My hopes dashed! An Episode in my life today about 'Murgh Musallam'!

I had an interesting experience at an Indian Restaurant in the Bay Area today.  Permit me to describe it.  I saw "Murgh Musallam" on the menu & my mind went back to Daryaganj, Delhi & a wonderful restaurant called Moti Mahal (which now is a franchise and all over Delhi and elsewhere too, check out the web link I have included in this blog later below). A place often frequented during my Delhi days.  So when I read that on the menu at Paradise Biryani Pointe, I got all super charged & excited....slurp, slurp with rivulets breaking all over my tongue imagining I am going to get to eat that dish after so many decades….Reminiscence is a wonderful thing, until hopes get dashed L!

Well the dish arrived & I kept staring at it!

The prominent egg was missing, no sign of raisins or cashew or the rich chicken gravy & the unique smell & the presence of a Shahi Dish!  Where was all that at what was set before me??? I wondered & blinked!  Not once, but twice & thrice!

Instead I am greeted by what looks like an ordinary South Indian chicken curry with fried Curry Leaves & all the other usual trappings of the ubiquitous South Indian Chicken Curry.

I call the Waiter and ask him, where is the Murgh Musallam & he points at the chicken curry I described and says “here sir”.  I say “No, this is not Murgh Musallam”.

He says, “Yes, sir, this is it.  See sir, Murg means Chicken and Musallam is Curry" and gives me a broad smile and a grin and looks on for my approval.  By now you can imagine my predicament!

Also, the choicest cuss words and pet negative words came to my mind in Hindi & in Urdu....but I bit my tongue hard and did not want to embarrass myself in front of my wife & kid and all the other guests.  So I grinned back at him too!  Its funny how the human mind works.  I never thought I could remember so many Hindi/Urdu choice words for this guy as I did.  Stuff I had forgotten eons back....tells you what a different personality I was once upon a time....:-)

From a High Point of Imagination and taste buds all ready to bite into a chunk of Murgh Musallam, belied I thought to myself…..what kind of a Joke is this?

Well in the Bay Area, eating at an Indian Restaurant can be a surprising and amusing experience too!

What else can I say J Good Night Folks!  Enjoy the humor of this Musallam Blog!

If you ever get to visit Delhi and you are a foody, then the Pilgrimage to Moti Mahal in Daryaganj is worth it!  http://motimahal.in/about/our-story/

                                                                                                                                    

BTW, some of our Bay Area Andhra Cousins are rating Paradise Biryani Pointe a 5, they are doing it for sentimental reasons.  Realistically this place is a 2 in my view.  If for nothing else, lack of Authenticity & the cheek to include many great North Indian dishes on their menu and to bely expectations, of people who visit the place with discernment!  Will I voluntarily visit Paradise Biryani Pointe, Bay Area again?  NO!

President Asif Ali Zardari: A revamped view on the man....possible???

India and Pakistan have been officially engaged in four wars and several diplomatic initiatives at peaceful co-existence since acrimony ever broke out between the two neighbors.

Every General in power or People's government from Pakistan has made overtures towards India and India has played along with suspicions intact and done its fair share of Tap Dances with each of those Pak leaders over time and come away bruised and disenchanted time and again.

Lasting peace is dreamed of by both sides ad-infinitum and that cherished dream is an expansionist ambition with subtle & strong under currents and Sabre rattling now and then & in the present too as this blog expresses itself.

That will always remain as long as Azad Kashmir and other bones of contention remain unresolved.

Well...time to take an inventory & focus on some positives:

1. Culturally the two nations have great interests in each other. What with many a former Bolly wood actor or actress of India having Pakistani Roots & vice versa a Begum Akthar or Suriya melody and classical queens of yesteryears gone by from Pak. Who can ever forget Late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and his tremendous vocals. All endearing indeed!

2. Many Prominent North Indian Politicians were also born in Undivided India, now part of Pakistan.

3. The Pakistani Cuisine.....aha....that's a delectable topic....and lip smacking and mouth watering indeed for me, at all times.

