THE BYSTANDER

Marriages are made in heaven ---- thus goes the old adage; but in reality we find otherwise. Though I know that there are very few people would agree to me openly but within they know what it is. Years ago I read somewhere that in Russia the marriages are conducted with much pomp and show as we find amongst the middle class and of course wealthy and riches in India or elsewhere in South Asia, but three out of five marriages breaks shortly. Now, it is evident here too in India, especially in amongst the middle class where marriages are solemnized as still something “holy.” Problems crop up for many things, amongst the middle class or the business class mostly it is on dowry (the goodies bride brings along at the time of marriage) counts, sometime torture on newly married brides follow for bringing more and more from her father’s house. The law enacted to protect them and punish the torturer, but that is also grossly misused. I have found men being held under anti-dowry law and taken...

Way back in the year 2004 I first took internet connection thorough my residential land line phone. The download speed was too slow, the service was costly and disruptive but still I was delighted with the thought that I am connected with all over the world. I use to imagine sometime I may come across some Eskimo while chatting; would ask how the life is for him there and what he thinks about us far away from his icy world! Unfortunately that never happened though I met many unknowns online and sometime some long forgotten known. Really it is amazing; meeting one or his son or daughter after 20,30 or even more years whom I knew before decades and have impressions of them. In fact I can not remember which year I came to know about Orkut. One Sidhartha Banerjee wrote an article in my favorite news paper The Statesman. Google was offering to open gmail and orkut account on introduction; I logged in, mailed to the writer whose email address was given in that article. With his introductio...

In a landmark judgment the Supreme Court of India has directed Nizam’s Institute of Medical Science, Hyderabad to pay Rs one crore or INR 10 millions for carrying out wrong surgery on Mr. Prasant S Dhananka decades ago. Mr. Dhananka underwent an operation that turned him paralyzed for life at the age of 19. It is only his spirit of perseverance that he fought the compensation case for more than 15 years and finally got the order from the Supreme Course. Though earlier he was awarded compensation of Rs 15 lakh by National Consumer Court but he decided to proceed further claiming compensation amount Rs 7 crores. The Supreme Court fixed the amount of compensation of Rs 1 Crore, first time ever in the history of consumer compensation in India. In fact amount of compensation is reached, in case of medical negligence, considering the age, potentiality and value of lost opportunities in victim’s life. But the Supreme Court in year 2000 expressed its views while giving verdict in “Charan Sing...

Life without sweet or chocolates is unthinkable to many of us. Of course persons who are diabetics; are forced to quit sweet meats or chocolates, take coffee or tea without sugar. But they too can sweet when their sugar level is low in blood. Though it is established fact that sweet or sugar has nothing to do with diabetes mellitus for its initiation in our body. Once you get it, sugar aggravates it; so going very low with sugar or sweet is advised. But now recent news may encourage many to quit sweet voluntarily forever. The oldest lady of world ( so far known), Sakhan dosova born on 27 th March 1879 in Karaganda, Kazakhstan died due to slips in toilet of her flat which was gifted by authority considering her woeful living standard at the age of 130! This has been reported by Daily Mirror on 11th May 09. What is interesting to note that she never took pill for any ailment in her life and neither took sweet ever! In last march she is reported to have told this secret in an interview a...

Here goes a joke, that I received just a short while ago from my friend Arun; I think I share it with my readers; An Officer stops a driver for running a red light. The guy is a real jerk and comes running back to the officer, demanding to know why he is being harassed by the Gestapo! So the officer calmly tells him of the red light violation.. The driver instantly goes on a tirade, questioning the officer's ancestry, sexual orientation, etc., in rather explicit terms. The tirade goes on without the officer saying anything. When he gets done with writing the ticket, he puts an "AH" in the lower right corner of the narrative portion of the ticket. He then hands it to the "Violator" for his signature. The guy signs the ticket angrily, and when presented with his copy points to the "AH" and demands to know what it stands for. The Mountie says, "That's so when we go to court, I'll remember that you're an Ass..ole!" Two months later ...

This piece of joke I received now as I opened my mail box.Though why not to share it ! NEVER PLAY WITH WOMEN The FBI had an opening for an assassin. After all the background checks, interviews, and testing were done, there were 3 finalists. Two men and a woman: For the final test, the FBI agents took one of the men to a large metal door and handed him a gun. We must know that you will follow your instructions no matter what the circumstances. Inside the room you will find your wife sitting in a chair. Kill Her! The man said, 'you can't be serious, I could never shoot my wife.’ The agent said, 'Then you're not the right man for this job. Take your wife and go home.' The second man was given the same instructions. He took the gun and went into the room. All was quiet for about 5 minutes. The man came out with tears in his eyes, 'I tried, but I can't kill my wife.' The agent said, 'You don't have what it takes. Take your wife and go home.' ...

Someone mailed me a poem, it is so assuring, I thought to share with you. In fact, gone are the days, full of leisurely hours, when we could visit a pub regularly or a point where friends met. The modern times ( having been drifted further from the way Chaplin portrayed in his famous film)hardly spare us to meet and seek assurance or share our joy and sorrow. Now, read the poem, I hope it is reassuring : You are never alone, I am always near, When your troubled, down or blue. All you have to do is call me, I am always here for you. It does not matter where I am at, It does not matter when. When you need someone to talk to, I am here to be your friend. If you need someone to hold your hand, or a hug to say I care. If you need a shoulder to cry on, for you I will be there. So never think you are a burden, when the weight gets to be to much. You might find if look hard enough, a good friend could be the right touch. You are never alone, I am always here, through the good times and the bad...