Golden Lakshmi temple in Vellore

There are 3 places in India where gold has been extensively used for religious shrines and continue to attract thousands of people every day. These include Golden Temple in Amritsar, Tirupati Balaji temple in Tirupati and latest in the list is the "Sripuram Lakshmi Temple" in Vellore.

Vellore was a sleeping town and was known only for Vellore fort and the world famous CMC hospital. This temple suddenly has made the place very popular and a hub of tourist activity. Situated closely to both Bangalore and Chennai, the temple is attracting thousands of people everyday esp Tuesdays and Fridays. (The picture is taken from http://modernbarbarian.blogspot.com/2007/10/golden-temple-near-vellore.html)

Here's the distance chart
Link: http://www.trsiyengar.com/id123.shtml

Chennai - Vellore about 150 kms (Via Sriperumpudur, Sunkuwar Chathram, Kaveripakkam, Wallajahpet, Ranipet, Arcot, Ratnagari - or Arcot by-pass from Ranipet) - 3 and half hours drive from Chennai.

Bangalore - Vellore (via Hosur) - 220 kms (On national highway routes - NH7 > via - Hosur Road - Electronic City - Attibele(NH7) - Hosur - Kamandoddi - Shoolagiri- Melumalai - Kurubarapalli - Krishnagiri > NH46> - Bargur - Vaniyambadi - Ambur - Pallikondaj - Vellore. - around 4 hours drive)

Kanchipuram - Vellore - 58 kms

Tirupathi - Katpadi - 95 kms

Ranipet - Vellore - 26 kms (via Arcot bypass - highways 22 kms)

Hyderabad - Vellore - 510 kms

Mysore - Vellore - 270 kms

Thiruvannamalai - Vellore - 85 kms

Vellore - Sripuram Sri Mahalakshmi Golden Temple - 8 KM

The video below is taken from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1rQb7Asgfo


The salient aspects of the temple include:

1) 100 acres site and the temple periphery is star shaped and devotees have to go through it.

2) Made of 1.5 tonnes of gold.

3) Vimanam and Ardhamandapam have been coated with gold both interior and exterior.
4) About 400 goldsmithas and coppersmiths were involved (many of them from Tirpuati) in making this temple a really grand one.
5) Twelve layers of gold foils have been pasted on copper sheets embossed with the designs of Gods and fixed on the walls.
6) Exnora International has selected Sripuram, housing the Sri Lakshmi Narayani Temple in Thirumalaikkodi near Vellore for the ‘Green Temple Award.’ This is in recognition of its achievement of keeping the temple clean and green, growing thousands of trees on the premises and in the immediate environment, and implementing an Integrated Solid Waste Management (SWM) Project, according to M.B. Nirmal, founder of Exnora International.

The official website is http://www.sripuram.org/


The temple has generated a lot of employment in Vellore and tourism has become a livelihood to them. The temple is highly guarded and well maintained. My personal visit was truly a divine experience. The main "garbhagudi" or the central part of the temple is surrounded by water and it adds richness and grandeur to the glittering gold.

National Identification Number - Worth it?

In what can be said best about the Social Security Number (SSN) system in USA is the fact that this one number can give an entire horoscope of an individual. In an attempt to have one such for India, in 2000 the then NDA Govt led by Vajpayee did a serious feasibility study. The study led the Govt believe that it is the most daunting and challenging task because the number of fake documents held by people outnumber the original and genuine ones. The project was put in cold storage. The need for this came up again when the attack on Parliament took place in Dec 2001.

Even during Manmohan Singh's first tenure the project was revived under the pressure of the second administrative reforms. Now, again Singh has personally asked Nandan Nilkeni (now former Infosys CEO) to personally lead this project. He is responsible for planning, and execution of the project. Has been given a cabinet minister rank and full powers under the Planning Commission. His team (National unique Identification Number Authority) will create, own and maintain this huge database of 1.2 billion plus people.

There are lots of technical issues. How and from where will data be collected? What could constitute primary data? How will the number be generated for those who are dead? How will family lineage be established? What about space/storage issues? Where will it be hosted? Will it be centralized? What abt security issues? Of course, these issues have been addressed to a good extent and that is why a person like Nandan has been asked to lead such a arduous project to assess and execute matters not addressed yet.

