Nuclear Liability Bill: Who bears the brunt?

Last month Obama came to india and it looks a fruitful trip. He sold lot of american goddies and india bought them whole heartedly to keep up the mood of it's new buddy. Lately america has started considering india as an open market and leaving no stone unturned to sell every god damn product which is manufactured in uncle sam's land. Starting from barley to nuclear reactor, americans are lining up an impressive array of products which can be sold to india.

Biggest item on the list is ofcourse the nuclear reactor. Energy business is unlike any other business and nuclear energy business is unlike any other energy business.India is the first nation to get exception from the strictly controlled nuclear energy proliferation laws. Many countries are lined up to pick up stakes in the huge indian market. French and Russians have already started building reactors and thus have advantage.

Nuclear co-operation bill was establised in 2008 with the intend of opening state controlled indian nuclear energy sector to foreign players. The whole play has suffered from lot of unpleasant but extremely important twists. It seems like india is not rushing in. We have sustained 20 plus years of technological embargo, we sure can wait for few more years. While french and russian are already building reactors, US insecurity is rising exponentially. US companies like General Electric and Westinghouse electric are the major american players and want to bite a sizable marketshare. But i don't think that's gonna happen. Indian Nuclear liability bill is not going up very well with US. Why ? because it puts too much pressure on US companies. Currently the compensation cap is almost $450 million. The indian panel is suggesting the law to be extended to suppliers and sub contractors.

Now this is pretty natural. Iam letting you build a critical energy source in my home and  iam paying you a handsome amount for that. It's not wrong if i ask for excellent  quality and insurances against disasters. I know that there's no insurance for nuclear business- but baby, everything has a first time!

It's about atleast an initial business environment for $10 billion. I think US is losing out because of their bad attitude. They think that "It's american way or..NO WAY". But fortunately it would be "no way" for americans. Right now you are the sales man and iam the buyer and i have other salesmen on my door. So try to impress me..don't put your policies on my face. Do business in a way it should be done. America is a greedy nation. It just wants money and doesnot care about any other god damn thing. Nuclear business is not like buying bread. We all saw what happened in union carbide or Bhopal gas case. US never extradited Anderson. It was the worst industrial accident ever. I don't think indians can actually trust americans on something which is as critical as nuclear energy. India can be partner with US. But to be partner you need to show respect and mutual co-operation and commitment to each other. I can give to $10 bn for your work and you should be grateful to me that iam considering you for the opportunity when there are better options out there.I care about my people like you care about your people. So how can you expect me to remove liability clauses or loosen the clauses. British Petroleum is getting a bill of over $34 billion for the gulf of mexico oil spill disaster. After US senators demanded, around $20 Billion were transfered to federals to compensate the disaster. But that same US is finding it unacceptable that India has placed a Rs 1500 Crore compensation cap on US firms in case of nuclear accidents. What a drama has unfolded and now i doubt US over this whole generosity. Oh i am sorry ...not generosity ...it's actually business.

So my advise to you americans - be polite and respect the demands of your customer. Leave your arrogance at your doorstep. Asia is bigger than your mouth and there ain't no american way here!!

We will call it like we see it!!!

It's American way or..NO WAY!!!

American way...The first time i read about this was in Superman comics. Superman declares that his job is to fight " the never ending battle for truth, justice and the american way". Quite catchy! isn' it. I always wondered what exactly is the American Way? My perception and thinking around it has changed drastically over all these years. Unlike what i used to hear about America and American way, things are no more the same.

In reality and at present American way is to react to half baked lies, misinformation, confusion with strong acts of violence, torturing and discrimination towards innocent people.

Starting from Iraq invasion to opting protectionism policies to "revive economy" america shows that the concept of american way is long gone and polluted.


I am adding a new category in this blog - "AMERICA- A neutral view"

I will be talking about everything which comes or happens in america and effects life outside.

Stay tuned to Maverick's Zone

Type Of Indians - 2

Hello there,


taking it from the last post, this week is about three states- Gujrat, Bihar and Bengal.


