Justice With Michael Sandel

http://www.justiceharvard.org/watch/

Ordinary People, Extra-ordinary Acts

When Mowgli met the Lepchas

The phone never rings so early on Sunday mornings. So I was surprised when it did so around 9am. I was more surprised when I saw that the call was made from the local library from where I rent the books. It completely slipped my mind that I had asked them to let me know when anyone returned Dev Anand's "Romancing With Life". Of course, I went there later during the day to pick up the book.

I was reading "Prizes" by Erich Segal but have decided to keep it on the back-burner while I check out what Dev has to say about "Romancing With Life". :-)

I didn't want to have a Gelato for dessert. My whole being craved some ghee-laden Indian sweets. And the trays at that shop in the mall were laden with exactly that :-) After the selection was made I realized that 2-3 people were staring very intently at something in one corner of the shop. If you are in India and there is a cricket match going on, it is safe to assume that the center of such attraction is a TV set tuned to the sports channel airing that match. Sure enough, as I ventured to the corner I came face-to-face with a small TV set with its volume turned very low. India was bowling and Pakistan was batting. My stomach churned at the thought of the Indian side having to chase at least 275+ runs. Plus I could see that no wickets had fallen yet.

"Can you believe it? No wickets yet" I yelled at my family. That caught the attention of the attendants watching the game. One of them smiled knowingly. But one of the owners who was sitting nearby seemed completely unfazed. "Chinta mat karo, India hi jitega dekhana" - Rest assured that India will win - the old man said smiling confidently. I smiled back politely but shook my head in frustration as I walked back to devour the sweets.

I thought of the shopowner as I stared at the score of 329 in disbelief that evening. What are the chances that our so-called 'top' batsmen will dig in their heels and chase the target bravely? Still, I couldn't help but keep stealing a look at the score every now and then as I watched other programs. Miracles seemed to be the norm of the day. Tendulkar, Kohli and Sharma steadily chipped away at the huge target. I so wanted to watch the match after they crossed 300 but didn't want to take any chances. What if the wickets start falling as soon as I start to watch? Better to watch the highlights later. My engineering and MBA education takes a back-seat to blind superstition when India is playing. What to do? :-)

Needless to say that I thought of the shop-keeper again. What made him so confident of India's victory? Maybe, he can see the future. I must ask him next time I go there to buy sweets. :-)

A person changes for two reasons.....

Either when someone special comes in his life

Or

When someone special leaves his life

(Forwarded)

Welfare Of Stray Dogs (WSD) Sale at Girgaum

The Welfare Of Stray Dogs (WSD) NGO is holding a charity sale of collected second-hand books, CDs, DVDs, clothes, cutlery and glassware. The proceeds will be used to sterilize and immunize stray dogs in Mumbai.

10am-7pm
Laxmi Baug Hall
Avantikabai Gokhale Road
Auto Spare Parts Market Lane
Off Lamington Road
Near Opera House, Girgaum

I am glad the Budget has been presented, finally. It's a three phase exercise actually. In the first phase, the Media catches hold of anyone willing to talk to know their wish-list about the budget as if the Finance Minister is listening with paper and pen in hand. These experts, semi-experts and non-experts put forth opinions without regard to the fact that no matter what the nation thinks the Minister will structure the budget in alignment with the political (and if Indians are lucky, economical!) agenda.

The second phase is the Budget presentation itself. I guess the only thing about it that is capable of springing a surprise is whether the opposition will listen to it in silence or voice its protest by shouting or staging a 'walk-out'.

The last, post-budget phase, is the one in which the same experts, semi-experts and non-experts will spit out their disappointment. There will be common angry outbursts from the Common Man. At least for a week, the newspapers will overflow with analysis of key budgetary provisions and columns by experts. The words like fiscal deficit, tax base, GDP and so on and so forth will appear with sickening frequency in news and print media. And still, the Common Man will not understand much beyond one simple fact that he already knew even before the budget was presented - there is no relief for him.