Apps-fixation to Apps-phyxiation!

Having been fortunate enough to have landed a job in a progressive manufacturing organization that opted for computerization quite early in my career, it would seem strange to find oneself struggling to cope with features of the smart phone. My early tech-savviness may have helped me to learn how to use the features offered by the early versions of the cell phones, but “smart phones” are highly evolved species, I guess. I avoided the touch-screen variety and settled for the simplest form masquerading as a ‘smartphone’. It comes with a QWERTY-keypad and is the most affordable one available in the marketplace – just so that I can keep a tab on my emails to perform my professional duties. But this ‘smart’ move turned out to be the last ‘smart’ thing i ever did on my own – apparently.


Thereafter, my smartphone took over my mind and life - it decided all that I would do or would not. Can’t blame one’s spouse for the envy and hatred, can you? Smart phones possess all the qualities that are necessary to capture the owner’s attention all day - a worthy candidate of being the “Woh” in a potential remake of the old Hindi movie “Pati, Patni aur Woh”! Unlike the earlier mobiles I had purchased, this one was pre-loaded with some ‘apps’! Apps is short for ‘applications’, for the uninitiated. Basically, they are attractive looking icons that are extremely seductive – you end up clicking on these icons and believing that they will do wonders for you! One small problem: one doesn’t exactly know what they do!?! Several hours were spent exploring the features that came with the phone –but there still are several icons that one has yet to figure out the purpose or utility of, even to this day. I tried looking for a book titled “How to use a smartphone for dummies” - but to no avail.

The GPS app meant for navigation was the first to catch my fancy. On my way to office, I tried it out – and was amazed at the results! I would never be lost, I told myself! Until a business meeting scheduled at an unknown location really tested the app – “Darn! If only I had asked the corner paanwala for directions”, I muttered to myself as I rushed in over half an hour late! That did not discourage me to make the ‘smart’ gadget work wonders for me – I had to catch up with my friends and colleagues who were way ahead with their gizmos. I began reading articles in newspapers, magazines and websites about the wonderful apps that could tell me where to go if I craved for a Japanese sushi or a Mediterranean meal in Mumbai or the closest place i could have a sauna – all of which never really need!

Soon enough, I was apps-fixated! Newspaper supplements featured reviews of various apps, like book and film reviews - that could drive away mosquitoes; one that puts one to sleep; can monitor your morning walk; suggest you a better posture to avoid back pain and also claim to read minds! My search for the ‘app’ of my eyes led me to hours of online surfing on online stores of my mobile phone manufacturer and service provider. The result - a big fat bill for the first month! I didn’t need an app to tell me my heart had skipped some beats on seeing the damage to my finances!

A quick trip to the service center revealed that I had not got the “right data package” for my (rising) surfing needs, so one had to subscribe to a suitable data package to handle heavier downloads! That done, one was ready to surf the web again without worry of high bills, one thought! I began posting tweets and updated my FB status from my new smartphone – but soon, mysterious pop-up messages kept popping up! “Try highly rated apps?”

Not willing to be out-smarted by these new smart devices, I hurriedly clicked “No” each time it appeared. But who was I to take these decisions? My trusted ‘smartphone’ always did that for me, having completely surrendered to it, isn’t it? Within minutes, I got an SMS: “Thank you for downloading Top Ten Android games, you have been charged Rs. 99/- for the same”. But I had not requested for any games download - and did not know what to do! Was there an app to tell me what I should do should an unrequested download be forced down my throat? Over the weekend I received several dozen SMSes “thanking” me for downloading games, puzzles, online-tutorials, matrimonial services, marriage counseling advice, career guidance tips, astrologer’s advice, numerologist’s suggestions, IQ/EQ tests, stock tips – all of which I did not seek - nor order – and certainly did not intend to pay for!

Then it dawned on me: My smart-phone works for my service provider! I switched off my smartphone - I sensed that I was completely apps-phyxiated – a feeling of suffocation caused by apps! But had to switch it on again for I could not live without it either! I sent out SOS messages to my friends on WhatsApp – the latest addicting messaging service only to be advised more apps! An imaginary ad flashed through my mind: That of aged-looking Ranbir Kapoor look-alike serving me an exotic dish at a café, that I had not ordered at all and coming with a hefty bill for it! I rushed to the service providers “gallery” with only one last request: “Could I please have just this one final app : ‘ShutApp’?!” - with the hope that it would shut all other apps with just one click and return my life back to me!

