Laugh ! That is good for health

Concert - Ganesh Kumaresh

1. http://www.mediafire.com/?pdpadrlm97cbvst Introduction 
2. http://www.mediafire.com/?wq1ik0qgzi5oe7s Introduction 2 
3. http://www.mediafire.com/?hy677kr96yc9n3i Budhamaashrayaami - Naattaikurinji 
4. http://www.mediafire.com/?pva3o0muh59orqn Introduction  
5. http://www.mediafire.com/?zjzb2zt2w4c8byj Evaruraa - Mohanam 
6. http://www.mediafire.com/?g6l78b6gg0ibh6f Introduction  
7. http://www.mediafire.com/?myt6tsmn2kz5d92 Vandanamu - Sahaanaa 
8. http://www.mediafire.com/?3b5z85kgulkp8s5 Introduction  
9. http://www.mediafire.com/?535jro2cuxmxxy0 Raghuvara - Panthuvarali 
10. http://www.mediafire.com/?vgk2mm3n8yp47ijConclusion

It’s not about what happens. It’s about perspective. I may not be able to change what takes place, but I can always choose to change my thinking.

Viswanathan Villa53 said...

Dear Mr Hari HAPPY DEEPAVALI 135 G&K Item 07 Sahana Unable to open/download. You may look into this at your convenience Regards VViswanathan

November 5, 2010 10:00 AM

hvaidya said...
Dear Mr. Viswanthan,

It is opening. Please try again. If the problem persists, let me know.

November 6, 2010 3:04 PM

When are we going to get anger?

The recent events in Karnataka showed how easy it is to take over or destabilise a government. MLAs are available for sale for Rs 25 crore each.

They are ever willing to travel with you anywhere, as long it is a five-star resort. Have they visited their constituency lately?

Having seen the government as an IAS officer and worked on three State budgets quite closely, I have worked out how profitable the Government can be for any investor.

While the Tata-Corus deal was over Rs 36,000 crore, they could have acquired the Government of Karnataka for just Rs 2,825 crore by buying 113 MLAs. Another Rs 1,000 crore might have had to be doled out to mid-term dissidents and other contingency expenses. For such investment, the returns from bribes are fabulous. Even Warren Buffet cannot match it.

How do politicians make money? Most States usually spend substantial portion of their budgets on irrigation, power and roads. Table 1 summarises the budget for major departments in Karnataka. They release crores to the district and village level panchayats for schemes such as the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS). Finally, the real goldmine is the slew of government positions that are almost auctioned in a transfer game.

Table 2 summarises the sitting ducks that can be targeted for transfer. How else can you explain the fact that the Chief Minister of Karnataka retains most of the transfer powers, instead of delegating them to the respective heads of department?

IRRIGATION AND POWER

Consider irrigation projects. On the one hand, politicians get all the accolades for rural development. They also get to collect 15-25 per cent on all capital works. Most contractors are happy to shell out speed money. Most of these projects usually do not attract any undue press coverage, like the Commonwealth Games did.

Roads are yet another treasure-chest. The smaller village roads can sometimes yield 90 per cent margins. Some village roads are not really built at all — rather, some red soil is spread around to close a few potholes, with the hope that the rains won't wash them away till inspection. If you really lay the road properly, the material cost goes up. Politicians are lucky that NGOs and self-styled activists at the Central level prescribe almost zero material costs and a higher proportion of labour.

Power sector subsidies often equal the State's fiscal deficits. The subsidies are actually meant for poor farmers, who seldom get electricity for more than six hours a day. But power theft by politicians' favourites is often included in the farm sector's T&D losses.

Next, the purchase of substandard transformers and replacing them is a money spinner. The vendors often co-operate to show false replacement. Transformer replacement in Karnataka is remarkably high. Most power purchase files often go up all the way to the Minister, even though the Department has several talented officers.

LAND DEALS

Politicians love land. The Bangalore Development Authority has notified land acquisitions for thousands of acres over the last two decades. It could have paid the market price and taken possession. However, it did not have the money and has abandoned all those projects.

The area is now well-developed and worth crores. The land-owners cannot sell it without de-notification.

When the government found that some were selling, they came out with the Karnataka Land Transfer Restriction Act, 1991, to declare such sales a criminal offence. No wonder that, for the last many years, while all the cities in the State have been with one minister, Bangalore always stays with the Chief Minister.

Construction permits and land registration are yet another big source of money. About 12 million sq ft of new concrete is built in Bangalore alone, every year. Karnataka has over 18 cities where real estate is booming.

While the stamp duty and registration charges could be 7.5 per cent, the bribes can be at least 1 per cent. The Government collects over Rs 3,500 crore in official revenues. This implies that bribes could be close to Rs 500 crore.

