The Inglorious Representation of Lord Rama

The Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago 

https://htgc.org/HTGC/index.php and also more information is available at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_Temple_of_Greater_Chicago or simply google HTGC for a lot of wonderful information on one of the most beautiful and picturesque temple complexes in the United Sates.  My affinity and association goes back to its really early days even before the original Ganesh Mandir was built, and subsequent construction of Rama Temple and the various complexes that now is the Greater Temple Complex.

It is really beautiful and with a limited crowds most of the time and very serene.  No matter what season, the temple complex is beautiful and inviting.

The history of the inception and the origins are on the weblink and on the internet, and the original donors and patrons of the "Rama Temple" are mostly no longer daily participants in the administration of the temple.  I don't see many of them in the infrequent trips I make to Lemont these days.  My own work schedule and time commitments don't allow me to visit regularly, but I do visit as much as I can as I have a personal affinity to the place.

On an annual basis (most times) I go to vote for the new board, or some major issue.  But it is almost on an annual basis and seldom, I visit the temple for any kind of ad hoc development.

Today morning (7/7/2024) there was a general body meeting that was called for spending about $1.3 million for maintenance of the main gopuram.  My cousin Jayadev Mettupalli who is very active with the temple activities asked last week, if I would come to the general body meeting and I was happy to go.  The visit serves multiple purposes, visit the temple, visit my cousin and definitely visit the temple kitchen.

Today's visit included the ad hoc general body meeting, which was seeking approval to spend money maintenance/renovation of the main temple Gopuram.  When I read the printed agenda, which was long and a lot of paper that was used to print the simple request for allocation of resources for maintenance, upkeep and refurbishing the temple main complex.

HTGC has a well defined constitution and only Capital spending on projects  requires general body approval and not maintenance and repairs.  This whole premise was blatantly ignored by the people who called this meeting.

I raised my hands many times during the long meeting but was not given a opportunity to tell the elders who are responsible for the temple maintenance (this was not the current temple management team).  Instead of simple request for maintenance money, which I think was operating $$$ rather than new money required for construction, they made a 80's style slide presentation.  None of the speakers had any the idea of protocol, or process of conducting a general body meeting.  Everyone speaks, over each other and the lady only threatened the participants who disagreed with removal.  

I will list my simple observations in points as I will probably never attend another of these HTGC meetings.  

I intend to post this to the temple weblink and my own social media posts, as adults with interest in being part of something that is as precious as this temple should only serve the best interest of the temple and follow the established protocols of the organization, and not ignore the simple rules of Hinduism and Devotion.

1. The presentation and the meeting with people was totally wasted as it was maintenance dollars and not new construction requirements.  At this time maintenance and resources and Indian team is already in place and working on the clean-up and upkeep.  With the intelligence in the room, the distinction could have been easily made that your presentation premise is inaccurate.  The slide show was really from the days of original windows and some one was just reading of the slides which held no interest of the audience.  The presentation was amateurish and no one needed the details as everyone who was in the room already was aware of the spending. 

2. I am not sure who wanted to spend the temple money on this ad hoc meeting, spending the temple money to call this meeting (wasted money) and all the people who attended (wasted time) and the entire meeting (disagreements), and few guys just deciding on a totally disorganized meeting.  This time and money could have been spent on what the temple needed.

3. The speakers were emphasizing on replacing a majority of materials and making structural improvements to the temple main complex within 40 years of a Hindu Temple with all kinds of reasons for spending the money, and my whole mindset was that they still have the original silpis. 

I am going to cut and paste from the internet the meaning of a silpi.  

The word or phrase శిల్పి refers to a creator of great skill in the manual arts, or a professional whose work is consistently of high quality, or an artist who creates sculptures, or someone who cuts or carves stone. See శిల్పి meaning in English, శిల్పి definition, translation and meaning of శిల్పి in English. Learn and practice the pronunciation of శిల్పి. Find the answer of what is the meaning of శిల్పి in English.

I found this ironical as the speakers insist that about 40 years (with regular maintenance) is a lot of time due to weather and conditions of Chicago, the same guys who were originally involved with the construction of the Temple and more new guys from India are getting visas to once again help with the maintenance of the structure.  Such irony with the team, who think less tan 40 years is a long time for a Hindu Temple.

I raised my hand to no avail.  I wanted to protest to the learned men on the stage that the temples in India have stood for hundreds of years if not thousands of years, and I don't hear this incompetence of the crew that was involved with the original structure doing it again and again.  What happened to regular maintenance and longevity of the structure, that comes with Hindu temples across the world?

3. The budget being presented (for the work that has already started) was simply guessing and not any accurate representation of what was actually required.  The total went from about $1.2 million to $2.0 million, about a more than 40% ley in the presentation estimate, and I am sure they will blow through it by only Lord Rama knows how much.  There is such gross disregard for the temple's finances and no one seems to care about the responsibility to the temple's money.

4. There is no protocol being followed.  The folks on the podium think they are the control (except Bhimanna) everyone is feeling that we the audience are subjects.  Such irregular handling of the protocols, and such inappropriate presentation of important spending of temple's money as if they are spending money from their pockets.  None of the questions that were being asked were handled in a professional manner.  The responses lacked clarity, and left the audience irritated.

This was a wasted opportunity to raise the required support for funding, explain the value of what was being spent on maintenance and upgrades, and complete disregard for history of Hindu temple construction and the basic protocols of a general body meeting.

Such disaster in presentation, protocols and such poor communication skills of the members, who are being tasked with the upkeep of the wonderful structures that represent the spirit of the community and the lord himself "Rama".

This is my final word on the organization.  Get a team that believes in the spirit of the organization, and the god's work.  The power of the word RAMA is greater than anything else.  Listen to the people and donors, as they make the Temple a beautiful and significant place for all of us, and do god's work with full devotion.  All the things that were the intentions of the temple's initial donors, volunteers and disciples that started the HTGC, follow the same practices and we will have HTGC and Ram Mandir be the place for worship and find solace in the name of RAMA for ever.

In the name of RAMA, whose name is the TRUTH, forever.

Silence as an Expression

For all most all part of my life, I have practiced silence for expressing grief.  From a very young age I have lost someone who was dear to me.  At this point of time I don't have both my parents, my grand parents from both sides of my father and mother, one of my brothers and one of my dad's sisters, and many of my childhood friends.  For just about every time in life I have lost someone who was/still is a part of my life.  All of them passed away when I was physically far away form them.  

The physical distance from someone dear to heart and life doesn't make grief any less, perhaps makes the expression more personal.  Birth and death are significant as they both have a beginning and an end.  Both instances make you tear up.  Both instances make you celebrate either the beginning of a life to be lived, and the end of a life that was well lived.  If you are not physically present, your grief is no less.

I have always been at a loss for expressing condolences.  I don't know what will make the finality of death any better with words.  I am also really not sure that physical presence makes sharing of grief any less overbearing.

My personal choice of being silent is not very comforting to me.  My mind will be reflecting on the instances that I shared, and the impact of the personal interactions I have shared, and I remember that have impacted the life choices I have made.  The most wonderful aspect of the life's choices is simply remembering only the impact of relationships, and how they have shaped your existence.  I really think the best way to live is just take every person that is a part of your life as they come, and not think of how they should be, rather let them be.

My choice of being silent in grief, perhaps makes other's think that I am uninterested or uninvolved.  It is far from the truth.  I have always remained detached unless I am asked to participate, or invited to become a part of a gathering.  I love to socialize, chat. share, celebrate and be a part of my huge circle of friends and family, just that I don't force myself on anything.

Lately I have been a witness to loss of very near ones, and at the same time celebration of new life and new beginnings.  Life as such is either a celebration of a new beginning or a celebration of a life well lived.  In both instances I mostly am silent, and wait for appropriate time to become a part, sometimes for quite a bit of time, and most time when opportune and in person.

