61 Years.. of Indian Independence !

Hey all..

I kno this post is late by a couple of days.. but here are my views !

On the midnight hour of 15th August 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru made one of the most important speeches in history.. titled 'Tryst with Destiny'.. to mark the beginning of Indian independence ! After about 200 years of colonial rule.. oppression and bloodsed, India's fight for freedom had finally come to an end.. with Lord Louis Mountbatten giving in to Indian demand for freedom !

Let's take a look at the video.. of the historic speech 'Tryst with Destiny' made by Nehru:



It is on Independence Day.. that we feel the true patriotism we have for our country ! The surge of pride that flows through our blood.. when we stand in front of a hoisted flag and chant the national anthem ! The sacrifices made by our ancestors.. so that we can live in the comfort that we do today !

India completes her 1st year as a free nation on Aug. 15, 2008. However, 60 years is a short span in the life of a nation, and barely marks the first baby steps of a toddler. Hence, any assessment of India has to be generous and optimistic.

We have made decent progress in several areas during the last 60 years. We have produced world-class scientists, engineers, journalists, soldiers, bureaucrats, politicians and doctors. We have built complex bridges and dams. We have sent satellites and rockets into space. We have increased the number of doctors tenfold.

We have increased life expectancy from 32 years to 65 years. We have built about 1.25 million miles of new roads; we have multiplied our steel production by over 50 times and cement production by almost 20 times. We have increased our exports from a few million dollars at the time of independence to more than $125 billion now, with about $150 billion of imports.

The Green Revolution.. White Revolution.. 1991 Economic Reforms.. Developement of Atomic Energy.. Software and IT Revolution.. and the presence of a Brave and Independent Media ! All these are the characteristics of a new.. and modern India !

What do these eight programs have in common? They were all led by visionaries. These visionaries adopted and improved upon global benchmarks and settled for nothing less despite tremendous odds. In each of these initiatives the national government was a genuine catalyst whose extraordinary leaders helped fashion the India of today. They and so many others created an India where all Indians have the freedom to design, innovate, create and build their futures together. What a remarkable story of how the people and the government can work together to achieve what was once thought impossible.

At the end of this post.. we can ask oursleves this question : Is India TRULY Independent ?
There is an equally convincing set of data to show that we have a long way to go in certain other areas. A whopping 350 million are illiterate; 260 million people are still below the poverty line; 150 million people lack access to drinking water; 750 million people lack decent sanitation; 50% of children are below acceptable nutrition levels; and basic medicines are unavailable in 75% of villages.

We can lift poverty.. unemployement.. illiteracy.. hunger and diseases with the same enthuasiasm and drive these visionaries had ! But if each of us thinks.. "wats the point of only yu or me workin for the upliftment of our country.. will ther be any if jus a few of us put in our efforts :| ? we may as well not do anything.. at all!", then ther really is no point !

But if each one of us.. every proud Indian.. works for the betterment of our country, India will surely reach the pinnacle of her glory ! :D

May India prosper.. Jai Hind ! :)

Adios..
Rahul !

What a long.. long friday !

Hey all..

Friday (25th July, 2008) was one of the most exciting and tiring days of my life.. let me narrate my whole day in this post :D !

It all started at 730 AM when i left home for math class in school.. and the class stretchd for two long hours - 8 to 10 :| ! When class was over.. i rushed to sid's place and guess wat - we wer going to see the dark knight in sathyam B) ! When i rang the bell in sid's house.. kaushal was already ther.. and the smart ass tried to pull a prank on me.. with no success :P ! the show was at 1115.. and robin landed up in sids place with his car onli at 1045.. we wer screaming at him.. hitting and insulting him ! after making him cry and then apologising.. we ran to the theatre frm teh car park.. at a speed tat wud hav impressed most olympic sprinters B) :D !

So.. ther we wer.. the 6 of us - Kaushal, Vishal, Prabjyot, Aakash, Sid and myself.. watching the latest batman movie ! When the movie got over.. we had planned to go to new yorker for lunch B) ! but since none of us had enough cash.. (vishal refusd to spend.. :|) we decided to go to spencers and then the school anniversary ! And it was the funniest auto ride ever.. 6 of us plus the auto dude.. squeezd in a machine tat made its best efforts to pull us :D ! and then.. a change of direction.. to citi centre ! and wen we wer bargaining abt the rate.. prabjyot spoilt evrything.. shouting "Anna.. 70 Rupees" X( ! So.. we had no chance but to pay an exorbitant rate.. tho we made the sardar pay the most.. sicne the fault was on him :P !

At citi centre.. we cudn hav enuf of the windo shopping ! teh fastrack watches.. adidas shoes.. aviator sunglasses.. and wat not :D ! lucky vishal produced two 500 rupee notes frm the middle of noower.. and bot himself a pair of converse casual shoes.. wow :O ! then.. it was time for lunch ! we ate at the foodcourt.. in gangotree and had a huge (:O) dosa frm sangeetha.. wich we finished in no tym :D ! after lunch.. we decided not to go to the anniv.. since we din hav a 100% chance of being let in ! So.. we went to the beach !