Blogger's Post-Script:  After a brief period of  "app-detox" forced upon me by my service provider's malfunction, I am back to my mobile-surfing in moderation.  The invitation from Indiblogger to participate in an app-tasting event is too tempting to resist! Hope to see you all there!

Parting Shot: Mamata Bannerjee is the latest to have an app custom-made for herself:  It's called "Spot-the- Maoist" app!

SMJ - A Bitter Pill for Docs!

Some years ago, a colleague mentioned to us, that both the print and electronic media largely focused on the negative aspects of our life and society in general and that there was a need for some newspaper or channel to feature only good, positive stories. Picking on these cues, some TV channels have begun featuring programs like ‘Positive India’ and ‘Real Heroes’. The website “The Better India” brings several positive stories on a regular basis. I love these features! These developments partially fulfill the wishes of our old colleague who would like to read positive stories happening around us.

When we read these stories, we find that standing up against our societal norms to bring about the much-needed changes in our society is not an easy task. These heroes have to struggle against all the odds and hurdles that the high and mighty throw at them. Several hardships have to be endured to bring about these change in the mindset of people before they get their success. With the growing trend in reality TV shows, would then one want another show to bring into focus our weakness, drawbacks, idiosyncrasies, the strange remnants of our past mores? Yet Aamir Khan’s ‘Satyameva Jayate’ does just that – but with a purpose – to unshackle the Indian minds of our stereotyped preset response to all our problems - by perpetually being in denial!
Although the reality show ‘Satyameva Jayate’ (SMJ) has been lauded for its efforts to bring to the fore such perverse anti-social and criminal practices as female foeticide, child sex abuse and dowry harassments in its first three episodes, the fourth episode which dwelt on the subject of ‘intentional malpractices’ of doctors seems to have ruffled the feathers of the medical fraternity.  So we have an issue at hand with the 4th episode of SMJ! Reportedly, the doctors are up in arms (albeit without their scalpels) to protest against ‘the manner in which the show has painted all doctors with the same brush and tarnished their image’. Some doctors have also raised several questions about the veracity of facts presented in the show. This post does not wish to go into the correctness of the information, but to dwell about the main allegation cited above.

So has Aamir really painted all doctors with the same brush and tarnished their image?

Aamir had been careful enough to mention the following:

1. The show is not about medical negligence – everybody makes mistakes and this episode will not bring out any case about the harm caused due to medical negligence.

2. The show is only about bad intent.

3. There are doctors who do good service and do not indulge in any malpractices nor do phenomenal work in the interest of the society.

4. The aggrieved patients on the show are fighting legal battles and being subjudice, the show does not intend to influence the court proceedings.

5. Dr. Devi Shetty has been honoured for his innovative scheme for the poor in the show.


In view of the above, how then, one wonders, does the 4th episode be said to ‘paint all doctors with the same brush and tarnish their image’?

If the medical fraternity wants to come clean on the ‘cut system’ from specialists, diagnostic centres and pharma companies, several measures need to be taken by them collectively before they can prove or disprove this allegation! Dr Devi Shetty, when asked about this malpractice says “There is no denying this, but it is not rampant as yet, and before it becomes rampant, measures should be taken”.

There are several measures like spreading the awareness about generic medicines that the medical associations can undertake for the benefit of the public at large. There is very little information on this subject now! Why don’t the public at large know why the generic drugs are not prescribed and only branded medicine are?! There may be issues involved, but is it not for the same bodies that came up in arms to help the public understand the subject better?

Instead of cracking down on malpractices in medical education, can we continue to live in denial of these facts and continue to make medical practice a business due to the steep amounts to be invested upfront than ever before! Is it not time to clean up the Augean stables – or is it already too late?

