Much as I am surprised (confused!) with the name of this new browser from Google, I have to tell that so far, it has enabled me to have great browsing experience. The key difference is the browsing and page-loading speeds. It is perceptibly fast, compared to other alternatives, explorer and firefox (I have been using both). I watch a lot of videos and movies online and with Chrome, the download goes definitely fast (I have tested it). Similarly, there has been a remarkable reduction in my waiting time for a web page to open. Other time-saving and useful option is its integrated search feature with the address bar. The recently visited pages appear when you open the browser which again means less typing.
So much for the simple stuff. On a more techie note, I recommend everyone to go through the Chrome presentation (know more about Chrome) on its website. Its nicely done with use of sketches of real google developers. How every Chrome tab is not just a task but a process with its own memory convinced me of its better anti-crash features. No wonder, I have never experience a single crash so far.
Chrome does fail to load some web-pages, especially where pop-ups are intrinsic to their page contents. But they are minor nuisances compared with the overall great browsing experience it provides. It is elegant and simple, with a lot of technology in the background. Try Chrome and you will understand what I mean.
P.S. - In case you were wondering, I am neither anti-Microsoft nor anti-Google or anti-anything. I am just a simple user in the middle, trying to use the best products.
Saturday, September 06, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Kashmir - Independence not an option
During the present crisis in Kashmir, surprisingly many public intellectuals have expressed forcefully their views on why Kashmir should be granted independence (or a plebiscite should be conducted, which in the current scenario, amounts to the same thing). From Swaminathan Aiyar to Arundhati Roy, from the logical to the hysterical, a lot of people seem to have given up on Kashmir. They try to present their analysis from different perspectives, some from the economic point of view (Vir Sanghvi), some from human rights (Aiyar) and some from no point of view (Arundhati Roy). Wow! As these redoubtable columnists must have reached these conclusions after due thought process, let me present what are the most likely outcomes if their wishes were to be granted (i.e. Independence to Kashmir or to any of its parts).
First major fallout would be that the sleeping separatist elements in India, the ULFA, the Maoists, the Bodos etc would all gain immense strength from such a division. Today Kashmir, tomorrow we may as well bid adieu to the India as we know of today.
Second, giving away Kashmir would, in no uncertain terms, increase the proximity of Pakistani threat to the rest of India. To understand this, one must appreciate that what is known as Kashmir valley is surrounded by rough terrain of mountains, valleys and jungles. This also makes the movement from the PoK to Kashmir dangerous for the miscreants. Giving Kashmir away or making it independent would be akin to Indian government building roads between the two Kashmirs, expressly for the terrorists. India would have a much more terrible time dealing with terrorism that it has now.
Third, there is a complete lack of any give n take option, when it comes to Kashmir. Suppose Pakistan had a piece of land in which India had some interest. Then, it might have made sense to barter one piece of land with another (quite common internationally for settling border disputes). But unfortunately or fortunately, there is no such situation here. So what exactly would be India's gains after giving in to the separatists demands. Nothing.
With all due respect to the intellectuals, they have got it completely wrong this time. Mood of people change and so will the mood in Kashmir. Separating Kashmir from India, because of any reason whatsoever, would be an extremely foolish step right now (I dont know how the situation unfolds in future).
Aiyar justifies giving independence to Kashmir on grounds of liberalism. This is an extremely narrow view. If being a liberal means giving people whatever they want, then anarchy would prevail in no time. Being a liberal only means respecting different opinions, debating about them but always, within the boundaries of law and the agreed constitution. Hoisting flags of Pakistan, degrading Indian constitution goes beyond the purview of liberalism. Yet, one can do all these things in India and get away. India has always been pluralistic. Lets stay that way.
First major fallout would be that the sleeping separatist elements in India, the ULFA, the Maoists, the Bodos etc would all gain immense strength from such a division. Today Kashmir, tomorrow we may as well bid adieu to the India as we know of today.
Second, giving away Kashmir would, in no uncertain terms, increase the proximity of Pakistani threat to the rest of India. To understand this, one must appreciate that what is known as Kashmir valley is surrounded by rough terrain of mountains, valleys and jungles. This also makes the movement from the PoK to Kashmir dangerous for the miscreants. Giving Kashmir away or making it independent would be akin to Indian government building roads between the two Kashmirs, expressly for the terrorists. India would have a much more terrible time dealing with terrorism that it has now.
