it's boom time,baby

both the indian and chinese economies are moving at a fast clip.some economists are afraid that they are overheating.our mandarins say "no". they are emphatic that inflation is under control and the good monsoon will ease the pressure on prices. in any case they say,systems and controls are in place to check any runaway inflation. like the interest rates. which moves up when the growth is too rapid. that puts a brake and keeps the economy on the right course. but the baby boom continues without any check.in a selfish way,i am not bothered about that.

2007 is the "year of the golden pig". it is considered auspicious for newborn children.as per hindu calendar it the "sarvajit" year. the pig is one of the 12 animals on the 12-year cycle of the chinese zodiac,which follows the lunar calendar.the "year of the golden pig" comes once every 60 years.we also follow the 60-year cycle.

children born during the year of the pig are polite,honest,hardworking,loyal and lucky.so the chinese claim.newborn chinese babies are immersed in a pool of water with a rubber ring surrounding them.it is supposed to keep the baby calm and peaceful.

i cannot vouch for any of these qualities yet. but i can dance and shake to 'shakalakaboom'. i have become a grandpa.
l gave birth to a lovely girl on friday the 15th. a bundle of joy. h and l have named her "ruhi".

in office,my colleagues clamoured for sweets to mark the joyous and auspicious occasion. one of them suggested that i should get barfis. "pedas for babas and barfis for babies", he said. and when i distributed the barfis i proclaimed "mee aazoba zalo" (i have become a grandfather). be in rome like the romans!