111-year old Japanese, Sakari Momoi rocks

Sakari Momoi, retired educator, poses for a photo after receiving a certificate from a Guinness Word Records official, on Wednesday (20/08/2014)  -  Image courtesy - AP photo

Sakari Momoi, a 111-year old Japanese, has been recognised as the oldest man by Guinness World Records.  Momoi, whose date of birth is 05/02/1903, wishes to live another couple of years.  Barring some “hearing” issues, Momoi, a former teacher, is in decent shape.  Japan is the “fastest aging country and has the highest average life expectancy – 80.21 for men and 86.61 for women”.  Incidentally, the world’s oldest living person is also a Japanese, Misao Okawa (116 year-old woman). 

You and I don’t have the age to bless Momoi, but certainly we can congratulate him.  Though other details are not available, it is not difficult to identify him as the supercentenarian.  Momoi has obviously witnessed the world transitions at many stages – changing technologies, World Wars I & II, the Great Depression …..  As of now, he has lived 72 years from WW II.  Wow, he has certainly seen a lot of events in his life time, and has outlived most of the people in the world in many stages  at different times.  He is a witness to “Wright” brothers flying, the Titanic sinking, stock markets crashing, changing and toppling of governments, 9/11 attack ….  That kind of age should have probably brought enormous depth of wisdom.  Or, is it debatable?

What is the secret of Momoi’s longevity?

People must have attributed this or that for that sort of long life.  It can be basic discipline, proper dieting, fitness, exercise…, but at the base it could be their genes.  "Luck” factor, probably, could be  one of the things, as he is an obvious survivor, having avoided serious diseases and accidents.

Momoi is mentally very active, which is good cover against Alzheimer’s disease – he reads, loves poetry – those brain cells must be consistently alert, despite his advanced age.  A Japanese man who enjoys reading Chinese poetry in itself is poetic.  The longer life expectancy can also perhaps be attributed to the ability to handle stress well.  Longevity is a blessing as long as one stays physically and mentally fit.  After seeing his age of 111, it is fascinating to notice the vast gap between retirement and old age.

Is life really worth at that stage?

We see so many people living on chronic medication.  “I guess these medicines are keeping me alive” – a common confession we hear about.  And there is a lot of truth.  If you suffer from Alzheimer’s, arthritis, BP, hearing, vision ….etc. issues, it is no picnic.  If there is constant pain and a battle just to keep on living, just trying to survive the pains and medical issues on a day-to-day basis, there is nothing quality about it.  Before you figure out how to live longer,one must start focusing how to make it “lively”.

Do you believe that all the people who sacrifice so much “living”  to get this “old” have the right mindset?  Does 111 sound scary, or people would be nice to you?  How about experiencing at least one day at 100?  If you are, say 50, and look at some one who is 20, you may feel old, but when you look at some one at 80/90, your thought process is different.  There is a difference  between a present quality and speculative predictions about the future. 

We are only too familiar with views like “I would not want to live that old”, or “I wouldn’t live like that, rather I’d die….”.  But as you age, it appears you might see things in a different perspective.  In many families, we do observe that even as the parents are alert and active, the grown-up children find them out-dated.  Even if you take second-reading, Momoi has five children and probably dozens of grand children and great-grand-kids, yet he was dumped in a nursing home.  Old-age in our culture is more seen as a “curse”.

I am young and that’s how I think too

As long as I would take care of myself, I would prefer to go on living, else it is a prolonged agony.  Any second opinion?  People generally don’t think of dying, given the  numerous distractions they have.  Keep busy.  Momoi is a great inspiration to remain sharp and he speculates on how many years he would like to live. Enjoy living, there is  always a tomorrow.  Life must be funny, even at old age, I don’t know though! There can be more fun if money and health can coordinate each other.  Live, laugh, love and be happy.  Well, its upto you.

Mr. Momoi, you sport only 90, whereas calendar has a different figure of 111 for you.  Why you are shooting only for two more years?  That seems pretty realistic.  I can’t wish you a long life, you have already had that, but I wish you as many years as you want.  Sir, persons like you can be global game changers when it comes to human life span.  A good looking man for 111 – may you continue the journey to its fullest potential.  Also, the Japanese honour the elderly a lot more than we do.  In the meantime, let’s try to understand our parents and grand-parents – how they live/d a long life.

At the moment, I am immortal.

