Nishit's Weblog

  The death of Queen Elizabeth, UK's longest-reigning monarch, comes at a moment of great uncertainty for United Kingdom. A lot is happening in the UK. The Kingdom's inflation had hit double digits for the first time in 40 years; consumer prices rose 10.1% from a year ago. As inflationary pressure moves beyond energy into food costs, the Brits are struggling, and it's expected that many could have a tough time to make ends meet. Rising food prices made the largest upward contribution to annual inflation rates between this June and July, and the Bank of England expects inflation to top out at 13.3% in October 2022. It's a grim scene at supermarkets — they had to pass on price increases from suppliers — contending with the unprecedented inflation in raw material and ingredient costs. The Bank of England has implemented six consecutive hikes to interest rates as it looks to rein in inflation, earlier the Bank had launched its largest single increase since 1995 while pr...

I've visited the Republic of South Africa twice, both long-stay visits. A beautiful and diverse nation, with adorable people, she has a lot to offer. As the events of violence, rioting, unrest, looting, and arson unfold, I've seen several glimpses online and heard reports of the mental and physical agony. If I'd to go by recent reports, the death toll due to these riots neared 80 people, as violence continues across the country following the 15-month prison term and jailing of former President Jacob Zuma. An agonizing scene of a baby being thrown from a building (in Durban) set on fire, after ground-floor shops were looted, is also doing the rounds on social media. Other distressing video clips and chilling incidents, including usage of arms and petrol-bombs, are also broadcasted and circulated. It's a given that such violence and civil unrest is unacceptable; however, is jailing of Zuma the burning issue or cause — behind such gross anti-social, criminal and hear...

Legislative Assembly election results and outcome of five Indian states in the limelight.  West Bengal * Several people are ridiculing BJP. According to them, BJP is hammered, trounced. Let's look at facts, figures: The BJP has already won 77 seats. In the 2016 (Legislative Assembly) election, BJP had won only 3. Hence, there is a massive difference between 77 and 3!  * Mamata Banerjee was defeated in Nandigram, in a prestige fight  — by a BJP candidate!  * It's also learnt that TMC members/supporters have resorted to violence.  * INC, Left, etc, whitewashed.  Assam * BJP has won 60 seats and along with its allies will form the government. Kerala * CPI(M) led the show. INC came a far second. Leftists and their supporters are filled with ecstasy.  * India is predominantly a democratic country. The state of Kerala (or at least its leaders) is trying to be a 'communist' role model. Big deal. Everyone knows what happened and is happening in West Beng...

  A recent headline read: "Setback for Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal as President Ram Nath Kovind gives assent to NCT Delhi (Amendment) Bill". Let's give the present CM of Delhi the benefit of doubt, and not knock him out. He may be right. However, there's a difference — in the CM's chair and Mr Kejriwal's position as the supreme leader of the Aam Aadmi Party. Let's delve deeper. The 'disputed' bill will enhance the power of Delhi's Lieutenant Governor (L-G) — that's what is said, and is the bone of contention. The Houses of India's Parliament, notably, had already passed the bill. It was cleared in Lok Sabha (lower house) on March 22 and Rajya Sabha (upper house) on March 24.   The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi has been against the National Capital Territory (NCT) Bill and its chief Arvind Kejriwal called it Bharatiya Janata Party's assault on democracy and federalism. The CM also took to his official Twitter account and rep...

 On January 12, farmer leaders in India welcomed the Supreme Court's order to stay the implementation of three farm laws, but also said they would not call off their protest until the laws are repealed. In a statement, the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) also said that they will not participate in any court-ordered committee process. The Supreme Court suspended the implementation of the three farm laws until further notice and decided to set up a committee comprising experts to hear the parties and understand the ground situation. I'm no authority, nor judge, nor 'farm law' expert to pass a judgement. I also understand that 'farmers' are crucial for our country and they need to be respected. However, as a normal person, common sense throws these questions:  1). For decades, everything was hunky-dory and in-place for the Indian farmers? 2). Were not the farmers in a troubled state and committing suicide before 2014? 3). How can the farme...

