Desicritics Author: arZan

Mumbai US Consulate - Bureaucratic Hassles

arZan — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 01:32:06 EST

My utter frustration at going through the visa stamping process with the Mumbai US Consulate makes me feel they should adopt the following byline:

Applications will be accepted by carrier pigeons only. All fees to be paid in jowar, bajra, or cowdung cakes only

I will be travelling home to Bombay in a week or so and one of the "compulsory" tasks I need to do is get my H1-B stamped again on my passport. Even before I venture to the consulate, the frustration at the whole exercise is in the red zone.

I know that the US Consulate outsources its whole administrative and logistics process to some company (VFS), and many would say that it is the company to blame for the processes. But I would put the blame on the US Consulate. Just outsourcing a service does not make "the end justify the means".

To make the appointment for my visa application, I need to pay a fee. This fee can only be paid in person at an HDFC bank. Why in heaven's sake can one not pay this online via a credit card? Who thought up this stupid rule? When the whole world is going plastic online and there are weeks when I never do cash transactions here in the US, I find it baffling.

Someone has to think this out. A person sitting in the US needs to make an appointment. But the fees for that need to be paid in person at a bank in India, prior to even making the appointment. Yes my sister will do it and that's not a problem. But what of people who cannot get someone to do it for them?

The reason of online fraud cannot be used for not allowing credit card payments. They take the entire application online including the passport details etc but cannot assure of a simple credit card transaction. Screw that!

Hopefully for all practical reasons this may be my last need to get an H1-B, so I will end it at that.

If someone at VFS or the US Consulate reads this, please don't penalize me. I am just voicing my concerns as a citizen :)

China Wants to Repress Olympic Athletes

arZan — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:53:53 EST

China is asking all athletes of all nations to sign a contract that bans them from making political statements against China, or they will not be allowed to travel to China this summer.

The Daily Mail reports…

British Olympic chiefs are to force athletes to sign a contract promising not to speak out about China’s appalling human rights record – or face being banned from travelling to Beijing.

The move – which raises the spectre of the order given to the England football team to give a Nazi salute in Berlin in 1938 – immediately provoked a storm of protest.

In short, China is forcing athletes to sign a contract barring them from speaking against the country or else they won’t be allowed to Beijing and thus able to compete in the Olympics.

“The move – which raises the spectre of the order given to the England football team to give a Nazi salute in Berlin in 1938 – immediately provoked a storm of protest.”

This is chilling sinister stuff the likes of which the world has not seen in the sporting arena, since the Hitler Games of 1936. China has been a nation thriving on human rights violation, repressions of freedom, illegal occupation of Tibet and now this.

I have always maintained that it is one of the worst diplomatic decisions to award the Olympics to a country like China.

I wonder what India's stand will be with its athletes who represent the country at various sports. I hope that India does not force its athletes to do what the British are asking theirs.

Abuse of Corporate E-Mail in India

arZan — Fri, 8 Feb 2008 11:12:31 EST

here is a disturbing trend that I see emerging from India that has to do with the way people use their work e-mail.

Every week I receive numerous forwarded email chains that have been forwarded to dozens of people before they pop up in my mailbox. The contents of these emails are jokes, funny incidents and sometimes political rants. A cursory glance before hitting the delete button shows that the people forwarding the chain at some point worked for a lot of big fancy MNCs.

A few examples.

I got an email which was originally sent out by someone working at Morgan Stanley India. That went to a whole lot of people, one of whom worked at Infosys. He forwarded it to a colleague at SAP India who forwarded it to someone at Merrill Lynch India who forwarded it to my friend who forwarded it to me. This is a typical scenario. On different days of the week the names of the MNCs may differ. You get the gist.

The email contents are generally

A list of 12 reasons why men are better than women.

* How Malayalis speak English.
* Why food is better than sex.
* Parsi "Bawaji" and "Catlick" Pao jokes et al...

...and dozens of other such similar email topics.

I do not have issues with receiving these and I take them in good humour even when there are Parsi Jokes :)

However I find it baffling that people working for these MNCs actually use their corporate email IDs to send these emails out.

If the same thing happened in the US and someone from say Merrill Lynch sent out an email about how all Rednecks are stupid (aka Sardarji kinda jokes) the employee would be fired immediately and the company could be sued by any redneck worth his salt.

However the same MNCs seem to allow this to go on in when they are in India. I am sure there are HR personnel in their India offices too and so are there guidelines.

Is it just a case of us Indians being more tolerant and extending this cultural attitude into the way we use work emails? Or is it that we are ignorant and do not even realize the implications of this in a globalized world?

