My travails during return journey from Johannesburg!!!

Compelled to reschedule my return journey from 26th Nov to 12th Dec, I battled initially to get an extension on Air Mauritius. Reason - Expensive options due to peak holiday season in South Africa.
Forced to scout out alternatives, one airline suited the budget.
Saudi Airlines!! One glaring thing one must get used to.... No alcohol on these flights and till you  conclude your journey! It didn't make a difference to me but to some it can be a journey breaker.
With the minimal difference between one-way and return options, I chose the return.
My grouse started when I tried checking in online. For whatever reason, I wasn't allowed to choose my seats for the connecting flight from Jeddah. Even the assistant at the check-in counter couldn't help me with choice of seats.
Proceeding further, agnostic of how the food on the flight would be, I was glad to have access to the lounge where I had my brunch, well almost!
Flight was at 11:00 and I was shocked 😳 to see that there was no entertainment console for such a long flight. Anyway, I was equipped with my cellphone full of content to keep me contented throughout the flight. But the plight of families travelling with kids, young and teens, was a sore sight, I wish to forget very quickly!!
The highlight of the otherwise insipid flight was the exuberant and enthusiastic hostesses, ever smiling and taking care of even minor requirements with great aplomb!!
I don't want to prejudge this attitude of the hostesses, as a means to cover-up the non-availability of basic amenities for a long flight.
Be that as it may, the in-flight service was top-notch!!
Probably that was the only saving grace of this airline.
Dog tired due to my hectic activities in Johannesburg, I could sleep well on the flight and this was one more feather in the cap for the airlines, as there was no entertainment console, by design, to disturb my sleep...
On landing at Jeddah, we were shuttled to the old block of structure which vaguely resembled a terminal building. Crossing over again through security check, I entered the duty free outlets, a pale comparison of duty-free shopping in terminals elsewhere...
Wading through these outlets, I was aghast and dumbfounded to see the crowd of at least several hundred in the cramped building.
Being a holder of Priority Pass, I quickly searched for the lounges and was ushered to the one just before the duty free.
On reaching there, I felt like dropping down from frying pan to 🔥!!
No access was granted to my card that is normally accepted in almost all airport lounges across the 🌏!!
Had to kill 7 hrs somehow but the density of crowd in the terminal was almost like travelling in Namma Metro at peak hours.

• After a good half an hour I could get a recliner seat and thank God for this!

The joy was short-lived. Since the seat was adjoining gates, I couldn't even catch a wink as the gate counter assistants were yelling at the top of their voices... Dubai, Dammam, Multan, Cairo (Kaheraa), Islamabad, Dubai, Etc..  as and when the flights were ready for departure... So primitive that it reminded me of the conductors yelling and attracting passengers for their respective buses at Bengaluru's Kalasipalyam bus stand in the yester years...
My ordeal didn't end here. I tried to locate the washroom for relieving and to my utter shock found only one block for men and another for women perhaps housing not more than 5 toilets each. One peep from the door, I withdrew and held back using a washroom till I got in to my flight in the wee hours of the morning, consoling myself *'All is well'*!
I'm sure there would be lots of people contracting UTI 😷☹️forced to use the facilities..with such pathetic infrastructure. My sympathies to them.
Finally, after what seemed an eternity, my flight was announced.
I dashed towards the gates and was one of the first to board the flight.
Securing my luggage in the hatrack, I sneaked into the fresh (?) toilet to relieve myself of all the toxins that was accumulated over the last couple of hours.
Tears of relief rolling down from my eyes, I had a quick face wash and snuggled into my seat for the last leg of my return journey. Hostesses were equally charming as on my first flight but not as exuberant. Reasons could be the demanding Indian crowd on these leg of the flights into Indian cities. I don't blame the hostesses but ourselves for the apathy.
Had an excellent company in my co-passengers, a lady and a gentleman. Greetings and pleasantries behind us, I had a jolly good time with them and we exchanged our coordinates.
On the whole it was quite a journey with all sorts of  emotions running through and I was glad it came to an end a tad earlier as the flight landed ahead of schedule.
Hello Bengaluru!!! 
Home sweet home!

My cent or two, advice to travellers on Saudi Airlines:
1. Expect the unexpected chaos at Jeddah airport.
2. Be stingy on liquid and solid intake unless if you can bear the stench and risk UTI by using ablution facilities at Jeddah Terminal.
3. Don't expect liquor to be served in the flights or at lounges across Saudi Arabian airports, not even '0%' alcohol beers.
4. Lounges are the preserve of only Business and First class passengers unless you are ready to pay.
5. Depending on the aircraft features, I'm sure you will otherwise enjoy the experience with good team of host/esses. 

