Diary of a husband,wife and maid-servant

I am a resident of South Kolkata and I am blessed with two beautiful kids and a short tempered wife. We live in a 3BHK apartment and enjoy a very ordinary life. Being a banking clerk I have to endure a lot of pressure. I have a burden of several debts and a house-building loan. Moreover my wife’s expenses and increasing education fees concerns me a lot.

On a fine Sunday, I felt some changes in the attitude of my wife. Her gruesome attitude was very indelible for me to adopt. I soon realized that it was due to the absence the maid-servant Bimla.

What can be more worse than it?
Sunday morning and your maid-servant is on holiday!

It was 9’0’ clock and I received a cup of cold tea with some peculiar taste. Without arguing with my tempestuous wife, I went out for the market to buy some food.
I love my wife and have always followed what she says.

For I believe “one has to be wise enough to run a family”.

Bimla , a women of 30s has two children and an ailing husband
Her husband used to work in the local Gun-factory. When the factory was shut, he gave up all hopes and succumbed himself with all sorts of gambling and alcohols.
On seeing her family conditions she started to work as a maid servant along with her daughter in five houses. Her son who studies in a vernacular school has acquired all sorts of bad habits like his father.
On asking one day she said “what is the use of studies saheeb when she will get married to a Dubai-wala in a few months”.
Really,it’s a shameful picture in India when a 15yr girl falls in prey with these beastly men from Dubai who promises a good lifestyle in the name of prostitution.
Bimla’s daughter Sweta, a very quiet and a bright chap since she was a kid. She follows what her mother says and never express her unfulfilled desires.

She thinks,"being poor is just like cancer," it goes on multiplying every day.

I have always seen pain in Bimla’s eyes; the way she manages household, her husband and her two children is worth praising.

On the other hand I notice my neighbors and my wife, busy finding out mistakes and faults of Bimla. Whenever I go with her in some marriage party or public gathering I find them talking all sorts of maid related problems.

Oooh, I just get pissed off sometimes!
Why they are so much obsessed with their maids?

Whenever I try to help or assist her with some extra bucks I find myself quarreling with my wife. She often says “they are bad, why do you show so much sympathy towards them”?

Anyways I feel that Bimla and other maids are not slaves nor they should be treated as servants. They are the ones who make our lives less complicated.
As an avid reader I do feel we should have some sympathy towards them. Let’s not treat them as an outsider but a person who cares us, serves us and stays with us as a good company.

Our future

I often wonder,"how is our future going to be"?

There are lots of questions that come across our mind.
Will it be safe??
Will it be green?
Or something that is not likely to be welcomed !

ENERGY

There are basically two kinds of energy sources

1. Renewable resources
2. Non renewable resources

Energy has been extensively used since ages .  Raw materials are combusted to generate power, electricity and fuel that helps to run industries, plants and manufacturing units.With the increase in population there is always a shortage of raw materials.
" We can vividly see the pictures of drying coalfields and oil hubs in Middle East".
Remedy
Engineers and technologists are trying hard to circulate cheap power through various renewable resources like sun, wind and tides. Adapting and acknowledging green items is the main challenge of today's world.
"And for that we need some advanced technology that can change the mindset of people".
       However the main problem is  the cost,infrastructure and unfavorable climate.
For example: To install a solar plate on the roof requires a lot of installation and maintaining costs.

POPULATION BOMB

Rising population at an alarming rate is a major concern. Countries like US, UK, China, India and Middle East are amplifying their heads at a larger rate.
more population means more disputes like
1. Unemployment
2 .scarcity of food
3. Migration
4. Pollution
5. Disruption in harmony and turbulence in society
6. Natural calamity
7. Declined flora fauna
8. Imbalance in habitat.

Unemployment

One of the major reason for unemployment is lack of skilled people.

We have already seen problems over declining economy in western countries. People of equal merit are fighting for the same post and the unsuccessful ones are migrating to other nations for work;
As a result the parent nation is also being affected by outsiders.
In India a single post is being fought by several 100s of talented men;
So lack of post is creating vacancies in other nations.

