Random notes

Delhi has had a second successive Car Free Day, this time in Dwarka. Thousands attended it, hundreds participated in a cycle rally, thousands more walked to demonstrate their solidarity to the cause of reducing pollution in Delhi in particular and a healthier environment, in general. Chief Minister of Delhi came personally, participated in the cycle rally and addressed the enthusiastic crowd. He also announced that next car free day would be on 22 nd January, in Patparganj, East Delhi. Going for a Car Free Day Excellent! It reminds me of another such initiative, called Earth Hour. On a specific day, once a year, we switch off lights at 8 PM, for one hour. Off course, air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, fans, microwaves etc keep running during the appointed hour. For the rest of 364 days and 23 hours, we can feel smug in the thought that we have contributed to the environment. Around 0.1% of population, switch off around 15% of the electric app...

Dear Award Returnee, May I submit, humbly, that you are just wasting your time; you are not achieving your objectives that you set out to. Let me explain. Why are awards being returned? As stated by many of award returnees, this action is to protest, to highlight the growing intolerance in the society and the threat to freedom of expression; to artists, writers and film makers and also to sensitize people against such a social environment. Therein lies the problem. That problem being that the man on the street does not know who you are, what did you do to get an award, what you claim to fame is and what is your real reason for doing what you are doing now. No. Do not take me wrong. I have no intention of running down your achievements in literature, art or cinema or trivializing the awards, my limited point being that the common man is not able to relate himself to you, your achievements, awards as well as the reason for returning them. The common man is going...