Third, there is a complete lack of any give n take option, when it comes to Kashmir. Suppose Pakistan had a piece of land in which India had some interest. Then, it might have made sense to barter one piece of land with another (quite common internationally for settling border disputes). But unfortunately or fortunately, there is no such situation here. So what exactly would be India's gains after giving in to the separatists demands. Nothing.
With all due respect to the intellectuals, they have got it completely wrong this time. Mood of people change and so will the mood in Kashmir. Separating Kashmir from India, because of any reason whatsoever, would be an extremely foolish step right now (I dont know how the situation unfolds in future).
Aiyar justifies giving independence to Kashmir on grounds of liberalism. This is an extremely narrow view. If being a liberal means giving people whatever they want, then anarchy would prevail in no time. Being a liberal only means respecting different opinions, debating about them but always, within the boundaries of law and the agreed constitution. Hoisting flags of Pakistan, degrading Indian constitution goes beyond the purview of liberalism. Yet, one can do all these things in India and get away. India has always been pluralistic. Lets stay that way.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Hai Kashmir!!!
This is the cry of a desperate heart. Like the proverbial phoenix, the problems in Kashmir keep rising every time one seems to think that everything is getting better. The state government had almost completed its term this time and another fair election would have gone a long way in solidifying the democratic spirit. Alas! That was not to be. Who is to blame? Opportunisitc PDP and its leader, the state government, the governor or the sleeping and utterly incapable our home minister. May be all of them and may be all of us. Dont know. The damn problem of Kashmir has become too big and complex to be understood by professional security experts, leave aside amateurs like me. Like a cronic cancer in India's face (geographically), Kashmir makes a mockery of our democratic principles and institutions.
It was ok for India to have a problem like Kashmir when India was a nobody in the comity of nations. Today, we almost single-handedly turn the tables on the developed nations at forums like WTO. Today, we can negotiate an exception of monumental consequences (Nuclear deal). But still today, we can not or are unable to do anything about the problem named Kashmir. What a pity!
I wonder if Kashmir would still be a problem for us when my generation reaches the half century. For our generation, Kashmir was heaven in books and has always been hell in reality. A bomb blast in Kashmir (and Jammu) killing 10 people generates markedly less awe than a similar event in any other part of India. It is almost as if we expect nothing better from Kashmir. Heaven turned into inferno. What a shame!
Long before, I read Tavleen Singh (India Today) in an article where she argued that its only a pro-hindu party like BJP which can negotiate and solve the vexed issue. To her credit, Vajpayeeji did cover a lot of ground in solving this problem. However, the current BJP and its leadership behave like they are the agents of ISI - doing everything to polarize Indians along communal lines. It has been a really long time since its leader displayed original thought process. The current problem in Kashmir presented (and presents) a golden opportunity to display some leadership skills. He wants to be known as the new Sardaar (Patel). Then why not display some of Patel's thinking - judicious use of cajoling and coaxing to further national integration.
It is foolish to expect anything from our current home minister. Our Prime Minister has many qualities but handling a politically vexed problem like Kashmir is not one of them. Likewise for our finance minister who is anyway busy fighting bad economics right now. The one person who has the right political skills to set things right is Pranab Mukherji. He must lead the all party delegation to come to a temporary solution for now.
Permanent solution is and is likely to remain a dream for a long while in Kashmir.
It was ok for India to have a problem like Kashmir when India was a nobody in the comity of nations. Today, we almost single-handedly turn the tables on the developed nations at forums like WTO. Today, we can negotiate an exception of monumental consequences (Nuclear deal). But still today, we can not or are unable to do anything about the problem named Kashmir. What a pity!
I wonder if Kashmir would still be a problem for us when my generation reaches the half century. For our generation, Kashmir was heaven in books and has always been hell in reality. A bomb blast in Kashmir (and Jammu) killing 10 people generates markedly less awe than a similar event in any other part of India. It is almost as if we expect nothing better from Kashmir. Heaven turned into inferno. What a shame!
Long before, I read Tavleen Singh (India Today) in an article where she argued that its only a pro-hindu party like BJP which can negotiate and solve the vexed issue. To her credit, Vajpayeeji did cover a lot of ground in solving this problem. However, the current BJP and its leadership behave like they are the agents of ISI - doing everything to polarize Indians along communal lines. It has been a really long time since its leader displayed original thought process. The current problem in Kashmir presented (and presents) a golden opportunity to display some leadership skills. He wants to be known as the new Sardaar (Patel). Then why not display some of Patel's thinking - judicious use of cajoling and coaxing to further national integration.
