A peephole to Kashmir

“It’s complete dark with stars twinkling in the sky. A family of five has just finished their meals and it’s time to return to bed. Suddenly, some one knocks at the door. Who is this? The youngest one in the family rushes towards the door to open it. Oh No! What happened, others ask. Meanwhile, gun totting mercenaries’ barge in to the house and ask for shelter and food. No, how we can, begs the head of the family. To this prompt reply comes in the form of gun rolling out from their shoulders and pointing at them. Do it otherwise you will be responsible for the consequences, shouts one of them. The head of the family realizing that there are ladies and children in the families submits before them in order to avoid what could be worst for his family. “

When I read news about this that being nicely crafted by media reads like “A man arrested for providing shelter to the mercenaries” the first thought that comes to my mind – “Can’t believe people supporting these blood shedders” and it just fans out in the whole community creating an impression that masses are favoring mercenaries.

I would like to stress that media has got a great role in molding public opinion. We opine based on print and media news and sometimes it is not true. In the above there is some reason behind the arrest and in news it being attributed to “man provided shelter”. Figuring out why is most often, left to readers.


It will be pertinent to mention here that many leading dailies still carry the tag line of “militants” when it comes to their inhumane activities. It was good on media’s part to describe them by this term until the end of last decade when their activities were more confined to freedom struggle but, with the beginning of 2000 the trend changed and these men who had supporters across the LOC and border resorted to terrorist activities. Some dailies have now started using term “terrorist” when bringing to light their activities.

With the onslaught of terrorism, media and too some extent law enforcement agencies failed at identifying the boundary between the normal law and order problem – petty crimes, burglaries, murders, rape, political killings, protests and the terrorist activities. All these crimes went on under the cover of terrorism. Terrorism aims at spreading terror among masses and the techniques adopted for this are more sophisticated as you have witnessed in 26/11 attacks in Mumbai. Normal crime is part of every developing and developed society. People witness it in Bangalore in the form of robbery, murders but, it is not terrorism. Things are changing in Kashmir and the Jammu & Kashmir Police has realized the importance of differentiating normal crime and terrorism. Recently, some protests rocked Kashmir valley when a young boy was found murdered. Normal life was thrown out of gear that being the handiwork of Hurriyat men. But, the brilliant investigations by Police brought to forefront the truth behind the boys’ murder – a feud over girl friend. Anti-national elements made good use of this instance in fanning out anti-India sentiments but, they failed when truth unfold.


Security forces are doing a commendable job. At times there are some serious mistakes on their part also. Donning combat dress when it is not required creates furore among masses. It creates hysteria and a wave of resentment in otherwise tranquil environment. I do acknowledge that men in olive and khaki remain under constant stress but then you never know - one wrong step is potent enough at weakening their good track record may back lash. Equally is the problem for Police to liaison between the Sate Government and the Army. Political leadership is after repealing Armed Forces Special Power Act whereas it doesn’t finds any favor from Armed Forces. Former J&K CM Jenab Mufti Sayeed event went on to disband Special Operations Group, an elite arm of Police for counter insurgency operations. Even though, it has been officially disbanded but the fact remains that it is still operational and there is a rationale behind it. The primary job of Police is to maintain law and order; they are not trained enough to fight along side regulars from olive force. Police being the state subject has ‘Yes Boss’ job at its hand also. Still, both Army and Police have gone beyond in their call of duty. Lot of development activities have had been undertaken by them. Schools, mini-hydel projects, medical camps, roads and shelters are common to mention. What I personally feel is that there is a lack of co-ordination and vision among the agencies. The Government has even setup a Unified command which is chaired by CM and draws members from Army, Police as well but, to be true it has also failed to some extent when it comes to consensus on some subject.

Masses have become used to the security situation in Jammu & Kashmir. But, how exactly is the situation, the question I am being asked by many of my colleagues. Well, it’s no different that Bangalore if we seal the border and LOC and setup IT companies there. J&K being a border state has a contentious history and today Jammu & Kashmir is shared by India, Pakistan and China. Pakistan wanted it ‘coz of religious affinity. So, with this in mind perpetrators across the borders who have waged a proxy war always try to keep it at the centre stage of world affairs. Even doing so, they have destabilized their own country. There are border incursions, Pro-Pakistani slogans, anti-India protests, protests against regional imbalance and such other things that have become a routine for one who is domicile of and residing in the state. To combat this menace border and LOC have been fenced, extremists and sometimes moderates as well are detained under PSA, lathi-charge or teargas shells and sometimes firing is used to disperse unruly mob, autonomous councils have been setup and new districts have been carved out respectively.

