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Showing posts with label development. Show all posts
Showing posts with label development. Show all posts

What's your reason for falling in love with Melbourne, the most livable city in the world?

Posted by ABC Thursday, 18 December 2014 5 comments

MELBOURNE: If there is a paradise on Earth, it is this…it is this…it is this! 

Adventure adds spice to life. The essence of life cannot be relished, unless an individual gamble his or her comfort with some quivers and shivers. Only a paramount person who possesses great valour, dexterity and killer instinct to struggle with the trials and tyrannies of life can experience and explore the myriad intricacies of life, decipher the message embedded in one’s existence on Earth and drown himself/herself into delirium of ecstasy.
  

A pristine and lively, cosmopolitan city like Melbourne would present one with a legion of opportunities to indulge in its culture. Australia, and the state of Victoria, is well-known for its tranquil nature, diverse flora and fauna, beautiful beaches, insane adventure sport activities,a la mode couture and exquisite food and wine. I wish to visit this virtual paradise on Earth and return with the memories of an extremely pleasant experience from Melbourne.

How wild my imagination can be! I feel delighted at the very thought of relaxing on the sunny beaches across Melbourne from the popular swimming spots at St Kilda to the bathing huts at Brighton. I wish I could go for a stroll to the city's parks like the Treasury Gardens, accord my respects to the Scarred Tree, and indulge in fun and frolic at Flagstaff Gardens. There is nothing more rejuvenating than a walk amid thick foliage - something that I dread of every morning. Melbourne Heritage Walk and a walk along the Yarra River path are also in my wish list, mere glimpse of which lightens up my spirits. And how can I forget the heart gladdening hot air ballooning? A heavenly city like Melbourne ought to be enjoyed from a hot air balloon to get a bird's eye view. Finally, for a person like me who loves to play cricket, Australia is the ultimate destination. 

Following are some of the facts about Melbourne that corroborate my desire to visit this wonderful city, trying to convince me, saying “…it's your time to visit Melbourne NOW!"

  • The Federation Square that is the cultural centre and houses the Melbourne Visitor Centre, Australian Centre for the Moving Image and National Gallery of Victoria's Ian Potter Centre. And the starting point for many trips and cruises....
  • The University of Melbourne, the second oldest in the nation, and all built in sandstone in a good mesh of gothic revival and modern styles; a public University with the largest endowment in the country! The Medical History Museum here would be of great interest ...with class photos of the earliest women medical students in 1887!
  • The Queen Victoria Market, spread over 7 hectares, and having the largest collection of open air markets. Being earlier a meat market, an old 1868 mural here depicts a few lambs and cows ; though I have never figured out why you erect a statue before killing the animals....
     
  • The Yarra River at the Yarra Bend park. Melbourne being situated at the lower end of the river, as it flows down towards Hobsons Bay... Lovely parklands on its banks, giving you a country feel right in the middle of Melbourne, as you decide to indulge in cruise on the MV Melburnian in the Yarra .
     
  • The imposing Victorian State Parliament building, which was supposed to have a huge 20 story dome, but they cancelled the idea, and now it is domeless, and the Exhibition Buildings, the last remnants of the major 19th century exhibition buildings in the world.
     
  • I would love to do the Golden Mile heritage walk that would take me through the Royal Arcade and the Block Arcade, not to mention Melbourne's little shopping lanes...and would enjoy the year round fruits from the shops at the Queens Parade in Clifton Hill, along with the cafes.
     
  • And how can we forget Cooks Cottage, the house owned by the parents of Captain Cook in England, sold to an Australian, and shipped piece by brick piece, along with the ivy plants , and reconstructed in Australia. The Cooks decreed that the house must stay in England, and some smart person got that amended to "Empire", and so it came Down Under.
     
  • The Royal Botanic Gardens, The Luna Park, The Maritime Museum at South Wharf, and the Literature Lane  in the City, decorated with cover pages of some amazing Australian literary works.
     
