GIBBERISH NEWS!

Standing by the side

2009-07-29T01:43:00.000-07:00

Frustration is an expression that is fraught by despair, anger and helplessness. Despair on how things don't work within your domain of dominance, anger within ones own self for its inability to decipher the reasons of the things not working, and helplessness about the unknown forces that are at work.

For some time, I have been caught up in this whirlwind. It feels like i have been in this place since ever. Nothing makes sense. Logic does not give me a reason and thinking over it makes me frustrated. I feel I am caught in a spot where I cannot step backwards, nor move forward and standing in the same place is something that I want to avoid. Thats when good old advise came in from an old acquaintance. Step to the side!

Now, I am standing by the side, looking at life as it passes by. Waiting for my time, the right time. As the old man said, when a strong wind blows in a direction opposite to the way you are running, it will slow you down, consume your energy and break your spirit. Instead hold on. Let time pass, the wind will slow down, and when it does, use the energy you saved to sprint the long run of life.

May 12th - Day 1 in Cannes/ Part 2

2009-05-12T23:57:00.003-07:00

My apartment mates have arrived from Germany. They drove for an entire 18 hours and were dead tired. But after a brief snap all of us were really hungry and we decided to go to a restaurant and have a filling lunch. France is famous for its food, wine and women. So we decided to go for the food. The wine would follow and probably the women ;)

Unfortunately we were late as it was 4 when we reached the Palais, and lunch was not being served. So we walked up to an Italian restaurant. The food was alright and the wine was good. but f you are looking for value for money, forget it. This place is ridiculously expensive for anything that it offers. The ideal place to visit Cannes is when there are no festivals. I was told that there are different menus for the festival season and different menus for the non-festival season. If you thought people rip you off only in India, guys do a reality check. Here you are ripped off in shreds, and to make things worse its in Euros, and the Euro is getting ever stronger against the Rupee.

Also to add to the woes, our German friend wanted a French number, so we went hunting for a sim card to be used in france. It cost 30 Euros for a sim that had a validity of 8 months!! (meaning, if he came next year for the same festival he would have to shell out another 30 + Euros) Imagine in India you get a Sim for 900 Rs. with a life long validity. Moreover, the cost of a fone call is 33 cents per min which is 20 rs (approx) for a local call... and how much do we pay for a local call... Well you get it... I love my country so much.

However, I do understand many other things that are better off here than India. The Cab driver earned 90 Euros for trip from Nice Airport to the hotel in Cannes. It is when you are in a developed country that you understand that we in India live life fit for Kings. Here there are no house helps. If you have, they make sure they cost you dear. Everyone earns enough to live a happy and content life. Even the house-help would come in a BMW r a Mercedes. Everyone lives in equality. Be it a garbage pick up guy or the owner of an hotel. Everyone is at equals. There is no hypocrisy here based on your job. You are taxed heavily so that you have super clean roads and fantastic infrastructure. Well great for the people residing here, bad for the spoilt Indians like me who were used to such personal service and slavery (am i getting opinionated already?)

Ok, back to the festival...

The carpet is just about being rolled out and people from different countries were getting their badges from the accreditation desk. Tomorrow is going to be the Big Bang day. The place is going to be crowded and all of us have to be careful as Cannes will turn into a hunting ground for pick-pockets.

Went to the Indian Pavilion where we would be putting up our stall. We met a few people. One of them was very polished while the others were just smoogling* around. Here is a sample conversation -

Me: So, what brings you to Cannes.
A: I produced a Marathi film.
Me: Great. What is it about?
A: Well we are launching MS for the first time in Marathi
Me: Really, what is the story about?
A: Its a Marathi film with a flavor for the international audience.
Me: (thinking) what does that mean?
Me: (Speaking) Thats great. Hope you have a great festival.
A: Thanks

Another discussion went like this -

B: He lives like a King. Or should we say like a Moghul Emperor. (pointing the finger at an Island far off) He bought a castle there.
Me: Who?
B: Who else but Mr. Vijay Malya. He is one man who has no qualms of telling the world that he has many wives and many children across the world.
Me: (surprised) Really? I didnot know someone would say it publicly.
B: Thats why I adore him. He has the balls to tell the world about what he does...
Me: (thinking) Well, balls to tell where his balls have been? Interesting...
Me: (speaking) What company do you represent sir?
B: Well, I am the sec. general of xyz association
Me: you have been to Cannes before?
B: No, this is the first time!
Me: (thinking) and he knows the island where Vijay Mallya bought a castle... hmmmm...

Well, there is a lot more to come tomorrow.... Oh, before i finish, a small idea on how to beat the escalated costs on drinks... Go to a superstore. you get 6 bottles of Heniken beer for 4 Euros and a bottle of Dry wine (good one) for 5 Euros... Also buy bananas, bread and cheese, fruits from a supermarket and you will be saving a lot of money... These are tips you can use when in Cannes unless you earn in millions and want to spend it all in show-off to your other indian counterparts...

12th May - The preparations/ Part 1

2009-05-12T23:52:00.000-07:00

Reporting live from 62nd Cannes Film Festival

The Palais and the surroundings is bustling with activity. Contractors running to and fro, laying of the red carpet, barricades for the public and the parparazzi are being set up. The hotels around, the Majestic, Carlton and Hilton have been decked up with larger than life cut-outs and posters. The D-day is tomorrow when the place becomes filled with the who's who of the World film industry attending the screening. What am I doing here? Well, just got a tad lucky to be here ;)

The place during the festival becomes so expensive. The apartment I am staying 10 min from the Palais costs an atrocious 300 Euros per day and yet is cramped up.. I am told the cost to book this place in any other time is around 80-100 Euros.

Nothing much to do here right now, so i will get the accreditation done, have food and beer with a couple of good friends and click some snaps and post it here.

Till then.. au revoir!!

Of Movies, Cricket and Books

2009-04-23T06:14:00.001-07:00

Its been a boring season. No movies in theaters, since a long time due to the ongoing strike between producers and multiplex owners, the IPL frenzy etc etc. So without much to do, i have been digging into a lot of books these days. One of the books I did get to lay my hands on was The White Tiger by Arvind Adiga. Its a book I didnot thing could have deserved a Man Booker Prize. The award just gives us a view in how the West likes to glamorize the life of the poor and idolize it as the celebration of the human spirit.

The other aspect I found similar in many of the upcoming writers is the way the style has become very common across different authors in different genres. And not to be surprised, I realised the way I wrote Blunder Years was also similar. The style, I believe is the influence of Bollywood films. The other book I read was - If God was a Banker by Ravi Subramaniam. The writing was crappy, but the story had the potential to be a Bollywood masala film that would do alright. I am not sure if our literary skills in India are going down trying to make money from spin-offs into films. The trend-setter was Chetan Bagat whose first work is being made into a film by Raju Hirani named as 3 idiots and the other film Hello which was an adaptation of the sad One night @ the call center.

However something I read yesterday on Shekar Kapur's blog written by Kavitha... which touched me. The writing was par-excellence and I thought I would share it here

......My heart went out to my cousin having to cope with the reality of her father’s condition that she could do nothing about, except be a helpless bystander. Moments such as these serve as triggers to catalyze deeper introspection. A million questions raced through my human mind. How is it/why is it that the silent killer lurks within our mortal system, so maliciously, only to reveal itself when we no longer are in a position to control it? Is there a more benevolent reason why some mortal beings are subjected to this situation, while many others have had the benefit of revealing symptoms, for timely medical intervention and control? How is it that many others have emerged strong and resilient cancer survivors? How do you cope with having to live your day and night with a loved one, painfully experiencing him wither & degenerate in front of your eye...watching the silent killer so mercilessly torture every moment of his limited remaining life...debilitating and paralyzing in slow motion, yet in rapid succession, every sensory and motor organ so vital to everyday living, that we take for granted. How do you cope with the concept of death-in-waiting and watch your father suffer to the finish line?

From amidst the swiss alps, I skyped my mother in India...only for her to see me completely choked by my own emotional state...tears streaming down my face. As she struggled to comprehend “her baby” in visible turmoil, I felt her maternal instincts take over to touch me, and wrap me in the comfort of her digital hug...through satellites and wireless routers into the depths of my grieving heart.

I was struggling with the circumstances around the loss of one dear soul, and the soon-going-to-lose another. My mind was trying to reconcile the contradictions in the 2 tragic events – one that was so rapid, sudden and instantaneous vs. the other that is, and continues to be, drawn-out in its path to the inevitable destination of mortal beings...yet, both outside the bounds of human control. Fundamental to the reconciliation process was faith in and acceptance of the concept of ‘karma’. Amidst endless group chatter around the unfairness around each of the two circumstances, I found myself silently differing. Recognizing the tragic realities as the will of a higher order, for a higher reason, enabled grieving with grace, and coping with the loss with strength & detachment.

After a long period of silence, wrapped in my mother’s consoling words, I broke that silence...wiped away my tears of endearment and attachment, and said to her:

in the context of karmic purpose of life on earth, words like ‘jug jug jiyo’ and ‘may you live long’, popularly considered as blessings, seem like absurdities of human desire (vs. divine will). For, the divine will is quite contrary.

She was struggling again...this time not to comprehend “her baby” in turmoil, but to comprehend what happened between the time I was so choked a few minutes earlier and the time I uttered these words.

Sailing the alternating waves of attachment and detachment, desire to control and desire to let go, in the context of our everyday life/activities may be a practical challenge. Nevertheless, faith in the fact that there is immense Grace in whatever happens around you or to you (most times incomprehensible by our limited mortal minds) gives courage and strength to live & endure life boldly, fearlessly and with passion. Desire to control stems from attachment, desire to let go stems from detachment.

A magical moment in the clouds...

2009-04-08T03:03:00.000-07:00

Lyrics for our song - V the ppl

2009-03-28T06:32:00.000-07:00

A motley group of friends, we decided to take forward our discussions over chai, coffee and more on how change can be brought about through individual actions. A seed of an idea to connect with like-minded individuals has now grown into a song, a video, a blog- and has gained momentum with talented voices joining.

This is your movement- take it forward- be an ambassador- spread the word- be a part of it.

Chant the Anthem - V th ppl!!!

For facebook group - http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=60285884842&ref=nf

Rap Section 1:
Ladies and gentlemen
Hey there, welcome to the future
Of a Country soaked in culture
Angry, hopeless, Indifferent And Blind
Hungry Worried but One of a kind.

Driving License Se Passport
Hazaro cases pending in court
This is jungle raj a classic case
Jiska Raj ussi ki Lathi aur Ussi ki Bhais
Government office mein chai paani toh pilao
Lekin pehle us aadmi ka sign lekar aao
Corruption, population ka sara hai kalesh
Deviyo aur sajjano welcome to my desh

Verse 1:
Paas aaye woh jo, door jayen hum kyun
Haath badhaye woh jo sharmaye hum kyun
Manki jo ankhen hain, bandh kar lene se, hua hai kabhi Andhera?
Raat ke bahane se, badalon ke chane se, ruka hai kabhi savera?

Girayen woh jo, failayen hum kyun?
Dil dukhayen woh jo, bhul jayen hum kyun
Khamosh rehne se, zakhmo ko sehne, baten badi karke kya hoga?
Ungliyan uthaoge, bahane banaoge, kya badal paoge kal ko?

Chorus:1
What will be tomorrow is what you are today
Kuch nahin hai mushkil, irade ho jo nek
Lets take a vow, give more than you can take
Kya nahin hain mumkin/ ho jaaye hum jo EK

Interlude

Verse2
Darayen woh jo ghabrayen hum kyun?
Aazmaye who jo katraye hum kyun?
Manki jo ankhen hain, bandh kar lene se, hua hai kabhi Andhera?
Raat ke bahane se, badalon ke chane se, ruka hai kabhi savera?

Harayen woh jo, jitayen hum kyun?
Kar payen woh jo, na rok paye hum kyun?
Khamosh rehne say, zakhmo ko sehne say, baten badi karke kya hoga?
Ungliyan uthaoge, bahane banaoge, kya badal paoge kal ko?

Chorus 2
What will be tomorrow is what you are today
Badaye kadam toh, mitjaye fasale.
Lets get together and change our own fate
Thum jayega yeh jahan, hairan hoke dekh

Rap Section 2:
Hum hai Nadaan aur buzurg sayane
Give me a break Yeh Khayal hai purane
Na Bijli na road na peene ka hai paani
But my hyperactive media shows a different kahani
Riots on the road, Bloodshed reload
26/11 dekha? phir se 11/7 retold
No more black ticket or political racket
We want to see more than Gandhi topi Nehru jacket

Break Change:
Agar mein hun sawal, mein hi to hun jawab
Agar mein hun andehra mein hi to hun chirag.
Agar mein hun khamoshi, mein hi to hun woh saaz.
Agar mein hun gulam, mein bhi to hun azad.

Ensemble Chorus:
Lets get together and change our own fate
Badaye kadam toh mit jaaye faaslein
What will be tomorrow is what you are today
Kuch nahi hai mushkil, iraadey ho jo nek
We can make sure that we don’t break
Thum jaayega yeh jahaan hairan ho ke dekh
Lets take a vow, Give more than you can take.
Kya nahi hai mumkin ho jaaye hum jo EK.

Dev D.

2009-02-17T23:05:00.000-08:00

After a small hiatus, I am back. And what else to start writing about but the last movie that I saw and that was Dev D. It was one of those films that left a lasting impression in my head for a couple of days. The last film that had given me a hangover like this was Maachis. There were many other good films that were released between these two films but the depth and clarity of the film maker comes out so rarely.

I could never accept Devdas as a glorified character the past films tried to perceive him as. I couldnot sit through 10 minutes of Sanjay Bhansali’s Devdas, and could never digest the Bimal Roy’s version with Dilip kumar as Devdas. Sharat Chandra Chattopadyay must finally be smiling at this new age version of the de-glorified Loser.

It is always difficult to make a film version of a book. The reader, as he/she reads the book creates his/her own visual imagery and characterizations in his or her mind, and when a director interprets it through his/her eyes, the film looks flawed and it lands into the critics domain. Devdas was an interesting character, though not heroic. He was flawed in every sense. He was a character who dumped his childhood sweetheart and then found solace in a tawaif and then destroyed himself to death. The problem with the earlier versions were that the director wanted the audience to be sympathetic to him, feel his pain, cry with him and die with him. I feel, that is where the entire problem with the earlier films lie.

Dev D takes on a very different route and sticks to the essence of the story and a positive deviation towards the end. The characterization is so well etched that the film takes you away from the character of Dev and makes you hate for what he is. And when you see the film, each scene, you know that there is a lot of thought put into each scenes, right from its characters, to the locales, to the emotional conflicts and the metaphorical understanding of the subject right to the editing, background score, lighting. The film comes out trumps. There are only two kinds of reactions you can expect to the film. Either you love it or you hate it. There is nothing in between.

The incidents that take the film forward are inspired by real life incidents, be it the MMS scandal and drunken driving. The existence of drug dealers in the underbelly of a metropolitan set up, rich spoilt kids, the characteristic pimp, Chunni, all seamlessly makes the traditional Devdas novella into an extravaganza.

There are some scenes, which are out of the world. The scene where the married Paro comes to his shabby hotel room, washes his clothes, changes the curtains and finally snubs his proclamation of love and gets even with Dev is brilliant. And so is the scene earlier in the film when Dev snubs Paro and she goes ballistic with the hand pump. These are scenes that cannot be written by the Karan Johars and Farah Khans of Bollywood. These are closer to real life and miles away from the world of rich industrialist families shown in the scours of Bollywood films that hit the screen every Friday opening show (Note that Dev’s family is one of the rich industrialist families in Punjab, yet the potrayal of wealth is so much understated and real)
The camera work is excellent. The beauty of the rural Punjab and the congestion of Delhi, the psychedelic world of Drugs and alcohol, Chanda’s haven where she stocks disguises are all fantastically shot.

The editing is top notch. Note the change in pace of editing as it shifts from the village to the city. The edit during the village phase is much slower and as it reaches the city, the pace quickens giving you a feel of hastiness and restlessness. The use of water, where Dev occasionally dumps himself after a drug inhaling session acts as a metaphor of cutting himself from the rest of the world into his own and drowning himself even more into his own self destruction. Every shot has a reason to be there. Every character is needed. Every character has its positive and negative traits. Nothing is black and white, only different shades of grey.

The film would be incomplete without its songs and the background score. Emosional attyachar is one song where I saw people literally clap as it started and you would feel to clap too. The juxtaposition of comedy with the tragedy is perfect. The background score and the songs truly makes this film a musical.

I would highly recommend this emosional attyachar. And would also tell you that if you are a filmmaker, you should grab a copy of it. Hopefully, if it comes out with a directors commentary, it would be a school of learning on the thought process that went through each scene.

The silverlining

2009-02-03T22:51:00.000-08:00

This post is dedicated to a friend.

Once there was a little flower. A little flower that lived amongst the million strands of grass. She would bloom in the morning looking at the sun. They were the best of friends. When the sun went behind the clouds she would wait for the clouds to pass. She would smile, and glow a radiance that would bring a smile to the eyes of the beholder.

But one day, the sky was full of clouds. It rained and rained. Deafening thunder and blinding lightning filled the skies. It seemed the sun had gone for ever. The ravaging wind tested the flower. The flower shivered in fear, scared that the wind would uproot her from her roots. She tried hard to fight the wind, but eventually, she was separated from the ground. She was taken by the gushing wind into the horizon. Soon, the storm had passed. She found herself dry, lying on unknown soil. She looked around. She had dried up. Her seeds had fallen to the ground. The sun smiled at her. She tried to smile back. She was weak, she was old. She went to sleep. She slept for many days.