But is it worth? The number is a necessity, but is it the first thing in ensuring governance mechanism improves and national security is enhanced? As far as governance is conerned, it will help if this number will be utilized by the govt in ensuring that money flows and reaches the required person in a way that this number will become the sole determining factor. As far as security is concerned, a number wont help as long as simple police reforms are not addressed. What will a police constable do having a NIN (National identification Number) if he doesnt have sophisticated weapons to handle criminals, leave apart terrorists? If police has no faster way of reaching a place to protect citizens,how will this number help? If police doesnt have a proper way of recruiting right and efficient officers, how will this number help?

Had Kiran Bedi been asked to lead the police reforms in the country, there would be no person like me who would have been happy. It is the need of the hour that a woman like her lead this most challenging reform. If police force and the way it works improves, our security system is enhanced by almost 200%. We have no single formula for this, but surely is the need of the hour . The recent commission report on 26/11 poses a serious question on how our country's top police officers are treated with utter negligence w.r.t weapons.


Unless we dont reform police, we wont see the impact of this unique number. Down the lane say in 3 years or 4 if this project gets implemented, it will take almost a decade to really see the impact of this at every stage. I am sure that this number will be fitted with biometric security system. Here's an article on how technical issues delayed this project in 2003 in Delhi

Rs.100 crore alloted to it is an utter waste if police reforms are not addressed. Had the same amount of money been invested in our coastal security, we would have gone a great deal ahead. Had the same money been put up in sealing the eastern borders we would have stopped infiltration from bangladesh which is the root cause of all deadly blasts in the last 5 years. How is this issue being addressed? Can a NIN help if these infiltrators can get fake documents and prove themselves to be genuine citizens? Never, the process of identifying someone as a citizen itself is a big question mark.

Nevertheless, here's an article that says that such a number helps in 4 areas (1) welfare delivery and tax collections, (2) financial inclusion, (3) voter registration, and (4) national security

I hope that a person like Nilkani is given due respect and the govt seriously gives all required resources and help in this matter. It makes me definitely proud of this fact that the Govt chose a person like him to head this daunting task...

Thank you Mr.Singh...Please do a big favor by appointing Kiran Bedi to head the Police Reforms and you will go down as one of my favorite PM's ever.

A dream economic team after a decade

It is almost exactly after a decade there is new hope from a ruling Govt with some fresh ideas to take India forward. It was in Oct 1999, when the then Vajpayee government created a core economic team which people were not aware of it. Yashwant Sinha, Arun Shourie and many others were a part of such a team which made the stock markets and industrial circles very skeptical. With faces never seen in power and administration were incharge of key portfolios. But very soon India saw some breakthroughs and a new life was given to the economy.

Within 100 days i.e before Dec 1999, the government came up with a massive program of bills and reforms policies which brought revolutionary changes in the country. Examples include scrapping of Urban Land Ceiling Act which had stalled new businesses from setting up their stores on new lands. The other example include denationalization of insurance sector thereby bringing foreign players and revamping existing LIC (which was perhaps the only insurance company till then in the country), reforming and constituting a FIPB (Foreign Exchange Promotion Board) which became the regulator for overseas investments and inflow of foreign currency. Within the first 100 days, new Companies Act 2000 replaced 1956 Companies Act which brought in new legislations on how companies can do businesses in India including limited liability partnerships . The draconian FERA (Foreign Exchange Regulatory Act) which prohibited people from having foreign currency in excess and led to raids every now and then and filed criminal cases against individuals instead of civil ones was replaced by the new FEMA (Foreign Exchange Management Act) which brought in new life to the country.

These were all path breaking initiatives by this economic team which received appreciation even from Congress economist Jairam Ramesh whose economic knowledge even I admire.

India started on having a flexible exchange rate system. The tarfiif on imports came down to 25% from 100% till 1999 and all industrial licensing quota was abolished. Public sector control were brought down to 3 sectors from 18 and changed the way how private investments can bring in new competition and efficiency.

Such an impact the Govt provided to the economy within 100 days.

Manmohan Singh in his second innings has raised such hopes by having some real experienced and talented people in certain key portfolis. The team led by Pranab Mukherjee, Anand Sharma, Murli Deora, Praful Patel and others give great hope to the long pending reforms. I hope that in the next 100 days, we see some drastic steps. The new team is far more known to the public than that of 1999 and therefore expectations have doubled.

