This one's for you, Chetan Bhagat...

Chetan Bhagat – you can either love him or hate, but you sure can’t ignore him.

Cliché?? Maybe..

I initially was in a shock after reading “Five Point Someone”. Come on, I’m a typical South Indian Brahmin and we are notoriously brand conscious where educational degrees, qualifications and employers are concerned. After all, all this to a South Indian Brahmin (not just to a Tam Bram) is what marble flooring is to a Punjabi. (Oops!) I guess I did not pay much attention to the line “what NOT to do at the IIT” on the front cover and was flabbergasted with the idea of booze, fag, dope and s** while studying at IIT, of all colleges. Nevertheless, the contemporary style of narration especially in a language exclusively used by people of my age was appealing and I loved it. Yeah, here was an author who targeted my generation and one to look out for!!

“One Night @ the Call-Centre” was a disaster. I still wonder if what Chetan had in mind and what eventually came out in print are the same. To have Salman and his brothers make a bigger joke on the book was too much to tolerate. My impression of Chetan changed to that of a budding writer who tried to create impact through exaggeration and sensationalization with his wholesome use of pure slang.

Penning “The Three Mistakes of My Life” was a mistake, reading it was a bigger mistake indeed. Cricket, communal riots, politics, making out with a student (who is also the best friend’s sister fortunately or unfortunately), earthquake, adoption, etc etc etc. Phew, I almost wrote to Chetan asking him to reconsider his investment banking profession. Certain topics while writing are like some forbidden fruit; you should have experience and command to carefully manage the aesthetics, based on which the outcome is either crass or has class. It hugely upset me to picture Chetan in the “char din ki chandini” frame and I blamed this book on his inability to handle fame in such overwhelming doses.

Desperate to learn from my own past mistakes, I did not follow up with Chetan’s latest offering i.e. “2 states”. But a book worm is a book worm; I gave in to the temptation at last and could not resist people giving a thumbs-up. Another reason is that my work has been screwing for the past 2-3 months and it has been impossible to peacefully settle down with a book. Bangalore weather has been very teasing lately, it is a royal pain in all the wrong places to sit in front of the computer and pushing the keys away to glory in such lovely weather, when I could be relaxing on a bean bag with a novel and steaming mug of hot chocolate. I grabbed the book at the first opportunity (last friday evening, to be precise) and heaved a sigh of relief two hours later, Chetan is back and with a bang!!

The story of Ananya Swaminathan and Krish Malhotra, based (rather exaggerated) on his own life is an almost-sequel to Five Point Someone. Being the typical South Indian Brahmin girl that I am, I was able to relate with so many incidents in Ananya’s life that it was awesome to kind of read about myself in Chetan’s style of narration. One of my closest friends is getting married in less than 2 weeks and the dreaded topic is almost open at my own place too. With the never ending “love marriage versus arranged marriage” armageddon raging in my head, this book came out at the perfect time and it could not have been better. No, it did not help me decide which was better but I did get a temporary respite by being able to laugh at my own predicament from a third person’s perspective.

Cheers Chetan, this one was good indeed…

Another one, from Ayn Rand...

I was reading Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead for like the nth time, over this long weekend and just had to make a note of this one particular monologue.

Scene –

Steven Mallory misses his appointment with Howard Roark and there is no hear from him for over a week. Roark decides to hunt down Mallory and after inquiring with a great many art dealers, architects and art galleries, tracks down his address. Roark goes to meet Mallory in person. An initially reluctant Mallory puts up a brief and unconvincing “don’t give a damn” appearance before finally giving in to his paranoia. He eventually breaks down without caring for Roark’s presence but it’s a certain plaster plaque of a baby done by Mallory that has Roark murderously angry and wondering, such great talent so criminally ill-treated!! Roark orders Mallory to talk about things that really matter and Mallory, shocked to realize that is exactly what he wants, opens up. Mallory goes to Roark’s office the following day with an impeccable confidence, facing Roark as an equal and an ally for life, the horrendous past not yet forgotten but conveniently put aside.

The dialogue goes as below –

Roark pulled the chair over to the bed and sat down. “Now,” he said, “talk. Talk about the things you really want said. Don't tell me about your family, your childhood, your friends or your feelings. Tell me about the things you think

Mallory looked at him incredulously and whispered: "How did you know that?"

Roark smiled and said nothing.