One day the wind whistled into her ears. She opened up her eyes. She looked around. There were little buds surrounding her. They were dancing in the wind eager to grow up and bloom. As she closed her eyes, she understood, that she has attained her destiny. She closed her eyes one last time.

Culture Vultures

2009-02-03T00:00:00.000-08:00

In line of the pub-culture that is ‘eroding’ Indian culture, a moral police force is being set up to save Indian culture. Political parties who have not been voted into power are asserting that the current and the past Governments have not upheld the Indian culture at its highest decree. These political parties are asserting that Indian culture must be saved at any cost and it is this culture that makes us better than the rest of the world.

Did I hear a chuckle, or was it a sigh, or is it a seething anger raging from within?

Firstly, one of the prime important aspect of this moral policing is the kind of people who are trying to guard Indian culture. I mean, how educated are they? How much do they know about Indian culture? If they know about Indian culture, they should understand that the entire epic of Mahabharat is full of Sex and Violence. How was Karna, Yudishtir, Bhim, Arjun, Nakul and Sahdev born?

If people still believe the Mahabharat that was shown on television where Kunti and Madri were impregnated by a ray emenating from the palms of Gods, they must be really out of their minds. And why did the Gods have to impregnate King Pandu’s wives?

For a brief introduction to people who are unaware of this, here is a snippet. Once King Pandu had gone hunting and saw two deers making love. It was actually Shiva and Parvathi (both Gods eventually) making love in the form of deers. Pandu shot the deer. Lord Shiva (Alternatively, the Sage) gave a curse on him that the next time he touches a woman, he will die. (Poor chap) That is when Kunti used a boon given to her by Sage Durvasa where she could call upon the Gods to bear a child. So, the first time she experimented before her marriage and Karna was born from Surya (Sun) and later after her wedding with Pandu, she followed it up with five other Gods. Every pandav and kaurav had affairs and flings, and childbirth out of wedlocks. Would these culture police deny its existence? The society then had accepted the sexual freedom then, so why this taboo today?

So, the concept of Indian culture being so conservative as a theory can be thrown out of the window. What the self-appointed culture police is talking about is baseless and hollow. Also, India is one of the few places in epics, where women had very powerful stance in the society and were treated equal to men. Those who have read Indian epics would vouch for it. I don’t know when the imposition of rules and discrimination against women started in our culture. Just when things have begun to change, a demented sect of the society wants to take up the act of culture vultures and bring back the discrimination. My question is, these politicians, or party workers, how many of them are teetotalers? How many of them can are actually honest to their women? If women consuming alcohol is wrong, why does it not hold true to men as well? Knowing their societal disposition, I guess everyone in their minds know the answers.

The Rajasthan CM said he has a problem with couple holding hands. So, does he mean, he has the right to oppose it by raising a hand?

Indian democracy is today in the hands of hypocrites. Do yourself a favor. VOTE!!!

Ouch!!!

2009-01-29T22:58:00.000-08:00

Yesterday as I walked back home from the car park to my building, i saw a mother and a child rushing into the building. The mother was dragging the child holding his arm and after a few steps would slap him on his back and telling him that he would definitely fail this year if he does not stop playing and start studying. I looked at my watch. It was 9.45 PM. This reminded me of a similar incidences a couple of years back.

As it is very rare with people growing apart due to their constant fluctuations in priorities, many of us, childhood friends actually met at the gate of our colony. It was not planned, but it just seemed to happen. A couple of friends were sitting on the steps of the room that housed the step-up transformer, and friends trickled in and chatted and soon the entire gang was there, all joking about their work and apprising each other of where their life was heading. It was then that a mother was dragging a child home, beating him and complaining, while the child was jumping away trying to avoid the hits his mother was throwing at him. At once, all of us had become silent. When they had gone, we all looked at each other, and without saying anything everyone had traced their memory in the past. It was a moment for everyone present there.

Everyone started sharing a story of theirs. It was nostalgic, but one of the funniest ones was by Amarjeet. He was always at the receiving end during childhood days. He was, the Sardar. Today, he runs a dealership of bikes. But as a kid, he was always the one who would hardly pass an exam. His father was a taxi driver and the family depended entirely on the income his father would bring in driving a taxi through the day. As usual, he had failed in the exam and his mother was tired of persuading him to study, and the only way out, it seemed to her was to put him in to the fury of his father when he returned home after driving his taxi, 12 hours in the congested roads of Bombay. When his mother told his father that he had failed, his father, who probably had a bad experience with a passenger was furious. He took out his belt and started hitting him with it. Blows came down in hard strikes and Amarjeet screamed for help. His father too was screaming.

He kept yelling. 'How many times will you fail in the Seventh Standard?'

Amarjeet screamed in pain and was crying, trying to tell him something. but the screams merged with the words and did not make any sense.

Finally when his father was tired of beating him, Amarjeet whimpered 'Papa, I am in the Ninth standard.'

Doordarshan Nostalgia

2009-01-24T00:10:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I was flipping through the infinite channels on television, and was not able to find one, atleast one show watchable. After taking approximately 12 minutes to find one, I switched it off to float into solitude. I was wondering of the olden days when searching for a smile-evoking show was not that difficult. I wondered how we had survived that era, of the 1980’s. I remember we used to abandon playing cricket and run into Sajith’s house on the ground floor to catch the animated Spiderman at 5.30. At 6 pm, we would be back to where we had started. It was a time when we used to break window panes trying to emulate Sunil Gavaskar or Srikant. A time when we would be crazy about Wimbledon because that was the only place we could see pretty ladies wearing short skirts (Doordarshan used to have a huge censorship board)

I switched the TV on and searched for Doordarshan, and apparently, I did not have it tuned on my television. Such an arrogant treatment to a medium that used to be the only entertainment source in the 80’s I wondered. I can still remember the sequence of programs that used to be played on Doordarshan almost every Sunday. 9 o’clock would start with He-man, 9.30 was a mythological roller-coaster, first Ramayan and then Mahabharat. We would sit and relish magical arrows flying from both sides and blasting off whenever they met. 10.30 would be Potli baba ki, a puppet show that beautifully captured the essence of Alibaba and the forty thieves. And at 11 would be Indradanush, about a boy who was a time traveler. At 1.00 there would be the news for the hearing impaired. I remember, we, trying to mute the television and try to figure out what the gestures were as muted Rini Simon used to read the news.

Doordarshan, I believed in those days, held together the entire country in a cultural code, with its tight ropes on censorship. Who could forget the Chitrahaar and the Chayageet that used to happen on Wednesdays and Fridays, and NDTV’s World this week by Prannoy Roy that changed the perspective of the otherwise mundane Newsreading. Usha Alberqueque, Preet Bedi, Sunit Tandon, Neethi Ravindran, Rini Simon, and the fiery Komal Singh had become household names of those times when everyone waited for the news in English at 8.30 pm to 9.00 PM. Many families used to time their dinners to watch the weekly episodes of Nukkad, Yeh jo hai Zindagi, Karamchand, Intezar, Waghle ki Duniya, Mungerilaal ke haseen sapney, Surabhi, Mirza Ghalib, and the intense story on partition, Tamas. Not to forget Swami of Malgudi Days, and the fiery housewife Rajni. Those were the days when there was quality in the content that we watched and stayed long in our memory. The pull of the content was so strong that we used to wait for the next episode which would be played next week. Sorry for interruption or Rukhawat ke liye khed hai, was one of the most used slates in Doordarshan during those days. Vicco Vajradanthi ads used to be played over and over again for years. The jingles of Nirma, Lijjat Papad, and the Lyril ads never tired us and we ad libed to the jingle as it played. The ads of Nirodh and Mala-D would see the elders, embarrassed, trying to take off our attention from the television by asking someone to check the door as if someone had rung the door bell or check if the fan in the other room was not switched off.

Those were the days when a wind would turn the antenna and we had to go to the terrace and turn it to the direction of the Doordarshan tower, which we used to call as Mecca of the T. V. antennas. Whenever a political hunk would have bade farewell to the world, it was the most boring week for us all, when sad music would emanate from the mono speakers of the television sets.

Today with so many channels and so many shows, mostly unreal reality shows and lousy soap operas, it becomes very difficult to tell one from the other. Even the news channel look like soap operas with each journalistic story extended into a reality show. With a fierce race to garner more TRP’s, I wonder if that era will ever return when television channels would focus on meaningful programming than churning the same old shit they have been churning out over the past few years.

Honestly, even though I love the technological progress that the world is achieving in media and communication, yet, I miss those simple little things one channel used to gift us. Gifts of memories that we all remember fondly, even today.

I do miss Doordarshan. I pressed the search button on the remote trying to tune Doordarshan on my T.V.

Untitled Story - Chapter 1

2009-01-22T22:19:00.001-08:00

This story is inspired by a true story.

Death. The only truth that has always remained constant. Many of us live in search of a destiny. Some say we make our own, some say our destiny is already written. But, the fact is that all human beings in this world face only one destiny. This destiny makes no distinction between the rich or the poor, caste or color, or the era that we live in. Death is the destiny which we all, in this planet share.

Death is the only absolute truth.

On a cold chilly morning in Mumbai, Sujata found her grandfather lying motionless in his bed. The curtains waved in the slight breeze that entered into the room through the closed louvered windows. The light entered into the room through the frosted glass windows casting the distorted shadow of the flowery designed grill on to the mosaic floor. The rocking chair stood still waiting for someone to rock it. The only sound that broke the chilly silence was the constant grunt of the pigeons that had made home outside the window on the grill outside the closed windows. The air had an eerie smell of death. The superstitious would claim that the spirits of the ancestors had arrived in the room to welcome their son into the afterlife. The cawing crow on the barren gulmohur tree would have been the testimony, but the crows refused to descend.

He lay on the old bed made of rich teak wood and covered with a mosquito net that hung from the beams around the bed. His eyes were closed and he wore a content smile on his face. He was wearing a recently ironed shirt and his favorite khakhi trousers. An old HMT watch ticked away on his right hand oblivious to the cold hands of death that had taken away the breath of his master. He was well shaven, and wore the favorite perfume his grandson had gifted him four years back. He had dressed in a way he would have, if he were to meet an important person or an army dignitary who would visit him once in a while. It seemed as if he knew his time had come for the final journey.

On a normal day, Major Gandhi would wake up at 5 in the morning and go for his walk along the Marine Drive, where he would meet his retired Army friends. He would return home by seven and would be found reading the newspaper on his rocking chair. When Sujata found that the newspaper was not picked up from the door, the thought that came into her mind was that he might have been involved in some intense political discussion with his friends. But when he had not returned by 7.30, she decided to check his room.

As she saw the lifeless body on the bed, she felt weak on her knees and fumbled. She held his cold hands hoping he would tighten his grip trying to comfort her saying that everything will be alright. His cold hands were stiff. Tears filled her eyes, words failed her as she tried to call out. The entire room seemed to be enveloped in vacuum of silence. Sujata gathered courage and went to his table. His diary lay open on the table. The ink pen was neatly kept beside it.
A note lay next to his diary.

My lovely Sujata,
Everyone has to leave one day. I too have to leave. It is time. I have lived my life to the fullest and have been extremely blessed to have such a wonderful family who I am very proud of. There is so much to tell you and so less time. Alas, we all realise this when there is hardly any time left. I am leaving behind my diary. It contains a truth I had hidden from everyone for a very long time. I hope you all understand and forgive me from keeping the truth away from you.
Lovingly,
Your Dadaji

16 easy steps to become a fraud billionaire

2009-01-12T09:15:00.000-08:00

Fraud is the evil version of smart. When the Satyam scam was revealed, the first thing that came to many minds is ’How many more companies like these exist?’ rest assured I can confidently say – Many.

BRR… (Byrraju Ramalinga Raju) truly gave us the chills this winter. He would probably be the only one to confess of his misdoings. Many will try to cover up. Had this event happened in China, the fraud would have been completely in wraps by the Chinese Government. They cannot allow their country to be tainted. But we do. Ours is a democracy.

I think setting up a fraud company is easy if you are a people’s person, and have a little bit of money to spend as investment to create billions. All you need is a bit of money to survive six months and panache in making friends with people who matter. Here is my version of things you need to do be a successful fraud billionaire!

Sweet Sixteen steps to a billion dollar future –
1. Look into the newspapers and find out the most emerging sector in the next three years. You have to be there in the thick when the boom has arrived.
2. Create a plan. Not just a business plan, but along with it a plan how you will make money and exit the business. You need to be focused on the end result.
3. Form a company. Start small, and make the business plan showing the large numbers that the business shall make for the investors. Collect newspaper cuttings to reiterate the fact.
4. Find a hardworking partner. A genius. This is the guy you would be F***ing up in the end. Show your large-heartedness by making him a signatory. He will take you as a God-send. But you are going to have the last laugh!
5. Get a fabulous website. Copy paste content from leading businesses in your competition site and make your own content. Focus more on polishing up with your credentials. Appoint a marketing guy who would bring in small time projects into your company. The marketing guy and the co-promoter you appointed will get the ball rolling for the company. But remember you are here to make the big bucks.
6. Network. Go for CII conferences, peer conferences. Wear a suite and remmber to wear a Montblanc pen in your suite. Make high flying friends. If you have the right aptitude you will never pay for the drinks or the dinner or lunch. If you can do that, you are closer to success.
7. Simultaneously, approach retired chairmen’s, vice presidents or ex-bosses to be a non-executive Director of your board. Or ask them to be advisors. They would always love to be part of a board of a different company. Sometimes a good ego massage and a bottle of champagne can do the trick.
8. Update your website with the decorated board of directors. Keep sending them gifts and personally deliver the quarterly reports. Talk about the business for five minutes and then shift to the weather and the best games and movies. Chances are they will become your best friends and trust you better.
9. Get a friend or his company to audit. Remember he must be as hungry for money as you are.
10. Get ready to get in investment. Announce that know you plan to go big. Cheer up the team. You need them. Announce Esops for all the loyal employees. Start hiring. Put a press release that you are hiring heavily. Take some loan from banks, even un-secure loans. Remember you are not the signatory ;)
11. Approach investors. Be vivacious. Be unrealistic. Use the word ‘passion’ as many times as possible. Talk about your past, or if you don’t have any decorative past, cook it up. Never take names. They might know the people. Drop names of people you have networked with from Step no. 6.
12. Chances are that a smart investor will catch you right in the start. If you get caught just use the statement 'Those investors did not find a convincing synergy with their business functions' or any likewise misleading statements. Remember, you have to fish for investors who are known for money laundering. It is just for this level of investment. Once you cross this, then the world is your playground. This is your biggest challenge. But once you have such an ignorant investor, you are cool on your way of becoming a billionaire.
13. Start international travels. Open an office in the US. Scout for work and apply for US citizenship. Hand over operations in India to someone dumb.
14. Start an LLC in your own company name, but just you and your family as the shareholders. Start sending work to India. Bill in your US firms name, say that the US firms are comfortable only if the company has a US office. Here is the big bucks coming your way. You send the operating expenses to your Indian counterpart. The profits are now yours alone.
15. After a few years, say that it is difficult to sustain and that you would like to exit. Demand a lumpsum for your shareholding. Hand the Indian counterpart details of your clients. You cant manage it yourself anyways!
16. If you are smart you end up being rich and start another fraud company or become an investor. If the scam is unearthed, the poor guy who you made as a partner is screwed and you are sitting safe in the US!

All the best!!

Disclaimer: I will not accept any responsibility or liability if someone fails to become a billionaire using this method. Oh yes, I shall definitely try to come and meet you in jail! Follow this method at your own risk!

Every Dog has his day

2008-12-26T03:45:00.000-08:00

Have you been in a horrific situation with a tinge of comedy, where reacting to the comic element might become disastrous for you? Here is one example I was told by a friend who stays in China.

A newly wed couple had shifted to Bejing, China. The husband was posted on a project and was to be on site for a couple of years. It was the guy’s third visit to the city and he had been staying there for a stretch that lasted more than six months at a time. The newly wedded wife was a staunch vegetarian, detesting the kind of food that was served in the Chinese restaurants. Oh! And I forgot to mention, she was a complete animal lover. Dogs specially.

Over a period of time she adjusted to the food and people, and the usual routine of life her husband was prone to. So, after a couple of months, the wife insisted on buying some stuff for the house. One weekend they decided to go shopping. They strolled the inner streets and looked for specialities they could buy and decorate their home. As they shopped, the wife saw a man with a wonderful dogs. A dog lover that she was, she immediately was attracted to them and rushed to pet them. One of the dogs she found extremely cute, and wanted to buy him at once. The husband was reluctant and argued that they would not be able to take him back to India when they left. The wife, however stood her ground not budging an inch. She was lonely, she said. A dog as a companion would keep her occupied when the husband was at work. The husband asked the man – How much. The man replied back in completely broken English $$$yuan. The husband took out his wallet and offered him the money. He said – again in fragmented English – One hour – here! He pointed to a shop. – If not here, ask there!

The wife was elated. She was completely thrilled. There was a bounce to her walk, a ring in her talk. The husband had never seen her so happy. They shopped around and returned to the place where the man had promised to be back in one hour. He was standing there. But there was no dog around. Both of them went to the man who was talking to another Chinese man.

Seeing the husband, his eyes lit up and put forth a plastic bag saying – here is your dog..

“2 Bucks"

2008-12-21T22:58:00.000-08:00

Inspired by a true event and written with inputs from Col. Ramesh Sharma

Sarojini is just one year old. The last time I left from home, she would lovingly call me Dada. Her melodious voice that broke into a gibberish were the most beautiful moments i got back from home along with the warm kakras wrapped in a towel for the train journey. I would not have known that these moments would have been the last ones when i spent with them. Every time I came back home it would be scene of celebrations at home and every departure to the ‘front’ would be like a mourning.