DISEASES

Western countries and Africa have given rise to various life risking diseases like AIDS and Cancers.
Excessive use of tobacco, liquor and drugs are affecting human health.
Researchers say, “by 2025 1 in every 100 will be a cancer patient”.
Diabetes and heart attacks will soon reduce life span of human.

TERRORISM

Terrorism has produced numerous dis-harmonies. Increasing Taliban and ISIS activities are storming the entire world. Their barbaric and insane activities are taking the lives of several hundreds of common people.

POSITIVE IMPACTS

By 2050, technology will meet some global change.

The green revolution will start, and manufacturing unit will plant trees in workplaces .
Our multistory-ed buildings will soon turn green with solar panels accompanied with pools  inside it. Some of the projects are already showcased and present in various parts of the world.

From garments to mobile phones, everything will be recycled. Vegetables obtained from organic farming will be rapidly consumed.

Our computers will grow smarter and 50% of our works (from office to entertainment) will be done by them.

Age of robotics, remote sensing and advanced communication will be at a peak of development. People will taste new technologies at their comfort.

CONCLUSION

Let our generation be proud on us. Lets make a safer and greener future!!

Lets save a little bit of energy by switching off the light when not in use.

Let us start conserving the natural resources.

Let us put an end against violence.

Let us control population and diseases.

11 Most embarrasing moments

There are so many embarrassing moments in human life. lets see some hilarious truths that made you think twice.

FOOD

It is generally seen that you mother has cooked some delicious items after a long time and everything gets spoiled with a sudden entry of your relatives.
"Your share is gradually minimized and you feel disgruntled".

HEALTH

You have been struggling a lot to nullify your "nightlong stomach ingredients". But when you find that your unruly intestines are deserting your will, you give up and move toward your workplace.However the main conflict starts on the way where you can't find a suitable spot to empty your remaining.

TELECOM

i feel like racking the company with whip when "mobile balance are deducted and hello tunes are activated".

Immediately with a murderous mindset i and call customer care lady to hear promising solution “all our executives are busy, please hold the line or call back after sometimes".

INTERNET

Downloading 99% and getting an error is common, but what hurts you most is the "disconnected server and zero net balance".

WORK

You are preparing to meet your lady-love this evening. You did a lot of house work to keep your mom happy but everything turns into vain when you get stuck by some important work.

FRIENDS

Some of your friends have gathered to do some project work. After studying for an hour, you feel like showing your favorite porn collections. Overwhelmed with libido and unaware of senses, your PC hangs and your mother comes in with a tray of cakes.

GIRL

When your "super-saver" boyfriend takes you to Ramus’s hotel instead of a "glass window five star" for your birthday treat. You feel very awkward to see those big rounded eyes of rickshaw pullers and gutkawallas commenting on your dressing sense.

ATTENTION

People try to give enough attention to you opened zip rather than telling," bro close your bag".

MEDICAL

You have gone to the medical store to buy some medicines and your eyes went for those "adult toys". The man watches you eagerly and says "18 huya kya” /* ARE YOU 18 */??

OFFICE

When a beautiful lady-colleague wants your friend’s number." It feels like catching a fish for somebody else.

BACK HOME

You are coming from a business tour and you are very excited to think of those "wonderful dishes and showering love of your wife "but everything gets spoiled as your wife says "my mother has come".

Winter and Christmas

The winter is perhaps the best season of the year. This year ending month recapitulates a lot of joyous and disappointing moments of the past.

So if we talk of winter; let’s see what is “winter” according to lazy people like us?

Sleep! Sleep! And plenty of sleep! Take plenty of rest, eat like a prince and stay like an old man!

However the best part of winter is the blanket; the blanket is generally kept on the terrace for a long time. When you realize that it has accumulated enough joules of heat you wrap it up and dive under it at night.

Oh! The warmth of a fireplace, it can’t be adjusted in words: a complete nirvana!

If we are talking about the benefits of winter season then I can clearly say that I miss my childhood days. If you are a kid of 90s then you haven’t missed the cartoons and movies of snow white and Christmas carol. The snowy background, the red white Santas and offcoure the humming tunes of “jingle bells”.

