Ambedkar Jayanti!

Buddham Sharanam Gachami,

Sangham Sharanam Gachami

Dhamam Sharanam Gachami,

'I take refuge in the Buddha, my power of discrimination.'

'I take refuge in the community, I take refuge in the society.'

'I take refuge in Dharma, I take shelter in truth and righteousness'.

A tribute to Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, Father of the Indian constitution. Born on April 14, 1891. A widely misunderstood leader and a champion of rights for the Untouchables in India. His conversion to Buddhism in Nagpur with half a million people is known as one of the largest self motivated conversions of modern history. He helped spark a revival of Buddhism in India, a movement which is now known as neo-Buddhism. Today however his name, image and the causes he has stood for have been hijacked by many to meet their ends.

His birth date is now a public holiday in India known as Ambedkar Jayanti. As a sign of respect, many Indians use the title "Babasaheb" in front of his name. "Jai Bhim!", referring to Ambedkar's first name, Bhimrao, is sometimes used as a greeting or an exclamation.

However his name still evokes strong responses in the million villages of India and his statues doting India outnumber the statues of any other leader or deity in human history. (This has to be verified – But believable if one travels through India counting them).

Today hundreds of thousands of people will march into Nagpur to pay respects at Deekshabhoomi the exact spot where Dr. Ambedkar converted to Buddhism. The Deekshabhoomi has a dome rising to 120 ft, granites, marbles and dholpur sandstone complete the structure built over a 4000 sq feet hall below the dome. It is an important pilgrimage centre with Buddhists pilgrims as far as Japan and Thailand are found around the year.

“Unlike a drop of water which loses its identity when it joins the ocean, man does not lose his being in the society in which he lives. Man's life is independent. He is born not for the development of the society alone, but for the development of his self.”

- B. R. Ambedkar

Jai Bhim!

A Cup of Woes or Tea overfloweth!

Three days ago, Dubai Municipality issued official notices to all cafeterias and restaurants, ordering them to stop using plastic cups made of rigid polystyrene to serve tea, coffee or other hot beverages. They say it is part of a campaign to ensure public health safety.

The price of the cup expected to go up when Dxb Municipality enforces the ban. Cafeteria owners also plan to increase the price of tea. "It will be impossible to sell tea for just 50 fils using cups made of foam poly-styrene or paper cups because they are expensive," said the owner of a popular cafeteria in Deira. - (Gulf News)

If ever, there was one thing constant in the ever fluctuating prices of this fast growing city was that tea was available for 50fils. It was the only price which remained unchanged from the early days of the country itself - 27 years. No mean feat but that cuppa is the lifeline of many. I guess there isn’t anybody who has not drunk from the white plastic cups doting the tables of countless cafeterias and restaurants.

It was a common sight to see endless cups of tea covered with a foil being transported precariously on trays by men maneuvering cycles across narrow lanes to shopkeepers all across Dubai who wait eagerly for their afternoon and evening tea.

Roadside cafeterias in Dubai have been selling a cup of tea for 50 fils for 27 years. All their efforts to raise tea prices have been thwarted by the civic authorities. And now it is the same civic authorities who are giving reason to raise the price of those simple cups of joy.

The Dubai Municipality has banned the use of plastic cups in the emirate with effect from May 3 after conducting laboratory tests. Reasons cited are short term high exposure to styrene can cause depression, loss of concentration, weakness, fatigue and nausea, while high intake over many years can cause cancer, liver and nerve damage.

The Municipality's efforts are be lauded for being concerned about the public's health. But a question which needs to be asked is who drinks this 50 fils tea. It is the common man and even a 50 fils increase in price will have an adverse effect on tight budgets already stretched thinner than shoe strings. Scrupulous traders will increase the prices of paper cups, foam polystyrene and other alternatives to cash in on the demand. The civic authorities which for 27 years controlled the price of tea must intervene and keep the prices of cups from spiraling out of control.

Times are changing indeed and those white cups of tea have a history. It has contributed much to given boost to the people who keep this emirate growing. But again there are other things other than plastic cups which are killing the public. I only muse the higher up’s should contemplate on solving those bigger problems as they sip on their white cups of tea. Cause for all 27 years of drinking from that lil white cup – I haven’t seen one causality. This calls for an ode to the white cup of tea as the curtains come down on it on 3 May 2006. Till then bring out those 50 fils and enjoy ur cuppa!

Mindless Cruel Animal Haters

A letter in today's 7days cannot explain more - as to how dumb and cruel people can get when it comes to dealing with animals. I paste the letter below

Driver who abandoned kitten in middle of SZR

Published on: Tuesday, 4th April, 2006

To the gentleman driving the silver station wagon towards Dubai on Sheikh Zayed Road who dumped a kitten in the dividing strip near the Dusit Hotel around 8.10am on Monday morning….I saw you and rerported your number plate to the police.

How cowardly and inhumane to do this. There are organisations that would have taken the kitten in, and all you needed to do is take the kitten to one of the many vets spotted around Dubai.

I could not find the kitten by the time I made my way through the traffic and drove past the same area again. I hope someone also saw this and managed to pull over to help it.

Horrified, Dubai

Do I say more? Which right minded person leaves a kitten on a ten lane highway, where speeds reach 140 km or more. I only hope in his/her next life - some one leaves him in the divider as a baby.