I remember the first time i had met my wife. She was young, hiding her shyness behind the bright yellow ghunghat. But her smile shone through her ghunghat into my heart. Soon we got married, and her shyness had disappeared like a fragrance in the wind. She would keep talking till her jaws ached and I would listen to her talks till my eyes fell asleep. We became best of friends but before we realised, time had disappeared like the fine sand between the tender fingers of life and it was time to part. Her silence on that day was the most unbearable. I could have borne a thousand bullets on my body, but this pan was of a different kind. Her tears were unstoppable. I knew then that my biggest strength was now my biggest weakness. During the train journey, I could not sleep a wink. Her smile would linger like an illusion in my eyes and if my eyes drooped into slight drifts of sleep, her mindless laughter would wake me up with a jolt. But my Country was to be guarded and protected, the enemy to be kept at bay, so that the vast land of hardworking people could make us the best nation in the world. It was my pledge to die for the country, my country men, die for the honor of my regiment and its "izzat".

Another bullet hit the glass window hard throwing it into splinters. Sandwiched between the wall and the truck, I had hardly any space to move. The terrorists had occupied the mosque and had held innocent people hostages. The encounter was long and bloody. I was out of ammunition. There was continuous firing from the upper tiers of the minaret. The entire nation was being divided. The war that was supposed to be kept at the borders had seeped into the country like cancer. The war now had to be fought from within. In every part of India, we are seen with hatred. Human rights activists clamor at our door step making noise of deaths during ambush as inhuman. I often wonder in agony, are our lives worth nothing? It is so easy for activists to stay behind closed doors in the security of their homes and point fingers at us calling our actions inhuman. Would they stand in front of these firing terrorists and get the hostages their freedom? A hand grenade blasted a little distance away from me and I was shaken from my thoughts. I saw Major Ahmed running towards me from behind a broken wall. The dust gave him cover. He took cover next to me. He was grinning from ear to ear.

'I am out of ammunition, Ahmed.' I tell him. 'Give me some'

Ahmed fires above the wall, still grinning like a jackass. 'Why should I give it to you?' he asks me.

'Why not?' I ask him.

'You haven't bothered to return me the 2 bucks you owe me from the teen pati card game you lost a week ago!'

'I will return it as soon as we get back' i promised him.

'No I need it now. What if you get killed today? Then you will never give me back my 2 bucks!'

I search my pockets. Ahmed falls next to me. A bullet has pierced the skull on the upper eyebrow. Blood is gushing out. I hold him in my arms. His eyes mock me. I pick up his gun. I have to avenge his death…the death of a brave soldier, the death of my fallen brethren. I keep firing, the hostages must be rescued and the mosque has to be returned to its sanctity, for Ahmed, for Ahmed's wife, for Ahmed's children. He died in battle, a proud death. He gave his today for our tomorrow. It's now my turn to either victory or death. In war there is no second place. Win or die.

Autobiography of a flower

2008-12-11T04:23:00.001-08:00

I am a flower. A flower that blooms and wilts. I live a life that lasts not more than a few days. Once I was a bud. A little bud in a vast flower garden. The gardener would come and look at me as he did with the other buds. He would water me and then talk to me. He would tell nice things, he would tell me that one day I would bloom and make some one smile. I wondered how.

In the days that I was a bud, I would wait, looking at other flowers that bloomed. They bloomed and the gardener would pluck them up and put them in a basket. I wondered, how I could make someone smile. Then one day when the sun rose, light blinded me for a while. I was in full bloom. I looked into the eyes of the sun and bathed in the warmth it shone on me. And then abruptly I was cut. My fate ended up to be the same as the other flowers I had seen bloom. I lied there in the basket. I was tossed and swirled as the gardener took me from basket to basket, and then to a pickup truck. I fell asleep, and then when I woke up, I was in a little shop. Around me were other flowers, they were all of a different kind, they were of different colors, probably a different race. They all looked beautiful. The florist had arranged so many of them together like a painting. People peeked in and picked up a bunch. Every time they did, they had a smile in their eyes.

Then, one day, the old florist picked me up. She softly touched me, and gently plucked out the wilted petals. She then handed me over to a young charming boy and tells him – I am sure she will love it. She then looks at me and tells me – Little flower, make his day.

The young boy clutched me with all his heart. His eyes nervous and his mouth chattering away in a nervous tone. We then reached a little park. The boy stops, hiding himself behind the bark of a huge oak tree. He then breathes deeply and turns back. With great courage, he approaches the girl. The girl, pretty that she is, is red with anger. They talk, she yells. The anger melts down into sobs, and she looks away. He gently goes behind her and brushes me on her cheeks. She turns around looking at him in his eyes. They kiss. He drops me on to the ground.

The sun rises, and lowers itself. It is almost evening. A little boy picks me up. I remember his face from the window at the florists shop. He looked at the flowers and then counted the pennies in his pocket. With depressed eyes, he left. He picks me up with great care and dusts me off. Happy to hold me, he runs and holds the hand of an old man. He holds on to me with care. He has got tears in her eyes. ‘Tears of happiness’ I think to myself.

We enter a huge building. A pretty lady lies in bed. She looks frail, but her anguish dissolves as she sees the boy. The boy runs and jumps on to the bed and hugs her. I see tears rolling from her eyes. She holds him tight and tells him ‘I love you’. The boy tells her – I love you too. He hands me over to her. Her eyes fill with tears and she kisses him on the forehead. He sits on her lap and they talk for hours. When the sun has hid behind the far away mountains, he kisses her goodnight and leaves.

The mother looks at me for a long time with fondness. She looks at me and tells me – I love you. I become the little boy. She then takes me and keeps me carefully in a big fat book that seems like a diary. I become her memory. I become a thought.

I become immortal.

Is India truly democratic?

2008-12-09T04:12:00.000-08:00

To find a solution we need to find the problem first. And the problem would not be the politicians but a system that allows corrupt people into politics. The corrupt have raided and raped the system and the results of it are for everybody to be seen. So going back to where it all began, the drafting of the constitution, I did a Google search and this is what popped out- http://lawmin.nic.in/coi/coiason29july08.pdf It is a huge one and I plan to read it soon. Unless we do not know where the problem lies, how do we treat the sickness is what my mind is pondering.

Seeing the assembly elections and the fallout of the Maharashtra Government and appointment of the ministers, there was a fallacy that came across in my mind of the democratic set up of India. Further, this was also reiterated in a radio channel and I felt there might be many more who think alike. The fact that – Are we truly a democratic country?

Looking at the current set up, we have two elections, the Rajya Sabha (Assembly) elections and the Lok Sabha (Parliamentary) elections. At this level, the elections are democratic, where the people elect their representatives who would then head to the state assembly or to the parliament. But what happens after this is highly questionable. The fact that the politicians who are elected being clean and without criminal records is a completely different issue. But what is important to be noted is the process followed hence forth in the formation of the Cabinet, both in the Assembly and in the Parliament. Here the selection process starts. Witgh already many corrupt politicians going into both the houses, here there is a high chance of horse trading possible. The selection of the ministers become something very vulnerable to corruption. With party chiefs of the ruling party deciding who should be which minister, he becomes the most powerful person and buying and selling of posts could become the norm.

Thus we would get politicians and not leaders as the head of the state. Ministers who fail will step down and new ministers would come, but accountability will always be a question that will never be answered.

I can think of two approaches.

a) To make an election within the Assembly/ Parliament with candidates vying for the post. This would make the system a bit transparent, but horse-trading could become rampant on the flip side.

Or

b) The election mandate should include voting for three candidates at the same time. 1) The Prime Minister, 2) The Deputy Prime Minister and 3) Their local representative to the parliament and likewise for the Assembly elections 1) The Chief Minister, 2) The Deputy Chief Minister and 3) the MLA from the local constituency.

I would feel very positive if option b is exercised, since it would help us electing a leader based on the country consensus than the whims and fancies of a political party chief. It would also put on a huge responsibility on his shoulders and take accountability for the ministers appointed, else he face the wrath of his countrymen.

I have learnt... - revised

2008-12-08T10:18:00.000-08:00

Ok. Here is a new set of revisions in the I have learnt... post

...that life is little, but it is the element of time that makes it a bit too long
...that life is not about being secure, but not feeling insecure
...that we can seek happiness, but can choose to be happy.
...that love is an illusion and life is full of magic
...that sorrow is just another feeling
...that we mistake to find happiness in relationships, when relationships are just a part of happiness.
...that we die, but our thought doesn’t.
...that we own only that much land where we stand on.

...That we need to love life, and life will love us

An uneasiness of the so-called 'Revolution'

2008-12-05T10:52:00.000-08:00

Yesterday night, a disturbing thing crossed my mind. This revolution (if we can call it) that has taken such momentum, is this just a result of people’s anger over repeated anger or is there something more to it? Why did this not happen earlier? Ever since 1947, over 4100 terrorist attacks have taken place all over India. Why hav they never got so much importance as this attack is getting? In a way, I am glad that this revolution is taking place, but on the other hand, the underlying reasons that I see are also a bit disturbing.

If we look at the terrorist attacks in the past, blasts in trains, busses, in a taxi, at railway stations, these were places the common man visits every day. They are killed, many are left disabled and yet they resume the next day to their respective jobs. The glitterati and the industrialists called it resilience. I believe it is just that if they did not go to work, they would not know where they would pay their next month’s bills, the milkman, electricity, telephone bill, grocery bills, school fees, college fees, and so on… They had no choice. Yesterday, a radio station played an interview with an American who was amazed to see how the people of Mumbai were back on their jobs just three days after the siege ended. In New York after 9/11, people were scared to get out of their homes for a week. I would say, if the US citizens are paid a minimum wage by the government to the unemployed, they would rather sit secure in the houses than venture out. If it was the same case in India, people would have preferred the same. We are no different human beings, but we do know that our Government does nothing for us and hence we have to fend for ourselves. If we had the time and money to take care of our families we would have fought the government, stood up for our needs, but the daily necessity to feed our hunger makes us ignore all this and get back to work.

So what is different now from the past? Why will this revolution sustain, if it sustains?

This time the target was The Taj and The Oberoi. How many of the common man might have ever entered the Taj. The exterior photos are the only things a common man can relate to. They don’t have any reason to go to the Taj. The food is expensive. Only the high class (exponentially rich) can afford this kind of luxury. Why is the peace march around the Taj and Oberoi and not at CST or Vile Parle, which were also targets of the terrorists? The reasons are quite obvious. The rich and the powerful, don’t frequent busses or trains. They sit in the luxurious confines of their car to go wherever they have to go. Every time a calamity strikes the city, they are the least affected while the poor homeless person on the street is affected the most. Why is it that everyone is asking Raj Thackeray, where he is? Why didn’t the same people strike back when he and his goondas ran rampant the city? Again, the reason is quite simple. The affluent class were relatively unaffected. It was the poor and the average middle class who bore the brunt of the carnage, the blasts, and the attacks. This was happening when the affluent class were talking about the resilience of Mumbai sipping fine wine and dining at the Taj and the Oberoi. Now after these attacks, they know what the common man has felt for a long time. They now fear their own lives and thus they have come out in huge numbers.

But all said and done, as I have reiterated in my earlier posts of America coming together for one reason, I think India has a reason of its own now. For whatever reasons, it is time to stand for one common goal.

Independence.

Independence in the true sense. Independence from terror, from corruption, from poverty, from political leadership to true leadership. The midnight of August 15th 1947 bought in freedom of India from the British, but there is still a long way to go till each citizen of India gets his/her freedom.

The Gateway Peace March - Photoblog

2008-12-04T22:44:00.000-08:00

©Photographs Copyrights with Prax

It is time...

2008-12-02T23:35:00.000-08:00

Umpteen number of times have we been bombed, massacred, killed, we have lost our fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, wife, many have even lost their limbs. But the city still thrives. Self-proclained lovers of the city burn public property, hold the city to ransom. Yet we live on. A politician is made, a government is questioned, but in a few days everything is forgotten. The opposition blames it on the government, but I am sure, deep down, they must be relieved that they were not sitting on the throne, else they would have been the target of the opposition today.

LK Advani is already leveraging this event to gain the electoral seats in the Rajasthan Elections. RR Patil said this event as a small incident in the big city. The Congress states that atleast their ministers resigned while none of the ministers of the NDA government resigned following attack on the Parliament.

What a pathetic state of events in a democracy!

Politicians resign instead of being accountable of their lacunae. It is such an easy life for these politicians. They screw the life of the common people and when they are questioned, they resign. I feel there should be a bigger punishment to these politicians. They should be barred from politics forever.

India, for a long time has been the victim of lack of accountability. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s picture indicates him pointing, indicating the direction for growth, but we Indians take it as a sign of blaming the other one.

Why is it that the ministers don’t feel the need to spruce up the security system? Because they don’t think security is an issue. They feel secure under the cover of police security and NSG Commandos covering up their ass.

The ratio of police to people in India is the least in the world. We have 2.6 police officials per 1000 people. An average in any other country is 10-15 per 1000. How do we increase this? It is a difficult task, but one which needs tremendous insight and a passionate vigor to resolve it.

The police is known as the most corrupt in the state. The book Carnage by Angels by YP Singh states the shambles our police force is in. If we look into the cracks, there are many things that might shock us beyond our imagination.

A constable gets a paltry amount for his service, something around Rs. 7000/- per month. This, for putting his life on the line, working for more than 12 hours a day, to be cautious of the criminals with political connections, (you never know that the criminal you are arresting today might be the minister giving orders to you tomorrow) and also facing the flak for intelligence failure of the Governments divided security procedures and eventually facing the bullet of a terrorist. Is this amount enough to live a healthy life? Can he give the best education to his children? Will he be entitled for a loan to buy a house of his own? An eventual answer is No. So he has to get to corrupt methods and this has infinite repercussions on himself and the society on the whole.

What can we do?
Probably separate the police from the ministry to the Judiciary. This would ensure that the police would not need to please politicians or beware of the politics that happen at the highest levels. This ensures that the police would do their duty at the best. Increase the salaries to Industry standards so that kids today can consider it as a sound, clean and a patriotic profession.

This way might have its own negative implications, but then evolution of a concept would weed out the negativities and bring in a more positive approach to the security of the country and reduce corruption to a great extent.

As a common man, what can we do? We as individuals do not have any power. The power is only when we come together and stand against it unified. It takes a common cause to unify. And 26/11 has bought in the cause.

History has seen revolutions happen. As Hitler states in Mein Kampf - History has to be learnt not for the dates but to understand the reason and the forces behind such revolutions. We have our reason. And it is time for a revolution.

I will be standing at the Taj tomorrow. And I know I will not be alone.

Image Source: REUTERS. Photographs by: Arko Datta & Amit Dave

When arrogance subsides and humility returns

2008-11-12T23:47:00.001-08:00

Since the economic recession in the US began and spread around the world, I had a strange feeling. I could not explain it then, but it represented that something in the world will now come back to order. When I told this to a friend who counter-argued, I couldnot explain it well, but over a period of time, now, I can.

For me, the last decade, post the era of Bill Clinton as the President, America stood out for arrogance. There were two major catastrophes that marked the era of Bush Junior. The WTC and the Economic recession. People in the US might deplore what I am saying. Prior to the WTC, the US was considered the unpenetrable. They condemned the terrorist acts in India, but did they ever feel what it meant to be living in the constant threat of terrorism? I guess not. But with WTC, things changed. They came to know what terror is. They felt it. They realized the pain of being violated with deaths of innocents. A new order came into being. A new jargon developed. War on Terror. However, the arrogance remained. They entered Iraq while the threat was holed up in Afghanistan.

They violated the UN call, not to invade Iraq as there were no weapons of mass destruction found. Another country succumbed to the arrogance of the United States. The US has always been involved in another country's war. But now the war has shifted into the country, Now the war is within. But the economic depression has a lot of positive impact. It brought Americans together, with each other as well as the world. The threat of personal security, emotional and financial is the biggest threat to all. And now the US of A, realized this, that they too can succumb, no one is invincible. Life is a great leveler. What can go up and come down and humility is the only way the world will keep up your honour. The election of Obama as a President is only the first step towards a better world order.

During the deluge in Mumbai, I had seen the entire city come together. The class difference did not matter. Everyone on the road was the same for the torrent of rain that swept Mumbai. Be it a man in a Merc, or a beggar in the corner. Everyone came together to help each other, for a common cause. To live, and to help others to live. An unknown bond of brotherhood had developed in an instant. That is what tough situations do to you. And I hope it does to the US too.

Yeh Jalwa!!

2008-11-07T05:25:00.000-08:00

I was very skeptical to watch Fashion.

I like movies that are light, brings a smile on your face. I also likes the serious ones, those which end on a positive note, but those kind of movies are so few. Madhur’s films have always been inspired by true events. Chandni bar was a stark movie, but the end of the movie was not a good feeling I left with. Obviously, you have to see the film the director wants to show you. It is up to you to accept it or reject it. The more people accept it, the movie is a success. If they reject it, it is termed as flop. Many brilliant films have flopped and many trash movies have set the cash register ringing. The psychology of the Indian audience is hard to predict, or is it easy? Maybe there is a simple underlying thread that binds the audience in general.