Politicians often use the local language excuse and stipulate the vernacular medium of instruction for all new schools. At the same time, they allow the managements to run English medium schools, which most parents demand. The threat of disqualification after inspections means endless money every year from private school managements.

The Gandhian philosophy on prohibition comes in handy to ban new bar licences. Those who want licences can only get it from the old licencees at a huge premium. Of course, they must share a bit with the Excise Department.

This technique is not unique to Karnataka. Many European countries, such as Greece, are better at it in other sectors.

TRANSFER GAMES

Transfer of officials is a big business. Some, like teachers, are a low-margin-high-volume game. Over a third of three lakh teachers can be transferred every year, but cannot fetch more than Rs 10,000 each. Just a few forest officials in the Bellary mining area can yield a crore. PWD engineers and commercial tax officials are all-time favourites and can also fetch sums in crores.

A lowly, yet very powerful official in the government, is the accounts superintendent, who writes government cheques and earns just Rs 15,000 a month, but whose transfer is usually worth a crore. Many of them manage recommendations from five to eight MLAs at the time of transfer.

Food for the poor is money for politicians. Even though the Planning Commission claims that just 30 per cent of the population is below the poverty line, many States show more than 100 per cent. More cards mean more ration money that can be swindled. Ration-shops are doled out to village level political functionaries. I am not sure if the UID program will make any dent in these practices.

The problem with our poverty schemes is not technology, nor the problem of identifying the poor, but the lack of political will to tackle corruption. The Right to Food programme will mean more money available for illegal distribution.

Conservative estimates show that, if all possibilities are implemented, a State government the size of Karnataka should yield Rs 3,000 crore per year. Compared to the investment, the payback is just above one year. Considering five-year cash flows, and one mid-term destabilisation costing Rs 1,000 crore, the IRR works out to 175 per cent. Politicians have become lethal businessmen.

(The author is a former IT Secretary, Government of Karnataka, and Founder Managing Director, Brickwork)

Sent by Mr. Bhaskaran 

BHASKARAN said...

Almost everyone will get agitated on see this. Just read the following mail: ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Venkat Sekhar Subramaniam Date: 2 November 2010 21:20 Cc: BHASKARAN SHIVARAMAN To all my friends, Former IT Sec of Karnataka has talked about an interesting story at Karnataka..What about other states? I happened to see an AC attendent in Chennai Mumbai mail minting money by sitting on the oher side of the Pantry car which is the partition between AC and Non AC wings where his duty is expected to sit on the side facing AC compartments to attend the needs of AC passengers.. He started collecting money from unreserved free for all unreserved passengers from the Sleeper class side and started collecting money from them at Rs 10/- per person by making them sit on the rest bench provided on the pantry car.I made him to close the door seperating Sleeper compartment partition..If this is the condition of an AC Attendent what about our poltiicians?One can't imagine where this country is going to land.. in what form..

November 3, 2010 1:21 PM

deva said...

I like this article. We have been talking for a longtime. But have we taken any measure to prevent them from doing this? Somebody (including me) in the country should stand up instead of reading the article and waiting for someone make a change :(

November 4, 2010 12:10 AM

Concert - M. S. Subbalakshmi at Thamizhisai sangam - 1970

A concert full of Tamil songs.



Download 01-Kalainirai-Hamsadwani.mp3
Download 02-Ananda Nadamaduwar-Purvi Kalyani.mp3
Download 03-Saranam Saranam-Saurastram.mp3
Download 04-Thayaghi Thandayumagi-Simendramadyam.mp3
Download 05-Ekkalathilum-Nattakurinji.mp3
Download 06-Thaye Tripurasundari-Sudha Saveri.mp3
Download 07-Panniru Karathoney-Behag.mp3
Download 08-Thiruvadi-Kambodhi.mp3
Download 09-Paada Vendume-Sudha Dhanyasi.mp3
Download 10-Narayana-Mohanam.mp3
Download 11-Kuraiondrum-Shivaranjani.mp3
Download 12-Siththam Eppadio-Nadanamakriya.mp3
Download 13-Senthamiz Nadennum-Mohana Kalyani.mp3
Download 14-Kaatrinile Varum.mp3
Download 15-Vaazhiya Senthamiz.mp3

Contributed by Ms. Hemalatha from Bangalore

Laugh ! That is good for health

21st october 2010 was my 40th wedding anniversary. A friend of mine sent this joke as mail to me to enjoy the day. You also read and laugh.


At St. Peters Catholic Church in Toronto , they have weekly husbands marriage seminars. At the session last week, the priest asked Giuseppe, who said he was approaching his 50th wedding anniversary, to take a few minutes and share some insight into how he had managed to stay married to the same woman all these years.

Giuseppe replied to the assembled husbands, Well, I've tried to treat her nice, spend the money on her, but bestof all is, I took her to Italy for the 25th anniversary!"

The priest responded, "Giuseppe, you are an amazing inspiration to all the husbands here! Please tell us what you are planning for your wife for your 50th anniversary?"

