Musings for a responsible society




Amidst the dark and grey shades increasingly engulfing, invading and piercing deeper and deeper, let me try to enjoy the little smiles, genuine greens, and the gentle breeze. Oh! Creator! If you don't exist, my life...in vain!
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20141130

Most viewed blog posts - 2013

Here are my articles published in Cyber Diary in 2013, which got maximum readership.


1

My attempt is to look at their family backgrounds, the ‘significant others’, their schooling and the immediate social environment and understand the influence of each of these factors on their attitudes, behavioural patterns and views of life


Read:
Edward Snowden, Aaron Swartz, and Julian Assange: Who made them what?


2

The Indian Railways (IR) continued to be the single largest settlement for all rats in the world. That is the impression anyone could get after watching the rats going around inside the trains, around the trains, on the railway platforms, and inside hundreds of offices and commercial outlets in the railway stations. There are innumerable bedbugs inside the berths.




Read:
A  Journey with cockroaches: The ‘static’ Indian Railways and the public woes


3

Auto Raja is a living angel. He rescued more than 5000 persons from the streets. A life worth living.


Read (and view the short film at the end):
With Auto Raja- An Angel for the beggars and the unwanted


4

Instead of going to overcrowded beaches and highly commercialized tourist locations, why don't you explore a very serene place in Southern India?



Read:
Have you ever been to Karwar beach?


5


If ‘Alchemist’ by Paulo Coelho was a story about a Shepherd boy following his dream, Benyamin’s ‘goat days’ is a real life story of a young man who pursued his dream and ended up as a shepherd in a sterile wasteland.


Read:
Goat Days: A real-life story of a young man's journey to loneliness



6

Sharwari, the young installation artist, is an inspiration for all, not just as an artist, but as a person deeply involved in spreading a message of freedom to women across the globe, especially those who were victims of abuses.



Read:
Why she loves butterflies? A conversation with an Installation Artist


7

He was very shy. She was very smart. He was an introvert. She was a chatterbox. He didn't care how he appeared. She was worried how he appeared.



Read:
The unborn love

8

The debate on the utility or futility of ‘capital punishment’ is vibrant for several decades. Naturally, following one liner I posted in a social networking site evoked varied responses from a few of my friends.


Read:

'Kill the rapist': The state and the death penalty


9


I was shocked to read the following news item in the paper the other day titled ‘Taunted, ‘skinny’ boy kills self’.


Read:
A few birthday thoughts: The suicide of a 'skinny' boy



10

Most of the gifts in today’s world have more than one strings attached to them. Therefore, the less gifts you receive, the less obligated you are.



Read:
Who hates gifts? Of bouquets, gifts, and mementos


11

Just before the examination, three persons came to the examination hall and inquired with the candidates whether they are willing to pay money for getting the post. If they agree, their roll numbers will be noted and they would be ‘taken care of’ while awarding the marks for the written examination. A few of them went near to those job brokers and whispered their ‘offers’ secretly in public view.


Read:
'Marry my daughter if you want to become a babu' : The corruption in the job recruitment



12

All of us want to lead a healthy life. Yet, we don’t want to forego the tasty stuff! Is there any acceptable combination of abstinence and indulgence in our life?I have heard many nutritionists, dietitians and health experts speaking on this subject. But, when I talked to Atraeyee Suman, I found that there is something unique about what she says. I thought, it should be shared with all my readers.


Read:

Eat well to lose weight: Tips from an enlightened foodie! 

13

Whenever I asked my mother to buy any toy or ice cream, the answer would be, ‘No money, we need to pay for the chits’. Me and my sister hated chits so much, as most of my mother’s salary was drained as subscription to chits.




Read:

Chit funds, my mother and the Saradha scam



14

History and related records show that most popes could not succeed in providing spiritual leadership uncorrupted by the material world and accompanying profanity.



Read:
The return of the fisherman: The new Pope and a few hopes for a third Vatican Council


15

There are many books in this library which are not read even by a single person in the last several years. What a national waste of infrastructure and resources?


Read:
Faceless libraries in a Facebook age: Read what is happening inside some of the libraries



16

There is so much written and talked about the abuse of children by individuals. But very less has been discussed about the institutional child abuses. It is worthwhile to mention about two types of abuses on innocent children by institutions



Read:
The institutional child abuse: What is the panacea? 


17
A ten year old’s Holy Week memoirs



Read:
ഒരു പത്തുവയസുകാരന്‍റെ വിശുദ്ധവാര ഓർമ്മകൾ


18

The movie 'Special 26' is not based on any imagination. One should know about repeated incidents of fake searches happening in many places. There are many such cases reported and much more go unreported. Most of these fake searches happen in the name of Income Tax Department.


Read:


19

As we both wait in the reception of the school like ‘guilty parents’ waiting for the judgment, there is a little solace; the sight of many such couples sitting there, without uttering a word between them or between the couples. Not even a smile was exchanged!

Read:


20

Here is a story of a young man who successfully implemented a new business model to bring back all the customers who shifted the loyalties to supermarkets owned by large corporates.



