Rainbow of income: Lets get rid of poverty line

    Poverty line has always been a work in progress in India. It has been a issue of great debate. How to determine it without coming out with an absurd idea of a living standard has been a huge challenge to the panning brains of our country. Last year there was a huge controversy with the planning commission of India coming out with figures of about Rs. 32 per month per head which was later reduced to Rs 27. Though lot of ridicule was invited with such announcement, the reality is that the figure was per head per month for a family of five which turn out to be about Rs 4000 per month. What perplexed me that while condemning planing commission  for its insensitivity towards the poor, people easily sidelined the fact that there are more than 20 crore (200 million) people in India actually living with lesser income. So who should be given priority while being careful in drawing such a line which can be a matter of life and death in terms of the facilities being provided to the poor.

   Today this idea struck me that why not have a continuum of poverty or economic status instead of a single 'in or out' line. I call it the "Rainbow of income". I have deliberately kept the term poverty out of it to keep it away from all the controversy but at the same time giving the better picture of the economic condition of the people and economic equality of the country as a whole. This is the initial thought and can be developed further.

Here is the outline of the concept of this Rainbow of Income which is like the VIBGYOR of the colours of the rainbow.

LINE            FAMILY INCOME PER MONTH              PRIORITY

Red line       Rs 5,000 or less           All basic needs with focus on survival as well as dignified life

Orange line  Rs 5,000-Rs 10,000     Food, Water, Health, Basic education, Employment

Yellow line Rs 10,000-Rs20,000    Heath, Housing, Education, Employment, Skill development

Green line   Rs 20,000-50,000        Higher education, Income security,Health insurance

Blue line      Rs 50,000-100,000      Better services at a fee

Indigo line   Rs 100,000-500,000    Better investment opportunities

Violet line    Rs 500,000 and above Opportunities and incentive to contribute to the society

                    As you can see that these can be sub-grouped in poor, middle and rich class. The last line (violet line and Indigo lines) can be called Gold lines and Silver lines also respectively and I have left the Diamond line (billionaires) which is for the super rich. The items in the priority are indicative and can be expanded with due deliberation. The idea of an exclusion list is also very good in terms of targeting the government programs. However, I believe that all services should be as universal as possible. That would not only reduce targeting cost but also give everyone a sense of equality in terms of attention from the government. It is sometimes a little demotivating for a middle class person to know that her tax is funding the welfare schemes and she is not getting anything out of it. Although she may choose not to take those benefits but excluding her from the schemes she herself is funding may sound unfair to anyone. There is seemingly a conflict between individual rights over larger good but that conflict can be transformed in to a synergistic collaboration with due diligence.

The AAPrising

    The Aam Adami Party has come out as a face of the aspirations of Aam Adami as well as a reaction to deteriorating trust towards our political class. Its a simple distinction between institutional politics as it has become and instrumental politics as it should be. Politics for the sake of power is an open invitation to corruption while using politics as a tool to serve people and develop the country, no matter who is in power, is what the AAP offers.

    The vicious cycle of corruption which starts from politics has to be broken. First someone 'invests' money to come in power and then misuses his power to get the 'return' on that investment. The people and the democracy remain limited only to the ballot box. The politics has become a business while it used to be one of the greatest kind of service to the people. The AAP has given people hope that they won't have to choose between the devil and the deep sea. It has also forced the existing political parties to think again that they can not go on ignoring the people. The politics is not just about winning elections but also about delivering governance to the people.

   In an era where honesty and truth does not seem to be valued, this new movement has given a hopeful picture which takes us away from cynicism and actually talk about real participation of the people. Lets hope this movement will achieve it's objective. Otherwise, as Mr. Kejriwal says, it's not the question about what AAP, his party, would do, it's about what we, the people of India, would do!