This post began with these questions in my mind – Why do we focus on negative aspects of our society and not the positives? Why do we need another reality show that brings out our dirty linen in a TV show that enters our living rooms every Sunday? Why don’t we only read/listen about the good positive developments and not about the tragic, sad stories?

And the answer lies in this – That we live in denial, disown our shortcomings and would love to believe that all is well, push our troubles under the carpet and hope they vanish without so much as having to deal with it.

Many say what SMJ tells us is nothing new - but the fact is that reality shows like SMJ bring them out for us to ponder, compelling us to rethink and correct ourselves.

SMJ episode 4 proved to be a bitter pill for the medical fraternity. Would it continue to live in denial or quickly realize that something needs to be done to save the situation – have a hard look at whatever issues that really exist and deal with them with determination?

Only time will tell.

Blogger’s Post-script: One would have liked if two issues that face the general public great difficulties in respect of doctors -


1. Why do all doctors take holidays on Sundays? Where does one go if an illness comes a-calling on this day of rest and recuperation? Can some doctor be available in every region (in turns) or they can observe different days off so someone is available?


2. Why do doctors refuse house visits, even for ailing Senior Citizens, who can’t come to their dispensaries?

Pain Killers needed

Many years ago, a close friend’s father complained of unbearable pain in the lower back region, that needed medical treatment. His family doctor advised him to see a neurosurgeon and hinted at a possible surgery that could mitigate his pain. When I recommended him to talk to a neurosurgeon I knew, he readily agreed to consult him. This neurosurgeon went through his X-Ray and Scan reports and advised him against any surgery! “If you do undergo this operation your lower-back pain will go. But chances are that you may develop pain higher up your spine after the surgery. You also face risks associated with any surgery and here we are talking about neuro-surgery!”

So, for my friend’s dad, it was back to physiotherapy, painkillers and oodles of prayers!


Economic experts talk today like that neurosurgeon did several years ago.  Spiralling inflation, the Rupee falling, lower growth rates, no investors coming to India, no jobs for youngsters - we have more pains than one can ever imagine! If you don’t like the hike in the petrol prices, who do you think pays for the import bill, if the petrol prices aren’t hiked? Taxpayers! And that includes Income Tax payers and those that (fortunately or unfortunately) don’t have to pay Income Tax. Because those that who don’t have to pay Income Tax have to pay all the Indirect Taxes – Excise Duty, VAT/Sales Tax, Entertainment Tax, Octroi, Customs Duties on all goods that are purchased by us folks.

Some years ago, when a fellow-blogger and old friend invited me for a long drive to meet up some interesting folks, he broached the topic about why the Government controls Petrol prices? “Why subsidize the rich – just allow market forces to determine the price of petrol and if they can afford it they will drive their gas guzzlers and if they don’t, junk ‘em! Do you know the more we drive around and consume petrol the more benefits we get from the heavily subsidized petrol prices?”

The Government apparently was planning this - to decontrol Petrol prices – which they seemingly did some years later. Seemingly, because the Oil Marketing companies cannot just raise the prices – the telephone caller at the other end (read: Petroleum Minister) ought to give consent. But what options does the Government have? If the prices are not increased, the OMCs will take a hit. If the duties are reduced the fiscal deficit of the Govt. will increase. If the fiscal deficit increases, the Rupee will fall further. Investors will avoid coming to India… Gosh! My friend’s dad was certainly in better shape!

“So where do you want your pain?” is the question the Government is asking us all. 
The power of Democracy - you get to choose!

And whatever your answer is, the pain will only increase unless the Government curtails its wasteful spending and have a re-look at its subsidies and its beneficiaries. Unlike the Surgeon (who had not been the cause of the pain), the Government in this instance IS the cause of the economic pains – ill-conceived Yojanas, badly-monitored disbursements of government goodies, inaction against misuse of MNREGA funds and wide-scale looting activities, employing an army of inefficient government workers AND several such black holes in our government schemes. These ARE the cause of the pain.

And since people have already lost hopes that the Government will indeed act - or act in our interest if it at all acts, we find ourselves sending SMS jokes about petrol price hikes - maybe to put back the smile on our long faces. And the UPA-II government thinks we are happy about them completing 3 years of its term!