MP Jaya Bachchan asked for it

Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan- Image courtesy: NDTV

Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan recently demanded action against Radio Jockeys (RJs) who joked and mimicked parliamentarians.  She obviously drew support across the party lines.  A few MPs from other parties remarked that “this trend is becoming atrocious”, exhibiting their level of intolerance.

After a hard day’s work, when we are struck in traffic, RJs come to our rescue, and we are thankful to them for the fun-filled chats and help us refresh and relax. Epithets like “chaiwala”, “pappu” ….were not taken offensive.  “Chaiwala to Prime Minister” is a mammoth success story.  “Pappu” didn’t take the tag serious.  Most of Lalu’s fame is because of RJs, comedians and cartoonists.  When the famous cartoonist Shankar had published a caricature depicting Jawaharlal Nehru, the latter complimented the artist, but chided him that his ‘nose is really not that long”.  Take comment and criticism with a spoon of honey, ma’am.   It is also an art to convert the satire to your advantage and popularity. 

Movies portray politicians in poor light

In most Indian movies, politicians are shown as jokers or villains.  The “Kapil comedy shows” on TV channels often mimick. Will you ban them?  Tamil fortnightly Thuqlaq editor, Cho Ramaswamy is renowned for his political satire and has not, for that matter,  spared any politician.  Can you censor the publication?  Do you dare silence him?  Khushwant Singh’s popular “With malice towards one and all” was extensively used for lampooning the politicians. None of the cartoonists ever spared any one or any act.  Incidentally, it is a major part of their job description.   You are no stranger to movies.  Sauce for the goose, is sauce for the gander. 

Joking and mimicking parliamentarians is another form of freedom of expression.  When we watch “live” parliament on TV channels, I  am sure, ma’am, you will agree with me there is no need to listen to any RJs.  Your colleagues on the floor of the House provide sufficient stunt and comedy shows.  We can give nice titles.  “Pepper spray”, “Sleeping beauties”, “Conspicuous absenteeism”, “Guest appearance”, “Tearing papers/bills”, “Indulging in fist-cuffs”,  “Fight for Room No. 5”…… please help me to continue the list.  We have ministers who cannot distinguish a “degree”  from a "certificate”.  MP threatening to “rape”.   Nearly 30 per cent of the MPs reportedly have criminal records.  The decorum of the House is consistently floored. 

Non-performing and mal-performing parliamentarians can be mocked and mimicked.  If media (in any form), doesn’t point out, who else?  As long as it is not vulgar or derogatory, a witty humour or mimicking is perfectly valid.  Our politicians have forfeited their right to muzzle the media due to their own actions and inactions.

Do we really have parliamentarians?

The real ones like Acharya Kriplani, Jayaprakash Narayan, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia, Somnath Chatterjee, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, … and a handful of others can be found only in our history and politics text books (we should guard that too, as history these days are being ‘rewritten’). 

I hope the whole thing is not a farce that she is trying to claim some publicity. Let us not forget that she has been “nominated” by a party that makes fun of rapes. When her boss, Mulayam  Yadav said “Boys are boys” over the punishment for rape, where was her anger?

This is real life, not show business

The slandering and counter-slandering during election campaigns are there for all to see and believe. If our parliamentarians act like clowns, making fun is an obvious corollary.  The Speaker should initiate a debate in the House on “Why people hate and mimick  politicians?” and make it mandatory for every Member to speak on the topic (attendance compulsory, sleeping not allowed.).

Respect is earned, gagging doesn’t serve the purpose, not in democracy.  Even as a matter of strategy, Ms. Bachchan has erred.  By needlessly raising trivial matter, she has reminded the RJs and the media about what else they missed out.  Akbar has not banned Birbal.  Krishna Dev Raya has not banned Tenali Rama.  “Bachchan” cannot ban RJs.  By the way, ma’am, what happened to your funny bone?  If mimicry is not an art, well, acting is not, as well. 

Hypocrisy is an integral part of our democracy.  When there are MPs who are jokers and black spots and when parties have MPs with smelly foot in their mouth, the “RJ”-tribes will only multiply and flourish.  Let people identify you by your deeds, and demonstrate yourselves beyond sledging. If you can’t take pun in any form while in public life in your stride, its time for you to move on. Its time the melodrama is drawn curtains.  Thanks to Honourable MP Bachchan, RJs, for once, are in the limelight.  On a serious note, our elected representatives must learn to command respect.  Long way to go………

Wednesday 13 August 2014
News updated at 2:19 AM IST 

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You are here: Home » Panorama » Bank frauds are direct attacks on systems and procedures

Bank frauds are direct attacks on systems and procedures

C S Krishnamurthy, Aug 13, 2014 :

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) recently arrested Syndicate Bank Chairman and Managing Director (CMD), Sudhir Kumar Jain and others for indulging in corruption over extending credit favours. 