Starting from 


Gujrat

Gujrat is like india's sea facing balcony.This state is one of the highly industrialized state of india. It's the birth place of Gandhi and also the witness of Godhra Massacre.  


Looks: Gujjus have the normal asian brownish complexion. You can easily indentify a gujju by his/her dialect.This is also the community where men dress up more than women. Women are good to look at but talk a lot about SRK, Indian Idol and Kichdhi...So if you are not an expert in any of these topics than you are at loss. Gujju men are the only reason that Arrow shirt created floral print formal shirts.


Life: Gujjus like gold or anything which glitters. The shine and glitter should be directly proportional to the cost. Navratri should be renamed as "Dandiya Festival". Infact gujju bhai says that dandiya should be used in every occassion, even on 15 august.


Food: The food is not food if it doesnot have both khatta and mitha flavours. Namkeens should be eaten six times in a day and pickle should be sweet.


Motto: Eh jignesh bhai..business khol lete hai, kya?




Bihar

Sadly this state is a tragic story. Widespread corruption, poverty and lack of education are the only achievements of this state. It was once the centre of power, education and culture. India's first empire- the Maurya empire and worlds most peaceful religion- the Buddhism arise from this place. It was the land of Nalanda- world's first true "global University". Now it is the state of extreme violence, illiteracy, corruption and zero economic growth. It's a tragedy!!!


Looks: There's nothing special in bihari men and women. All just too plain and simple. For reference you can look to Lalu prasad yadav and  Rabri devi.


Life: What life! they don't have any life. Bihar has highest youth population than any other state and every youth wants to join goverment job- in railways or in police. They want to carry on the legacy of corruption. They are hard labourers, they can work really hard ...but for what...for corruption. Again a tragedy! You can rarely see a bhaiya in the cities of the South, or at least they are not common. But Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi and other cities cannot function without the lowly bhaiya doing every dirty job at a dirty salary with a broad, toothy laugh packed with a shot of khaini (tobacco).The first few bhaiyas whom I came to know were milkmen, municipal sweepers, tram conductors and the hand-operated rickshaw pullers in Kolkata, who were (and still are) never thought to belong to the human species by the intellectuals crowding Kolkata.


Food: Nothing comes close to litti and choka. And i have tasted both..thank god..actually!! 


Motto: Forget motto...instead read this


"A Schoolmaster from a remote rural area in Bihar was transferred to a new School in Mumbai.

He reported for duty two days before August 15 and, as was the practice in the school, was asked to address the school assembly on Independence Day.
Here's his dynamite speech :

Leddies and Gentulmens, Contemporaries, Children, "This is my first maiden speech. If small mistakes get inside my speech, I ask pardon.

Stickly speaking, I wanted to joint your school more fastly, but for the following reason. Too much time lost in getting slipper reservation in three-tyre compartment. The clerk rejected to give ticket. I put complaint on stationmaster. He said me 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 son. Anyway I thanked the stationmaster because he was responsible for getting birth of my son.

We got independent because of great leadersz linke Gundhiji who get-outted all angrezi peoples from India. Tilak said Swaraj is our birth rate and we shall halve it.

Today we all have our birth-rate.You children are future dynamic generators of the Nation. Look into future time only. No backside looking, or looking at your behind.

Be like great like X' raj Ranjan of Germany or Presidents like Loosebelt, Dim Butter, Lipton etc. You know genius, no? It is one per cent perspiration and ninety seven percent evaporation.

They became great by reading great books. After we finish you off here in the school, you can go to college and get B.A., M.A., M.A.M.A and other decrease.

Then you can become great liars in the supreme courts, shattered accountants, or lecherers in college.

The school is like a garden. You are the seeds, classroom is the soil. We will bury you in this soil, pour water of knowledge on your heads and one-day you all will become great phools.