Blogger's Post-Script:  Some of us are also happy and smiling because we have bought a diesel car and not a petrol one!  Take that!  So why crib about Government policies - just learn to use it to your advantage. And keep smiling!

Free Speech - Don't ban bans!

Some people in our country believe in free speech.

Well, I would prefer to be paid.

Jokes apart, free speech is important. How good an idea would it be to keep our thoughts to ourselves and not express them? So we have many amongst us sharing our thoughts with the rest of the world - some in text and some endowed with artistic abilities express it through their drawings and cartoons. RK Laxman’s cartoons in the Times of India was something I never missed reading ever since I was in school. If I knew what was happening in my world, it was perhaps because of my addiction to relish its daily offerings. If I don’t understand it, I would ask my grand-aunt, who brought me up, while my parents were away at work. From her I would know how this miniature piece of brushwork talked volumes of our lives and the times in which we lived!

My grand-aunt - I called her ‘Mami’ - would read all the editorials and opinion pieces and keep abreast of what was happening in our country. If at all she would get angry, it would be after she read these columns. She had not completed her matriculation, but had an opinion about everything that was happening around us! Oh wait - this post is not about her - it is about having an opinion and voicing it. Had it not been for the recent uproar in the Parliament about Shankar’s cartoon in the Textbooks, I would never have known that Shankar was the pioneer in the field of cartooning in the early years of India and not RK Laxman. I would also not have known that his cartoons, amongst others have made it to the textbooks in India!

I don’t know what contribution the communists have made for the betterment of our country, but I must thank them for all this uproar about a cartoon hitting at the slow progress in regard to the penning of India’s Constitution in Nehru’s time as early as in 2012! But wait – if you hear them out, it is that it featured in the Textbooks five years ago that they are upset about! What I am upset about is – why didn’t we celebrate this FIVE years ago? Cartoons in our textbooks was unthinkable! If some spirited folks have convinced the NCERT to feature several such cartoons in our textbooks, I think it is indeed a silent revolution in the field of education that desperately needs to change. Kudos to NCERT all those who made this possible.

I don’t really care if the ‘Snail cartoon’ stays or is pulled out from the textbooks due to the pressures from the easily offended sensibilities housed in narrow minds. What I am concerned about is whether the teachers to whom the students turn to (like I did my ‘Mami’), know so much about the context against which these cartoons were created in those days? Do young minds relate to the times that existed then? Could they draw parallels to those incidents with what is happening today or would they conclude that ‘nothing at all has changed’? Except, of course, the players in the game of politics?

There is a website which is appealing to the public to ban bans of all kinds! But those who want bans are only expressing their opinions and I don’t want them to voice their opinions to ban anything. I strongly oppose the move to ban bans! They are so very educative, entertaining and offer our people our moments of truth – of the true nature of our people. From what we want and what we don’t!

Blogger’s Post-Script: While the recent controversy brought the spotlight on humour, would it be possible that some of our humorous blogposts feature in a Textbook some day soon? OK maybe 50 years hence? Ok I cant forget that Snail!

Who is “in- Charge”. Me? No way!

By Murlidhar Varier - A Guest post on my blog...

Ours is a typical middle class nuclear family where I am the eldest and supposed to be in charge.I am responsible for sizable slice of the monthly income. All decisions pertaining to finance (other than routine expenses) needs to have my nod also.

As a result, I found myself in a so called high pedestal, where any decision that mattered needed my approval. I was happy.

One day, on further analysis of the decision making process, I realized that I am only a paper tiger.

Sure, I gave my assent to the replacement of the mixer-grinder and a new set of vessels for our kitchen. We set out to buy them. The first sign and shock of “who is in charge” dawned on me when the selection of the mixer & vessels were done overruling my suggestion.

“You keep quiet” was the refrain.

The second salvo was fired when my spouse’s name appeared on all the vessels (with that ear piercing electric pen) as she looked nonchalantly at me.

On our way back she kept chiding me for not handling the package properly.
Once home, I wanted to have a feel of our new acquisition, and I promptly proceeded to unpack the grinder.

“Stop!” She shouted, “Don’t spoil it on day one.”

