Pujaso News

Sunday, March 26, 2017

Modi among Time magazine probables for most influential people

From Yoshita Singh

New York, Mar 26 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been named among the probable contenders for Time magazine's annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Time will next month announce the list, comprising a number of leading artists, politicians, lawmakers, scientists and leaders of tech and business.

While its editors will determine the ultimate honorees, the publication has asked readers to vote from among a list of probable contenders.

Modi had been named among the magazine's probable contenders in last year's Time 100 list also. He was named among Time's 100 most influential people in the world in 2015 and former US President Barack Obama had written a profile for him for the magazine.

Last year the then RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan, tennis star Sania Mirza, actress Priyanka Chopra, Google s India-born CEO Sundar Pichai and founders of Indian e-commerce major Flipkart Binny Bansal and Sachin Bansal were among Time's list of the 100 most influential people.

Among the list of probables this year are Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, US President Donald Trump, his daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband and senior White House adviser Jared Kushner, California Senator Kamala Harris, actor Riz Ahmed, Russian President Vladimir Putin, UK Prime Minister Theresa May, Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Pope Francis and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Also on the list are White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, actor Amy Schumer, CEO of Youtube Susan Wojcicki and Counselor to Trump Kellyanne Conway.

Hollande seeks to boost ties with Asia in face of isolationism

Singapore, Mar 26 (AFP) French President Francois Hollande called today for efforts to intensify the relationship between Europe and Asia in the face of resurgent "isolationism".

He was speaking in Singapore, the first stage of the last international tour of his five-year term which will also take him to Malaysia and Indonesia.

"I appeal for us to intensify our exchanges, our trade, political and cultural agreements," he said.

"This is all the more necessary because there is a resurgence of protectionism, isolationism and the questioning of... international institutions," he said in a clear allusion to the United States under President Donald Trump.

Europe, Hollande said, must tell Asia that "we have much to do together, much to defend and much to promote".

France and Asia, he insisted, share "the same concept of independence and security".

Hollande cited the "very high level" of military cooperation between Paris and Singapore, such as the training of Singaporean fighter pilots in France and joint work on cyber-security.

He was speaking at the Asia-Pacific campus in Singapore of France's ESSEC business school after meeting French students, teachers and business leaders during a visit focused largely on economic issues.

Hollande was to hold talks later Sunday with his Singapore counterpart Tony Tan Keng Yam.

On Monday he will open a forum grouping 170 French start-ups which have a presence in Singapore and make a speech on the regional and international situation to the prestigious Singapore Conference.

On Tuesday he travels to Malaysia, which has a continuing relationship with France in defence matters.

Hollande's tour ends Wednesday in Indonesia, where he will make the first visit by a French head of state since Francois Mitterrand in 1986.

Barring any surprise developments the French president has only one other major commitment abroad before his term ends in mid-May: the post-Brexit European summit on April 29 in Brussels.

Saturday, March 25, 2017

London attack: 2 men continue to be questioned, 7 set free

From Aditi Khanna

London, Mar 25 (PTI) Two of the 11 people arrested after the brazen terror attack on British parliament are still in custody for questioning with police trying to establish whether the attacker acted alone or had associates.

The Metropolitan Police said two men, aged 27 and 58, both from Birmingham where attacker Khalid Masood wa

s living, are still in custody for questioning under the Terrorism Act.

Of the 11 people held after the attack, a 32-year-old woman arrested in Manchester, and a 39-year-old woman arrested in east London, were released on bail until late March while seven had been set free with no further action.

Police are investigating whether Masood, who killed four people outside Britain's Parliament, used the encrypted messaging service WhatsApp moments before driving across Westminster Bridge on high speed mowing down pedestrians on Wednesday.

A message was reportedly sent from Masood's phone two minutes before the attack.

Meanwhile, the Saudi Arabian government has confirmed that Masood was in Saudi Arabia three times and taught English there.

He taught English in Saudi Arabia from November 2005 to November 2006 and again from April 2008 to April 2009, a Saudi Embassy statement said.

Masood again returned for six days in March 2015 on a trip booked through an approved travel agent, the embassy said.

"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia strongly condemns Wednesday's terrorist act in London, as it does all forms of terrorism. The attack in London this week has again demonstrated the importance of international efforts to confront and eradicate terrorism," the Saudi Arabian embassy said.