 A report citing Jain, accused of taking Rs 50 lakh bribe, disturbed the conscience of the “faithful and friendly” Manipal-based bank.

The difficulties in the task of detecting internal frauds were realised ages ago.  The problem continues to be difficult and Sudhir Kumar Jain reminds us of that. The sum of Rs 50 lakh seem small given the powers vested in the CMD.  While the list of bank frauds is a long one, one can’t miss out the Ex-Indian Bank CMD M Gopalakrishnan who was sentenced to one-year rigorous imprisonment for allegedly causing a loss of over Rs 30 crore to the bank for approving loans without proper security between 1992-1996, and was subsequently found guilty of conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, misconduct and cheating under various provisions of IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act.

While money and crime are made for each other, this appears only a tip of the iceberg.  A wider net might reveal larger cupboards across more banks.   If the loan is huge, probe if any “consortium” racket is in play. Leading banks like SBI, PNB and others have led the major consortium advances to top borrowers in the country.  Frauds are said to be happening in corporate loans.  Beyond financial losses, fraud has other negative consequences that impact an institution’s reputation, customer loyalty and the confidence of the shareholder.

CBI sources reportedly said that Jain “has allegedly taken Rs 50 lakh as bribe from Bhushan Steel for not declaring loans of nearly Rs 100 crore as Non-Performing Assets (NPAs).”   NPA refers to bank loans, where the borrower has failed to make interest or principal payments for 90 days. The share-holders should also wake up. Jain has apparently taken unfair advantage of his position through manipulation and abuse of privileged data.  He has allegedly given approvals beyond his bounds, for a price.

How safe is it to trust the RBI figures about the NPAs, the virus affecting the banking sector, in the context of willful manipulation of figures?  Are the profits shown in the financials true and correct? Recall the infamous Satyam scam, where the Indian arm of PricewaterCoopers, the statutory auditor was fined US$ 6 m by the US Securities and Exchange Commission  for not following the code of conduct and auditing standards.  Also to be verified is if the internal and external auditors were controlled by the CMD.

Why employees defraud?

Why do employees defraud? Is it an opportunity or attitude?  The underlining issue that is being troubled is trust, which is believed to be inherent in our nature, and in the operation of banks.  Indeed, higher level officials, motivated by greed, have more power, greater access and less likely to be controlled.

Largely hidden, employee fraud isn’t exactly something banks want to talk about, as they don’t want the public to lose confidence in their institution. It happens, generating huge losses.  Tellers, managers, executives… they all have a chance to embezzle. Banksters, who can be found at every level of an organisation, have the potential to swindle the customers, tarnish the reputation and demoralise good co-workers.  As a few executives have misled from the front, every time a new official takes over is looked upon with suspicion.  Studies have, time and again, identified willful defaults, frauds, mismanagement and misappropriation of funds as primary reasons for the mounting NPAs. Its impact: the whole machinery would be preoccupied with recovery procedures, rather than focusing on expanding business.

 I am aware of a dispatch clerk in a public-sector bank, about three decades ago, using two stamped-envelopes separately for the same destination, instead of one.  Despite pleading “oversight”, the management charged him with “negligence and causing extra expenditure for the bank”, and postponed his increment by six months, for the “extra expenditure” of 20 paise. The higher the grade, the harsher must be the punishment.  Else, there is little difference between a juvenile crime and a “qualified executive” crime.  The penalty for the “executive” betrayers should be firm and fair.

Why such stories repeat in PSU banks? It is possible there is a lack of monitoring of warning signals at state-run banks. Who is to oversee RBI’s vigilance?  Bank’s Board of Directors are expected to select competent executives, effectively supervise the bank’s affairs, adopt and follow sound policies and objectives, avoid self-serving practices and observe banking rules and regulations. Interestingly, there are officers/employee nominees on the Board.  Even their agitation questioning the irregularities of the banking system can be more specific, well-directed, than a touch-and-go exercise.  The need for a code of conduct has recently been echoed by C H Venkatachalam, general secretary, All India Bank Employees’ Association: "It is high time the government frames a set of rules and conduct regulations applicable to EDs (executive directors) and CMDs. It is all the more necessary because banks deal with huge public money and important financial decisions are taken by them.”  Banks should design fraud awareness training programmes for all levels, while the vigilant teams in each bank should be strengthened with the right skills and right officials.  Can we expect the Modi-led government that has promised to establish a system which eliminates the scope for corruption through public awareness and making it transparent?