When ever I imagine Pakistani Cuisine I can feel the great Pakistani Rivers: Ravi, Beas, Sutlej and Jhelum rivulets & tributaries breaking out on my tongue.

AND then there is ….

4. Cricket & who can forget those turf wars and passions running wild!

5. Urdu poetry is another favorite topic of mine.

6. The people of both nations especially the non heretic people i.e. the educated and culturally elite of Pakistan are a treat to hear and talk to. No denying that.

I am sure by now every one reading & who ever is deeply interested in the subcontinent is wondering what is Koshy up to via this blog and what is new?

Well...so here I go....

I think a new chapter indeed has been opened with a New Lady Foreign Minister: Hina Rabbani Khar being sworn in & appointed by President Asif Ali Zardari, via his shadow PM. I may be quick to state this but let me hazard it any way, its perhaps so far a masterful Pièce de résistance diplomatic initiative by the Pak President himself for his beloved nation.

He by back ground is an entrepreneur, albeit of a shady kind as has been amply demonstrated by his overtures now and then and his acquired nick names from the past with added %age points and upward trajectory.

In-fact it baffles me that he has stayed on in power so far, despite many a rumblings all around him. The “Gods” do favor him.

He may be the current reigning slick willy of the Indian Subcontinent among its politicians in the midst of several political land mines.

There-in is my appreciation for his new masterful attempt at co-existence democracy with India & to broker peace with the World.

In-fact I should like to think he borrowed many leaves from Shashi Tharoor (former UN Diplomat and Indian Politician from my State of Kerala) in that he has put into practice: “Soft Power” as Shashi often talks off & believes in about India. Well Pak cannot match India in many vistas of its developments when ever they look across the border at India. However ….hey there is no caveat on borrowing a good idea for Diplomacy to work! So this Entrepreneur President works out this charming inoculation and hey presto the world gets to see Hina Rabbani Khar!

India with its Suave & seasoned S M Krishna, its very brilliant, tactical new US Ambassador and former Indian Foreign Secretary: Her Excellency Nirupama Rao & in the Era of Hillary Clinton world wide, You Mr. President do see a perfect crucible and an opportunity to roll the dice and viola what do we have: Hina Rabbani Khar!!!

Great move President Zardari. You have managed to stitch up an amalgam & left every one gaping and wondering: “Yes Pakistan indeed wants to soften its rough, sullied and battered image..... although baby steps, its a bold commendable initiative, given the fact that much water has flowed under the bridge in the neighborhood and internationally too.

I applaud your diplomatic initiative for friendly co-existence with ever friendly neighbor: Hindustan/Bharat/India and also a brave attempt to create a positive impact about Pak with an untried rookie as yet @ Diplomacy. So far you have pulled off a Soft Power coup d'état of sorts....

Genuine Best wishes, Salaam and Aadab!

These wishes come your way from a sincere genuine well-wisher of friendly neighboring ties with India and also to see the best for Pak....better days & years ahead.....Jai Hind, Congrats & Bravo! You do deserve the Kudos!

I should like to think even Quaid-e-Azam is lauding your most recent initiative from some where up above!

XXX-XXX

Will Pak just remain a nation as the best place from where the best lip smacking Tandoori & Kababs are made...or???

I Believe, much water has flowed under the bridge since 09/11.  There are only three ways in which the Pakistan Nation can redeem itself from the abyss it has fallen into:

1. Hand over Ayman Zawahiri and Mullah Omar to the US |

2. Hand over the 26/11 perpetrators to the Indian Army |

3. Publicly renounce covert/overt support of "Jammat-Ud-this and Jaish-e-that" etc.

All three to be done ASAP, Sans Recourse & Period! and so says this freedom loving individual in this blog, along with countless others!

Do it Gen Ashfaq Kayani and no more sabre rattling. Your nation's millions of  innocents demand it of you, as does the world.