My list of trips to make in person is very long, and I have not even started yet, and I am even sure if I ever get to begin making them.  I think of everyone who is no longer physically available to chat, or tell them how much I care and love.  I can only believe that each of them were well aware that I cared and I appreciated the part of our shared life.  I don't want to think they are just gone, I just want to keep the part of shared life in front of my mind, and the distance I have lived away will remain as a buffer to missing them.

My choice of silence doesn't make it any easier for me cope.  It is perhaps easier for people around me that I don't share my grief as they have their own worries to contend with.

I always think that grief is personal, and happiness is shared.  I will continue to practice it even if at times my silence might be construed as otherwise.  

Eye's of the Beholder

Every election time provides excellent opportunity to think of changes to status quo.  Unless you are under the age of last election cycle, you already know what status quo is.  It is exactly the the same as the last election cycle, with a lot more debt added to the government.  The debt is not just at the central level, but it goes, country, state, district, county, town, village and even perhaps your home.  It is incredible that we keep increasing the debt ceiling at every level, at every given opportunity.  I have lived long enough to see that my government/s (any governing body with the power to increase debt) can't stop spending money they don't have.

In 2024, I am trying to hear anyone run the election on platform of ZERO borrowing.  I know many years ago we had some years of surplus revenue at the country level, but we have really never managed to elect a government based on fiscal discipline.

This year (and perhaps many years to come until 100% debt happens) will be no different.  The rich don't care as they have the resources and have the ability to avoid huge tax burden, and the large group that takes money from the local/state/central government only want more handout's and only the hard working, middle income folks keep paying more.

I had to come-up with an example of the fallacy of the handout's and the impact on the real tax payers.  A Illinois family gets free food assistance of say "$1500.00" a month in SNAP benefits.  This means that they get a debit card with this money every month and can spend it on anything they can but with the card, and not pay the 10% tax that a normal shopper pays to buy the same.  Essentially what the handout is doing is: Pay a lot more money to the recipients (more than any normal family spends on food per month), take the money from those who are paying taxes.  I have no complaints about helping the needy, but why not create food banks to the needy, and provide the same instead of debit cards with huge money?

It is an interesting dynamic as politicians keep harping about development and poverty elimination, and at the same time, hand out to their vote banks.  I guess if all people of the nation are gainfully employed and are not dependent (sort of spoiled on freebies) they will start to think of appropriate policies to vote the deserving party to power.

Double edged sword, is to give away freebies and add to the debt politics allow for each of the parties to throw political satires at each other, every election, and keep spending to pander to their vote banks.  Recently the great political flights in Washington is how much more money we send to aid wars abroad.  Before I write the next sentence, I am all for "PEACE ON EARTH" but why I am waiting for fixing potholes on the road to work, but my government is fighting to spend trillions on war which I have no concern.

I am going to deviate about this war business.  If two countries want to go to war, let them fight among themselves, until either one can't fight anymore.  We have the historic examples of "Alexander the Great" who we address as such for his conquests.  For example if Russia wants to go expand let them expand as we all know that it's the local people who will ultimately decide on their exist.  It goes for all nations and all communities.  We need to remember that you don't just conquer the land, it comes with people and their governance, and also the Darwinian theory of "survival of the fittest".  Perhaps it is best with one people and one world, and let everyone fend for themselves.

The who essence of politics and democratic government is just being elected and living on borrowed money.  It's depressing to even think of surviving retirement with the piling up of debt, which is not sustainable.  

We the voter still choose a party or candidate, despite the unimaginable debt burden, with a promise of a better tomorrow.  It is not possible with borrowed future.  Although I choose a party and it's candidate every election cycle, I am certain that we can't sustain the spending.  At some point of time my government can't pay its bills.  The irony is I will also not be in a position to afford the normal things in life if the government goes bankrupt and civil infrastructure is unsustainable.  With every dollar I earn, I pay whatever the tax burden that's mandated, but if the handout's, wars, pork and politics make it untenable to basic life, it's a future that is uncertain.

At this mother's day morning, I thought first of my mom in heaven, and then started worrying about what will I do with the future as every thing that I can think of seems not in my control.  I woke up thinking of Mother's Day, and within a couple of hours of the future that beholds me, and everyone that follows.

Belly Full of Reality

 Excuse me first. I really mean not dreams but reality.

The fun part of dreaming is just that.  Nothing comes out of it, and it could be good or bad dreams.  It's like watching a movie or a show, it's simple not real but keeps you engaged for a small amount of time.  You just hope that it's good.

All my life I have had no issues with sleeping and or eating on time.  Most of my adult years I worked very hard.  At least I think I worked very hard. When I got sick and was trying to recover, it took years for me to get to be what we call a normal person, but never had issues with eating or sleeping.  I really think the whole human life revolves around satisfying hunger and once it is, then have a good sleep.  In between these 2 activities, we strive to work hard (make money) and do it almost everyday of life.  As I have gotten older I don't think I am any smarter or wiser than I was a teenager or a young man.  I just had a lot more energy to learn and do things, and now I have a lot more experience and have no idea what all the things I did really mattered to what I do now.  Only think that has mattered is the ability to keep doing things that will keep the reality of life to keep it going.

The old Sanskrit saying loosely translated into English "past is past" is very true.  I know I have the great ability to forget stuff quickly after January 2010.  I rely mostly on practice rather than memory, which I lost.  I don't dwell on not being able to remember every name, or every instance, every todo, or sometimes I simply can't remember.  I freely admit to having limited space in remembering, and it is really true.  It doesn't mean I forget who I am and what I am.  The reality is I am in the second life that my family presented to me, and saved me from a premature obituary.

I am still uncomfortable with distrust and dishonesty.  I really have difficult time saying "no".  I really don't ask much for help outside of issues related to work, and I am always happy to admit to something I don't no.  Many of these things that I practice make my life simpler (at least I think) by simply keeping it direct to what I feel.  I have no issues in admiring the simplest of things in life and expressing the joy of everyone's actions.  In my reality it is still the black and white life.  Either it is true or false.  In all instances I like to just say the truth and whatever the consequences it is just fine with me as I don't have defend it.  I like it simple.

Lately I have been having more difficulty in saying no.  I work really hard, and my body doesn't cooperate as it was when I came out of college.  I just admitted to my coworkers that I really didn't like to change organizations.  It is no longer work you are professionally doing, but work place management has become managing the changing management.  In essence you are doing the same work but your management is replaced or changed in such frequency, so are your learning to manage your management nuances in alarming regularity.

Professional life has been changing with alarming pace.  Gone are the days where one held on to the job for a long time (sometimes one employer until retirement).  Now it is commonplace to replace employers every few months.  I am still old fashioned (perhaps a little too attached to people) and a little bot reluctant to keep changing places.  It is not because of my inability to adjust, but it is because of my inability to say no.

It is May of 2024, and today is "MAY DAY".  I am thinking of my Sunday on the couch and if my little one is ready go to the mall for lunch and may be some shopping.  That the reality I like with regularity.  I don't have to dream of anything, as I am done with thinking of being uncertain, and I am ok with the daily reality.  The years have really thought me of what is real, and I am OK with it.

Words and wisdom, actions and reactions, love and affection, life and it's reality: all of them past really will not reflect what is future.  They are all testaments of what we did, but not necessarily what we will be doing.  Just think 1980 phone and 2020 phone, absolute unbelievable change to life.  Look at what google does to your information needs, and my favorite is the large horde of road maps I had in the car and now I just tell my phone to find my home.

The only thing that hasn't changed in reality for an individual is hunger and the need for sleep.  I already argued nothing will change that as a full stomach and a good sleep will make us think well and keep making them advances that we can only dream of.

Family Feud

Indian families are either very tight knit, or ferociously opposed to each other.  As much as family comes first is propagated, we constantly see families going at each other for reasons that are financial, political and personal.  2024 has enough political drama in Andhra Pradesh, we can easily convert the reality in a many movies, or a long drawn out daily soap opera.