Aakash and sid pulled out.. and had started fer home :| ! so.. 4 of us remaining.. had a breezy afternoon at the beach.. but we still din wet our feet :( ! after havin some ice cream. on kaushals cash :P we decided to get home ! within this time.. i'd recieved 2 fone calls.. one frm my mom and another frm my dad.. screwing me for gonna the beach without their permission :| !

So.. we walked a little.. crazy road crossing.. and landed up in the lighthouse railway station ! After a discussion wid the ticket vendor on how to get to t nagar, we purchased 4 tickets ! then.. we heard the train approaching.. and ran up the stairs to the platform.. and boarded the train just as it was about to move ! Though ther wasn place for us to sit in the train.. it wasn very crowded and we stood our way.. till the chennai fort station ! ther.. we got down to change trains ! we waited for like 10 mins ther.. and caught our next train to mambalam :D ! we all got seats this time.. tho prabjyot refusd to sit :| ! a few army soldiers sat next to us.. and spoke with us.. until our way to mambalam.. one of them even commenting that i looked like a marwari.. lolz !

Then.. we landed up in the mambalam station ! We walked outta the station.. only to find tat we wer in the end of ranganathan street.. and had to walk a long way to reach the main road :( ! after passing vendors selling sugarcane juice and samosas (yumm), we reached a small cool drinks shop on usman road.. and quenched our thirst wid water packets.. aah :D !

Then.. kaushal called up his parents who picked us up frm usman road ! prabjyot went home wid his dad.. and vishal bravely walked home.. a walk tat took him half an hour :P ! Then.. i got dropped at sids place.. took my bag frm him.. and caught an auto home ! I was expecting mom and dad to scold. but guess wat ? they jus adviced me.. to my relief :D !

This was one of the longest, tiring and exciting days of my life.. when i left home at 730 and landed back at home only 11 hours later.. at 630 :O ! Its a day.. im nevr gonna 4get :D !

Adios..
Rahul !

Nuclear Deal.. To Agree or Not to :S ?!

NUHey all..

In this post.. im gonna discuss the provisions of the Indo-US Nuclear Deal.. also known as the 1-2-3 Agreement ! Lets see this news update.. from CNN-IBN's website :

BREAKING NEWS!

Singh is King: UPA wins trust vote.

On a tumultuous day for Indian politics, speeches good and bad, drama over cash bribes for votes, the UPA Government won the vote of confidence in Parliament. The Government got 275 votes in favour, 256 against and at least 10 abstentions. The two-day debate also ended amid hostility with Manmohan Singh unable to give his final speech because of noisy protests.

So.. what is this nuke deal ? What has it in store for our country.. and the common man ?

India's future energy situation isn't actually all that bright.. Since burning coal emits a large amount of carbon dioxide.. and we are short on uranium supplies cuz Australia.. where the largest reserves of uranium exist.. recently stopped supplying nuclear fuel to India.. due to various policy issues ! And instead.. Australia and China have signed an agreement.. by which Australia will supply 20,000 metric tonnes of uranium annualy :O !

After 31 years of hibernation as a 'nuclear outcaste' India made a comeback on 18 July 2005, when the US and India agreed on civilian nuclear energy cooperation. The Indo-US nuclear deal is in some ways an attempt by the US to reward New Delhi for its excellent non-proliferation record and to differentiate between India on the one hand and countries like Pakistan, Iran and North Korea on the other. Other nuclear weapon states (NWS) are following suit as India looks to enhance cooperation with France and Russia and non-NWS like Canada on the nuclear energy front. This is a clear indication of the fact that India's credible nuclear non-proliferation record is not only appreciated but rewarded as well. There is, however, a dire need for India to work together with Australia on the nuclear front as Australia commands 40 per cent of the world's total uranium resources. Nuclear cooperation with Australia would certainly help India meet its energy requirements as its economy grows.

And now.. what are pros and cons of this deal ?

WHAT IS THE PACT?

* The legislation amends Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954. It lets the US make a one-time exception for India to keep its nuclear weapons without signing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

* The amendment overturns a 30-year-old US ban on supplying India with nuclear fuel and technology, implemented after India's first nuclear test in 1974.

* Under the amendment, India must separate its civilian and military nuclear facilities, and submit civilian facilities to inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

WHY IS IT CONTROVERSIAL?

* Critics say it undermines the NPT, which holds that only countries which renounce nuclear weapons qualify for civilian nuclear assistance.

* The accord sends the wrong message: it could undercut a US-led campaign to curtail Iran's nuclear program, and open the way for a potential arms race in South Asia.

* India says 14 of its 22 nuclear facilities are civilian. Critics say the pact could make bomb making at the other eight easier, as civilian nuclear fuel needs will be met by the US

WHAT DO THE DEAL'S SUPPORTERS SAY?