It is foolish to expect anything from our current home minister. Our Prime Minister has many qualities but handling a politically vexed problem like Kashmir is not one of them. Likewise for our finance minister who is anyway busy fighting bad economics right now. The one person who has the right political skills to set things right is Pranab Mukherji. He must lead the all party delegation to come to a temporary solution for now.
Permanent solution is and is likely to remain a dream for a long while in Kashmir.
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Life with the rainbow of Songs
I don't remember when I got hooked to this habit of listening to songs. But whenever it was, I am grateful for it. They always have such a soothing effect, it is almost miraculous. I have a bad day, I come home and put on the songs. Voila! I slowly start forgetting the real and get into the ethereal. It is as if when Rafi says 'Dil ka bhanwar kare pukar.. pyar ka raag suno', the mind actually starts listening to the internal 'pyar ka raag'. No matter how terrible the day has been, just listening to Ghulam Ali singing 'Kabhi aah lab par machal gaye...' or Asha crooning 'Dard jab teri ata hai...' make me forget everything and hang onto every single word of these songs. I wonder (always) how the writers of yore could come up with such beautiful compositions. What did they go through in life to write 'Jane kahan gaye woh din...'? Was it sheer artistry or expression of a rebellion when the write wrote 'Pyaar kiya to darna kya...'? You cannot feel dejected enough to listen to 'Yeh duniya, yeh mehfil' and still feel dejected afterwards.
I can see my life till present through the prism of songs. My earliest memories are of waiting for Wednesdays and Fridays for the Chitrahaar at Doordarshan. Oh, that half hour period used to be complete bliss, even though most of the songs broadcast were below average. Then, the Sunday Rangoli, which was the most important ingredient of Sunday breakfast. Of course, all this depended on the electricity god. Tuning to the radio for Aapki Farmaish was almost a regular event whenever I was in my village. Then, came the Sainik school period and 7 years of boarding education. Ragging was a way of life there, going on for 4 years (yes you read it right). Every year it just used to get worse, with more and more physical thrashing. The only solace was of course the Philips top 10. I still remember getting slapped left, right and centre with 'Aisi Deewangi, dekhi nahin kahin' playing in the background. 'Jadoo teri nazar...' and 'Ek ladki ko dekha to aisa laga...' were our mantras to escape the tough life emotionally. Vacations used to be the best time with songs like 'Pyar mein dil ka murga bole kukdukoon' playing full volume in my house, disturbing everybody all around. But who cared.
Then came engineering. The dreaded ragging was over for me before I could even completely enjoy 'Taal se taal mila'. Engineering ragging only lasted around 5 months and for a thoroughly 'ragged' person like me, it was more like honeymoon. Anyway, 'Taal se taal mila' gave way to 'usne bola kem chhe, kem chhe;maine bola aim chhe, aim chhe...' and life became completely rudderless. Engineering is the most chilled out period of an engineers' life, how much ever they fake it. I knew(did I?) that what I was studying was worthless from the point of view of getting a job which seemed to be the only goal of 4 years. So 'Dil Chahta hai...' was the daily prayer and Matrix the only reality. Then, after a short break (for job), came the B-School. And I have absolutely no idea what went on in those 2 years. I only remember clearly getting the admission offer (through email!) and then after that, everything went fast forward. Of course, the Wednesday breaks at KC, with heart singing 'ek taraf uska ghar, ek taraf mayqada...' were the periodical recharging stations. The second year was a lot better, with coming of age of 401 gang and feeling 'Dhoom machale...'.
I have noticed that good songs take their own sweet time to grow on you. First time I heard 'jiya beqaraar hai, aayi bahaar hai...', I was like what the hell! Same with 'man tadpat hari darshan ko aaj...' or 'mujhe tumse kuch bhi na chahiye...'. Now, I rate these songs as one of the best ever composed and sung. It is also the same case with most of the Rehmaan songs, be it 'tanha, tanha...' or 'kabhi neem neem kabhi shahad shahad', the songs always feel better the more I hear them. It is as if there are new emotions getting uncovered with every repeat recital.