  • Balloon trips high above Melbourne, taking in the CBD, the Yarra and the woodlands, floating above the Melbourne Cricket Ground, imagining visiting its Sports Museum, creating stories to bring home to 2 cricket crazy family members.
  • Melbourne (in fact, the whole of Australia) is a heaven for food lovers - world cuisines, thick shakes, cocktails, cupcakes, crepes and donuts.
 …It's your time to visit Melbourne NOW! Because, more than the Bricks and Mortar, the delicacies and the rides, it's the people who make a country and a city.  

Here is a question for all the readers (to be answered in not more than 100 words):


What's your reason for falling in love with Melbourne, the most livable city in the world?

Which of these places would you want to visit in Melbourne and why? 



Do visit this Website for more details :
http://www.visitmelbourne.com/in


Conviction in Corruption Case: The Long Road to Justice

Posted by ABC Monday, 6 October 2014 0 comments
Kautilya, in his Arthashastra, says: “Just as a fish moving deep under water cannot be possibly found out either as drinking or not drinking water, so, government servants employed in government work may not be found out while taking the money for themselves.  It is possible to ascertain the movement of birds flying high up in the sky but it is not possible to ascertain the movement of government servants or their hidden purposes.”


Kautilya further says: “Just as it is impossible not to taste a drop of honey or poison that is placed at the tip of the tongue, so it is rather impossible for the government servant not to eat up at least a bit of the king’s revenue.”

The conviction of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister must have compelled Kautilya to turn in his grave. After all, here is a case of the chief servant herself being convicted in the disproportionate assets case. 

Often, members of the political class manage to get away from prosecution with the abuse of power, betraying the trust of people who voted them to office. Even if somehow a politician fails to protect his/her skin and is convicted of malpractices, attempts are made at every stage to obstruct and delay the judicial process. Thus, by exploiting the grey areas of law, the convict is able to remain in office and exercise power for prolonged periods of time. This also ensures that the case escapes media scorn and eventually fades away from public memory. 

What such clever people fail to realise is the fact that the rule of law upholds for all citizens including people in high public office. However dextrous you may be in sweeping your clandestine activities under the carpet, a day shall come when you are scrambling through your coffers replete with booty and suddenly your hands collide with the skeletons hidden there from the past.  This is the day the gaze of law falls upon you and the majesty of law triumphs. As long as the case proceeds, you feel happy at being successfully able to dodge your destiny only to realise later the depth of pit you have dug up for yourself and the number of links of sin you have forged for yourself. 


An elected leader is a repository of public faith and carries the great responsibility of delivering on his/her electoral promises by means of effective and corruption free governance. It is expected of a leader to narrow down the disparities by way of his/her administrative acumen and bring the society to the altar of progress and prosperity. Isn’t it shameful that often such leaders are found indulging in unconstitutional activities? Isn’t it a murder of public faith when such leaders are caught siphoning off public funds to their personal accounts which are otherwise meant for public welfare?

It certainly is!

A politician is primarily a public servant who ought to serve the society to the best of his/her ability. We, not I should be the agenda when it comes to the distribution of fruits of effective public policies. State, not self should be the word that should prick the conscience when it comes to assessing the impact of government decisions. What we observe in most cases, unfortunately, is just the contrary.

It is indeed a matter of great pride that ultimately it is the wisdom of judiciary that prevails, however long it might take. But we need to plug the lacunae in our system by means of checks and balances and strengthen our legal framework to check the abuse of power. It is high time the procedural reforms are introduced to expedite the disposition of cases that involve huge amounts of taxpayer’s money. There is an urgent need to ensure that those found guilty are severely punished. This can only be achieved by ensuring active citizen participation. Strengthening the provisions of the Right to Information (RTI) Act to empower the citizens is the need of the hour. Voters must exercise their right to vote if they are to elect able administrators. A change in attitude toward the nation is also required if we are to develop a sense of collective responsibility and ensure honest functioning of government machinery.


It is we who can bring the change and for that we will have to be the change ourselves!