Winter breaks were highly anticipated moments; wake up late, play a lot of games, text your friends, go for a picnic and have some great delicacies!

Winter is the season of beverages and drinks. It doesn’t matter whether it is 6 in the morning or 11 at night I have always disturbed mom for a cup of coffee; “we always need something to keep us warm and fresh”.

As a grown up fellow, the most exhilarating moment was to dip vodka in chilled winter. Oh! What an adorable moment! Every drop has its own story. The warm drops of vodka drives me crazy and brings me to a conclusion; “a little bit of alcoholic is other side of heaven”.

Btw we should never ignore the laws of nature;

without enduring sorrow we can’t find bliss in our life. So here are some bitterest moments of winter: ·

Taking baths with cold water brings a sensation of catching hypothermia

P.s- if you are a hostellite like me and you have no access to warm water then you might use a lot of deodorants!

Fortunately my oily skin treats me like an Eskimo-man. But if you are having dry skin then welcome to the world of reptiles!!

P.s-passionate kissers will face a lot of endurance to tackle scaly lips. ·

Finally the upcoming New Year resolution!! Oh!! Hope it does not get ruined after a month.

However, I do think; winter is a season of conquering lost love, the days to be with friends and family, the months for gathering, having good foods and celebrating Christmas.

Toilets

It was a “spine shivering” winter morning. I managed a window seat with some decent space to stretch my legs.

It was a 6 ‘ O’ clock train. The station was deprived from sunshine and window panes were engulfed with fog. The iron doors leaked sufficient breeze that soothed my muffler-covered hairs.

Suddenly a strong jerk vanquished my drowsiness. As I looked from the window, I saw a group a naked men running towards the bush. With utter excitement I saw a muffler wrapped fat fellow excreting chunks of feces in the track. He was wearing a red muffler and holding the signal pole firmly.
Sadly millions of people in India are still forced to defecate openly: either in street, railway tracks or in fields. Mostly men and children are involved in such activities. However women in rural India, usually wake up early morning to get some privacy. Generally half of the population is devoid of quality sanitation and proper toilet facility. From market place to street, the best place for doing toilet is either beside a tree or between two compartments of a train. It is very ridiculous to see big fellows opening their zip in front of huge crowd.

We Indians try to maintain hygiene: whether it is Sulabh souchalai or stinky railway toilet, we try to clean every bit of poop from our butt. (P.S- hahaha).

It hardly matters whether there is a broken mug or an eaten soap ; all that concerns us is a clean and polished butt. However the new government’s motto: toilets first then temple is a bold initiation for public development. With a strong population of 1.2b people, India is a tough place for cultivating smart toilets. Smart toilets are self cleaned toilets extensively used in Japan and UK. They are based on latest technology and can be carried to any place. More than half of the population does not have a proper toilet facility. Although it is seen that this major half is gifted with two sim cards and a cell phone. The fact is that cell phone is easier to grab and toilet is “promise meant to be broken”. However with a stumbling economy and steady stream of corrupt scandals, people have lost their faith of owing a smart toilet.

Festival of joy

As the month of September approaches, a spark of joy creeps into the mind of everyone.
 And this feeling evokes from thinking. The excitement to think, how will I spent those 5days!!! What I will wear and what will I do!! makes everyone  feel “its Durga Puja time”.

The month September means:
        Time to do a lot of shopping, buy something special, tone yourself etc etc …
          From “local gymkhana to facial hotspots”, one can find countless heads, trying to make their curves slimmer and sexier.

          This unprecedented ambition and desire to shed their lifelong junks is very speculative.

• Tired of his protruding belly, Nikhil said “this puja I will definitely astonish my wife’s friend, Ritu” 

• Meena , a teen of  20s ,sick with her pimples, skips her college every Monday for facial treatment .

• Madhu a voluptuous lady in late 40s, still dreams of “sri devi . Her husband, a rich business man, purchased a Chinese belt  from online.

Whether it is sagging skin or dark circles, people invest a lot of money in beauty products.