If I really had a litigious bent of mind I would sue one or all of the corporations who allowed their employees to use their emails to hurt my Parsi feelings when they forwarded those funny "bawaji" jokes. I may not get a lot of money out of it, but would surely get a lot of publicity. Indeed, if I sued the parent companies here in the US, I would surely get a good chunk of money:)

None of my friends working for the same companies here in the US abuse corporate email, while their counterparts in India do.

I wonder what the actual reasons are. If you are working for an MNC, I would like to hear your opinion.

Sania Mirza, You Rock!

arZan — Wed, 6 Feb 2008 00:58:53 EST

Sania Mirza, India's premier tennis woman, has backed out of playing at the WTC Bangalore Open. This has sent a shock around the country because besides being Asia's highest ranking woman, she is also an icon of a young resurgent India.

Hats off to her to come out and honestly state why she is not playing. It takes guts to do that. And the blame for her not playing squarely lies on two parties. The first are the Islamic fundamentalists within our country who have raised a hue and cry about what she wears as a Muslim woman. A similar fuss was created when Sania was recently seen "disrespecting" (sic ! ) the Indian tricolor by letting it rest near her feet. The second group to take the blame is the establishment - both political and professional tennis.

The government should have come out strongly and refuted the Islamist fundamentalist claims that she is not being a true Muslim woman because she wears skirts! At the same time, they should have also come out and categorically stated that she did not insult the flag. The Indian Tennis body should have stood up in unison and asked people to back off and let her do what she does best. A "BCCI for Bhajji" show of strength effort was needed but sadly Sania was on her own here.

Sania has brought a lot of fame to India in her young career and has become an icon to loads of girls who are wielding tennis rackets in courts all over the country.

Sania has enough reason to fear for her safety. Not too long ago one will remember that the same Islamist fundamentalists went out and attacked Taslima at a public function. Images of Monica Seles, the one time tennis great being knifed on court come to mind. There is a strong possibility that something like this could happen to her, although we hope she stays safe.

Some of the tennis stars of today and yesteryears have not come out in support of her in as vociferous a manner as would be expected.

I hope that this will send a loud enough message to the government and the professional tennis body to stand up and be heard when it is necessary. Her impact will be all the bigger by her absence.

Sania, my respect for you just went up a couple of notches. You go girl!

How Green is My Antilla!

arZan — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 01:00:28 EST

In a hard hitting and valid argument Daniel Brook talks about Mukesh Ambani's Antilla being billed as a Green Building by its American architects Perkins+Will.

When completed, the 24-story Ambani family home will include its own health club, terraced sky-gardens, and 50-seat screening room (the reclusive Ambani is reputed to be a huge Bollywood fan). Antilla also boasts three helipads and a 168-car garage. This may sound like transportation overkill, if not outright eco-terrorism, for a family of six. But despite its 38-to-1 car-to-person ratio, Antilla has been billed by its American architects as a “green building.” And under the leading standards for green architecture, the building will likely qualify.

The LEED rating system at best is a guideline and at worst is riddled with loopholes.

Installing a $395 bike rack is worth the same under the LEED checklist system as installing a $1.3 million environmentally sensitive heating system. Which is the cynical builder going to choose?

This allows for architects like Perkins+Will to claim to design green buildings while in reality it is all a hogwash.

The rating system is designed for US standards and when implemented on Indian conditions and buildings, every project could bag the "green" tag.

Perkins+Will is not the only ones who ride the hype-mobile. Even reputed Indian architects like Karan Grover do the same. By understanding the system and finding the loopholes, Grover has the "distinction" of being the first architect with both a LEED Platinum Building and a LEED Platinum Commercial Interior project.

Even FXFowle who is designing the India towers at Charni Road in Mumbai are billing their project to be

within a sustainable network of green roofs and hanging gardens; creating a singular, extraordinary building that, when completed, will be the tallest and greenest - building in India. [link]

Green has become the buzzword of the latter half of this decade. And it helps to sell everything from food to apartments costing millions (in whatever currency).

And from what I read and see, India seems to be picking up the hype which has somehow started clearing out in the US, as the article above points out .

The Indian Green Building Council has just now woken up to the big difference in standards and the first LEED guidelines are being formalized for India. However it will take a few years for the real effects to trickle down to the individual building level.

People like Mukesh Ambani and Reliance should be leading the way instead of being an example of the moral bankruptcy that Reliance has time and again shown.