Many (or at least it appears so), Americans are on top of the world. They are boisterously exhibiting a sigh of relief, a reassurance akin to victory of ‘good over evil'! No doubt, Harris' niece Meena had once publicly portrayed her (Kamala Harris) as goddess Durga, a goddess owing allegiance to Hinduism. Meena had also depicted Donald Trump as a demon. Aha, so the enmity and furore had reached that level! Probably the several Indian-origin Americans didn't mind all that, or were ready to forgive and forget the divinity case — It was all about going all guns blazing against Donald Trump, come what may! So, is this the change that the doctor ordered? Is this change God-sent? I don't know. Probably the Americans know better, or they think they know better! Biden, 77, strategically didn't stake his candidacy on any distinctive political ideology. Then what made him click? He simply galvanized a broad coalition of voters around the notion that Trump actually posed a thr...

George Floyd's death is termed as a case of homicide, a shocking tragedy. It 'resulted' in massive, unfathomable, uncontrollable, unthinkable riots, looting, arson, etc, which would undermine the word 'protest'. Riots rage in 140 cities, for seven days (and counting). Strict curfews imposed in 40 cities. If your countryman is wronged and killed, do you destroy your own country? Do you attack your own people? Is arson and looting the answer? Did Donald Trump kill or even direct Floyd's homicide? The 2020 United States presidential election is scheduled for 3 November 2020. Are Trump's detractors and the Democrats using the 'Floyd case' as a catalyst and is this a conspiracy? Definitely ‘Black lives matter’, but what about the 100s and 1000s of lives (including blacks, whites, coloured, etc) in danger, and at stake, after all the violent rioting, arson, and looting? What about national security? I'm no authority, I'm no judge, I'm ...

The Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), followed by COVID-19, has caused and continues to cause, high intensity alarms across the globe. I strongly feel that this grip has become intensely powerful mainly due to negative and unwanted reasons including: Fear, Ulterior motives of politicians and selected lobbies, Herd mentality, and Lack of common sense to top it all. We are already witnessing and experiencing the power of a selected few leaders and politicians, a handful of industries and sectors who are calling the shots and hogging markets. If you are not ‘careful’ then your job and your business is undoubtedly at stake. Have the millions of victims of this Fear-filled belief, considered thinking of other illnesses, diseases, various health factors, immunity disorders? If they have, then millions of people worldwide, will not be thinking and acting like this! It's Impossible, even if you swear by Napoleon, or if that 'saying' is taken literally. There are still severa...

The map of USA has changed…USA has the best relations with all the countries of the world…terrorist organizations have become ‘bum chums’ of the USA, North Korea and Iran are allies of America, USA has changed to Utopia...no no no…that’s not the ‘change’ or the type of change we witnessed in the history of USA…but, wait, the entire world is talking about a HISTORIC CHANGE in USA, even the brand new President of the US said, “Change has come to America”! Ah, yes, there’s a change in the USA, George Bush Junior is no longer the President, nor is the Republican Party in power anymore. So, what is it? Well, we have the man of the moment, Barack Hussein Obama, America’s latest Prez. Nothing unusual, USA always had a new Prez after at least two consecutive terms (if not one). Here, the situation is ‘different’…Mr Obama is the FIRST, yes first Afro-American President to be elected, rather the 1st Black or ‘coloured’ man to ever come to power at this zenith! Barack Obama owes allegiance to the...

Avalanche, Tsunami, Earthquake, Cyclone, Hurricane, Whirlpool...just to name a few...are 'attacking' the 'Markets' worldwide and the Indian Markets can never be left far behind, they can go 1 step further. Bettering the battering...as hearts and minds go shattering on our Indianized version of the Wall Street, aka the revered Dalal Street. It was 'khoon ki holi' (Indianized bloodbath) amidst the festivities of Diwali, wherein ideally people are out on a buying spree, not only shares and commodities, but also sweetmeats, apparels, appliances, jewellery, et al. The 'festival of lights' has certainly become lacklustre for most of the Indians as they cant go on a shopping spree that they are used to! Even though the Wall Street was the epicenter of the financial earthquake, the tremors were felt throughout the world. Presumably the Richter Scale, wouldn't have been in a position to measure the intensity of this 'quake', which will not only go bey...

