Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who had the credit of holding the country’s first e-Cabinet meet, is a disappointed man. For his colleagues proved him that they were not smart enough. Mr. Naidu, who is keen on spreading culture of paperless administration, was shocked to see only a handful of participants in the Saturday’s party meeting carrying tablets which, he said, were distributed to help them monitor welfare and development schemes. “I expect you to be smart and use technology effectively to win the hearts of the people,” he exhorted the party leaders.
Buddha is everywhere
A name and an image are being liberally used by traders to enhance their fortunes. Amaravati, the capital city, is the most-preferred name. The traders are naming their ventures after the capital. Buddha is suddenly become omnipresent literally, and departments such as police are using his image in flexis to convey traffic rules.
Statutes of Buddha are being kept at every exhibition and they are occupying a vantage place in all shops.
Soon Buddhawill be everywhere in Vijayawada, quipped an artist.
No crossing of paths
Atheists and believers are like parallel lines which never meet. The Atheist Centre, near Benz Circle set up by social reformer and freedom fighter Gora, faced an unusual situation a few decades back.
“In 1949, a Bishop visited a site near the Atheist Centre for construction of a church.
Realising that the church-goers will have to cross the Atheist Centre, he presented his case before then Collector who handled the issue shrewdly saying that he was helpless since the people at Atheist Centre would feel the same way every time they would pass by the road that led to a church. The Bishop quietly withdrew his proposal,” said G. Vijayam, Executive Director of the Atheist Centre.
(With inputs from
V. Raghavendra,
J.R. Shridhara and
P. Sujatha Varma)
