hilarious lives and loves of the protagonists and in the process connected with the audience with its own unique flavor of humor. The most common places that are visible in the show are the apartments of Joey –Chandler and that of Monica and Rachel. The other location which audiences may remember vividly is the coffee house-‘Central Perk’ which was the friends’ after hours hang-out.
The hit TV show came to a finale in its tenth season, which saw the evergreen friends going their separate ways, (Ross and Rachel parent their baby daughter, Monica and Chandler have adopted twins, Phoebe marries her steady boyfriend Mike and Joey moves to Los Angeles to pursue his flourishing acting career).
Although not suitable for youngsters due to its sexual innuendos, the sitcom found a place of admiration in the hearts of all ages for its candid approach to many topics, including lesbianism, premarital sex, child adoption and live-in relationships.
Today FRIENDS has become part of our world pop-culture and has become the definitive show case for the trials and tribulations as well as the joy and happiness of a relationship we all call as Friend.
To sum up the sentiment of FRIENDS we’d like to conclude with a line from the theme song of the show,
“So no one told you life was gonna be this way,
Your job’s a joke , you’re broke, your love life’s D.O.A,
It’s like you’re always stuck in second gear,
And when it hasn’t been your day, your week, your month or even your year…
I’ll be there for you…”
With its pilot episode airing in 1994, the cast (relatively unknown at the time), was instantly catapulted to stardom and each one of them became overnight sensations across USA. The cast included David Schwimmer (Dr. Ross Gellar) who plays the nerdy paleontologist , Courtney Cox (Monica Geller), is an obsessive compulsive chef, Matthew Perry (Chandler Bing) is the resident funny man, Lisa Kudrow (Phoebe Buffet) is the eccentric masseuse, Matt LeBlanc (Joey Trivioanni) is the dim-witted actor and Jennifer Aniston (Rachel Green) is an executive at a Fashion House.
Set in the bustling city of New York, the show chronicled the hilarious lives and loves of the protagonists and in the process connected with the audience with its own unique flavor of humor. The most common places that are visible in the show are the apartments of Joey –Chandler and that of Monica and Rachel. The other location which audiences may remember vividly is the coffee house-‘Central Perk’ which was the friends’ after hours hang-out.
The hit TV show came to a finale in its tenth season, which saw the evergreen friends going their separate ways, (Ross and Rachel parent their baby daughter, Monica and Chandler have adopted twins, Phoebe marries her steady boyfriend Mike and Joey moves to Los Angeles to pursue his flourishing acting career).
Although not suitable for youngsters due to its sexual innuendos, the sitcom found a place of admiration in the hearts of all ages for its candid approach to many topics, including lesbianism, premarital sex, child adoption and live-in relationships.
Today FRIENDS has become part of our world pop-culture and has become the definitive show case for the trials and tribulations as well as the joy and happiness of a relationship we all call as Friend.
To sum up the sentiment of FRIENDS we’d like to conclude with a line from the theme song of the show,
“So no one told you life was gonna be this way,
Your job’s a joke , you’re broke, your love life’s D.O.A,
It’s like you’re always stuck in second gear,
And when it hasn’t been your day, your week, your month or even your year…
I’ll be there for you…”
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Rx
A hospital is not exactly a destination of choice for any of us. I mean, no one goes online to check out the different hospitals in his neighbourhood just for kicks! And if you do, then you are either way to compulsive or you have a weird hobby!
The word ‘hospital’ is derived from the Latin word hospes, which means host. Ironically today’s hospitals are anything but hospitable. Right from the door attendant to the surgeon, all seem to have forgotten the value of hospitality in an industry that is based on the quality of your service.
The modern-day hospital is part of the ever-burgeoning hospitality (no pun intended!) and service industry. Meaning that it and its facilities are subject to the same standard one would expect from a hotel, a consultancy or even a bank. Sadly this concept has not really sunken into the minds of people on either side of the looking glass. This applies primarily to information of the tariff structure. If you’ve had the opportunity to pay for the treatment availed by you or your loved one, seldom do you know the cost involved till it is time to pay the piper!
I sympathise with the medical professionals as they have to deal with the human body, which, despite decades of study, still remains unpredictable. As such, it is impossible to ascertain the array of tests, treatments and other peripherals involved.
But the truth is that when the medical professional gives the estimation of the involved costs to you, he isn’t factoring in the unpredictability as a variable. Instead it is your income level that plays a major component in his equation!
A simple estimation of the general cost of treating common ailments would help the common man a great deal. At the least the honchos at the hospital should spell out the tariff structure of the rooms and facilities provided by their establishment. Please remember, the minute you begin distinguishing between the classes of facilities that are provided to the diverse customer base, you are liable to make available information detailing payment structure.
Part of the problem which has led to this sorry state is the attitude of the general public towards hospitals and doctors in particular. Even today, the flesh and blood doctor is revered and placed on a super-human pedestal and the brick and mortar hospital is akin to a temple! That bespectacled doctor is also a professional who gets paid for his skill, knowledge and effort just like any other employed individual albeit an error on his part could lead to disastrous consequences and maybe even fatalities.
Hospitals and doctors should not be treated like demigods; rather start treating them like any other corporation and its employee who are doing their job to the best of their capabilities to ensure the satisfaction and well-being of those who come to them.
The word ‘hospital’ is derived from the Latin word hospes, which means host. Ironically today’s hospitals are anything but hospitable. Right from the door attendant to the surgeon, all seem to have forgotten the value of hospitality in an industry that is based on the quality of your service.
The modern-day hospital is part of the ever-burgeoning hospitality (no pun intended!) and service industry. Meaning that it and its facilities are subject to the same standard one would expect from a hotel, a consultancy or even a bank. Sadly this concept has not really sunken into the minds of people on either side of the looking glass. This applies primarily to information of the tariff structure. If you’ve had the opportunity to pay for the treatment availed by you or your loved one, seldom do you know the cost involved till it is time to pay the piper!
I sympathise with the medical professionals as they have to deal with the human body, which, despite decades of study, still remains unpredictable. As such, it is impossible to ascertain the array of tests, treatments and other peripherals involved.
But the truth is that when the medical professional gives the estimation of the involved costs to you, he isn’t factoring in the unpredictability as a variable. Instead it is your income level that plays a major component in his equation!
A simple estimation of the general cost of treating common ailments would help the common man a great deal. At the least the honchos at the hospital should spell out the tariff structure of the rooms and facilities provided by their establishment. Please remember, the minute you begin distinguishing between the classes of facilities that are provided to the diverse customer base, you are liable to make available information detailing payment structure.
Part of the problem which has led to this sorry state is the attitude of the general public towards hospitals and doctors in particular. Even today, the flesh and blood doctor is revered and placed on a super-human pedestal and the brick and mortar hospital is akin to a temple! That bespectacled doctor is also a professional who gets paid for his skill, knowledge and effort just like any other employed individual albeit an error on his part could lead to disastrous consequences and maybe even fatalities.
Hospitals and doctors should not be treated like demigods; rather start treating them like any other corporation and its employee who are doing their job to the best of their capabilities to ensure the satisfaction and well-being of those who come to them.
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