Budget 2007/08 - Most Awaited Time Of The Year?

Frankly speaking, I have never put my foot in this arena before. But this time I am looking forward to it. Its one thing most awaited as it seriously affects various aspects of life.

I have been going through various predictions, polls, surveys in past few days related to upcoming budget. But surveys show that many people are not interested in what it will be. There is one simple reason. The essential commodities are going to become costlier, no doubt. And why taxes are increased on certain entities is really not known. There is no transparency that why certain items are made costlier even when the country's reserves are no short, and supply is good. The general reaction is just one - taxes are increased to satisfy politicians' luxurious needs, their pockets and bank balances. And why this burden is only on essential commodities and not the luxurious ones - government can ask common man to pay more; let rich be more rich and poor become more poor.

Where the money is getting utilized and for what purpose? Where is it going? How much money has been collected fom taxes, from where the tax is being collected more and where it is utilized finally? Don't we, the citizens, have the right to know about each and every rupee that is being spent?

The infaltion rate is high and government talks about the growth rate? The things look irregular. Most of the polls show that people are in favor of maintaining both. Medium inflation and then, look for growth. But government, or in other words - governments over the years, don't seem to be interested in controlling inflation. Whats the use of killing its own people and boasting of high growth rate? Today morning only, I went through this new piece of information that VAT is all set to increase from April 2008 from 4% to 5% and guess what, its essential commodities again - Gas, wheat, flour, rice, pulses...And what's more, April 2009 will see this increase go from 5% to 6%.

More interesting fact that came up in surveys was that people are ready to pay taxes in certain fields, if they are going to be utilized in that field only - like education, health etc. But does that ever happens?

Let's see what government has in store for aam aadmi this time. The process that may alter the economics of all our households. I am surely going to keep an eye this time. Watch this space for more!

The Test Of Ability !!!

“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.”

-- Abraham Lincoln

Its All About A Smile !!!

Phir Se Mile Jo Hum Deewane...
To Yeh Samjhe To Yeh Jaane !!!
Hum Bhi Rahein, Rahein Yaar Hamare Jahan...
Aaye Nahin Kabhi Hum Mein Koi Dooriyan !!!

Frankly speaking, past few days have been extraordinary. They were simple, yet illustrative and powerful enough to drive me through a rough patch! I met loads of people and was just surprised that I know so many people and yes, they remember me well!

On quite a number of occassions, I thought that I should write. Somehow, I could not. Not because I was too busy but because I fell short of words, and that too by a big margin, which normally never happens - my diary knows that well :) But this time I was, I still am. I initiated this post long back. Type, type, type - Backspace, backspace, backspace...no use - I just lost the talent to write !!! Please help me out describing the below mentioned things. I would highly appreciate it :)

Before I start, here is an unedited list of tensions I prepared just to throw everything out of my mind (and yup, I don't use numbers - it would have given me a heart attack striaght away):

Leave
Timesheet
Project Work
Surgery
Drive
Submit Bills
Credit Card Bill
Cell Activation
Ticket
Appraisal

This is something that was writable. There are things that I did not wrote. This list is although not very hectic but was frustrating, and with pain killers around day and night...this was taking a toll on my nerves.

But it changed. I never expected that too happen so rapidly. Two days before I was leaving Delhi, came the Annual Function of my school. My friend called in - "Get Ready Mohit, we all are going to meet today - we, the old pals of school." And we met !!! Everything - the playground, my class, my teachers, my pals and that energy of annual function - was flowing. Everyone has changed - more responsible, more energetic, more consious - yet they are same - same sweetness in their voice, same behavior and that SAME SMILE. Enough to give my writing skills a hammering.

How should I explain when I met my teachers? They spoke less, they still called all of us by our names - still after 6 years, they remember !!! They kept looking at us and kept smiling. There were many silent moments. The memories were much stronger than anything else.

Not forgetting to mention, canteen samosas - that was a part of my life for 10 years - were still there and were as effective as before :) And that same style 90 mins play - with dialogues, dances and an emphasis on India - was so very effective. Kids - in front of me and behind me - all were dancing. Everything was moving in joy !!! There was no stopping !!! "BByee tensions", I said, "I got my way, you take yours."

Wait! This was not done. Few more days were yet to arrive !!! Reaching back Pune, I took my normal routine with few enhancements :) I went to school as every Wednesday. Kids recognized me and so did I remember them well. They called me up as usual - "Bhaiya, th..thi..this! I first! Finished! Check naa! Check my answer first!" How sweet was that !!! After the regular class, I distributed the chocolates. They asked me about my US trip. How I went there? What I saw there? What do people wear? They talked endlessly. "Bhaiya, you come tommorow naa? You come daily naa?" And even they were just smiling !!! They have just become a part of my life now !!! Not to forget, all the teachers were happy to see me back !!! All thanks to them !!!

And somehow I was able to get over some illusions as well. I dont want to mention that but take it, the fog above me has cleared a lot !!!

And as I said, I have already lost my vocabulary. Let me know what words can you give to this. Somethings really can not be described !!! Thats why I love fuzziness over absolute in many cases !!! And frankly speaking, it just takes one momemt. Its all about a SMILE !!!