The very popular YSR family is currently providing hot episodes of daily dose of acrimony.  It's not hard to imagine one family member's disagreement with other, but public and daily display of hatred in such a highly visible family is rare.  The current YSR family display of animosity is rare in public life.  This is specially unheard of that a bother and sister showing such acrimony in a public forum.

Is it politically motivated? It doesn't seem that the sister taking aim at her own brother, would have any impact on the upcoming general elections.  Within the state, country or NRI community believes she has any chance of denting the electoral prospects of her brother the current chief minister.  Her current public affidavit shows that she owes him a lot of money.  Her political and personal standing is only based on her late father, and to a large extent being on the same side as her brother, prior to whatever events that have lead to current acrimony.

It can't be money or properties as her current affidavit shows she owes her brother a large amount of money, which he has not publicly acknowledged (despite the daily public humiliation dished out by his sister).  It can't be property issues as nothing so far has been discussed by the siblings.  The entire observing audience know that she has no chance of winning over her brother's party or any contest with him. It's not money, it's not politics: Then what is it?

There are only two siblings.  Until recently they were standing together, supporting each other, and shared the grief of loosing their father, and fighting the congress to maintain the legacy of their father and also create a political party that has created a formidable regional power.  What happened for the sister to turn on her brother?

I haven't heard anything that is already not in public domain to cause sibling hatred.  If it's not money is it the hunger for power?  Is it just ego? I am sure it will come out soon as she can't stop stooping to personal insults, and he is also at times digging into insignificant comparisons.  She will not win the elections for Congress as Congress is dead in AP.  Congress will never get a single seat.  Current political predictions show that her brother will once again come into power.  What happens then?

No one will listen to the personal attacks (as there is little appetite for them now).  There is no political future with Congress in the state in the near term.  The current political affiliates are not going to be together in about a month.  The brother and sister will remain siblings, and what will happen to all the public laundering of insignificant attacks?

The reality must be already set in to her.  It's not going to change the political landscape, and public apathy for the nonsense.  All of us have our own family issues, good or bad, but the public acrimony for political stage is unwarranted.

As it is politics has really become a nasty personalized daily attack.  The most educated and professional audience dish out the choicest abuses against political opposition.  I wish everyone goes back to achievements and policies of their respective party, rather than personal abuses.  It in fact would be more choice to listen to what was done and what can be done, and my favorite is a balanced budget.

I might be asking for too much with my wish list for politicians and politics.  I certainly think family issues in public can be curtailed.  I am sure everyone in AP knows what will happen with the 2024 elections, and the only predictions might get wrong is the majority.  The shadows of family discord will soon disappear and I really don't want to guess the consequences of what is being aired after this election.

Where is the Intelligence coming into AI?

I am the survivor of library learning, without calculator graduate, encyclopedia and national geographic information gatherer, William Shakespeare to Marx reader, road map carrying driver and a whole lot of world travel and other means of learner.  In each phases of my childhood and young to university learning, never had the luxury of a calculator to solve anything.  All my friends and family who were schooled at that time, and quite sometime after that didn't have the luxury of shouting at a mobile phone to find answers.  We did just fine with large volume of memorizing and solving whatever complex issues there are today, without the computers, internet, mobiles, google, Wikipedia and all the technology advancements from the days of a scientific calculator.  I am proud to admit that the first car I purchased was a Honda Civic two door hatchback, which allowed me to carry the massive IBM computer I need to work with, as the hatchback allowed me to open the huge opening to get the massive and heavy desktop into to the car for transporting.  The two or three jobs, that paid little (but I was very happy with the work, people I worked with and also completing the school) but the Civic allowed me to get around with small cost and also lug the machines around as needed.  My favorite part was working at a credit union just backing up daily data, which was in huge spools and took a part time job every night.  Those were the days when the computers were huge and the technology was really appreciated as advancements to computing were happening exponentially.  Population, migration, travel and data safety were all advancing in rapid pace.  I was a part of globalization, business development and travel by 747 and immigration for work.  Those were really great days when a pager was an expensive gadget, and a beginning of mobile phone the size of a brick was way beyond affordable.

It's amazing to be a part of Computing, mobile, internet and EV and all other technology and human advancements and each day something that makes devices smarter (although more expensive) and information readily available anywhere and anytime.  Gone are the days when you waited for the news paper or the evening news for updates.  Now we have everything available instantly on all means of devices.  I am yelling at my mobile that is connected to my car to get directions or weather reports.

Not to belabor the advancements, it is simply that technological advancements are faster than what I am able to comprehend, and many of them are still not in my sphere of utility.  I still rely on my kids to setup my mobile apps or connecting my laptop to printer through WiFi.  I am a user of technology with whatever is needed with work or life.  I am ok with being an end user.

Now the new Artificial Intelligence discussion is in the forefront of technology discussion.  Billions being invested and companies and industries hyping AI as the great new life changing new advances, and some even hyping that AI will replace human life to a level it will replace humans and might even destroy humanity as we know it.

Today Sravya came back from her school trip and said they they had to make a quick presentation on AI and it's impact.  I had to think of the two words "Artificial" and "Intelligence".  The word artificial is means it's not real and made up, and Intelligence is the learning of humans to betterment by learning from experience.  So a combination of made-up intelligence is the basis of AI.  In no way the initial AI advances are to be diminished, but the template for AI is learning from the experiences of human beings over thousands of years.  

I really think the greatest ever invention was the the "WHEEL" as it makes us move and move faster.  Now I am not going to worry about AI replacing me in anytime soon.  Remember that man has walked the moon and come back more then 50 years ago.  I have adapted to every advancement in technology, changes to weather, life in general, so advancements in AI doesn't phase me with whatever it might bring to life.  I really think it will be another technology advancement is only going to make life either easier or complex, based on what we choose it to be.

Just think of travel, technology, markets, migration, medicine, environment, politics and everything else changes, evolves and human beings continue to choose the way they live their life.  I am not going to worry about anything that was invented by any human being will completely replace a human being.  AI will be another phase just like any other technology enhancement to wat we are living with, just might be a little faster than normal.

I still think the invention of the WHEEL is the greatest of human inventions, and using the example of man walking the moon is the driver is what had make the continued and rapid advancements in technology.  Human brain can't be replaced, it will continue to keep coming-up advancements that both help improve our lives and also cause disasters.  There is little to believe that we will think of replacing ourselves with something else.  We are safe from AI, we have a lot of other things that we already have though of like, wars, politics, religion, race and destruction.  We got a lot on our minds that we have already created and AI will only amplify our thinking, AI will not replace humans, but will certainly amplify our thinking via using our own intelligence.

Decided and very little room for indecision

 Elections 2024 are as dysfunctional as they were held the last time.  Both India and USA are heading for another election cycle.  Before I harp on the process, just to remind everyone that India has Modi as the two time PM and very possible third term to lead the largest democracy and USA has unchanged Trump trying to become President again, against the incumbent Biden.  I only have voting rights in the USA, but I have to have something to say about my motherland India.

At least the last four election cycles have been quite even contests.  The electoral wave that democracies really speak of is really a myth as the deciders are voters who are unsure of who they will vote prior to the election, or who are still fully not entrenched in personalities and priorities of the political system.

Let's start with the USA, as only 2 parties: Democrats and Republicans are mostly in contention , although we might have some insignificant newbies enter the fray, but have not won any meaningful nationwide support.  I will refrain from counting the USA based new parties as they don't command the public attention.  Voters are already lined-up behind each of the 2 main parties, with few independents who might vote depending on their mood on election day.  No matter who the candidate is party affiliation goes to the ballot box in the USA, with may be less than 10% of the voters who might think of the candidates without the major political party affinity.

To make sure I identify my own political inclination in the state I live (Illinois) the presidential elections are guaranteed to vote DEMOCRAT, and I do the same.  I am a first generation immigrant, who work hard and focus on family and security, and my political knowledge i limited to just voting with the majority of my state and also aligning to my common man profile.  To reiterate my state votes democratic in presidential elections, and as do I.