            According to me Durga puja is a year waited “preserved fun”. My childhood days: a nostalgic Astumi morning, I, in an orange kurta, holding a plastic gun running here and there with friends. I used to run and run until mom stopped me. Then I used to offer prayers to “Devi Durga” for good results and good handwriting. After that a local pundit chanted some mantra. And unfortunately they were never digested nor know to me.

              These 5 days, when the city is dressed up at her best. And thousands of people out on the streets visiting pandals that are decorated in the most tasteful way. The Decorations that detect lifestyle, traditions and breathe taking themes amalgamated with mouth watering delicacies.
           From yo yo honey to racy beats of dhak, people of all age: whether young or old, men or women, all are tuned into rhythm of puja.  It doesn’t matters if it is a traditional or classy ethnic wear, everyone is ready to rock the streets..

  So let’s enjoy and be the part of celebration. It’s not an ordinary puja, it’s the fusion of sense, taste and love.

Frugal Innovation

What is frugal and what makes me to write this topic?

It is basically a mantra of “DOING MORE WITH LESS RESOURCES” i.e. we are cutting down the cost and non essential parts without compromising its quality of the product.

Why we should act in frugal manner?
To fight against decrease in resources, we need to introduce greener, efficient and reliable products which cause zero impact on our environment. And the solution to this problem is frugal engineering.
Frugal engineering is extensively practiced in developing countries like India, Brazil and China. Since the per capita income is very less in emerging markets, frugal engineering can widely cultivated here. Today many of sectors like industrial automation, consumer electronics, oil giants and construction houses are practicing sustainable ways to become frugal. Jaipur leg, solar cells and mobile banking are common glimpses of it.

Tata nano, the Indian middle class car is the beautiful reproduction of frugal engineering.

And it is possible because of Mr Ratan Tata, who transformed the dream of a common man’s 3 seated scooter into a roof covered 4 wheel vehicle.
His journey from Singur to Sanand was not at all comfortable. His project was a miracle of market study. Designing, making changes, deleting errors and simultaneously keeping in mind the cost, quality and safety of the passenger was a “tremendous effort undertaken”. When the product was completed, it was declared as a “challenge of dreams”.

To sell a product, you need to appeal customers. And for a country like India, “price comes first after quality”. Thus the manufacturer should keep an eye on the changing life style of the Indian customer.

If we talk of nokia, we can notice how it has degraded. When companies were busy investing in their R&Ds to make products much faster and multitasking enabled, nokia was happy with its old symbian os. Gradually its downfall opened the markets for various handset makers like Micromax,Lenovo and asus.
However from this post, we can say “competition is frugal, frugal is quality”. With the launch of FDI and free flow of cash exchange, India can be the arena for investing giants like US , Uk and Europe.
Today consumers are budget constrained and demanding, so it is very difficult to fool them. Therefore there are lot of challenges and limitation in the path of frugal. But with the advent of low cost _quality products, there is a greater possibility of technology mutation.

Sleep with it…wake with it…live with it

Roti ,kapra and makan

The three basic needs for human existence.

However my poor sixth sense says “we have four”, i.e. food, clothing, shelter and cell phone.

Cell phones are like sensory organs. They teach us how to change, what to change and when to change! It is what you wake up and fall asleep with.
Whether it is text, call or updating status we always hook around for 22 times in24hours.
Just look at me; I walk and talk, check online prices, change tracks, play games and watch movies whenever I get bored..I even check my facebook likes and whatsaap messages while studying, going to bed or talking with someone.

Typically it begins with an hour long daily activity consisting of internet, gaming and social media _which spirals into obsessions and consumes 8 to 9hrs a day. We try not to work and study, avoid friends, family outings, food and sleep. And when we are not a part with it, we get aggressive and outraged.

These are however “the synchronized addicts of today’s generation”; the people with no public relations, the people with stress and frustrations; the people with uncultivated brains..
Some of the common glimpses that you face daily;
Your mom always says, “You are on it for a long”, and you get defensive, claiming that you expect calls and texts from matters regarding studies...But is it so? Or you get a chance to fool your mom.