Having lost the plot I retreated out of the kitchen. On my way out I picked the plastic carry bag that housed the grinder, intending to use it for the old files that were to be consigned to the loft.

“What are you doing?” She looked at me and exclaimed! With the same look that one gives when somebody is caught red handed, stealing. I replied that I wanted the bags for my files.

“I will give you another one” she said and scurried out of sight for a few seconds.
When she returned she triumphantly extended a carry bag,( which seen better days and with one of its ears torn) towards me and before I could argue, she lifted her hand to indicate that the matter was closed.

The number of carry bags she has squirreled away over the years will put a mid- sized mall to shame.

The same story repeated itself when I picked up one of the new vessels for preparing tea, one day. It was promptly eased out of my hold and before I could gather my wits, the old one was thrust into my hands. I will tell you when to start using the new one she said.

That day was the last I saw of the new vessels, for many months, till one day one of the vessels appeared like cubs going out for the first time in a zoo, for public viewing.

I thought I would be better off with my son but then again my power was short lived.

My son wanted an expensive smart phone and we debated over it for months till I could mobilize enough money to buy it. There was nothing wrong with his existing phone, but since I did not get any expensive toys when I was a child, I agreed to buy one for him, reluctantly.

After a lot of research on specification and price the phone was ordered with great enthusiasm. On the day it was supposed to arrive by courier my son told me in no uncertain terms that my job was to accept the package and keep it safely till it arrives.

“Don’t even think of opening it”, he said. My spouse was included in that part of the instruction and I felt better.

I tried to reason that the box may not contain what we ordered and to this he said that seller had a 48 hour return policy.

Soon the phone arrives and disappears into his room. Occasionally he will hand it to me as if doing me a favour. The plastic bag will be claimed by the rightful owner, leaving me just the credit card bills. At least there I am still the boss.

I reconciled to the situation telling myself that, it is my love towards them that lets them get away with this outrageous behavior and I shudder to test the veracity of my claim.

Moral of this piece:

It does not matter if you are the eldest, or it is your money, you own the house, or you are physically stronger the power centre lies elsewhere.
If there are more stories like these please share them. We could also form an association of the “Powerless Powerful”.

About the Author:
Murlidhar Varier writes a column on personal finance matters in the Golden Glow magazine. This is his first attempt at humour. Best wishes and hoping to read more humour pieces in the days to come.

Blogger's Post-Script
The ArTicKles Blog would be pleased to feature more guest posts. Do send in your contributions to g_mavinkurve [AT] hotmail [DOT] com to feature in this blog.

Fire Drill Fiasco

The recent incident in Bengaluru, in which a 25-year old woman, who lost her life in a mishap after having enthusiastically volunteered to participate in the mock fire drill organized by the local Fire Officer, shocked us! After watching the video-clip on a national television news channel, I tweeted thus:

@gopinathmm (me):
“ The B'luru Fire chief owes the people of India an explanation on the mock fire drill tragedy! Stupid execution, really - no net?”
@dhanyarajendran tweeted:
“Nalini lost her life for no reason! An eager citizen who wnted to participate in a mock drill! Who d hell were d firemen? Punish them

Many reacted strongly, demanding that the errant fire officer responsible for the accidental death of an eager citizen be sacked and some others said that it was a shameful incident for the Fire fighting squad in the city. Some even surmised that the rope that snapped may have been of lower quality due to the corrupt practices prevalent in public life.

Several questions come to mind in this regard:
1. Do even advanced countries have such fire drills in which an untrained volunteer is asked to descend to the ground from a higher floor using just a rope?
2. Would not such dangerous moves be demonstrated by Fire Brigade trained personnel first before asking volunteers to do it?
3. Has such an exercise been carried out before by any fire brigade in Bengaluru or any other city, successfully?
4. Wouldn’t the Fire Brigade use a rope ladder to descend in such a situation?
5. Wouldn’t there be a safety net in position below, in case the person slips during the mock drill?
6. Wouldn’t there be a written procedure and checklist to ensure that the rope is fastened properly to something firm (how firm is it?)-
7. What load the rope can carry/hold? Is the rope of adequate strength for the purpose?
8. Would it not have been better carried out from the first floor- rather than a higher floor? After all it was only a mock drill!