The vast majority of elections since the time of Clinton (who I thought was fantastic president (out side of whatever his personal preferences were), and the younger Bush although he won the first time by hanging chads, have been quite based on personal attacks.  Obama is a Chicago native for us a very local leader, his entry into national politics really mucked-up the narrative along with the advent of social media and internet.  Although Obama was the last 2 term president in the social media age, he still maintains dignity and decorum of a gentleman president, although he is 100%aligned to being a democrat.  He remains a popular and prominent global figures as did President Carter.  They are fantastic examples of great democratic presidents, who maintained the decorum of their presidential office and continued with the aura of the job they held, and I like president Clinton as he is the last of the budget surplus and job creators that US has seen (ignoring his personal affinities).  I also liked Presidents Regan, Bush and Bush.  All of them representing democrats or republicans, until Obama's time remain presidential, and while in office and after the presidential office, became more statemen representing the USA on the global stage.  Then came Trump, and rest is well documented in social media.  We the citizens of USA decided once when he competed with Hillary Clinton, and now he is trying to become president again competing with Joe Biden who is our incumbent president.  If I have to guess who might be the next president of the USA between Biden and Trump, I will probably fail.  As with any political affiliation, I know all blue states and red sates will vote with their normal parties, and the small majority of undecided will decide the outcome.  Both men are at the age of great grandfathers, and 100% opposite.  I am unsure of voter preference as I don't hear anything different this time as I did in 2000.  The major difference is the attacks are more and more personal, and not reflective of parental preferences for how old men should behave.

2024, is different with jobs, economy, immigration and probably similar with war in different part of the world (Israel and the neighbors will continue) and Trump with a more vocal internet presence and a lot more legal issues he can deal with, while Biden has to deal with Trump and the rest of the world at his advanced age.  The thing I want to stop with media and internet is the constant barrage of negative coverage, comments and scandals.  I am sure I have survived the economy, inflation and life long enough but I really can't deal with the constant barrage of USA media and internet with the Trumpian sagas, that are unending and FOX news glorifying the groping, and Trump's un-truth media empire and also his whole family away from politics.  I would like peace and quiet, and the government focus on jobs, immigration and social security.

I hope USA puts an end to harassment of general public, and let us live in our daily routines worrying about our children, families and friends and future of our next generation, rather than the insults of really old men.  God bless America and it's people, and wishing a life that will return to the old days of Regan-Carter exchanges "It's the ECONOMY stupid".  GOD BLESS AMERICA.

Now turning to India in 2024.

India at this time has Modi's BJP and INC which is the old Nehru/now Gandhi family parties, with dozens of reginal parties.  I still like Modi.  He has no personal family affinity, which makes him my favorite kind of politician.  After 2 terms, he is still devoid of any personal scandal and money matters, which makes him a favorite of scam free voters.  Although I don't have voting rights in India, he will continue to be my choice for now.  At the national level (although he is creeping up in years, work seems to keep him in good health) I don't see an immediate alternate to him as the national leader within his party or the opposition.  There is really no national party that has the agenda of Modi's BJP with any substantive issues, except the hatred for Modi.  If you look at Modi's agenda it is streamlined with the economic growth and global image of India, which are regularly publicized.  Modi is also an effective social media user, who is good at voicing his personal and party's agenda.

I don't believe there will be a change in India's national leadership.  It will be unlikely with Modi leading the charge in the foreseeable future, but again Indian voters like regional/caste/societal politics.  It I am a betting man Modi will be back in 2024, and he is to wishing him a successful third term.  I am really OK with a man who has no personal affiliations to worry about leading a nation.  JAI HIND.

Old Principals of Democracy

In the summer of 1787 in Philadelphia, US constitution was written envisioning the great democracy as have experienced.  Being a first generation immigrant the ability to live freely, speak freely and act freely is what I believed is what I came into prior to email, mobile and Internet invading the world.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_the_United_States#:~:text=The%20Constitution%20of%20the%20United,powers%20of%20the%20federal%20government.

I would urge everyone to read from the link to appreciate the almost 240 years ago wisdom of the white men who were all also immigrants ( I don't see an Native Indian as a part of the group who wrote and ratified the constitution, and I didn't expect one).  I try and make sense of the current scenario verses what was meant to be a freedom of choice document.

Despite my global travels and my own experience with my mother land of India prior to coming to the USA as a student, I don't know any other two places on earth where I would have had the life I have had.  India the largest democracy, that survives and USA the greatest democracy that survives.  I use the survives with great care, as I have had a long enough life to experience the political and technological advances of the last 40 years to experience the impact of both with people's behavior.

From the beginning of time there is a definition of good and bad.  Religion is thrown into the mix and evolution of various religions have also impacted the definitions and interpretations of good and bad, and also continue to be radically different in different parts of the world.  I am a Hindu by birth and will die one.  I see god in everything and pray every day (probably more than once a day in the name of god).  I only pray for peace and family and I ask nothing more than that.  If I leave my personal beliefs alone, I also am quite appreciative of the small town I cam from in India, where you rarely saw the religious strife that is so prevalent in the world today.  My town still lives peacefully, and in allowing space for everyone, every religion and every people to do their own thing.  I don't see the world doing the same thing.

I am not sure what is causing the constant political, regional, religious and communal strife globally, but the effect of the CNN in 1980, email, internet and mobile communications have become a free for all and free publicity platforms for promoting and executing agendas that were difficult to reach people prior to these telecommunications becoming cheap and available to the global audience.

Simple a Musk tweet (X) of whatever opinion the rich man has becomes a talking point.  If I take a 50/50 yes or no, half the audience like it.  Don't really think almost all of them do anything about it, but it only requires 1 of the 50% to act on it.  Same applies for Trump, who went on to create his own platform and even went on to create a public company with it.  I know there are dozens of billionaires and their large group of followers, who are quite influencers with every word they post on social media.  The same goes for television channels who take extreme sides with politics and religion.  There is no debate to moderate, just extremes on opinion. People of the world have access to all this, and they already have chosen the medium they would like to receive the dump of information from the many choices of transmission they believe that they are aligned with.

Jus think in the USA we are either going to get Trump for republicans and Biden for Democrats.  There is no other choice.  Both after their 80's well past the retirement age, and both men who have outlived their peers and generations will lead the nation coming next year for another 4 years.  If Biden succeeds, I am sure Trump if he is around will try again for another term after that, and Republicans will support that.  I identify as a democrat and immigrant, but if we saw the Carter, Regan, Bush, Clinton, Bush and Obama, prior to the last last 2 presidents, the decorum of candidates was so much to be desired and they didn't have much of the impact of the telecommunications we have had in the last 10 or so years, and they were all civil to the office of the presidency until Trump and Twitter became synonymous with the communications of the presidential office.

Trump and Musk are freely expressing their views that democratically suit them.  As is the billions of people who regularly post, edit and follow the social media and electronic media.  The technology and medium is available, and easy to follow.  The extremes are opinions of individuals and now can be transmitted with very little expense, but reaches everyone who is a believer.

Now if I go back to the old principles of democracy, there was no way to establish the guidelines for telecommunications and electronic medium, although the US constitution survived (and continues to survive) the pre-telecom era, and to a large extent the CNN era.

I have no conclusions about what might happen as as a single voter, I will continue to exercise my right to my civic duty.  I will encourage everyone in my sphere to make sure they vote their choice.  Di I believe that democracy will survive? the answer "YES".  The 200 plus years of the USA's greatest democracy has withstood civil war, slavery, world wars, and the advent of telephone and air travel, and I am sure we will find a way to survive the social media.  At the end of the day human beings will make decisions that impact their own safety and self-being.

"GOD BLESS AMERICA AND GOD BLESS DEMOCRACY".  All said and done, freedom of choice is what makes life as complex and as simple as we choose it to be.

