EDITORIAL
Escape, escape, escape is the only thought
that comes to mind when confronted by the incessant heat wave that literally
burns your skin. This escaping is just a short term panacea before you
surrender to the Sun god’s imperious ways and get back to work or do whatever
you do to return to your routine. This annual pilgrimage has become a tour operators’
bonanza with business growing at the rate of 20% annually in an otherwise
depressing economic scenario. The Government has its task cut out to find ways
very soon to kick-start an economic revival.
The ecstasy of BJP’s thumping victory at the hustings gave
the bourses a thumbs up and most stocks hit fifty-two week highs. Because successes are so scarce, we tend to drown
ourselves in a delirium of ecstasy at small gains. But the gains were shortlived
as the early euphoria gave way to the reality that company earnings are not in
conformity with stock valuations. Soon enough many of these stocks hit fifty-two
week lows. The retreating of crude oil prices from the year’s highs should, however, give respite to the Government. Globalization has made many economies
vulnerable to market forces and the inefficient and less productive nations
have been swamped by goods from nations who are producing them cheaper and
better. China is the biggest beneficiary of globalization. Many countries have
become bankrupt as a consequence and have become so dependent on China for
their survival that they have compromised to a large extent on their sovereignty.
Many of our immediate neighbors like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal are caught
in the vice-like grip of China. I was taken aback by the news that Nepal has
made Mandarin a compulsory language in Nepalese schools. India’s economy is
more resilient and has so far withstood the onslaught of cheap Chinese goods.
Yet, many industries in India have fallen victim to cheap Chinese imports. Several
countries including the USA have realized that an open economy is fraught with
danger and are closing their doors to cheap imports through high tariff
barriers. This is impacting India’s exports as well. Unfortunately, we are not
yet so advanced in high-tech that we can retaliate. That sums up the dilemma
that India faces.
Nirmala Sitharaman, the first lady Finance Minister that
India has produced has a tough job on her hands to present a budget on 6th
July, 2019 that will kickstart the economy and yet keep the budgetary deficit
under check. No Budget in recent times has been more keenly awaited than this
one. Industry hopes that the high GST rates of 28% and 18% would get moderated
to make goods and services cheaper. Let us wait and see.
Congress’s
favorite son Rahul Gandhi will have to wait at least another five years to get
a shot at the top office. The rajkumar is presently sulking and his mother the
grand old lady cannot fathom what went wrong; after all, she had cobbled up an
alliance with almost all the Opposition parties. One need not really make an
effort to paint Sonia Gandhi as a venal and ambitious Lady Macbeth figure
desperate to park herself at 12 Janpath and drooling at the prospect of playing
a puppeteer. But, alas, the time is not ripe yet and the Khan Market coterie as
PM Modi put it would have to cool their heels for an extended hiatus. That the
Congress party over the last sixty years purloined the national exchequer of
all the cream is no secret and is still fresh in the minds of the electorate.
While Modi’s five-year rule at the centre has only been modest on the economic
front, people perceive him and the party to be on the right side of governance
and liberalization and do not mind gambling with him for another five years to
allow for things to gain traction.
Most public
sector banks have very unhealthy balance sheets, thanks to corporate czars who
have become fat at the expense of us taxpayers,
due to the politically induced profligate generosity of our banks. This
money stolen from the poor and tax paying middle class of the country affords
them endless forays into the dark corners of sensual delights. At most times
they look blasé and weary after their hedonistic parties and at best,
lugubriously effete and hollow. They go on, without a care, merrily living like
old time potentates at dizzying summits of insanely wasteful opulence--with our
money. Corporate covetousness has taken a huge toll on the economy. These
billionaire mendicants should be brought to book. Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi,
Mehul Choksi and the yet to flee Jet Airways’ Naresh Goyal and a whole host of
others are now finding the going tough with the long arm of the law getting a
measure of them. While the noose is tightening, it may be a while before we get
to see the colour of the money that has flown offshore. Until then the
Government will be forced to bankroll the banks with taxpayers’ money to keep
them afloat. Like in the movies, one has to wait the distance for the good to
win over evil.
The Delhi
elections which could be held anytime between October 2019 and March 2020 may turn
out to be a boon for Yamuna and other colonies. The Election Commission has
held its cards close to its chest. Eager to protect their only turf in the
country the Aam Aadmi Party is opening the Government’s purse strings to win
over the voters’ hearts. I have been assured by the local MLA Mr. Saurabh
Bharadwaj that they will provide us with several wireless CCTV cameras, play
equipment for children, concrete benches to replace the corroding steel benches
in the park, bollards at the block ends to act as a barrier for vehicles to
enter the blocks, stainless steel railings for staircases under the Clubhouse
and other areas between the blocks where senior citizens find it difficult to
climb, among other things. The wish-list that we have given is quite exhaustive.
How many of these are met remains to be seen.
Teenage angst
in a contemporary urban milieu, is a cause for concern. Teenagers are caught in
this time warp where they are required to balance between the expectations of
their parents or the societal norms of a generation that they don’t align with
and the peer pressure to conform to their own school or college mates. Its too
much to expect this from adolescents who are continually assaulted by
maleficent e-content. Today, many school and college kids have been lured into
smoking, drinking, substance abuse and even sexual adventurism by their peers
who are either influenced by the fey charms of the movies or the internet or simply gone astray
due to parental neglect. Increasingly, many Indian families have both the
parents gainfully employed and have very little time to give to their children.
