GK !!

PAN explained

PAN is a 10 digit alpha numeric number, where the first 5 characters are letters, the next 4 numbers and the last one a letter again. These 10 characters can be divided in five parts as can be seen below. The meaning of each number has been explained further.
1. First three characters are alphabetic series running from AAA to ZZZ
2. Fourth character of PAN represents the status of the PAN holder.
• C — Company
• P — Person
• H — HUF(Hindu Undivided Family)
• F — Firm
• A — Association of Persons (AOP)
• T — AOP (Trust)
• B — Body of Individuals (BOI)
• L — Local Authority
• J — Artificial Juridical Person
• G — Government
3. Fifth character represents first character of the PAN holder’s last name/surname.
4. Next four characters are sequential number running from 0001 to 9999.
5. Last character in the PAN is an alphabetic check digit.
Nowadays, the DOI (Date of Issue) of PAN card is mentioned at the right (vertical) hand side of the photo on the PAN card.

How some of the global companies were named..........

Mercedes:
This was actually financier’s daughter’s name.

Adobe:
This came from the name of the river Adobe Creek that ran behind the house of founder John Warnock.

Apple Computers:
It was the favourite fruit of founder Steve Jobbs.He was three months late for filing a name for the business, and he threatened to call his company Apple Computers if the other colleagues didn’t suggest a better name by 5 o’clock.

CISCO:
It is not an acronym as popularly believed. Its short for San Francisco.

Compaq:
This name was formed by using COMp, for computer and PAQ to denote a small integral object.

Corel:
The name was derived from the founder’s name Dr. Michael Cowpland. It stands for COwpland Research Laboratory.

Google:
The name started as a joke boasting about the amount of information the search-engine would be able to search. It was originally named ‘Googol’,a word for the number represented by 1 followed by 100 zeros. After founders – Stanford graduate students Sergey Brin and Larry Page presented their project to an angel investor; they received a cheque made out to ‘Google’.

Hotmail:
Founder Jack Smith got the idea of accessing e-mail via the web from a computer anywhere in the world. When Sabeer Bhatia came up with the business plan for the mail service, he tried all kinds of names ending in ‘mail’ and finally settled for hotmail as it included the letters”html” – the programming language used to write web pages. It was initially referred to as HoTMaiL with selective uppercasing.

Hewlett Packard :
Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard tossed a coin to decide whether the company they founded would be called Hewlett-Packard or Packard-Hewlett.

Intel:
Bob Noyce and Gordon Moore wanted to name their new company ‘Moore Noyce’ but that was already trademarked by a hotel chain so they had to settle for an acronym of INTegrated ELectronics.

Lotus (Notes):
Mitch Kapor got the name for his company from ‘The Lotus Position’ or’Padmasana’ . Kapor used to be a teacher of transcendental Meditation of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

Microsoft:
Coined by Bill Gates to represent the company that was devoted to MICROcomputer SOFTware. Originally christened Micro-Soft, the ‘-’ was removed later on.

Motorola:
Founder Paul Galvin came up with this name when his company started manufacturing radios for cars. The popular radio company at the time was called Victrola.

Sony:
It originated from the Latin word ‘sonus’ meaning sound, and ‘sonny’ as lang used by Americans to refer to a bright youngster.

SUN:
Founded by 4 Stanford University buddies, SUN is the acronym forStanford University Network. Andreas Bechtolsheim built a microcomputer; Vinod Khosla recruited him and Scott McNealy to manufacture computers based on it, and Bill Joy to develop a UNIX-based OS for the computer.

Apache:
It got its name because its founders got started by applying patches to code written for NCSA’s httpd daemon.. The result was ‘A PAtCHy’ server –thus, the name Apache Jakarta (project from Apache):A project constituted by SUN and Apache to create a web server handling servlets and JSPs. Jakarta was name of the conference room at SUN where most of the meetings between SUN and Apache took place.

Tomcat:
The servlet part of the Jakarta project. Tomcat was the code name for the JSDK 2.1 project inside SUN.

C:
Dennis Ritchie improved on the B programming language and called it ‘New B’.He later called it C. Earlier B was created by Ken Thompson as a revision of the Bon programming language (named after his wife Bonnie).

C++:
Bjarne Stroustrup called his new language ‘C with Classes’ and then ‘newC’. Because of which the original C began to be called ‘old C’ which was considered insulting to the C community. At this time Rick Mascitti suggested the name C++ as a successor to C.

GNU:
A species of African antelope. Founder of the GNU project Richard Stallman liked the name because of the humor associated with its pronunciation and was also influenced by the children’s song ‘The Gnu Song’ which is a song sung by a gnu. Also it fitted into the recursive acronym culture with ‘GNU’s Not Unix’.

