Wit Wisdom and Whoop

Over the last several months many questions have been raised on vaccine development, especially the one made in India. Doubts on the efforts of the Indian scientists, raised for various reasons. This is not about politics, but for those who seem to have no idea and simply believe what they read on some WhatsApp group online. Since centuries, 1796 to be precise, when the first vaccine was developed in this world, doctors used various methods to help people in suffering. None of them had any statutory organisation or established system to develop, test, approve the cures. Each of these pioneers took huge risks, even played around with lives, used animals and then humans before they created a solution. Today there are globally accepted regulations for any vaccine when being developed, which all countries including India need to follow to gain global acceptance. The steps, broadly involved, are as follows. 1.        Exploring, studying, collecting data o...

A few quick thoughts as I came across an argument between friends in a group. Way back in 2001 when 9/11 happened or in 2008 when 26/11 happened life did change but again as a world, it affected a part of us. The rest could still act as a countervailing force to support, help, and maintain balance. In early 2020 we led what was called normal life. We travelled, met family, friends, colleagues, and we talked, had fun, shared meals, coffee, argued, fought, made up and if at all anybody was in stress it was usually, one of us, as an individual. If one was down, there were many others around us who could pick us up, support us, encourage and motivate us. This applied not just to individuals but also countries. But 2020 affected and changed life for every single human being on the planet. Within days, sometimes hours and minutes we saw cities like New York and London to Mumbai and Rome simply shut down. The only noise we heard was that of wailing ambulances in a non stop banshee 24 x ...

This is a subject that can give birth to a hundred doctoral thesis, and still have enough and more left over, with no answers. The attempt here is not to give answers, but to give some perspectives so we understand the subject and the protagonists better. Also, this is not about the exceptions. Firstly, any of us, humans, as we grow and join any job (unless family has kept a cushion warm for us) want to grow, be more powerful, earn more money, enjoy all the good things of life, buy fancy cars/watches/ jewellery/ dresses, be recognised, appreciated, rewarded, go to star hotels, give children a better life/ education, have sex, drink, dance, make merry, travel, be promoted, get a bonus, get the best medical treatment, take vacations, become CEO’s or whatever – the list is endless. We also take risks, a leap of faith and expect to be rewarded many times over in the shortest time and the world applaud us. We also work 12 to 14 hrs a day, some even risk their lives.  If any of these d...

A popular notion the media loves to amplify is how Indian politics post 2014 has taken a turn for the worse in terms of its discourse, behaviour, tactics etc. When one has seen politics over decades, it would be a blunder to see this as a Modi/2014 event. It shows we have been blind to what had been going on around us for 20+ years. This is an analysis and not judging anything. There are clear periods when Indian politics changed - Pre/ Post Sonia and Post Modi. 2 different coins, but given the timelines seem like two sides of the same coin. The key to understanding current politics is to understand that India never had a Non-Congress govt till 2014. Pre Sonia: Governments carried the opposition with them unitedly on issues like National security, Defence, Foreign policy. A Rajiv Gandhi selected opposition leader AB Vajpayee to lead India in a world forum and parliament elected a true opposition leader as the Dy Speaker.  Every Government had risen above petty politics and co-o...

The Closest I have come to studying abroad - World Leadership Course at WPI, Massachusetts, USA - given my childhood "dream" Harking back to my childhood for a minute, I had this uncle who I used to pester to tell me stories in the post lunch session while he wanted to sleep. So he used to start a story & then the protagonist would decide to go on a journey. I would be told that until he reached his destination the story could not continue and he would go to sleep. The bird brain I was I would be sitting next to him waiting for the story to continue. One day I noticed that his ears had been pierced but the hole was now blocked with something. Wanting to be helpful by cleaning and opening up the hole, I obtained a nail and a hammer to do the needful. Some noise and before I could do my good deed of the day he woke up. When he heard what I intended to do I got thrashed for trying to be helpful and since then he finished his story, threw me out of his bed before going to sle...

The message at the entrance of the school says it all - Discipline is the most important Emergency 1975 was the reason that kindled my interest in politics because for the first time the fear was palpable. Looking back, I realise that you could cut the atmosphere of fear with a knife. As 14/ 15 yr olds we talk without thinking and suddenly some random comment would see the 20+ yr old seniors, teachers physically shut our mouth with their hands and a – Sushhhhhh. Interest in politics was kindled and for the first time in my life attended a political rally when Morarji Desai addressed a large crowd of tens of thousands one evening in 1977. When he rose to speak – no exaggeration – there was pin drop silence. Even the traffic went silent. His opening sentence was – THIS is the kind of discipline we want, not THAT kind of discipline. The crowd went into raptures, and I spent the next many days listening to the All-India Radio news as result after result was announced and the Janata Party ...

Soon after the 1971 tour of England/ West Indies, developed interest in Cricket and this was taken in 1971/72 when I joined 7th class in Davanagere. Playing with cork balls, we needed protection !! In about a weeks’ time, I hit 60 and can now earn higher rate of interest. This seemed like a good time to just think back on some – random thoughts – as they came to me. Here they are. Do not ask me why – from a young age I was keen to study in Glasgow university. Never mind I did not even know where it was or even what University meant. I actually wrote in books my name and below that Glasgow University. The only explanation I can think of is that I likely confused it with Glaxo the popular baby food, but the university bit is still a mystery. Both grandparents, an uncle and an aunt, couple of cousins were all Doctors. Watching my maternal grandfather create concoctions in his back-room pharmacy as he ground them together in porcelain bowls was fascinating. The line of patients in the ...

In early 2001 I was on my first visit to USA and it was a roller coaster ride I share to provide the foundation to this subject. Landing in New York, the flight delayed I literally, I mean literally ran through the airport - unchallenged. Needing to board a bus, by force of habit went to the “wrong” side and sprinted back amidst traffic to get in, as driver shook his head in amusement and cop wagged his finger like to an errant child. Wanting to see Washington in a day, started off by taking the wrong exit and landed up at the Pentagon and sent back with a smile. Finding no parking, found an empty place, decided to park anyway but asked a dignified gentleman also parking his car if it were OK only to be told that we had parked in the Senators parking area but being a holiday, the cops would maybe be nice to me. Later driving in slow moving traffic, jumped off, stood in front of the White House grill, got someone to click a quick picture and jumped back into the car. Later in the evenin...