Giuseppe proudly replied, " I gonna go pick her up."

Concert No - B.V.Raman & B.V. Laxman

1. http://www.mediafire.com/?5bo881cf0ps56b0 Giri raaja sudha - Bangla 
2. http://www.mediafire.com/?u0lbkl5b88acd7e Endaro Mahanu - Sri 
3. http://www.mediafire.com/?ec65ahrmzc487pp Sambho mahadeva - Pantuvarali
4. http://www.mediafire.com/?a2oq0mykj48o445 Bhajare Bhaja manasa - Kannada 
5. http://www.mediafire.com/?gabfxjbnjz78zbq Yemandune - Sreemani 
6. http://www.mediafire.com/?u5prwxuudln3qp9 Sujana jeevanaa - Kamaas 
7. http://www.mediafire.com/?08imh1iadhpld1y O Ranga sayee - Kamboji 
8. http://www.mediafire.com/?2gzqa9642v99m2i Raama katha - Madhyamavathi 
9. http://www.mediafire.com/?i98pze69uj3wczr Mangalam

Detachment frees us from overreaction.
Overreacting to the myriad situations in my life, whether bona fide major ones or extremely minor incidents, was once standard practice. Maybe you can relate. It made little difference what my spouse or a friend or a co-worker did; I was capable of taking their actions or words quite personally and then acting in ways that were seldom fitting for the situation. The idea of considering how I wanted to respond and then actually responding in a sane way had never occurred to me. For decades I had watched my family of origin react to whatever happened, and I was a great imitator.
Learning that there is another way to see, to interpret, to respond is like being given a second chance at life. We are on this path with others because of what we each have to learn. We are journeying together. Intentionally. We are not making the journey for each other or as each other. Doing for others what they need to do for themselves prevents the learning that needs to occur, both ours and theirs. Stepping aside and watching others handle that which is theirs to handle, and not letting what they do determine how we feel, is the “real stuff” of this journey. Discovering this makes every minute pretty exciting.

JOE2005 said...

Thank you for this

November 2, 2010 7:18 AM

Dr D Srinivasan said...

By any chance you have BVR & BVL's Mannu Pugazh Kosalai than Manivayiru Vaithavane in Full?

November 2, 2010 1:34 PM

hvaidya said...
Ok. Dr. Srinivasan,

You ask for one and I will give you two. Please enjoy.

November 2, 2010 4:09 PM

• http://www.mediafire.com/?wu24g2579z82t6q Mannu pugazh - Raagamalika 
• http://www.mediafire.com/?889r5dpdz8mu80b Triloka maatha - Paras

Dr D Srinivasan said...
Dear hariharan,

Many thanks for mannu Pugazh Kosalai ........

I searched all of Sangeethapriya
and could not get.

Thanks, once again.

Regards
Srinivasan

November 8, 2010 6:06 PM

Will you please read this, Arundhati Roy?

A Kashmiri, a reporter and a tough old soldier were captured by terrorists in Kashmir . The leader of the terrorists told them he'd grant each of them one last request before they were beheaded and dragged naked through the streets.
 
The Kashmiri said, 'Well, I'm a foodie, so I'd like one last plate of tandoori chicken.' 
 
The leader nodded to an underling who left and returned with the Chicken. The tourist ate it all and said, 'Now I can die content.' 
The reporter said, 'I'm a reporter to the end. I want to take out my tape recorder and describe the scene here and what's about to happen. Maybe, someday, someone will hear it and know that I was on the job till the end.'
The leader directed an aide to hand over the tape recorder and the reporter dictated his comments. 
He then said, 'Now I can die happy.' 
 
The leader turned to the soldier and asked, 'And now, Havaldarji, what is your final wish? 
 
'Kick me in the backside,' said the soldier.

'What?' asked the leader, 'Will you mock us in your last hour?' 
 
'No, I'm NOT kidding. I want you to kick my backside ,' insisted the soldier. 
 
So the leader shoved him into the yard and kicked him in the bottom. 
The soldier went sprawling, but rolled to his knees, pulled a 9 mm pistol from inside his cammies and shot the leader dead. 
In the resulting confusion, he emptied his sidearm on six terrorists, then with his knife he slashed the throat of one, and with an AK-47, which he took from one of the already dead terrorists, sprayed the rest of the terrorists killing another 11. In a flash, all of them were either dead or fleeing for their lives. 

As the soldier was untying the Kashmiri and the reporter, they asked him, 'Why didn't you just shoot them all in the first place? Why did you ask him to kick you in the ass?' 
 
'What?' replied the soldier, 'and have you two assholes report that I was the aggressor..?'

......... such is the irony of Indian Democracy.......................... 

kaakaikuruvi said...

jingoist you...

November 8, 2010 4:13 PM

hvaidya said...

