General Discussion About India

Q

:) never expected you would be interested in this topic. Thanks for sharing the quote by Charak,will surely go into my favourite quotes collection.

On a side note this forum just continues to amaze me everyday.It used to be the best releif for gc based discussions.Who knows in the future it might even lead to fruitful knowledge exchange about different topics.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by qesehmk

The person who classified and found medicinal values of all plants in Indian continent was Charak who famously said that "All plants are medicinal, all lettters can be used to create mantra, all people are useful, IF one knows how to make it happen".
.

---

I was smiling when 'Q' mentioned about friendliness of mumbaikars....i had few friends from Pune and Mumbai, they always curse each other for fun...

after 10 years, my memories are slowly fading, hopefully i visit India frequently once i receive EAD/GC.

Anyway...hopefully inventory really was not 8k due to various reason, if this is the case then probably every body agree dates will go past Jan'2008??

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TheTexan

Q... just read that you are from Pune... I am a mumbaikar but love Pune too.... Ferguson, symbi, Vaishali & Deccan Queen.. Btw, have you watched the marathi movie - Mumbai Pune Mumbai? Good one. For non-marathi speakers it is about friendly differences that mumbaikars and punekars point about each others.

---

Q, I think you mean to say Oppenheimer [?]
Oppenheimer has famously said the following when at Trinity test site

"If the radiance of a thousand suns were to burst at once into the sky that would be
like the splendour of the Mighty One..."

[QUOTE=qesehmk;11536]Cant help but share one more similar thing:
Rumour is that Enrico Fermi upon seeing the first atomic explosion in NM desert said, "The brilliance of this pales only slightly in comparison to Bhasa's genius."

I learned more abt indian culture today than I did in school. Either the education system sucks or you guys are too smart.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pdmar08

Monica monica,
first of all congrats. second of all i told you you can do sky diving here. third of all Hritik left spain....he is not dancing to the tune of "kidhar hai tu...pagla hai kya" (or whatever that aunty is saying in spanish).
Anyways, i know what u mean have fun, when and i mean WHEN i get my GC i m going to drive to the canadian border just for kicks.

---

LOL ! Pdmar08... on second thought since I'm scared of heights and water...I'll just run in front of the bulls and come back
PS : Hrithik not being there anymore is a bummer( Damn ! didn't think of that )

I saw more than 10 eb2-c approvals in this afternoon alone! I think they are approving 90% of the cases before July 15, 2007. The approval rate is constant in the first 3 weeks of October.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by suninphx

Wow Q you are a 'Punekar' ....
Whenever I miss our lovely Pune I quickly get onto google maps and traverse through all my favourite routes and places... ah getting nostalgic now

---

That makes it 3 of us here on this board with a Bombay and PHX connection. I say that in all seriousness, as Pune, of course, is now well and truly the Easternmost suburb of Bombay (have you seen all the construction on in the Panvel / Kalyan area?). Ghati and Punekar will no longer be gaalis. The townies will just club you guys in along with the rest of us burbies.

I personally only went to Bombay for visas and honestly get confused and lost in the vastness :)

Adding to the chorus of all the Pune people - I worked at TELCO Pune for a year - the Pimpri area - and honestly, it was the best one year of my life. Graduate Engineering Trainee Hostel, Thursdays off spent in Pune City, Beer Gardens :-), Sujata Khanna's CAT classes... its been a while though and I am told that the laid back, small town, go anywhere on a bike nature of Pune is gone. I have worked in every major city in India - and after Hyderabad, Pune is one place I would voluntarily spend my vacation in.

Q - Dengu/Deng used to be my nickname during Engineering - hence I Am Deng.

I completely agree with you that the environment plays a significant part. I have always been a feminist (Obama presidency is a success for me after Sonia and Elena, the fact that both are unmarried, career women is a bonus) - and it kills me to see the stereotype of petty housewife being promoted in these saas-bahu dramas. Right now the entire country is covered in ads for Jewellery. There is this stupid ad for Cadbury where an obsequious female secretary is mistreated by her male boss and then he gives her a Diwali chocolate gift to she is all enamored - WTH!