Masood drove his rented SUV into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge on Wednesday before crashing his car into railings and then running into the grounds of Parliament.

Armed with a knife, he stabbed a police constable, before being shot dead by police.

In the attack, four people were killed while 50 injured with 31 requiring hospital treatment. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack.

Police have been working to determine his motives and possible accomplices.

Masood was born as Adrian Russell Ajao in Dartford before converting to Islam. He is said to have used a number of aliases, including Adrian Elms, and was known to UK police and intelligences services.

His first conviction was in November 1983 for criminal damage and his last conviction was in December 2003, also involving a knife attack.

He was born to a white mother and black father and is said to have been affected by racism while growing up.

Scotland Yard has deployed bomb proof armoured vehicles on the streets of London following the attack.

The force's anti-terror chief Mark Rowley said: "The police service will sustain an enhanced armed and unarmed presence over the next few days."

"London, and the UK, are open for business, and we are out there in greater numbers to make sure that the public see a highly visible presence to help reassure them as they go about their daily lives.

Border with Bangladesh, Pak will be sealed: Rajnath

Gwalior, Mar 25 (PTI) Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said a new roadmap is afoot to strengthen the border security and seal firmly the International Border with Bangladesh and Pakistan.

"The Centre has chalked out a new roadmap to strengthen the border security and plans to seal the International Borders with Bangladesh and Pakistan," Singh said, addressing the Passing Out Parade of the BSF assistant commandants at the BSF Academy at Tekanpur near here.

The parade also saw the first woman assistant commandant of India's border guarding force, Tanushree Pareek, passing out with Home Minister Singh registering his praise for the BSF's first woman field officer.

An official release here quoted the Union Home Minister Singh as saying that the BSF had changed the rules of engagement on the International Border and now it was a "known force" even in the neighbouring countries.

The BSF built 73 Border Out Posts (BOPs) recently, and three more will be added soon, he added.

"We are also planning an effective grievance redressal mechanism in the forces," the Home Minister said.

The Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) were setting up such a mechanism, the release added.

BSF was the only force after the Indian Army to operate on land, water and air, he said.

It is not only the "first line of defence" but also the "first wall of defence," he added.

"Display courage in the face of professional challenges, (show) compassion to the troops under command and (observe) integrity of highest order," Singh said while addressing the passing out Assistant Commandants, according to the release.

Development for all, appeasement of none, says UP CM

Gorakhpur (UP), Mar 25 (PTI) Asserting that there will be no appeasement of anyone, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Aditya Nath Yogi on Saturday promised development for all without any discrimination on the basis of caste, religion or gender

Aditya Nath, whose ascent to power is seen with suspicion by some sections, also told the BJP cadres and supporters not to be "over zealous" in celebrating the party's historic poll victory and not to take the law into their hands as it could provide "anarchist" forces a chance to disturb law and order

He also stated that police has been instructed not to harass innocent couples, a direction that comes amid complaints that the 'anti-romeo' squads, meant to target eve- teasers, were troubling even the boys seen with their female friends.

He announced that those undertaking the annual Kailash Mansarovar Yatra will be given Rs 1 lakh by the state government and a Kailash Bhavan will be constructed for them

On his first visit to his hometown Gorakhpur after becoming the Chief Minister, Aditya Nath said he intends to usher in development and progress of all sections of the state as envisaged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah

Addressing an event to felicitate him, he repeated the mantra of 'sabka saath, sabka vikas'.

"There would be no discrimination on the basis of caste, religion or gender. There will be development of all. But there will not be any appeasement of any section," he said

He said Uttar Pradesh had been deprived of the benefits of developement during the previous regimes and promised that his government would bring in the fruits of progress to the last man.

Aditya Nath, who took over as the Chief Minister last Sunday, talked about his priorities like safety of women, opportunities for youth, support for farmers and labour

He said that there would be no place for 'goonda raj' and corruption under his rule.

The Chief Minister said after he took over, he got calls from many girls who complained that they cannot go to schools or colleges because of eve-teasers, and several had to even give up studies because of this

Anti-Romeo squads have been constituted for the purpose of safety of girls and women, he said, and added that police officials have been directed that these squads should not harass goys who are with females due to "consent"

This comes against the backdrop of complaints that these squads were targeting even the innocent boys

Referring to the crackdown on illegal slaughterhouses, Aditya Nath said his government would fulfill the promises made in the BJP's manifesto before the elections

With regard to the welfare of the farming community, he said a team of two ministers and some officials has gone to Chattisgarh to study their system which is "very efficient".

