Cat knows...

A dog is a friend of human beings. What about cat? We Japanese believes that cat can bring a lack to business. I guess that a cat is more like an inaccessible girlfriend to human beings. Still, there are some rare moments when a cat suddenly became all over you, which makes their existence so precious to you.

I like a cat. Dogs are cute but I prefer a cat. (They can chase mouse.)There was a happy encounter with a cat at one of my friends house. She is technically not my friend’s cat but she sleeps there and eats there. (Yes, a cat is so free!) She got pregnant and had babies this summer and we found out that she got pregnant again (Busy girl!). Yesterday, she delivered babies (it seems there are two of them) deep inside the closet of the friend’s place. According to my friend, she searched all over the place to look for the best place for delivering babies two or three days before.

I admire an instinct that those animals have! The cat knows what is best for her and babies, look for places and finally made a decision where to do her job. Look at me…..I cannot even make simple and supposedly easy choices in my life. I cannot even deal with trivial stuff which keeps happening in my life just because I have no clue what is best for me in a situation. If I were like her, the life would be much simpler.

I will make her my mentor. Should I get one of those fish that I got from Thailand for her?

think and act locally

Found an interesting article from BBC.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7391742.stm
Children from weaker section of society in Patna are learning English through a radio program. This program, called Fun English, is 30-min program and four times a week . Not only it teaches English, but also it convey some of messages like hygiene or traffic rules.

This interesting project was launched in collaboration with US-based organization and USAid. The state government has given 1500Rs to each school to buy a radio.

I though that this is brilliant idea. Only 1500Rs per school! They do not need to install expensive devise or anything. One of the brilliance of this program is its effect compared with the amount of money which is required. 1500Rs per school! Of course, money are being spend on making a radio programs but these skills and ideas will be passed on to the Indian staff in the future and they could make a profit also.

Beside, with this program, children can listed the program even if a teacher does not show up to the classes.

When it comes to “development assistance”, I often felt the need for regional expert or someone who know the business in the country well in planning a program. It does not mean those expertise of “development experts” are not necessary but I think there should be a fine balance in using a personal or need a perceptional change in those experts. (At least, I think it is necessary for our country.)

It is not about how much you spend money or what kind of building or train or metro you built.

Science Minister Kapil Sibal mentioned interesting thing today in the climate change related seminar organized by ASSHOCHAM. He said something like those global companies who have high technologies need to think locally and act locally, if the technology is way too high and cannot reach to common men, the society would never change.

Yes, what we need is projects or technology which directs aam aadmi if they really want to change the society. Well, we cannot blame on companies which is based on market theory but I thought this applies to those development assistance.

Honestly, I hate those people who believe their developmental work is beautiful but never mingle with the society!

Ok...no room for excuse...

When everyone even the chubby Kareena Kapoor is losing weight, I am still struggling to shed two kilos which I gained over the winter. According to Delhi Times (My daily dost along with evening Zoom news), Kareena’s weight is 49kg now. When she started Yoga, she was 60kg…..Sushmita gained some weight. Other popular actresses like Rani (Well, I think she is very charming, though.) or Vidya are still overweight, but….Kareena’s becoming skinny is something different….huh….Well…it is not something to write after having eaten a cup-noodle which my colleague brought from Singapore at 10:00pm at office, but but but I feel like I should do something about my body.

Apart from weight, Kareena Kapoor is someone I cannot ignore. I used to think she is ugly especially in Yuva. Her face is too long and she was fat. I did not like the way she speak. I though she was ridiculous in Kabhi Kushi Kabhi Gamo. Still, I could not get my eye off from her…..I think it is time for me to admit that I sort of like her and accept the fact she sort of made it (well, she got all what most girls want; thin body, money and a guy). Well, one thing for sure is that I cannot use the excuse that I can show my leg cuz Kareena’s leg was huge in Don…..

Big Harry Fan?