Many vacancy job come in papers. Only yesterday I saw in paper "Wanted for refuted engineering firm: - Generators, highpower condensors" so and so forth, etc. These jobs may be teknickel, but you can shine.

If you have flare in English, you can become teacher.

I am now ending this fastly.

My God blast you!

Thank you and thank God!"

And finally

Bengal

Uh .....the original intellectuals of india. They generally win Oscar, nobel, booker and other pristigious prizes for india. They love to argue and you just cannot win with them in any argument. They have opinion about everything under the sun and also above the sun. These people love food, traditional music n dance and soccer.

Look: Girls are pretty, boys are not. I think bong girls are sensuous and mostly traditional. But beware, they are very hard to impress and once you get hooked with a bong girl ..she won't let you escape that easily.Starting from Suchitra Sen to Sushmita Sen bong girls redefine beauty.

Life: Bengali life is all about football,macher-jhol, rossogolla and music. If the kid doesnot grow up to be a professor or economist or music director or an author than he is a failure. Children learn to write poetry in 2nd standard and parents keep reminding them that they belong to the land of Rabindranath Tagore and Saratchandra Chatterji.

Food: The bengali fondness for food is legendary. Bengali food is the extreme of sweet and spicy. To a casual palate bengali food means rice and fish.Ofcourse it's much more than that. Sweet holds a position of pride in bengal.

Motto: Joi Bangla..Joi Sourav Dada

Type Of Indians - 1

Everyone knows about the variety india offers in terms of almost everything. To be honest all the variety comes from people. India has so diverse sub cultures and population races that it is bound to produce variety.India has 26 main languages and more than 1500 dialects..phew!that's more than the population of some european countries (just joking!). India is all about numbers and indians are tottally smitten by numbers- starting from describing the beauty of a woman to strange demograhic stats..it's all about numbers. Here's a take- there's more "Guptas" is india than "people" in Austria  The most amazing thing is how these cultures and races co-exist and work their way through co-operation and competition. Sounds contradictory...hell ya ! it's pure contradiction...but that's what india is all about.

So lets talk about the epicenter of all variety- The people!

To understand different kind of indians the best thing is to understand how they look how they think, how they eat and what they aim for. I will try to explain different kind of indians based on their states. I will consider four criteria - Looks, Life, Food and motto. it would be very tough to cover all states but....

Lets get started...Starting from top..

1) KASHMIR:  I think kashmir is a lot different from jammu. Kashmir has muslim dominated population, different terrain, different thinking and food.

Looks: i love kashmiri women..Kashmiri women are among the most beautiful in India. They have an English rosiness of complexion behind the Eastern tan. Men are also fit since most of them are farmers. Apart from kashmiri pandits everyone is more o less associated with farming. You may not like strong flavours after you get off the bed in morning but you just cannot deny it if a petite kashmiri girl (wearing a nice pheran) is serving fresh kehwa to you.

Food: If the women are so beautiful, the food has to be tasty: start the day with kehwa and gorge on masala rajma with freshly boiled rice.

Life: Terrorism destroyed lot of life. But kashmiris are about tolerence and suffering. Stone throwing has become a favourite pastime.

Motto: Gar firdaus bar rue zamin ast,hami asto, hami asto, hami asto (If there's a paradise anywhere on earth, it's here, it's here, it's here!)

PUNJAB: Punjab literally means five rivers. This state is a rich agricultural state and is the texas of india with huge stakes in farming.

Looks: Women are good, men not. Women are good till they are unmarried. There;s this strange thing about punjabi women that i don't understand. They look pretty but then they get married and become exact carbon copy of their moms.Punjab da puttars generally have strong build and are good drinking partners but pretty bad driving partners.

Food: Iam not exactly fond of punjabi food. They are good in eating but not in preparation of food. Ask any punjabi to prepare a chicken curry and he will start frying the chicken with lots of tomato paste. Ask him to prepare mutton curry and he will do the same. Of course he will replace chicken with mutton. the only authentic food you can have in punjab is sarso da saag and makke di roti. also don't forget the huge glass of sweetened lassi. Punjabis  alone are responsible for consuming almost half of butter produced in india. Butter in everything!