Life's Choices - None too difficult to make

 I am all for freedom of choice.  I don't know any other world that didn't allow me the choices I have made in my long and often peaceful life.  I like the way I live, its simple and uncomplicated.  Whatever choices I have made and I continue to make are simple and serve the purpose of a common man with vey common interests.

I rarely get agitated, and if I do I let the agitator and people surrounding know quickly that I am, and leave the company of those who agitate me quickly.  I don't really let anything I dislike be on my mind very long as I really don't worry about things that bother me.

I have had same friends from my childhood, and I miss them dearly as they are all scattered, and I rarely get to see them in person, but time and distance don't matter as I know they will always be there for me, to eternity.  I have grown up being away from much of my family and friends, and I have lost and continue to loose elders in my family as I myself is one.  Such is like, choices to where you live and how you live will also force you to choose the distances.  It's alright as I know no one I care about will think of me any differently because of my life's choices.

The attachment to my ancestral home and town, and the attachment to my whole life away are often in sink and not in conflict.  I still am a common man from small town in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, although I have spent little time in my birth place, it still is in my everyday life.  I like the same people, same food, same thoughts, same everything, but I chose to live more than 10,000 miles away.

There is a Ram Mandir in my colony home town of Proddutur, AP, India.  There is a Ram Mandir in Lemont, IL near my now living place.  In fact along with my family I visited the HTGC Temple today.  I saw my cousin and his wife, and a whole of members of my extended family at the temple which I have been associated for more than 2/3 of my life.  It simply is my place and my temple and my people.  I don't want to forget the best part of the visit is visiting the Temple Kitchen for Masala Dosa.  There is no way to feel that I don't have my own people and community right where I live, they are here and they are there, they are everywhere.

After and during the visit to HTGC (www.htgc.org) and every time I do visit any temple around the area, it really takes me back to the initial days of life in around Chicago.  Nothing has changed with all the Aunts and Uncles, Elder brothers and Sisters and people who have been a part of the community and my life; they are all the same.  None of them are tiring in their dedication to serving, none of them have changed their attitude to giving and serving, they never look tired (even if they are they never show it) in serving fellow citizens, all with the same love and always support.  The kindest thing you will hear is each of them checking on you and your family with utmost care and love.  Not a single one of them changed in just about all my life, just no change.  I really think GOOD and GOD go hand in hand, and in choosing my life and where it is I truly think there is no magic to life anywhere else, it is here.  I truly hope it remains just like this for the rest of my life.

Although I never spent extended time with my Mom and my Grandma, they had the same care and affection to anyone they met.  My community shows me the same.  It is truly incredible that you might not see them often, but the few minutes you are with them, reflects the shared empathy to life and the care they pass on with the simplest of words.

I don't wish for anything to change.  I am not even sure how anything would have been different if I chose to live elsewhere.  It has been here and I am deeply attached to whatever it is.   The choices have been simple and will continue to be simple as the community, people and family is all that can comfort you, and it is not too difficult to choose.  Life is where you are and the choices you have made, good folks around you simply make it simpler.

Cinema and its Magic

Vasu Reddy from Chicago
vasureddy@aol.com

 

While in my college days in India, there was no internet, not much television except single channel that broadcast national news and propaganda of the ruling party.  I don’t really remember being much of a TV watcher in my early and formative years.  Movies and Cricket were the main avocation outside of finishing school as quickly as possible.  I was good at school so whatever I did otherwise didn’t seem to bother my guardians.  If you got good grades in school, whatever you did was just fine, which I think is true to this age and time.  You have got to have a lot of energy to do well in school and hangout at the same time.  I had plenty of it.

 

Since the early days I can remember I loved to watch movies.  Simple and Indian masala and formula movies were always my favorite.  My memories are full with Amitabh Bachchan movies still and all of us wearing huge bell bottom pants and sporting long hair.  In those days following the latest trends in movies was just as normal as going to school.  I didn’t have any exceptions to trending with the movies in my circle of friends and siblings.  We all looked different but just about had the same style.  I have a lot of memories in pictures which I shared, and to date many of my profile pictures are from those days showing the style of the time.

 

My love for time pass movies continues from school to college to more degrees and a life time of travel and work.  Even today I love to watch movies, in any language I can find.  I have never liked horror but thriller movies and even television is a source of relaxation and enjoyment.  I have my own couch and a big screen with Netflix and Amazon Prime and a host of other channels that are at finger tips, and when at home by myself they have my attention.  I really don’t mind watching by myself or with family and friends.  Almost all Indian movies are just watching the couple of hours of long narration, song and dance, taking a single line story and twisting and turning it to a predicable ending is something I have never gotten tired of.  Every once in a while there will be a twist in a new movie that probably will be with a surprise ending.  I don't mind sticking to Indian movies, as I know what will be the end, but I will watch the entire movie.  Sometimes I skip the songs for a break, or if I am watching on my own smart TV skip them.  In theaters I will sit thru the end of the movie and enjoy the grandiose of the celluloid and appreciate the trouble that the makers went to bring it to the market.

 

I know times have changed and life and expectations have changed.  I don’t believe the movie makers and their dreams have changed.  The imagination (we have a lot of judges) is inclusive of the movie world.  We have everything we need to read and see on the internet.  The world travel (ignoring the current pandemic) is at an affordable price.  The technology makes anything possible.  It is inexpensive to create digital medium.  The aspects of movie making that have skyrocketed are the fan base and paycheck of the lead actors.  The audience acceptance of any movie while is as unpredictable as it has been from the beginning of time, it remains unpredictable.

 

Before I forget, I have to reiterate that I love cinema and television.  My viewing habits have not evolved or changed.  I enjoy watching the continued manipulation of a simple good versus evil story told with small variation, which is told thousands of times.

 

Before I vent my feeling on 100’s of reviewers including yours truly (I do write movie review on occasion) and the advent of internet as a primary medium for communications, the irony of reading them is upon a regular movie buff.  I might not be able to watch something day one or week one but as with many movie buffs, I want to watch and enjoy the experience without bias.  I don’t mind the reviews but they have become biased and sometimes terrible, and I even get the feeling if the person who wrote ever watched the movie.  In any case the Telugu movie reviews have become terrible in representing the movie and its experience.  For those who lived in the Chicago area for a while would remember Roger and Ebert, and their reviews of the new movies.  In fact all the news papers had their expert reviewer’s ad they were quite true to the pulse of the general public.  We don’t have that kind of sincerity in Telugu movie review critics.  This is in special reference to publishing a review day one or before the public gets a chance to see the movie.  I am not criticizing every review and every internet publication, but almost all the big movies seem to have their favorite critics, both writing very good and very bad analogy; both feeding to an individual actor by elevating or bashing.  It’s a terrible exposure as public has these reviews available for free and the reviews instill the bias of the person who pens them: often for individual preference or bias.  We can’t stop them from popping up as Internet is everywhere and we are on it 24/7/365 days.

I don’t have a solution, except making every effort to avoid reading them and talking to anyone about a movie.  This is also terrible as sharing the anticipation of a new movie was always a part of the movie going experience.  The difference in the days without internet was anticipation and excitement at least until you watched the movie.  Nowadays it is the internet buzzing out the experience with someone writing what I really want to experience for myself.  It’s a bummer.

My latest and very short review is here.  I saw Radhe Shyam, released on 3/11/2022 which is the new Prabhas movie on the day of its release.  I avoided the internet review or speaking to anyone.  I saw the movie alone.  To me it was no Amitabh Bachchan movie, but it was a Prabhas movie and it was worth my money.  To validate my words, see it without prejudiced reviews and you will certainly agree with me.

Enjoy the movies and the experience of escaping into celluloid of a couple of hours.  It costs little and will continue to show you life in color.  At last any review of the movie by critics is that they have found your viewership to be worth something, so they will keep trying to influence your movie viewing habits.  Even if you choose to view a review, just remember the movie is what we want to watch, and escape from reality life.