Then there is the question of the favorite singer, favorite song etc. I have long given up on such things as it is too difficult for me to judge. Who is better - Lata singing 'aaj phir jeene ki tamanna hai' or rafi singing 'mera to jo bhi kadam hai...'. Mukesh with 'hothon pe sachhai rehti hai' is as outstanding as Mahendra Kapoor crooning 'tum agar saath dene ka waada karo'. Kishore da is obviously rated a master by many but is Manna Dey any less heart touching with 'Laga chunari mein daag'. On what parameters can you give any lesser point to Ghulam Ali when he cuts through your heart with 'Jinke hothon pe hasin...'. For me, the songs, their singers, writers and composers are all part of a great family, engaged in exploring the finer emotions of our heart and quite often, challenging our beliefs. Ending this with a line by Mukesh:
'Zaahid sharaab peene de masjid mein baith kar';
'ya woh jagah bata de, jahan par khuda na ho'
I can see my life till present through the prism of songs. My earliest memories are of waiting for Wednesdays and Fridays for the Chitrahaar at Doordarshan. Oh, that half hour period used to be complete bliss, even though most of the songs broadcast were below average. Then, the Sunday Rangoli, which was the most important ingredient of Sunday breakfast. Of course, all this depended on the electricity god. Tuning to the radio for Aapki Farmaish was almost a regular event whenever I was in my village. Then, came the Sainik school period and 7 years of boarding education. Ragging was a way of life there, going on for 4 years (yes you read it right). Every year it just used to get worse, with more and more physical thrashing. The only solace was of course the Philips top 10. I still remember getting slapped left, right and centre with 'Aisi Deewangi, dekhi nahin kahin' playing in the background. 'Jadoo teri nazar...' and 'Ek ladki ko dekha to aisa laga...' were our mantras to escape the tough life emotionally. Vacations used to be the best time with songs like 'Pyar mein dil ka murga bole kukdukoon' playing full volume in my house, disturbing everybody all around. But who cared.
Then came engineering. The dreaded ragging was over for me before I could even completely enjoy 'Taal se taal mila'. Engineering ragging only lasted around 5 months and for a thoroughly 'ragged' person like me, it was more like honeymoon. Anyway, 'Taal se taal mila' gave way to 'usne bola kem chhe, kem chhe;maine bola aim chhe, aim chhe...' and life became completely rudderless. Engineering is the most chilled out period of an engineers' life, how much ever they fake it. I knew(did I?) that what I was studying was worthless from the point of view of getting a job which seemed to be the only goal of 4 years. So 'Dil Chahta hai...' was the daily prayer and Matrix the only reality. Then, after a short break (for job), came the B-School. And I have absolutely no idea what went on in those 2 years. I only remember clearly getting the admission offer (through email!) and then after that, everything went fast forward. Of course, the Wednesday breaks at KC, with heart singing 'ek taraf uska ghar, ek taraf mayqada...' were the periodical recharging stations. The second year was a lot better, with coming of age of 401 gang and feeling 'Dhoom machale...'.
I have noticed that good songs take their own sweet time to grow on you. First time I heard 'jiya beqaraar hai, aayi bahaar hai...', I was like what the hell! Same with 'man tadpat hari darshan ko aaj...' or 'mujhe tumse kuch bhi na chahiye...'. Now, I rate these songs as one of the best ever composed and sung. It is also the same case with most of the Rehmaan songs, be it 'tanha, tanha...' or 'kabhi neem neem kabhi shahad shahad', the songs always feel better the more I hear them. It is as if there are new emotions getting uncovered with every repeat recital.
Then there is the question of the favorite singer, favorite song etc. I have long given up on such things as it is too difficult for me to judge. Who is better - Lata singing 'aaj phir jeene ki tamanna hai' or rafi singing 'mera to jo bhi kadam hai...'. Mukesh with 'hothon pe sachhai rehti hai' is as outstanding as Mahendra Kapoor crooning 'tum agar saath dene ka waada karo'. Kishore da is obviously rated a master by many but is Manna Dey any less heart touching with 'Laga chunari mein daag'. On what parameters can you give any lesser point to Ghulam Ali when he cuts through your heart with 'Jinke hothon pe hasin...'. For me, the songs, their singers, writers and composers are all part of a great family, engaged in exploring the finer emotions of our heart and quite often, challenging our beliefs. Ending this with a line by Mukesh:
'Zaahid sharaab peene de masjid mein baith kar';
'ya woh jagah bata de, jahan par khuda na ho'
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