Read:

21

Charismatic and captivating presence have instilled vigour and enthusiasm among the people. Most effective instrument that stimulated and influenced millions was the historic speeches made by these great individuals



Read:

22

For many people, microphone is a weakness. The moment a microphone is given, their main mission is to say something that can amuse the people. Very few have the self-control to abide by the time allotted to them.

Read:

20141124

Most viewed blog posts in 2012

Following articles posted in my blog in 2012 received maximum readership among all the blog posts.



1

Google  is almost synonymous with internet for millions of people. Many are not aware that every action in the net are tracked, stored and probably shared with others. Google has notified its new Privacy Policy  which will be effective from 1st March 2012. Here is an attempt to critically examine privacy issues in the net and the new Privacy Policy of Google.


Read:
No privacy anymore? A critical look at Google’s new Privacy Policy



2

Unlike other children who uttered 'pa' or 'ma' as his first word, baby Julian cried 'why?'. And the parents (the mother, father and the stepfathers in his life) weren’t shy of his ‘why?’ He preferred books to toys.  Had to stay in more than fifty towns in Australia and studied in more than thirty schools, mostly in the suburbs. So he was always labelled as a ‘new boy’ in every school.


Read:


  3   


A real life story for every aspiring manager!


Read:


4

You are now confused! Whom you should listen: the freewill or conscience?



Read:


5


What a shame for all Keralites and all malayali men particularly. Also what a great lesson she has given to all women who live in and visit Kerala..



Read:



6

I get really furious whenever there is a demand from my children to throw this car. I ask them, in our city, whether it is a Maybach Exelero or a Ferrari or a Rolls Royce Phantom or a BMW, all can go only at the same speed as the Maruti 800.


Read:





7

Most of the employers check the FB before selecting an employee. Nothing you update, contribute, comment or like in FB is erased permanently. Even after you deactivate your account, the data remains



Read:



8

My journey in search of a Christmas Card, though disappointing, was an eye opener about how 'Christmas' has changed over a period of time....



Read:

Most viewed blog posts in 2011


Some of my blog posts of 2011 had thousands of views. I have given below the top 7 articles published in Cyber Diary (in terms of maximum readership)in 2011. Read them if you have missed. 

1
Have we lost our freedom?: The freedom to talk and the freedom to listen; the freedom to walk and the freedom to rest; the freedom to laugh, or at least the freedom to cry in solitude? 



Read: 
Leave Me Alone:   Right to Privacy in a Snooping World




2
I hate March. I prayed, year after year, the impossible! To get rid of March.

Read:
Why I hate March?


3
Most of us face this dilemma. What should I eat? Let me take you through a tasty journey


Read:
Tell me, what should I eat?


4
January 30th is the International day of Peace. The day also marks the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, who was a champion of peace. What better way to spend this day than with a Nobel Laureate. I could make it to the lecture by Dalai Lama on 30th January 2011 at Bangalore on the topic ‘ Finding Happiness in Troubled Times’. Here are some interesting highlights of his talk.

Read:
A Day with Dalai Lama



5
I still get thorns and sharp glass pieces stuck on my feet. But I continue to walk through that road less travelled. I try to enjoy the pain. But let me confess. Concrete, well-lit highways and colourful landscapes still tempt me.


Read:
Today is my birthday


6
It took many years' struggle to deal with the abuse, as an adult. First I had to confront him, which was easier than forgiving him. I had to forgive him, as I wanted to get rid of the feeling of his touch which I could feel even after years. I finally looked into his eyes with God's power of forgiveness and shook hands with him and made peace.

Read:
Aleph, Paulo Coelho and my Friend: The Journey Within


7
 The police found the television and several household articles trashed. Following was reportedly written in the suicide note signed by both mother and son:
“We are damaging a few things (precious) to us. We have already dumped some things in the Cauvery river along with Kumaresan’s ashes. We don’t want anybody to use these goods. Please destroy these damaged items. Our recently purchased ‘Tata Nano’ car, a bike, chit fund investments and other house hold items may be donated to orphanages or for charity.”


Read:
“If anybody wants to see us, you have to break open the door”!

20141123

Most viewed blog posts in 2010

2010 was the second year of Cyber Diary. That was the time when blogging tools became more user friendly. Most of the posts in 2010 were re-posts of articles written and published by me in other blog platforms prior to 2009. 

I have given below the blog posts that received maximum viewership in 2010.


There is  an extremely contrasting flip side for the ‘enlightened’ malayali culture. That is its ugly manifestations of the sexual impulsiveness emanated from a sexually repressed community with superficial value system. One can see several men who spread their wings of unfulfilled desires on hapless women in public transports and private domains.

Read:
The Sensual Mallu and the Web Culture



 The corporate scams and scandals happened in the world in the last few years are clear indications of the collusion between auditors and management in accounting frauds. Auditing, though considered as a vital institution has lost the credibility due to the manner in which auditing functions are performed.
cnn expansion.com

Read:
Satyam: A case of worst audit failure


Some of the good movies I watched in 2010.. I strongly recommend these movies. Don’t miss them , if you get a chance to see.


Read:
Movies I recommend -2010



Examine yourself what habit of yours is productive for you? And what makes you unproductive?

Read:
7 Habits of Highly Ineffective Leaders

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