Draconian Divide & Rule Laws!!

It has been over 70 years since British left the shores of India. Of the umpteen laws of British Raj era, some have been more divisive between the States (Provinces) than others. One such law, each and every other State has passed (some during the erstwhile Raj, while others emulating neighbouring states) is the State Excise Acts.

States have the prerogative over control of Alcohol manufacture and trade in their respective jurisdiction. For the purposes of movement of trade, each such State is virtually a country with extremely tedious paperwork and bureaucratic hassles.

The control of alcohol business in different States, squeezing out every bit as excise duties and taxes to fill the coffers of the Raj, was the genesis of these draconian laws.

Strict vigilance and control over the manufacture, bottling and distribution process, is just the start of the chain of regulation. There is a team of Excise Inspectorate stationed in each of the Brewery, Distillery or Winery overseeing these operations. The establishment of Excise Inspectorate at various manufacturing centres is enshrined in the respective State Excise Acts, itself.

While at the distribution end, there are registers and paperwork, needs to be maintained by each and every outlet, be it a Liquor Store, Bar & Restaurant, Recreational Clubs, etc. and audited by the Excise department.

In addition, there are physical check-posts at the borders of each State ensuring the correct movement of alcoholic beverages. Many a State has enacted a Transit Clause in their Excise Laws, for movement of these goods via their State into neighbouring ones.  

Just imagine the huge resources spent/deployed by the States in ensuring compliance at various stages of the value chain. All these are ultimately paid for by the consumers of Alcohol.

One should bear in mind the enormous share of State Excise Duty in the State’s revenues. Added to this, certain State Governments have monopoly over the distribution (some at primary distribution levels while many others, at retail levels) and the stupendous amounts collected by these channels by porous Distribution Corporations, needs special mention.

At all these touch points, one can imagine the extent and amount of corruption that takes place, the greedy intent of State Governments’ in garnering more and more revenues by way of increased “Sin Taxes”  while the social purpose of controlling Alcobev industry take a backseat.

These draconian laws, added to the distribution monopoly in certain States, where manufacturers are not given a fair price for their products to be sold in that particular State, will definitely put the pressure on these manufacturers to find creative ways in recovering their costs and offsetting their margins.

My two cents:

Isn’t it time to do away with the State Excise Acts and bring about other means to compensate the States for their revenues?

Isn’t there a better way to moderate the distribution and sale of Alcoholic beverages?

RO Water usage and its impact on health in India!

Recent years India has seen an explosion of Reverse Osmosis (RO) Water Purifiers across various price levels. Many a bottled water too, proudly proclaim that the water is purified using RO process.

Hold your breath!

8 out of 10 persons in Urban India is deficient in Vitamin D (Recent reports of Delhi). 

Strongest possible cause of this is RO WATER!!! 

SHOCKED???

WHO has published a Report revealing facts in "Health Risks From Drinking Demineralised Water" by Frantisek Kozisek of National Institute of Public Health, Czech Republic.

The video clipping of Kalgidhar Trust www.barusahib.org received on WhatsApp, reveals the potential harm created by using RO water in India and elsewhere. 

WHO says "In search for clean drinking water, we remove many essential minerals from water" RO water actually causes health problems. WHO has also released report after analysing hundreds of scientific studies stating that RO water "has a definite adverse influence on humans."

Similar study was published in Medical Journal Armed Forces in India "Demineralization of drinking water: Is it prudent?" by Col. K C Verma and Lt Col. A.S. Kushwaha.

In Czech and Slovak Health Regulators were shocked when health complaints of acute Calcium (Vitamin D) and Magnesium deficiencies were reported within weeks after home taps were supplied with RO water, way back in the 2000. 

RO Water being naturally hungry and ever ready to bond, will start sucking available minerals like Calcium and Magnesium from wherever possible (mostly from our body salts and food) and unless replenished, will result in impacting our health by exposing our body to Osteoporosis, Arthritis, Cramps, Diabetes, Heart Diseases, Anxiety, Restlessness, etc.

Note particularly: Demineralising the water and supposedly remineralising the same; though with right minerals in exact proportions, shall not be the same that can be said of natural water.

Potability of tanker supplied water (which is supposedly  controlled by mafia), is always a suspect and hence the proliferation of various types of water filters across the country with tall claims.

