Fundamental Duties - This is what we need to do

Recently heard Dr.Karan Singh speaking about the present Indian society. He said that an Indian citizen should do his fundamental duties as specified in our constitution. Asking for fundamental rights and making other demands is valid only if one does his fundamental duties.
The Constitution says this on Fundamental Duties.

It shall be the duty of every citizens of India-
(a) to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem;
(b) to cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom;
(c) to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India;
(d) to defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so;
(e) to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities; to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women;
(f) to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture;
(g) to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures;
(h) to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform;
(i) to safeguard public property and to abjure violence;
(j) to strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and achievement.

I feel that I am doing all my fundamental duties listed above, except perhaps point b). Though most of the ideals are fine for me with regard to our freedom struggle, there are some things which I dislike.

So you want to be happy ?

So, you want to be happy ? What? All of you ? I don't want to be happy. Surprised? Yes, maybe.
There are two meanings to the above set of statements. One is a cynical way of looking at things. Demeaning others, maybe. The other is choosing your emotions. Happy or surprised.
My intention was to present the sentences in a difficult logical way.
Most of us want to be happy. Happy that we drink a can of beer. Happy that we get tandoori paranthas around the corner. Happy that we get fruit drinks to quench our thirst. Happy that all men are uniform.
But look at the problems with being happy. My kids are happy. So what if road is filled with begging children?
I turn aside when I see a rowdy eve-teasing a girl. I want to be happy!Why get involved in a mess?
But if you decide to be surprised. Then you will be on your foot. You foresee problems and find solutions. You become brave.
So, surprised is my preferred emotion. What is yours?

பொங்கல் வாழ்த்துக்கள் - Happy Pongal festival

Tomorrow is Pongal. The harvest festival in Tamil Nadu.
My wishes to all the Tamil bloggers. May the Pongal festival bring happiness and abundance in your lives.
The festival is celebrated after months of toil and the benefits of agricultural output cooked and relished. I asked one wise guy who was celebrating Pongal as to what is the philosophy he has about the Pongal dish the family had cooked. He replied back "First ஆசாமி(man)  then சாமி(God)".
He had a simple philosophy and though said humorously it struck chord with me. How I wish that every person is treated like that by every other person in this way !! And I have to pray God for that !!

Auto Expo, Delhi's mega event. Is this what we need?

Delhi is going to host the Auto Expo. Another mini car to be displayed in the exhibition. Called RE60. Made by Bajaj. I do not think a car is what is needed. We need helicopters. Should not be difficult to make. Instead of the engine making the tyres rotating in this axis, the engineers have to make it rotate in an axis perpendicular to it. Fix up a big fan and we have a helicopter. Go to office, go for shopping saving a lot of time.
The cities are choked with cars. There is so much of pollution. Not my concern, says the industry.
And Tatas have failed with Nano. Could not venture into US full heartedly.
And here is the Delhi government or probably central government (an issue that needs discussion in parliament) who is organising Auto Expo. May be they did not have enough of cars. One thing is for sure, though. People are not fools. They may go in large numbers to the exhibition. But only to see what is in offer and to get pamphlets. They use their thinking when they want to do an actual purchasing. We may have a lot of politicians and businessman smiling so obviously in camera thinking they are fooling people. They are fooling themselves. When you have printing machine for money why make cars and make money?

2011 coming to an end but no end to our problems

Lokpal Bill is stuck in parliament. Anna Hazare, a great leader is unwell. Then there is the problem of Mullaperiyar dam. Mullaperiyar dam row spins my head and this issue blows off my thinking completely.
Then the Gita controversy is there with Russians. Then the economy of India. The economy issue also spins my head in equal measure and I loose hope.
Is there anything wrong in our thinking? Are we thinking and acting correctly?
Now come to Lokpal issue. People expect the most corrupt government in Indian history to make a law which is detrimental to its survival. How much feasible is it?
The Gita controversy now. I feel calling the Gita a blasphemy by University students is more acceptable than a Russian court passing a judgement on Gita.
The Mullaperiyar dam and the economy issue calls for a mature give and take by all the party involved every time. But given our ways for politicizing and creating a ruckus, our mind and mental make-up looses peace of mind every time you open the newspaper.
Are we too emotional? Do we want others to understand our emotions and show empathy? Is our thinking dictated by our emotions?
The year 2012 is around the corner. And I wish all the fellow bloggers a very happy new year. And I hope the new year will bring out a lot of happiness and peace to our countrymen too. For India is what I love the most and its well being my dream.

Rupee at 54 to a dollar - the lowest ever

Rupee is falling. And is loosing respect. Needless to say, it is loosing respect in India too. The inflation in prices has made it impossible for poor to buy common items. They have become so costly. The government is passing laws and amendments to laws to control economy. This method of controlling the economy is akin to saying "You marry but you shall not have sex". How can making laws control the economy? Only market forces has to control the economy. And government should encourage such steps which shall encourage market forces controlling the economy. This will give value to the rupee.
Then there is the problem of huge fiscal deficit. The government expenditure being the major factor in the deficit. Salaries and operating costs are piling up day after day and no one seem to be taking steps for this. Why should government employees loose confidence? We have profit making public enterprises contributing to the economy in a positive way. Why should we get scared of disinvestment? Disinvestment in shares of public enterprises will allow market forces to take care of deficit. If not much decrease in deficit, the fact cannot be denied that accountability will increase. This will benefit the whole of India. You and me. Everyone will benefit by the rupee.
We may also offer shares of our good performing public enterprises to non-Indians. This will keep the dollar in check. Also the modernization and better practices will come to public enterprises and the efficiency of the public enterprises will improve. 

Developing Leadership

Leaders are a rare commodity these days. We see people with narrow vision, inability to energize people and poor communication skills. Vision, energizing people and good communication are the hallmark of a great leader.
Leadership is a must in today's connected world. It is a flat world.
I was interested to know what a flat world is. I browsed the Internet for the meaning flat world. I could not visualize the meaning of what Internet said is a flat world. Then I tried to discover the meaning myself. I asked myself What is a round world? I told myself round means continuity. You give and you get back. And it continues. Then I told myself that a Flat world is where there is discontinuity. You give. The End.
The software programs Twitter stresses on leader-follower thing. So this social networking says it all. How is today's world?
Just teaching theoretical stuff on leadership development is not good enough. You need to have drills and exercises continued for many days which should force leadership into you. Everything can be developed. Even leadership can be.
What sort of exercises can develop leadership skills? Or do you believe it is an inborn trait?