Why is the pedestrian traffic like this in Trivandrum?

Traffic in Trivandrum is chaotic in the best of the days and downright hellish at worst.

But the contribution of pedestrians to the chaos is in no small measure.

There are contributing factors to it, I agree, like lack of foot path , well marked zebra crossings etc.,. But that does not mean the public can take things for granted and cross whenever and wherever they want.

I would like an impartial observer to come and watch the traffic in Thampanoor , Statue and Medical college areas, not only in the peak hours but also in the non-peak hours too.

Pedestrians cross whenever and wherever they want with scant regard to the oncoming traffic and the signals! Almost one is forced to think that they do not value their life at all ! In any traffic signal, you can bet your last rupee that the pedestrian will choose to cross the moment the signal turns in favour of the motorist. If you give him a piece of your mind , you will get a reply back " Entha, vandiyilu brake ille (Don't you have brake in your vehicle)?

It is a good thing to hear that the traffic police is planning to conduct awareness classes for the pedestrians too.

Hope better sense prevails.

What is the real picture on AIrlines in India today?

On reading about the proposed Pvt airlines strike and Capt GOpinath's utterances , one is really confused.

AirDeccan under Capt Gopinath, thouhg it was posting losses, was expected to break even after a slightly longer time frame. This kind of lowcost airlines will have break even later as per their business model.

But see Capt Gopinath's comment on Airlines forming a cartel and fixing an artificial price and now crying. Is this the true picture?

I also read an article by Mr Francois Gautier in rediff.com about the airfare in India, where he was mentioning that the fare from Chennai to DElhi is more than the fare from Paris to Newyork! If this is the kind of fare that we are charging , then there is more stuff to the utterances by Capt Gopinath.

Really AIrlines are not revealing the true picture and the more quickly it becomes clear , it is better for the general public.

And ,last , but not the least. With less than one percent of public using this service, Govt should not give a bailout package out of common man's hard earned tax money and that includes Air India too.

IPL T20 and GNU/Linux - My thoughts

IPL T20 Cricket tournament is halfway through the initial rounds. After seeing the initial matches, me , a die hard Test Cricket Votary, is convinced that this will kill Test Cricket. Test cricket is what constitutes cricket and all its strengths. T20 is not cricket , probably an attempt to warp cricket into a soccer-ized mould to package it to delirious public. And this has proven that whatever majority wants need not be right. Maybe this is blasphemous to say in a democratic set up, but still what goes by majority need not always be right. After all majority of people chose Hitler.
Or should I rephrase this: Whatever ordained by majority , the most poular , or the most voted need not be right.
In the same way, MS products might be used by 95 % of people. MS Wallahs have cannily identified the market and gave products which will tax the user the minimum. If you concentrate on that, they knew that people will take anything. But GNU / Linux , you have to work, you have to read man pages, rely on yourself more and then the community. That is why it is not getting to be popular. Anyway a few rough edges are being mended by Ubuntu, but I think readers may get the point I am driving at.

My experience today with Paramount Airways!

I am not a very frequent traveller. Maybe I travel by air about 6 to 8 times an year and mostly by INDIAN only because it is on Official tours. I am travelling for the past 5 years by air.

Today I travelled by Paramount Airlines and had a chance to experience the service rendered by them


The details are given below:
Date of travel :12/11/2007
Flight No: I 7473
Seat No : 11 F
Sector : Chennai - Trivandrum

The reception at check in counter itself was warm. Then the facilities at their speciailsed lounge were also very good.
The announcements were very clear, neat and crisp. The delay of 20 minutes (1600 hrs changed to 1620 hrs) was announced well in advance and repeated at regular intervals so that passengers coming in at various times into the airport did not miss it.

The aircraft itself ( blue bird) was found to be in a neat condition. The interiors were pleasant . More than that, the warmth of the staff receiving us was very real . The one with folded hands welcoming us with warm smile was really different from the automated plastic smiles and cursory good mornings or good evenings I encountered till date.
The food served inside was good, tasty and appropriate for the time at which it was served. The service was quick and efficient.