"How did you know what's been killing me? Slowly, for years, driving me to hate people when I don't want to hate.... Have you felt it, too? Have you seen how your best friends love everything about you -- except the things that count? And your most important is nothing to them, nothing, not even a sound they can recognize. You mean, you want to hear? You want to know what I do and why I do it, you want to know what I think? It's not boring to you? It's important?"

"Go ahead," said Roark.

Then he sat for hours, listening, while Mallory spoke of his work, of the thoughts behind his work, of the thoughts that shaped his life, spoke gluttonously, like a drowning man flung out to shore, getting drunk on huge, clean snatches of air.

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Have you seen how your best friends love everything about you -- except the things that count?

I swear to God, had I read Ayn Rand while I was doing B.E, I’d have quit college and gone insane in some terrifically insane sort of a way. I always wondered why I was some kind of a misfit there, and later found the answers neatly compiled in a book that has been on the bestsellers’ list since 1943!! I’ve since been ridiculously glad and relieved that I did not pick Ayn Rand earlier.

Colors...

With my eyes closed shut, I took a deep breath;
Feeling the intoxicating high of the fresh mountain air;
As if inevitable, I slowly blinked and focused,
On the sun’s festive adieu amidst a silent fanfare.

A tinge of buff lined the horizon yonder but soon,
Buff turned orange and then, an angry slash of red;
While the flaming orange ball sank from sight,
Hinting passions and emotions, and of energy far from dead.

While the blue of the sky lost to the raging violent red,
Violet wreaked vengeance on the head above azure sky;
As moments ticked by, after red too lost to violet,
The velvety black ruled; the violet was just a small fry.

And then, just as everything seemed grim and doubtful,
The Heavens lit a million candles, as if answering a prayer;
Started as a tiny twinkle here and a small sparkle there,
The star studded affair came alive, layer after layer.

Like diamonds glittering against a pitch black background,
The sky undoubtedly implied the Heavens up above;
Of Gods and angels, of justice and faith,
Of wise men and virtues, and of unadulterated love.

The bright full moon dazzled over the stars,
As if proclaiming authority over the enchanting sum;
The milky white beams holding the sacred promise,
Of a much much more colorful tomorrow to come…

Memoirs of this year’s Varamahalakshmi habba @ home….

Last Friday (31st July) was the major festival of my household, the Varamahalakshmi vrata. I’d taken a leave from office for the occasion and was eagerly awaiting the celebrations to begin.

The pooja began at about 11.00 am in the morning, with mum and dad in the lead and the newly wedded couple of our family, my cousin bro and sis-in-law!! The pooja went on very well and as usual like every year, till it was time for naivedya. The cooks informed us that there would be a delay of about 10 minutes to get the specially cooked preparations ready. While we were waiting, my music teacher Sharadha ma’am began with “Hiranmayim Lakshmi” and suddenly there was pindrop silence in the hall. It was as if Goddess Lakshmi wanted a complete Sangeetha Seva that day. Sharadha ma’am sang a Purandara dasara devara nama on Naivedya (the cooks brought them in then) after the Mutthuswami Deekshitar’s composition and while the pooja continued, the music renditions went on in the background.

My cousin’s wife Suchitra is a trained singer, dancer and theatre artist at Suchitra Society Banashankari. She gave a concert (almost!) after Sharadha ma’am stopped. The audience was (music having grabbed a greater foothold, I’m using the word “audience”) in tears listening to her rendition of “Keshava Naama” and swayed by her fantastic voice when she sang Purandara Dasara “Enu dhanyaLo Lakumi” and “Bhagyada Lakshmi baaramma”.

By then, it was time for Aarthi when suddenly someone pointed out that I hadn’t sung at all. I promptly started with “Shree Varalakshmi namasthubhyam”, by Deekshitar again. It is a common favorite in the family and everyone including the grand folks, my aunts, uncles and even my father joined me in the chorus. A truly fitting aarthi for the Goddess, it seemed!! :)

Sharadha ma’am gently chided me on singing a normal kriti when there were compositions meant for aarti and sang one. She was impressed by the musical genius that runs in the family and asked me to learn that particular Aarthi kriti so that I could teach all my musically talented and inclined family members. She is a true teacher after all!! All my “attheyaru” assented, what more..

It was almost 2.00 pm by then and the first batch of people went for lunch. A few aunts retained me downstairs and asked me to sing. The concert had barely ended when it began, all over again. While I finished singing Mysore Vasudevaacharya’s “Devi Rame Maamavaabdhi tanaye amba”, my sis-in-law was asked to sing (on public demand I must add, she is the newest addition to our family). Two of my aunts, few cousins and their spouses sang one after the other while I was made to act like a breather, singing while they decide who should sing next I mean.