He also listed some developmental steps, like a direction to the authorities to make all the roads in the state "pot hole free" by June 15.

About the bhavan for Kailash Mansarovar yatra, he said it could be constructed in Noida or Ghaziabad.

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Notes ban to spur economic activity: Govt

New Delhi, Mar 21 (PTI) The government's demonetisation move is set to augment the economic growth as interest rates have come down as a result of increased deposits in banks, Parliament was informed today.

It is noteworthy that the government is being targeted constantly from across the quarters for nullifying old Rs 500/1,000 notes from circulation in November, contending it would impact the economy negatively as India is a cash dominant market.

"After demonetisation, more deposits came into the banking system," minister of state for finance Santosh Kumar Gangwar said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

"This in turn leads to increasing the demand for loans in general and housing loans in particular as well as credit flow to micro, small and medium enterprises which will spur economic activity and generate employment opportunities," he said.

Bulk of India's transactions happen in cash than through technical/electronic means and banned notes formed as much as 86 per cent of cash currency in circulation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi while announcing the note ban on November 8, 2016 had said it would help curb black money, counter fake currency and put a plug to terror financing.

This required people to deposit their holdings in banned currencies to their bank accounts, resulting in flooding of huge cash into banks.

Gangwar said this helped banks reduce their lending rates significantly, as cost of deposits came down.

India's chief statistician T C A Anant while estimating GDP for December quarter at 7 per cent, during which demonetisation was exercised, said it had minimal impact on economic growth.

On the other hand, there are many economists and experts who have lauded demonetisation saying it will help clean the system.

Sunday, March 19, 2017

Universities must have free atmosphere: Prez

Nalanda, Mar 19 (PTI) Universities and academic institutions must have free atmosphere devoid of prejudice, violence or any doctrine for unhindered intellectual pursuit, President Pranab Mukherjee said today.

Speaking at the valedictory session of the 'International Buddhists Conference' here, Mukherjee said the ancient learning centres in Nalanda, Taxila and Vikramshila attracted great minds in forms of students and teachers from all over the world.

These were not merely places of learning, but were a confluence of four civilizations Indian, Persian, Greek and Chinese, he said at Rajgir's International Convention Centre in Nalanda district.

"The essence of these universities was open mind, free discussions. The acharyas and upadhyays encouraged students to pose questions, before a proposition was to be accepted and followed by them.

"If there cannot be free atmosphere in a university, in an academic institution then what type of lessons we can give to our students. Education means development of mind, constant interaction with teachers and fellow students. An atmosphere must be free from prejudice, anger, violence, doctrines.It must be conducive to free flow intellectual persuasions," Mukherjee said.

Speaking about terrorism, the President said it is not just an action, but also a "mental aberration and an expression of a twisted and a perverted mindset" and nations must think together on how to deal with this menace.

"The crisis (of terrorism) is all pervasive. It is not confined to causing injuries to fellow citizens (but), it is the wanton destruction of values, of the heritage, of the assets which have been built over centuries through generation," he said, referring to destruction of Buddhist sites by Taliban in Afghanistan.

Yogi Adityanath sworn in as UP CM; heads 47-member team

Lucknow, Mar 19 (PTI) BJP's hardline Hindutva poster boy and five-time MP, Yogi Adityanath was today sworn in as the 21st chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, heading a 47-member council of ministers that includes two deputy CMs.

A surprise inclusion was cricketer-turned-politician Mohsin Raza, who was sworn in as a minister of state, becoming the lone Muslim face in the state government. BJP had not fielded any Muslim candidate in the Assembly polls.

Interestingly, the chief minister, his two deputies -- BJP state unit chief Keshav Prasad Maurya and party's national vice president Dinesh Sharma -- and Raza are not members of either House of the UP legislature.

Besides the two deputy CMs, his council of ministers has 22 other cabinet ministers, nine ministers of state with independent charge and 13 ministers of state.

The 44-year-old Adityanath is the fourth chief minister from the saffron party, ending its 15-year hiatus in the Hindi heartland state.