Java:
Originally called Oak by creator James Gosling, from the tree that stood outside his window, the programming team had to look for a substitute as there was no other language with the same name. Java was selected from a list of suggestions. It came from the name of the coffee that the programmers drank.

LG:
Combination of two popular Korean brands Lucky and Goldstar.

Linux:
Linus Torvalds originally used the Minix OS on his system which here placed by his OS. Hence the working name was Linux (Linus’ Minix). He thought the name to be too egotistical and planned to name it Freax(free+ freak + x).His friend Ari Lemmke encouraged Linus to upload it to a network so it could be easily downloaded. Ari gave Linus a directory called linux on his FTP server, as he did not like the name Freax.(Linus’ parents named him after two-time Nobel Prize winner Linus Pauling) .

Mozilla:
When Marc Andreesen, founder of Netscape, created a browser to replace Mosaic (also developed by him), it was named Mozilla (Mosaic-Killer, Godzilla) .The marketing guys didn’t like the name however and it wasre-christened Netscape Navigator.

Red Hat:
Company founder Marc Ewing was given the Cornell lacrosse team cap (with red and white stripes) while at college by his grandfather. He lost it and had to search for it desperately. The manual of the beta version of Red Hat Linux had an appeal to readers to return his Red Hat if found by anyone!

SAP:
“Systems, Applications, Products in Data Processing”, formed by 4 ex-IBM employees who used to work in the ‘Systems/Applicatio ns/Projects’ group of IBM.

SCO (UNIX):
From Santa Cruz Operation. The company’s office was in Santa Cruz.

UNIX:
When Bell Labs pulled out of MULTICS (MULTiplexed Information and Computing System), which was originally a joint Bell/GE/MIT project, KenThompson and Dennis Ritchie of Bell Labs wrote a simpler version of the OS.They needed the OS to run the game Space War which was compiled underMULTICS. It was called UNICS – UNIplexed operating and Computing System by Brian Kernighan. It was later shortened to UNIX.

Xerox:
The inventor, Chestor Carlson, named his product trying to say `dry’ (asit was dry copying, markedly different from the then prevailing wet copying). The Greek root `xer’ means dry.

Yahoo!:
The word was invented by Jonathan Swift and used in his book ‘Gulliver’s Travels’ . It represents a person who is repulsive in appearance and action and is barely human. Yahoo! founders Jerry Yang and David Filo selected the name because they considered themselves yahoos.

3M:
Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company started off by mining the material corundum used to make sandpaper.

WHY TO VISIT TEMPLES ? - Scientific Reason

                                          
There are thousands of temples all over India in different size, shape and locations but not all of them are considered to be built the Vedic way. Generally, a temple should be located at a place where earth's magnetic wave path passes through densely. It can be in the outskirts of a town/village or city, or in middle of the dwelling place, or on a hilltop. The essence of visiting a temple is discussed here.

Now, these temples are located strategically at a place where the positive energy is abundantly available from the magnetic and electric wave distributions of north/south pole thrust. The main idol is placed in the core center of the temple, known as "*Garbhagriha*" or *Moolasthanam*. In fact, the temple structure is built after the idol has been placed. This *Moolasthanam* is where earth’s magnetic waves are found to be maximum. We know that there are some copper plates, inscribed with Vedic scripts, buried beneath the Main Idol. What are they really? No, they are not God’s / priests’ flash cards when they forget the *shlokas*. The copper plate absorbs earth’s magnetic waves and radiates it to the surroundings. Thus a person regularly visiting a temple and walking clockwise around the Main Idol receives the beamed magnetic waves and his body absorbs it. This is a very slow process and a regular visit will let him absorb more of this positive energy. Scientifically, it is the positive energy that we all require to have a healthy life.

