// Based on the reviews of the book in eenadu.net, and NOT by reading the original book.
The Kalam Effect: My years with the president is written by P.M.Nair, secretary of Kalam, when he was the president of India.
In 2004, UPA won the elections, and Congress decided to make Sonia Gandhi as Prime Minister. She went to meet the president Kalam, and after the meeting, she proposed Manmohan Singh as the Prime Minister. At that time, there were many rumours like, Kalam asked Sonia to do not become Prime Minister. P.M.Nair said in the book that, these rumours were not true. He said that, Kalam did not ask Sonia to do not become PM. At the same time, he mentions that, Kalam talked to Sonia for an hour personally (P.M.Nair was not present). Then, how can P.M.Nair say that, Kalam did not ask Sonia to do not become PM?
The author criticizes Kalam for not signing on Office of Profit Bill immediately, and signing only after 17 days. The author says that, the President can send back the bill to parliament once. If the parliament sends the bill again, then president does not have any other option other than accepting. As a secretary to the President, does not the author know that, the president can keep the bill without signing as long as he wishes? If he does not like the bill, he may not sign till his term finishes. It happened twice till now. In the mid-1980s, President Zail Singh withheld assent to a Bill passed by Parliament that gave sweeping powers to the State to intercept mail. This was considered by the President to be an encroachment on citizens' freedom of speech and liberty as guaranteed by the Constitution. In early 1990, President Venkataraman withheld assent to a Bill passed by the outgoing Parliament that gave pension benefits to themselves. This was interpreted by the President to be self-aggrandisement.
I don't like the attitude of the people who write books with so much crap and defaming great personalities, just to get some publicity.
Of course, all these comments are based on the reviews in eenadu.net, and NOT by reading the original book. The reviews are written by the employees/journalists/representatives of eenadu.net, and not by the readers of that news paper.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
The name is Rajinikanth
The book, "The Name is Rajinikanth" by Dr.Gayatri Srikanth was released on March 6th 2008. On 30th March 2008, I went to big bazar and saw this book. I was not that much interested in buying/reading that book. I just wanted to see few pages. I opened the first page. After reading first few lines, I got interest to read the first two pages. After reading the first two pages, I bought the book. :) Within a week, I finished reading the entire book.
The first two pages of that book was
Hi readers,
Before you get into the world of Rajinikanth, I have a small exercise for you. You need a pen and an analytical mind to answer ten simple questions. It is easy really. There is only one rule for this activity. The answer has to be spontaneous. And yes, the answer should not be Rajinikanth.
Pen Ready? All set?
Ok.
Question time.
1. How many superstars do you know who sleep on the floor, minus air conditioners, pillows, bed, comfortable cushiony bed sheets?
2. How many stars do you know who come out with a white beard, bald head, sans make up, sporting just a cotton kurta, even for an international function?
3. How many superstars do you know who refuse luxury caravans and five star hotels and prefer to stay in a basic lodge along with the film unit?
4. How many superstars do you know who help the poor and needy with a little more than what is required and yet do not publicize it one bit?
5. How many superstars do you know who don't care/bother about payment and are content with just Rs.1001 as token advance? (Sub question 1: How many superstars do you know who are not in the habit of carrying wallet with wads of cash/credit/debit cards and cell phones)?
6. How many superstars do you know who despite multi crore offers refuse to endorse brands? (Ok, if any of you give Kamal Haasan as an answer, you get an extra point)?
7. How many superstars do you know who hate adulation and shy away from limelight and publicity as if they are burdenous packages? (Sub question 2: How many superstars do you know who are happy with a good old Ambassador car, with no automated windows and hi-tech central locks?)
8. How many superstars do you know who have zero ego and zero attitude, and love having their snacks and tea at the roadside shop and dhabas just like any of us?
9. How many superstars do you know who call a spade a spade and has it in him to own up his vices, habits and weaknesses and lead a transparent, open life?
10. How many superstars do you know who refuse to lie under any circumstance, do not cheat others and are generous in praising their co-stars all the while giving them enough and more space on screen, demanding an equal footage to the others?
How is it that everything is still blank? Interesting isn't it? Now fill it all with one name: Rajinikanth.