So, it can’t be said that Government machinery is stagnant. It is very much awake and trying its best to woo even industries. Recently, Essar group agreed to setup Aegis BPO centers, one each at Jammu and Srinagar. A central university and an IIM have been sanctioned by the Central Government. Indian Railways is making strides with the setup of Railway line in Kashmir and in Jammu. Government has geared up exercises on its part for setting up the infrastructure and steps are underway to make all these operational as soon as possible. But, there is a curse. Jammu & Kashmir is a border state and it falls in a highly unstable Indian Subcontinent. Take for instance, 3G services, BSNL wanted to setup it in the state but; all its efforts got hampered on account of questions raised by Security agencies regarding the infrastructure in place to monitor the services that may fall in wrong hands.

Life in Jammu & Kashmir is absolutely normal for a sane mind. I can testify that there are no bomb blasts, killings daily and every where. Sometimes, infiltrators manage to get inside the Indian Territory and go haywire. For that we can curse the topography and terrain which can’t be plugged in totality but more than that we should thank God for providing a beautiful place to live in. I would like to quote a famous Persian couplet by Amir Khusro, a great poet:

“Agar firdaus bar roo-e zameen ast,
Hameen ast-o hameen ast-o hameen ast”

When translated to English it reads:

“If there is paradise on face of the earth,
It is this, it is this, and it is this”


To let you have an insight about special status accorded to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370, I have listed some features:

Dual citizenship. Only the citizens of J&K can acquire, own and dispose immovable property in the state.
Own constitution apart from Indian Constitution.
Only state legislature can make law on subjects in state list.
National emergency on the basis of armed rebellion shall not be automatically extended to state.
No preventive detention law made by parliament can have automatic extension to state.
The Union has no power to proclaim a financial emergency in J&K. Though the fact is that it has never been proclaimed in India.
Different flag

About the culture if I have to point something will be definitely origin of people. It seems that they have Caucasian origin, though I don’t think somebody has ever done any anthropological studies for same. Jammu is the land of Dogras. Kashmir owes its name to famous abbot Kashyap Rishi. Ladakh is land of Buddhist people. So, the state is inhabited by people from different religions - Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs

Several visitors including foreigners throng Kashmir to have a glimpse of the beautiful paradise despite travel advisories issued by their respective Governments. Places to visit are Gulmarg (Gondola, Skiing), Pahalgam (rafting in Lidder River), Dachigam wildlife sanctuary, world famous Dul Lake and Wullar Lake. Ladakh is famous for Drass, Pangyong Lake, and Siachen Glacier. In Jammu, you can visit Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, Patnitop, Sanasar, Baghliar Lake, Surinsar, Mansar Lake, Bahu Gardens, Raghunath temple and War memorial.

If you want to find a pearl, you need to dive deep in to sea.

At last I can only say go and enjoy there.

A visit to an Old age home

Don't disturb us, we are busy

On September 20, 2008 as a part of Five Year celebrations, we group of about 10 SAIC India employees visited Friends in need society, an old age home in Bangalore. It was perhaps first time for many of us were visiting an old age home. The moment we entered inside the home we all got wrapped in the tranquility surrounding the home. Every body was inside. Soon, we met a lady – care taker of the home, she led us to a big hall where we were made to sit. Next to our room, we saw some 8-10 people all old aged singing carols to the tunes of a piano.

After few minutes some 30-35 men and women came there. The care taker lady introduced us to them. There eyes were fixed on us – may be they were expecting something that they didn’t have from their loved ones. We had planned to entertain them by playing games, songs and dancing as well. We were carrying cakes and chips with us. We started with a song. Meanwhile, we distributed cakes and chips to them and started hi hello. Soon, little talk took the shape of one way flow of grieves or put it in other words they begin to share their sufferings with us. Some even went on sharing their experiences of youth time.

Continuing our plan, some guys presented a nice dance which was applauded by all. Soon, they started calling us and made us to relish the food items along with them. They asked questions like where do you come from? Which company do you belong to? Are you married? Suggestions started pouring in like “Never leave your parents”, “Take care of them”. To make it both way we also started asking them some questions like which place do you belong to? What is your age? How come you are here? Are you having any near and dear ones and do they come to meet you? Their replies made us to melt down. I remember asking a lady – How many boy friends you are having? and reply came prompt – My husband has expired. It was all emotional but fun at the same time as our motive was to share some quality time with them which we did. We had some photographs and finally the time came to say Good Bye to them but not before distributing cakes and chips to all those who couldn’t make it to that hall.