Many children of such families get lured by other spheres of influence which
are not necessarily good. The things I hear from my wife in news relayed
through my children, about the ways of some of their erstwhile school and
college mates, is truly shocking. These children need help and soon before they
fall off the cliff. There were times when agony aunts played this role but
increasingly friends and relatives are loath to interfere as they have enough
concerns of their own or they are just indifferent. It’s a delicate subject to
deal with. Enter the profession of psychologists as there will be a dire need
for their services in the near future.
On a family
vacation to Europe we caught up with three resident and ex-resident Yamuna
families and one visiting Yamuna family in Germany. What a small world it is.
I was
astounded to observe the cut-off marks for the colleges in Delhi University.
The minimum cut-off for any subject that I saw today in the newspaper was 96%.
I cannot believe that a person getting 95% marks is left hanging by the
britches! How incredulous can this get? It is absolutely morale busting. The
irony of this is that courses like English, Philosophy, History, etc. don’t
equip you for any job other than perhaps that of a teacher. I find the whole
situation so bizarre that I am not able to fathom what compels these students
who are apparently very bright to choose such subjects for graduation that
leads them nowhere. I know of at least three students from Yamuna who have
secured admission overseas. Seems a wise decision under the circumstances
OBITUARY
12th June 2019 was
indeed a sad day for long term Yamuna residents when Mrs. Pattammal Murthy of
C-002 breathed her last. When she departed early on that fateful morning for
her heavenly abode, she left a vacuum that would be hard to fill. A smile never
left her face even in the face of grave adversity. She had quite a few health
issues which would have laid low any ordinary person but she was so resolute
that she faced these challenges like a bullfighter would.
She was loved for her many good
deeds. She enlisted Smt. Chandra Parthasarathi to conduct Tiruppugazh classes
for children at her house in 2006-07. She has also taught shlokams,
Sahasranamam and Tamil language to many Yamuna children. If I recall correctly,
she also scripted a Tamil play for the Annual Day. Yamuna will always be diminished by
the loss of great people and Pattu mami, as she was fondly called, would
certainly be included in that category.
SNIPPETS
Siddhant Nair of E-304 has graduated from the University of Buffalo, USA in Systems
and Industrial Engineering with outstanding academic performance by making it
to the Dean’s list. Both Suresh and Supriya attended the graduation ceremony.
*************************
Sumyouktha
Shankar of B-202 is joining Penn State University in Abington, Philadelphia for
BA Applied Science course in Astrophysics. She incidentally got admission to
all the five overseas universities she applied to and was awarded a scholarship
of $ 15,000 and Chancellor’s award by Rutgers University and University of
Massachussets at Amherst College.
************************
Ms. Pallavi Magtani of C-205 is conducting a free workshop on self-love in
the Community Hall for all residents. Those who feel they are benefitting from
the workshop could enrol for a paid program as listed in the advertisement at
the tail end of the Chronicle. The gist of the program is also mentioned in
the advertisement.
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR JULY 2019
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DATE
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TIME
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ITEM
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VENUE
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7.7.19
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11.00 AM
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SELF-LOVE WORKSHOP BY
PALLAVI MAGTANI
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COMMUNITY HALL
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PROGRAMMES OF MINISTRY OF MUSIC(SADHANA)
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7.7.19
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6.00-8.00 PM
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HANSAVEENA
RECITAL-RAMANAN/ODISSI DANCE-RADHIKA
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SADHANA
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14.7.19
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6.00-8.00 PM
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HINDUSTANI VOCAL
RECITAL-SHUBHAM MODI
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SADHANA
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21.7.19
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6.00-8.00 PM
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CARNATIC FUSION BAND-THE
IYER PROJECT
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SADHANA
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28.7.19
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6.00-8.00 PM
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BANSURI
RECITAL-SHUBRADEEP PAUL
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SADHANA
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ADVERTISEMENT
I am Pallavi Mangtani, a
Life Foundation Therapist glad to share with all about my upcoming WhatsApp
workshop, Know Yourself-Mirrorwork
Friends all are welcome to this amazing transforming workshop of Mirror Work. It will start from 3rd July 2019. New moon new beginnings. From self-doubt to self-love.
With this program we intend to connect with the barriers or blocks we have created till now in our life and embrace them and move forward towards love. Self-love is beginning to our wonders and miracles. You can share this program with your friends who feel connected to join.
Who can attend this
workshop :
1. Do you feel lonely even when surrounded by people?
2. Do you feel you are not valued enough for your work or contribution at home?
1. Do you feel lonely even when surrounded by people?
2. Do you feel you are not valued enough for your work or contribution at home?
3. Do you keep
hitting financial walls, and feel lack and limited internally?
4. Do feel
unimportant in your relationships and feel rejection quite often?
Then this workshop
is the door for you to know yourself.
How it will help you :
• Develop Self-Love & Self-trust
• Harmonious Relationships
• Financial Abundance
• Awakened You: Conscious Living
• Practise Tools for Transforming Fears
Venue : Attend #WhatsAppWorkshop# at the comfort of your home or office on WhatsApp only.
Duration: 21 days, starts 3rd July 2019
Energy Exchange :
Please pay ₹ 2700 by Paytm or account transfer
Account details: Name : Pallavi Mangtani
Bank Name: YES
Bank
A/C No.:
013391800001047
IFSC
Code:YESB0000133
Or Paytm 9717481666
Group discounts are
available for a group of 3 or more participants.
Thanks
Pallavi Mangtani
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