COUNTERFEIT NOTES

We often come across now and then about the seizure of counterfeit currency notes in large number valuing to a few thousands to lakhs of rupees. It keeps me wondering that, if those notes are indeed considered as counterfeit, how could they ever place any value on them? The question that evokes the curiosity among the common man is what happens to the persons caught carrying these fake notes and what happens to the fake currency notes that is so seized? Remains a mystery.

Are those who peddle such counterfeit notes punished under the law? Are those who are caught only scapegoats who are unlucky enough to be caught (very probably from a tip off by some informer – or worse a co-member of the same group who wishes to see his counterpart out of the business for some time)?

Whatever the answers to the above questions are, let them lie over for a while... The reason that I am not writing about this is that I happened to come across a hapless teenager (actually he was a teenager, probably a college student, and hapless only later) at the bank. The poor fellow had arrived at the bank to take a demand draft. When the officer at the counter informed him that the Rs.1000/- note he had presented was a fake, he was least amused by the information that he had just received – which proved beyond doubt that he was poor by Rs.1000/- in that instant. It also proved another frightening bare fact: that most of us who sometimes transact with such higher denomination rupee notes run a similar risk of getting landed with fake notes – because we are lazy and prefer carrying a smaller luggage in larger denominations that carrying a clumsy pack of much lesser denominations.

Coming to the incident, since he was educated, it did not require much effort on the part of the bank official to let him understand that that was a fake note. He was just a little bewildered, taking time to digest the info. The other customers too had the same sick feeling: that of insecurity at having to handle currency notes that could also be easily rejected as counterfeit.

MINDLESS VIOLENCE

Most of us would have heard or read about the Malegoan bomb blasts on Friday. It has been reported that about 31 were killed and more than 100 injured in the two blasts. And many of them were children. The bombs went off in quick succession near a mosque and at a graveyard at around 1.30 p.m. when the people had gathered for their prayers on Friday.

Though the Special Forces have been called to the area, curfew clamped, and with the government announcing monetary compensation for the families of the deceased, nothing can ever give these families back their loved ones. With the government reluctant to deal such miscreants with an iron hand, nothing will bring back the trust of the people, let alone minorities or the victims, on the government. Unless firm action is initiated and taken on those responsible for such blasts where innocent civilians are killed, similar incidents are bound to be on the rise in retaliation. With the state’s/country’s unity being shaken at the roots, inaction by the people in power to bring the culprits to justice will not help in any way. Further retribution by either warring factions will only ensure that the population count comes down considerably, with more innocent people caught in a crossfire, caught in a mindless conflict they have nothing to do with.

It is high time that the government took stringent measures to punish those responsible without further delay, so that it serves as a stern reminder to future wanna bes and puts off a person from committing such a heinous act any further .

VINAYAKA CHATHURTHI

This has got nothing to do with my faith in Hinduism. Born a Hindu, foraying into Christianity on the heat of the moment for the sake of love (which I now repent and resent the act of foolishness) and back, I somehow have a feeling that I have wantonly kicked the door back on my home.. leave it, maybe I will be back with this issue when I am more composed.

Coming to the point, this should have been posted a week before, maybe even before that. Ganesh chathurthi is being celebrated all over the country with much fervour. Fine. I am not against it at all. Just the way the event is getting politicized is irritating. Till recent years, taking the idols of the lord to be immersed in water was not a practice here in south India. Again, please do not mistake me I am not against it. And I don’t mind it being done.

About a week back, I was on my way to attend a condolence meeting at Theni, Bodinaickanur. Since it was a long bus journey and I (like the rest of the passengers) was tired of sitting crouched in the seat, wished that the trip ended soon and I could get back to my office. But all along the way, almost in all the towns/villages the bus passed through, it was made to halt at least for half-an-hour as the Ganesh idols were being taken in a procession (where to I hadn’t the faintest idea. You know, these towns around Madurai usually faced water scarcity with water being supplied once in three or four days only. This being the case, it certainly made me wonder where these idols would be finally immersed??).

Except a few, the remaining ones participating in the procession were in their early teens, wearing saffron turbans, or shirts or dhothis, seen on the caravans, gesticulating wildly, shouting at the top of their voices what (I am sure) he will never understand. Well, I appreciate their belief in the religion. And my appreciation stops there – and I am not for the wild frolicking that partakes in these processions.