Now after being known only with my first name in US for so many years, I am getting pissed at frequent attempts by people to ask my last name so that they can figure out my caste. Someone I know wanted a driver for a couple days, talked to a few people and chose the guy with the same caste as his - WTF!!

When you live in US for many years, you tend to forget the bad parts and reminisce about the good one. When you set foot here - it all catches up with you in a hurry and then you remember why you left in the first place.

BTW - credit where credit is due - the Terminal 3 (domestic) in New Delhi Airport is hands down better than any US airport that I have been to. Its huge, specious, an attendant for every restroom, lots of food options, clean (its new, remains to be seen in a couple years)...

I am back home for Diwali after some 15 years. This side of the country has always been more Durga Puja than Diwali. I am anyway not much of a pathaka guy (not even much of a colors in Holi guy) - so I intend to have a quiet Diwali. Eat mom-cooked food and chill.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by qesehmk

imdeng i always thought looking at your name that you were chinese!

i think what you say is sad truth. The problem is - you and I try to preach these things to Indians ..... they think we are not Indians anymore and have no business telling them about things in india. These saas-bahu dramas is seriously destroying India families. I have seen first hand here in America some of my friends settled here bringing their mothers from India and then subscribing to Zee and Star etc and these stupid dramas destroying the peace in the house. 10 years younger - I would have said, teh people are to blame for themselves, how can they allow themselves to be influenced. But today my views are different. I think people are a product of the environment they are subjected to.

But all said and done I also know friends who are very happy back home and have no desire to come back. so I guess it depends on what one wants in life.

Anyway enjoy Diwali!! I have missed my diwalis in India since 2000. Missed every single Ganapati since 1996. I envy you :)





QBF, I seriously am bought into your solution that Indians and chinese need to spread around the world. They simply don't have enough land and resources to sustain them in their respective lands.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pedro Gonzales

That makes it 3 of us here on this board with a Bombay and PHX connection. I say that in all seriousness, as Pune, of course, is now well and truly the Easternmost suburb of Bombay (have you seen all the construction on in the Panvel / Kalyan area?). Ghati and Punekar will no longer be gaalis. The townies will just club you guys in along with the rest of us burbies.

---

Man each time I visit there are so many changes! So much construction...everywhere ...politicians are looting us in every aspect ...makes me sad. I always have a feeling that there is lot of bubble in India progress story...hope they prove me wrong.
I can understand why we are called 'Punekars' :) and as Q said we don't care ;)

Coming to ghati - ouch...I have few good words to give back if anyone calls me that. :)

I also like Mumbai very very much ...wish could spend some more time there

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by imdeng

Adding to the chorus of all the Pune people - I worked at TELCO Pune for a year - the Pimpri area - and honestly, it was the best one year of my life. Graduate Engineering Trainee Hostel, Thursdays off spent in Pune City, Beer Gardens :-), Sujata Khanna's CAT classes... its been a while though and I am told that the laid back, small town, go anywhere on a bike nature of Pune is gone. I have worked in every major city in India - and after Hyderabad, Pune is one place I would voluntarily spend my vacation in.

---

I have heard some good stories about TELCO canteen too :) TELCO is integral part of any Pune story

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pdmar08

Me too....and i listen to some of my fav chapters from Shantaram(GD Roberts)

---

That sounds interesting!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Stemcell

Loved every bit of my 4.5 yrs at Pune ( AFMC ).
M.G Road..Westend...Alankar theater....Victory theater( when money was tight which was always the case ;), ferguson area as was mentioned and Coffee house, Radio Hotel ( 5 rupees and you had your belly full of beef :cool:).....Man i am excited just thinking of those memories.
Has any Punekars been to the Bhootbangla near Westend theater ?


yes please move this post wherever:)

---

They removed those trees from FC road man...'ab pahela maja nahi raha'

Pedro,

Just like only blacks can call each other "Nigger", only "Punekars" can joke about the word "Punekar" being a curse!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pedro Gonzales

That makes it 3 of us here on this board with a Bombay and PHX connection. I say that in all seriousness, as Pune, of course, is now well and truly the Easternmost suburb of Bombay (have you seen all the construction on in the Panvel / Kalyan area?). Ghati and Punekar will no longer be gaalis. The townies will just club you guys in along with the rest of us burbies.