I will continue to enjoy the movies, all of them that I am able to watch.  I will create my own review after I actually watch the movie, or the show.  For now let me find the next movie to watch.

The Theory of Nothing

Vasu Reddy from Chicago
vasureddy@aol.com

There are theories for everything.  I have been trying to find some solace in working every holiday, hoping that me showing up to work will help someone else who will celebrate the holiday, while I cover the time that I could have been doing nothing.  Perhaps for last 5 years I have put someone else ahead of my own theory of doing nothing, while letting other's let me work the holidays.  2021 has not been any different.

There is no absolute value to sacrifice and courtesy when it is not your turn.  No one seems to care and no one really gives two hoots about your time and effort.  The time value is personal and when you offer your time it is assumed that you are in the mode of self sacrifice, and it has no real value. "The theory of nothing."

2021 is almost done, actually in the last week.  Has been another year of Corona Virus variations, and it seem to never end.  I continue to work as much as I can, just as I did in 2020.  What a funny name for a crappy year "2020".  I was too glad that the year is almost in hind site, just as should be the reference to 2020.  The funny part is 2021 is exactly with same life lessons as it was 2020, and I am happy these 2 years are behind us.

I hope tp feel 2022 is a step to normalcy.  Whatever that means by normalcy.  My optimism has limits and although there no cynic that has surfaced within me in the last 24 months, my age probably has made me a bit open to the Theory of Nothing.  It really has.  I see even people less than half my age don't empathize with selflessness.  They are probably thinking it's their privilege.  Actually I have not seen empathy as an emotion lately.  Just nothing.  Only self preservation at any cost.

Let me get to my own "Theory of Nothing" now.  It serves no purpose.  As a ZERO by itself is really nothing, but a zero with something with in front of it will make it of value and the numbers will add up.  I have to start 2022 soon, and I have start believing in the theory of something (no more nothing).  I have to start behaving like the rest of my fellow Americans and start being selfish about my own time.  I am after all speeding forward, and my time is as good as anyone else's.

Independence Day 2021

vasureddy@aol.com

Vasu Reddy from Chicago

I am along with just about everyone else in America look forward to Independence Day every year. In 2020 Corona Virus dominated the airwaves and the world, and everything about independence was muted, or shut down. There was only essential workers that were slogging and everyone else sidelined, laid-off, furloughed and on government support. 

The rich really did not suffer as they were well placed to get richer, but common man was restricted and waiting for a shot in the arm. I really mean that literally. Having the resources was very important to survive the pandemic.

Even simple things such as Internet and a computer to be a part of online classes made a huge difference for children to simply attend school. Parents had no choice but to make a working computer and Internet be available to children to go to school. Food and medicine were also at a premium. Everything that people took for granted was simply out of bounds, and life had a clearly new set of guidelines.

After more than a year into it there was relief coming from the vaccinations, and government also intervened with providing assistance with unemployment and cash assistance. Weather the relief provided was enough or not, or it reached people who most needed it, weather politicians were thinking of people, so many questions but the government despite its political differences made many help line to assist people with the pandemic.

I am not sure if everyone agrees with how much is enough, but definitely 2 different people running the country in the time of the pandemic, both made efforts to send money and support to all people of the nation. My personal preferences on which party I support doesn’t make any impact on what is needed by the common man in the time of extreme need. I also am fully cognizant of the all people in bucket for help might not be the best case support structure.

We are seeing that some of the employment being ignored as people got so used to free money and benefits and coming back to work might be a bit difficult as the freebies might outweigh the paycheck. But as with anything good or bad, there is an end to it. People should be getting back to work, and tap of freebies is being shut down or going to run out of funds and essentially the personal need will bring most people back to work, and payroll.

Personally I worked more through the pandemic and did not want to stay home. I felt being essential was important despite my health concerns. I felt needed and I also felt good that I survived the pandemic and I also continued to show-up for work every day. I would have it no other way. As soon as the vaccine was available I got both my doses, as well as everyone in my family including the children did get the vaccine. It was more to protect ourselves and also everyone around us.

No one in my family complained about the lack of freedom, lack of interaction or lack of anything. We just followed the rules set by the government and work place. It was not difficult as we were doing exactly what the nation was suggesting we do. Nothing political about our behavior, it was logical be to be safe and keep people safe around us. In fact it made little difference to make the work and life adjustments as a family, and I am happy we survived it.

We truly hope the rest of the nation will quickly get vaccinated and get proper protection against the virus, and we all go back to what we were used to as normal. It’s fun to go to the beach without a mask. It’s fun to walk the mall without a mask. It’s fun to go to work without a mask. It’s fun to do everything without covering half of your face, but it’s necessary to survive so you can look forward to the land of the free again.

2021 Independence Day a bit less stressful as we can look at what we did in 2020. I am referring to just hind sight, but the reality of a global scare. There was no nuclear war, there was no economic war, and there was an enemy that we had no weapon to attack that was blasted across the globe. We found a way to tackle the virus quickly and as the vaccine becomes available we will get back to a more normal world as we know. It is perhaps best to think that we will live with the virus and we will also record that we survived another crisis.

Over the ages nothing in the human survival strategy has changed. It is age old to face a crisis and find a way to survive and thrive. We always look forward a better future, irrespective of circumstances. I too feel that kids and adults will look at their after pandemic life as a blessing. It will once again be a place of freedom, literally a face without a mask, and a handshake with a warm hand. I personally was happy to be working and while it was stressful to worry about contracting the virus, I was equally satisfying to be a part of support solution. While 2021 Independence Day has some relief compared to 2020, here is hoping 2022 will be back to the celebration of individual freedom and forward looking.

Inclusive India

Accepting a group of people being persecuted anywhere in the world into any society is correct.  It's human.  Hindustan was once a vast nation that has been invaded and ruled by a variety of outsiders and other nations until its division and independence in 1947.  The present day India and its history is as old as the human civilization and is well documented.  As much as it has a history of culture, education, tolerance and unity it also has a vast amount of destruction and intolerance by the invaders and also a huge amount interference in its current society.  The India I know is and will always be one of religious and cultural inclusion and human harmony.  Big town, small town and little town or whatever place in India; are reflections of these communal harmony and people living together.  Its true they have distinct religious identities, but I don't see it as a communal divide rather a beautiful and great Indian fabric.  The politically charged religious disharmony is far from the common man's routine life in India.  It is not to say that there is no disagreement between people.  It is natural as in any family there will be disagreements and discord.  India is such a huge family and it is natural to have discord.

The current political environment that is charged with for and against accepting persecuted people from nations surrounding India has been intensifying.  The premise of the 2019 citizenship act "Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019" is to allow non-muslim minorities from nations where they are being persecuted into India as it citizens.  One doesn't have to be a scholar to appreciate the basis for the law.  We all might not agree with signalling only non-muslims to be welcome into India, as its new citizens but we have to appreciate the fact that we should welcome anyone who is being persecuted with open arms.  The objection by Indian political parties and some Indians is based on the basis of prejudice against Muslims.

If in fact the religious groups that are being accepted as new Indian citizens from Muslim nations, what would be the objection by anyone in India?

For me a common man with no political interest and who lives in a nation of immigrants, the questions to those who oppose Indian government on this particular law are simple.

1. What will be the objection to accepting people of non-muslim faith into India if they are being persecuted.  All are welcome to search the internet for information on all these countries listed in this law.
2. If there is a case of any other community to be welcome into India then why not the opposition parties propose such legislation.  There is nothing stopping from new laws being proposed for any community to be invited into India on the basis of persecution.
3. Does anyone believe that people will leave their homeland just because India is passing a law that allows a certain religious group/s as citizens?  If they are happy with the nation where they live and they have equal rights why would anyone leave?  They might leave looking for work or a better life, but why would they seek another nations citizenship?
4. Whoever is opposing the new law within India should be welcoming those who are being persecuted, rather find ways to open their minds and places for helping.
5. Overall if any other community needs to be included in the same law, show the need and bring the public to embrace it.