Natural Disaster vs Political Disaster in Andhra

Who says disasters always cause destruction (though that is the defining characteristic) .The situation in Andhra Pradesh(Telangana + coastal Andhra + Rayalseema) suggests the reverse. The turmoil caused by strike of power sector employees resulted into black out of many cities and no talks could yield any result. And then there comes the unusual rescuer, a cyclone, just the news of whose arrival resulted in at least a temporary break in strike. For such instability, whether in the political weather or in ocean, its the people who suffer, but as they say, it happens only in India where one disaster is negating the other!!! Truly, we are a country full of ironies and shocking surprises. Lets hope that the cyclone does not cause any serious damage, but remains there to disrupt the disruption caused by the political cyclone,which is this vacillation between to protest for bifurcation or for no bifurcation!!!

Print calendar program in C

/* prog to print calendar of any month in a given year by pradeep */
#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

void main()
{
int firstdayofyear(int);
int firstdayofmonth(int,int);
int leapckeck(int);

int i,j,yr=0,date=0,m=0;
int f=0,fdoy=0;

char *mon[]={"Jan","Feb","Mar","Apr","May","Jun","Jul","Aug","Sep","Oct","Nov","Dec"};
char day[]={'S','M','T','W','T','F','S'};
int dim[]={31,28,31,30,31,30,31,31,30,31,30,31};

/*
dim  is days in month
jan 31, feb 28/29, mar 31, apr 30, may 31, jun 30, jul 31, aug 31, sep 30, oct 31, nov 30, dec 31
*/

printf("enter month (1-12) and yr\n");
scanf("%d %d",&m,&yr);

printf("you enetered %d %d\n",m,yr);

if(leapcheck(yr))
dim[1]++;
/* printf("days in feb %d",dim[1]);  */

/* find first of month and year  */
fdoy=firstdayofyear(yr);
f=firstdayofmonth(fdoy,m);

if((m>2)&&(dim[1]==29))
f++;  /* adding on odd day for feb of leap yr for month later than feb*/

if((m>0)&&(m<13))
{
 printf("\t\t    \3%s %d\3 \n",mon[m-1],yr);
}
else
{
 printf("wrong month, printing for Jan");
 m=1;
}

/* print day header */
for(i=0;i<7;i++)
printf("%c \t",day[i]);
printf("\n");

/* starting from first day */
for(j=0;j<f;j++)
printf("\t");


for(date=1;date<=dim[m-1];date++)
{
 if((date+f-1)%7==0)
 printf("\n");
 printf("%d \t",date);
}

}/* end of main function */

/* function to check leap year */
int leapcheck(int yr)
{
 int leap=0;
 if(yr%100==0)
 {
  if(yr%400==0)
  {
/*  printf("%d is leap yr",yr); */
  leap =1;
  }
  else
  {
/*  printf("%d is not a leap yr",yr);   */
  }
 }
 else if(yr%4==0)
 {
/*  printf("%d is leap yr",yr);   */
  leap=1;
 }else
  {
/*  printf("%d is not a leap yr",yr);   */
 }
 return(leap);
}


/* function to find first day of the year */
int firstdayofyear(int year)
{

/*  printf("in year %d \n",year);   */

int oddyears=0,cents=0,leapys=0,odds=0,years=0;
years--;  /* cal odd days till last yr  */
oddyears=year%400;  /* calendar reset after 400 yrs, rest yrs odd days */
cents=oddyears/100;
odds=odds + cents*5;  /* 5 odd days in each century */
years=oddyears%100;
leapys=years/4;      /* leap yeras to add extra odd days */
odds = odds + leapys + years;
/*
printf("cents %d leapys %d, odds %d\n",cents,leapys,odds);
*/
return(odds%7);

}

/* function to find first day of the month */
int firstdayofmonth(int fdoy,int mon)
{
int i=0,odds=0;
/*
printf("fdoy is %d month is %d\n",fdoy,mon);
dim  is days in month
jan 31, feb 28/29, mar 31, apr 30, may 31, jun 30, jul 31, aug 31, sep 30, oct 31, nov 30, dec 31
*/