Add this to the super marketing and pushing down the throats (literally), of bottled water; has taken away whatever immunity is left in us and has made us vulnerable to various diseases, at the drop of the hat!

Just a thought!!!

My two cents:

1. Various indigenous filters are available that purifies water to acceptable levels. Usage of these are far better than becoming slaves of RO water.
2. Those with RO Water Purifiers at their homes must check the TDS level of output water and adjust it to 300-400 TDS. Anything less than these levels are a health hazard.

Source: Video clipping of Kalgidhar Trust www.barusahib.org received on WhatsApp.

Advertisements - Hysterics in Regional Language Translation and Dubbing!

Looking at various adverts of national products, in regional language (Kannada in particular), makes me laugh even in very serious and pensive moods.

This relates to the AV commercials that run on various TV Channels.

The language used in translating the national commercial campaigns of various companies, for their products, make me chuckle with humour more than thinking about the message from the commercial.

I can quote many examples of such commercials. Most of these are originally made in Hindi or English languages and dubbed in suitable regional languages, based on the coverage sought by the companies.

Agnostic about other regional languages but in Kannada, the choice of words and sentences used in dubbing, is hilarious as the translation appears to have been made without considering the style of language spoken in the State/Region.

Each language has its own style in delivering the sentence and making sense of it. However, the transliteration of words disregarding the style in which it is spoke, leaves one chuckling holding their stomachs. This naturally, has a very bad impact people in accepting wrong transcripts and over a period of time, this becomes the new norm.

My two cents:
Care should be taken by the relevant Advertising and Publicity Agencies, in not diluting the culture and style of regional languages while transcribing the message to be sent across.

Electric/Articulated Two Wheelers, MV Act applicable for the same!

Post returning to Bengaluru from Johannesburg, I have seen a number of Electric Two Wheelers (ETVs) which neither possess number plates nor the riders wearing any protective headgear (helmets).

Incentivising the users by way of exempting them from affixing number plates and not wearing helmets, is an absolutely wrong way. There are better ways to incentivise them.

This just goes to make known our apathy for safety, to the whole world, in the most stupid way. Any sane person (even a child) would ask the question on how the riders' heads are protected by using ETVs? Similarly, riders of articulated two wheelers (to suit differently abled persons) must compulsorily wear helmets as they are more prone to hit their heads to the kerb/roads should they fall from their vehicles.

I know, I will draw flak from such users as they are currently, technically correct in not using helmets. Can you discount the rule of law for your safety? No way!

Currently, there are no statistics available on number of ETVs on the roads of City/State/Country, unless there are alternative sources of information available at once place in the Department of Transport.

Following questions need answers as well.

• What happens when an ETV meets with an accident? 
• How does the Insurance claims work? 
• If there is no insurance for ETVs, how is the third party claim viewed? 

I am sure there must be answers for these questions. Coming from another country where Insurance Compliance was paramount, I feel there is a lacunae here.

My two cents on ETVs:

1. Registration of all ETVs must be made compulsory. This can be a separate license number unique from the regular one. What happens if there is a hit and run by an ETV rider? Without a registration number, who are you identifying as the perpetrator? 
2. Insurance (if not) must be made compulsory for all Vehicles using our roads. ETVs included.
3. Full compliance to the MV Act for all ETVs is a must and no leeway given, for any reason.

Issuing Traffic Penalty/Fine Challans by Traffic Police.

We have been seeing a spurt in the reporting of traffic violation challans these days, post new MV Act.

To make this process more transparent and above board by those who are issuing challans, my two cents are as below:

1. Issue bodycams (after proper training) to traffic police personnel involved in roadblocks and issue of challans to traffic violators. This will instill a great level of confidence to the general public and to the police personnel themselves and also will stand as a great witness, when called upon in the event of any dispute.
2. This exercise will also keep the whole process above board with no room for speculation regarding any corruption. The monetary levels of penalties now, is so high that there is a strong temptation by both the violators of the Act and also the enforcers, to resort to corrupt practices. Bodycams will act as a severe deterrent to mitigate this possibility. 
3. Enforcing personnel must be trained suitably, encouraged and incentivised to wear bodycams during enforcement operations. Strict orders must be given to enforcers that they should report any malfunctions in their bodycams so that appropriate steps can be taken to rectify the same at the earliest. 

Reactions to hefty traffic violation fines!!

It surprised me when I saw that a couple of states didn't implement the New Motor Vehicles Act. Is it in defiance to Modi as a person or BJP as a party? No clue. One thing remains true that they are cutting their noses off to spite their faces.