Happy Independence Day 2014

Posted by ABC Thursday, 14 August 2014 0 comments

At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance.
                                                                                        -- Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru




The journey from 15 August 1947 to 15 August 2014 has been a saga of memorable experiences, both bitter and sweet. Envisioned as the engine of growth and the supreme power of Asia, India has witnessed unprecedented economic growth and development since independence from the British rule. From a nation gripped in the claws of malnutrition and hunger, today we have not only become self-sufficient in food but have also ensured food security for our citizens for a brighter and healthier future. From a nation struggling with abject poverty and depravity, today we have made several successful attempts to bridge the divide between the haves and the have-nots. From a nation suffering from obnoxious caste-based discrimination and oppression, today we have succeeded to a great extent in curbing these practices and narrowing down the differences among people belonging to different social and religious groups. We have played a pivotal role in strengthening the social fabric of India and imbibe a spirit of patriotism among the citizens. We have strengthened the roots of secularism and ensured equal opportunities to all in virtually all spheres of life. From an agriculture dependent stagnant economy stuck in the path of slow economic growth, today we have leveraged India’s influence across the world and brought it to the altar of high economic growth and development. We have become stronger as an economy and have made sensational shifts into the industrial and manufacturing sectors. This has resulted in not only the generation of tremendous employment opportunities but has also made India a pioneer of technology. Today, we possess arguably, the sharpest and the most dexterous professionals who are scaling new heights each day irrespective of the obstacles in their path. From a nation that possessed a weak defence structure and fought with swords and daggers, today we have strong and highly competitive defence forces equipped with the latest technology defence warfare equipment to guard the nation from its enemies. We now possess one of the best armed forces that have provided our nation with impenetrable armour.

However, there are several disheartening facets that must not be belittled as they expose the chinks in our nation’s armour. Politics, today have taken a ghastly turn. From cowardly terrorist attacks to cold blooded fake encounters, from violence along communal and ethnic lines to the incidents of crimes against citizens in general and women in particular, Indian politicians have stooped to lower and lower levels and spared no opportunity to politicise the issue to further their interests. Neither the agony of the aggrieved individuals nor the loss of life and property has deterred them from thinking beyond their electoral considerations. Consequently, they have been unabashedly carrying out ‘loot and plunder’, showing scant regard for the institutions of the Constitution of the sentiments of the people of India. Corruption has reached such alarming proportions that a loss of a few hundred crores to the exchequer every other day has now failed to provoke the masses. Thanks to the shoddy investigation carried out in the aftermath of the outbreak of scams and scandals, seldom is any strict action taken to seize the booty and the perpetrators thus, easily escape the noose by circumventing the law. In this society moving rapidly towards increasing ‘modernisation’, virtues and values are drying out. Crimes against women – rape, molestation, dowry-death, acid-attack, forcible flesh-trade have reached shocking figures and the concerned authorities have only distanced themselves from their duties.
  

The need of the hour is to check the ever increasing westernisation of the India society. It is high time we ‘redeem our pledge’ and strengthen our laws. India is surrounded by several hostile forces that intend to create unrest in the country and balkanise it. We need to see through their nefarious designs and thwart their cowardly attempts to derail the peace process. It is high time we take corrective measures to tackle the menace of corruption and crack the whip on the ever increasing trend of dynastic politics. It is necessary to revamp our policies to control the rate of crime in our society and devise stringent and deterrent punishments for those who tend to denigrate the sacrosanct institutions of our Constitution.


Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them?
                                           --William Shakespeare

On the eve of Independence Day, we must remind ourselves of the vision of our great freedom fighters and their doctrines of universal brotherhood of mankind and service to the nation. Let us push ourselves into ascending the growth ladder but not trample upon our diverse cultural and moral values.

Wish you all a very HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!

JAI HIND

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My blog is an innovative amalgamation of my thoughts, how i perceive and react to different events in the ordinary business of life and at the same time entertain the readers and sensitize them.
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