The oath of office and secrecy was administered by Governor Ram Naik at Kashiram Smriti Upvan at a grand 90-minute ceremony attended by a galaxy of BJP luminaries including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and L K Advani.

Expressing "immense confidence" that this new team will leave no stone unturned in making UP 'Uttam Pradesh', Modi tweeted, "There will be record development. Our sole mission & motive is development. When UP develops, India develops. We want to serve UP's youth & create opportunities for them..."

Outgoing chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and his father and Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav also attended the function.

The swearing-in ceremony was the culmination of a seven-phased Assembly election spread over two months in the most populous state, which gave BJP a landslide victory in the 403-member Assembly. BJP and its allies have won 325 seats.

Adityanath, who lacks administrative experience, was unanimously elected yesterday as the BJP legislature party leader at a meeting of the newly elected MLAs, a move that took many by surprise.

Soon after he was sworn in, Adityanath assumed charge in the newly constructed Lok Bhawan.

Jats call off quota agitation after govt truce

New Delhi, Mar 19 (PTI) Jats today called off their quota agitation scheduled for tomorrow in the national capital, following a truce that was reached after a meeting between the leaders of the community and the Haryana government.

Jat leaders decided to call off their agitation after a marathon four-hour meeting with Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and two Union Ministers Birender Singh and P P Chaudhary who both are Jats.

"Centre and state will soon begin the process of giving reservation, following the Delhi High court order," Khattar told reporters in a joint press conference along with All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS) Chairperson Yashpal Malik.

He also appealed to people in the state to cooperate in maintaining peace and harmony.

"Ab Jat Dilli na aa rahe (Now Jats are not coming to Delhi). We have called off our agitation and march towards Delhi. The state government has agreed to our demands," Malik told reporters after the meeting.

He added that the community will call off its dharna from most of the places in the state, barring few where it will continue with symbolic protests.

Besides quotas, the Jats have been demanding release of people jailed during last year's agitation, withdrawal of cases slapped during the protests and government jobs for the kin of those killed and injured while taking part in the stir.

The Jats have been sitting on dharna in various parts of Haryana since January 29.

"The government will now work according to the law and will undertake a survey and check ground realities so that the decision that we finally take will stand in court," P P Chaudhary," Minister of State for Law and Justice said.

He added, "The reservation process will expedite after appointment of National Commission of Backward Classes (NCBC) chairperson and we want to ensure reservation for the community which is not stuck anywhere due to legal issues".

A Haryana ministerial panel led by senior Minister Ram Bilas Sharma had held talks with the Jats in Panipat on March 16, after which the minister had said that an agreement had been reached with the community and the deadlock could end soon.

Around 30 people were killed and more than 300 people injured when a similar agitation by the Jats had resulted in large-scale violence in Haryana in February last year.

In view of the planned march tomorrow, prohibitory orders had been clamped in Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan to stop the Jat protesters from entering Delhi.

About 24,700 paramilitary personnel had been mobilised to maintain peace. Metro and road transport has been curtailed and several schools have been closed in the national capital.

Saturday, March 18, 2017

For development, India needs a movement: PM

Mumbai, Mar 18 (PTI) For its development, India needs a movement akin to the freedom movement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today.

"Similar to the freedom movement, we need a movement for development, where the collective aspirations propel the country's growth," Modi said, addressing the India Today Conclave here via video link.

"We all should get involved in our dream of a new India, whose mantra will be 'opportunity for all' and an India of self-respect.

"For several decades, we had embarked in wrong directions with wrong policies," Modi said.

"The decisions then were 'election-driven' or based on set notions of the officials, but this has changed now," he said.

His government is not looking (at issues facing the country) with "tunnel vision" but with "total vision," said the Prime Minister.

Referring to India Today Editor-in-Chief Aroon Purie remark describing him as the "disruptor-in-chief," the PM said, "If there is a disruptor-in-chief, it is not Modi but the people of India who are entitled to this moniker.

BJP springs surprise,Yogi Adityanath to be new UP CM, swearing in tomorrow

Lucknow, Mar 18 (PTI) Priest-turned politician Yogi Adityanath, the controversial mascot of hardline Hindutva, was on Saturday named as next Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, in a move by the BJP that took many by surprise.

