I believe in simplicity, discipline and a lessons learnt approach to life – helps us evolve beautifully on the inside & strongly on the outside, in Darwin or other ways.

There was a time when we used to ‘metaphor off’ certain never-to happen-things as “when pigs fly”. Well, with the out-break of Swine Flu, pigs are indeed flying- fitted with superior H1N1 engines and with air as fuel! Rocket technology for moon landing is not only a creation of man but animals and viruses as competing for landing rights, on humans, as well. While we search for extra-terrestrials, intra-terrestrials swine us out! Amazing?

But what have we learnt? The Surat Plague taught people in those parts a valuable basic lesson –Cleanliness & hygiene is the sine-quo-non of preventing, containing and controlling epidemics. The lesson was taken so seriously that people now say that Surat is a wonderfully clean city. Our own Mahatama had tirelessly propagated the use of toilets among Indians. Despite his bare essential clothing he was a person of extreme personal hygiene (under the circumstances-better than Nehru with the rose!). 62 years after independence we are not yet 100% Toilet literate, or for that matter cleanliness freaks, are we?

The time tested philosophy of medicine is ‘prevention is better than cure’. The best way to combat outbreaks such as Swine Flu (and maybe many others to come) is to start with the very basics – a massive drive for Cleanliness, sanitation, hygiene, discipline & orderliness in all walks of life, across all the Villages, Towns, Cities and especially Schools, of India. Imagine the awesome roll-down benefits! Isn’t it time the sage-wise PM of India gets-off Pakistan & Nuclear issues to focus on real-time India?

After Swine Flu, the News channels are affected with Khan Flu. It is atrocious that Shah Rukh Khan expects everyone in the world to know that he is King Khan-being spoiled by maharaja treatment in India? It is common knowledge that Politicians & famous People in the Country bypass all common man channels to maintain the high aura touch-me-not levels! The argument that SRK has visited the US many times does not hold water. In fact this is one of the few times he is caught being ordinary. For example, I worked in Delhi’s IGI Airport Terminal-2 renovation for over 18 months entering the Security Hold Area many times per day to oversee works. Every time, barring a few exceptions, I was subject to wholesome frisking. I did not like it, but I understood it as necessary. Yet , I stood watching an Indian Politician or a VIP passes through without being touched because of his status. Recall the human smuggling incident by an MP recently! Relatively, am I not a Super Hero at the Airport ? Why should I be frisked at all-applying SRK’s arguments ? SRK has finally realized that he is an Asian after all? The US treats the low and high & mighty alike which is why security standards are high. We should respect our Stars & Heroes only for their work & contribution and nothing else!

Another atmospheric issue doing the headlines is the Ambani fight over Gas , which unfolds like the Mahabharata. I feel Anil is spot on. The visible & invisible (such as Gas) wealth at that point of time has been dived among the brothers in a fair manner including Gas @ US$ 2.34 per mmbtu based on the contracted price to a Govt entity in the form of NTPC. The Govt naturally gets its’ rightful dues as per the contract pricing rules (taxes & royalties). Would not Anil lose his divided wealth if the agreed price was increased? Logic says that Mukesh ought to subsidize Anil for the difference, if any. How can the Govt cartel with Mukesh to increase the agreed price when its own NTPC has won the same price as Anil? Should not the Govt ensure the cheapest possible price when it is accepted that the Reliance Gas is one of the World’s cheapest Gas sources? I smell more than a rat and a swine, do you?