India is a difficult country to live in. Everyday a man wakes up, he is prepared to go to war, mostly with himself, and it reflects in the world outside him. The conflicts that lie within and outside is quite stressful. And when someone goes to a movie hall, they just want to see something that will take them out of their briefly dull and intense life and transport them into a world of imagination. If it is a movie that is based on real life, it might not work. Because there is a very thin line where the film can seem like a documentary and entertainment. If you try to show the people what their life is, they would not want to see it. If they do make a realistic film, what might work is a real person living in the real world becoming an extraordinary person, and coming trumps in the dire situations he is thrown into. Madhur’s earlier films lacked this, but it dramatically or sometimes over-dramatically displayed the cockroaches beneath the carpet. But Fashion, there is a slight difference. The film potrays the fashion world as a very competitive world with immoral people around and some unique moral souls that are sprinkled in the otherwise fake world. But what I saw was not just the fashion world but how each individual rooted in their persona identify, survive, succumb and live in the profession. Its message doesnot just confine itself to the world of fashion, it probably can reach out to other worlds as well.

The potrayal of Meghna Mathur, Janet and Shonali depict three different strata of the society. Meghna, a wannabe, Janet, a regular model who has been in the industry long enough and Shonali who is a supermodel. Meghna aspires to be Shonali, Janet is contended where she is, while Shonali cannot handle success. If you cut this to a base psychological level, Meghna, represents the audience who wants to be an achiever, Shonali represents the people where success goes into the head and makes them think they are invincible and Janet, those people who are quite content with life the way it is and struts ahead in life no matter where she is, irrespective of success.

Also, the glamorous world of Fashion is something everyone wants to see, but only a few can aspire to be there. This unique combination of intrigue and base emotive connect to the audience makes the film work. Thankfully the film ends in hope. Where conviction and dedication brings out the best in the protagonist while one of them succumbs to the distaste of success.

Fashion is a well-made movie, the cinematographer Mahesh Limaye needs special mention. A short sequence where Meghna indulges in drugs and the psychedelic colors that is seen is brilliant in execution. The editing is top class. The acting is good, but I do think, the representation of gays is a bit over the top. This is what most of the directors do with representation of gays. They try to be gay-friendly but overtly make a mockery of them. Though one of them has shown as a straight-faced gay, who is just like a normal person, the rest turn out to sway too often as they talk. I wouldnt know if that was supposed to be the comic element in the film or just mere depiction.

But overall, it’s a good film to watch. The performances are credible and so is the music, the colors and the emotions.

What India needs is a reason!

2008-11-06T00:44:00.000-08:00

I always wondered why the development of our country is so stirred with controversies, corruption, violent clashes, and religious insurgencies. Why are the politicians corrupt? Why are the roads dug up? Why are the rich super rich and the poor super poor? Why do the rich consider that they have the right of privileges over the poor Indian? Why is the crooked politician more powerful than a honest politician? The US of A is not one of my favorite countries, but I admire that country. There is a place where people can call their President a moron. They can make documentaries against him and hold rallies against his policies. If ever that happened in India, there would be carnage, destruction of public property and a few casualties, some dead, some injured and a bandh that would effect the economic prosperity of the country.

When the past episode happened with the corrupt traffic police constable, a casual discussion at home gave a great insight into what a common man thinks and why he keeps away from standing for the truth. Two old people who had visited started stating that how I was wrong, and that I had wasted 700 Rupees where else I could have just escaped the offence by just bribing a 100 Rupees. They stated they had seen this country since Independence and the state of the country is so bad, nothing can change its fortune. We were set to doom. Arguing with older people has always led to bitterness, besides, at the age of 70, it is hard for them to change their stand. They just become stubborn, like kids. So I let it go. But this was the hard truth that we have to face. If we have to change this country, each individual has to take up a stand and do their bit. If we don’t do it, we donot have the right to blame someone else for the mess our country is in. Not even the corrupt politicians. They are corrupt because of us.

America came together for a common cause. Republicans voted for a democrat and they changed ideologies because they knew if they did not the country will go down to the pits. They stood for one cause. Looking back, when do you see that India was united? It was for the freedom from the British. That was the only time we as a country were united, because everyone wanted one particular thing. Freedom. Everyone focused themselves completely to achieve that and achieved it. That is what India needs today, according to me. One reason, one singular reason for every person in this country to be united. Otherwise we will remain divided in hypocrisy of the so-called democracy.

McPain Vs Oh Bama!

2008-11-03T23:17:00.000-08:00

While the entire world is waiting with bated breath, I wonder who will win over whom. The world believes that Obama will win. He is leading. But do not be surprised if McCain wins. It has happened before. He is surely better than Bush (anyone can be better than him, even a fifth grader) but the democracy that US boasts about is a little over-rated. The election and re-election of the moron is a testament to that or that majority of America is filled with idiots who don’t have their priorities right!

Jimmy Carter, ex-president of the US, Nobel Peace Prize Winner, is the founder of The Carter foundation which promotes and monitors the electoral processes in support of free and fair elections. They have already monitored 70 elections in more than 25 countries since its foundation. After Bush’s first regime, The Carter foundation was asked to monitor the elections in the US. Carter declined. He stated that the electoral process in the US is not free and fair and doesnot qualify for democratic elections in its present state.

So don’t be surprised if McCain wins.

But one thing is certain, whoever is elected has a tough task to undo a lot of things Mr. Bush has done. The downfall and the repercussions of a decade long rule by a moron has had its toll on the US.

So, I thought we should be pragmatic about the elections and wonder what the world might be if each of them got elected. It gives us a chance to see how good we are at our judgement. Five years down the line we can always compare what we expected and what actually happened. Here is my take. My analysis is based on the following points. There are many more, but i thought i will choose topics that are generic, and somethings I care about –
General personality, Taxation, Energy, War on terror, and India

McCain as President:
McCain is quite old, rather experienced. He has been a war hero and has the experience behind him as he has seen generations of Presidents come and go. Beeing from the military, he is ruled by orders, protocols and conventional methods of decision making. America is a country that has always been in a war – other people’s war. I always felt that the strategy was simple. Help other countries in their internal conflict, do them a favor and then modify their national policies in favor of the Americans. So that gives me a first indication that he should not be president. He will have a passion for war, not for peace, that take care for vested interests of the powerful weapon makers of the US and builds in roads into developing nations economy.

With regards to taxation, McCain wants to slash corporate taxes, and give breaks to middl-rich earners and cut capital gains tax. This statement I think should be seen under a microscope. Cutting corporate taxes is like a blade with a sharp edge on both the sides. In this dwindling economy, slashing corporate taxes can ease the pain on the companies and reduce the layoffs, but that thought is a hopeful one. The company owners will use it to their advantage. They will continue the layoffs and try to reduce their losses by exploiting the cuts on corporate taxes. With his stand on Capital Gains, I can see McCain preference is towards the middle-rich and the rich. So, another no for McCain.

McCain would continue Bush’s stand on his war on terror. This means more deployment of troops in Afghanistan and ha has stated that he has no preference to put up a timetable for retreating the troops. This validates my point earlier on his personality of a war veteran.

McCain also doesnot support subsidies on ethanol and other bio-fuels. Why doesn’t he support the alternative fuel industry? Is hurting the oil lobby going to be bad for his presidency? Again, is he becoming a president for the people of the country or for the powerful people of the country?

With reference to India, he would be the perfect president. The Nuclear deal will not change and the policies on outsourcing will not effect much to Indians who are now turning from smart engineers to dumb telephone receptionists… For the long run, I would like Indians to be self sufficient and not depend on outsourcing and shift their focus from service to manufacturing industry as the driver of the economy. Hence my preference to McCain would be another big no.

Well with the total no to McCain, I think the obvious choice becomes Obama, but without analysis it would be a disaster. What if his stand on the same topics were worse than that of McCain? Being an Indian, the meaning for democracy here is to choose the candidate that is going to create lesser problems for the people.

Obama is young and looks dynamic. His smile appeals and has a kind of positive aura. Young blood means taking risks, and treading unconventional paths. It might retaliate, but there are a lot of chances that the approach might bring out radical change. There is not much information I could gather about how Obama would take his decisions as a President, but I would like to take that chance and hope the Americans would too. Mostly his decision making would be a reflection of how he approaches the different topics and try to decipher his thinking methodology.

With regards to taxation, he wants to reduce income tax for middle classes and raise capital tax. I think with my earlier debate on McCain’s take on taxes, I am convinced, Obama is a President for the people. Less Income tax means more savings and higher Capital gain taxes means the wealthy have to fork out a bit more. Not a very painful approach.

On the war of terror, he is clearly put his stand strongly against terrorism, but what is more pleasing for the world is that he has charted out a sixteen month withdrawal of troop deployment from Iraq. He has also gone all out for stronger operations against the Taliban. His name rhyming to that of Osama, and the middle name of Hussein is also an interesting occurrence, which might also be of influence people on their views in the war on terror.

Obama heavily supports increase of subsidies on ethanol and biofuel subsidies. Again another point that he is the President for the people and not for ‘some’ powerful people.

India might not stand to benefit much if Obama is elected president. He would be opting for more internal jobs and would cut outsourcing, which will hugely affect the Indian economy. Also his stand on the Nuclear deal that supports India might be challenged by the democrats which can take the deal to troubled waters. Nevertheless India needs to know that they have to be self sufficient and not depend on another countries economy for its existence. So I would like to vote for Obama. But I am not on the electoral roll.

The world roots for Obama, and I would too, but it is up to the Americans. I hope they see what lies in the best interest of their people and also consider that there are other countries other than the US in this world!

Happy Diwali!!!!

2008-10-27T00:05:00.000-07:00

Faux Pas

2008-10-21T04:42:00.001-07:00

Now I know why I cannot be a man who can charm women. It is an art and I don’t possess that for sure. A conversation on the phone today underlined the entire fact. A recent acquaintance keeps calling. I would call her ‘She’ in this post to maintain her anonymity. She calls daily and keeps asking if I had food, and if I did, what did I have. Its kind of irritating. I always try to be nice and cringe myself away from the phone when she keeps yapping not knowing how to cut the phone without her knowing!!! I guess life has a way to get things done. The excerpts of the conversation -

Tring Tring… (5 times approx which I take to think wether I should pick it up or not)
Me: Hello
She: Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiii….
Me: Hi
She: Where are you?
Me: Office
She: Jeeez! Why did you go to office? There is so much tension on the streets.
Me: Well, I came
She: Had food?
Me: No
She: Why do you do this? You never have food on time. It wouldn’t… (I go deaf…)
Me: (thinking) Did I marry her and then loose my memory when I hit my head out of sheer desperation?
She: Helloo… are you listening
Me: ya, I am here.. tell me..
She: I was telling you, this guy proposed to me.
Me: Wow! Good for you. Who is the guy?
She: This guy from office, bas****…
Me: Whay are you abusing him, just because he proposed to you?
She: No, he is married. And he thought I didn’t know.
Me: Hmmm.. interesting…
She: He came up to me in the canteen and said he wants to go out with me!
Me: Well, that doesn’t sound like proposing!
She: I asked him Why and he said he felt that I was hot!
Me: (a little loudly) What! He must be nuts!

A long silence

Beep Beep.

OUCH!!!

Jaago India Jaago

2008-10-20T23:50:00.000-07:00

Whats the easiest way to display power? Well, switching on the tube-light is one way, but the other way that has always been around in Indian politics for a long time is Vandalism. Dare to the common office-goer, a vegetable seller, a shop owner, a carpenter, a rickshaw driver, taxi driver, mill worker, peon, CEO... dare everyone to go on the streets else they will hurt you, your belongings. They threaten to put fire on your public transport, pelt stones on your trains, shatter the windshields of your car, burn tyres and block the roads. They do everything that is against the law and try to keep proving that they are above the law.

What can we do? an average man thinks. It happened at my home too. A stone can give you a huge expense for your car, and headache too, a cousin pulled me over and asked me to go home. This is the sentiment of a common man in this city, and probably in our entire country. A stone can cost you thousands, he said, indicating at the windscreen of my car. The society, in terms of the law, is divided into two - The law fearing people and The law-breaking people. I always wonder why people are so afraid of the law-breakers. Probably because they are law-fearing and not law-loving people. If they loved the law, everyone would do their bit to uphold the law. Also, the law breakers wield the rods and stones while the law fearing people wield only fear.

Mostly, the people in any country get what they deserve. They elect the leaders they deserve. If people are afraid of the vandals and sit at home, the vandals rule the country. If the people go out to work, face them, come together and face the vandals, it would be the vandals who sit at home. I think the equation is quite simple.

At the Bandra flyover, the entire traffic, however little it was, chose to take a u turn and go back. Seeing the vehicles take a u-turn, i too took a u turn, went and parked my car aside. There were a bunch of policemen at the junction who were just looking. I asked them what was wrong? They did not know. I asked a person on the bike who slowed down. He said someone said they were throwing stones. I went and took a u-turn again and headed back to my destination. Some vehicles were still taking a u turn and some waiting at the signal. I rolled down the window and spoke to a person in the adjacent car. He too was angry at the vandals. Another biker came in abusing them. The signal turned green and we all hit the flyover. There was not a single vandal in sight. The perception of fear had made so many people go back. I reached my office without a scratch and I am sure the others did as well.

Isn't it time that we all stood for what is right? If a mob tries to disperse the crowd with their rods and stones. Can't the crowd themselves think that they are bigger in number than the vandals and face them. It only takes a fearless thought to stand together. But alas, many people don't do that. To the many people who faced the fear and went ahead to work, I salute you. For those who sat back at home because of fear and in a hope to get a holiday, think of what you did, and think that it is because of you and your fear that these vandals rule us. What is the use of calling ourselves a free nation if we are not allowed our own free will? Its a shame for all of us if this continues to happen. The police are little in number if counted by the numbers of vandals to be controlled. We too are responsible for our own safety and freedom. We cannot blame it on the police force or the Government if we ourselves don't take responsibility of our freedom.

Jaago India Jaago!!!

The Follow-up

2008-10-16T09:57:00.000-07:00

After my initial anger and mail to the Joint Commissioner of Police, I was still agitated. I went over the receipt I had got from the constable. I was booked for three different sections. I remember that in the 'pauthi' I was only booked for two sections Section 239 and section 250. But in this receipt I was also booked for section 184. So i went online to check for the sections and what it meant.

Section 250 MVA - Jumping the signal
Section 239 MVA - Use of mobile while driving
Section 184 MVA - Reckless driving.

Now my anger had a new level. I went to the traffic control room at the _______ junction and demanded to see the Officer in charge. I thought there might be some resistance, but it was quite easy. I was led to the Inspector to whom i explained the series of events. He countered saying that the mobile phone should be switched off while driving and if caught Section 184 was automatically to be added. But I remember the constable who had charged with me for the Rs. 200 fine on two sections and had told me that they have not charged me for reckless driving! The argument and counter argument continued. I was infuriated. The constable who booked me two days ago was the best person to asses the offense. If he has charged me with two cases then how come a constable sitting here has charged me with another section and that too offers me a Rs. 100 back for not providing me with a receipt. The inspector was irritated.

Inspector: What do you want Mr. N_______?
Me: I was not charged for Section 184. That should be taken back and my 500 bucks returned.
Inspector: Sorry, that cannot be done. The receipt has been delivered. If you had a problem you should have spoken then. And we cant change the entry in the books. Sorry anything else?

Me: I need an apology at the least.

Inspector: Arrey Kadam la bolav re! (Call Kadam)

Well, he did give an apology after a lengthy discussion. I had become a moral police standing against corruption. Finally the Inspector who was mighty irritated, insisted on 5 'uthak bhaitaks' (sit-ups holding ears). My anti-corruption ego had calmed down. I got off the cabin shaking hands with the inspector and the constable. My chest had bloated up with pride and my ears felt warm with blood. As i stepped out of the cabin, i heard the inspector tell him in marathi - Dont try to mess with such guys. If he had got a reporter along with him, we would have had a tough time with the seniors.

As I stepped out of the cabin, the constable who booked me two days back stopped seeing me. 'N______ saab, got your license back?' I smiled back nodding a yes.

'Please be careful while you are driving' he said.

I was surprised that he remembered my surname. I left the place a little relieved. I also felt hurt being poorer by 700 bucks for a single moment of negligence!

A letter to the Joint Commissioner of Police - Traffic

2008-10-16T02:36:00.000-07:00

Respected Sir,

Recently, I was booked at the ____________ Junction for jumping a signal and for use of mobile phone while driving.

I am fully aware of the offense i committed and i promptly agreed to pay for the penalty of the offenses. It bought out a very weird expression from the traffic police on duty.
They gave me a 'pauthi' and asked me to collect the license from the Bhandup Sonapur Cabin.

Today as I presented the 'pauthi', the officer on duty at the Collection counter, Mr. S charged me Rs. 700/-. I paid him and he returned my license. However, he was reluctant to give me a receipt for the same.
When I insisted, he told me that I am not supposed to collect it from the cabin, but from the Court. He liked me as a person and hence he was doing this 'favor'.

He returned me Rs. 100/-.

I insisted on the receipt and told him that if Rs. 100 mattered to me, I would have tried to bargain with him on the day I was caught.

I also told him to return the Rs. 700/- and offered to give him back the license and collect it from the 'Court'.

He promptly made a receipt and gave it to me.

I would like to know if such a statement is indeed true. If it is, then why was I not asked to take the license from the court itself? And why did he be so nice to me and give me a receipt promptly?

It is indeed sad to see the state of corruption in the force. I understand the limitations and the difficult circumstances your officers work, but when an honest person is ready to abide by the law, I hope they are treated with respect and given the least trouble for being a law-abiding citizen.

I truly hope that you can do some little steps in bettering the system and tearing out corruption from it.

Yours sincerely,
P............

English is a very funny language!

2008-10-15T02:33:00.000-07:00

Amitabh's dialogue in Namakhalaal holds true if you travel into the interiors of India. It is indeed funny!

