Accidentally I came across this site, liked it a lot, signed up the same day on 15th Jan,2001 and started posting reviews.

I sent a long, detailed feedback to MS , and received a personal reply from CEO himself. Some of the suggestions did get accepted and implemented.

I was fortunate to get Founding members award, the cheque was received within a week, and I donated it to Gujrat relief fund.

Before I realised, I had crossed 100 mark! It has been a wonderful experience. I never realised that besides the Corporate reports, Business plans and Strategy papers, I could write on so many other topics too! Thanks to MS and readers, who have given me an opprtunity to realise this latent potential. I know, I still have a long way to go.

I have written reviews on Books, Music, Institutions, Places, Government, Restaurants, Cprporates,and Issues of public interest.My passion is Music, Books, and Consumer rights/Citizen rights.

The analysis of ratings show that 62 reviews (61%) have received HR, 36 have received R, and other 4 SR. I am gratified by the response,encouragement and generosity of Ms readers. I know I am no great shakes as a writer, there are lot many on MS who write much better. At times I have received ratings, and comments from Faisal, the CEO himself, which is very rare for a dot commer! How many CEOs of portals participate actively themselves?

Some unique experiences:
I wrote that SEBI is a toothless, paper tiger and received an SR, subsequent events have proved that I was right.

I smelt a rat in UTI and warned investors well in time. Subsequent events proved me right.

My reviews on John Lecarre’’s works elsewhere on Internet, got me qualified as a ’’resident scholar’’ and ’’expert’’, but Ms readers responded differently.
I wanted to write on Agra summit, MS wrote back saying the topic cannot be included! The whole of India and all the portals were discussing the event, but MS chose not to.

I am grateful to all those who have put me on their trust list, and those who have been reading and rating my reviews regularly. This includes a foreigner who reads and rates my reviews on Hindi film music and Ghazals which use lot of Hindi words which I am sure the reader doesn’t understand, but yet the reader judges the review on its own merits and rates it! I have some special friends whom I would like to name, but I wont. I am sure they will understand. Some of the comments and mails have been very touching and have taken me on cloud 9, Thanks to you all.

I observe that lately many regulars of MS have gone silent, where are you Asys,Skmm, Surinder, Amrita,Lora.?

I for one, wouldn’t like to write on Soaps,toothpastes and Shampoos, but I don’t grudge those who do.

In my view, MS should ultimately grow up to be a forum for consumer response, and intellectual discussions, debates and interactions.In our society,dominated as it is by the vote bank politics,& vested interest lobbies: citizens of the country somehow do not get to articulate their views, build up public opinion, voice their grievances and become active participants in this democratic society towards nation building. Till this happens our democracy will remain crippled, inefficient and ineffective. Internet has opened up new vistas and new forums, I am sure MS too will not confine itself to be just one more portal, rather become an institution, a common rallying ground.

MS as such showcases the principles of democratic liberalism, where people of different faiths and ethnic backgrounds, freely express their opinions on a variety of topics and the readers read as well as rate the reviews on merits irrespective of their own personal views and differences. This indeed is a very good beginning towards building a more tolerant society in which different views and beliefs are mutually respected.

MS at present has mechanised everything, quantity seems to be more important than the quality when it comes to making it to the Hall of fame, Hot reviews etc. quality is being neglected. A review cannot be judged simply by how many times it has been read, how many comments has it received etc. OK I agree that these are objective parameters, and quality remains a subjective parameter, nevertheless. Something needs to be done to encourage quality.

I wish all the MS members health, happiness and prosperity, and to the Indian members, I extend Independence day greetings.

I appeal to the overseas members to contribute their best to this endeavor which MS is.