There is great hope after 10 years in 2009. Esp in infrastructure growth with KamalNath taking in charge and removing the corrupt, inefficient T. R. Baalu, Manmohan has done a great favor to the country.

Let's hope that this second innings delivers to the economy which very badly needs smart and tough decisions

Great expectations from Manmohan

The good fact being that Manmohan can work more independently without the interference of the Left is a good news for the country. Now, in foreign policies, in increasing FDI caps on crucial sectors, Congress doesnt have to wait for Left's agreement. However, Manmohan Singh must increase the speed of reforms by introducing legislation on one side which improves social sector issues like education, water and electrcity while on the other hand changing economic policies such as disinvestment, reduction in red tapism etc.

This is where I feel Manmohan should retain Finance Ministry, while Chidambaram is better as a Home Minister. The young and dynamic Shashi Tharoor should be given External affairs Ministry while defence to Pranab.

The place where we need to really improve is in the basic infrastructure where Congress record has been dismal. Infrastructure has to grow and we need better railway system in terms of speed and better railway system that connects major cities. Of course, this is too far fledged to expect too quickly to happen, but can surely happen if Manmohan puts in right people. The fact that Congress can retain a majority of portfolios, it should be a positive sign for India. This unique opportunity lies in the fact that Manmohan must put in the right people.

When implementing social sector schemes, fiscal deficit managment is very crucial. As of now, we are in a deep financial mess and our fiscal deficit is too high only because we are spending too much on social sectors without making proper changes in the way they are implemented.

Congress resurrects; BJP ?

In another striking example of how an Indian voter votes, 2009 election will go down the memory lane for a long time. It is because all states where BJP was expected to do good lost marginally (although Rajasthan, Haryana, Mahasrashtra proved to be exceptional cases). BJP still retains the central India completely, but it failed to generate any votes from rajasthan, Haryana, Assam in particular.

The problem with BJP is that it doesn't have a presence in key states like AP, WB, Kerala, TamilNadu which gives you 141 seats. There is virtually no presence. It has worked to the advantage of the Congress. Here, even if Congress had won or lost would not have added any vote to BJP only exception being its allies had they won. BJP gained extremely well in Bihar and Lalu is thrashed out.

It is interesting to note when Jayalalitha said to BJP to do business only if it is able to get 150 seats on its own (minimum), but now BJP should also question Jaya about the fact that she did not win more than 10 seats in TamilNadu. It is however, Congress which wiped out Left parties completely leading to only 20 seats down from 60 in 2004. Left suffered its worst ever defeat in West Bengal. In this election, Left suffered the worst.

If BJP did a good job (if not better) by accepting with humility the defeat, left seems to introspect and did not even happen that Karat offered to resign unlike Advani.

This election is a clean sweep not for Manmohan, but with no option left people voted for Congress in the following way:
In AP, one was sure Congress is going to retain, but not increase its share
In Kerala, it's always either Left/Congress - this time it is Congress next time Left again
In West Bengal, Congress was expected to gain, but not so handsomely
In Maharashtra, Congress gaining again.

The real surprises include:
1)Congress own comeback in UP by winning 20 leaving BJP behind with 13 seats - rahul gandhi strategy worked
2)Congress spectacular gains in Rajasthan by winning 20 seats (last time BJP won more than 20)
3)Congress DMK sweeping TamilNadu

So, if you analyse it properly, it is Congress's gain on its own in places where BJP doesnt exist (except Rajasthan). Even Punjab, Haryana, Uttarkhand, Delhi, J&K voted for Congress.

If at all BJP had to gain, it had to be in Haryana, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan on its own. This did not happen. Had BJP lost even those states where it was very strong, it would have ended BJP completely.

But what next? BJP has to reinvent itself by showing what it has done between 1999-2004 under vajpayee core economic team led by Arun Shourie and Yashwant Sinha. It has to highlight the fact BJP is more interested in this direction. BJP needs to make its presence felt in south such as TamilNadu, kerala and also in West Bengal. It also has to develop or resurrect the UP unit where it is in bad shape.