Com-fart-able!!!!

Any takers for a Chicken that 'sweat', and is sour?

GARL FRINDES - No GARL FRINDES No TENSAN!!!

Coffee with a War Hero

2008-09-25T03:36:00.000-07:00

I usually hate wars. Everyone hates wars. In a war, there are no winners. But it is necessary to protect our own interest. People in the army have always amazed me. Their persona, their dedication, their sparkle in the eye. Their eyes show the immense amount of satisfaction that they get with their personal sacrifice for the good of the nation. Many of these men and women could opt for lucrative jobs in other vocations. They do not have to go to the border, stay away from the family, put their life at risk, earn lesser than their peers in other fields, but they do. These breed of men and women are of a different kind – I realized after meeting Col. Ramesh Sharma over a cup of coffee at Costa Coffee at Connaught Place, Delhi.

Col. Ramesh Sharma is retired from the army and is now in the corporate world. What does he do? He turns around failed companies. He says passionately about his days in the army. ‘I enjoyed every single minute of my life in the army. And what I do today is also the same. Turning around situations that hang on the brink of failure.’ Col. Ramesh Sharma, for people to have an easy connect was the real life character Amitabh Bachchan had depicted in the film Lakshya.

Speaking about those decisive days of the Kargil War, he says - When the first attack of the battalion failed, I was asked to take over a new battalion and recapture Tiger hill. I refused a new battalion. ‘If the failed battalion would have not got a second chance, they would have had to live in shame for the rest of their lives for their failure.’

He went out and asked the jawans, how many of them were ready to launch another attack on the infiltrates. Each one of them put their hands up. He went to his senior and told them, he would continue the attack with the same battalion. It didn’t mattered if he was court-martialed. 12 hours later, he was given the permission. He went back and faced his battalion. He gave up his gun and refused to wear the bullet-proof jacket. He told his men – I will be walking in front of you with nothing but a chadi (a thin bamboo stick). Save me if you can, from the bullets of the enemy.

Nevertheless to say, in the battle that followed, Tiger hill was re-captured, one of the key moments in the Kargil war. A war that was standing on the brink of failure had turned around. He now does the same with failed companies. It is not much different from war, he says. ‘Only here, your life is not threatened by a bullet.’

Colonel now also visits management colleges and shares his experience to teach young people in the art of leadership. We salute to you and to the men who lay their lives for the country expecting nothing but honor!

Homeless in Mumbai

2008-09-19T09:19:00.000-07:00

Yesterday as i was returning home after running some errands, I heard a voice calling out from behind a parked taxi. I wasn't sure if they were calling out to me, but I paused to turn back and look. A middle-aged guy, probably in his fifties waved out to me as he walked closer. He had a 'Sundaram' notebook in his hands.

Man: Are you a Mallu Christian?
Me: No... not a chrstian...
Man: There are a lot of mallu christians in this area
Me: Really, I never bothered to count.
Man: Ha ha... you have a dry sense of humor.
Me: Was born like that

OK i must admit that i was apprehensive about this guy. He was clean shaven, dressed well in a white shirt and blue jeans but i was very uncomfortable by his smile.

Man: Can you help us?
Me: How do you want me to help me?
Man: You know we have been homeless... (He pointed to a couple who were sitting behind the taxi on the curb. All of them well dressed.) We are roaming like this since a week.
Me: Why?
Man: We were thrown out of our house, our own house.
Me: So how are you surviving since the last week.
Man: God has been taking care of us.
Me: Well, good for you.

Now i got ths sense that he was going to ask for money and if he did, I knew that this was another kind of a scam a colleague had told me long back. He was duped of a thousand bucks a couple of years back when a couple with a child, approached him and he out of sympathy gave it to them. They promised they will return it and took his address. They never got back and a couple of months later, there was a burglary in his house. They could never link the two, but that incident was tapping on my mind's shoulder.

Man: Can you help us by donating some money? We will return it to you.
Me: NO!
Man: Why such a loud No? People have contributed. I am taking their addresses and will repay them when I earn it back.
Me: there are a couple of reasons. One, Your smile. You look too happy that you have lost your home. Second, if you had lost your home, your friends would have bailed you out, if they have not, then you don't have any friends, and three, if you lost your own home to someone else and didnot know that it was coming, you sure are a fool.

Man: (a little angry) you are cruel.
Me: Cant help it. Have been like that since childhood.

I walked away. I dont know if I was right for not helping them. I dont know if they were really speaking the truth. Probably I might have one more curse on my head now!!

India Vs. Zimbabwe

2008-09-17T22:18:00.000-07:00

Would you buy a loaf of bread for 1000$, 1000 Zimbabwean dollars? Well, that is what a loaf of bread costs in Zimbabwe. The country is supposed to have the worlds highest inflation rate - of 11.2 million%.

http://in.news.yahoo.com/139/20080820/882/twl-zimbabwe-inflation-now-11-2-million.html

Gives a little heart to Indians where the annual rate of inflation has grown to 11%. I wonder how survival is possible where the Government does not take any measure to better the situation than keep printing higher currency notes. In such a case, wont printing those currency notes be costlier than the currency note itself? It might be like making a Gold coin of one Rupee denomination.

The Zimbabweans have now resorted to a better system in trading. Its a method which was adopted when trading was a new theory. The Barter system. Exchange commodities for commodities. This atleast ensures survival of the hardworking and denounces the Government currency, which thrives on usage of currency as means of renumeration for their misgivings.

Personally, i feel much relieved that we, the Citizens of India are relatively in a much better scenario than our counterparts in Zimbabwe, but we should take heed from the signs of what can go wrong, if the citizens of India dont check the Governments economic policies from time to time.

Creating the Big Bang!!!

2008-09-10T04:22:00.001-07:00

Physicists at CERN are elated. Now that the proton beam has been successfully tested in clockwise direction, CERN plans to send it counterclockwise. Eventually the two beams will be fired in opposite directions with the aim of smashing together protons to see how they are made.

They say this is how the big bang had occurred and the planets and stars were formed out of nothing. The skeptics say that the result of the tests will create micro black holes in the universe that can suck in planets and stars. James Gilles, the official spokesperson of CERN rubbishes this theory.

Now going by the whole big bang theory that I had read in school, the entire universe was formed out of nothingness. Sanskrit texts claim nothing is everything and everything is nothing. I see a link between these two theories which in one line talks about similar concepts in different contexts. The secrets of the universe are far vast than we know, at least vast than what I know. But if the existence of the universe depended on the two theories that have been hammered into my head as a kid and if I believed it to be true, I would be a skeptic. For recreating a big bang would recreate the universe one more time.

Only this time it would be man made. What if huge planets are created, a new sun, new stars… What if everything the theories spoke about were really true? I guess that is why Stephen Hawkins wants the test to fail. It would humble human scientists by letting them know that they don’t know everything. The hunger for knowing all, will fuel them to continue living. It will stop them from being God. But what happens if the tests succeed and they are really able to create the Big Bang. Will it create planets stars etc, one more time? Will the earth explode? If none of these things happen and the physicists call the test as a success, then how would you define that they actually recreated the Big Bang? Would they be lying? Only time will tell… for I am curious to know how everything was formed at the risk of losing everything.

Because, nothing is everything and everything is nothing.

Of Babas and Babies and a Curse

2008-09-09T04:35:00.001-07:00

I was waiting for my colleague near my new office in Bandra next to my car when a Mercedes S – Class car went past me and stopped. A man draped in saffron cloth stepped out and hurried towards me. I was a bit startled and then, a bit cautious. I had heard of these fake baba’s who hypnotise you and take all the money you have. But then, I realize I was not carrying much cash anyways, so I relaxed as he reached towards me. Obviously he was a chela of some bigger baba.

Chela: Baba wants to speak to you.
Me: What?
Chela: Baba Something (I don’t remember his name) saw you and felt you were of noble blood, and wants to speak to you.
Me: Me? Noble? What do you want?
Chela: He just wants to talk to you.

Hesitant, I walked to the car. The car had fine leather upholstery and a Baba with a flowing beard and sparkling eyes looked at me.

Me: Yes?
Baba: You are of noble blood son!
Me: I don’t know if the blood is noble, but I know it is B positive.
Baba: Don’t make fun of a holy man. My curse can ruin your life.
Me: Sorry.
Baba: You should do a yagna with milk blah blah blah blah (I did not understand a single word he spoke)

After a while of talking or rather babbling, he paused, and I looked at him with amazement. He must have thought I was amazed by his forecast which I hardly understood, but his smile made me realize he thought I agreed to what he said. I turned around to his chela.

Me: What was he saying? I did not understand a single thing.
Chela: He said your son will make you a proud father.
Me: I think I shall be proud if I become a father.

Baba (angrily): You are mocking a messenger of God.
Me: I am sorry if you are a messenger of God, but it doesn’t take a messenger to tell me that I shall be a proud father, and now if excuse me, I have other work to do.
Baba: (looking towards the other side) blah blah blah…

Chela: You don’t understand, Baba doesnot talk to everyone. He chose you.
Me: Well thanks for choosing me, but what does he want?

Baba: Its only some thing so that my disciples can eat something in the afternoon

Now this was some news to me. A man travelling in a Mercedes S-class car wanted money for lunch!

Chela: You will earn blessings from the Baba himself. Just give him whatever you can
Me: I have a five rupee coin, here it is (I handed it over to him)
Baba: How dare you insult us? Do you think we are beggars?
Me: Then what were you just asking? I thought that is what is called begging.

Well, to cut the story short, he cursed me and left.

Honesty is the best policy!

2008-09-04T21:04:00.000-07:00

I was driving through the city right from dawn break. Personal commitments at home made me drive across the city from one corner to the other, making my way through potholed roads, unruly rickshaw drivers, and crazy truck drivers. The drive through a crowded city is enough for my back to cringe in pain. As I reached close to home, an immense urge to reach there made me skip a signal and from out of nowhere popped a man wearing a white shirt and khaki trousers and asked me to park my vehicle on the side of the road. The traffic police man walked towards me with a smile, knowing he had caught a catch.

Traffic police: Look at the signal behind. It is red. You jumped the signal.. Its your fault!
Me: You are right, I am sorry
TP: Show me your license and PUC
Me: (giving him the license) Its a new car…
TP: I will fine you, you can collect your license from the chowky
(At this point he expected me to plead and offer him a bribe)
Me: O.K. Just give me the address, I will collect it.
TP: (surprised) You mean I should fine you?
Me: Yes, I have done a mistake, I should be punished. Please fine me.
TP: You mean you want to pay the fine?
Me: I have done a mistake, so I should pay the fine, isn’t it?
TP: (with a smile) Go! Please give attention to the signal when you drive
Me: You mean you don’t want to fine?
TP: No, Its OK. I know I am doing the right thing!
Me: Thanks dada…

I went back to my car with a smile. I realized that being honest and righteous has its advantage. Now talking about honesty, here is the honest truth – I didn’t have cash in my pocket to bribe him!!!

Contact Established

2008-09-02T01:26:00.000-07:00

If any of you have read The Alchemist, you would understand the nature of signs. They are supposed to mean something. A sign that came in front of me yesterday has put me into thinking about what it was trying to tell me.

I have a fixation for number plates. Yes, its a weird fixation, but its a fact. Unknowingly i always read a number-plate and then another weird action takes place in the head of mine which is making sense of the number. for eg. the number plate says MH-02-AY- 4215... My brain would isolate the number 4215 and then a formula is formed 4+2-1=5. If the formula worked, i would feel happy. If it didnt, my attention would go to the next vehicle and it would continued.

Then, I tried to search for a vehicle that would have my PIN number. The password to the ATM to withdraw cash. I kept looking for it for many days and months but it never surfaced. What were the chances of anyone seing the number plate of someone else's car which had the secret PIN number you were using. Looked improbable.... Slowly the fixation faded away and life became normal. Until Yesterday!

Yesterday as i drove to work, A White scorpio cut me and moved in ahead of my 'panther'. I was angry, for the guy was driving rashly. And I looked at its number plate! It was the PIN number i use!!! On its windshield was written 'Contact Established!'

I dont know what it meant, but what got me thinking was - Why did the owner of the car write that on his windshield? The usual writings on a windshield are names, sunsigns, rock band names and messages like - Done mess with me, you are following the leader, etc.... What does Contact Established mean? ??

Is this guy trying to get in touch with aliens and has established contact?
Beats me... but yes the sign works for me.. Contact has been established... but with whom, i wonder!!!!

Random Dreams!

2008-08-25T02:51:00.001-07:00

Dreams come in many weird forms. I always wondered if we could see a movie in our dreams. It would be so cool. Imagine this! You catalog your most favorite movies in your brain and when you are in slumber you can replay it, fast forward it to your favorite section. If you wished you could also replace the actors with yourself or people you know! But the motives of dreams appear to be something else. Some people say it is a warning of some events that are about to come. Some say it represents your present state of mind.

My mother says if she sees a dream of something happening, it never happens. Once, she had seen me passing in Marathi in my fifth grade and I flunked. She saw me getting through an interview for a fantastic job, and I did not get it. So she is now scared of seeing me getting married in her dreams, because if she does, it probably will never happen. I am sure she wouldn’t tell me that even if she saw that dream and I sincerely wish she did. ;-)

Yesterday’s dream was such:

My dad and mom are boarding a plane. They are going to some place in Europe (I think that because of the architecture) My mom doesn’t have a passport. I ask her how she managed to get in the plane. She shows Dad’s passport and points out to a particular leaf in the passport. It has a ‘BPLWAP + 1’ written on it and a round stamp of an issuing authority.

The next was somewhere in Europe. There are a lot of oldies moving along with me, and one frustrated old man tells me – ‘This is the problem with Madhavan. Even if we are abroad, he will only take us to temples!!’

I then go into a house. There is a girl there. She is angry, I don’t know for what. She goes out of the door and then from the lawn throws a stone on the window. The fire alarm starts, and suddenly the house is in flames. I lie down on the bed and then there are people who are shouting. I move to the door, the flames surrounding me. The flames don’t hurt me. I open the door and walk out. The fire brigade douses the fire. I go in back into the house. There is not much damage because of the fire, just some scratches. I remember its time to leave. I take the name of a country (don’t remember which) I take a train to the airport. I disembark. I check in. They take my baggage. But I don’t remember any baggage that I had with me. But then, now there is. I get into the flight…

That’s the last memory of that dream. I wish if someone could interpret it for me!!

Deciphering Life - I

2008-08-06T01:35:00.000-07:00

Are we happy when the world around us changes to our liking, or does our world change because we changed the way we think about the world around us, bringing happiness?

I always was seeking happiness. There were reasons why I was seeking it. I wanted to be free, free from worries, from financial instability, from emotional instability… I wanted to be accepted by the world as a person who has achieved something, which others could not. When I look back, at the past few years, it was never the same. Three years ago, I was happy with what I did, never cared for what people thought of me, and did not care where life was taking me. But I was not happy then. My heart was in an emotional turmoil, and the constant longing which made my heart wrench in pain. I did not know why life was so unfair. Probably I was ignorant about the ways of life. Ignorance brings pain, and pain makes us seek for wisdom, and probably the mission of living through life is about gaining wisdom through experiences.

When I am alone and try to decipher this entire concept of life, it becomes very intriguing. With around 6 billion people spread across the planet, each one of them is striving to live and love. To survive and to be accepted. Probably these are the two simple things that everyone in their basic DNA would define as their definition to live. But as they are put in the complex world of societal hierarchy, things get complicated and the meaning of life changes for each one and the concept of life takes up myriad forms.

The soul is the essence of every human being. Body - the matter. Matter can change forms but the soul always remains the same. Thus in a weird way, the body becomes the medium that connects the world within, i.e. the soul, with the world outside. The body is the medium, which educates the soul, though the experiences of life. The body teaches the soul and makes it wise, first by being a son or daughter, then a husband or wife, later a father or mother.

With the realms of this concept, Life can be divided into three parts. Childhood, Youth and Parenthood. Youth probably is the link between childhood and parenthood. Childhood gives you an experience of parenthood, by being loved. It gives you certain definitive points that define your existence in this society. Youth brings in the brief transformation, which makes you experience everything about love before you enter into the next phase of life of parenthood where you give unconditional love. The cycle thus gets completed. What you receive, you have to give it back. The world is in balance. The inner world with the external world.

Concept of life becomes even more interesting when you look at how symbolism and metaphors in ancient literature bridges science with mythology. Shiv and Shakti are two manifestations of one being. One idea. Male and Female. The male defines the soul because it has the capability of giving life outside itself while the feminine defines the ‘matter’ because it has the ability to give life within itself. This concept can completely break the hierarchical society rules, which have been prophesizing superiority of the male over the female. In actuality, no one can be termed superior. For, the existence of one is needed to validate the other.

Life within these confines of simplicity looks so beautiful, but the moment it is thrown into the present, with a lot of prerequisite rules that define the society, life becomes complicated. No other living being other than humans think before they act. They act when they feel like. They hunt and kill when they are hungry. They sleep when they are sleepy, they make love when they feel the urge to, and die when it is time. They do not play with nature and modify things around them to delay death. They accept what life offers them. They live in the present. But we humans plan for the future and dwell in the past.

We do everything possible under the sun to live according to our convenience, force ourselves against nature, to fulfill our desires. The desire to live, to control, to manipulate. In our desire to modify what should have been to what should be.

Probably that is what the difference is between humans and other living beings – Desire.

Desire might be the reason for everything. And nothing.

Is it?

2008-07-23T02:53:00.000-07:00

Is it that I am happy.
And the world is jealous of me?

Is it that i am angry
And the world is laughing at me?