Sharadha ma’am, who was actually unhappy with me for not attending classes lately, was happy after she heard me sing. She approved when I admitted that I’m out of practice due to genuine time constraint and ordered me to attend classes from the coming week which I’m happily going to oblige.. :D
This impromptu singing paused only late in the evening when the guests started leaving after taking thamboola. Sharadha madam’s favorite student and our musical role model Manjula aunty came home then. She has been an icon like, to Anjana and me since we were barely ten and a close family friend since. She got to know about the unplanned Sangeetha Seva that was going on since morning and was elated. When she sang Mysore Vasudevaachaarya’s “Varalakshmi Namosthuthe” in Gowri manohari and Purandara Dasara “Enu dhanyaLo Lakumi”, those people who were sitting there were in tears and those who were planning to leave came back instead.

An instant after Manjula aunty left, my friend Anjana and her mother arrived. Anjana and I began our music lessons together at the ages of seven and six, respectively. We have performed together at innumerable occasions and have shared a great compatibility, both on stage and off it. And both of us have been regretfully irregular at music since 2003 and sincerely wish to undo the situation soon. Anyways, it had been ages since the last time we sang together and our parents wished to find out if we still complimented each other like before. “Devi Rame” (second time rendition since morning) showed that the spark was very much there. She sang two dasa padas after that, of which one was encored. As usual, our folks reproved us for our sloth and disinterest in music when we are blessed to have such an encouraging musical ambience at home, supporting family members and a guru like Sharadha ma’am who is unlike ordinary music teachers and considered us to be one of the torch bearers of her legacy, like Manjula aunty. It gets embarrassing at times, but that is something we cannot help. Not until we set right the issue at least.

It ended with Purandara dasara “Jayathu Kodanda Raama” which is a beautiful mangala kriti set in the soulful and forgiving Madhyamavathi. This is a personal favorite to everyone who has heard it and speaks of His glory in His ten incarnations.

It was almost 10.30 pm when this “Sangeetha Seva” ended and somehow, everyone who witnessed the turns and events of the whole day agreed that this year’s celebration was, unlike previous years, grander, blessing and of course, entirely musical!!

Crushed.. Lol!! ;)

We meet hundreds of people and may be spend time with few tens of those everyday, at work, at home and on the way in between too. We love the company of a few of them, like a few of them, harbor no feelings for a few, tolerate a few and abhor most others. This is common with everyone I’m sure and I want to highlight those few (one at least) who have an intoxicating high on us with their very presence.

I’m not talking of LOVE. Apna Bollywood has given so many varied definitions (most are cheesy to be honest) that I’m now confused and do not personally believe in any of those. Love is something I restrict to books and films, and we’ll leave it at that. As for infatuation, it is this extra strong liking for a friend or an acquaintance (or may be even a celebrity) for some quality of theirs that make us blind to their flaws. We become conscious of our looks and our words. We probably even become jealous if the object of our interest gives a little extra attention to someone else. Infatuation, if mutual and reciprocated, leads to love, so I’m given to believe. But I want to clarify that I’m talking about “crushes”. Not love, not infatuation; just pure, unadulterated crush!!

From my own experiences, (yes, I’ve had many) crush is something to do with the brain cells acting extra weird when perception indicates to the grey matter, the presence of a certain co-specie member in the vicinity. Sometimes mere mention of that particular person suffices!! It is supposed to begin with the onset of adolescence and gradually fade away into sweet memories as we grow older but given the exposure of today’s teens, I cease from emphasizing the “start time”. Lol!

Anyways.. I read a few articles on adolescent psychology, Linda Goodman’s books and even spoke with good friends over the issue, just to understand the phenomenon from a third person’s perspective. After the “toil”, this is what I came to understand.

Having a crush on someone is a very natural happening. It is an indication that our sensory perceptions are functioning perfectly and that we have an innate aesthetic sense. This is when “beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder” comes into picture. We are involuntarily attracted towards what we subconsciously believe as beautiful. If its good looks for some, it is intellect for some others. One colleague of mine is a sucker for fair complexioned hunks while her close friend swears (not literally!) by Mills and Boon type tall-dark-handsome hunks.