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Also read: http://kmurthy608.blogspot.in/2012/06/customer-delight.html

                http://kmurthy608.blogspot.in/2014/01/beware-your-dormant-account-can-be.html

email: krs1957@hotmail.com

https://kmurthy608.wordpress.com/2015/05/18/need-to-safeguard-atms/

Juvenile criminals cannot escape easily…

Women and Child Welfare Minister Maneka Gandhi recently said that juveniles who commit rape should be tried as adults.  She is personally working to amend the law so that 16-year-olds who account for 50 per cent of the sexual crimes are brought out of the purview of the Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection of Children) Act (JJA).

Today, a need has arisen to discuss the growing clamour to  reduce the age of juveniles from 18 to 16 in the JJA in the wake of deadly Delhi gangrape, notwithstanding the subsequent reports of unabated sexual offences.   While there seems near-unanimity among most segments of the society to do so, experts are of the opinion that this would open a pandora’s box.  There are very strong groups who advocate that juvenile should be judged by the magnitude of the crime, not age, a  likely deterrent for others.

Is it right to call Juvenile Act lenient?

But when we are frequented by cases of juveniles who are involved in such abominable acts of crime that are horrific in their nature, the society obviously lashes back.  While it is shocking a child of 17 years could commit such crimes, another school of thought  argues that the juveniles have been into all kinds of crimes like rape, murder etc. but media, of late, has exposed it in a big way.  Why the child has committed such crimes?  It is for Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) to probe the whole system and ensure the child  does not become a criminal, while it cannot be discounted whether the reformatory system worked or not.

Is JJA only for reform, not to punish?

The inherent flaw in JJA is it never meant for punishment, but to reform and correct.  A big debate has triggered after JJB declared the sixth accused in the infamous Nirbaya case as “minor”. Political parties and activists have demanded that the juvenile accused, the most brutal among the six, be treated on par with the rest.  The minor-accused was declared as 17 years, 6 months and 24 days old. As per Section 15(g) of the JJA, a juvenile aged between 16–18 years if convicted of any offence can be sentenced to a special home for a maximum period of three years  and thereafter be released on probation.  However, Section 16 of the Act also provides  a juvenile can be confined till s/he attains 18 years of age, and cannot be sent to jail thereafter, which in effect will result in this case.  The severity of the crime has no consequence in this case.

A child cannot rape, nor rapist  be a child

Image courtesy: India Today Group

Nina P Nayak, Member of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) argues that “there should be no change in the age of the juveniles.  If juvenile commits crimes like rape or murder, it is the failure of the system. Punishing a child cannot be approved…”  In India, 18 is reckoned as the cut-off age for child labour, marriageable age, drinking, driving , contracting and hence more thought should engage the age amendment perspective.

But, a 16-year old has enough knowledge to differentiate between right and wrong. Any girl on attaining puberty is an adult regardless of age.  Juvenile Justice system may be applicable only to minor offences where there is no bodily harm is inflicted, though punishment can be severe for a repeat offence.  Tougher laws, stringent action and a proper mechanism to look into the aspect of updating laws as society changes are becoming imminent.

Are tough adult sentences counter-productive?

When a juvenile rapes/kills, does he instantly become an adult?  Or does he maintain some trappings of childhood, despite the gravity of his action?  Studies suggest that the brain may not be fully developed until 20 years of age. Should we give up our children and consign them to the adult penal system, where rehabilitation is not a priority? These are questions plaguing our society and the legal system, as violent acts of juveniles continue to make headlines. It is argued that mind continues to develop, well after the body has physically matured.  The U.S. Supreme Court, for instance, has ruled that “capital punishment is unconstitutional for anyone who hasn’t celebrated their 16^th birthday”.

Putting the juvenile offenders with hardcore criminals will make them fodder for the elements who will readily accept such disgruntled teenagers.  Even as lawmakers reason merits of death sentence for rapists would bring down the crime rate, there are those who warn that it may lead men killing women after rape to avoid death penalty. 