Is it that I am sad,
And the world is happy for me?

Is it that i am mad,
And the world pretends that i am not?

Is it that I am hungry,
And the world wants to devour me?

Is it???

A journey into heaven - prelude

2008-06-28T00:49:00.000-07:00

Kashmir has been epitomized as heaven by many poets, artists, tourists, writers and politicians. Probably it is the quest for owning heaven that makes it like hell. For India as well as Pakistan.

It is so easy for us, who live in the safe confines of home to say that Kashmir is a part of India. It is easy for Pakistan to say that Kashmir should belong to them. But is the quest for land and ego bigger than the quest for peace, harmony and happiness?

This is the essence of the experimental film that i plan to undertake. But with the current scenario, i am in doubt if we would be able to make it to heaven. Currently, Srinagar is engulfed in flames and tear gas, with the Amarnath board being alloted forest land. With elections coming soon, this has spiraled into a very controversial issue. With access to Srinagar being cut off through the highway, my experimental film remains in the dark.

I have another day for the decision. I so badly want to do this. But it also depends on the group i am traveling with. They are the soul of the film. Their perceptions, inquisitiveness and questions and the interactions, is what will make this film true to itself.

Hope the situation calms down in the next 24 hours. Till then pray pray pray...

All laughing matter is not funny

2008-05-30T09:22:00.001-07:00

2008-05-22T23:27:00.000-07:00

Why do things pile up all of a sudden and then you get suffocated and find it difficult to breathe? Listing down certain events that happened in a single day, all of them kind of bought this huge pressure on my head with so much force that it really hit badly and kind of altered my thinking. A rough day is a bad, and a rough night is worse.

All i am saying to myself right now is -
This too shall pass

If I unknowingly hurt someone, acted nasty, i am at fault. Please forgive me. I am human. Mistakes happen.

Missing the tiger!

2008-05-19T09:44:00.000-07:00

Its just 4 hours and I have begun to miss him already! Four years back a little yellow tiger came into my life. He growled, he pounced, he ran like he saw a prey every time he was on the road. He never looked back. He scratched himself, he bumped himself, hurt himself as he made his way through the crowded roads. He scowled at others who blocked his path.

He and I travelled many miles together, went to different parts of the country. We slept in the open fields on a dark moonless night when Tiger hurt his eye. We swung to the wind as we sipped wine at a vineyard. We looked into the horizon from the mountain top in lonavala. Together we gathered many memories. And today, the tiger has gone away, with another master. My tiger is mine, no more...

The News/ The Newsance(to be read as nuisance)

2008-05-18T01:35:00.000-07:00

There was a time when everyone used to wait for the 8.30 News on Doordarshan. When Rini Khanna, and Usha Alberqueque used to be a household name, or the weekly wait for The World this week by Pronnoy Roy about the goings on in the world on every Friday. The news used to encapsulate the key moments across the world, news that moved the world, news that changed the course of the world, news that actually meant something, news that was of use.

Yesterday as i surfed through different channels, almost every news channel (except the international ones like CNN, BBC) had one thing in common. They reported about Amir Khans blog of naming his dog SRK, about Amitabh asking for forgiveness to Sharukh. Moreover, Zee Network was showcasing different snippets of Zee Cine Awards, and the worst of it was showing the Room where SRK stayed in London where the functions were held. Well, SRK is everywhere, and there can be another dedicated post on that.

But looking at the shallowness of the news channels, i wonder where the media in our country are heading. Tabloids were earlier a British thing. They would find out the meatiest scandals and relish on it and suck the scandalous victim off their dignity and honor. A very recent news that had flashed on Mumbai Mirror was that of Malaika Arora Khan getting a divorce from Arbaaz Khan. Who is Malaika Arora Khan? A plastic bimbette who hides her protruding teeth by showing a pout on her lips? Who is Arbaz Khan? The many times flopped brother of Salman Khan??? Why was it on the front page? What have they done to the country that they got so much importance? - a reader wrote. Pat came the reply from the editor - 'They are public figures and many of our readers are interested in knowing about them, that is the reason why they were featured.' The next day edition captured a news of Malaika and Arbaz using it as a gimmick as a publicity for one of their products and the newspaper cried foul on how they mislead the media! Isn't it obvious? With media eating out of the hands of the so-called celebrities, isn't it fair, that the media can be used as well?

This brings us to a never ending debate on the role of the media. The media is everywhere, they are carriers of knowledge, information and bridge us to the remaining part of the world. But the media is currently being used in a manner it should have never been. Media can be used to channelize progress, growth by showing relevant information, but unfortunately, it has gone beserk, plunging into its lowest standards where news can be bought and sold, where celebrities can be made and broke, where a star can be created and destroyed.

A journalist friend of mine had told me about an incident which made me realize that there were agencies who could make you a celebrity in a period of one year. They will plan the entire strategy for you and in a year, you would have reached Page 3. Once in page 3, a little bit of lobbying and then you come to Page 1. Just what the flop actor and the dumb bimbette did.

When will we say enough is enough? When will this stupidity stop? What can bring about a change in the media? When would constructive news get more importance over the commode Shah Rukh sat on in the plush hotel in London, before the Zee Cine awards? When would we know that there has been a fantastic development in curing of cancer using the Kanzius Machine ? When...

Well for the privileged, internet can save the day. For the not so privileged, living in a remote corner of India, they will have to live with the knowledge that Shahrukh Khan is bigger than the President and Prime Minister of India. Shahrukh would never approve of that, but the media would and they would love to believe that!

An open letter to Raj Thackeray

2008-05-04T11:35:00.000-07:00

Dear Raj,
I feel greatly honoured to be living in 'your' city. I was born here and bought up here. I lived here and made friends with many who were born in this city. Little did i know, this was not my city. Little did I know, we were intruders. When you put your crusade against migrants, I was unsure of your identity. A carnage later and shutting down of industries in the Industrial belt of Nashik, you became a known political figure. Firstly, i would like to know if you are a descendant of the Thackeray family, of William Makepeace Thackeray! Well, a true maharashtrian name that sounds similar to your surname is that of Thakre. Thackeray is an English name, so I am unable to understand if you are British or Maharashtrian. I believe charity begins at home, and it would be nice if you could find, and then correct your roots before you talk about others.

I totally agree to you that people have to get jobs, sons of the soil have great strength within them to do the job. But who is stopping them from getting a job. I have lived in this city and have known that anyone willing to work hard does not ever go to sleep, hungry in this city. Everyone has a job. People who do not want a job, do not work. I have worked with many sons of the soil. They are great hospitable people. They do not need a Raj Thackeray to get them a job. They get it on their own merit. They get it because of their own hard work and determination. They are self made people, not made by someone else. You point fingers at Ambanis and Bachchans, and ask what they have done for this city. Well, what have you done? What has your party done? If anyone were to count of what you have done to the city, it would amount to losses of many crores, in terms of losses due to violent and insensitive carnage and huge production losses.

Your followers have shown great sensitivity and emotion to support your cause. They can kill, burn, destroy if their emotions are played with. We need people who build the country. What will we do with people who can destroy anything on their path? Threatening is easy, taking the responsibility on oneself is not easy. You threaten the police to arrest you, because you know the city's judiciary and security would like peace and any arrest warrant can mean destruction and production losses. It is indeed a very smart way of showing power, but is it? This is not power but a display of ego. A true leader is a person who shows the way to the people, not threaten them.

You are rich and have a flourishing real estate business. I am sure you have enough to start businesses that will prosper. At least start one industry and employ 'your' people and ensure that it is certified by ISO for best practices and brings in great financial results. You don't need any political clout to do that. Many of the millionaires including Kirloskar have done that. Just one Industry. Try it. I am very sure you can show the world that you are a man of your word. And when you do, we will then know that a 'son of the soil' is born, and we, the people all over the country would point at you and say - There stands the true son of the soil, a man who stood by his word and proved that it just needs one man to change the world!

Yours truly,
A stone in the soil

I am a proud friend of a proud couple who adopted a baby girl!

2008-04-29T09:57:00.000-07:00

Birth is a phenomenon when a child is born into the world. Jenny was born twice. Once when she came into this world. When her tiny little hand reached out to touch the soul that had nurtured her for so many months, she found nothing but a sense of loneliness and despair. A couple of days back, she was born again, when a couple brought her into their world. And I am proud to be their friend.

Yes, I am ecstatic! I am happy! I feel elated! I feel that love is all around and I feel so proud, proud of being a friend of a couple who adopted a two year old girl into their life, even though they could have given birth to a new one. Why am I ecstatic? Because in a country with more than 1 billion people, with around 28.5 million orphans between the age of 0 - 12; In a country where a girl child is aborted if her identity is found before birth, this act by a friend has made me proud.

Adopting a child is by no means an easy task. It needs more than courage to adopt a child. I cannot comment on fatherhood or parenting as I have no experience in being one. Would have loved to write so much about it, but just cant get those words to pen down... the grammar seems completely out of place, the nouns, adjectives... everything! but one thing that is completely in place is my feelings for this family. Love you guys. You guys simply are the best in the world!!!

Are you a sports fanatic? What do you want?

2008-04-18T21:51:00.000-07:00

What do you get when you mix cricket with bollywood. Your answer might be IPL, but i beg to differ. It is the latest 'tamasha' in town. I love cricket and i love bollywood, i love T20's. I love the adrenaile rush... but a tamasha? The BCCI is probably, now, the richest organisation in India. It is a monopoly. And monopoly is a dangerous proposition.

A free country is a place where free will and free competition exists. A while ago ICL was launched, which was not supported by the BCCI. They now are seen as the poorer cousins of the IPL. Necessarily so. BCCI has the muscle power to wring anyones arm that comes in the way. I am not against sportsmen making money. I think it is time that they get their due credit. But cant we tone it down a little bit? When do you think something is too much? Why should a Dhanraj Pillai not make a few crores than Ishant Sharma. Dhanraj has by far made Indian hockey proud for a long time.

If they say people are not interested in sports, other than cricket, i would differ. The media has the power that could make any game popular. The rise and fall of a star, be it cricket or bollywood is at the hands of the media. The media now controls the mindset of the people. We need to break free from these shackles that narrow our vision. We need to understand, media is not about getting news to the people... media is about selling news to the people. and for that they will sell... anything

I wish that the BCCI is taken under the arm of a superior authority which promotes sportsmen and sportswomen in the country as a whole and does not just restrict itself into cricket. A body that identifies young talent and nurtures them to become the best. A body that distributes wealth equally between different sports organisations to make ourselves a country that brings us beyond one bronze or one silver in the olympics. I would like to see my country there, high up in the charts on the olympics medal tally.

I am not a sports fanatic, but if someone is crazier than me about sports, i am sure, they too want the same thing i want. But the officials sitting in the BCCI and other sports organisations... What do they want?

The Bucket List

2008-03-22T01:24:00.000-07:00

There are films that entertain you, there are films that absorbs you, there are films that inspires you. The Bucket List a film that teaches you, from experience of life.

When you are 60, you have seen most of the spectrum that encompasses life. And when two old men, in their sixties, are lying on their death bed and make a wish list they want to do before they die, the journey they take would be the most special journey of their lives. Jack Nicholson/ Edward Cole, is a billionaire admitted into his own hospital for cancer. According to his own policies in his hospital, he has to share the room with Morgan Freeman/ Carter. Carter is a family man, wedded to a wife throughout his life with children and grandchildren. Cole, has married four times, has a child but are not in talking terms with her. The journey redifens the meaning of richness. One of the most beautiful moments that unravel in the film is when Cole kisses the most beautiful girl in the world.

The film is a must watch. The theatres are empty, and it may fly out of it too soon... The story touches you from the heart and tries to tell you some little things about growing old, before you reach there, and to learn the meaning of being rich, being alive and living a momentous life.

Happy Easter

2008-03-20T08:30:00.000-07:00

concept: pyare mohan | artist: nilesh nevgi

Black & White and all the grey in between!

2008-03-17T11:16:00.001-07:00

Anurag Sinha - White (Spotless)

Anil Kapoor - 10% Grey

Shefali Shah - 15% Grey

Old man - 95% White

Everybody else - Jet black 500%

Story & Concept - White

Direction - Dialogues - Black

Screenplay - Was there any?

Editing - eyesore

Reviews - Highly misleading

2008-02-26T04:22:00.000-08:00

What happens when life turns a full circle? When you think that everything is lost, your hard work, your dedication is taken for granted? When some one makes the best out of you and gives you a raw deal? Every time i tried to help somebody, i have been ridiculed in the end. People forget of what was before than what is today. They leave you high and dry, throwing you like a used tissue. But then, what happens?

I kept thinking of it for a long time. I had sleepless nights and drowsy days. when i thought life was never going anywhere. Whenever i took a step towards something, some thing else would pull me back. I could not move further or away from it. But then one day, out of the blue, something happens and when you look back at life, you realize, every single thing that had happened in the past was meant to happen. You are not left high and dry. Someone, in fact, was watching. I hope he is. If things go well in the next few days, i would know for sure, that we have angels around us. Even if it does not, there is someone taking care of us.. all we have to do is believe that some day every thing will come back...

I have learnt…

2008-02-20T21:14:00.000-08:00

...that life is little, but we make it seem like a lot because of our ignorance.
...that it is not about being secure, but not feeling insecure, that is important.
...that we cannot seek happiness, but only choose to be happy.
...that love is an illusion that lasts forever.
...that sorrow is the result of our own inaction.
...that we mistake to find happiness in relationships, while it is spread all around us in different forms.
...that we die, but our thought doesn’t.
...that we own only that much land where we stand on.

...That we need to love life, and happiness will follow

2008-02-14T05:03:00.000-08:00

Permanence

2008-02-12T02:37:00.000-08:00

Push the limits

2008-02-11T23:41:00.000-08:00

Rise to the Occasion

2008-02-05T21:42:00.000-08:00

2008-01-29T01:19:00.000-08:00

2008-01-27T05:20:00.000-08:00

Doodle Series - Butterfly = love

2008-01-25T00:16:00.000-08:00

Doodle Series - Taare Zameen Par

2008-01-24T08:39:00.000-08:00

Doodle Series - Death

2008-01-24T08:23:00.001-08:00

The Oscar goes to....

2008-01-21T22:29:00.001-08:00

I m just in love with these kids, thanks to mooptroop.com! They can give our stars a run for their money!!!!

A New Year with 'A New Life'

2007-12-31T23:08:00.000-08:00

How many of us can begin a New year with A New Life? Literally...
I did. I was reading the book 'A New Life' by Orhan Pamuck. :-)

This new year was a bit special. Firstly, no party. no friends, no family. Sounds bad? Not really... I was on my way back home from my home town chugging through the beautiful landscapes when the clock struck 12 surrounded by total strangers. After a long time, I was traveling by train from my home town and I think I will do that for the rest of my life, instead of the usual aerial route. It costs less, it takes me very close to my house and the best of all, the beautiful topography that greets you has an astounding effect on your stressed out mind.

I could say, I saw the last sunset of 2007 and the first sunrise of 2008. The sunset was spectacular. As the train passed through Murudeshwar, the sun was setting with the statue of Shiva, 100 feet tall, on the side bidding farewell to the Sun of 2007.

The sunrise was equally beautiful with the Sun emerging from the horizon breaking the chillness of the fog with its warm sun beams kissing the swamps on the East...

Here is wishing everybody a very Happy New Year!

Arranged marriage – Meeting no. 3

2007-12-17T05:04:00.000-08:00

Its kind of getting boring. Probably, every time I meet someone, I feel, it is better to be alone than be with someone. No comments on this meeting. Probably, people are unique in their own way, and there is a reason why they are getting married. I don’t have a reason and that’s why I find no one. I kept my eyes focused on the ice-cream I was eating. It was a discussion about philosophy. And here is what I learnt from myself about philosophy.

‘Philosophy is bullshit unless put into practice’

She was a producer of shows for a leading channel. So when my dad asked me to speak to her, I expected someone with a commanding voice. Someone who gets things done. But on the contrary, I heard a voice that was sweet as a cuckoo. So we started talking for a bit. The talk went well and we decided to meet at Infinity mall. I was to take an off for the day as mom was not well, but a call from the office and I was back with Tiger on my way back. That is when an sms came from Farrukh. Its Leah’s birthday, so do make some fuss. Leah is a co-worker who had come down from Canada to our studio for a project. So, I met Leah and wished her. She said ‘I usually don’t work on my birthday, but you guys are special, so I am working.’ I asked her what her plans were. She said she will cook and probably go out for a drink somewhere. Another fone call and I came to know Akshat and Nancy were in town and they wanted to go clubbing. Everything kind of fitted into each other perfectly. So the plan was done. After my meeting with the girl, I would pick Leah and meet Akshat and Nancy and go clubbing. So after the meeting, I drove back to Leah’s place, picked her up and left for Bandra, where they were put up. A small little walk later, we headed for Zenzi. Zenzi was packed and we had a waiting for 30 minutes, so we pushed off to Poison.

Well, what happened later was a revelation for myself. I was partying after two years!! I had forgotten what joy was, that life was much more than work, that partying with friends and having a good time is just about taking time out and spending it with close ones. I hope I remember this and keep enjoying myself without forgetting it in the midst of work.

Philosophy of the day -
Its so great having a child, the feeling of having a life growing inside you. It is the best feeling that anyone can ever have!

Have you heard of tapeworms????

YYYUUCKKK!!!