Whatever it is, not many have escaped the light tickling sensation in the pits of the stomach when that crush smiled. Few felt a floating sensation while talking to their crush and many others (like me) have unwittingly stared till our crush was abashed outright. Crush is actually nothing, but that absolutely something. This is how I can best phrase the most commonly experienced and clichéd sentiment known to human kind!!

All is not lost however, unless you are a girl and you have told a few girl pals about your secret crush on a certain cutie you saw in office and more importantly, you have made them promise to keep it a secret!! The girls solemnly promise and loyally check out the pluses and minuses of that particular guy for their friend’s sake (as if we were planning to elope, god!!) but the moment that guy looks in your direction or even notices your presence, the giggling (a very bad timed, involuntary and inevitable reaction) begins and the cutie runs for cover. You will be lucky if he even considers talking to you afterwards.

Guys are no better either. They genuinely believe that it’s a divine job hooking up a fellow mate with his crush that they will leave no stone unturned in the venture. They go to such great extents that they fail to realize that the girl has seen through their puny plots (many times before too) and is royally freaked out. This friend of mine would cough in his best Hum Aapke Hain Koun imitation to convey to his pal that the crush is in the vicinity.

Girls, even in case of a common crush, DO NOT check out the particular guy together. They might discuss the “sweet things” in the guy and agree that they all have a tender for him but never will they umm, “appreciate” the same guy openly and unitedly. Guys, on the other hand, love to do these same things in a group and all hell breaks lose if a gang of guys are openly “appreciating a babe” in front of a girl pal whose presence has been temporarily (and conveniently) forgotten. Guy pals are very helpful in digging information about a girl pal’s crush, if and only if none of those guys have a crush on this girl in particular. One of my friends had a crush on a colleague and this guy pal of ours went to the extent of adding the crush on office communicator just to get more information. Girl pals can put the Interpol to shame in gathering information about another girl pal’s crush but at the risk of mass broadcast and giggling fits. But nevertheless, it’s all the same..

To end it, Crush is a very common scenario to be experienced and then grown out of. If recorded, it will make a hilarious read, years down the line.

Ok enough of crap now, I’m logging off. Peace!

Movies.. Finally!!

Finally they are coming to a conclusion over the tu-tu-main-main between producers and multiplex owners. God knows if whatever they decide will be a feasible solution, I'm only looking forward to see new Hindi films..

The promos of Love Aaj Kal look fine. Saif, being one the producers, has spent a bomb on one particular TWIST song. No where near Rafi's eternal "Aao twist karen" though. I have always liked namma Bengaluru hudugi Deepika and will see this film surely.

Kambakht Ishq caught my attention thanks to a cameo by Sylvester Stallone. Title track looks and sounds good but "Bebo" is yuck, Kareena's worst performance after Don's "Yeh mera Dil" and Tashan's "Dance maare re". I hate Akshay Kumar and have no love lost for Kareena but if I could bear Tashan, surely I can watch this!! But hey, Kareena in a white mini wedding dress with a tiara looks good.

Since his Ishq Vishq days, I thought Shahid was cute and I saw the terrible Kismat Konnection because I believe and still do, that Shahid is cute!! No matter how brawny he gets or how much he apes the King Khan, he'll remain an eternal cutie is my opinion. Looking forward to Paathshala (opp Complan girl Ayesha Takia) and Kaminey (opp Miss Oomph Priyanka Chopra). Heard there is sizzling chemistry between Shahid and Piggy Chops, almost bordering on sleaze!! But good boy Shahid plays a much adored school teacher in Paathshala.

As much as I hated Chetan Bhagat's Five Point Someone, I will see its movie adaptation Three Idiots because its a film by Ace Khan Aamir, shot at namma IIM-B campus. Aamir will do justice to what ever role he picks, no doubt and he is playing the narrator Hari. Maddy might just pull off playing Alok but Sharman Joshi for Ryan Oberoi?? And Kareena Ka"pooh"r for Neha?? Give me a break!! But still I will watch it..

I saw them first when I was barely eight, and have not stopped looking at them till now!! The film was Baazigar and the scene was SRK coming out of a red sports car. Kajol looked enthralled, though I was ogling more enthralled than Kajol herself!! SRK shakes his head sprinkling sweat all around and Kajol's heart misses a beat, mine stopped beating I confess.. "Zindagi mein kabhie kabhie jeethne ke liye kuch haarna padta hain, aur haar ke jeethne walon ko Baazigar kehte hain!!" Pheeee, pheee, clap, clap, clap... Kajol was merely emoting while I stood trance like, having found my knight in shining armor, my prince charming and the undisputed love of my life!! The whole world agreed that SRK looks best with Kajol than any other leading ladies and I developed a tender for her..