There is is huge propaganda and tear jerking news clipping about hefty fines levied for minor (?) traffic violations like not wearing a helmet (you must be joking if you think this is a minor one!).

My two cents about this:
1. You have the choice to either obey the law and not pay any fines; or,
2. Defy the law and be ready to face the full might of it.
It is easier to follow option 1.
Just to give you an example, during my stay in Johannesburg for over 16 years, I have not paid a single traffic violation fine. It is easier and safer to obey the law, and economical to do so as well. Couple of my friends have paid hefty fines there and have been behind bars for DUI.

I think India had let loose all these people who had defied the law, all these days.
Enough is Enough! 

New Motor Vehicles Act, 2019.

We have been hearing/reading about atrocious fines and penalties being levied on errant drivers, post implementation of new MV Act.
Even discounting the monies paid to corrupt enforcers to MV Act, it is still a good deterrent to erring MV users.

My two cents:

1. Can the Information and Broadcasting Ministry take stern action on all producers of soapies across all language channels in India, for depicting violations of MV Act? I have seen soapies where, various characters are shown not wearing seat belts, talking on cellphones while driving, etc. Though there is a warning message displayed during this violation, it is still an offence as they are using public roads for shooting the act.
2. Is the seat-belt for passenger's seat an Optional Extra? Do passengers feel that they are made of steel and won't be impacted in case of an accident? At least not to the extent of the driver? Poppycock! The impact of their head hitting the windscreen in case of an impact will fracture their skull and would mean instant death.
3. Why do we make young children sit in the front passenger's seat? Even in some of the developing countries like South Africa, it is illegal to carry children under a certain age, as passengers in the front seat. I have seen very young children on the lap of the driver while driving and these drivers must be penalised heavily.

Indian Automobile Industry in dire straits!

We have seen many an article and news clipping about the Indian Automobile Industry suffering its worst in decades.
Let's get to the bottom of it.
For a country with its urban and town road infrastructure, bursting at its seams, has any town planning been done in the recent decades for mitigating the narrow single lane roads in most cases? Baring a few new towns in the last 3-4 decades like Navi Mumbai and others where open space was never a constraint, rest of the metros, cities and towns have done very little in terms of infrastructure planning for wide roads.
The influx of 2/3 wheeler population in many of these metros, etc., are in the eye of the storm creating major chaos to the traffic issues. Their unruly behaviour in using the common shared resources are far from desired level of maturity.  signal jumping is in vogue and courtesy driving is an unknown terminology in these users' vocabulary.
Users include hand/bullock/horse carts, cyclists, 2/3 wheelers, motor cars, trucks and buses and to top all these, pedestrians dodging and dancing between roads, footpaths (if existing after all encroachment from various businesses) has gone up multi-fold with not much of widening the existing roads. If any expansion is done, it is quickly gobbled by ever expanding traffic population in no time.
Thankfully, the National and State Highways has been given a lot of prominence and one can see a huge difference from the days of single lane roads to multi lane dual carriageways.
With rapid growth of economy at major metros and neo-metros there is an unprecedented migration from class 3-4 cities to these hubs, adding fuel to an already burning inferno! I have seen a spurt of agricultural tractors/tillers in my home town of Bengaluru, confirming the theory of mass migration to cities from rural towns/villages. These too, block the roads with their wide bodied trailers and more often than not being used to dump construction debris.

Now, let's take the instance of the number of motor cars (brands/variants, et al) plying on these roads. Many of these vehicles are over 10-15 years old and in any other developed country, these would have been scrapped or palmed off to third world countries as pre-used vehicles.
I had heard/read somewhere that Japan doesn't allow use of motor cars that has crossed 60,000ks on the clock. Had seen many of these old vehicles in Botswana and other African countries, to which they are exported to!!
Financial Institutions abhor from funding purchase of vehicles over 5 years old. Prevalent, even in countries like South Africa (which, I am familiar as I lived there for over a decade and a half), older vehicles are relegated to the townships away from metros, small towns, villages and thereafter cannibalised for spares at these centres and finally scrapped.
Average age of motor cars, in major metros, are less than 6 compared to over 10-12 years in India.
Fitness certification of old vehicles and also when the ownership transfers, is viewed very seriously.

'Chalta hain' attitude 'Nahin chalta hain'.