Life: One thing- punjabis are full of life.Lots of food, Lots of bhangara, lots of sharab.

Motto: Singh is King

DELHI: Uh! the capital of india and the heart of india. Many delhites will be offended by this- but ho jhao bhai..truth is truth!

Look: Delhi is made up of mixed populations - primarily from Punjab and UP. People in delhi or Delhi-ites are almost comparable to punjabis. Girls are the same- Long straight hair and slightly plum- It has something to do with the butter in diet.It's again same in delhi. Delhi gals looks cute till they get married. Men in Delhi are always aroused and we record the highest rape incidents in delhi

Life: Hopping from one shopping mall to another is the favourite timepass here. Hyundai sells 70% of its santros here. In delhi it seems like everyone owns atleast one santro. People think that you should have more than one car.What good if you don't have a gaddi. and what good if you dont have a 5000 watts sound system in the gaddi. What good if you don't roll down the window and blast the music off . Delhites are low on etiquette and use a spectrum of abuses in normal conversations. Bhen**** is part of normal conversation and is considered as an instrument to show dearness or dislikeness in a perticular conversation circle. Quite strange!

Food: Chole-bhature is the thing. I have seen people making a trip to delhi just to eat chole bhature. Also worth trying are different type of parathas and naans in purani delhi and shammi kebab in khan market

.

Motto: What is life without some show off

To be continued.......

UN Politics: The Sweeter, the tougher

Obama's state visit to india is largely a success- more for yankees and less for indians. Obama came here as a salesman in disguise and was pretty successful in his pitch. He signed 20 different deals worth US $10 Billion. india is buying all kinds of stuff from US starting from Military transpost aircraft to passenger aircrafts to jet engines to oil and gas equipment. He claims that he created 53670 jobs for americans. Well quite true! But most of the americans still think that india is taking out their jobs. As obama pointed out, these are "old stereotypes and old concerns ignore today's reality".

But what india got? Nothing solid but assurances that US will back india's quest for UNSC permanent seat and will use its leverage on pakistan to bring 26/11 responsibles to justice. Out of these two,UNSC is definately more important and interesting. 26/11 is gone and Ajmal kasab has already been through trial and the world knows that pakistan is now the epicentre of global terrorism and is unfortunately a soon-to-be failed state. While we keep the past in our head and learn from it,its also important to focus on future. India is back in UNSC after a very long time. The happy moment came after the embarrasing fiasco of 1996 where india was deliberately set up to lose (which i think is western countries punishment to india for being too close to communists). That was what i say " ab tera kya hoga kaliya?" situation.


But things have changed now. India is a growing economic and military giant and has shown it to the world that embargos, corruptions and forced isolation cannot stop this nation to claim it's rightful place. In recent elections India garnered something which can be a UN record. Normally a country needs 2/3 votes to be elected as a member of UN security council but India got the assent of 187 out of 192 possible voters. But as they say great power comes with great responsibilty. What can india expect out of this stint in security council? And how should india work?


Well, the expectation ball was rolled when prez Obama asked india's intervention in myanmar situation. Quite true! India is acting like a rock when it comes to myamnar crisis (today i heard that suu kyi is going to be released). Once in the security council, people will expect india to take steps regarding Iran, North Korea, Myanmar, Sudan, Palestine and global terrorism. Suddenly the responsibilities will expand. Western countries are already performing war games with indian forces to increase the interoperability. So the mentoring and grooming has already started for some time now. But in UN - it all about international politics and mature diplomacy. India may have to offend many friends like iran- so we will have to learn the fine art of negotitations.




Pakistan is already miffed with the US endorsement of india's bid for UNSC perma-member seat. Out of the five perma members, China can shoot down india's aspirations. Rest of the four countries US,UK France and Russia are already in sync with india. 


Perma seat is still few years away but india has to prove a lot before reaching that level.