Further, the Sanctum is closed on three sides. This increases the effect of all energies. The lamp that is lit radiates heat energy and also provides light inside the sanctum to the priests or *poojaris* performing the pooja. The ringing of the bells and the chanting of prayers takes a worshipper into trance, thus not letting his mind waver. When done in groups, this helps people forget personal problems for a while and relieve their stress. The fragrance from the flowers, the burning of camphor give out the chemical energy further aiding in a different good aura. The effect of all these energies is supplemented by the positive energy from the idol, the copper plates and utensils in the *Moolasthan*am / *Garbagraham*. *Theertham*, the “holy” water used during the pooja to wash the idol is not
plain water cleaning the dust off an idol. It is a concoction of Cardamom,*Karpura* (Benzoin), zaffron / saffron, *Tulsi* (Holy Basil), Clove, etc...Washing the idol is to charge the water with the magnetic radiations thus increasing its medicinal values. Three spoons of this holy water is distributed to devotees. Again, this water is mainly a source of magneto-therapy. Besides, the clove essence protects one from tooth decay, the saffron & *Tulsi* leafs protects one from common cold and cough, cardamom and *Pachha Karpuram* (benzoin), act as mouth fresheners. It is proved that *Theertham* is a very good blood purifier, as it is highly energized. Hence it is given as *prasadam* to the devotees. This way, one can claim to remain healthy by regularly visiting the Temples. This is why our elders used to suggest us to offer prayers at the temple so that you will be cured of many ailments. They were not always superstitious. Yes, in a few cases they did go overboard when due to ignorance they hoped many serious diseases could be cured at temples by deities. When people go to a temple for the *Deepaaraadhana*, and when the doors open up, the positive energy gushes out onto the persons who are there. The water that is sprinkled onto the assemblages passes on the energy to all. This also explains why men are not allowed to wear shirts at a few temples and women are requested to wear more ornaments during temple visits. It is through these jewels (metal) that positive energy is absorbed by the women. Also, it is a practice to leave newly purchased jewels at an idol’s feet and then wear them with the idol’s blessings. This act is now justified after reading this article. This act of “seeking divine blessings” before using any new article, like books or pens or automobiles may have stemmed from this through mere observation.

Energy lost in a day’s work is regained through a temple visit and one is refreshed slightly. The positive energy that is spread out in the entire temple and especially around where the main idol is placed, are simply absorbed by one's body and mind. Did you know, every Vaishnava(Vishnu devotees), “must” visit a Vishnu temple twice every day in their location. Our practices are NOT some hard and fast rules framed by 1 man and his followers or God’s words in somebody’s dreams. All the rituals, all the practices are, in reality, well researched, studied and scientifically backed thesis which form the ways of nature to lead a good healthy life.

The scientific and research part of the practices are well camouflaged as “elder’s instructions” or “granny’s teaching’s” which should be obeyed as a mark of respect so as to once again, avoid stress to the mediocre brains. To be continue ....

An important information worth sharing !!!

1.    If you see children Begging anywhere in TAMIL NADU, please contact: "RED CROSS SOCIETY" at 9940217816. They will help the children for their studies.
 
2.    Where you can search for any BLOOD GROUP, you will get thousand's of donor address. www.friendstosupport.org

3.    if you want to purchase product direct from company than visit the site.......... www.discountshopping.co.in
 
4.    Engineering Students can register in www.campuscouncil.com to attend Off Campus for 40 Companies.
 
5.    Free Education and Free hostel for Handicapped/Physically Challenged children: Contact: - 9842062501 & 9894067506.
 
6.    If anyone met with fire accident or people born with problems in their ear, nose and mouth can get free PLASTIC SURGERY done by Kodaikanal   PASAM Hospital. From 23rd March to 4th April by German Doctors.Everything is free. Contact: 045420-240668, 245732 "Helping Hands are Better than Praying Lips".
 
7.    If you find any important documents like Driving license, Ration card, Passport, Bank Pass Book, etc., missed by someone, simply put them into any near by Post Boxes. They will automatically reach the owner and Fine will be collected from them.
 
8.    By the next 10 months, our earth will become 4 degrees hotter than what it is now. Our Himalayan glaciers are melting at rapid rate. So let all of us lend our hands to fight GLOBAL WARMING.
-       Plant more Trees.
-       Don't waste Water & Electricity.
-       Don't use or burn Plastics.
 
9.    It costs 38 Trillion dollars to create OXYGEN for 6 months for all Human beings on earth. "TREES DO IT FOR FREE" "Respect them and Save them".
 
10.    Special phone number for Eye bank and Eye donation: 04428281919 and 04428271616 (Sankara Nethralaya Eye Bank). For More information about how to donate eyes plz visit these sites. http://ruraleye.org/
 
11. Heart Surgery free of cost for children (0-10 yr) Sri Valli Baba Institute Banglore. 10. Contact : 9916737471.
 
12. Medicine for Blood Cancer!!!! 'Imitinef Mercilet' is a medicine which cures blood cancer. It is available free of cost at "Adyar Cancer Institute in Chennai". Create Awareness. It might help someone.
 
Cancer Institute  in Adyar, Chennai
 
Category:  Cancer
Address:
East Canal Bank Road, Gandhi Nagar
Adyar
Chennai -600020
Landmark: Near Michael School
Phone:  044-24910754  044-24910754 ,   044-24911526  044-24911526 ,
044-22350241   044-22350241
 
 
13. Please CHECK WASTAGE OF FOOD. If you have a function/party at your home in India and food gets wasted, don't hesitate to call 1098 (only in India ) - Its not a Joke, This is the number of Child helpline. They will come and collect the food. Please circulate this message which can help feed many children.
 