I wished that those kids out there stayed put to their duties of studies and sports only and stopped getting messed up in this kind of ugly politicking religion parties. The (I think RSS) organizers or party aficionados, I am not sure which, were being particular that the procession moved along the main roads, especially through the ones where the Muslim minority run their businesses and have their mosques. I wonder why. This being a secular country, boasting of unity in diversity, and all such non-existent utopian ideas, shouldn’t we refrain ourselves at least a little bit and move about, or carry on with the procession in such a way that we express your faith as well as don’t be a nuisance to the common man? No one seems to be envisaging how we would react if indeed any of the minority community took such a procession. I have seen enough of these kinds of fanatical if not dangerous games at Coimbatore, where even a small incident comfortably sparks commotion on a larger scale. I have also seen the emotions of such factions being whipped up only to culminate in violence which the police clampdown with their style of brutality.

Seeing these processions in not one but in almost all the towns the bus passed through, with most of them not even big enough to be called a town, it only made me wonder if these people who thus express their faith in religion would go to such fanfare if they were required to proceed in a circuitous way and avoid the discomfort they inadvertently caused to the public.

Only time will answer it. I hope I haven’t bored the readers. I wish to remind you again that I am not against expression of faith in such a manner – it is just that I wish it could be in a more toned down affair.

Barricades or ??

A casual glance through the local newspapers just tempt me to have a dig at the happenings around us.. however, I’ll try not to be too hard. Ok?

The word of caution first. Of late we, Coimbatoreans, have been seeing a lot of barricades being placed on the roads at vantage points, like road crossings, schools, dangerous turnings etc. Quite a commendable job by the Corporation actually, but had these barricades erected featured some of the warnings with the use of reflective stickers, they would have served the purpose more effectively during the late hours too. And thus would have not attracted the wrath of the public (in some cases) and that of the press. The reason the press has taken up the issue is that some of these barricades pose a threat to motorists where the road lighting is poor (or the road/street lights do not exist completely for that matter), and in the few cases of accidents caused by these road barricades, in the night, - the reason is that those citizens have come riding on the road under the influence of alcohol. So, there is no point in blaming the road barricades alone, or the poor street lighting in some places as reason for the accidents. We, the citizens have to take an effort not to drive motor vehicles after consuming liquor.

Liquor, Man - the connection?

Now, now, now, I really have got to share something that I came across in the Business Line, dated the 20th July, 2006 which makes interesting reading. It goes like this:

Persons who give up liquor habit in Madhya Pradesh may soon receive rewards of Rs.1000/- each, but if they take to the bottle again, then five times the amount would be recovered from them! The recommendation was made at a Cabinet Committee meeting for determining the excise policy chaired by Commercial Tax Minister, Shri. Babulal Gaur here. Among those present were committee members including Finance Minister Shri. Raghavji, Tribal Welfare Minister Shri. Vijay Shah and Public Health Engineering Minister Shri Rampal Singh, besides Principal Secretary Shri G.P. Singhal and Commissioner (Excise) T. Dharmarao. In the first stage, village panchayats would recommend five names each for this award.

- Courtesy, Business Line, 20th July, 2006.

Da Vinci Code

Da Vinci Code released yesterday. Saw the movie. Left me wondering what the fuss was all about. It was a big let down, atleast for me. I found the book more interesting because of the way the facts were laid down for one to understand. I think the film director was not at fault. So little time to bring in all the details and ideas put forth by the author. Nevertheless, I was able to follow the movie because I had read the book.

For the visitors

Hello there! I just happened to come across a joke which I received. I thought that I could share it with you. I am sure that you too would have come across it. Well, just in case you haven't, here it is:

A teacher from Bihar

A School Master from a remote rural area in Bihar was transferred to a new School in Mumbai. He reported for duty two days after actual date of joining.Consequently He was asked for explanation in writing... Here he goes...

Deer Sur,
"This is my first vijit to Bombai. If small small mistakes get inside my letter, I ask pardon. Stickly speaking, I wanted to joint your school more fastly, but for the following reajon, too much time lost in getting slipper reservation in three-tyre compartment. The clerk rejected to give ticket to I and my sun. I put complaint on station master. He said I to go to lady clerk. At first she also rejected. I then pressed her for long time and at last with great difficulty she gave a birth only to my sun.
Anyway I thanked the station master because he was responsible for getting birth of my sun. I hope u will see my whole story and late me first time. I am now ending this fastly.

May God blast you!"
Thank you...........

Ram Dulare