People of a still developing nation welcoming people who are being persecuted because of their religious beliefs should be more welcoming rather than protesting.  It will be a Hindustan of the ages where people always welcomed the needy.  Politics are for inclusion but not for persecution.  Help these people who want to escape persecution and find a place of inclusion.

Jai Hind.  

Easy Tamarind Rice Recipe In Telugu

Pulse of the People

vasureddy@aol.com

Vasu Reddy From Chicago

In the last couple of weeks I did predict that Modi will come back to be the prime minister for the next 5 years.  In reality the man doesn't need any money and he doesn't have hangers on to protect, and no one from his family chasing scams.  If he does nothing else no scams would always keep him as the prime candidate for continuing as the prime minister. We don't have to rehash that he has no personal baggage to worry about, and that continues to be his political power.  I am sure the man will continue to work long hours for the agenda of  greater India.

I read a lot of columns in the American media about his choices of politics and BJP as a nationalist party, and how minorities might (MIGHT) be undermined in India, and how his rock star image as India's leader impacts the elections, and a whole lot of gibberish about the fifty shades of gray attributed to the man, all in the same space of a few words about the massive mandate for a politician with almost 700 million people exercising their right to vote with little difficulty all across India.  Just the scale of the election is daunting and complex. and the country wide mandate for one man's vision for the second time, is not really appreciated.  It is really not material as no Indian living in India really cares about what anyone else is writing about their leader.  But for Indians living outside of the nation, reading the commentary is sad.  It depicts the senseless perspective of scribes who really don't appreciate a secular nation with such vast geographical and ideological diversity, in which people easily live together and while appreciating the differences in life while bound by one massive Hindustan.

Democracies are delicate but strong, and they survive the differences of opinion, with simply following the majority. Although modern India has been independent only since 1947, its people are bold and dynamic while exercising of their right to choose a leader with every election.  There is little room for making large scale promises and participating in scams and survive the next election.  India has time and again shown its true ideology of freedom in its elections, and 2019 is no different.

It is also wonderful to see the normalcy of the nation return immediately after the election, and absolutely free and clear of partisanship that was displayed by political parties thru the electoral process. Transfer of power or a party coming back to power, happens without friction, and politicians who lost now look forward to 5 years later and the ones who won have to perform for the next five years.  That's all there is to either retaining power or getting elected.

Modi should focus on his second election manifest.  His ides for fair taxation, low inflation, more employment, better infrastructure and curbing black money all of these along with a clean and green India all have a very high value to India.  All the gentleman needs to do is reinforce with his cabinet to work on them every day.  My favorites are clean India and clean Ganga.  No better way to look at the country other than a clean and beautiful nation.  And Modi can keep working towards a clean India.  He has nothing to loose even f his pushes his popular agenda, as his party or any party's politicians wont elect him, the people of the nation will reelect him again; all he has to do is drive his policies of development and cleanliness.  And I believe he will continue to push his agenda.   

In covering my state of Andhra Pradesh, Jagan getting elected with such massive majority is not a surprise.  An infant State with a old and seasoned politician could not give his people the comfort of experience they needed for a brand new state.  Now we have a very young man with an unprecedented mandate, and legacy of his father (who accidentally passed away almost ten years ago) who is still fresh in people's hearts.  Before and after his election, he has only raised his voice in support of people and maintained independence from any national alliance, while only committing to supporting any party that aligns for a special status for his state.  Even after his election he has kept his polite mannerisms and has assured that he will deliver the best state government in the nation.  I hope he will simply try to work on his political manifesto, and keep smiling like his late father did.  Make our state shine and make our state smile.  Our people want a big brother, and not just election handouts.  I hope just as I wish Modi will stick to his agenda, Jagan too will continue to be focused on people's agenda as he did for the last 10 years, and hoping that both of them will make all of us NRI feel proud.

Jai Hind.

What next for India?

vasureddy@aol.com
Vasu Reddy from Chicago

In about a week’s time India would have voted for the new 5 year government.  This election has been similar in tone to the last one, except this time the BJP is the incumbent, and Congress still seems to struggle with its overall identity.  A lot of regional political parties (and their leaders) making a lot more noise.  You hear of the federalist system, and more power to the states, and a leader that the opposition wants who is not from congress, all this while congress itself trying to be relevant and project Rahul Gandhi as its prime ministerial candidate.

Modi working to come back into the PM chair for the second term, and he has been the choice of BJP as its leader.  He continues to pack powerful speeches and rallies, and outwardly seem to be confident of retaining the majority for the next 5 years.

It will be foolish to predict what the outcome is.  The case and point of the US elections in 2016 is a great lesson to pollsters and predictors to keep their opinion/s to themselves.  Nevertheless the supporting media for each party will predict landslide for their candidate/s.  All politicians contesting and their supporters will obviously predict their candidate to come out victorious.

I have been partial to Modi (I don’t have a vote in India as an NRI) but the last time and for the last 5 years, I have been looking at what he said verses what he did.  Without justification to what the last 5 years of BJP government’s delivery to their poll promises, one thing that I have always believed is that the head of the government stay scam free.  I believe with what I read and watch, Modi has remained a man with little interest in stealing public money.  I truly believe he has no reason to (as he did not have any 5 years ago) loot public coffers.  I continue t believe that Modi is a career politician who doesn’t have the need for looting public coffers as he has always kept family and friends away from his politics and his life.

You get to see someone for 5 years as a nation’s leader; you will have little reason to guess.  We have 100% access to the leader’s life, and his actions.  Modi started very aggressively as a leader representing India to the world, and despite the criticism of his style, he represented India quite aggressively and positively to the world.  Modi was equally at ease with USA or China, Japan or Germany, Pakistan or Bangladesh, and any other nation he visited ofr dealt with.  Modi’s early reaching out to the global leaders continue to pay dividends for India, and have helped with the Industry and trade dealing for India, quite positively to the terms before his first term.  He is a determined politician with also a single-minded focus on the nation.  I truly believe Modi doesn’t have any personal interest in dollars and cents.  The man is a representation of his party, the BJP and as all of its leaders has no personal profit motive.

While I preach of no predictions, I think Modi will be PM for another term.  This prediction is solely based on looking at the opposition.  INS and Rahul Gandhi have no chance of winning the elections by themselves, or with the many associations they have been trying to cultivate.  The Indian political history after 1970’s and beyond is with regional and opposition parties began to challenge congress.  So their leadership still in stage I, with many old men trying to hang on to power, and desperately trying to be relevant.

The old INC is no longer able to display a national agenda, doesn't have the footprint it did after India’s independence.  It is not a competitor in politics or policy, and it might need several more 5 year terms, for it to become relevant (might never be what it was with Panditji or India Gandhi).  For a non voter looking at Rahul, he seems to only cherish with his cartoonish jibes at Modi.  The younger Gandhi has no political or philosophical experience to represent 1.3 billion people.  He might never be able to fully appreciate and represent India as his family once did.  I really don’t think INC has a chance of coming back into power in 2019.  This column or any number of columns might not be sufficient to revisit the scams in congress, and people in their memory are still fresh in their recollection of the scale of misuse of public resources.

The regional parties even if all of them plan to combine as opposition to BJP lead government (including congress) it’s an unlikely alliance that can be successful.  Simply agreeing to a PM candidate will dislodge much of the alliance.  BJP has Modi as their leader, and with coming to power there is a clear leader to represent the party.  The power of incumbency is always of high political value because of the power and infrastructure that it automatically provides.  In 2019 it’s unlikely a unified opposition with a single leader can emerge to challenge the BJP and Modi.

