Rooturaj's Blog

One of my friends today asked on his facebook profile…

is Arundhati Roy Anti-national? This is what Roy has to say about … Take some time to watch the video, its good.

Its not just Ms Roy; Mr Ram Jethmalini of BJP and Mr Geelani from the Huriyat have been branded anti nationals or Anti Party for voicing support for the separatist movement that has gripped Kashmir. No, not Kashmir rather the Indian nation as a whole. This post is my personal thought about the Separatist forces in India.

Mr Geelani today leads the Huriyat Conference that is demanding a separate state. Its not a secret that these people who lead this violent organization are pets of Pakistani military agencies who operate to spread mayhem in India. I wont say Pakistani government because that exists only in papers. They claim to find a peaceful solution to the Kashmir Problem by initiating dialogues with the separatist forces.

I ask you.. was there peace post the division after independence.
Will the people of Kashmir, if they choose to go independent, be able to defend themselves. The example of Swat should be an eye opener. Swat was Pakistani equivalent of Kashmir valley in terms of beauty and tourism. Where does it stand now? Do we want to see the same fate of Kashmir?

If we allow the separation of kashmir cuz it was annexed to India because of a Signature from the then Ruler Raja Hari Singh what about the states of  Andhra, Karnataka, Awadh and the near thousand princely states. Should we let them take an independent path? Is that what you call a lasting and peaceful solution? Shall we let the Naxals form governments or rather make separate states? Naxals are probably way smarter than the Huriyat. They know the power of a nation and hence they just want the power.

Learn from the history. Was pre- British India peaceful? Will the division into smaller states make happy citizens and bring better administration? We have been united in diversity. That is the force that binds a billion individuals, 500 dialects, 28 states. I would say BJP is right to stand against those who suggest separation as an answer to lasting violence.

We should see that these separatists are nothing more than Opportunist scumbags. The best part will be to neglect them all together. We have to make sacrifices for the greater good. I suppose the sacrifices should start with the separatists.

Indians around the Globe were enraged when FAO listed Jammu and Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh as Independent States in its latest report on greenhouse gas emissions from the dairy sector (2010) .

This blunder was first brought to public by Times Of India [ref].

On further digging I managed to reach the original document [ref] ( I hope this is the one). But I do not see any thing about Jammu Kashmir or Arunachal there. Rather there is an addition India/China which probably stands for those areas that FAO hallucinates to be disputed. Refer to Annex 5 at the end of the document.

Gavin Wall, FAO head in India,  said the country grouping is based on FAO’s Global Administrative Unit Layers (GAUL), which aims at compiling and disseminating information on administrative units for all countries in the world and it complies with the UNCS international boundaries map.

So Mr Wall went wrong with your Global Administrative Unit Layers shit now? Bloody chicken hearts. This is a international pot to disintegrate India.  I call upon all Indian brothers to react strongly to such situation. Its better they fixed the mistake.  Else I would have made sure Mr Wall had a Merry Time in New Delhi.

One of my journalist friends alerted me to a news piece on Mail today. I was horrified with the views of this fanatic who posts  with the avatar of “ultrablue”. I mean who would not be …see his thoughts about other races.

Here is a link to the sick post. You better not read it. It might cause your blood to boil and you may feel like feeding that idiot author to African Driver Ants.

The author spews venom about Indians who died in the recent flight disaster that claimed 158 lives at Mangalore Airport in Karnataka. While the world is mourning the deceased and consoling the families of the bereaved this creature has this opinion about the incident.

I not care if the victims “rest in peace” but it seems to me that they are, rather, resting in pieces!

This plane, carrying Indians who live and work here, means that 160 Indians that clog up the roads, cause accidents, fail code inspections at Indian restaurants, speak like this guy, and are a general drag on the security of the UAE, won’t be coming back. That is a very GOOD thing!

I can only pray that this happens every week!

al-emarati posted this pic - its people mourning the crash and he brings in Hindu gods and Indian food into this...what a bastard.

Next he follows it up with more crap about Indian names and Indian food.

Mr UltraBlue.. feels 50% or more of the Emirates population is Indian. Which is not true. But since when the idiots of Dubai were intelligent? If they were why would the need of foreign workers ever arise? All they can do is sleep around with a multitude of whores and maintain a family big enough to make up a 100 camel caravan.

Yeah we may be cheap workforce but your country needs us to stay up on those drying oil wells. I am glad that at least the government agrees Indians are the best people to work with. But at the same time it makes us sad that some dung brains like UltraBlue have such opinion of Indian race. That shows the level of education and upbringing you got.

On top of it he blogs anonymously and could not face more than 5 comments on his blog. The fart face needs to get some balls and face the public like a man.

UPDATE : The site in question has now been flushed down the toilet. Thanks to the active blogging community and the support shown by Understanding Indians and Emaratis. You all have played your part and I say you Rock.

Wish You all a very happy HOLI, 2010.

May this festival fill your life with colors and sweetness.