/* odd days in each month ,for feb we will adjust while printing there*/
int oddm[]={3,0,3,2,3,2,3,3,2,3,2,3};
for(i=1;i<mon;i++)
{
odds=odds+oddm[i-1];
}

odds=odds+fdoy;
/* printf("odds are %d \n",odds);  */
return(odds%7);
}

My Gujrat Trip

    For the first time, I became a bag-packer and started with Vishnu, The thinking particle on a trip which most would react with a surprise, GUJRAT. What on earth made me go to Gujrat...there are so many places. I thought when Amitabh Bachchhan is so passionately inviting us by saying, kuchh din to gujariye Gujarat me" (spent at least few days in Gujarat). So i thought lets go. It was a a two week trip, nothing like i ever did before. No tour package, no fixed destination. Just a book guide lonely planet's INDIA, and of course an experienced traveler. For the first time i realized that Traveling and Tourism are two different things. I used to tour and visit and spend holiday at lot of place but for the first time, I was traveling. All on my own, on a low budget, depending mostly on public transport and budget hotels. Exploring the places by interacting with locals rather than just visiting a fixed popular route. In those two weeks, I traveled for more than 2500 kilometers(excluding train distance from Delhi to Gujarat). And most it by public transport, i.e. state transport which was surprisingly cheap (about 50-60paise per KM). And almost always the buses were fully packed, which shows how crucial it is for common public. Here is an outline of my tour:

1. Bhuj
Day1: Reached Bhuj, the center of Kutch, the western most part of India, mostly marshy region called Kuchchh as the regions map is in inverted shape of a turtle (Kachchhap in Sanskrit). Kutch is the largest district of India. We hired a bike for a day and enjoyed full accelerator bike on empty roads, but in night it was cold.
Main attractions covered:
A. White desert: Near a place called Khavda, you will see a desert made of sea salt. imagine white fields till your eyes can see. You cant find out where the land ends and the sky begins. The sky here was not blue but white, may be by the reflection of light from the white salt. It was so perplexing yet beautiful.
B. India bridge: The northern most bridge in this region having last check post till civilians can go.
C. Kala dunger: A rock which gives excellent view of great run but we missed due to traffic jam, but on the way we discovered a place like canyons.
D. Bhuj District itself has few old places to see. The shooting of film Lagaan was done here.
Day 2
E. Mandavi beach: Probably the first beach from north-west and unique as you wont find coconut but cactus near it.
F. Lakhpat port: An ancient port before the Indus diverted further deep. It was a city of lakhpatis (millionaires). Majestic fort welcomes you.
G. Narayan Sarovar and Mata Nu Mandir: Religious places revered like Vaishno Devi of Gujart.
We missed few places in Bhuj like its museum and a place called Than due to paucity of time. You can go to Kachchh with one whole week in hand and 4 days only for Bhuj and nearby.
Day3: stay in Rapar
After spending 3 nights in Bhuj, we started to see little run. but before that, the biggest site of Indus valley civilisation in India, Dhalavira near a small but peaceful town Rapar was waiting for us.
And the best thing is just before entering the island of Dhaulavira, you get pure, virgin white desert. The most beautiful sight of white run.
Dhaulavira: Excavation site of Hadappa or Sindhu Ghati Sabhyata (Indua valley civilization). A very nice museum with a very cooperative staff of ASI. (but not so good at Lothal which was rather small as compared to Dhaulavira)
Day 4: Stay at Dhagandra
From there, Dhagandra, the small kingdom where the king still live in his palace.
Day 5: 
Little Run, which confuses you with its vast mirages where even forest officials are afraid to venture as its very difficult to find the way once you are in.
Day6:  After spending night in Jamnagar, we started to see a unique place where you can see marine life and mangrove forest by walking to it on your feet.
Narara Marine national park, reach there early morning or get to know the timing of tide by calling forest office at Jamnagar/Narara
Day 7: stay at Dwaraka
City tour of Dwarka's outskirt including old temples and Bet Dwarka. An amazing boat-ride accompanied by Seagulls flying just a hand away
 Day 8. Stay at Junagarh
Junagarh Fort.so vast and beautiful. So many places inside. most amazing was a 5 storey deep well,
 And an amazing museum nearby. A grand old but neglected Mosque. Ashoka's rock inscriptions.
Day9: Stay at Gir
Gir National Park: the only home of Asiatic tiger. Forest department has good and cheap lodging facility.
To see lion, no need to take safari, see lion in interpretation center in just 75 Rs.
To see forest, you can take Safari.