Its bloodbath, mayhem and carnage once again as the benchmark BSE Sensex, headquartered in Mumbai, was battered yet again on October 17, 2008 and its been hammered for quite some time now. Seems it will have to be business as usual for the regular investors(day traders & deliver based), arbitragers, stock brokers, HNIs, fund managers et al as some people survive purely on the financial markets, more precisely the stock markets. Here the question is about survival as thriving seems a distant possibility taking into consideration the almost consistent downfall, the choppy and flat markets. Records show that it took 484 trading sessions for the Sensex to climb from 10,000 (on February 6, 2006) and touch an all time high of 21,207 (on January 8, 2008). However, it’s taken just 191 sessions to collapse to 10,000 and below! Furthermore it was Black Friday again on October 17…17 does ring alarm bells in our systems…May 17, 2005, days before the swearing in of the new Government, when the ...

Naresh Goyal, the big boss of Jet Airways assumed that he will have the last laugh and/or save his beleaguered company from losing over Rs.5 crores every month...alas his idea and dream went for a toss, as now he's in for a bigger loss, in spite of being the big boss! For the moment, the axed employees are having the last laugh. Naresh Goyal & Co. showed the pink-slip to at least 850 cabin crew members and had planned to retrench another 1050 more across several functions. The employees who were shown the door, were definitely in for a rude shock. However, they decided to take the bull by its horns and approached none other than the firebrand MNS Chief, Raj Thackeray, to bail them out. As expected, Raj gave a befitting reply to Mr Goyal's game plan, threatening to stop Jet Airways operations in Maharashtra if the Airline didn't reinstate the laid-off employees. Surprise, surprise (or was it evident)...Mr Goyal takes a quick sharp U-turn - probably under the spell of a c...

With the death (rather murder) of the Australian tourist in Calangute, Goa...Indians have added yet another feather in their cap- for awful, uncalled for and 3rd grade customer service. We are all familiar with incidents of wretched customer service in relation to 'domestic' call centres, some restaurants (even hotels), Government hospitals/offices, etc (as the list is humongous). The highlight here is bad/unprofessional customer service leading to murder, YES murder of the customer allegedly at the hands of the person rendering the service! An Australian tourist in India is murdered in Calangute, Goa allegedly by waiters and a security guard of a restaurant in Goa...sounds ABSOLUTELY shocking, at least to me!! The story so far- Mr John Kelly, the Australian national picked up an argument with the waiter over beer not served in the 'right' way. Let's take it for granted that the tourist was rude or misbehaved with the waiter. But, when were Indian waiters famous for...

Cheers may be a long forgotten word, or rather a word spelling luxury for an Indian banker, financial wizard and techie- who would otherwise have been gung-ho about his/her prospects in the USA and even UK! The collapse of financial behemoths in the USA is definitely bad news for the Americans but worse news for the Indians holed up there, with an ‘American’ dream. They were not wrong in dreaming big or harboring great ambitions in their minds…it’s just that (the right) circumstances didn’t give them company. ‘Survival of the fittest’ is definitely the mantra today and for many days to come, moreover, its ‘test amongst the fittest’…not only will the ‘fittest’ win but the fittest of the fittest will only survive…thriving seems miles apart. So much negativity, gloom and distress…one can’t help but be BEARISH as the Bulls have NO choice but to run for cover as the Wall Street…which millions of the world looked upto, is no longer a positive indicator! Of course, Bears had their time too, i...

Mr AA Zardari, Pakistan’s President goes gaga, almost drooling at the sight of Sarah Palin, USA’s Republican Party’s Vice Presidential candidate. Looks as if he is keen to emulate ex-Pakistani PM Shaukat Aziz, who unsuccessfully tried to charm Condi Rice, the US Secretary of State, who showed him ‘his place’! Mr Zardari was so much in awe of Sarah Palin that he couldn’t conceal his admiration for her. Zardari went on to say, “You are even more gorgeous than I expected…and now I know why the whole of America is crazy about you” . Sarah Palin was a beauty queen in her yesteryears, though now a mother of five! She reacted blushingly, at his comment. This is not all, when a photographer asked Mr Zardari to pose for a photo-op while shaking hands with Sarah, Zardari said, “if he (the photographer) is insisting, I might hug her” . If he could go this far in ‘public’, he may cross bigger ‘lakshman rekhas’ in private. Interestingly, Mr Zardari is a Moslem and the ‘Islamic world’ is currently o...