Please do your bit to make the world a better place.  It will undo plenty of perpetrated evils over decades and time by Pak. You will indeed go down in history as a Great Military General if you along with some others of your group cease clandestine and cloak and dagger stuff AND come clean on all this!.  Jai Hind! Bravo!

As I write this blog, I nurture a positive hope that Pakistan will transform itself to be a part of the Free World and part of the Comity Of Nations and not sink even further into a deeper abyss as a "Rouge Nation".  Miracles do happen.  I pray a miracle indeed will happen for the Long Suffering nation of Pakistan.

Finally, I have tasted a variety of Kabobs and Tandoori chicken & other such cuisine from many South Asian Restaurants, in many parts of the world.  BUT the absolute best ones are those that are made by a Pakistani Chef or Pakistani cook, hands down and kudos for their culinary skills!  They have warmed us to their great food.  They can transform themselves into a Freedom Loving Nation too!  

Inshallah, Jai Hind, God Bless Pakistan, God Bless America and God Bless This Troubled World!

A Special Salute & Tribute to all the Social Networking Sites: LinkedIn |Twitter |facebook....to name a few.

I believe and Proscribe as a Practising CPA, that Every Practising US Based CPA should whole heartedly embrace Powerful Contemporary IT, The Cloud and every other available tool to harness and provide the most optimum Professional Services that he or she can offer, for the benefit of their respective clients.

Your Practice is not just limited to the 25 mile radius your office is situated in!
Your Practice is out there on WWW.  Get innovative and Go Get It!

Linked In | Twitter | face book | Blogging | Put these to good use and you will find clients reaching out to you from far flung places of the world to pay Uncle Sam their due respect.

Your client wants to know who you are behind all the legal mania.  Paradigms have changed.  Don't live in the past & in remorse.  Re-tool and Adapt.  That's the name of the game.  Not just in the CPA profession, but I BELIEVE....it absolutely extends to every other business too.

I share my thoughts in the interest of World Commerce.  We need more on the Band Wagon!

Yet there are many who still think these Social Networking Sites are a waste of time and a time pass....excuse me Global Fortune 1000s' don't think so!  What makes you toe a different line.....the gap is widening, even as I type these thoughts.....its a new world order, rising up from the ashes of upheavals.   I say a prayer for Japan and its Great People, as I know that great Nation along with good will from all around the world, will begin to look up yet again!

Thanks for taking time to read the expressed thoughts above....

best,

Koshy P.George, CISA, CPA
Certified Public Accountant

Should you visit with a Practicing CPA or Chartered Accountant & seek his or her counsel/guidance???

Dear Friend,

I thank you for stopping by and taking time to read this blog.  It has been written to create interest and wide awareness about the Noble Profession of CPAs' here in the US.

As a Practitioner CPA, I am inspired to put up this blog on this topic and more so ever since being in my own practice for close to two years, here in the United States of America.

Let me begin by answering my own rhetorical question in the title by saying an unequivocal: YES!

If you are in the market to entrust the care of your Tax, Accounting, Payroll, Business Advisory Matters & Audits, then consider doing so with a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Here are a few pertinent profound reasonings for my above open statement and I encourage you to read on:

The vast repository & intricacies of ever changing Tax Laws & Accounting Policy and matters (combined) are best assimilated, understood & handled by a CPA, than any other person or professional out there!

I say this not just because I happen to be a Practitioner CPA. Its a time tested fact over the decades: be it in the life of an Individual in pursuit of economic life or Business or Non Business Entity, Governments & Economies world wide!

Ask any world leader or President or CEO of a Company or Non Profit Org: Small, Medium or Large and they will agree without battling an eyelid.

I also hasten to add that in every Profession there are unscrupulous elements & bad apples. That is a fact of life too!

Then again, I also wish to add that it has shocked me to find a certain degree of ignorance about the CPA profession in the US among many educated & ordinary people. Many such folks suppose that any one who does their taxes or accounting is a 'cpa'...If some one is designated as a 'financial analyst' in a company, then that person is a cpa??? How bizzare and what a poignant lack of awareness this is, here in the US??? Hence many a 'wannabe' and 'so called accountants and charlatans' set up shop in respectable places and are delighted to thrive off the public's ignorance and 'taking for granted cpa status'???  Again another fact of life!