Somnath: Grand temple. A brief on the way visit to this grand temple. I didn't like rocks being painted in silver and gold and it took away its natural beauty.
Day10: holiday at Diu
Diu: little Goa. A peaceful calm island. Hardly 10km to walk. We discovered a lagoon like beach with clean water and spend hours in the water. (and got tanned a lot).
The diu fort is really amazing. And the Sea Shell museum is amazing, take 2-3 hours to spend here.

 Alang: the largest ship breaking industry of world. A port which can take even large ship on high tide and than anchor them for recycling. A ship is a city in itself and all kinds of things including sofa, furniture, fridge, washing machine, DG set, rescue boats, steel, and everything on a ship was on sale at a 5-6 kilometers long market beside the road.
Day 11 stay at Vadodara, big city but could manage to find a cheap guest house.
Champaner-Pavagarh: UNESCO world heritage site. will take a whole day to visit all placed of fort, beautiful mosques and a rope way ride to pavagarh shaktipeeth temple.
Day12:  stay at Ahmedabad 
Lothal, another indus valley excavation site but smaller than Dhaulavira. Nice brickwork here but not much and can be skipped if you have seen Dhaulavira. But if you have a car, you can go there to spend 15-20 minutes.
Day 13:
Sabarmati Ashram, history revisited
Adalaj vav, a beautiful 5 storey deep water body

Day 14: Stay at Patan:
Modhera: An ancient Sun temple, older than Konark. Demolished and looted by invaders. 3rd weekend of January is great dance festival.
Day 15:
A small but happening city which have its own museum, multiplex and a 200 year old handicarft tradtion, Patan ka patola, An ancient Saree making style without using any machine and making design on thread ,not on cloth. The saree starts with price 1.5 lakh Rs.
Rani ki Vav, another beautiful water body. and Patan ka Patola, a 2000 year old tradition of making saris from thread colouring. Sari cost starts from 1.5lakh Rs.
And now back to Palanpur, from where we started.
We used all kinds of road transport, bike, taxi, Khatara (a jugaad like tempo made from engine of bullet) which is ubiquitous in small cities and a life saver when there is no other means.

It was very nice experience, so many unique places, natural, archeological and cultural places. Every state in India is unique for its own kind of  landscape and diversity. It was all fun.
For detailed travelogue please visit thinking particle (Vishnu's) official blog page:

Trailing Gujarat Series: In Chronological Order

Trailing Gujarat: Train to Bhuj

Trailing Gujarat: Bhuj, Capital of Kutch
Trailing Gujarat: Northern Kutch, Dhordo and Kalo Dungar
Trailing Gujarat: Western Kutch, Lakhpat and Narayan Sarovar
Trailing Gujarat: Southern Kutch, Beachline of Mandvi
Trailing Gujarat: Eastern Kutch, Splendor of Rapar and Dholavira
Trailing Gujarat: Dhrangadhra, a lesser known delight of Gujarat
Trailing Gujarat: Little Rann of Kutch, Salt Plains and Heat Mirage
Trailing Gujarat: Jamnagar and Marine National Park, Narara
Trailing Gujarat: Dwarka, Where Pilgrims meet the end of earth (Read: Sea)
Trailing Gujarat: Junagadh, City of archaeological attractions
Trailing Gujarat: Gir National Park, last home of Asiatic Lions
Trailing Gujarat: Diu, Real thirst-quencher
Trailing Gujarat: Alang, Where Ships come to die
Trailing Gujarat: Champaner and Pavagadh
 Trailing Gujarat: Ahmedabad and Lothal Trailing Gujarat: Patan, Modhera and Separation
For More information on travel destination in India, You can see http://thinkingparticle.com/
Here is the outline of my two week 2500km journey.