And finally we left the home with a sordid image of society in our mind. So, who is this society it’s me and we all. Let’s be a change to see the change. Remember, we all inextricably linked to our society. As are we so is our society and so are you – The reader.

God gives life once but chance to live ever

Oh! What is this?This is not what we planned.This is destiny.

This is absolutely right. How immaculately The Great God has created us can be gauged from the life itself – we have to and we come of our near death exposure. Same feeling goes here and I thank God for giving me second life again and for that my friends who were with me in the Toyota Quallis which collided on to a Tata Indigo coming from opposite side in Bandipur National Park in Karnataka are equally thankful to God as well. It was 7th September, three days ahead before my birthday and about near miss. We all were saved to live and let others live. We were returning to Bangalore and had planned to visit Balmari falls which comes on way to Bangalore near Mysore. I don’t know what should I call it fate or ill-fate. Fate as all of us including occupants in other vehicle were hale and healthy after accident; Ill-fate in the sense we had not yet completed our trip. Definitely fate seems to be quite perfect. Any how we managed to reach Mysore through a bus where we started our left over journey after having lunch.
Last but not least I will call it “My tryst with God”. Isn’t it? Oh! That I leave for you to decide.

SDLC in Indian Software Industry

SDLC or put in other words Software Development Lifecycle has its own manifestation in Indian software industry. Usually, SDLC starts with requirements gathering then analysis, design, implementation making its way to operational deployment & maintenance. You might think that I have missed testing- Yeah that is the part and parcel of SDLC. It begins early in the phase and continues with each one. But, software engineering practices in India don’t say this type of SDLC. Is it true?
I believe it’s true because in India, the same SDLC starts with maintenance viz. it follows bottom up approach when it comes to freshers. It seems to be abnormal when compared to others industries where top to bottom approach is followed for same. Well, nothing much we can do about this, take it as a curse for Indian Software Engineers.

Inverness Sojourn

URQUHART CASTLE

Inverness Memories



On Saturday 8, March 2008, we went to Inverness in Scotland. It’s about two and a half hours journey from Aberdeen. Our travel was through first Scot Rail. On reaching there we went to Tourist information centre. Then we boarded Jacobite’s cruise. Onboard, there were some Indians too. George was our driver. While driving to Urquhart castle, he introduced us to Inverness castle near Tourist information centre. According to him, it is not open to public. Meanwhile, we crossed the bridge over Caledonian Canal. Thereafter, our cameras pointed towards Loch Ness. It is considered as the largest fresh water body in Europe. Riding along the Loch Ness, we reached the Jacobite’s cruise point. After alighting down from the bus, we straight away went to board the boat cruise of Loch Ness. It started raining heavily while we were on board. We came out on the deck and embraced the cold waves of Ness. We captured those precious moments in our cameras. The captain took us to Urquhart castle situated on shore. We disembarked the boat and had the glimpses of the castle. Most interesting, there was the water point apart from private room, kitchen and kiln. Coming outside we saw The Trebuchet, a catapult used in good olden days to throw stones on the walls of fortified castle or citadel as a way to weaken the walls for making way for foot soldiers to siege the target. Moving towards road, we entered the tourist’s shops there and finally boarded the bus at coach park where George was waiting for us. Continuing our cruise, we went to Exhibition centre at Drumandrochit village, where we had an insight of Scotland’s history especially Loch Ness. We came to know that this place was inhabited by Brits until 5th and 6th century when people from Ireland came here and after interbreeding with Brits settled here as Scots. After Exhibition centre, we returned back to Inverness city. We went to railway station to have lunch. After having lunch, we roamed around, walked over Caledonian suspension bridge (for pedestrians only) over Caledonian canal, shopped and returned back to railway station to catch our train for Aberdeen which scheduled to depart at 6:08 P.M (Scotland Time).In the train both to and from we had the glimpses of Highlands of Scotland, rural populace, grazing herds of lamb, cattle. We reached at Aberdeen and caught a taxi to make our way to the final destination – our Skeen house, Whitehall accommodation. Really, it was a nice experience in Inverness, considered as one of the fastest growing city in Europe.

