I want to buy a copy of Wisden Cricketer’s Almanac 2006. It is for my brother in Dubai. On New Year’s Day he told me to buy Wisen Almanac 2005 or 2006. I asked some people in my office. One person told there was a book fair at Cross Maidan. That evening I went there….
Evershine city as the capital of India
Evershine City is the right place to be the capital of India. It is one mile away on the eastern side from Vasai Road railway station. It takes 25 minutes by train from Borivali to Vasai Road. Delhi was not always the capital of India. Pataliputra was the capital of Magadha Empire. No dynasty ruled…
Jury system
Zaccharias Moussavi trial shows how one juror can make the system ineffective. The juror opposed death penalty and did not assign any reason. Hence Zaccharias Moussavi was sentenced to life. There is one film in which Demi Moore acts the role of a juror. A criminal is on trial. William Baldwin acts the role of…
Assumptions of titles
For a long time monarchy was universal. Over the last 250 years many countries have abolished monarchy and the titles of monarchs are not used. This year Pope Benedict XVI gave up the title of Patriarch of the West. Annuario Pontificio 2006 did not mention it. I had written to the Pope to assume it…
Minority status
Jains are a minority. Recognising them as a minority by the Government of India is right. In India Hindus are a majority. Jains are not Hindus. Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis are recognized as minorities. Jains, Jews, Bahais and others who are not Hindus and are not recognized as minorities should be recognized as…
Perils and profits of plagiarism
Kaavya Viswanathan plagiariased from a novel and got caught. She did not apologise or express regrets. She said it was accidental and unintentional. Her book is taken off the shelves in USA and India. But she made headlines for four days on TV and newspapers. At 19 very few achieve that. Many Indians plagiarise from…
Letter to Pope Benedict XVI
His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI Your Holiness, This is my first communication to you. I hope you are in good health. I have a few suggestions to make. 1) The number of banns to be read before marriage is reduced to two. I wish it to be restored to three. The banns should be read…
Abolish reservations
The Government of India wants to introduce reservations for OBCs (Other Backward Classes) in Central Universities, IIMs (Indian Institutes of Management), IITs Indian Institutes of Technology) and such other institutions. Together with 15% reservations for SCs (Scheduled Castes) and 7.5% reservations for STs (Scheduled Tribes) these 27% reservations will cover 49.5% of total seats. Reservations…
Test of justice
The conviction of Sunil More after eleven months and a few days of rape at Marine Drive has restored confidence in people that justice will be done. After Jessica Lall murder case when all the accused were aquitted there was cynicism about open and shut cases. The rich and the powerful got away. Sunil More…
Office of profit
Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones. Madan Mohan Shukla of Congress went after Jaya Bhaduri and got her disqualified as MP for holding chairpersonship of UP Film Development Council which was an office of profit. This opened floodgates for similar petitions. Most prominent petition was against Sonia Gandhi. The effort to…