---

Deng, I been to DEL as well as BLR in December. Was mesmerized by DEL. AMAZING. Was completely astounded by Gurgaon and Bangalore's knowledge industry. But then somehow we are still our old self. Caste is one thing. But I am saddened by lack of mutual respect and innovation - both of which are direct result of hierarchical caste system. Another huge drawback that we Indians have is that we are quite lazy and don't value hardwork. In all these 3 departments - equality (rather equal opportunity), innovation and hard work - Americans should really be our or anybody's role model.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by imdeng

Q - Dengu/Deng used to be my nickname during Engineering - hence I Am Deng.

I completely agree with you that the environment plays a significant part. I have always been a feminist (Obama presidency is a success for me after Sonia and Elena, the fact that both are unmarried, career women is a bonus) - and it kills me to see the stereotype of petty housewife being promoted in these saas-bahu dramas. Right now the entire country is covered in ads for Jewellery. There is this stupid ad for Cadbury where an obsequious female secretary is mistreated by her male boss and then he gives her a Diwali chocolate gift to she is all enamored - WTH!

Now after being known only with my first name in US for so many years, I am getting pissed at frequent attempts by people to ask my last name so that they can figure out my caste. Someone I know wanted a driver for a couple days, talked to a few people and chose the guy with the same caste as his - WTF!!

When you live in US for many years, you tend to forget the bad parts and reminisce about the good one. When you set foot here - it all catches up with you in a hurry and then you remember why you left in the first place.

BTW - credit where credit is due - the Terminal 3 (domestic) in New Delhi Airport is hands down better than any US airport that I have been to. Its huge, specious, an attendant for every restroom, lots of food options, clean (its new, remains to be seen in a couple years)...

I am back home for Diwali after some 15 years. This side of the country has always been more Durga Puja than Diwali. I am anyway not much of a pathaka guy (not even much of a colors in Holi guy) - so I intend to have a quiet Diwali. Eat mom-cooked food and chill.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by imdeng

Q - Dengu/Deng used to be my nickname during Engineering - hence I Am Deng.

I completely agree with you that the environment plays a significant part. I have always been a feminist (Obama presidency is a success for me after Sonia and Elena, the fact that both are unmarried, career women is a bonus) - and it kills me to see the stereotype of petty housewife being promoted in these saas-bahu dramas. Right now the entire country is covered in ads for Jewellery. There is this stupid ad for Cadbury where an obsequious female secretary is mistreated by her male boss and then he gives her a Diwali chocolate gift to she is all enamored - WTH!

Now after being known only with my first name in US for so many years, I am getting pissed at frequent attempts by people to ask my last name so that they can figure out my caste. Someone I know wanted a driver for a couple days, talked to a few people and chose the guy with the same caste as his - WTF!!

When you live in US for many years, you tend to forget the bad parts and reminisce about the good one. When you set foot here - it all catches up with you in a hurry and then you remember why you left in the first place.

BTW - credit where credit is due - the Terminal 3 (domestic) in New Delhi Airport is hands down better than any US airport that I have been to. Its huge, specious, an attendant for every restroom, lots of food options, clean (its new, remains to be seen in a couple years)...

I am back home for Diwali after some 15 years. This side of the country has always been more Durga Puja than Diwali. I am anyway not much of a pathaka guy (not even much of a colors in Holi guy) - so I intend to have a quiet Diwali. Eat mom-cooked food and chill.