I understand the aspirations of our consumers, in either emulating the B/Hollywood heroes or what they would have seen on their sojourn to a foreign country, in desiring the latest model/brand of vehicles to be owned by them, but at what cost to the Nation and Automobile Industry. Auto makers on the other hand, are keen to bring in variants and models to match the aspirations.
There is a major mismatch between the demand of and the supply for the number of models/variants that are in the market today. Understandably, India's diverse population, with equally diverse income levels, needs all these variants.
Many of these consumers have bought their vehicles just because they get easy loans for these durables, totally disregarding whether there is a need for it at all. More often than not, they don't even have parking places but along kerbside of their houses/offices.
These vehicle manufacturers and their marketing wings also try and whet the mindsets of the consumers through enticing ads, featuring glamours models. 

A good move has been made, with the implementation of the Motor Vehicles Act/Bill, effective 1 September, 2019. Implementation of any law is only as good as its administration and governance. I hope this will go a long way in improving public safety.

Conclusion:
How can we, in India, deal with such policy issues in tackling the ailments of automobile industry??
Maybe, a thorough discussion is called for in making radical changes in Auto Sector Policy. Not just the motor cars, we need a policy overhaul in other motor vehicles (mainly trucks and 2/3 wheelers) as well.
There is also an urgent need to spruce up the control, compliance and enforcement mechanism to all erring users of our shared resources (Roads, Toll Booths, et al).

Re-writing History

History, they say, is written by the winners of war in glorifying their courage, valour and dominance over their opponents. 
Many a countries history has been distorted by invasions of Europeans in the garb of trade, silently bringing in troops to 'Protect' their traders.
Stark example of wiping out whole of history; including local languages, traditions and culture while force-breeding with the locals inducing fear amongst them, happened throughout the continent of South America.
Except for the tribals deep inside the Amazonian forests, most others speak either Spanish or Portuguese and have no clue of their own native languages.
Our own country is not far behind in embracing history as narrated by the British or other vandals who plundered our country.
Even after 72 years of independence, efforts to revisit history and rewrite many follies, has been kept at a bay by vested interests, masquerading as intellectuals in literary and other fields including corrupt politicians and bureaucrats!!
Now, people should question the apathy to rewrite Indian history books with correct narratives.
At least, let our future generations know the correct historical instances and events, they can relate to their particular State or Region & of India as well!

My thoughts on current TV Serials

My thoughts on the current TV serials (Soapies):

Gone are the days when the good old soapies like Hum Log, Buniyad et al. were watched loyally by families including children, with great interest. Even our great epics like Ramayana and Mahabharatha were produced and directed with lot of revere and were very successful. 

Even today, families watch soapies with innocent children and what are the producers/directors of these soapies offering as good principles? Zilch.

These days, all the soapies offer fiction at its height. None of these cater to middleclass or poor class viewership in a realistic way but create unnecessary aspiration for this class to dream and get to a higher class without much effort. Joint families are depicted as the bane of peaceful coexistence while female villainous characters put the legendary villains like Gabbar Singh or Mogambo, to shame, hands-down.

Point in case is my reference to all the serials in Colours Kannada that is being watched by millions in my native state and others elsewhere.

The essence of community living is very absent and the principles of joint family living has been thrown out of the door. Instead, such serials are succeeding in sowing seeds of destruction in the very concept of time tested joint family systems. I thought it was just the case with a few media channels but was flabbergasted to note that even other language serials are equally similar. Blackmailing, kidnapping, murderous acts, spreading hatred amongst the family members, etc. are the backbone themes of these serials.

So much so, even the serials like ‘Shani’ is not lacking in the utter mediocrity and whimsical fantasies of not just the producer and director but also of the channels that telecast these serials. Hindu Gods are shown in very poor light and their characters are made light of. It is sad to see that no Hindu organisation has even lodged a protest or taken any action against these type of serials and I fear a conspiracy to belittle Hindus here.

There is not much difference in the central plots of all these serials. It is disgustingly amazing to see how these producers/directors and the channels are fooling the public in showing the dumb characters of the social soapies as realities whereas in reality; the police and crime fighters are using available technology to its hilt, in fighting crimes.

Introduction

Hello Wonderful People of Our Beautiful World!
I just created my blog to publish posts on economic, social, travel & food, current and other issues, where I give my humble cent or two advise/opinion.
Also would publish anecdotes and real life incidents of self, family and friends (with their permission, of course).
Please send me your feedback on these posts/articles which will help me in bettering my offerings to you, my valuable readers.
Happy reading!!!
Ramesh