You are convinced that you cannot do two things at the same time; text and study or call and drive. You never switch it off unless the battery dries off: and make sure that it is in your pocket or bag.

I have acquired a habit of sleeping with it.

I check the last notification at night and wake up impetuously cancelling the snooze button.

After saying so many things, I admit that, “I cannot live without my cell phone”.

Mr. X

The most versatile and ‘highly suspicious’ letter in English alphabet is ‘X’.
From solving simple mathematics to high school problems, ‘Mr. X is the mysterious man in demand’.
           However, it is the blessings of “counting goddess Seshat” who tied a knot with alphabet X for creating mystery in mathematics. This less known highly anticipated alphabet has abundant quench for accepting numbers, variables and data.

My reminiscent thought recapitulates the childhood days of finding ‘X’.
        My father used to squeeze my ears like “toothpaste tube” whenever I failed to find the square root of x^3, There were innumerable other occasions when ‘x’ tried to bully me in his style. Not only me, it is the story of every Ram and Rita, who scratch their head twice before "finding the unknown value of ‘X’’.

 Mathematics would have been less interesting if there were no Mr. ‘X’.

Everyone hates his mischievous nature. He is at times cool and at times unruly. His best friend is ‘Y’ and his distant neighbors are ‘w’ and ‘z’.
Our dependence on grey cells is highly enhanced if Mr. X is with us. He is perhaps the master key that opens every lock.

           Although, above praises makes no sense unless you are stuck by a problem. At that moment, he tries to replicate complications by increasing step complexity. His malignant brothers keep "the trouble on the go" by injecting variables at multiple places.

             Despite his strange behavior, I imagine him as  "ups and down" of human life.
All of us are running for a stable value of ‘x’.  In this process our life is succumbed with x amount of pain and x^2 amount of happiness.
          When our value will fall to x=0, nobody will remember us then...  At that time we may rise up again, enduring all values of pain and move towards the “unknown value of ‘x” ’…..

All about FDI

India has become the favorite destination for foreign investors. Over 1.2 billion people and 40% middle class, India’s retail sector is a hunting ground for biggies in western world.
       FDI, Foreign Direct Investment is a “direct investment into production” or “business in a country by some other country”. It can be a modified business to an existing one or a completely developed technical infrastructure.

In simple words:

An “x” company visits India and opens its own store for capturing local markets or a “y” company takes over an Indian company to boost productivity.

It is called “home-host business”. The home country earns millions of dollars by expanding its business though overseas while the host country acquires the technical and managerial skills from it. In engineering language it is called “technology transfer; where technology and skill is transferred from one country to another.
          The historical background of FDI in India can be traced back with establishment of East India Company. It was under the guidance of Gandhiji who started boycotting foreign clothes by introducing swadeshi movement.
Soon after independence we saw a lot of changes in Indian market. Foreign players like PepsiCo, kfc, Honda could not widen up their business due to stringent laws and regulations. These laws were meant to keep a balance between domestic market and multi brand retail.

           Development is a very time taking phenomena. No matter how organized the union Budget is, it is very impossible to build a world class infrastructure in a poverty stricken country. To remove inflation we require heavy flow of foreign money and technically sound infrastructure.

           However Indian government has allowed 51% FDI in retail sector. So giants like Wal-Mart will be selling quality products at cheaper rate.



I have gathered some pros and cons of FDI:

Pros

• With best technologies, excellent packaging and superior manufacturing units wastage of products is minimized.
• 
  
•  Due to non involvement of middle men, farmers will get the right price for their crops.
• 
  
•  Steep competition means frugal engineering; “Better quality at lower price”
• 
  
•  There will be transparency in cash flow. Right Taxes will add revenue to the government.
•  Because of “technology transfer” domestic production will get a new shape. Use of updated machinery and assembly line will boost  production.
•   Huge employment of technicians, engineers and skilled persons.

Cons

•  It will destroy the income of local retailers and middle men. Lakhs of people will become jobless.

•  Multi brand retain will introduce a variety of Chinese products which may ruin our domestic sales.