There might be more! I am sure these points will come up in the investigation that the Fire Chief at the helm of affairs would look into and set things in order.

The Fire Brigade personnel and officers are the real heroes in our society and have saved the lives of several citizens from imminent death in life-threatening situations, by risking their own lives. The kind of risks that the fire-fighting personnel face are un-imaginable and we owe it to them that they be equipped with proper fire-fighting gears that function when calamity comes calling! It is imperative therefore, that the best quality material is purchased without compromising standards

Needless to say, Corrupt practices compromising on quality are intolerable!

While mock drills are certainly needed, the manner in which they are conducted ought to be a well-thought out process, in which the demonstrators are well-trained in fire-fighting, evacuation skills before they are put on display before the general public! Personnel, that are well-trained to cope with emergecies, in offices, hospitals, malls, auditoriums and several such public places, are indeed the need of the hour. The AMRI hospital fire would have been better handled by their staff, had they been trained how to handle an evacuation by fire brigade officials.

More important is the aspect of prevention! How many public places are audited for safety? How many pass muster? Why don’t we make it mandatory for all public places to prominently display the latest safety audit reports/ratings for public information? Reports and ratings given honestly, of course! So that we know how safe we are when we enter them?

Would we be asking for too much?

Cronyism and Pseudo-Democracy

Although it has been several decades since kings ruled our people, feudalism is prevalent in many parts of our society, albeit disguised as democracies. Some people think that feudalism is a trait that cannot be removed from the deep-rooted mindset of the masses in a span of just 2 or 3 generations. Education, which apparently seemed to be the only remedy to change our thinking, failed to do the trick too. Educated people are not necessarily adept at ‘thinking through’ current developments in today's times. Not surprising at all! Education never taught us to think, decide, be prudent with money matters or deal with bullies in every walk of life – all of which is so essential to live a reasonably comfortable life. Dynasties and Rajas will continue to rule us eternally.

In the recent 2G telecom plunder episode, dynasties and Rajas could take a billion people for a royal ride. Rulers of the states of our country are grooming their sons (daughters, nephews, etc) to take over the reins by joining politics and getting ‘democratically elected’, so that the license to plunder remains within their clan for several generations to come. Gullible voters don’t seem to mind this one bit! If the father was a great leader, so would his progeny, they all seem to think. With the costs of contesting elections being ridiculously high, who can afford to field one’s son, except, of course the well-heeled - and a politician himself? With such entry barriers to keep well-intentioned reformers out of the election fray, this whole exercise of spending money on election campaigning has ensured that elected members will work to get adequate ‘returns’ on their ‘investments’.

Promises are quickly forgotten and one gets down to serious business! It is payback time, folks, and the cookie jars are all stocked up for the privileged few who can dig into them. “Cookie jars?”, you may ask. The average ‘educated’ man has not learnt to spot a ‘cookie jar’ in his school or college. Mines, land, special economic zones, spectrum, projects, mega-events, licences – there are plenty of them for the asking. Ambitious Corporate houses, who are the major funding bodies at the time of elections too only too impatient to get manifold ‘returns’ on their investment. Payback time, they tell the parties supported by them, as returns come in the form of government sops handed out to their industries and businesses – larger profits mean higher bonuses, don’t they? It is a Wink-Wink situation!

And what does the average man on the street get? Promises, some Crony Capitalism, a Crony Government, a Pseudo-Democracy, great excitement due to heightened uncertainty – and, of course, a large bill (read: higher taxes) for the excesses committed by the elected and the venturesome! The educated get newspaper editorials, some interesting television debates that appeal to their intellect – that’s about it. A heavy price to pay (read: taxes) for some cheap thrills. With the SC cancelling 2G licences, the Government is certain to raise money through auctions. Good for us, but the common man would like to know how and when will the looted moneys from several scams be recovered from the perpetrators? No wonder, the world is simmering with anger! But those at the cookie jars have gotten too deep inside it, to be able to listen to the din outside.

Just a pseudo-post by a pseudo-blogger hoping to pseudo-tickle the readers, for a change!