How young is too young?

Crime, not the age, should be the criteria, but the quantum of punishment must weigh if the juvenile’s brains and thought process are alert to know that s/he had committed a grave act, before sentencing.   Nina Nayak’s outlook is noble and visionary, but it is indifferent to the safety of the common people.  Is there a list of  cases where she has successfully rehabilitated juveniles, particularly the savage ones?  Will there be a drop in crime because juveniles would rethink about the severity of adult sentences?  In U.K., anybody who is 17 is an adult and can be tried as such in serious offences.  Children between 10 and 18 are punishable upto 14 years of imprisonment. In many American states, an adult court automatically takes over serious crimes even if a juvenile is aged 13-15.

Image courtesy: India Today Group

Time to revisit the Juvenile Justice Act

Though rehabilitation can give a second chance, children today are more sophisticated at a young age and hence it could be absurd to argue that a modern child who sees the effect of violence around him/her in the media everyday, doesn’t understand what raping or killing really is. The end-result of a heinous crime is the same, no matter who commits it.  Perpetrators are beyond any help juvenile system has to offer.  The mind set of trying juveniles as adults is  gaining national momentum.  Rape culture is perpetuated through the misogynic language and glamorisation  of sexual violence, thereby creating a society that disregards women’s rights and safety.  Neither perspective on juvenile crime adequately resolves the contentious issue of the age.  When you can discern the crime, you can be punished. There is no cure for someone who would do what he did. 

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Also read:  http://kmurthy608.blogspot.in/2014/07/campus-rape-who-are-these-predators.html

Feedback welcome: krs1957@hotmail.com

Wren & Martin ... Rest In Peace

The onset of Internet is telling on the receding grammar, with the tide of changing times.  A godsend, Internet is the solution to the cries of millions of frustrated letter-writers and telephone users.  Phone calls were expensive  and penning letters were too time-consuming.  The answer: Internet, the miracle.

As with any profound social movement, language evolved and jargons emerged.  English, as a language we knew, has been steadily surrendering its remaining shreds of purity towards  shortcuts and cyberspeaks.  For instance: HI DiS IS JACOB, OMG, I Am So HaPpEy 4u wRiTmEbAk U LOL ByE :).   This is not Latino, nor any programing language.  It only tailors into the domain of English treatment.  This combo of letters, acronyms and signs registers as a code. Logical enough, considering that friends have spoken in code for ages.  But this is no secret parlance between mates.  This fence line illiteracy is widespread amid the English speaking people all over, more specific within the young population.

A bulk of the 12-20 demographic in any online society employs the same literacy “style”.  Call it spelling deficiency or whatever, except writing.  Anti-grammar/spelling is the trend.  We are facing it.  There are good number of good spellers who have an eye and acumen for purity and as to how a word would appear on paper.  Many struggle with syllables, sound out a word phonetically till a logical result is reached.  When spelling deficiency  reduces a student to a lower level, we need to probe how much of this godsend, Internet, truly has impacted the  semantic change.

A website emerges, bragging news and articles, but is there anyone to authorise its contents?  People misspell basic and simple words a lot.  Those who adhere to the dictates of classical grammar are dubbed as “purists” or “primitives”.  Given the current linguistic trend, a grammarian  is unstable.  When an English professor or Editor confronts a writer’s essay or article riddled with faulty diction, the writer dismisses the advice as antiquated.  Again, since the word is nearly archaic as Latin itself, he is more likely to exclaim “Nobody conversates like that anymore”.  The editor has the last laugh at the  intensity of the nonexistent verb.

Instead of entirely indicting on the cyberspace for this rapid slide into functional ignorance, we should equally hold our educators whose grading standards have shifted to the changing scenario.  Students rejoice, and spell-checkers everywhere go into dormancy, as this mode of writing renders technical execution musty.  How can grammar survive if student writers are not bothered themselves with “typos”.We must take a stand against this rampant apathy.  To begin small, proofread  E-mails and instant messages from friends.  Give mild reprimand for an obligatory “LOL”.  Rearrange the sentences for them if they end with a preposition.  Initially, you could be shunned for your efforts.  Someday, hopefully,  the world will be a better place.

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Also read: http://kmurthy608.blogspot.in/2014/03/a-perspective-on-english-in-eyes-of_30.html

Comments welcome: krs@1957@hotmail.com