Architects in India have an easier job designing in sustainable ways. A lot of our building materials procurement and construction technology are sustainable to start with. Indian architects, developers and designers have a real opportunity to push beyond the "green" envelope and set an example.

Chandigarh Bids for World Heritage Status

arZan — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 00:43:02 EST

Chandigarh is akin to an “architectural mecca” for students of architecture and architects from India. Le Corbusier, arguably 20th century’s greatest architect designed the city in a post-colonial India. His individual buildings have become seminal works of beauty, poetry in concrete, and are celebrated the world over as some of the most amazing buildings built in the latter half of the century. Chandigarh is also unlike any other Indian city. Most Indian cities are organic in growth, having evolved over time. Chandigarh was India’s first formally planned city.

Today nearly half a century later, city officials are getting ready to put in an application to get World Heritage status. This would bring acknowledgement, status, money, conservation effort and tourists to the city. Many would say its a win-win situation.

The Guardian writes about the city’s attempt to make a bid. Their byline is somewhat misleading, but the overall content of the article is well balanced.

Chandigarh was an international effort to create a new kind of postcolonial city in India. Le Corbusier’s major work was completed by 1955. Now, new generations of Indian architects have taken the project on, most showing respect towards a remarkable design. Sure, Chandigarh sprawls. And yet, if you came this way, and stood by the lake and gazed at its artful monuments and out across the treetops, you would, I’m sure, agree there is architectural sorcery at work here. [link]

However, from an architect’s point of view; Chandigarh should not be jumping for this status. There are many other cities in India which justifiably could and should be on the World Heritage list. Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Hampi, the temple cities of South India all come to mind.

Many are of the opinion that Chandigarh has just started and is not even complete as a city; or at least what was envisaged by the master designer Le Corbusier himself.

In that context, do you think its appropriate to deem it a World Heritage site? I would love to hear your perspective, especially if you are a non-architect.

The City and State of Bombay

arZan — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 14:42:26 EST

I came across a very interesting paragraph in an article about Gujarat and Gujaratis.

Many people forget — or do not realise — that until 1960 the state of Gujarat did not exist. Till then, Gujarat was part of the old Bombay state. And few Gujaratis regarded this as offensive or unfair. In many ways, Bombay was the capital of Gujarat in that era and the city was built on the efforts of Gujaratis and Parsis. It was the Maharashtrians who objected to being lumped with Gujaratis and when the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat (including the old state of Saurashtra) were created on May 1, 1960, it was in response to Maharashtrian demands for their own state. (When the Shiv Sena was launched in 1967, its first targets included Gujaratis — the anti-Muslim platform took a decade to emerge.)

I was aware that until 1960 we were the erstwhile Bombay State, formed somewhat on the boundaries of the Bombay Presidency from the times the British ruled us.

If indeed we had remained Bombay State, we would have been one of the largest states in the country and definitely the most powerful economically, commercially and politically. Instead we are now at a point where it would be better off if Bombay was made a city-state like New Delhi so that we don't get lumped with the rest of Maharashtra.

As the article implies, it was a myopic, short-sighted and political move to separate the two states. The Gujaratis have been as integral a part of Bombay as everyone else and for political yahoo wanting to claim Bombay for the Maharashtrians was a stupid move. The Gujaratis have remained in Bombay since 1960 and thrived as always, in spite of the Shiv Sena and their anti-Gujarati attacks. And even after nearly 50 years the Shiv Sena is still fighting for reservations for "sons of the soil". Makes me wonder where all of us others came from....the sea ?

I think that all Bombayites should band together and demand separation from Maharashtra. How about we set May 01, 2010, exactly 50 years after the dissolution of the State of Bombay, we have a new City and State of Bombay.

Bharat Ratna for Bal Thackeray? Are You Kidding Me?

arZan — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 11:51:49 EST

Yesterday I read this article on DNA India [Google cache] and it nearly made me fall off my chair laughing. And when Shirrin heard the story, she had the choicest expletives. This is the gist…

Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray said on Monday he would reject Bharat Ratna even if the award was ever offered to him. [link]

My first reaction was - WTF!! Who in their sanest minds would even dream of giving the nation’s highest civilian awards to a politician who spent all his life promoting grassroots regionalism and created a political monster otherwise called the Shiv Sena.

Let’s take a stock check. Thackeray gave rise to Shiv Sena which has over the years become a quasi-militant right wing regionalistic party that tries to keep the interests of the “Marathi Manoos” or “sons of the soil” at heart. Idealistic lofty goals. However in a city like Bombay, its completely misplaced. Bal Thackeray has to his credit….