Though I was not one of those fans of Harry Potter, I watched all of the films after having watched the fifth film on Friday. Being eager to know the ending, I bought the latest book which was released on Saturday and went through half of the book.

One thing I am sure is that I can enjoy the plot the moment I read or watch but I still think I cannot call it great literature or anything. I admit that it is really well made in terms of marketing. Harry had a crush on the Chinese girl which is targeted at the huge Chinese market. There are girls who look obviously Indian or South Asian origin, it also has huge market.

I still believe books like Michael Ende (who wrote Momo and The Never Ending Story: ) contains a lot of important message of the life based on deep insights of the society, which Harry Potter does not provide. Yes, the friendship is important but we all know that.

Anyway, it is not my intention to criticize the book, in the end the series have made lots of people happy.

One article which interested me was “Harry Potter and the wizard of Bhopal” from Times of India (23rd July, 2007). Mr. Sudhir Dixit who is teaching English literature at some college in Bhopal has translated the series which are huge sell in India. He has translated the bestseller Who moved my cheese (yeah,,,I got one, too, hoping to get some clever tips of life). I admire his works which makes lots of people who do not know English can enjoy the book. In other words, he has been providing valuable opportunities to those people who have been deprived of chances of enjoying reading world famous or popular books just because they do not know English. Without someone who have translated those great works in Japanese, I would never be able to read them. However, Hindi speaking people should keep in their mind that it is not enough. For example, Momo is written in German. I think, those Hindi extremist should also focus on introducing world literature to Hindi speaking people not only focusing on writing something in Hindi….which seems to me always about some kind of sangarsh……

Maut

The news of death of the grandson of M.K. Gandhi, Prof. Ramachandra Gandhi, appeared even in Japanese newspaper. M. K. Gandhi is probably one of the most famous Indian for Japanese. (Rests are Nehru, Chad (Sikh Singer who sang a hit song in Japanese and Tiger Jet Singh (Sikh wrestler) )

There was a nice piece by Sanjaya Baru, a media advisor to PM, on Hindustan times of 15th of June. Both of them were teaching at Hyderabad University. Prof. Ram said “I am a Gandhi, not Gandhian” when he declined the invitation from Dalit students for a function of Gandhi jayanti. And he resigned the university since the univ authority forcefully cut neem tree against his appeal not to cut.

I do not know anything about him, but he seems like who has humor at the time sarcastic…but have something like his strong will or belief at the bottom of his heart. If there is any resemblance with M. K Gandhi (though he hated village people came to see him whether he really looks like a statue of Gandhi), it is his strengths and belief in himself to carry out what he think is right.

Descendants of Nehru are still so active in politics. But I like a man who can quit his job for a tree much better than a man who visit villages only for votes!

literacy rate and child labour

Bacause 12th of June is World Day Against child Labour, there were articles about child labour in papers. I, delibarately, refrain from arguing the topic here since I sort of changed my way of thinking about child labour after I came to India.

Anyways, there was a survey of % share of workers of child labour in Times of India. Surprisingly, the rate of that of Delhi is much smaller, 1.35 %, than I had expected. Which state has the highest rate? The answer is Sikkim(12.04%) and Mizoram(12.34%). According to the "States and Union Territories of India" (2005, Penguin Books India), literacy rate of Mizoram is 88.9 % and that of Sikkim is 68.8%. As for notorious Bihar, share of child labour is 4.68% and its litaracy rate is 47%.

What does it mean? Why the states which have one of the highest literacy rate have highest % of child labour?

Does that mean that there is a huge gap among the population?

I just hope every children can get a lot of love from parents, family, freinds and all.....

Jammu wala

The former Miss Jammu has made a film about her sex scandal or video. Lots of people remember this Jammu-wala (and DPS wala, of course!) though it was about a year ago....

I have no opinion about her and the incident so far, but cannot forget what my freind said about her after watching the video.

"She is so hairy!"

mmm.....I am curious how hairy she is and where......