AND LETS TRY TO HELP INDIA BE A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE IN.

Please Save Our Mother Nature for
"OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS" 

I feel ashamed to call myself an INDIAN

ON Rahul Gandhi: "I feel ashamed to call myself an INDIAN after seeing

what has happened here in UP".

Dear Rahul,

YOU REALLY WANT TO FEEL ASHAMED???????

But don't be disappointed, I would give you ample reasons to feel

ashamed... You really want to feel Ashamed..?

* First Ask Pranav Mukherjee, Why isn't he giving the details of

the account holders in the Swiss Banks.

* Ask your Mother, Who is impeding the Investigation against

Hasan Ali?

* Ask her, Who got 60% Kickbacks in the 2G Scam ?

* Kalamadi is accused of a Few hundred Crores, Who Pocketed the

Rest in the Common Wealth Games?

* Ask Praful Patel what he did to the Indian Airlines? Why did

Air India let go of the Profitable Routes ?

* Why should the Tax Payer pay for the Air India losses, when

you intend to eventually DIVEST IT ANYWAY!!!

* Also, You People can't run an Airline Properly. How can we

expect you to run the Nation?

* Ask Manmohan Singh. Why/What kept him quiet for so long?

* Are Kalmadi and A Raja are Scapegoats to save Big Names like

Harshad Mehta was in the 1992 Stock Market Scandal ?

* Who let the BHOPAL GAS TRAGEDY Accused go Scot Free? (20,000

People died in that Tragedy)

* Who ordered the State Sponsored Massacre of SIKHS in 84?

* Please read more about, How Indira Gandhi pushed the Nation

Under Emergency in 76-77, after the HC declared her election to Lok

Sabha Void!

* WHY ONLY HIGHLIGHT THIS ARREST?

Dear Rahul, to refresh your memory, you were arrested/detained by the

FBI the BOSTON Airport in September 2001.

You were carrying with you $ 1,60,000 in Cash. You couldn't explain why

you were carrying so much Cash.

(Incidentally He was with his Columbian girlfriend Veronique Cartelli,

ALLEGEDLY, the Daughter of Drug Mafia. 9 HOURS he was kept at the

Airport. Later then freed on the intervention of the then Prime Minister

Mr. Vajpayee.. FBI filed an equivalent of an FIR in US and released him.

When FBI was asked to divulge the information, by Right/Freedom to

Information Activists about the reasons Rahul was arrested ...

FBI asked for a NO OBJECTION CERTIFICATE from Rahul Gandhi.

So Subramaniyam Swami wrote a Letter to Rahul Gandhi, " If you have

NOTHING to HIDE, Give us the Permission"

HE NEVER REPLIED!)

Why did that arrest not make Headlines Rahul? You could have gone to the

Media and told, "I am ashamed to call myself an INDIAN?".

Or is it that, you only do like to highlight Symbolic Arrests (like in

UP) and not Actual Arrests (In BOSTON)

Kindly Clarify.....In any case, you want to feel ashamed, Read Along...

YOUR MOTHER'S SO CALLED SACRIFICE OF GIVING UP PRIME MINISTERSHIP in

2004.

According to a Provision in the Citizenship Act, A Foreign National who

becomes a Citizen of India, is bounded by the same restrictions,

which an Indian would face, If he/she were to become a Citizen of Italy.

(Condition based on principle of reciprocity)

Now Since you can't become a PM in Italy, Unless you are born there.

Likewise an Italian Citizen can't become Indian PM,

unless He/She is not born here!

Dr. SUBRAMANIYAM SWAMI (The Man who Exposed the 2G Scam) sent a letter

to the PRESIDENT OF INDIA bringing the same to his Notice.

PRESIDENT OF INDIA sent a letter to Sonia Gandhi to this effect, 3:30

PM, May 17th, 2004.

Swearing Ceremony was scheduled for 5 PM the same Day. Manmohan Singh

was brought in the Picture at the last moment to Save Face!!

Rest of the SACRIFICE DRAMA which she choreographed was an EYE WASH!!!

In fact Sonia Gandhi had sent, 340 letters, each signed by different MP

to the PRESIDENT KALAM, supporting her candidacy for PM.

One of those letters read, "I Sonia Gandhi, elected Member from Rai

Bareli, hereby propose Sonia Gandhi as Prime Minister."

