North Korea & India: Drawing parallels between the two worlds

Happened to revisit a old you tube video on North Korea. Very long documentary but worth watching

I feel sorry for the poor souls who are starving because of a regime that wants tight control on its people. Now that their 2nd great leader, Kim Jong Il is summoned by Gods to help them in their heavenly abode(well propaganda machina can create and destroy any thing out of blue) , I pray that those tormented souls in North Korea get some food to eat, place to live and basic medical facilities in the new regime.

Assuming you watched this video and understood the propaganda work, let us consider a more Indian scenario. Our very own great leader , first prime minister of India loves children very much and hence we celebrate 14th Nov every year as 'Children's day'. Out of the 7 years of my schooling, I have never read a instance of our beloved leader being interested in Children's business. These are the very textbooks our government prepared to educate the future of India carefully editing out the unwanted and uncomfortable history. Then why isn't even a single instance of how our beloved leader loved kids elucidated in those books. The way this propaganda machinery deviced this beautiful tale makes me wonder : Are we any different from those people living their lives cut off from the world , believing the words from the books on their face value?.

May be I know too little ! Any comments and references to this are most welcome.

Beauty of Brotherhood: Lessons from Ramayana

Bhadrachalam is a small temple town on the banks of river Godavari. The town is known for 'Kondanda Ramalayam', a temple dedicated to Sri Rama. One striking feature of this temple is that Lakshmana is on the left side of Rama. A small background story for this elucidates how much Rama cared for his brother Lakshmana.

Once sage Bhadra performed deep penance for Lord Rama. Pleased with his penance Vishnu in his full form came before him and asked to wish for anything he wants. Bhadra solemnly refused Lord Vishnu's form and said politely that he wasn't expecting Vishnu in Vishnu's form and that he is seeking Rama even though it is quite evident that Rama is an avatar of Lord Vishnu. Rama hurriedly appeared before him along with Sita and Lakshmana. Even when he is rushing to a demanding bhakta,  Rama never forgot taking his brother with him. One could clearly note that Lakshmana is standing on the left side unlike the traditional right side of Rama, a place where Lakshmana is always seen. Even though Bhadra din't specifically ask for Lakshmana, Rama and Lakshmana are one package. They cannot be separated. Wherever Rama goes Lakshmana will be there.

A picture of the place and its history can be seen  here 

Anna Hazare & India against Corruption

It is quite evident that Anna Hazare's movement has motivated the common man (Aam aadmi for INC). There is no denying that the Indian public in general was irritated with the corruption and seek a corruption free society . The other day I saw a BMTC vajra bus driver fancying Gandhi topi and a tricolor on the forehead like a tilak. I am quite surprised at the breadth of the campaign. I see two obvious benefits here:


1. The INC (and hence UPA2.0) which took Indian public for granted was challenged on a large scale from the sessions of parliament to the streets of India


2.People who were insensitive to issues of national importance came out in large numbers for the first time to address the corruption. Well if the proposed Janlokpal bill will have its desired ends or not is for the time to decide, what is appreciable is the participation of people from all walks of life.


The side effects caused by the movement that I hate the most are


1. Candle light protests spread to a wider group (sic). What you get of candle light protests is something I could not comprehend! But my liberal friends tell me that I am an right wing engineer and hence could not understand the soul and spirit of protest.
2. Every weekend I have to face a heavy traffic jam because of the protests everywhere
 

My favorite five rides from Hollywood

1.  Harley Davidson Fat Boy ( Remember Arnold Schwarznegger driving this beast in T2 \m/)

2. ShadowFax ( Lord of the horses)

3. Nazgul

4. Varactyl (AKA Dragon mount - ride of Obi wan kenobi)

5. Ghost Rider bike 

PS: Soon to come - Worst rides ever