Hi Friends,

Even as I launch this today ( my 80th Birthday ), I realize that there is yet so much to say and do. There is just no time to look back, no time to wonder,"Will anyone read these pages?"

With regards,
Hemen Parekh
27 June 2013

Now as I approach my 90th birthday ( 27 June 2023 ) , I invite you to visit my Digital Avatar ( www.hemenparekh.ai ) – and continue chatting with me , even when I am no more here physically

Monday 14 October 2013

BJP agrees with Congress ?



First it was Jairam Ramesh who said ,


“ In India more people have access to a mobile phone than have access to a toilet “


Then along came Narendra Modi to declare ,


“ For me , development translates into , Toilets before Temples “


It is another matter that both may be eyeing the votes of 50 % of the Indian population which have no access to private toilets and must do their dirty work , out in the open !


But then why is UPA government in a tearing hurry to give away ( free ) , 22.5 million mobile phones to BPL ( Below the poverty Line ) families ?



Especially when they already have a mobile phone ?



Would it not make more sense – even electoral sense – to urgently build 22.5 million toilets , on the corners of each and every street ?


Just imagine the boost that will give to the economy !


Can some clever engineers / economists figure out the number of jobs that will get created in the Steel / Cement / Construction industries ?


And by converting thousands of existing dry toilets to flush toilets , 750,000 families will be relieved of carrying night-soil ( from dry toilets ) on their heads ! A nation's shame beyond words !


If this idea is properly packaged / sold to Bill Gates , he may even make an outright grant of  $ ONE BILLION  to Sulabh Sauchalaya to implement the project !


Among dozens of differences , it is refreshing to find BJP and Congress agreeing that toilets make a better “ Meeting Place “ for millions , than Temples !


Cleanliness is Godliness



·           hemen  parekh  (  15  Oct  2013  ) 

Sunday 13 October 2013

Some learn : Some just won’t !



Ø  Naveen Patnaik  - CM. Odisha ( Learner )


In 1999 , a Super-Cyclone killed 10,000 people in Odisha

Before  Phailin Cyclone struck Gopalpur(Odisha) 
 two days back , Patnaik’s government had managed to move  900,000 people into hundreds of storm shelters  which it had constructed since 1999

Result  ?

Only 23 deaths so far



Ø  Shivraj  Patil – CM , Madhya Pradesh ( Forgetful )



In 2006 , in a stampede at a temple in Datiya district , 40 persons had died.

In a repeat of history , at the same temple , 109 persons died  yesterday , in an identical stampede !


Why  ?


MP Government failed to ,


·         Construct separate / barricaded pathways ( even if temporary ) for coming and returning traffic of lakhs of devotees  

·         Ensure single-person movement within these pathways (ala Tirupati )

·         Depute just 500 policemen all along the path to regulate the surge of the crowd

·         Provide CCTV-control booths at intervals of 500 meters each
  

·         Provide CCTV based “ Darshan “ of the deity along the way ( ala Shirdi SaiBaba )

·         Continuously issue instructions over Public Announcement System

·         Patrol the entire stretch with Police Vans and Ambulances

·         Make provision for water along the way

·         Get NGOs to help regulate traffic by providing volunteers



       But of course , as always expected after such – entirely avoidable tragedies ,



·         CM  /  PM  / UPA Chairperson and sundry other publicity-seeking politicians , expressed their “ deep shock and anguish “

·         State Government promptly announced a Magisterial  Inquiry

·         CM announced payment of Rs 1.5 lakhs to families of the victims ( Blood Money ? )


For politicians of India , life is not merely cheap , it is worth “ Ridicule “ !


They don’t treat this as “ Murder “ ! May be waiting for the Supreme Court to say so  !


So , why learn a lesson from the past ?




·          Hemen  parekh   (  14  Oct  2013  )

Saturday 12 October 2013

AAP stands for Awake / Arise / People



Twelve hours back , cyclone Phailin struck the coasts of Andhra and Odisha


It is too early to predict the damage to property and human lives . It will take a few weeks to assess the full quantum of destruction


And , thereafter , it will take months to rebuild


What might help contain the damage is the early warning , coupled with timely preventive steps


On 4th December , another cyclone will strike Delhi – but a political , man-made cyclone !


It is called AAP  (  Aam  Aadmi  Party  )


But , unlike Phailin , AAP will be a “ Constructive “  cyclone !


Only thing it will destroy is  “ Corruption “


AAP was in the making for over 2 years now – except that it was continuously / contemptuously ignored by the ruling Congress


Now , Congress  is frantically running around for a  “ Storm Shelter “


Alas  !  there is none  !