Ending the suspense exactly a week after BJP won a three- fourths majority in the key Hindi heartland state and stormed back to power after 15 years, the 44-year-old five-term MP from Gorakhpur was unanimously elected the BJP legislature party leader at a meeting of the newly elected MLAs.

Adityanath will be sworn in tomorrow at a ceremony at Kanshiram Smriti Upvan here at 2.15 PM where Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah will be present.

State BJP chief Keshav Prasad Maurya, who was himself in contention for the top job besides union minister Manoj Sinha, first announced Adityanath's election amid speculation that the RSS pushed for Yogi's candidature

Maurya, the MP from Phulpur in Allahabad, will be the deputy chief minister apart from senior BJP leader and Lucknow Mayor Dinesh Sharma.

Adityanath, who lacks administrative experience, will be the 21st chief minister of UP and the fourth from the saffron party.

After his election, Adityanath met Governor Ram Naik and said he was invited to form the government in UP.

He said he would follow Prime Minister Modi's slogan "sab ka saath, sab ka vikas" and ensure all round development of the the country's most populous state.

"I am confident that the state will march on the path of development," he said in his first brief media interaction at the Raj Bhawan.

The Yogi said his efforts would be to provide "good governance" in the state.

Adityanath has several criminal cases against him. He has been charged in the past with rioting, attempt to murder, armed with deadly weapon, endangering life or personal safety of others, unlawful assembly, trespassing on burial places and criminal intimidation.

A murder case is going on in the court of CJM, Maharajganj, according to his 2014 election affidavit.

He is not known to enjoy good rapport with the BJP leadership and his elevation has left many puzzled, with political circles abuzz with talk of RSS having prevailed over the party in deciding the new chief minister.

Often caught in controversy because of his speeches, Adityanath allegedly led a "purification" drive for conversion of Christians to Hinduism in 2005.

In 2015, he reportedly said those who oppose yoga can leave India and that they should all be drowned.

He was arrested for allegedly inciting Gorakhpur riots in 2007.

Adityanath, considered a divisive political figure, enjoys considerable popularity in the state and is known to make provocative statements, be it about Islam or Pakistan.

A strong votary of construction of the Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya, Adityanath drove BJP's Hindutva campaign in the eastern UP in the just concluded Assembly polls

Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, who along with BJP general secretary Bhupendra Yadav was present at the meeting as central observer for the election, told a press conference that Adityanath's name was proposed by Suresh Khanna, an 8- term MLA, and seconded by 10 others

Naidu said even after the proposal was made, he asked the 312 newly elected MLAs if they wanted to propose anybody else for the post, but they all backed Adityanath unanimously

Naidu said that the Yogi then said he needed two deputy CMs to assist him in the gigantic task, following which it was decided that Maurya and Sharma would hold the posts.

As the meeting was about to begin, an element of surprise gripped the venue when Adityanath reached Lok Bhawan opposite the imposing Assembly complex.

Midway through the meeting, Sharma was asked to attend the deliberations.

Interestingly, none of the three is a legislator in UP.

As soon as it was decided that the saffron-robed Gorakhpur MP will hold the reins of the state that raised eyebrows, party leaders and MLAs rushed to the dais with sweets and garlands.

Reasons why Adityanath as Uttar Pradesh chief minister is a BJP masterstroke

Issues such as corruption, law and order and women's safety will be handled well by Yogi Adityanath. He is the right candidate and one who can handle every kind of challenge in UP, said Uma Bharti.

Ending days of uncertainty, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday announced that Yogi Adityanath would be the next Uttar Pradesh chief minister. The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled to take place in Lucknow around 5 pm on Sunday. Prime Minister Narendra Modiand BJP chief Amit Shah among other senior party leaders are expected to be present on the occasion.

The five-time Gorakhpur MP was picked ahead of the other two front-runners for the top post - UP BJP chief Keshav Prasad Maurya and Union Minister Manoj Sinha. Adityanath will have two deputy chief ministers in Maurya and BJP legislator Dinesh Sharma.

Union Minister Uma Bharti has welcomed Adityanath's elevation. She said, "I am very happy with this decision. Issues such as corruption, law and order and women's safety will be handled well by Yogi Adityanath. He is the right candidate and one who can handle every kind of challenge in UP."