Most of the authors present mainly about the positive points about the person, and very few negative points about them. But, in this case, more than 50% of the book describes the negative points of Rajinkanth in detail, and positive points are covered similar to bullet points in one or two lines.
The book is more biased towards Tamil industry, and Tamilnadu. Everywhere, the author stresses very much that Rajinikanth is a Tamilian. I cannot understand how is he a tamilian. He is a Maharashtrian, born and brought up in Karnataka, acted in many movies in Tamil, Telugu, and in many other languages. For a long time, he has not been acting in a single language. The movies are made in atleast 3 languages at the same time and released in multiple states/countries on the same day. Of course, if we have to take the last movie that was released only in one language, that would be in Telugu (Movie : Pedarayudu). Is he a tamilian, just because, he is staying in Tamilnadu, and his initial movies are in Tamil? If that is the case, then andhra will lose more than half of the cine people. Till early 90's all the telugu cinema actors, technicians used to stay in chennai only. Telugu heros did not act in that many tamil movies. But, Singers, music directors, character artists are into both telugu and tamil movies, and they got good name in Tamil as well. So, with the logic of author, will tamilians say that all these people are Tamilians?
This is not to start another war on Tamil Vs Telugu or anything. What I wanted to say is, great people like Rajinikanth, Kamal Hasan, S.P.Bala Subrahmanyam are beyond one state. They have contributed a lot in multiple languages. I don't like to say that, they just belong to one state, and are separate from other states.
The author did not mention anything about Relationship of Rajinikanth with Telugu industry. If she had mentioned about telugu industry also, then there will be one more state in his name (after Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamilnadu).
The author mentioned that there is only one movie with the Hero's name. That is Anbulla Rajinikanth starring Rajinikanth. But, in early 80's, there was a movie chiranjeevi (in telugu) with chiranjeevi as the hero.
Overall, I don't recommend others to read the book, mainly because of the negative points about Rajinikanth. People may lose respect for him after reading that book. I don't know why Rajinikanth, Kamal Hasan, and Karunanidhi wrote positive reviews about the book.
The first two pages of that book was
Hi readers,
Before you get into the world of Rajinikanth, I have a small exercise for you. You need a pen and an analytical mind to answer ten simple questions. It is easy really. There is only one rule for this activity. The answer has to be spontaneous. And yes, the answer should not be Rajinikanth.
Pen Ready? All set?
Ok.
Question time.
1. How many superstars do you know who sleep on the floor, minus air conditioners, pillows, bed, comfortable cushiony bed sheets?
2. How many stars do you know who come out with a white beard, bald head, sans make up, sporting just a cotton kurta, even for an international function?
3. How many superstars do you know who refuse luxury caravans and five star hotels and prefer to stay in a basic lodge along with the film unit?
4. How many superstars do you know who help the poor and needy with a little more than what is required and yet do not publicize it one bit?
5. How many superstars do you know who don't care/bother about payment and are content with just Rs.1001 as token advance? (Sub question 1: How many superstars do you know who are not in the habit of carrying wallet with wads of cash/credit/debit cards and cell phones)?
6. How many superstars do you know who despite multi crore offers refuse to endorse brands? (Ok, if any of you give Kamal Haasan as an answer, you get an extra point)?
7. How many superstars do you know who hate adulation and shy away from limelight and publicity as if they are burdenous packages? (Sub question 2: How many superstars do you know who are happy with a good old Ambassador car, with no automated windows and hi-tech central locks?)
8. How many superstars do you know who have zero ego and zero attitude, and love having their snacks and tea at the roadside shop and dhabas just like any of us?
9. How many superstars do you know who call a spade a spade and has it in him to own up his vices, habits and weaknesses and lead a transparent, open life?
10. How many superstars do you know who refuse to lie under any circumstance, do not cheat others and are generous in praising their co-stars all the while giving them enough and more space on screen, demanding an equal footage to the others?
How is it that everything is still blank? Interesting isn't it? Now fill it all with one name: Rajinikanth.
Most of the authors present mainly about the positive points about the person, and very few negative points about them. But, in this case, more than 50% of the book describes the negative points of Rajinkanth in detail, and positive points are covered similar to bullet points in one or two lines.