It has to nurture more nationally acceptable leaders. Narendra Modi is definitely a very good bet, then Arun jaitely, Sushma Swaraj, jaswant Singh. I wonder if Jaitely had contested and won the Lok Sabha seat...he would be the best opposition leader for which Congress would have to prepare a hell lot to answer his onslaught as he is the only leader across party lines who is extremely accurate in his critiques.

One good thing that has happened in India is that Congress and BJP agree on foreign affairs and economics more or less on everything. The social sector is where Congress emerges stronger as it is more pro-poor although it has never been able to remove poverty and implemented new ideas.

BJP has to come up with fresh ideas, and how they plan to tackle existing challenges. For Congress, it is sure they will win even the next election because Rahul gandhi will be the next PM and people will vote for him.

Graceful entry (MMS) and graceful exit(Advani)

In 2004, MMS became a PM by accident. I, initially, was very happy at the fact that the most qualified person to become PM was MMS and he did become. However, my dreams were shattered when he diluted Right to Information Act, allowed reservations, introduced farm loan waiver instead of restructuring it, and was silent on internal security reforms. One of the only things when I felt happy about him was when he was ready to sacrifice his govt for the sake of nuclear deal.

However, this time in 2009, the mandate was not for MMS ,although he gracefully enters this post because he was Congress's choice from the beginning. Manmohan also now matches Vajpayee record of twice to come to power on succession and the only non-Gandhi member to have become PM twice from the Congress party. The fact is Congress expanded at the expense of both Left and other regional parties like SP, BSP, TDP and AIADMK.

Mr. Advani showed what he really is in terms of commitment to public service and dignity when he chose to quit the post of Leader of the Opposition. He had resigned earlier when Jain Commission had charged him of hawala and chose not to contest until he is cleared. This time he admitted with humility the defeat and chose a graceful exit. Now, he will go down eternally as PM-in-waiting. He is definitely among those who have shown no lust for power, but a serious intention to do public service. Imagine Deve gowda (I am ashamed to bring this man into the picture while dealing with a dignified Advani)..who still contests, wins and aims to be PM again!!!

Advani definitely has done a great favor by publishing his autobiography giving us a lot of information about how our country has travelled since independence..

Although Advani was acerbic on MMS and vice versa...both have demonstrated extremely good public gesture when Advani said he would co-operate completely with him and MMS saying that he needs their support to run the country and come out of many challenges we are facing. I feel even Rahul Gandhi accepting the fact that Advani is a senior most person and that he fought a strong election was a good gesture on his part. I still remember when Advani told in a press interview that he once told Rahul that the situtation that should worry both BJP and Congressi s that both the national parties are not able to expand and regional parties continue to grow.

However, there are very few leaders who have maintained public decorum, decency, dignity and most importantly commitment to public life and to name a few include Nehru, Patel, Shastri, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Vajpayee, Jai Prakash Narayan, Ram Manohar Lohia...and MMS of course.

These are some of the few leaders who stood beyond their party lines when it came to the nation. How can we forget when Advani told - "There are 2 moments in which I was elevated - one when Bangaldesh was liberated and second when country conducted its first test - both under Smt. Indira Gandhi.

We really miss such leaders - both in the Congress and BJP. These 2 are the only parties that can ensure a stable India.

Why is Congress sending confusing signals to the electorate?

If there is one party that must be happy that it is doing good in Lok Sabha polls, it is the Congress. Yet, ironically, Congress has been sending real confusing signals.

Look at these:

1)On one hand, they talk of Jayalalitha and on the real ground have allied with DMK
2)On one hand, Congress esp Rahul Gandhi says he will support Left if they win 170-180 seats and says that Left will support congress if they fall short of majority. This at a time when they are fighting together with TMC which is Left's main enemy
3) He praises Nitish Kumar upsetting Lalu and Paswan. It is a joke where at the Center Lalu and Paswan share the ministry with Congress while are fighting against each other in Bihar.
4) He praises Naidu when his own party leader YSR is doing pretty good in Andhra Pradesh.
5) Congress secretly is trying to woo Mayawati and their relationship with Samajwadi is like an on/off state...some days it is at its best and some days it is at its worst.

And lastly, it looks like Congress is too nervous. Are they looking for new allies or retaining existing allies? The biggest blunder Congress has done is not fighting this election as an alliance. This is in fact the biggest risk it has taken.

While BJP can't gain in Kerala, West Bengal, COngress is still going very strong and may ultimately emerge as the winner.