The US being a vast Free Country with the absolute reality of pretenders to get away due to prevailing rampant public ignorance, presumptions and presuppositions, in as much as there is no cognizable offence involved and no locus standi or legal means of reigning in such pretenders and all this to the detriment of the Scoiety-at-large that vicariously suffers. Such parasites thrive off your lack of awareness and ignorance about quality Professional Services.

But if you are a reader of this blog and have been a victim of such smoke screens and continue in ignorance then, perhaps you forget that there are potential risks to you: The Individual or Small Business in entrusting your personal, business and confidential information to 'charlatans and wannabees' in the guise of being 'supposed cpas'.

The above described scenarios should not deter you from wanting to genuinely seek the counsel of a Licensed CPA in any of the 50 States of our Great Nation. That is a crux point I wish to educate and emphasize via this blog.

Truly the onus is on you to seek out a Licensed Professional in any discipline for your professional services!

The Profession of CPAs' is a prestigious and distinguished group of responsible Professionals proud to be in Public Service as Accountants! They have acquired their licenses going through a tough rigour, curriculum and practical training as well as a Code of Conduct and Pursuit of Ethical Practices and can be held accountable for wrong actions/conduct by a State Board Of Accountants.

Check out www.aicpa.org for more info.

SO, do yourself a favor: genuinely and sincerely seek out and come and see a CPA this upcoming Tax and Accounting Season. You are doing yourself a good turn by doing so!

A true CPA is a responsible friend to his/her client.

I believe in what I am saying and many of my clients across the spectrum & the Nation: Individuals, LLCs', C-Corps, S-Corps & NPOs' do too!

In My Practice I service clients across the United States and the reason I experience interests in my CPA Practice is primarily due to my own client referrals based off what they have come to experience and expect of me as a Professional.

In the light of the above mentioned living truths, I encourage you to see a CPA for any of the needs sighted above.

BTW it need not be me. Our nation is full of brimming, bright and talented CPAs' practicing in many different areas of the Financial and Tax Spectrum.

However, If you are interested in having me on board as your CPA, then I am most delighted to step in and serve in that capacity and answer that call!

For more details please feel very welcome to check out my web site and connect with me, at will!

With warm regards,

Your friendly local & global CPA & CA

('cause I believe 'The World is Flat'....courtesy www)

Koshy P.George, CPA

www.kpgcpa.net      email: koshy@kpgcpa.net

BTW: for the benefit of those who may not be aware, A CPA 'Certified Public Accountant' in the US is the equivalent of a CA 'Chartered Accountant' in many parts of the rest of the world including Canada, UK, India and other nations.

I am both: A licensed CPA  and a CA.

Mosque near Ground Zero: what's the clamor all about? is it OK to have one there?

Note: this is an open letter I spontanelusly wrote to a Muslim Friend on facebook.  I felt it was pertinent to replicate the letter on my Blog 'cause of the revevance of the matter and President Obama is also equivocating on the matter.  Although in my opinion, I believe he aught to have taken an emphatic and  firm stand as a Ruler of the Free World.

Dear Khurshid (an open letter to you and all others who ardently support the Islamic Center near Ground Zero, NY)


Assalamu alaikum.

I presume You & many a peace loving Muslim in the US and abroad embrace Islam via the Sufi Sect. Its very well known that these are non-violent groups and that is historically and factually substantiated.

You cannot speak that about Wahhabi and the Osama Bin Ladin and the Taliban types who are also Muslim.

The Sufi like the Aga Khan-is are peaceful Muslims and I know many and I have friends among many of them.

Radical Muslims do not agree with Sufi and Aga Khan-is any way.

Radical Islam is a genuine fear in the hearts and minds of people any where. Its not just Christians. Even Hindus and other religions fear them.

