A forward from Ms.Vidhya Shankar, whom I have never known, in a mail groups ! But worthy read definitely.

Mr.Kalayanasundaram worked as a Librarian for 30 years. Every month in his 30 year experience(service), he donated his entire salary to help the needy. He worked as a server in a hotel to meet his needs. He donated even his pension amount of about ten lakh rupees to the needy.

He is the first person in the world to spend the entire earnings for a social cause. In recognition to his service, the American government honoured him with the ‘Man of the Millennium’ award. He received a sum of Rs 30 crores as part of this award which he distributed entirely for the needy as usual.

Moved by his passion to help others, Super Star Rajinikanth adopted him as his father. He still stays as a bachelor and dedicated his entire life for serving the society. 

http://www.hindu.com/lf/2004/08/22/stories/2004082209260200.htm

Tale of 4 Boyfriends !

A worthy forward from my Bro, Sakthi !

Once upon a time there was a girl who had four boyfriends.
She loved the fourth boyfriend the most and adorned him with rich robes and treated him to the finest of delicacies. She gave him nothing but the best.
She also loved the third boyfriend very much and was always showing him off to neighboring kingdoms. However, she feared that one day he would leave her for another.
She also loved her second boyfriend. He was her confidant and was always kind, considerate and patient with her. Whenever this girl faced a problem, she could confide in him, and he would help her get through the difficult times.
The girl's first boyfriend was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining her wealth and kingdom. However, she did not love the first boyfriend, although he loved her deeply, she hardly took notice of him!
One day, the girl fell ill and she knew her time was short. She thought of her luxurious life and wondered, 'I now have four boyfriends with me, but when I die, will I be alone?'
Thus, she asked the fourth boyfriend, 'I loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company? 'No way!', replied the fourth boyfriend, and he walked away without another word. His answer cut like a sharp knife right into her heart.
The sad girl then asked the third boyfriend, 'I loved you all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?' 'No!', replied the third boyfriend. 'Life is too good! When you die, I'm going to marry someone else!' Her heart sank and turned cold.
She then asked the second boyfriend, 'I have always turned to you for help and you've always been there for me. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?'
'I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!', replied the second boyfriend. 'At the very most, I can only walk with you to your grave.'
His answer struck her Like a bolt of lightning, and the girl was devastated.
Then a voice called out: 'I'll go with you. I'll follow you no matter where you go.' The girl looked up, and there was her first boyfriend. He was very skinny as he suffered from malnutrition and neglect.
Greatly grieved, the girl said, 'I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!'

In truth, you have four friends in your lives:

Your fourth friend is your body. No matter how much time and effort you lavish in making it look good, it will leave you when you die.

Your third friend is your possessions, status and wealth.When you die, it will all go to others.

Your second friend is your family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for you, the furthest they can stay by you is up to the grave.

And your first friend is your spirit. Often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the world.

However, your spirit is the only thing that will follow you where ever you go. Cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now, for it is the only part of you that will follow you to the realm of God and continue with you throughout Eternity.

Thought for the day: Remember, when the world pushes you to your knees, you're in the perfect position to pray.

Pranab Da ! Give us Alms !!!

Disclaimer :: This is aftermath General Budget 2012-2013.

Past couple of days, this has caught the thunder everywhere. When Dinesh Trivedi increased rail fares after 9 long years in terms of 2/3 paise per km, Mamata came out thundering that it affects "AAM AADHMI" !!! Little does she know what happened in Tamil Nadu couple of months back in terms of milk and electricity and even city bus charges. More than this, this is a regular slogan of Congress, whenever there is an election, that too in development deprived states of UP / Bihar and so on. For people who don't know Hindi, this just translates to "Common man". Soniaji is ruling India for favoring "Aam Aadhmi", as is quoted by Congress.

Since I am not a Govt. "Babu" and a person of public fame, I too think I belong to this category. I was very eager to hear today's budget. Of course this was fueled by some programs yesterday on how this could bloom.

CNN had "Axe the tax effect". They projected too many things and some were useful also, like when the slabs in taxes were introduced, when medical exemptions were given and other stuff. Some made me happy since they were introduced by Chidambaram, one minister whom I really have some respect on.

NDTV @ 9 yesterday, had a big debate :Will Pranab introduce any big ticket reforms and more than that, will Mamata quit if he introduces something. Bullshit it was, that nothing happened. Half an hour viewing was utter crap.

Finally it was 11 AM today and I started online listening in office. Initially I got a doubt, if at all, am I streaming any fish market live-stream? There was so much of hues and cries, and after 5 mins I understood it was all about PF rate slash. Pranab Da started to read the Budget. I was listening and listening and God, it was over!!! No reforms, No big-tickets. Vada pochey !!!

