March 17, 2012
The railway and the fiscal budgets of the central government were presented this week. Though a much needed, much delayed fare hike was introduced for the upper classes of the railways to match the increased spending geared towards safety, the minister looks certain to lose his post thanks to the ego problems of his party's chief. The fiscal budget has become reduced to an annual ritual which keeps marginally increasing the tax exempt limit and rearranges service and manufacturing taxes. As usual, tonnes of loans and loan write off have been announced. Of course, none of the budgets ever mention what happened to the projects that had been announced in the previous budgets. Thus this ritual is remarkably close to the old Indian "science" of astrology. Nobody cares about the outcome, predictions simply need to be made, that's all!
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee was completely overshadowed by Sachin Tendulkar in the newspapers today. The budget day is the one day in the year the finance minister gets to be in the spotlight. Every single TV channel telecasts the budget live. The ministers even resort to showcase their oratory skills like Lalloo Prasad has demonstrated with the railway budgets speeches during his tenure. I wonder why then Pranab Mukherjee didn't check with the Asia Cup schedule before announcing the budget date. It was obvious that even the token interest the nation shows in its budget would vanish if Sachin managed his century. Even at our home where the budget has traditionally been given some respect thanks to my parents' banking career, it was all about Tendulkar yesterday.
Indian has been waiting for a year now for that elusive 100th 100 by Sachin Tendulkar. Obviously, the match against Bangladesh was the best bet for pulling it off. Flat track, weak opposition. Exact opposite scenario compared to Australia where the Little Master kept struggling.
And Tendulkar finally came through. I think it is time to announce his retirement now that his immortal status in cricket is sealed. The man has undeniably made priceless contribution to cricket and has served as god figure for the cricket crazy nation. But even his most die hard fans would agree that he has been dragging the team down. After India won the World Cup, this 100th 100 was pretty much the only excuse for keeping Tendulkar around.
I was finishing primary school when the man started playing cricket. I remember my older cousins making excited comparisons between Tendulkar and Manjrekar. Manjrekar rather quickly retired to the commentary box. Sachin stayed. Sachin ruled. Sachin became the undisputed greatest batsman ever. With ever shrinking career lengths in modern cricket, nobody is ever going to beat his feat of one hundred centuries. The stubbornly curly head of hair that was revealed when he removed his helmet to acknowledge his first century has given way to straightened hair. Since the memory of Brett Favre retirement debacle is fresh in my mind as well as the classy adieu by Rahul Dravid, it will be great if Tendulkar with his crown intact excuses himself from the service to the nation and continues to entertain us only in IPL from this season.
Attended a movie screening by the Architects association in the city yesterday evening. I had seen the movie, "Sketches of Frank Gehry" by Sidney Pollack before but it was good to watch it again. Though the architects in town are not communists, the snacks served were the standard staple of communists in the state: parippu vada and tea! It was good to be reminded of Gehry life-changing decision to stop trying to make a living by designing buildings that he didn't love. He remembers in an interview that it was Sidney Pollack who had told him that no matter what field we are in, it is possible to carve out a sliver for ourselves where we will do only the work we love and not run with the herd.
Went on a drive this morning to Poovar. Vizhinjam near Poovar was one of the most famous ports in Kerala centuries ago before Kochi and Calicut became important. Chola and Pandya kings desired to possess this port which remained under Cheras and the Venad kings. It is safe to say that Lord Padmanabhan owes a lot of his $22B port to the trade through this port. These days, attempts are on to restore Vizhinjam to its old glory and make it a business magnet. Kovalam beach falls on the way. It is a pleasure every time to realize that I reside close to one of the world's most sought after tourist destination.
I had never seen the narrow river, Poovar, up close before. Though narrow, it is deep and full. Numerous small boats were docked on the sides. Though hardly two manual boats can pass each other in this river, I am told that some of the tourist resorts nearby operate motor boats. Since it was early in the morning, the bathing area was full of 'thorthu' clad men soaping themselves like there is no tomorrow. Couple of bulls tied to coconut trees nearby were busy with their breakfast. A she buffalo didn't want anything to do with half naked men. She lazed around facing away from the swimmers.
The light filtering through the mangroves and coconut trees created a magical effect. A black cormorant enjoyed sunning its spread wing after a dip. It looked rather proud of its glistening, granite like blackness. Clearly, it hadn't seen the ubiquitous "Fair & Lovely" ads. An old man was leading three goats, a mother and two lambs, to their feeding area.
On either side of the highway, the laburnum trees are in full golden bloom. Gorgeousness! Their bright drooping yellow breaking the nearly continuous green canopy of gulmohars is one of the delights of March.
From Poovar, went to the airport to receive my sister who is back now. For her homecoming ceremony, the preparations have been in full swing. The house has been enveloped in the scent of hot coconut oil and ghee. "Sukhiyan" and "Unniyappams" are being prepared. My contribution in the making process has been restricted to rolling up small balls of the fried gram, jaggery and coconut mix for the 'sukhiyan'. I will make up for this with my devotion to the eating process. I am sure that the irresistable aroma of Unniyappam itself carries a hundred calories. Tradition dictates that the pregnant woman is invited back home from her husband's home with seven delicacies. On top of the two items mentioned earlier there will be murukku, achappam, mysore pak, pakkavada and halwa. Most of the guests who will be visiting from now on are supposed to bring more sweets. I have already resigned to the fact that any further attempts to keep my weight under 80 kg with all these goodies stored in the house is impossible.
Budgets are a modern governmental ritual but boundless celebrations are much much older in India.
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