When you talk about Islam and pro Mosque at Ground Zero, the larger mass or the people you propose to reach with one line pro mosque and right wing hatred you are playing a part in racing up a ruckus quiet unnecessarily as well and its not becoming of a Sufi or Aga Khans Muslim to do that. Yes Right Wingers have an agenda and so do radicals from any Faith. I for one am very against mixing Politics and Religion. Right-wingers are a non issue any way when it comes to Politics. Proof: guys like Pat Robertson, Late Jerry Falwell or the like do not count even among the larger Christian Community, even if they have the money to hold TV programs et al and wield some influence. So do not use that as a fetish to support the Mosque.

More than any thing else its peoples sensitivities that have been hurt on 9/11 and from then on. The larger Radical Sunni group caused that.

If it was not them then it could have been the Radical Shia.

You cannot deny the fact that people in general have that ingrained and have left an indelible mark on them.

YES, people in America are ignorant on many matters and goading them into submission via one line matters about right wing agenda and such matters are not helpful.

Please understand how hurt people are about how much has been seared across the face of this most tolerant of Nations in the entire world other than India and some west European Nations. The Islamization of Europe has not gone well and you know that.

I respect you as a Sufi or Aga Khani Islamist but if you are a Radical on the types of the Taliban and Al Qaida Wahhabi then what you are proscribing is a slow end to the Western Freedom and fundamental rights of an Individual.

That is plain wrong, after the Western Education you have acquired and all else that comes with it.

I ask you this as an American and not as a person with a religious interest.

Far be that from me to do so. Thank you for perusing this matter and I have no malice towards you are any Muslim be it Sufi, AgaKhani, Sunni or Shia types. BUT I love FREEDOM and surely do not want to see the Islamization of the United States Of America. America is a Secular Nation and not a Christian Nation any way. On 9/11 that Secular Innocence was violated and people are distraught 'cause of that. So please cease from blaming every ill on the Republican Party.

Howard Dean a respected Doctor /Politician and the former DEM Party chair has also joined the matter about opposing the building of a Mosque at Ground Zero.

He is not a Republican. I appeal to you with folded hands to be aware of peoples feelings and that cuts across religions here in the US.

Here is an example of a British Citizen on You Tube and what he has to say about the matter. Again its just an opinion but he raises poignant questions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjS0Novt3X4

I would also like to ask:

What is the guarantee that in your lofty and idealistic desire to see an Islamic Center and Mosque built near Ground Zero does not have Wahhabi and other Radicals piggy back riding on your innocent desires and to later pose a security threat to the United States? That may be too late.

Surely that is the case in Europe and the bombings and the chaos that abounds there due to attempted Islamization. Please answer. Do not skittle this matter or delete it.

Of course you have the freedom to delete and avoid answering.

I ask the above out of a clear conscience. There is no deviousness or guile in my mind to ask this openly. Majority of the people in the US are nice folks and they just gloss over matters cause they do not understand subtle nuances of issues out there. But deep down they want to know. Just consider I am asking on their behalf too.

There may be spelling and grammar errors in this letter. I wrote spontaneously as feelings came to mind and from other gleanings on a matter that is dear to every freedom loving person across Religions. No right thinking person will want to experience the Islamization of the United States. I have respect for all Religions and by Faith I am a Christian and not a Right Wing agenda guy. The LORD of my life never meddled with Politics. HE said render unto Caesar what belongs to him and render to GOD what belongs to GOD. Its a quote taken from the Bible>Mark 12:17. He accepted human government and gave himself up to human authorities to die as a human 'cause HE loves mankind. That was HIS message while on earth. Whether one chooses to believe in HIM or ignore him or call him what ever. He did his part. This whole letter has been framed without any malice towards any one or any religion. I love and respect all religions.

I was taught to do so in my formative years growing up in India and I value that teaching to me and my siblings by my earthly parents. I am proud to bring that heritage and values with me here in the US, as an American Citizen.