The book is more biased towards Tamil industry, and Tamilnadu. Everywhere, the author stresses very much that Rajinikanth is a Tamilian. I cannot understand how is he a tamilian. He is a Maharashtrian, born and brought up in Karnataka, acted in many movies in Tamil, Telugu, and in many other languages. For a long time, he has not been acting in a single language. The movies are made in atleast 3 languages at the same time and released in multiple states/countries on the same day. Of course, if we have to take the last movie that was released only in one language, that would be in Telugu (Movie : Pedarayudu). Is he a tamilian, just because, he is staying in Tamilnadu, and his initial movies are in Tamil? If that is the case, then andhra will lose more than half of the cine people. Till early 90's all the telugu cinema actors, technicians used to stay in chennai only. Telugu heros did not act in that many tamil movies. But, Singers, music directors, character artists are into both telugu and tamil movies, and they got good name in Tamil as well. So, with the logic of author, will tamilians say that all these people are Tamilians?
This is not to start another war on Tamil Vs Telugu or anything. What I wanted to say is, great people like Rajinikanth, Kamal Hasan, S.P.Bala Subrahmanyam are beyond one state. They have contributed a lot in multiple languages. I don't like to say that, they just belong to one state, and are separate from other states.
The author did not mention anything about Relationship of Rajinikanth with Telugu industry. If she had mentioned about telugu industry also, then there will be one more state in his name (after Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamilnadu).
The author mentioned that there is only one movie with the Hero's name. That is Anbulla Rajinikanth starring Rajinikanth. But, in early 80's, there was a movie chiranjeevi (in telugu) with chiranjeevi as the hero.
Overall, I don't recommend others to read the book, mainly because of the negative points about Rajinikanth. People may lose respect for him after reading that book. I don't know why Rajinikanth, Kamal Hasan, and Karunanidhi wrote positive reviews about the book.
Friday, April 11, 2008
WordWeb's License.
WordWeb has very interesting license.
WordWeb free version may be used indefinitely only by people who take at most two commercial flights (not more than one return flight) in any 12 month period. People who fly more than this need to purchase the Pro version if they wish to continue use it after a 30-day trial period.
This is the first time for me to see a license that differs based on the wealth of the user.
WordWeb free version may be used indefinitely only by people who take at most two commercial flights (not more than one return flight) in any 12 month period. People who fly more than this need to purchase the Pro version if they wish to continue use it after a 30-day trial period.
This is the first time for me to see a license that differs based on the wealth of the user.
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Happy Marriage Life
Once X asked Y, "What is the secret behind your happy married life?"
Y said, "You should share responsibilities with due love and respect to each other. Then absolutely there will be no problems."
X asked, "Can you explain?"
Y said, "In my house, I take decisions on bigger issues where as my wife decides on smaller issues. We do not interfere in each other's decisions."
Still not convinced, X asked Y "Give me some examples"
Y said," Smaller issues like which car we should buy, how much amount to save, when to visit home town, which Sofa, air conditioner, refrigerator to buy, monthly expenses, whether to keep a maid or not etc are decided by my wife. I just agree to it"
X asked, "Then what is your role?"
Y said," My decisions are only for very big issues. Like whether America should attack Iran, whether Britain should lift sanction over Zimbabwe, whether to widen African economy, whether Sachin Tendulkar should retire etc etc. Do you know one thing, my wife NEVER objects to any of these".
MORAL : When a couple is happily married, the wife is happy and the husband is married. :)
Y said, "You should share responsibilities with due love and respect to each other. Then absolutely there will be no problems."
X asked, "Can you explain?"
Y said, "In my house, I take decisions on bigger issues where as my wife decides on smaller issues. We do not interfere in each other's decisions."
Still not convinced, X asked Y "Give me some examples"
Y said," Smaller issues like which car we should buy, how much amount to save, when to visit home town, which Sofa, air conditioner, refrigerator to buy, monthly expenses, whether to keep a maid or not etc are decided by my wife. I just agree to it"
X asked, "Then what is your role?"
Y said," My decisions are only for very big issues. Like whether America should attack Iran, whether Britain should lift sanction over Zimbabwe, whether to widen African economy, whether Sachin Tendulkar should retire etc etc. Do you know one thing, my wife NEVER objects to any of these".
MORAL : When a couple is happily married, the wife is happy and the husband is married. :)
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