The riots of 1992 and 1993.
Further corruption of the government when in power
Cultural “nazi-ism” that would push Bombay back three centuries.
A band of thugs as his followers who believe in arson, crime and killing as the only way to get heard.

Frankly, I think he and the Shiv Sena are the worst thing that has happened to the “Marathi Manoos”.

I think Thackeray himself realized how stupid he would sound, because in the same article he goes

Of course, this is bound to generate questions as to who is going to give me. But nevertheless I am clear that I will never accept it”.

It is obvious that this is a publicity stunt and an attempt to get some press coverage for the Toothless Tiger. he has been out of the news for a while now and along with his surprising statement supporting Pawar, he is slowly coming back into the limelight with the political season coming on.

Mr. Thackeray, don’t worry. No one ever thought of giving you one. And I will personally deport anyone who has such naughty bad thoughts!

Overly Documented Childhoods

arZan — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 00:14:22 EDT

With the advent of the digital media and the relative ease of clicking digital snaps, I feel that the children of today have overly documented childhoods.When I was a toddler growing up in the mid 70's, black and white snaps were the vogue. Towards the end of that decade color snaps became the norm. However this was still the film roll era and therefore snaps were few and many a times of varying degrees of clarity and finesse. Even today when I flip through family albums at home, I see a few snaps of me that together create a vivid picture of me growing up. All the big family vacations are covered, so are the birthday parties and other family and friends gatherings. It did help that two of my three kaka's were photography buffs with SLR cameras.

However a lot of my friends at that time did not have half the snaps that I had of myself. But when I compare that number with the pictures that kids have today, its mind-boggling. Our two nephews are 6.5 and 3.5 years old today, and we've seen and clicked hundreds of snaps of them since the time they were born. A recent 5 day vacation yielded over 400 snaps and its safe to say that they were there in about 75% of them.

Our friend circle here has grown by three in the past 15 months or so with the birth of three beautiful girls to three different sets of parents. About every two weeks or so we get regular picture updates in our mailboxes. Of course we love to see the pictures and miss the updates if they don't come at the regular intervals we have become used to.

However from the point of the view of these kids, they are being photographed a lot. Thats a lot of posing and smiling to do for all of us eager over zealous adults who want to document their every smile, step, mannerism, trait and what have you. And the one reason we do it with such gay abandon is because of the advent of easy to use cheap digital cameras. It makes taking pictures so easy that we sometime click away non stop and then sift through and select the one "prize winning" shot of the "afternoon at the park". Kids also grow up being totally confident of the camera and know how to pose in front of them right from an early age.

I remember recently using my regular film SLR to shoot some pics of my nephews and as soon as I clicked, the youngest one ran to me and wanted to see the snap in the display screen. He was a little taken aback that there was no image and no display screen!

Of course, when these kids grow up, they will know exactly what dress they wore every weekend of every summer, and which shoes they wore on the first day of school every semester, and so on and so forth. However unlike adults they don't have the choice to delete snaps of themselves that they disapprove. So, a note to all you parents:

Make sure you don't keep pictures of your kids that they will be embarassed to look at when they are teenagers, or you'll get one very angry moody teenager on your hands!

But till then, please let the picture updates keep coming in. We can't seem to get enough of them.

Patna and Pune: India's Most Dangerous Airports?

arZan — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 00:06:00 EDT

The TOI has an article in today's edition about the lack of safety standards at Indian airports.

With an additional 12,000 flights this year compared with 2006, the rise in the number of skids and incidents is not surprising. The Sao Paulo tragedy has raised the question: how safe are Indian runways? The consensus in the aviation industry is that the two most unsafe airports in the country are those at Pune and Patna. However, it's not as if the rest are up to standard. [link]

While I have never landed in Pune, I have once in Patna. It was a long time ago in 1996, and the only thing I remember was that the airport was spectacularly boring from what I could see.

My vote for the weirdest airport in India would go to Nagpur hands down. Infact I am surprised that the airport was so bad, because Nagpur is a prominent city in Central India.

A lot of issues make airports unsafe. However the one big issue is length of runways. Its surprising that a lot of Indian airports do not have runways that are at least 9000 feet as per safety norms. In recent years Indian aviation has taken off literally and therefore its all the more surprising that infrastructure has not kept pace. Privatisation could be one answer, but the government has dragged its feet on the issue for years before offering some leeway on this accord with the airports in Bombay and Delhi.

Which airport according to you is the scariest one in India?