Thanks Khurshid,

With regards & affection,

Koshy

This Tax Season: You have choices. Which way will you swing?

Dear Friend,


With every passing year the Tax Rules & Laws get more complex here in the US. Which in turn means more hours spent on figuring out matters that concern you, in order to get your taxes e-filed/filed. This is more so challenging if you are into doing it all yourself.

There are some pertinent questions you need to ask yourself as the Tax Payer.

Before I blog further on that specifically, let me share something from the heart, that concerns all of us including yours truly.

We live in a nation called United States, that is essentially Free, in every which way you look at it. Great! and I love it as much as we all do.

Along with that comes the sincere need to be aware of every nitty gritty choice we make based on sound bytes that influence us via ads etc. Infact it better be well informed choices otherwise we are called and challenged to reconsider every now and then. Be it, simple matters of decision making or complex decisions of life in general. We are forced to reckon with them all the time, with every passing year.

The pertinent question you need to ask your self concerning your tax filing is what I am attempting to narrow down the focus to, via this blog:

In my humble opinion and in my Practice of the Profession, I find US Individual Tax Payers fall under three buckets:

1. Those who like their independence and like to do it all themselves and do not mind long hours figuring out the language and explanations on their respective market tax soft ware. Be it on a CD or web based.

Of course, all this at the cost of precious quality family time or other more useful engaging pursuits and still not necessarily get it all right or risk getting a notice from the IRS for a wrong deduction, credit or exemption claimed!

Trust me, I have seen many such instances last year. Which is also one of the reasons I am blogging.

I also want to direct you to a Yelp Comment by one of my clients. This was a "do it your self die-hard individual for years" !

http://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=0E73ciiT020UtAvJtIg-OA#

or,

2. Those who prrefer to do it themselves and then have a Professional review their work on taxes before e-filing themselves!  These folks are wiser than category # 1 above.

or,
3. This category sincerely believe that they will, have a Licensed Tax Professional take care of the entire matter, who will ensure their interests foremost in mind, at reasonable fees. This option frees them up and trust me you will live a longer and better quality Life in every other way you choose to make it happen.

I have many confessions and instances to share of people experiencing that truth just because they have a reliable Licensed Tax Professional taking care of their taxes.

This Tax Season: If you find yourself in the 2nd or 3rd bucket of People's mindsets you are welcome to contact me or I would encourage you to see another Licensed Professional of your choice. I am not trying to wean you away from your favorite Tax Professional: who ever he or she may be. Perish that Thought! We live in a land of choices and I am the first to honor and respect that freedom, we all cherish.

My purpose is not to wean you away from your pet pursuit of doing your taxes your self, either: Manually or with Market Tax Software. If you know what you are doing, then sure why not?

However, if you find it an increasing pain with every passing year, then ponder on the matters I have attempted to share and tried, to reach out to you: my friend.

The same arguments I shared above hold good for those who run small business entities or run Non Profit Entities and like to do their taxes themselves. Please consider visiting a Licensed Tax Professional to get such work done, for your own good. I mean it with all my heart out of genuineness and sincerity.

The choice you make is yours and I respect that at all times!

Best wishes to you with your Taxes for 2009.   Paying taxes is an onerous task of every Citizen and Resident of the US or any other Democratic Nation in the World. Its part of Nation Building Activity to pay taxes to the Nation that helps us to live in Freedom and Liberty with progressive thinking.  However you owe it to yourself to ensure that you pay as much taxes as you necessarily need to pay to the Government and make use of valid savings, exemptions, credits & deductions made available to you by the Tax Rules, and  avail them rightfully every year!  The Government encourages people to save through such measures and does believe that more Money in your hands is good for you. 

Though every government has varying perceptions about who to tax etc, in general, the fact of the matter is Good Governments every where do encourage its Tax Paying citizens and residents to save money in their respective attempts to advance Society.

I hope this blog was useful to you. Thanks for taking time to read and ponder.

Your friendly CPA @
http://www.kpgcpa.net/

Koshy