The public opinion on Modi and his government is difficult to read, as we did with INC.  There is no clear cut and nationwide anti-incumbency to Modi and BJP.  Personally a little bit of less showmanship and a little more of education to people would have helped.  In an opinion piece I can certainly write of the time Indian politicians spend in running each other can be spent more on people’s work to further the public’s agenda.  I really don’t hear anything about positive news, only the bitter bickering of old men about each other, in very personal terms.

In a week from now, it is highly likely we will see BJP (and allies) come back in power.  I sincerely hope Modi will work on his poll promises (this time) and also more focus on internal issues to India.
I am not going to forget the special category status to my state of Andhra Pradesh, and with a full hearted appeal for the people’s mandate.

Jai Hind.

Continuing to long of Indian Utopia

vasureddy@aol.com
Vasu Reddy From Chicago

It has been some time from my last weekly column to this.  Simply unable to write something of interest on a weekly basis, and working odd hours to be able to sit down and convert thoughts to words.

First and foremost to celebrate the Mother’s day this Sunday.

“Happy Mother’s Day to all the folks out there”

There is no alternative to the comfort of one’s mother’s love.  Another mother’s day is on us on 5/12/2019.  For me it is not any other day of the year.  This is my first mother’s day without a mother.  She passed away fighting cancer on 3/25/2019.  While the cancer took her away from me and the rest of the folks she touched, she probably is no longer suffering, and is in a place where peace prevails.

We are in the middle of a general election in India, which has been going on for a few weeks, and should be done in the next couple.  This time around I don’t have any predictions, as the general consensuses is that 2014 will be repeated, although with a lesser of a mandate.  The NRI community is as divided as their native community.  Nothing really changes to the psychology of politics with Indians.  We love to differentiate simply based on our age old mind set.  The country seems to be chugging along; more people, more disagreements, more politics; but same issues.  As with last election cycle, my main draw will be no scams.  It is the same for this next election.  We should always elect someone who will be 100% scam free, and divert the resources 100% to the public needs.  My choice of words is very careful in writing “Public Needs” as each citizen has needs, irrespective of the wealth bracket that they belong to.  Better infrastructure, better education, better sanitation, better water, better power, better health, better everything; even incremental will make the society a better place for conditions of comfort and livelihood.

As 10,000 miles distance doesn’t foster a 20/20 vision of home on a daily basis, I still think of PM Modi as a very good manager of Indian politics and resources.  No matter what I read or watch, I think the man is scam free, and continues to keep family away from politics and national narrative.
Personally I admire his simple mother and their affection towards each other.  I know critics will argue why she is not with him, but my own mom always chose to be on her own, despite a large family.  People visiting her and calling her gave her great joy, rather than she living with anyone.  So, Modi and her mom living on their own are probably at her wish rather than Modi ignoring her.  God bless her as she seems like one tough lady and a great mom.  Once again my experience is that any amount of distance will not be a hindrance to mother/children’s affection.  My reflection of Modi the man is probably based on two specific points:

Modi seems to have very little interest in wealth accumulation.  If we look at comparable politicians. This alone in my personal opinion is a great indicator for someone who is little interested in personal gain.  He has kept his family and friends far away from his position of power.  My vote is always to find someone with no interest in money or personal relationships; both which are counter-productive to public service.

His relationship to his mother is same as most of us normal folks.  Absolutely a positive and completely normal.  Once again Modi has always kept his priority of a son intact despite his stature, and his affection for his mother similar to any normal child.  I can’t find anything that doesn’t endear a heart more than a normal mother and son relationship.

I can’t vote in India.  I have very little political knowledge except an outside observer, and a part time writer.  I don’t speak of politics as a point of discussion. I don’t donate to any political party in India. I actually don’t ask anyone for updates, or inputs on politics in India.  My only source for political information is what I read and what I watch.

But I know each 5 years, India keeps making positive global strides.  The economy grows at a better than a global average.  More Indian origin men and women are spotlight as the global achievers.  In fact the who’s who of Industry and politics has a fairly large Indian Diaspora.  My search engine, my word and my bank and whatever I use on a regular basis, has one of our own managing and influencing.  I don’t think of being an Indian American much, life has been what it is, and hyphenating the countries or cultures is not really on my mind.

I know my thoughts will not convince anyone to choose politics.  I really don’t need to influence any Indian, as I believe all Indians have politics in their psychology.   They are politically aware and opinionated.  They don’t need mine.

My desire for betterment is for my state of Andhra Pradesh.  It needs a big brother. The bifurcation of the state before the last election has not done much to help with its resources and management.  I hope the new election and possibility of a government at the center and state working together (perhaps harder) to allow my old state to have the infrastructure and resources for full fledged development.

Come May 21, 2019, we will certainly have the excitement for hope and opportunity. I sincerely wish for a stable 5 years government as we did the last one. I don’t want to keep reading about coalition and uncertainty for another 5 years in India.

My whole like I thought of Utopia as a concept, but never a dream.  With age and time, I seem to desire for an incremental Utopian society, rather than a Utopian world.  I know that India had made positive strides in the last 5 years (in fact every 5 years prior) and each of the government’s might not have made the progress at the speed the public needed.  But less scams and less corruption (100% free of corruption is probably completely Utopian) will lead to better management and allocation of public resources.

My wish for this mother’s day is for a peaceful and progressive India and also for a government that strives to allocate all available resources for the public needs. 

“Jai Hind”

Past Perfect

Vasu Reddy from Chicago

vasureddy@aol.com

It has already happened. Past is already on the books, recorded, and can’t be changed.  It is what it is and that’s it.

We call it history.  The relevance of what we have available to record increasingly makes us to do so, and just as we type is the past.  Once again it is perfect as it is already done, and can’t be replaced.

The history has good, bad and the ugly.  They may not be in equal parts, but they are all there, just like everyone of us.  We come in various shapes, sizes and colors, but we find our own way to live, if we do.  There is no set time frame, no set style, no set template for life, it just happens as we start and finish, with something in between.  To get our life recorded, it must have something extraordinary (doesn’t matter the extremes) but something that a normal person doesn’t do, to become a page to be remembered in history.

We don’t all have the opportunity for becoming the next Gates, Jobs or Buffett, or Indian Tata, Birla or Gandhi.  (Sorry if I only sound off with just a few names). The irony of the massive respect for a name is that with billions of us, and just a few names to refer to.  Gandhi, King or Mandela are a creation of extreme circumstances imposed by societies that became so intolerant of fellow people, so we must find figures that will make societies look up to an individual as a symbol of positive hope and change.  We certainly have a few of the 20^th century leaders who are in our thoughts, prayers and focus as leaders who paved way for equality.

With billions of us on Earth, just a few wise folks we pay our reverence and use as historic examples.  At the same time, we also use name as Hitler to reference to the genocide and lately we have had several heads or state from the MEA those have been deposed as leaders who had territorial and dictatorial control on people.  They are also given equal or greater coverage as the father figures in history books.

Howsoever we look at stuff, good and bad (perhaps evil) all get documented for reference as history.  The most(ly) intelligent beings can hear, read, review, look and comprehend the good, bad and ugly (Client Eastwood movie references) from history.  As being good means not imposing harm and hatred, we have a good understanding on what not to do from birth to death.

The choices for us to follow the path we choose to can certainly be circumstantial and lately we (may be for a long time) have been using the religion for our actions.  The first and second WW were fought because of dictators, communists and free world order, and the last several decades based on religion and color.  The various regions of the world work on their own brand of hatred and killing, but with each passing year the hatred acquires an expanded footprint.  For some reason history already has recoded the impact of hate, but we deliberately ignore the past, and continue to perfect the next set of hate.  The good remains with same definition, while the bad keeps expanding the definition.

It is simple to say, “I beg your pardon” or a one word “Sorry” when we make a mistake rather than double down.  It is simple to appreciate what is good and bad, rather than reinvent a new interpretation of something that is already well defined.  It is simple to listen, read or learn from history, its already there.  We have it at our finger tips, on our phones, and all it takes is a click or two to appreciate the value of what we already experienced.