The philosophy of a Pune Biker

2007-12-06T22:20:00.000-08:00

I had gone to Pune for a meeting. Drove down the expressway and then entered into the city. One of the peculiarities of Pune is the fact that people are completely laid back while driving. Already late because of the Mumbai Traffic, i was completely out of ideas when the bike in front of me refused to accelerate, give a side even though the rest of the traffic was moving at 50 kmph. I checked my speedometer. It was 30 kmph. I kept honking, but he was least bothered to move. So when i got a little gap on the right, i overtook and decided to talk to the guy about some driving ethics.

Me: Boss, itna slow chala rahe ho, bike hai, side toh de sakte hai na, doosron ko kyu thakleef de rahe ho?
Biker: Agar four wheeler hotha toh?

Arranged marriage – Meeting no. 2

2007-12-04T05:37:00.000-08:00

After the first debacle, I was a little hesitant to meet again. The blind date was kind of a nervous thing, but parents were insistent as ever. I had to call her in the morning and fix on a time. Again didnt manage to see her snap before i met her, but i think it is nice not to see someone before you meet them. The kind of prejudice you might have about looks can totally overpower a beautiful personality that lay within. So, after three consistent call from my mother in the space of 30 minutes, i called her...

SP (Banker):

Me: Hello... is this SP?
SP: Yes, who is this?
Me: P. My dad asked me to call you and see when we can meet!
SP: Well P, the thing is, isnt it better if we could talk and see if we could bear each other for 15 min on the phone, we could meet up personally?
Me: (thinking) Hmm... sounds intelligent (talking) sure... tell me what do you do..

Well, the first conversation lasted around 30 min. We kind a hit it off. So we decided to speak in the evening when both were relatively free. The conversation in the evening wento off for another hour and we decided to meet at CCD. I told her about the incident so we thought it might be better to avoid it and go to Barista instead, but we went to CCD at Carter Road.

Finally on Sunday we met, and spoke. Spoke for more than 5 hours. I knew i had a new friend. When we parted, we knew folks at home will be waiting for an answer. We had hit it off well, but were still uncertain. So we decided to be friends, and give our friendship time.

At home -
Mom: (Wide eyed) What happened?
Me: I made a friend!
Dad: What?
Me: I made a friend!
Dad: You think we are trying to increase your friend circle for you?
Mom: So do you guys like each other?
Me: I mean i like her as a friend and i am not sure if she is the one i want to marry!
Mom: What should we do? What should we tell her parents?
Me: I dont know!
Dad: I dont know why we are even looking for a girl for you. Did you know, we have checked 107 horoscopes by now and she is one of the few that has matched so well...
Me: OK, wait for their call...

I called her up after the conversation. Came to know it is the same reaction on her side too.

Now, I am sure, i am figuring out a way about marriages. Dont know how it works. There have been many divorces happening around and that adds a little apprehension. I believe, one can live without love, but one will die without friendship!

Arranged marriage – The first meeting

2007-11-28T03:56:00.000-08:00

After a lot of coercion from my parents, I finally, reluctantly, decided to meet a girl. This meeting has opened me into a new world. What happened was weird but … (lets not reveal the suspense) But it made me realize that arranged marriages are indeed fun, specially before finding ‘the ONE’. I felt it would make an interesting collection of memories, something that one could introspect later and laugh about it. I wouldn’t know how the following meetings would go ahead, whether it would be as interesting as the first one, but what the heck, let me begin.

Meeting 1 – S. M. (working as something in some shipping company)
The meeting was pre-decided by the parents. They had already matched the horoscopes. It showed 8/10 on the mark scale. That was great news because I never ever had got anything above 5/10 in my education life. So I felt proud of the marks.

We were to meet at Café Coffee Day. It seems a lot brews over coffee, so it seemed like the ideal place to meet. So the venue was decided to be in CCD at Hiranandani. I reached a bit early as there was not much traffic as much as I had expected. So I ordered for a Latte.

A girl walked in, and she looked around. She saw me and then walked towards me. OK. I told myself, you need to make this conversation simple. She came to the table and asked me – So you are P? The voice had a bit of arrogance. It seemed like she hated me before she met me. Had my reputation preceded me even before I met her?

Are you P? she asked resting her palm on the table and her other fist on the waist, her waist.

My parent’s fault, I said, I couldn’t get to decide my name, so I am stuck with P. I hope you don’t have a problem with that.

No… she replied looking away, sitting down.

What would you like to have?

Coffee, she replied looking away towards the road. The road was dark, so I couldn’t understand what was making her so distracted.

Well, obviously, coffee, its cafe coffee day right! But which coffee? You don’t expect them to serve pani puri! I tried to lighten her up and put her at it ease.

She gave me back a stern look, correction, a piercing look. She murdered me with her eyes. Café Latte, she said.

Café Latte it is, I told the waiter, who smiled as if he knew we were boyfriend girlfriend who had had a fight and I was the guy who was trying to make up with her. How romantic!

So… she stared at me… Ask me your typical question!
Folding her hands as if i was an interviewer and she, the interviewee!

‘Show me your teeth?’ I wanted to ask her. I honestly wished she had less effort in smiling! But I did not.

Why don’t you walk? I told her. Walk! I thought to myself. I wanted to say, why don’t you talk! But that were the words that came out! Why don’t you walk!! And before I could correct her, she got up!

I was shocked, and she started walking. I was amused.

She walked and walked and walked and walked and walked and sat in a rickshaw and I never saw her again!

The waiter came with the Latte. I smiled, had another mug of Latte, and left!

When did you feel at peace?

2007-11-26T07:28:00.000-08:00

When did you feel peace, the last time?
Is there a place when you can feel at peace? Or can you feel at peace wherever you are?
Peace is a state of mind, i know that, but what is it that inspires you to be at peace?
I discovered it when i went to Banganga tank for our project. A place in Walkeshwar surrounded by around a 100 temples.

With a camera in hand, there was no choice but to keep clicking away. It is a silent world cocooned in a noisy world. sounds of vehicles just filter away as you reach the centre of this place. That is where i felt at peace this saturday... Some of the pics embody the feeling of how i felt...

A Perfect Life

2007-11-18T03:25:00.000-08:00

Can life ever be perfect? A perfect question that has a perfect answer – No! or probably the answer is – Yes! Your life is in fact perfect, just the way it is, at this point of time, this moment. The only thing is we do not understand it that way!

There was a little girl, vivacious, pretty, beautiful, a ‘little’ dumb yet intelligent girl who lived in a place lively as herself. She wanted to live life in her own terms, but she was getting old and the parents – older. Her parents loved her very much and was concerned that she found a man who would take care of her. She wanted to find the perfect someone, the one she could spend her life with, share it with him, and enjoy the little joys of being together, waking up on the same side of the bed… very small, little things.

Her parents were concerned. The astrologers had predicted that she should be married before October or she may never get married at all. They loved their child and they could not see her future without a companion. Then one day, she was given an ultimatum, life came to a standstill for her and there was a showdown. She loved her parents immensely, so reluctantly she said yes to the proposal that had come in. The boy was from the gulf, working in a renowned international company at a managerial post. The parents were elated, relatives delighted, sensing the wonderful food they could have at the reception.

Both of them got married. The parents were relieved, the relatives burped and the couple began living their life of togetherness.

A week after she left to the Gulf with her husband, she came back. She felt cheated, she felt ‘f***ed’ up. Her marriage is on the brim of destruction. She is anticipating divorce! The parents are shocked. They said to her – ‘You should try to adjust.’ Her relatives had a hot topic for discussion over tea and coffee. ‘The boy is so handsome and well accomplished. It must be her fault!’

The relationship hangs on a thin thread now. Its like a cricket-match where 50 runs are needed in the last over. The result is known and the next six balls are just a formality unless some miracle happens…But there are no winners in this match.

The guy is gay!

Coming to my earlier question - ‘Can life be perfect?’
Difficult question, and as I consoled her, this was my take on it, my absolute gibberish take.

You wanted to live your life on your own terms. This experience has made you wiser. Parents will always be concerned, that is their job. Relatives will always be entertained, that’s what they are for. But you have to live in this world for yourself. Now you can. You treaded the path you parents wanted you to take. It failed miserably. Now there are no reasons you cant live life on your own terms. Life has given you that chance. Isnt life just perfect?

I guess it is. But it is painful. I admit it. But Life is perfect. In the larger scheme of things, everything fits perfectly somewhere else. Probably the guy might also have been coerced into marriage. He must have broken someones heart before getting married. Damages have been done, people have been hurt. But wounds heal. Time is the best healer. The perfection of life is probably in its imperfection. So gift yourself to life.

Feel the wind from the sea, spread your arms and embrace it. Walk barefoot in the sand. Draw your dreams with your toes in the sand. Love yourself. That’s the companion you have to share your life till the end of time. No matter what!

Love you Pinky. Love your smile. Show it to the world… Charm them, charm yourself…

My dream house

2007-11-13T01:28:00.000-08:00

A little away from lonavala, i stumbled on this place... a place where i would like to build my dream house!!

Its all coming back to me now...

2007-11-12T04:12:00.000-08:00

It has been 8 years when i sketched the last. The last i did it was in my final year design paper and i have never sketched ever since. The mouse took away the experiene of the pencil and my sketching floated into the horizon. So when i decided to go to Lonavala along with Kunal and Sasha (a Lab dog), i stole a pen tablet from the office and took it there. We drove around, went to Amby Valley, also stopped for a long time at a place, i dont remember the name, but it was beautiful. The sketches were done later in the hotel room which captured the essence of what i saw, the landscape, people, couples in love, lonely people, all kinds of people.. I had planned to write, but then, words wouldnt come out as i wanted. So instead i opened Photoshop and tried out quick sketching... Quick sketching, essentially is to capture the essence of the scene in front of you in less than 5 min. I was struggling initially, but it is getting better... i hope it gets better! It was a loong long time, but what came out was some things like this...

Sasha, waiting for Kunal, looking at the door to open

A scene from a film on a TV channel

A couple having a silent conversation at the restaurant in the resort

On the way to Amby Valley (The temple on the rock is my addition)

Another couple

Jab we met

2007-11-03T01:56:00.000-07:00

My fav - Jerry Lewis

2007-10-29T07:35:00.001-07:00

He taught me to smile, even at the toughest moment... Jerry Lewis, wherever you are... you are my hero! Thank you so much!

A wonderful film...

2007-10-27T05:55:00.001-07:00

2007-10-23T05:16:00.000-07:00

Me: I am feeling low. So low, i would have been in the basement. My heart was clinging on to the skin and piercing my thoughts. I should be enthusiastic. I have started working on my dream project. There is a vacuum in my heart. I remember the sadness that had enveloped me on the day when i was supposed to be happiest. Why is it that way?

Conscience: Dont seek happiness just be happy!

Me: How? What difference has it made to anybody? what dfference will it make for anybody?

C: There is somebody who you will make a difference to..

Me: Who?

C: You will know?

Me: When?

C: You will know.. beep beep beep

2007-10-12T09:08:00.000-07:00

What is it that drives someone to change the world?
What is it that reason why someones world has changed?
What if the world is waiting for that someone?
What if that someone is someone’s world?
What if that someone never comes?

I just love this video!!!

2007-10-05T07:51:00.001-07:00

Is the way the world functions really fair?

2007-10-02T02:59:00.000-07:00

Over a year, a thought has been banging inside my head. The last time I wanted to buy a home for myself and my loan was rejected. The reason, my profile was 'too risky'. When i asked for an explanation, the banker said i needed to put collatrel to back up my loan. What type of collatrel was my next question. Pat came the answer 'Like a piece of land'. Then why the fuck would i need the money to buy a loan you moron, was my reply. That sealed my chance of getting the loan from the bank. And i really dont regret the fact that i said that. This is the theory that goes behind banking in India and probably the entire world.

The bank offers loans and earns on the interests. They are so scared that the money wont come back and hence demand a 'collatrel'. Now, this brings us to a point where-in the people who have a collatrel can take a loan and with those who do not have it can't. So, the bank, by choice eliminates the poor from its customers.

Once, i needed money to start my business. There was some money i had saved from the last job that could pay off the rent and bills for 6 months. I needed a business loan to mobilize and expand. I went to the bank. The question was 'Do I own the premises?' I said 'No'. You need to put up a collatrel for the loan. I had frowned in disgust. The message they passed was - Our bank only allows the rich to do business.

I bumped into a long lost school friend one day, and came to know he was a banker. So, over a cup of tea we began discussing about banks. He was talking about recovery of the loans from banks. From him I came to know that the recovery percentage was an issue with the bank. There were defaulters profound. And many of the rich dont repay it and know how to wrestle the legal system to escape payment.

Which means, If i am rich, i can get a loan, i dont payback the loan and i can get away with it. Which again means, the bank needs to recover the money and they hike the interest rates, whch actually means, the people who need the money it becomes a costly affair and further deepns the gap between the rich and the poor. The poor get poorer and the rich gets richer.

By this time, i started believing that everything done in this world is to please the rich. Technology, for instance, the immediate improvement it makes is to ease out the problems of the rich. The technological advances are redundant in third world countries, where the battle is still on for food clothing and shelter. The day technolgy will be meant for everyone is the day when a young boy in the remote village of Assam, can attend a lecture in IIT through the internet. That is when we know that technology has been put to good use. But in a Capitalist driven society, why would anyone do that? Where will the profits be?

I also think the rich love the existence of poverty. If not in their immediate neighbourhood, it might be the neighboring country. It allows philanthropy. But isnt philanthropy another tool to feed the ego?

Based on some of the radical ideas, i did go with a business plan to some investors for an idea to help in improving agriculture and slowly over a period of time to build agri into a very lucrative culture. The questions i got were pretty vague. We are not sure if it will work! was the answer. Well, we have to try and unless we try how will it work? I am pretty sure, if i was rich and if the business proposal i had made was of an IT company, I would have been sitting in a swanky office at Nariman Point and partying on Saturday Night.

Twenty20 - A marketing Bonanza

2007-09-27T21:56:00.000-07:00

India is a crazy nation. The craziness makes us tick. Imagine this - India out of the world cup - viewership goes down - cricketers home are pelted - twenty20 announced - india wins world cup - crores showered on the cricketers.

Thus goes the ups and downs of India's cricketing world. I love Twenty20. It gets over in three- four hours, the game is fast paced. It ensures a nail-biting finish. Amazing alderaine rush. Every minute worth it.

Twenty20 is a fantastic marketing concept. It has bought a new leash of life into the world of cricket. Whoever thought of it is a marketing genius. So i thought of a concept that can beat this and make even more revenue and we can ensure India wins and make money in the bargain.

The match will be a five day match. The cricketers shall play on the ground. Whenever a batsman is batting, send an SMS. After the first innings, the scores earned by each batsman is counted + sms votes which are equated to the runs which make the final total. The match continues and the next team batting the same rules follow. Finally it is not just the scores that will matter, but also supporters.

And we, being die-hard fans of Indian cricket and idiots who dont mind sms'ng in the name of patriotism for cricket, will make India the world cup favorites over Australia!

Game anyone!!!

Finally back to work!

2007-09-10T03:01:00.000-07:00

After a gruelling week, i am back to work!
So boring, sitting at home, watching the ceiling, meeting the doc's... the smell of the spirits in the hospital are so sickening. Nyways, its over and that is what counts.
And guess what, I finished three books in the last week and saw 6 movies back to back yesterday. Which ones? Here goes:
Cars (Animation), The Condemned (Action Thriller), Incredibles (Animation), Stranger than Fiction (Romantic Comedy), Pulp Fiction (Drama) and Good Will Hunting (Redemptive) Phew!!! I loved good Will Hunting. Matt Damon and Robin Williams are so good in the film. At a point when Matt is about to cry and Robin says 'Its not your fault', i think the scene was so moving i almost cried before i realised my sister was staring at my expressions...

But now its good to be back at work... So let the magic begin... again....

2007-09-05T06:45:00.000-07:00

What hppens when you are back from the dead? Let me tell you how it feels. It is like you thank your heavens what a wonderful life it is. At the crossroads of death, you dont think about your telephone bills, fuel costs, global warming, unrecquitted love, uncertain future, all you think is 'I want to live'. Surprising, for when i was living, i always used to think, when will my misery end, and when the end came near, you were ready to face anything. Put out your hands on to anything to come out of the dark hole you are in. Now, I really appreciate life. Thanks... no tension of loans, no fussiness over credit card telemarketing guys, big sharks out to swollow you... nothin... this is life... enjoy to the fullest, for a few days back i saw what could have been and realised, what i can make of today and tomorrow is much better than 'The End'.

A birthday story for S

2007-08-27T21:06:00.000-07:00

In a little nest on a tree, lived a little sparrow.
The sparrow hopped from branch to branch,
searching for food, to feed herself and her chicks...
Once the little sparrow stepped on a thorn,
She hurt herself, and from that day she limped...
Poor sparrow, everytime she hopped,
she would whimper in pain.
she hopped and hopped and hopped
when she finally came to face an owl.
The owl was old, he was wise.
She said to him about her pain
that she so fully agonized.
The old wise owl said to her.
Why do you need to hop, while all you need is to fly!

a dream....

2007-08-26T12:36:00.001-07:00

As I drove by the river,
The rusty wild was passing by,
The road gave away suddenly,
Falling to a place I have never seen.

I ask the dusky maiden,
How this place could find me.
She said it was destiny.
That bought you back to me.

I saw little kids run to me,
They were wanting to hug me.
I started running away,
But they just kept following me.

An old man smiled seeing me,
A smile that could almost kill me
He said
Don’t run away from happiness,
Or happiness will run away..
??????

60 years of Freedom

2007-08-16T05:03:00.000-07:00

A wonderful forward commemorating 60 years of Independence

Be sure to read all the way to the end!

Tax his land,
Tax his bed,
Tax the table
At which he's fed.

Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes
Are the rule.

Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.

Tax his ties,
Tax his shirt,
Tax his work, Tax his dirt.

Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he
Tries to think.

Tax his cigars,
Tax his beers,
If he cries, then
Tax his tears .

Tax his car,
Tax his gas,
Find other ways
To tax his a**

Tax all he has
Then let him know
That you won't be done
Till he has no dough.

When he screams and hollers,
Then tax him more,
Tax him till
He's good and sore.

Then tax his coffin ,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in
Which he's laid.

Put these words
upon his tomb,
"Taxes drove me to my doom".
When he's gone,
Do not relax,
Its time to apply
The inheritance tax.
LOOK HERE:

Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Excise Taxes
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax (42 cents per gallon)
Gross Receipts Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Personal Property Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service Charge Tax
Social Security Tax
Roa d Usage Tax
Sales Tax
Recreational Vehicle Tax
School Tax
State Inco me Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Ut i lity Taxes
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Water craft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax
(This is just a partial listing!)

STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY?

Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago,
and our nation was the most prosperous in the world.

We had absolutely no national debt,
had the largest middle class in the world,
and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.

What happened?

Can you spell

"politicians!"

REMEMBER THIS:

A GOVERNMENT BIG ENOUGH TO GIVE YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED - -

IS BIG ENOUGH TO TAKE AWAY EVERYTHING YOU HAVE !

I hope this goes around the USA at least 100 times

Our own news channel

2007-07-27T05:09:00.000-07:00

Is ther any news channel that gives a news that is good news, unbiased news, relevant news? I scratch my head. The dry skin on the scalp disintegerates into 1000 pieces marking a snowfall in liceland. I wish Gibberish news was a channel. OK that gives me an idea. Why not make a channel of bloggers. An internet channel, where movies of daily happenings can be shot on a mobile phone and uploaded on the net. A peoples collective all over the world? Daily news from the people. To save people from uploading porn, we can have an editor for the site. I am sure someone can volunteer for that.

We can take small baby steps to creating a news channel contributed by people all over the country. What say? Anybody game? I am going to try anyways. Anyone can join anytime!!!

First dream in the first night at my first home

2007-07-23T21:06:00.000-07:00

It was my first day at my home – alone. After a long long, really long time, I finally got a house on rent close to my office. The home is a small one, a 1 BHK flat. On the first floor. The only thing I don’t like about the home is that adjacent building windows can peep into my home, if they take the effort to do it. Living on the top floor at my parents house gave me a view that extended to Kanjurmarg. The home towered above rest of the houses and was breezy enough. It might take a little time for me to adjust. Get the curtains, the furniture. All I have right now is a rug and a quilt as my bed, a bean bag as my resting chair. A stove for chaa…

The first thing that struck me is that the house had a layer of dust. So I had to sweep the floor clean and then wipe it too. My colleagues recommended a ‘bai’, but I felt that it is my home, and the reason I shifted is to learn living on my own, without help. And besides with no exercise in our office life, what better than getting down on all fours and wiping 400 sft of floor!

Half an hour of work out (read: sweeping and wiping) and a bath later, I was ready to fall asleep. I put on the AC (It came in the deal) and stared at the ceiling. Surprisingly, I could hear crickets crying. The last I heard them was in my hometown, or probably, it was always there, but I never noticed it. Soon I slumbered into sleep. There was a dream.

I was with a small little girl, Greesha and another child. I was taking them to a film. They were enjoying the film. The film was entertaining. A cartoon film. A film that I had never seen before. I knew she loved it because she was squealing with joy. She was having candy. The fone rang. Greesha and the other child had to return to her home. But she was in no mood to go back. By the time we came out, it was already morning. The fone rings again. The sweet voice at the other end is concerned. ‘Come fast before Ravi gets up or he will be furious’. I take them into the car. As I shut the door, the indicator goes beserk. It makes a noise like my mobile phone. I try switching the indicator off. My eyes open.

Its 6.30. The alarm clock in my mobile phone is ringing. ‘Weird dream’, I think to myself. It was my first dream in the first night at my first home.

Chikungunya - A Kerala Story

2007-07-18T06:28:00.000-07:00

I came down to Trivandrum on a visit and am on my way to Chennai. Landed Yesterday morning, i was in for a shock. There was a Hartal decided in Gods Own Country. The reason? A disease - Chikungunya, Tomato Fever. I scratched my short haired head. Scratched it twice, thrice... The concept seemed novel. A communist state, who doesnt believe in the concept of God is called Gods Own Country. So much for branding.

Further, when Communism is all about the hard working class of people, the people here are in the hardly working sector. Obviously, i don't understand the fact that a Hartal would get the mosquitoes to reform. Here is the classic case that would be seen in Kerala, outside a swamp full of mosquitoes.

Party Leader: Bandh karo bai bandh kora, bimari failana bandh karo!
Chamcha: PL hamara neta hai, sabka dard leta hai!
PL: Atyachar bandh karo, Khoon choosna bandh karo
Chamcha: Jab tak sooraj chaand rahega, PL bhai ka naam rahega!

Next to them on the border of the swamp is the Environmental Rights Activists dharna. They are staging a silent dharna with swanky mosquito headgears, in support of the mosquitoes.
Placard 1: The mosquitoes cant express themselves, and biting is the only way they communicate. Be mosquito friendly for an environmental peaceful world!
Placard 2: Chicken Gunya ya Chicken Tikka, Save the chickens. They are a gift to nature.
Placard 3: Mosquitoes and Chickens have feelings too! They feel hurt when you swat them.

Inside the swamp, two mosquitoes are in an indepth discussion.
Mosquito 1: I think this is going to revolutionize the industry.
Mosquito 2: This is one of the firsts in the New Medica Industry. Booble is interested in acquiring us. This is the most innovative and expandable form of new medica business strategies. We have achieved over 1 million hits with around 10% conversion into medical ill Health.
Mosquito 1: How much are they offering?
Mosquito 2: I think we can sustain on our own. We can later buy out Booble.
Mosquito 1: How can you be so sure?
Mosquito 2: I have tied up with the local parties and Environmentalists. They have struck a deal with us to provide their clients and are at the waiting room with them. They are dying to meet us...

Jihad - 32 Virgins in heaven

2007-07-11T21:48:00.000-07:00

My Mac turned one today. I called him Makkan toast after Macintosh. A day of joy and sorrow. Joy, obviously because having a Mac laptop was what I craved for ever since I knew about Apple. Sorrow, because it was the same day the blasts happened. 7/11. Shocking memories. I know of a friend’s father who passed away in the blasts.

What did they gain out of it? What could anyone gain out of killing masses of people that you personally don’t even know? I tried to prod into the terrorist’s mind. I tried to think like him.

The terrorist, sitting in the car planning to drive into a busy street and blast the car and kill masses…
“I have to kill them, kill them all. They don’t follow my religion. My religion teaches me the best and no other religion talks the truth. I must kill them all. What if a child is there? Does he know what religion is? I should kill them all. It is for God. It is a holy war. What if that man has helped many people? What if he was kind to everyone, including people from our religion? I must kill them all. It’s the holy war. 32 virgins are waiting for me in heaven. I don’t care if they die.”

He rams his explosive car into a building. There is a numbing silence after the blast. The man feels his soul lifting from his body. His soul looks around. There is total destruction. Blood flowing everywhere. Debris left from the carnage all over the place.

“What did I do? There is so much sorrow” His soul writhes in pain “I am going to get 32 virgins in heaven. I did the right thing” His soul enters the gates of heaven. There are 32 women waiting for him. He is ecstatic. His dream has come true. The mentors indeed spoke the truth. He is taken to a chamber and is undressed. Oops!! He is castrated! ‘This is not fair!’ He cries out to God. He cries inconsolably. One of the virgin maiden comes to him and consoles him.

‘You are not the only one’ she says. ‘Every soldier of the Holy war comes here and cries like you.’ The man looks up in surprise. ‘Why do you think we are virgins?’

Sivaji - The Boss

2007-07-04T09:35:00.000-07:00

Have you ever experienced the Rajnikanth fever. I remember vaguely some 15 years back. I was in Madras and my cousin took me to a movie. It was houseful and there was hardly anyone sitting in the first row. I wondered why! And then the inevitable happened, Rajnikanth made his entry. Coins were thrown on the screen and so did missiles of coconuts! The coconut was then distributed as prasad to the viewers. That was my introduction to Rajni. Rajni can do anything. He is a style icon. The films are beyond imagination. Who else do you think can do such ridiculous things with such panache? Think for a minute, a day, or a week and you know no one can come close to touch him. The only person who attempted that once was Mithun. But Rajni prevailed and that is the mark of a true Superstar!

I dont know whether i loved Sivaji or hated it. But I truly enjoyed it. Some enjoyed it for 'i dont know why' and some enjoyed at the panache of absurdity shown so real. Come Superman, Spiderman, Batman, Incredibles, there can be many superheroes, but there can be no one like Rajnikanth. Come to think of it, he is 60, but the fact that he can act as a 30 something, woo women, fight baddies and reform the country, come out of deadly situations without a scratch, is phenomenal. He makes flipping a coin a style. I wouldnt be surprised if you see young lads in chennai flipping a coin on the roads. That is what makes a style icon, he makes mundane things stylish.

The other thing that was amazing about this film was the multiplex. PVR, usually a haven for couples, college going guys with bulging arms and petite girls all the while pulling down their short t-shirts, looked like a big South Indian wedding. There were women dressed up with jewellery, gajras, men in lungis with horizontal white thikas who strolled the multiplex. It was a pleasant thing to see. It makes you feel that they have come to see something really important in their lives.

The film doesnot have logic. The success of the film does not have logic. It has made 450 crores and still counting. There is absolutely no logic to anything. But somethings in life should be left alone, without logic!

India Infinity

2007-06-23T05:00:00.000-07:00

Finally, I have started working on something that has been so close to my heart. I have started working on India Infinity. Check http://www.indiainfinity.blogspot.com. Founded by myself and Kunal, it is with an aim to start working for our own country, India. Not just keep cribbing about the system but bring about a change in it. I have taken up the initiative of Farmers and Rural India. The following is an open letter to the world. We are open to all kind of suggestions, critiques and blasphemy.

It will document all the mails sent to different people and their honest reactions. Anything and everything is welcome, including bricks, sada hua tamatars and eggs... njoy

The Wall

2007-06-18T22:50:00.000-07:00

I am standing
In the corridor
Waiting for someone
To open the door

The walls around
Seem so high
Hidden secrets
Those are blind to the eye

A mother’s sigh
A baby’s cry
A lover’s sob
Of a love went robbed

A toothless old man
Who loved a whisky can
A little maid,
Who was never paid

A drunken husband
A beaten wife
Quirky laughter
Of a child divine

Grandma’s memory
of a life gone by
Her children living
In a far of land.

A tear of love
A woe of sadness
A tinge of laughter
A life of happiness

Silent truths,
Spoken lies
Romantic dinners
And muffled fights…

2007-06-05T07:36:00.000-07:00

I am staring at the empty space
That was once a busy place
People running to and fro
Each on their own brisky pace.

All of them have gone home,
To a person who they truly belong
I wish I could come home to you
And cuddle you when I felt so blue

Life has been such a thorny road
Petals and flowers, so it showed
Hiding the pain that lied beneath
Bleeding my heart until death.

I wish you were here
Sitting next to me
Staring at the stars above
Talking of the things we love.

China Sentences Former Drug Regulator to Death

2007-06-04T04:50:00.000-07:00

China has done it!

check the link http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/29/world/asia/29cnd-drug.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Death penalty for a bureaucrat who took bribes for letting substandard food material into the market. I think this is one of the points that truly differentiates a country from others in terms of taking the term 'development' seriously. A term which tells the world, that they are serious about business. Low quality will not be tolerated. Low morales will not be tolerated. The Chinese Government has truly shown the world that they are putting in the right discipline in place.

It might be a harsh sentence, but I think it is very much needed. It gives a message to all the corrupt officials - You might be the next in line. Politicians will think twice before they accepts bribes, or even think about it. The common man wins. It tells the world that the Government cares about the people and does not want the people to suffer.

With great Power comes Great Responsibility, Peter Parker was told. Isnt it so true?

To the communist government, i salute. Take a bow.

Indian Government, Where art thou? It is good to learn from competition...

Anger is injurious to health! (of others)

2007-06-04T01:37:00.000-07:00

It is said that Anger is injurious to the health... (of others)

Anger is a natural way of venting out emotional frustrations and breaking free. It cleanses the system. Just like puking, where unwanted objects are thrown out, anger throws out the internal frustration. Being angry is good, it keeps you healthy.

But, there is a flipside to it. What about the person who is facing you when the anger is vented out? There are different ways in which people vent out anger. The first reaction is to shout on top of your voice. Try it. It clears your throat. Sometimes if your ear is blocked, it even clears up the earblock. It helps you to hear more clearly.

The second way of venting out anger, (most common in women) is crying. This usually happens when the person is a bit introvert. For such people, they think that the situation is completely their fault. However they do not understand, it is nobody’s fault. Again, in this case, it clears the tear glands and washes the eye.

The third way, this now gets violent. There are different stages of getting violent. Some have the habit of punching their fists into the wall, some have the habit of punching into other people, and a very few percentage who kill. Killing may range from Cockroaches to human beings. This is the most dangerous anger of all.

Having set all these trends there has been a new trend in expressing anger, The Digital way. Mails and SMS have revolutionalized the way anger is expressed. A little bit of gibberish following the alphabet ‘f’ can convey so much that you can save a lot of vocabulary and energy from typing. Note, if you are really really angry, type with CAPS LOCK ON. Same with SMS’s.

Digital communication has taken off the charm from expressing anger, but it keeps the other person safe from being physically hurt or even killed.

I am lucky I survived. And probably a simple four letter word can cool tempers down. The word is called ‘SORRY’. Oops! I knew I was always bad at mathematics… still learning to count!!! Ok let me correct myself – A simple four letter word can cool tempers down. The word is called ‘SORY’ ;-)

So enjoy. Life is too short to be angry!!!

Needs and wants

2007-05-29T10:55:00.001-07:00

When a man is poor, he has all that he needs and nothing that he wants.
When a man is rich, he has all that he wants and nothing that he needs.

Faith

2007-05-21T01:59:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, when i was on the mountain looking at the beautiful lights scattered below, a thought came into my mind...

Sometimes faith is all that we have
And sometimes, faith is all that we need.

India Shining?

2007-05-13T12:10:00.000-07:00

Off late, i was wondering what life is doing to us? Where is our country going to? What is it that we as humankind after? What is happening to our planet? The heat, the famine, global warming, poverty etc. Gandhi had once said that Development in the country is measured by the development in the cities. Ever since i heard tese words in Richard Attenbourgh's Gandhi, it had etched in my heart. I wanted to do something in rural india. Work with the farmers. I remember as a child, during my holidays, i used to help the workers in the adjoining fields when the bulls ploughed the fields. I was very happy sitting on the bulls and having tread in the fertile soil. When i go back into the same place, there is nobody to plough, the land has lost its fertility. That is when the issue of farmers came into my mind and i decided to prod in detail into this little thought.

I had decided quite early that at 45, i would leave everything and enter into politics. But when i think about it now, i think 45 is too late. I have to start NOW. Many of the lands have become infertile over a period of time. Many farmers are committing suicides. Many of them are quitting farming and coming to the cities in search of work, and in the entire bargain, our country needs to import foodgrain. How did this happen? What was the reason behind it?

I hve reason to believe that the countries are not run by Governments, they are led by multi-trillion multinationals, who control the world economy. Here is an example on how one sngle act of charity screws up our nation. Monsanto is a company that develops genetically altered seeds. This seed claims to be resistant to the deadly dendu illi. For its intial rounds Monsanto sold these seeds at a low price to excit the farmers. The seeds worked, and for an initial period of time, after which there were new pests. During these times they also increased the cost of the seeds. Farmers now used to these seeds started taking loans to buy seeds. And then one factor of the crop like rains, new pests etc, caome in and the crops are destroyed. The farmers had the seeds in stock, but what they did not know was that these seeds had a self termination gene which killed the seeds itself after one year. Hence, the farmer has to throw them and they have to take loan again for acquiring seeds. Soon the soil looses fertility. There is an age old tradition of farming which has survived many centuries, but suddenly how does the land become infertile. Obviously playing with nature, nature has the upper hand to deny productivity.

Crops fail. Farmers commit suicides. The agriculture production declines. India has to import. We become dependant on the multinationals who already have a surplus production in their commodity. They dump the surplus material into India and earn a handsome profit. We, sitting in India, buty them and make them rich. Is India really shining? I doubt so! Reliance has big expansion plans. Of late Reliance has bought out acres and acres of FERTILE Land, for what? Does the Ambanis know to lay seeds? I dont think so.

We sitting in the cities dont even know these problems. We get wheat, rice in the shops, we go and buy them. Who cares if it is imported? Who cares if some farmers have committed suicides for he cant grow crops? We have everything at the tip of our fingertips. Why care for that gauthi who doesnt know to speak English. We are much more learned than him, we have gone abroad, done our MBA and working at Call centres telling an American child information on salt water crocodiles, helping the american boy to do his home work!

I have decided to trudge on a difficult path. One day of my week to begn with, i am going to dedicate myself to the cause. I dont know how, but probably the first step would be to educate myself of the situation, then probably i will be in a better position to decide which way to walk....

Happy Honeymooning....

2007-05-05T08:53:00.000-07:00

A cartton by Morparia which never made it to publication, obviously because of the political clout. But, unfortunately, forwards and blogs are more powerful now than the media! Happy Honeymooning to Abhishekh and Ash and .....