Why I felt all this is because today morning only I boarded DECCAN for Trivandrum - Chennai sector. The irony is that I paid Rs 890/- more for the DECCAN ticket and was given a complimentary water bottle (!!!) inside the aircraft.

The sad thing I felt was that while DECCAN Flight in the morning was full, Paramount flight had roughly around 25,30 passengers only. Yet flight was operated and service was rendered. Had it been DECCAN , probably they would have cancelled the flight and left us to fend for ourselves!
Let me think that this sparse passenger population is an isolated incident. I wish Paramount airlines all the best and more and more growth and prosperity!

Hooray! Delhi HC observations on Politicians

It was a really heartwarming to see the news item in which Delhi HC has told politicians that if they feel so much threatened that they need not come out of their homes or offices.

Superb! For so many years we common citizens put up with the hardships caused by these obnoxious creatures but now judiciary has taken up cudgels in defence of the common man.
I think somebody should go to Delhi and perform a " Milk abhishekam" to the judge who pronounced this observation.

Indian Cricket teams aggression and Aussie rseponse

I am following with amusement the goings on the current India- Australia

cricket series. In particular, the australians' response to the few

instances of indian team members' aggressive postures.

I am reminded of some old sayings like " Satan Quoting scriptures".

All through these years, Aussies foul mouthed all the opposition teams

on the field and it was to be taken unquestioningly as part of the natural "aussie aggression". But facing the same aggression, it really tastes bitter to taste one's own medicine, is it not?

The recent incident of Sreesanth appealing for a run out and the umpire declaring a dead ball, I would like to remind that the aussies and their trans-Tasman neighbours are no angels either in this regard. Recently during NZ-Srilanka test series, when Muthiah Muralidharan went to congratulate Kumar Sangakkara on his completing a century

NZ player broke the wicket and appealed and Muralitharan was given out. WHy at that time no hue and cry was raised about the spirit of the game? Is it all right if a white man does it and the spirit is to be questioned only when the skin colour of the player is darker? These people do not have any right to talk about racist abuse.

And do we not know the culture and behaviour of these Australians when Ponting finger wagged Our Sports minister to get the trophy and "shoved" him off the stage so that they can pose with the Trophy? What right do these people have to talk about proper behaviour of opposing team members?

I also remember about a vivid video clipping shown in TV channels when Glenn McGrath showering choicest abuses on Sachin Tendulkar after dismissing him (I do not remember whether it is 2000 or 2003 away series). Now after retirement, McGrath showers encomiums on Sachin and he becomes a gentleman. WHere was all this when you were playing, Mr Mc Grath?

Like the old saying " Physician, heal thyself", aussies, first look to what you have been doing all these years and take efforts to cultivate your self before complaining about others

Kudos to Chennai Doordarshan, India

I recently saw a programme telecast by Chennai doordarshan,India.
It was called Virudugal2007 (translates to Awards 2007).

In this the programme was arranged in such a nice way. Some of the
Stalwarts in the fine arts, sports, Journalism, Social service were invited
on Stage and were honoured. Throughout the programme, it was the
mellifluous voice of "Mahanadhi" Shobhana which enthralled us all with
vintage collection of songs. After each and every song, a dignitary in a
particular field is called up, preceded by a short & tastefully written intro
read out by an impressive anchorperson (I did not get his name) and is
honoured on stage. The dignitary gives a short thanksgiving speech and is followed
by another song rendered by Shobana. A veritable treat indeed!

One of the touching moment in the programme was the honouring of
Mr Sridhar , Film Director who gave a number of Classic Tamil films in the 1960's
and 70's. Due to failing health, he could not come to the Studios. So Doordarshan
went to his home ! The award was presented to him. The director was overcome by
such emotion on receiving the award, that he wanted to express thanks in spite of
his feeble voice and failing helath. It touched our hearts who were fortunate enough
to have seen and savoured many of his films!

Whoever witnessed the programme will agree that the persons honoured indeed or
deserving of the award and indeed should have been presented earlier itself!

And as Mr Sujatha (writer) told, DDK, Chennai is the only centre giving support
to native art forms. Please keep up the good work, Chennai DDK!

We are all with you!