So SHE was Pretty INTERESTED! Until She came to know the Facts! She

didn't make any Sacrifice, It so happens that SONIA GANDHI

couldn't have become the PM of INDIA that time.

You could be Ashamed about that Dear Rahul!! One Credential Sonia G had,

Even that was a HOAX!

THINK ABOUT YOURSELF.

You go to Harvard on Donation Quota. ( Hindujas Gave HARVARD 11 million

dollars the same year, when Rajiv Gandhi was in Power)

Then you are expelled in 3 Months/ You Dropped out in 3 Months....

(Sadly Manmohan Singh wasn't the Dean of Harvard that time, else

you might have had a chance... Too Bad, there is only one Manmohan

Singh!)

Then Why did you go about lying about being Masters in Economics from

Harvard .. before finally taking it off your Resume upon questioning

by Dr. SUBRAMANIYAM SWAMI (The Gentlemen who exposed the 2G Scam)

At St. Stephens.. You Fail the Hindi Exam. Hindi Exam!!!

And you are representing the Biggest Hindi Speaking State of the

Country?

SONIA GANDHI's EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

Sonia G gave a sworn affidavit as a Candidate that She Studied English

at University of Cambridge

According to Cambridge University, there is no such Student EVER! Upon

a Case by Dr. Subramaniyam Swami filed against her, She subsequently

Dropped the CAMBRIDGE CREDENTIAL from her Affidavit.

Sonia Gandhi didn't even pass High School. She is just 5th class Pass!

In this sense, She shares a common Educational Background with her 2G

Partner

In Crime, Karunanidhi.

You Fake your Educational Degree, Your Mother Fakes her Educational

Degree. And then you go out saying, " We want Educated Youth into

Politics!"

WHY LIE ABOUT EDUCATIONAL CREDENTIALS?

Not that Education is a Prerequisite for being a great Leader, but then

you shouldn't have lied about your qualifications!

You could feel a little ashamed about Lying about your Educational

Qualifications. You had your reasons I know, Because in India, WE

RESPECT

EDUCATION!

But who cares about Education, When you are a Youth Icon!!

YOUTH ICON

You traveled in the Local Train for the first time at the Age of 38.

You went to some Villages as a part of Election Campaign. And You won a

Youth Icon!! ... That's why You are my Youth Icon.

For 25 Million People travel by Train Every day. You are the First

Person to win a Youth Icon for boarding a Train.

Thousands of Postmen go to remotest of Villages. None of them have yet

gotten a Youth Icon. You were neither YOUNG Nor ICONIC!

Still You became a Youth Icon beating Iconic and Younger Contenders like

RAHUL DRAVID.

SURNAME

Shakespeare said, What's in a Name?

Little did he knew, It's all in the Name, Especially the Surname!

Speaking of Surname, Sir DO YOU REALLY RESPECT GANDHI, OR IS IT JUST TO

CASH IN ON THE GOODWILL OF MAHATMA?

Because the Name on your Passport is RAUL VINCI. Not RAHUL GANDHI..

May be if you wrote your Surname as Gandhi, you would have experienced,

what Gandhi feels like, LITERALLY ( Pun Intended)

You People don't seem to use Gandhi much, except when you are fighting

Elections. ( There it makes complete sense).

Imagine fighting elections by the Name Raul Vinci...

You use the name GANDHI at will and then say, " Mujhe yeh YUVRAJ shabd

Insulting lagta hai! Kyonki aaj Hindustan mein Democracy hai, aur is

shabd

ka koi matlab nahin hai! YUVRAJ, Itna hi Insulting lagta hai, to lad lo

RAUL VINCI ke Naam se!!! Jin Kisano ke saath photo khinchate ho woh bhi

isliye entertain karte hain ki GANDHI ho.. RAUL VINCI bol ke Jao... Ghar

mein nahin ghusaenge!!!

You could feel ashamed for your Double Standards.

YOUTH INTO POLITICS.

Now You want Youth to Join Politics.

I say First you Join Politics. Because you haven't Joined Politics. You

have Joined a Family Business.

First you Join Politics. Win an Election fighting as RAUL VINCI and Not

Rahul Gandhi, then come and ask the youth and the Educated Brass for

more

involvement in Politics.

Also till then, Please don't give me examples of Sachin Pilot and Milind

Deora and Naveen Jindal as youth who have joined Politics. They are not

Politicians. They Just happen to be Politicians.

Much Like Abhishek Bachchan and other Star Sons are not Actors. They

just happen to be Actors (For Obvious Reasons)

So, We would appreciate if you stop requesting the Youth to Join

Politics till you establish your credentials...

WHY WE CAN'T JOIN POLITICS!