Jammu & Kashmir Unrest

I don't know how to start with this post.Well let's begin with a common man- how much is he participating in the protests that have been rocking the Crown of India for past 46 days. One thing is common between Jammu and Kashmir - the chunk of people thrive on business that to say is the source of their livelihood and it is this class of people along with the employed ones - private,public and Government that is suffering and the not the so called opportunists - Political leaders, Separatists,Moderates led by Umar or Hardline faction led by Geelani. Their main purpose from times immemorial is to rule nothing other than that I can say.Power hungry people like Mufti Mohammed Sayeed or his daughter Mehbooba have nothing to give to the people of Jammu & Kashmir and Kashmir in paticular except blood shed and turmoil that's why they advocate cross-border trade and opening of roads between POK and Kashmir.

Is it roads and trade that's going to address problem of Kashmiri people?Had it been so then let me apprise Mufti Sahib and Mehbooba Ji that India has proved as International market for all kinds of stuff whether it be garments,food e.t.c and this thing Kashmiri people acknowledge very much.But why again and again they forgot this and dance to the tunes of these politicians - reason J&K is lacking political leadership and for that Next Gen is to blame or precisely teachers who advice we youngsters to stay aloof from politics.I bet once we take over the reins of J&K everything will be al right.But, that is future what about current turmoil that is taking the toll of people.Everything seems on the verge of collapse be it transportation,supplies or education system.I have come to know that Higher Education Department of J&K has directed for shutdown of all educational institutions until August 23.

People from both provinces are now exhausted - that's why they say enough is enough we are not going to tolerate this any more.But what are they asking for - Is it "Amarnath Land" or some what else?The answer is offcourse somewhat else which even many who are protesting will not be knowing.What is this somewhat else and what does it means to Jammuites and Kashmiris in general?Many will reply - freedom.For Kashmiris - freedom from Indian security forces and for Jammuites freedom from Kashmiri Raj.Believe me it is truth - go and ask any common man the answer will be same.One thing to take note is - Is it there own perception or some one has incited them?The answer lies in ignorance-most of the people don't know state's history have no knowledge of law governing the state of J&K.They just listen and follow the one whom they find is wrestling against Government or security forces without any introspection - that should be on their part.

Being a Muslim Guy hailing from District Ramban(Tehsil Banihal) I am close to Jammu than Kashmir when it comes to culture.I have never felt being discriminated.I come from a Police Officer's family and been close to security forces since my childhood.Go and ask same to my class mates of 10th,12th,college or university and the prompt answer will be same and it is fact. I do acknowledge that there had been some issues attribute it to so much diversity in terms of religion but all of them have been addressed with the help of Judiciary on its own right.Then why this issue is being escalated as outside the realms of judiciary.There is a court ruling saying that SASB can use the land for two months for providing facilities to Judiciary.Even Kashmiris have the wrong perception - that giving land to SASB amounts to giving land to outsiders as per Article 370.So, who do you think is going to address this - is it Judiciary or Politicians or anti- national elements.

What I advocate is that true representatives of people from Jammu and Kashmir should knock the door of judiciary and accept whatever the outcome may be atleast for the sake of J&K people at large.And what about Ladakh no where it seems to be in news this time.Had any one asked people there what they feel about this issue?This is to be seen and let's see how things unfold.With this i conclude my post here with a ray of hope that everything will get OK and I will go back to my home happily.

Climb up Indian IT Companies

Majority of India IT Companies are service based.Chunk of their projects come from U.S and some from Europe and other countries.Going by the scenario of economic development in India especially appreciating ruppee and aftermath of subprime crisis,Indian IT companies need to adopt some strategy to calm down the factors affecting their profit margins.My viewpoint is that there should be shift from services to products which calls for huge investment and IT companies will not be affording that.Alternative lies in services cum products.But the big question is how?

IT companies need to use their resources properly.It is a matter of fact that when any project gets accomplished, resources lie freely available for any task.What Google did?Many of it's products are result of supporting employees to pursue projects of their interest.While, it can't be implemented fully, but employees can be given opportunity to follow their own projects in their free time or when they are on vaccation.I would like to mention that like India there are other budding low cost labour countries in South Asia like Vietnam who are writing their own success stories in Software Industry.

Taking this opportunity I would like to quote some lines here "Coming events cast their shadows before".Currency sledging activities and shifting focus from U.S to other countries will only support for short term.If IT Industry in India has to mature it needs to take over the reins of world gracefully.