Many people across the world are panic-stricken and talking about the severe slump in the US markets. More than the many 'talkers', several people across the globe are actually affected by the domino effect (remember the song by Pet Shop Boys, Domino Dancing...watch them all fall down) in the USA. With Lehman Brothers...no longer in arms, acting as the catalyst and opening a can of worms, other financial organizations followed suit. Big names like Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley quiting investment banking, and the fallout of Bear Stearns and Merrill Lynch, are huge indicators of the pace of world's economy slowing. Most of us are aware of the 'Great Depression', which resulted in major economies of the world nosediving. Presumably, the 'new great depression' will cause a greater catastrophe in comparison to its predecessor...definitely sending shivers down the spine of many. The USA was already 'bleeding' since years, its just that it needed a catal...

Seems, being a Good Samaritan doesn't help anymore...even if it does, one may end up paying a HUGE price for being one, even amounting to death! Well, this may sound ridiculous, however, its true! You will definitely agree with me if you are aware of the recent terror attack in Sarai market, Delhi. I was, LITERALLY in tears, petrified with grief... A low intensity crude bomb went off on Saturday afternoon (Sept 27, 2008) in the crowded Sarai market, not far from the famed Qutub Minar. So, what's new? Terror attacks are a regular feature in the life of an Indian...though, a high profile politician or the war lords may go scot free, and may be they are in places where nothing and absolutely nothing can happen to them. But it is definitely a matter of fact that the people whom they rule, are consistent victims of terrorism and persecutions. The highlight of this terror attack- a young innocent boy is 'sacrificed'...so? Nine year old Santosh Kumar happened to see two men on...

Looks like 'Harry' (aka Amitabh Bachhan) is in a hurry to bury the hatchet...either to save his clan from the wrath of 'regionalism' or the millions at stake...riding on his son's and his movies! The wife messes up and the hubby covers up- pre-planned move or spontaneous combustion? Amitabh Bachhan, popularly known as Big B, went on to say, “ If found guilty, I’m willing to go to jail ”. Guts we must say after all the jeering statements made by his better half earlier. The Big B also went on to say that Raj (Thackeray) is a friend for whom he has lot of respect. The buck doesn’t stop here…expect the unexpected…the ‘phirangi’ Sonia Gandhi, big boss of the Indian National Congress, steps in…filmi chakkar by a member of the political circus, phew! It’s alleged that Mrs Gandhi personally asked All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary, Margaret Alva to call up Vilasrao Deshmukh, Maharastra’s CM to inquire about the well-being and safety of the Bach...

Jaya Bachhan, an acclaimed Indian actress and politician, more famous as Mr Amitabh Bachhan's better half, and Raj Thackeray , the firebrand and vociferous political figure, arch leader of the political party, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS)...resorted to mudslinging, yet again! Moreover, it seems this embroglio is here to stay, for LONG. As if the regional 'warfare' wasn't enough, Mrs Bachhan pulled out yet another rabbit from the hat and how! Looks like film Drona's music release 'happened' to be the perfect backdrop for her (Mrs Bachhan) to launch another offensive which definitely didnt go well, at least with MNS and numerous people, not only from the state of Maharashtra but the entire country. Several sources (including the media) confirm that Mrs Bachhan, jeering and laughing away, passed comments, which she claims were harmless...she went on to say (after some talks in English by her son and Goldie Behl) that we are from the state of Uttar Pradesh ...

A good number of people must be aware that the Indian Railways (IR) is one of the largest and busiest rail networks in the world, transporting- millions of passengers across the country plus several tonnes of freight, daily. Although, many people across the globe may not be apprised of the fact that Indian Railways has a total state monopoly on India 's rail transport. This monopolistic domination ain’t any good for the common man, moreover countless people will agree to this- taking into consideration the pathetic state of IR. Dismal sanitation, thoroughly complacent employees, corruption, absolute ineffective communication…are just some of the inbuilt traits of IR. I definitely dread traveling long distances in the 2 nd class category, which I feel is worse than the 3 rd class. And I’m thankful to God that I’ve the provisions to travel by the category which is supposed to be higher than the substandard 2 nd class. It has been long since I’ve traveled by IR, wherein...