Rahul Baba, Please understand, Your Father had a lot of money in your

Family account ( in Swiss Bank) when he died.

Ordinary Youth has to WORK FOR A LIVING. YOUR FAMILY just needs to

NETWORK FOR A LIVING

If our Father had left thousands of Crores with us, We might consider

doing the same. But we have to Work. Not just for ourselves.

But also for you. So that we can pay 30% of our Income to the Govt.

which can then be channelized to the Swiss Banks and your Personal

Accounts under

some Pseudo Names.

So Rahul, Please don't mind If the Youth doesn't Join Politics.

We are doing our best to fund your Election Campaigns and your Chopper

Trips to the Villages.

Somebody has to Earn the Money that Politicians Feed On.

NO WONDER YOU ARE NOT GANDHIs. YOU ARE SO CALLED GANDHIs!!

Air India, KG Gas Division, 2G, CWG, SWISS BANK Account Details... Hasan

Ali, KGB., FBI Arrest..

You want to feel ashamed..?

Feel Ashamed for what the First Family of Politics has been reduced

to... A Money Laundering Enterprise.

NO WONDER YOU ARE NOT GANDHI'S BY BLOOD. GANDHI is an adopted Name. For

Indira didn't marry Mahatma Gandhi's Son.

For even if you had one GENE OF GANDHI JI in your DNA. YOU WOULDN'T HAVE

BEEN PLAGUED BY SUCH 'POVERTY OF AMBITION'

(Ambition of only EARNING MONEY)

You really want to feel Ashamed?

Feel Ashamed for what you ' SO CALLED GANDHI'S' have done to MAHATMA'S

Legacy..

I so wish GANDHI JI had Copyrighted his Name!

Meanwhile, I would request Sonia Gandhi to change her name to $ONIA

GANDHI, and you could replace

the 'R' in RAHUL/RAUL by the New Rupee Symbol!!!

RAUL VINCI : I am ashamed to call myself an Indian.

Even we are ashamed to call you so!

P.S: Popular Media is either bought or blackmailed, controlled to

Manufacture Consent! My Guess is Social Media is still a Democratic

Platform.

(Now they are trying to put legislations to censor that too!!).

Meanwhile, Let's ask these questions, for we deserve some Answers.
Source: IIT grad Mr Gupta

*"Practice Random Kindness & Senseless Acts of Beauty"*

My friend asked me today while watching the Raj sabha and lok sabha ||ly with Ramlila ground live on TV... that who is funding this Ramlila Activities...


Here is a true inspiring and very well written experience from colnel Shivraj. A big salute to the team... 