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh said, "I congratulate Yogi Adityanath, hope under him Uttar Pradesh will reach new heights of development."

7 REASONS WHY CHOOSING ADITYANATH MAY HELP BJP GAIN A STRONGER FOOTHOLD

POLITICAL NARRATIVE: A part of the pre-election narrative that has helped the BJP in the elections will continue as the opposition will link Yogi's appointment with BJP not giving any ticket to Muslims.
RELIGION vs CASTE: Religion helped BJP create a larger vote bank than the caste vote banks already present in the state. To keep the edge that BJP has gained in these elections, Yogi may keep religion at the forefront.
YOGI vs SURNAME: As Ajay Singh, he's immediately recognised as a Thakur, as Yogi the caste goes in the background.
DEPUTIES TO BALANCE: The two deputy chief ministers will enable the BJP to talk differently with different stakeholders - development when needed, religion when needed.
RISK OF AMBITION: Adityanath's earlier rejection of different roles at the Centre showed his determination for the CM's chair. Disappointing Adityanath may have been risky for BJP.
CADRE vs LEADERS: A vocal and dedicated cadre support could have forced the BJP's hand much like Modi's anointment as PM candidate in 2014.
EXPERIMENTS ARE FOR LABS: The road to Delhi goes via Lucknow. What better way to experiment Hindutva in the run-up to the 2019 general elections than in India's largest state. If it works for Uttar Pradesh, the BJP will definitely be looking to make it work across India.
Ref: Indiatoday.intoday.in

Sunday, June 19, 2016

Microsoft Invests In Marijuana Business, First Major Tech Company To Do So

Short Bytes: Kind Financial, a big name in cannabis compliance technology, has partnered with Microsoft. Both companies will work together as a seed-to-sale software provider to help the businesses and government track the legal marijuana trade.

In the first-ever partnership of its kind, Microsoft has teamed up with a technology startup named Kind Financial. This company helps the government and businesses track the sales of legal marijuana.

Kind isn’t new to this business. It has been providing legal marijuana tracking software for about three years. Now, as a result of this partnership, the startup will be able to run its software for government in Azure, Microsoft’s cloud.

Kind Financial’s new software named Agrisoft Seed to Sale connects marijuana businesses with regulatory agencies and financial institutions.

You might be wondering that “what is the need of a software in Marijuana trade?” While pot is legal in some states of the US, the government often collects heavy taxes and regulates the people who grow or sell it. So, in this process, government’s software needs are increasing.

Notably, Microsoft is based in Washington, where marijuana is legal.

As a result of this new partnership, a Microsoft team will help the clients with different laws and track the legal trade of pot to stop it from entering the black market.

About this partnership, Kind said that Microsoft’s Azure platform is one of its kind that meets government standards for regulated Marijuana trade.

Did you find this article interesting? Don’t forget to drop your feedback in the comments section below.