And yeah some tips for those who are going to office tomorrow. Watch out for those water balloons. One missed me by inches today and last year I escaped one big polypack aimed at me from a 4th floor balcony. I am in stealth mode this year. Play safe and dont use harmful colors if your are coming to my place for a color bash.

Sorry to be rude but you are not welcome inside my house and office space. All the coloring has to stay on the streets. I don’t want my furniture and computers colored.

I have been working as the TL for IT section of an Canadian travel chain. I learn new things about great destinations, cultures and people every day. I have not seen the world by I know lots about international and Indian destinations. I like the travel field.

Today I would like to share with you some of my experiences in Travel Industry which are not some thing I cherish. Let me introduce you to a particular travel outlet in New Delhi , right next to our India office where I work. This company does not have a name. They are called “Tourist Information Office”. That sounds like a government undertaking, right? So here starts a series of malpractices and negative marketing strategies to dupe foreign travelers to India . This company, “tourist information office”, has its goons, or executives as they prefer to call them, roaming the city scouting for foreign tourists. They have some attractive schemes for Auto Rickshaw drivers and cabbies. Any one who brings them a, scapegoat (read client) gets a commission. In the office expert goons brainwash and convince foreigners to buy tour packages or accommodation or transport at exorbitant rates. We call such people “Lapkas” or “Grabbers” and their practice is referred to as the “Lapka Trade”.

Unethical Travel Agents Harassing foreign tourists in India

Here is their typical modus operandi. In case you are not so familiar with such tricks and are planning a trip to India I hope this information will help you. You would save a lot more than just money.
I did mention the goons (Lapkas) who prowl the city looking for scapegoats(clients). Now these goons/guide/travel-gurus whatever avatar they may be in are pure idiots with barely some education and absolutely no ethics. They have a typical way of dressing that they feel is kool. It is a characteristic tight fighting dressing, a stylish (read weird) haircut, goatees and outrageous side burns, some imitation chains and bracelets and similar other accessories. Some of them are fluent speakers though most can just manage to string sentences in English together. Once in a restaurant one such guide asked me to help him find “Khajuraho” on the guests guidebook.

Loitering around , they would be keenly watching public spaces like Railway Stations, Restaurants, Markets etc. Once they see a non Indian guy or couple or group they would just pretend to be walking casually alongside them for some time or they will cross from behind and then double back before exchanging some greetings. “Hello Mam”, “Hi Friends”, “Hey dude” what ever they have mugged up. They start asking all shorts of question about your lodging, travel, places of interest with an occasional praise for your country or your shoes or hair style. One way of identifying such a Lapka from the conversation is to start some intellectual discussion. This gets them impatient and they would probably tell you that they can take you to a travel information office for more information. This is nothing but the Lapka headquarter where they are waiting for scapegoats like you. If you have already booked your hotel then these travel goons will remark bluntly that you have made a wrong choice and you should change the hotel immediately.

If you get into the trap and reach the “Lapka head quarters” I don’t think any one can help you further. They would sell you tour packages at exorbitant rates and force destinations upon you. You would completely forget your travel plans and end up wasting a lot of hard earned cash. I see them abusing tourists in open. Even though you would be sitting right next to them they would be talking ill and disrespectful of their guests in their local dialect. I warn ladies especially to be alert and avoid such people as you could be looted off more than money.

I hate such people as they bring shame to the nation and ill reputation to our business. There are quite a few of them in popular travel destinations across. We follow the principle of “Athithi Devo Bhava” that means “Guest is God” and such unethical practices are a disgrace to our motto. If you share the great Indian spirit and want to help spread the message then share or email this article.

Image Credits:
www.annonline.com/delhi-travel-guide/gifs/cannught-place.jpg and mooncostumes.com

On the 15th of this month India celebrates the 62nd year of Independence . 62 years of economic struggle after a long 200 years and more of freedom struggle. I live in the national capital and Independence Day celebration in New Delhi is a different experience altogether. Euphoria intoxicates the atmosphere as days countdown to independence day. This is second time I am celebrating the national holiday in capital. This year things are different with terror strikes like 26/11 in Mumbai, the recession and finally the swine flu.

the spirit of India

The image best describes our feeling while celebrating Independence Day. We are free but our wings are not so strong to take us high into the skies of development. Terrorism still plagues our freedom and it symbolized by the barbed wire. The bird you would notice is choking (not singing). That is because Economy is strangling and euphoria in the air is poisoned with swine flu scare. When we are advised to stay away from crowds and use masks and I wonder what would be the scene at Red Fort this year. All dignitaries will be having surgical masks on and the public would have handkerchiefs on their faces. It would probably be a tough job for security people if there is some anti-national lurking in the crowd. The marching battalions will also be masked as we can’t risk our defense to fall prey to swine flu. Security is beefed up in the city hence we cannot park our cars in the parking lots. Shops close early so we cannot shop.

But even then the Great Indian spirit lives on and we are all set to celebrate our 62nd independence day. Long live the Indian Spirit. Vande Mataram.

Credits: I thank Mr Mohd Saqib,(graphic designer) my friend and colleague for the image. He translated my thoughts into image with ease.