>> Hi,
>>
>> Yesterday I went to the Ramlila grounds. Like you, me too have been glued
>> to the TV from the day the drama started. So, I wanted to get a "feel" of
>> the happenings on the ground. More specifically I wanted to make some
>> contribution (financially) to the cause.
>>
>> I'd like to share with you what I experienced. First the donation part.
>>
>> I approached the vounteer at the counter (there are two/three huge counters
>> and help desks set up by the India Against Corruption volunteers.). "But
>> Sir, we are not taking any donations." Shocked; I informed him that I am not
>> paying by cash, I have brought my cheque book. (They are extremely
>> meticulous in maintaining their accounts. I had experienced this when I had
>> visited their fast site at Jantar Mantar in April. Even if somebody gave
>> them 10 Rupees, they would insist on giving a receipt with details of
>> address, phone no. etc. This had caused long queues. They know that the
>> scoundrels in the Govt. are just waiting to pounce on them with allegations
>> of irregularities in accounts). "Sir, we are not accepting even cheques now.
>> We have stopped collecting donations."
>>
>> I pulled out my copy of the Times of India of the day and showed them the
>> report where it said they had a special cell for collecting donations. "We
>> know it Sir, but thanks to generous people like you, we have collected
>> enough money for our needs for the time being and since last night, we have
>> stopped taking any more money."
>>
>> In more than 65 years of my existence, this was the first time I was
>> coming across an NGO/ Institution/ Movement which was not taking money. I am
>> more used to their pestering.
>>
>> Just to double check, I approached a few other volunteers at different
>> desks. Same response. But doesn't an ongoing movement like this constantly
>> need funds ? The response was that they will restart the collection drive in
>> that situation. But for the time being, they had enough for their needs !
>> "Besides Sir, most of the activities that you see here on a large scale,
>> e.g. water, tea, food distribution etc. are being organised by individuals /
>> organisations. We are not doing anything on that front."
>>
>> (OK, I have made my main point and you may stop reading any further. I am
>> just wanting to put down on paper other tit-bits that I saw, but you may
>> not have the time to go through the same. I am not making any effort to
>> "condense it"!)
>>
>> Talking of volunteers, they are so young and well educated. Replace their
>> "India Against Corruption" T shirts with normal office attire and you will
>> see they fit into finest of the companies. A large no. of them indeed are
>> from very professional organisations. Clearly overworked, they presented
>> such a dedicated face. Not a single case of losing temper, at least as long
>> as I was there. Some achievement, considering that a huge no. of
>> not-so-educated people surround them at any given point of time. Some were
>> not even getting time to sip a cup of tea. The relief on getting a chance to
>> do so was so palpable on their face. There must have been more than a
>> hundred of them there. The true heroes and heroines of India.
>>
>> Every few minutes, a trailer van would be leaving the grounds after
>> collecting all the litter that was filling up the large bins kept all over
>> the ground. These bins kept getting filled up so fast because there was an
>> enormous amount of food being distributed free by individuals and private
>> organisations. There were long queues at the counters distributing full meal
>> (not just snacks). The food, served in clean thermocole type trays and with
>> plastic spoons was wholesome. Rice, Puri, Subji etc. They reminded one of
>> Bhandaras or Langars ! Snacks (Parle G biscuits, Grams (chana), some bananas
>> and sundries), water pouches, tea etc. were being so enthusiastially
>> distributed . They were literally catching anyone passing by and handing
>> over the same ! One such person (a Sardarji) was distributing biscuits; so I
>> asked him if he had come all the way from Punjab. "Nahinji, I am from
>> Faridabad". My chest swelled with pride; people from my town were also doing
>> their bit. Shook hands warmly, but couldn't talk much; he was so busy.
>>
>> The irony of it all was not lost on me. Here were these multitudes who had
>> come in support of a fasting man and were being filled to the brim by rest
>> of the society !
>>
>> Reverting to the topic of litter and bins, the ground, slushy and muddy as
>> it was, was full of litter. Despite the best efforts of the volunteers.
>> After all, we are Indians. How can we live in cleanliness ? Then I saw a
>> very well off, middle aged lady, the kind you will see in your (posh)
>> neighbourhood; pick up a cane basket and get down to the task of picking up
>> littered plates, trays, plastic pouches etc. and transfer them to the bins.
>> It was a strange phenomena. A high caste lady cleaning up the muck thrown
>> around by (metaphorically speaking) Dalits and lower castes ! This was the
>> new, emerging India. For the first time, during my stay at the Ramlila
>> grounds, I felt so ashamed of myself. Instinctively, I too bent down to
>> pick up a few of these. But within 3/4 minutes, realised that my back won't
>> support me. The hardest thing to remove were the plastic spoons that had got
>> embedded in the mud all around.
>>
>> That was not the only place where our sense of hygiene was on full display.
>> An artist had put up a very large no. of thoroughly enjoyable Poster
>> Cartoons on a wall. High quality. I believe they are also on Facebook and
>> Twitter. (For example, there was one showing one politician telling another,
>> "How can they call us all corrupt ? When half of us haven't even got the
>> ministries where we can make money !"). Yet it was so difficult to stand and
>> read all the cartoons. The Pee stink was so strong. My countrymen were
>> merrily peeing on the adjoining wall (at right angles to the Cartoon wall),
>> despite authorities having provided toilets just outside the gates. If that
>> was not enough, consider this : The wall on which they were peeing was the
>> side wall of a temple !
>>
>> When you looked at eye level, you saw a sea of humanity, tricolours
>> fluttering, massive and un-co-ordintaed slogan shouting, but when you looked