fossbytes.com

Friday, June 17, 2016

Ruskin Bond's latest cracks the code to happiness

Trisha Mukherjee New Delhi, Jun 13 (PTI)
In his latest literary feat, popular author Ruskin Bond has attempted to crack the code to what all human kind strives for - happiness.
He has wrapped a handful of his own pithy observations and those by great personalities he admires, in a pocket-sized anthology that is "a miscellany for all seasons, one to cherish and to share."
For Bond, who has perennially sought happiness in the mountains and the trees that envelope his little hutment in Landour-Mussoorie, "Happiness means different things to different people."
"Rakesh is happy behind the wheel of his car; the last place where I would be happy, having once driven through a garden wall in Friends Colony in New Delhi," he writes in the introduction to "A Little Book of Happiness," published by Speaking Tiger.
It is perhaps the subjectivity of the emotion and mankind's incessant search to attain it, that the 81-year-old author decided to give a piece of his mind and heart to his readers.
He tells them what makes him happy - curling up with a P G Wodehouse or a Charles Dickens on a rainy day, completing a
story or a poem.
"I'm quite happy on a rainy day because then I can curl up on a sofa, visit Blandings Castle with P G Wodehouse, enjoy a
village cricket match with Mr Pickwick and his Dickensian friends, or go rowing on the Thames with Jerome K Jerome's
three men and a dog.
"As a writer I am also happy when I have completed a story or poem or essay and feel pleased with it," he writes.
Feeling "pleased" is imperative, according to him. "Failed creations make me unhappy," he writes.
Bond's first advice towards achieving happiness is, "To find happiness, look halfway between too little and too much." It is followed by an African proverb that draws an analogy where, "Happiness is as good as food."
He goes on to tell his readers from his experience how for most of his life, he relied on his instinct rather than intelligence and found himself in a "modicum of happiness."
"Life hasn't been a bed of roses. And yet, quite often, I've had roses out of season," writes an optimistic Bond.
The book is peppered with the words of wisdom by stalwarts from different walks of life - authors, political leaders, scientists.
Some of them include - Jane Austen, Mahatma Gandhi, Dalai Lama, Charlotte Bronte, Osho, Pablo Neruda, Sylvia Plath,
Stephen Fry, Benjamin Franklin, Leo Tolstoy, Albert Camus, Oscar Wilde, William Shakespeare, Aldous Huxley and Rumi among others.
According to the author, who has written extensively for children for the larger part of his literary career, a sense of satisfaction obtained from the vocation one practises is indispensable, for it is also a source of happiness.
He says, "Before you launch out on the journey of life, make sure that the career or lifestyle that you have chosen is something that you really want to follow."
Through a saying of the Greek playwright Euripedes, he discloses one of the secrets to achieve happiness - it is important to appreciate the little joys and simplicity that life treats one with.
The saying reads, "That man is the happiest who lives from day to day and asks no more, garnering the simple goodness of
life."
13th century Persian poet and Islamic scholar, Rumi says, "A moment of happiness, you and I sitting on a verandah, apparently two, but one in soul, you and I."
The book, very subtly, also sheds light on different aspects - love, society, individuality etc. - of happiness.
According to the Victorian writer Charlotte Bronte who penned the heart-wrenching tale of love of a young girl, "Jane Eyre," "There is no happiness like that of being loved by your fellow creatures, and feeling that your presence is an addition to their comfort."
Another of French mathematician Blaise Pascal's sayings in the book talks about how restlessness of mind and body can be
a source of unhappiness.
"All of man's miseries stem from his inability to sit quietly in a room alone."
Introspecting and reflecting on oneself is also important to achieve a happy state, rather than searching for it outside Bond feels.
"Happiness is not waiting to be found; there is no use looking for it. All we need to do is to find the barriers within ourselves that we have built against it. Trust - in people, in life - is a good way to begin," he writes.
18th century Genevan philosopher, writer and composer, Jean-Jacques Rousseau says on the same lines, "Why should we
build our happiness on the opinions of others, when we can find it in our own hearts?"
The author seems to have consciously left a couple of empty pages titled "Notes" after every few entries, perhaps for the reader to jot down his/her own musings on happiness and add to the book.

Amazon challenges govt rule on entry tax for online purchases

Ahmedabad, Jun 16 (PTI) The Gujarat High Court has issued notice to the state government on a petition field by Amazon India against state's notification levying 6 to 21 per cent entry tax on goods that are being purchased through the e-commerce portal in Gujarat.

A division bench of Chief Justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice V M Pancholi posted the matter for further hearing on June 20, tagging it along with a similar petition filed by competitive e-commerce company Flipkart.

Amazon challenges the state government's amendment to the law to levy entry tax on goods purchased through e-commerce portals, which has apparently been done to provide a level- playing field to traders and retailers in the state.

Like Flipkart, Amazon has claimed that the tax is discriminatory, because no such tax is imposed on goods brought into Gujarat through other modes of sale.

It has held that it only provides an online platform to manufacturers, traders and buyers and itself is not involved in selling any product and hence the tax is unjustified.

The Gujarat Tax on Entry of Specified Goods into Local Areas (Amendment) Bill, was passed on March 31.

From April 1, any goods being purchased online are being subject to 6 to 21 per cent entry tax. While normal goods are being levied 6 per cent tax, specified goods are subject to up to 21.6 per cent tax, with majority of goods being levied around 12 per cent tax.

The government amended an Act of 2001, with the aim to cover e-commerce transactions in its ambit, as the government felt this was adversely affecting local traders.

The new law amends the word "importer" to cover those who "bring or facilitate to bring any specified goods for consumption, use or sale in Gujarat from any part of the country using online platforms".

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)