However if we see the present scenario, we need FDI as soon as possible. Poverty, unemployment, inflation and corruption have eaten up sectors like Telecom, Rail, oil and power. To build world class renewable system, fast internet, quality food and excellent transport system, we need money and technology. And unfortunately we don’t have both.
          Rail, defense and telecom have already shown  green signal towards FDI and it is our hope to see how the present government copes up with the modern environment.

IRAQ: - The battleground for oil

 

Iraq is the birthplace of writing and a cradle of ancient civilization. It is an oil rich country, sharing borderline with Iran, Syria and Saudi Arabia.

1991
 
There are three of Islamic groups in Iraq; the Kurd, Shias and Sunnis. In late 90s Iraq, under Saddam led Sunni government invaded Kuwait and formed the greatest ever gulf war. However US intervention shunned down the Iraq government taking control over exports and oil reserves.
Soon after 9/11 attack in World-Trade-Center, the Bush government declared that Saddam Hussein is connected with Al-Quida terrorists and his country was producing ‘weapon of mass destruction”(WMD- weapons that cause heavy threat to mankind)
 

2003

The war raged the entire world. Billions of dollars were pumped to remove Saddam Hussein and his extremists. Countless Iraqis died, raped and tortured.
The US intervention destroyed Iraq’s infrastructure, cleansed ethnic buildings and blocked electricity. Many US soldiers were wounded and died in the open clash.
After 5yrs of wear and tear, Saddam was finally captured and executed. The US failed to find any traces of WMD. The accusation turned out to be false and Bush led America was under extreme pressure.
This led to a cold war between Islamic nations and western countries.


2013-14

 
After the execution of Saddam, a Shunni led militant group was developed in middle east. Popularly known as ISIS (Islamic state in Iraq and Syria), responsible for recent conflicts, car bombing and mass attacks in Iraq. ISIS is trying to take control over central Iraq by threatening Baghdad and its rich oil fields. Thousands of brutal murders are taking place with open firing and kidnapping of women.
Neighboring countries like Iran (an anti US and Shia majority nation) is fighting against ISIS to gain control over central Iraq. This has further impacted several conflicts in Syria and its neighboring Shia-Sunni nations.

chit funds

A chit fund is a typical saving scheme practiced in India. It was originated in Europe and was popularly known as pyramid scheme. From time immemorial, money has always been borrowed from lenders in exchange of gold, land or valuable items.
Chit fund is basically know as’ chiity’ or ‘kuri’ in India and it is extensively practiced in states like Rajasthan, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

HOW DOES ITS WORKS?

Suppose a person deposits 1000rs ($17), every month.
Similarly 50people like him deposits the same or more amount.
So net principal becomes=1000*12*50=6lakhs ($200)

This net amount is auctioned in various fields like constructions; share markets and underworld gambling. This interest feeds the company’s employees and its customers. The downfall occurs when there is a slowdown in economy or landslide in share market. In that case the chit fund company endures a huge loss impacting the root customers.

IS HOLDING A CHIT FUND COMPANY ILLEGAL?

Operating or holding a chit fund is legal. The concept is very unique with several merits. It provides jobs to many unemployed youths; secondly it boosts up micro finance, household development and promises a smile to many customers.

E.g.; a poor farmer keeps a part of his income in the chit fund company for a hope of getting a large interest to meet his daughter’s marriage in future.

WHY THEY ARE SO POPULAR?

Chit funds schemes are usually lucrative. They drag attention of customers and convince them to keep their money  in the company.
They are eye-catching because they provide huge interest (somewhat double the government banks) and are almost hassle free (no documentations or official work is required).

WHAT IS PONZI SCHEME?

Ponzi is a fraudulent investment operation that pays a very high rate of interest usually 10-15%. It was usually named after Charles Ponzi in 1920, who was notorious for fraud investments.

WHAT ARE ITS DEMERITS??

Although it is prescribed by ministry of finance, but the entire power lies in the hands of state government. As a result lots of unimportant laws is created.

WHY THE SYSTEM COLLAPSES?

• External market forces
• Weak economy
• Withdrawal of quick cash
• Declining economy
• Poor share markets
• Demanding agents