>> down, you felt sick. Muddy and uneven grounds with pools of stagnant water
>> every few steps (it has been raining heavily here). So difficult to walk
>> around; often having to jump around. This was Ramlila ground, where every
>> year, Ramlila celebrations take place on a large scale and any no. of
>> political rallies take place every alternate week, so to speak. Could the
>> Municipal Corporation of Delhi not pave it all these years ? You
>> automaticlly turned your face down when you saw a foreigner try to negotiate
>> the grounds. Yet, you just had to turn your face 90 degrees to see a massive
>> (32 stories, I believe), super-modern, massive building just on the other
>> side of the road. I was convinced it belonged to a top notch MNC. Finally, I
>> caught hold of a smart, though grey haired Police Officer and asked him
>> whose building was that. He was surprised, but let me know it was the MCD HQ
>> building and has been there for a few years. What a contrast and what a
>> shame. The rascals (MCD is currently controlled by BJP) can't see the
>> pathetic condition of the Ramlila grounds from their windows every moment of
>> their working day ? And BJP is lecturing us how the entire mess in the
>> country is because of the Congress.
>>
>> Well, enough of the side-shows and tit-bits. Let's come to the main
>> picture. Simply amazing. Huge no. of people. I think the media is grossly
>> under-reporting the same. They talk of the crowd size at a given point of
>> time. A static measurement, if you please. When I was there (it was
>> afternoon; supposed to be at its thinnest), there were at least 20,000 at
>> any given point of time. Yet the actual crowd is far, far bigger. Probably 3
>> times the estimates. For, people are constantly streaming in and streaming
>> out. Just like me. Families, the rich and the poor, handicapped people, I
>> even saw an almost 100 year old villager, barely able to walk, just a loin
>> cloth around him, panting very badly, come up to the main tent with the help
>> of what I believe was his grandson. Whoever has been spreading the canard
>> that it is a "middle class" phenomena needs to have his/her eyesight
>> examined. I saw far greater no. of very poor Indians from all over the
>> country than the so-called "middle class". The enthusiasm is amazing.
>> Slogans, patriotic songs and Bhajans are the dominant theme. The crowd does
>> not fall silent even for a minute. When I was there, Manoj Tiwari, a popular
>> Bihari singer was belting one patriotic song after another. And the entire
>> crowd was singing with him and waving with their hands raised up (no space
>> for any horizontal movement of the hands). For full one hour. And that
>> dynamo of a 62 year old lady called Kiran Bedi. She was waving a large size
>> tricolour vigorously from one side to the other on the stage. For that full
>> one hour. Try doing it for 10 minutes ! Besides them, a quite old, dark
>> complexioned villager, looking just like your or mine grandpa was sitting
>> cross legged on a wooden cot, wearing a constant smile and often swinging
>> his head or clapping lightly with the music. The epicenter of it all : Anna
>> Hazare.
>>
>> While the main crowd keeps up with the Stage, there are a thousand side
>> shows of patriotic commitment going on. Every group, some very small, enter
>> the grounds shouting their own slogans and waving the national flag. So, in
>> a sense, you also have a sense of cacophony. I saw a family consisting of a
>> mother and 4 daughters (I presume) enter through a gate and immediately
>> launch into "Vande Mataram" and other slogans. Irrespective of what slogans
>> or songs were being sung from the stage. They had to let the world know how
>> charged up they were. Total commitment to the cause. Huge no. of (mostly
>> handwritten) placards and painted faces greet you.
>>
>> So, overall, did I feel happy ? Or, proud ? Yes, immensely. This can happen
>> only in India. It was an authentic Indian Mela. For a very serious cause.
>> Where else in the world will you find such lofty ideals existing peacefully
>> with physical filth; where else would you find feasting co-existing with
>> fasting ; where would you have such massive crowds with no leader, yet not a
>> single case of violence. First time that I saw so many policemen and
>> policewomen with not a single one carrying a lathi . Where would you find
>> thousands to keep standing on their feet for 24 hours, for there is so
>> little of dry space to sleep or sit. When I was on my way to the grounds, I
>> stopped at a petrol station to fill in. I heard one attendent telling
>> another that he had returned at 3.30 am. Presumably from the Ramlila
>> grounds. It seems people like him are on duty upto 11 p.m. or so; then take
>> the Metro or some other transport, go to site to support Anna and team; take
>> the first available Metro in the morning to reach home or place of work.
>> What commitment!!
>>
>> I never saw Mahatma Gandhi (seen Vinoba Bhave though). But I got a great
>> feel for what mass movements of those days were like. Let's all pray that
>> this semi-literate man's health remains good and the SOBs in Govt. and
>> political parties see reason. Maybe, just maybe, we might yet see within
>> our lifetime, India move up dramatically from the 87th rank amongst the most
>> corrupt nations in the world. And instead of Gods and Goddesses, start
>> worshipping Anna's team members. The likes of Arvind Kejriwal. Have brought
>> a lost cause to center stage. With their leadership, immense hard work over
>> the years, zeal, sacrifice in personal life and with an intelligence that
>> has completely outwitted the entire Govt. and political class.
>>
>>
>> Till then, enjoy your TV show !
>>
>> P.S. Just when I finished typing the above, I saw a news item in today's
>> TOI that indeed "India Against Corruption" folks have stopped accepting
>> donations, because they have already collected "60 Lacs". What a joke
>> compared to what the policians want to collect. I remember, when my state's
>> former Chief Minister Chauthala was charged with illegally amassing Rs. 1500
>> crores, his retort was "What is 1500 crores for a politician these days" !
>> And here are these folks saying a mere 60 lacs is enough to run this
>> countrywide movement. Long live the new India!!!
>>
>> Col Shivraj