* US President George Bush calls the deal necessary to reflect the countries' improved relations. It strengthens international security by tightening US ties to ally India, the world's biggest democracy. It also ensures some of its nuclear industry will undergo international inspection.

* New Delhi, which relies on imported oil for some 70 per cent of its energy needs, says nuclear power will help feed its rapidly expanding economy.

* France, which signed a similar deal with India in February 2006, says the move will help fight climate change and aid non-proliferation efforts.

HOW IS PAKISTAN INVOLVED?

* Pakistan sought a similar civilian technology deal with the US but was refused last in March. It is the only other confirmed nuclear power not to have signed the NPT - saying it will join after India does.

* Pakistan's own expanding nuclear program could fan the rivalry between India and Pakistan.

INTERNATIONAL RIVALRIES?

* China is said to have supported Pakistan's nuclear weapons program since the 1980s. Some analysts see the Indo-US deal as part of attempts by larger powers, the US and China, to shore up influence in South Asia by building up rival arsenals.

* The IAEA said in 2004 that Libya and Iran's nuclear programs were based on Chinese technology provided by Pakistan.

And this is one another.. important piece of info concerning the nuke deal !

India is spearheading the research of thorium as s fuel in nuclear reactors.. and this research would have taken a decade to complete.. if the other thorium research countries like France, Canada, USA had not intervened in ! If the thorium research was completed by India.. we will have no energy crises for the next 300 or 350 years.. since 30% of the thorium on earth is present in Indian reserves. The other countries mentioned.. of course did not favour India's progress and hence.. and so an amendment was put forward in the Indo-US nuke deal ! According to the deal.. India would have STOP ITS RESEARCH in thorium.. and expose its nuclear reactors to inspection by the IAEA (International Atomic Engery Agency) !

If this deal doesn pass through.. the NSG (Nuclear Supplies Group) will stop supplying uranium to India :| ! And if the deal passes.. India will recieve uranium from France.. thereby enriching their deprived economy :| !

And yea.. ther is also a commercial aspect of this deal ! If India goes thru this agreement.. it will build quite a numbr of nuclear reactors in the next 12 years ! but the sad part here is.. India doesn hav the technology nd infrastructure to build these ! and we have to rely on no one else.. but the almighty USA.. B) ! The total cost for biulding these nuclear reactors for the next 12 yearz.. amounts to an enormous 7 lakh crore :O ! And 40% of this business wil go to the USA.. and the rest will be shard by Australia, Canada and France ! India.. is now a common source for the enrichement and empowerement of Western economy :| !

All the hush-hush about nuclear power started way back in 1974, when an indigenously made nuclear device called the "Smiling Buddha" (lolz ?!) was detonated in Pokhran on May 18, 1974 ! Though India labelled the Smiling Buddha as a "Peaceful Nuclear Explosive".. ther wer international opposition for this nuclear test.. and sanctions wer placed againt India, some of these not yet removed ! And along with the nuclear deal.. India has to sign a "Test Ban Treaty".. if it wants a supply of uranium from Australia ! These conditions show the nature of the western countries.. who want no one else's progress except theirs :| !

Do we have to agree to this.. ? But yea.. if the bully says something (i mean USA) can we not agree ?

Please giv this post some thought.. and leave ur comments and corrections :D !

Adios..
Rahul !

My Cousin's New Karzima !

Hey all.. !

About a week ago.. my cousin bought a new Hero Honda Karizma Sport B) !And yea.. i got to have my hands on it yesterday ! And WHOOAA.. the Karizma is one monster of a bike :O !

With a 225cc (actually 223cc) single-cylinder engine, 17 BHP, torque of 18.40Nm @ 6000RPM, AMI (Advanced Microprocessor Ignition) and a top speed of 125 km/h ! If all this aint enough.. the braking is outta the world.. clutch and handling are too smooth to be true.. and the acceleration.. OMFG.. its DEADLY.. LETHAL.. EXPLOSIVE :O !

Though im a bit of a pro :P myself.. i did actually find the gearshift rough and tough :( ! Since it's a single lever (only toe) one-down four-up pattern.. it actually is a bit of a pain :| ! The bike flies on the road.. and you won feel like riding anything else.. after riding the karizma :D ! The clip-ons.. long body.. and sporty console give you the BIG BIKE feel.. which is exactly what Hero Honda wanted to create among the riders !

I have embedded a picture of the bike below.. even the exact color of my bro's bike :D !



This post may seem like Greek and Latin to those who aint interested in automobiles.. but please.. never miss out on this beast of a bike.. if you ever get a chance to :D !

Adios..
Rahul !

Im back.. but wher's the bang :P ?!

Hey all.. !

This is Rahul here.. re-starting my blog B) ! And.. giving some company to SiD in his venture :D !

And i also encourage all of you.. who read this blog.. to start one and maintain it !

Feel free to comment on my posts.. my readers are my main source of inspiration :D !

Adios..
Rahul !