Racism ? : Shilpa Shetty in Big Brother

Racism…? I am afraid this hue and cry against the “apparent” racist remarks by Big Brother inmates against Shilpa Shetty – the bollywood siren – is diluting the larger issues of racism and discrimination that exist all over the world.

In being overly politically correct, we are also in the danger of diluting one of the most fundamental rights - the right to freedom of speech and expression.

What is happening in Big Brother is NOT racism. This is a bunch of self centred silly girls being just stupid & silly. Shilpa is a gorgeous woman with a drop dead figure. The reaction of Jade Goody and others is just a jealous reaction to the great looking Shilpa.

What has surprised me is the reaction of Indian politicians and public back home.

In India, where Shilpa’s numerous fans have taken to street and burnt effigies of Jade Goody etal, cast system still divide communities and people.

Indians should be the last to make an issue of discrimination given the fact that the problem is still at large and acute in their own country.

More than 160 million low cast hindu “untouchables” known as “dalits” face rampant human rights abuse on a daily basis.

“Dalit boy beaten to death for plucking flowers"; "Dalit tortured by cops for three days"; "Dalit 'witch' paraded naked in Bihar"; "Dalit killed in lock-up at Kurnool"; "7 Dalits burnt alive in caste clash"; "5 Dalits lynched in Haryana"; "Dalit woman paraded half-naked"; "Police egged on mob to lynch Dalits" are some of the common headlines in the mainstream national newspapers in India.

Dalits are not allowed to drink from the same wells, attend the same temples, wear shoes in the presence of an upper caste or drink from the same cups in tea stalls.

Shilpa Shetty famously asks her tormentor Jade Goody “Am I not human ? What about me is so different ?”

I ask Indian public and the politicians who are crying foul the same question……Are they not human..? What about them is so different..?

Please guys, put your house in order!!!

India Faces Shortage Of Designers

Y2K problem and what it could do to computer data was the most common subject for discussion among techies and pretenders in the mid 90’s. It is at this point that the West first started to look at the Indian software engineers – both cheap and efficient - to fill up the enormous number of human hours required to correct this problem.

The Indians have come a long way since this unexpected windfall, carving a niche for themselves in the world software industry.

Success filled the Indian techies with a new confidence and an all important “can do attitude”.

Indian economy in general resonated this confidence and attitude, evident in the consistent growth rate and the new spate of acquisitions of companies outside India by Indian Industries.

Unfortunately, India is now falling victim to its own success.

Lack of infrastructure required to support the booming economy is a well documented fact.

And now, the competitive advantage India had with the high number of technically educated workforce will also fade out in the coming years if they fail to plan and act urgently.

According to a report in Business Standard New Delhi Edition Mr Darlie Koshy, executive director, National Institute of Design (NID), has warned that India faces an acute shortage of 8,000-10,000 designers every year in over 200 industry segments. While there are 17,973 institutes in the country there are only a dozen-odd institutes that produce over 500 designers per annum, whereas the demand is for 8,000-10,000 designers. As the country is evolving from a knowledge-based economy to a creative economy, design, creativity and innovation is one of the pillars of the economy just like science and technology is. While there are 800,000 technologists in the country today there are hardly 1,000-1,200 designers in the country.

Story of a Hero

Two news items that appeared on opposite pages of Gulf News on October 28, 2006 is worth mentioning.

One report talks about the sorry state of Kuldip Singh, a bus driver with Delhi Transport Corporation who on this day last year courageously disposed off a ticking time bomb from his bus saving the lives of all of the 71 passengers on board; but in the process was grievously injured and suffered from complete loss of his eye sight.

Kuldip Singh and his family survive on a meagre income of 100 dollars per month. The fact that he is not getting any help from the government does not surprise me…!

I wonder what the 71 passengers - happily alive today thanks to Singh – are doing to help their saviour??? Have they grown as cold and thankless as their government..???

The other report talks about the arrest of two militants who were planning to blow up the Karnataka Legislative assembly building in Bangalore. The police have traced their satellite phone numbers and calls to Kashmir and Pakistan. Last year gunmen had attacked the prestigious Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore killing one scientist…

I wish the perpetrators of terrorism would put the money that they are spending to destabilise India to better use in their own country!!!

What noble cause can be served by violence, death and destruction…???

Indians Make Best Husbands

Indians have already proven their mettle in the IT arena…And now, they are being prized as the best foreign husband a Russian woman can get…!!!

According to an article published in Indian Express, Maria Arbatova, the controversial Russian feminist and poetess, feels that Indian men make the best husbands for Russian women.

Twice married Maria is now living with an Indian.

After the Techies, perhaps India should now look at exporting Hubbies !!! Any Takers...????