---

When I lived few years in Bangaluru one thing liked there is that not many people put their last name ...just initials...essentially ruling out guess work based on last name

codesmith

You may be right. Oppenheimer was a sanskrit scholar. It could be him rather than Fermi. But i am quite certain that the quote was in relation with Bhasa. The wikipedia mentions the one about Geeta though.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by codesmith

Q, I think you mean to say Oppenheimer [?]
Oppenheimer has famously said the following when at Trinity test site

"If the radiance of a thousand suns were to burst at once into the sky that would be
like the splendour of the Mighty One..."

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by qesehmk

Cant help but share one more similar thing:
Rumour is that Enrico Fermi upon seeing the first atomic explosion in NM desert said, "The brilliance of this pales only slightly in comparison to Bhasa's genius."

---

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by qesehmk

codesmith

You may be right. Oppenheimer was a sanskrit scholar. It could be him rather than Fermi. But i am quite certain that the quote was in relation with Bhasa. The wikipedia mentions the one about Geeta though.

---

What Oppenheimer said was exact copy paste of Srimad Bhagawad Geeta Chapter 11 Verse 12.

If by chance one thousand suns,
Adore the sky with their shine,
Then that great being’s light,
Would be some what equal to it.

http://stotraratna.awardspace.com/stotra/hindu/hi2.pdf

http://www.chinmayauk.org/Resources/Downloads.htm

Some of you might find it quite interesting..

http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/tec...cle4850252.ece

Key significance of this would be (IMHO) to have a regional GPS that India can use for many reasons but most importantly for India's own defense forces. India won't have to rely on foreign GPS (either Western or Russian). And since this will be a regional GPS system, it will be defensive and meant to protect the region - so others won't have a problem with this.

Some of you may have been following this ..

Quite proud to see this happen.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/12/world/asia/india-aircraft-carrier/index.html

Congratulations ISRO for a successful launch. Countdown to Sep 24th 2014 when the spacecraft reaches Mars.

Surprisingly the coverage in world media is generally positive - except CNN which wrote a stupid article.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/11/05/india-mars-mission/3440267/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-24547892
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/...79311623419386
http://news.yahoo.com/countdown-mars...232218771.html

http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/04/world/...rs-space-race/
http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/04/world/...-mars-orbiter/

Two key things happened in last couple of days: one is we should be proud of and second something that is quite disgraceful and yet poignant.

First is obviously the fact that Lokpal bill finally passed both houses. The Bill while not perfect is still a good forward step. While we blame Indian democracy for its shortcomings and the corruption that is so prevalent - we should not forget that compared to US and Britain, Indian democracy is infant. American democracy until 1910s was utterly corrupt while it has taken over 700-800 years of experiments in Britain to come to the level they are today. So not a very big cheer but still a small cheer for Lokpal is warranted.

Secondly the incident about the Indian deputy counselor in NY is quite disgraceful and should make Indians think about their ability to protect their people. Right and wrong behavior is a different question. But for a country to be able to project a single unified face to the world it is utterly critical that India thinks about how Indians can stand united and be able to protect themselves from each other and from outsiders. I for one am under no illusion that this was a random incident. George Fernandez was strip searched in the past, Indian President Abul Kalam was pattted down against protocol, Modi is denied visa, numerous other NY consulate women officers have had their complaints against the treatment they received or didn't from their American counterparts. I think this is just a wider trend of what EB immigrants experience in their personal lives. And if you don't show courage to speak against it then you hurt yourself as well as Indian community as well as wider immigrant community.

My 2 cents as usual.

All the best

Q

Q,
Amen. Double standards indeed !

A good article.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/h...w/27604782.cms

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gcq

A good article.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/h...w/27604782.cms

---

Good one but still comes short off calling it a conspiracy. I have rarely respected congress leaders but this time I liked the way Salman Khurshid stood by a foreign service employee. The article is spot on when it says - India must do what it can to ensure that she should be able to do her job without fear and coercion from the host country. I really wonder why the US had offered her citizenship? Did she reject whatever that offer was and is that why they are teaching her a lesson?