And after  “  Re-constructing  “  Delhi , in the next few months , AAP will sweep the entire country


AAP stands for “ Awake , Arise , People  “



·         hemen  parekh  (  13  Oct  2013  )
   


Friday 11 October 2013

Confidence Vs Arrogance



Both , Sheila Dikshit ( Congress ) and Vijay Goel ( BJP ) , are loudly proclaiming that their party will win the forthcoming Delhi Assembly Elections , with a thumping majority


Even Arvind Kejriwal ( Aam Aadmi Party ) is saying the same


That is understandable , considering that the Commanders must enthuse their cadres


Such confidence on their part is a pre-requisite for winning


But what happens when Sheila Dikshit says ,



“ Aam Aadmi Party ? Who are they ? Nobody !

  They don’t scare us . They are insignificant .

  What is their agenda ?  What is their record  ?

  People of Delhi will ignore them ! “



Now , that is bravado


People of Delhi  !


For over a decade , you have suffered this insult


4th December is your time to teach a lesson to the arrogant rulers of Delhi


By voting / electing , at least 40 AAP candidates


Only you can give yourself a break  !




·          hemen  parekh  (  12  Oct  2013  )



Thursday 10 October 2013

Honest Cannot Win ?



Recently , a leading political leader is supposed to have said ,


“ Honest people cannot win elections “


A few weeks earlier , another leader publicly claimed ,


“ For winning my election , I had spent Rs 10 Crores by way of election expenses “

[  But when cornered by the Election Commission , he gave some  clever / imaginative ,  explanations and interpretations of his statement !  ]


Everyone – including the voters – know that the actual expenses to fight an election do run up from a few lakhs ( for a Municipal Election ) to a few crores ( for MP / MLA seat )


By prescribing a ridiculously low limit ( for such expenses ) , we ourselves are responsible to turn – otherwise honest politicians , into liars ! ( Not that there are many of them ! )


Unless Aam Aadmi Party (  AAP  ) candidates fighting Delhi State Assembly Elections prove that it IS possible to fight – and win – elections , within the expenses limit prescribed by the Law !


People of Delhi  !


You have a chance to prove that “ Honesty Pays “


By electing at least 40  AAP  candidates on 4th December



·          hemen  parekh  (  11  Oct  2013  )  



Wednesday 9 October 2013

Crime Does Not Pay ?



Here are some disturbing facts :


Ø    In 2008 Delhi Assembly elections , number of “ tainted “ candidates were,

·         Congress  ……………..  30  %

·         BJP  ……………………….  35  %


(  Insist on knowing current percentages  before 4th December  ! )



Ø    Of the sitting MLAs in Delhi ,


·         With criminal antecedents  …………….  43  %

·         Number of Crorepatis ……………………..  69  %



Ø    In 2004 National elections ,


·         Ave assets of contesting candidates  ……………..     Rs 1.37  Crores

·         Ave assets of victorious candidates  ………………..      Rs  3.83 Crores


·         Ave assets of MPs / MLAs facing serious charges..    Rs 4.3 Crores



(  Will somebody find / publish what are the ave assets of candidates of each party in forthcoming  Delhi elections ?  )



Only 2 days back , sitting Congress MP from Haryana advised the youth ,


“ No problem if you fail to become an engineer or a doctor . Just get into politics . You will manage to make hundreds of crores of rupees “


Some time back , same MP had said that he knew a person who had set aside Rs 100 Crores to become a Rajya Sabha MP – but managed to become one with mere Rs 80 Crores !


Obviously , he was talking from an “ Insider’s point of View “ !


People  of  Delhi  !


If you wish to prove that “ Crime Does not Pay “ , then on 4th Dec , go out and elect , at least 40 candidates of Aam  Aadmi  Party


Before 2014 National elections , make your message heard by 725 million voters of India



·          hemen  parekh  (  09  Oct  2013  )



Monday 7 October 2013

N O T A ( None Of The Above )



It is a good thing that , during next month’s State Assembly elections , Election Commission will add , on the EVM ( Electronic Voting Machines ) , a button marked , “ NOTA “


No doubt , at the behest of the Supreme Court


By itself , that may not prevent corrupt and/or criminally-charged candidates from getting elected, but it is a good beginning nevertheless


If ALL the voters do come out to vote and a great majority of them click, NOTA in a particular constituency , then we may safely assume that none of the contesting candidate is CLEAN , in the eyes of the voters


And if the list of the candidates appearing on EVM , includes a person who is a CURRENT MLA , then people’s verdict is loud and clear ,


“ You have failed us . Get out and make way for an honest person “


But the electoral reforms will remain incomplete , till voters get a right to,


Ø  Cast a NEGATIVE VOTE against any particular candidate instead of the entire panel. Every voter gets to cast only ONE vote - either positive or negative !


Ø  Recall a inefficient and/or corrupt existing MLA , anytime during tenure


People  of  Delhi  !


With an AAP candidate to choose in each and every constituency , you don’t need NOTAP ( None of the above person )



On 4th Dec , just go out and “ Vote-AAP “ !  No less than  40  !


You already have a THIRD FRONT !




·          hemen  parekh  (  08, Oct  2013  )