As per Oxford Dictionary: Jingo - a supporter of policies favouring war, a blustering patriot. The story here is against terrorists and persons like Arundhati Roy supporting such people. I will love war against both these people

November 12, 2010 8:01 PM

Anonymous said...

patriotism is the virtue of the vicious --> Oscar Wilde There is no problem that cannot be solved by the working end of an ak 47. My point is we lack pride and will.

May 6, 2011 11:05 PM

Concert - Voletti

1. http://www.mediafire.com/?4grfvbn2tdophva Intha saala - Varnam - Begadaa 
2. http://www.mediafire.com/?zf6zccu5e4055o0 Ninnu choosi - Sourashtram 
3. http://www.mediafire.com/?0etwz3m1r16dc28 O Raajeevaksha - Aarabhi 
4. http://www.mediafire.com/?evi3r7vv8n322s2 Sathatham - Karaharapriya 
5. http://www.mediafire.com/?tevubv4chfc2c8u Aakadi velana - Revathi 
6. http://www.mediafire.com/?cdt9w8ky9go3nsl Raama deivama - Suruti 
7. http://www.mediafire.com/?kofv4wp6if74zs2 RTP - Kalyaani  
8. http://www.mediafire.com/?t1agc8535mxz757 Bramai vadam - Misra sivaranjani 
9. http://www.mediafire.com/?ezjsp6zf0b5ii8c Thillaana - Pahaadi 
10. http://www.mediafire.com/?648jjch820m38l7 Mangalam

guru said...

Dear Sir, Voletti Sir concert is excellent.I enjoyed it. Enjoyment to rasikas will be more if you could kindly inform the accompanying artists. Thank you very much Yours Gurumoorthy

October 31, 2010 12:23 PM

hvaidya said...
Dear Mr. Gurumurthy,

You are right. But many concerts I upload are sent by many readers like you. Either they do not have the details are did not send it to me. தானம் கொடுத்த மாட்டை பல்லை புடிச்சு பார்க்க முடியுமா?

October 31, 2010 4:38 PM

Geethopadesam - latest

Enjoy an inventive fertile interpretation...!!!

Bhagavat Gita –

19th Chapter

Arjun: Hey Vasudev ! how can I do the most heinous and unpardonable act of forwarding junk mail that I receive, to my friends, relatives and revered elders?

Krishna: Hey Paartha ! at this moment, none of them is your friend or foe, relative or in-law, young or old and good or evil. You have no escape from following your Net-Dharma. Make haste to log on and send off the junk mail to one and all. That is the only Karma expected of you and Dharma you must follow.

Arjun: Hey Murari ! Do not implore me to do something that pricks my conscience and stirs my soul.

Krishna: O Kunti-Puthra ! you are caught in the vicious circle of the Maya. In this material world, you are committed to no one except to yourself, your Dharma and your mouse. Junk mails have existed for the last 25 years and will remain long after you are gone. Rise above the Maya and perform your bounden duty.

Arjun: Lord Krishna ! pray and enlighten me on how junk mail is related to the Maya.

Krishna: Vatsa ! junk mail is the 6th element in the universe – Aap, Vaayu, Jal, Agni, Aakaash and Junk Mail. It is at the same time animate and inanimate, living and dead beat. It overloads the system and fills up the hard disk. But it serves one great purpose. It leads people to believe that they are filling their time in an intellectual pursuit by reading and reforwarding junk mail. It gives them a sense of achievement without investing their intellect and efforts. Like the Atman that leaves one’s physical body and moves on to another, the junk mail moves from system to system and never gets deleted or dies.

Arjun: Great Giridhaari ! kindly tell me what the true attributes of junk mail are.

Krishna: Neither fire can burn it, nor air can evaporate it. Neither can it be conquered nor can it be defeated. Junk mail is omnipresent and immortal like your noble and eternal soul. Unlike an arrow shot from your bow, many a time the junk mail forwarded by you, will even return to you safely after some months or even years, allowing you to re-re-forward it to the same people.
Arjun: Great Saarathi ! my salutations to you. You have opened my eyes to the cult of junk mail. I was lost in the Maya and have been reading all the junk mail that I keep receiving and doing no other Karma. Now on, I will just press the "Forward" button without reading any of it and send it to all and sundry, friends and foes, relatives and in-laws, young and old. That will surely bring them to their knees in this epochal battle of Good against Evil, in the Kurukshetra.

Krishna: Arjuna ! victory or defeat is not in your hands. Do not ponder over the fruits of your labour. Just keep forwarding junk mail and make one and all go bananas reading it and you will have done your supreme duty. Tathastu.
Thus Spoke
Lord Krishna 

Received from Mr. K. N. Ramesh

Song in praise of Kanchi mahaa periyavaal

sent by Mr. K. N. Ramesh ( Music by Rajesh Vaidya)