As an Aam aadhmi, I felt really bad on many segments:

1) Medical reimbursements were not increased. Same 15K for long time now.
2)Tax slabs were nothing but crap. For a 5L individual, he will have 2k more in the end of the year. What will you do with Rs166.67/- every month?
3) Medical insurance for parents didn't have increased limits. When the premiums go higher in April, it will be too much to pay from pockets, may be?
4) Infra bond investment limits not altered. Could have been more money for development and also lesser tax burdens. But intelligently, double infra structure bond limits, but no tax benefits !!!
5) No concrete steps to curb inflation menace...Simply not sufficient to tell inflation is higher, but should have explained the Fuel subsidy bill more.
6) Service tax hiked by 2% in addition to existing 10%
7) No Info / reference to Diesel De-Regulation !!!

And Mamata's comment was "Budget is good"...How is it good Mamata Di? every 100 rupees you spend, you are going to pay 112 instead of 110, which was existing. More or less same 2 paise what Dinesh Trivedi asked. Hopefully the difference is only one thing : Dinesh put it in English, people got it right. Pranab put the same in Economics, so no understands easily.

But looking back, I really felt a lot in terms of slabs. Lets see how the world has changed in last 10-12 years...

1) Morning coffee - Milk has almost doubled in last 10 yrs, coffee powder too.
2) Bus charge / Auto charges :Bus has increased 1X to 1.5X, autos are out of proportion. Recently there was a fare hike in Bangalore and drivers are even more demanding. Don't know what they think of people who travel in their vehicle.
3) Food rates have quadrupled everywhere. Lunch, you pay more and eat less, with long standing issues with your health.
4) Rents have doubled / tripled.
5) Govt fees have gone higher for any work. Atleast the brokers make it so.
6) College fees / tuition fess and why not, Pre KG, LKG fees have gone up considerably higher than the fees which I paid for M.Tech 7 years back.
7) Loans are costlier, thanks to Subba rao.
8)Vegetables which are sold at 20 per KG in residential areas are sold at 40/- near tech park residences.

Only good aspect is Salaries have gone up. But to put the truth in writing, there are so many vultures around you to eat your flesh, rather than taking the proper amount to do the work. Their simple strategy - Software people earn a lot, so let me get my share out of them. So, after giving to all of them, literally we are left with nothing. This budget is gone, without giving anything to salaried class.

Taking all these into consideration, Pranab Da, atleast in next budget, GIVE US ALMS !!!

Ultimate Star !!!

For Ajith fans, Sorry...this is not about him :)

Very rarely I get impressed by people and what they do. A good lesson I learnt from my Nokia managers, when they recognized people in team meetings. Their say is simple, if you need to be recognized, you should walk an extra mile. And for this policy in my life, my son alone is the breaker !!!

Two days back, me and my colleague Mada, were walking opposite Bishop Cotton school, after an evening coffee. Traffic was huge, that we were literally on the pavement. Suddenly I heard a voice, "Can you help me with a Coffee?". Dumbstruck with what I heard and without believing my ears, I asked "what?". The person replied clearly "Can you help me with a Coffee?". And the person was a neatly dressed beggar.

Compared to ill-dressed, ill-looking beggars in other areas, this guy has learnt the "Art of Living" :) No offences to the real one, but....I am impressed !!! Somewhere Darwin whispered - Survival of the Fittest !!!

Good Mimicry Show !!!

Its 2012, still...

Long time since I penned a blog on my surroundings...lot of stuff changed in these 6 months though...I shifted my residence from Bommanahalli to CV Raman nagar again. I had moved my family to Bangalore...nice times with my kid and what not, a move in my career side too.

Since my family moved with me to Bangalore, I started visiting a nearby temple every night. Quite small Hanuman temple it is, but very silent and very nice one to see. But this is not about the temple and people there :)

Near to the temple, there is a medical shop and I had gone there last night to take some medicines, since I was not well. Conversation below, of a tamil customer and native shop keeper...

Customer : I want medicines for fever, vomit, body pain...
Shop Owner : What is the age?
Customer : 6 months... (I was shocked to hear this, the man was very neatly dressed to get his baby treated by a shop keeper)
Shop Owner : Ok...Take all these medicines and take medicines for stomach ache also.
Customer : How do I know if the baby has stomach ache?
Shop Owner : If it has all others, it should have this also (what an analysis !!!)
Customer : No, I don't want it...
Shop Owner : No problem take it...It expires only in 2014...still there are 3 years to expire. in case of emergency, use this.

Sale concluded and he left.

Standing there was myself, completely taken aback. Even if educated people start treating their kids like this, what will happen to the younger generations? People need not go to Fortis / Apollo for this, but surely they can afford good doctors out there in the market!