That was just a preface for Karan Johar's next film My Name Is Khan starring SRK and Kajol. Set in the backdrop of the 9/11 massacre, SRK plays an autistic Muslim and Kajol plays his wife, both facing the brunt of being Muslims in a hostile no man's land!! Deviant from KJo's usual family and "gay" themes, this is one of the most awaited films of the year..

Dulha mil gaya is yet another release of my chveetoo SRK this year. Promising to be a laugh riot, this has Sushmita Sen opposite SRK. He might have reached the wrong side of 40 but with his hard acquired six pack abs and his hamming (yeah, u heard me right!!) lover boy act, he still manages to bring most females in 7 to 70yrs range to a swoon.

I hated Hrithik when Kaho Naa Pyaar Hain was released and even more, when it became the year's biggest hit against a SRK's damp squib called Asoka. I called him unprintable names then and even got into fist fights with a few perfidious SRK-fan-turned-Hrithik-fan-recreants!! I hated myself for liking Fiza title track and even more for enjoying Mission Kashmir. Then K3G happened!! The sight of a teary younger brother wooing his big bro to return home softened my heart a bit. I found disastrous mistakes in Koi Mil Gaya (Sound waves traveling in vacuum? Falling in love to prove sanity?) And then Krrish happened. I followed closely Lakshya and waited for Dhoom-2, and unwittingly, the dancing genius had stolen a small place in my heart!!

I liked Jodha Akbar as much as I liked Swades. Umrao Jaan by Rekha was immortal; Ash trying the same became a standing joke!! Amitabh Bachchan as Don created a legend, SRK managed to pull it off but marginally only.. And Akbar's role immortalized to the likes of none other than Prithviraj Kapoor is a challenge to anyone of any caliber, and Hrithik simply dazzled!! Literally..

From Kaho Naa Pyaar Hain to Jodha Akbar, Hrithik has grown at an amazing rate, as an actor, as a dancer and as a dignified member of the film fraternity!! I'm desperately awaiting his biggest release till date, Kites, where he does what he does best, dance!! Yes, Hrithik plays a salsa dance instructor and the movie promises to be a treat for the eyes..

There are a few more releases lined up for this year. Like Priyanka Chopra and Harman Bhaweja starrer "Whats your rashee??" based on a popular gujju play and directed by the very talented Ashutosh Gowariker (who is lately oozing venom against just about everyone). And then there is the ever controversial Ram Gopal Verma's controversial "Rann" which shot to a controversial limelight for having controversially tweaked Jana Gana Mana!! Next is Kapoor Khandaan ka chirag Ranbir starring opposite the gorgeous Katrina Kaif in "Ajab prem ki gazab kahani" and not to forget, the once rocking Salman Khan's very own "Veer" and "Main aur Mrs.Khanna"

There are many, many more small time releases too but not sure if they are all worthy of mention. That irrespective, I solemnly swear I'll watch as many films as I can and whenever possible!! Cheers... :)

The rains and I..

With the onset of the rains, the weather of the once Pensioner’s Paradise aka Bangalore has taken a pleasant break from the oppressive summer heat. The mornings now are chilly, afternoons cloudy, evenings windy and nights rainy.

As I entered the excessively air conditioned ODC here in office today morning, I could not help but let out a sigh!! I’m not exactly a sentimentalist but somehow the lovely weather outside forced me to think of something interesting I’d do, rather than unit testing some code here. How awesome it would be to cuddle in a bean bag with a mug of hot chocolate and a good novel while it pours thus, to look out of the window and see the dripping rain water, to watch the trees and plants get fresh and alive from the rain bath, to stand at the door step and feel the splash of rain water on my feet, to feel the mist of rain against my face and the soothing earthy smell that lingers when it rains, to have a thoroughly intellectual discussion on some profound topic with a polymath of sorts and may be even feel at peace with the world!! Lol…

Another thing is that I actually love the rains, in the sense I like playing in the rain. I just need an excuse to dash out when it pours and not return till I’m soaked to the bone!! And that is precisely why I did not need to be asked twice about going for a walk around the Wipro campus while it rained cats and dogs, on the day before yesterday with a friend. We were thoroughly drenched in less than two minutes and what more, my friend went around stopping the people hurrying for cover to slow down and enjoy the downpour. They did look at us like we were some freaks but were decent enough to just smile back and head for cover. Jumping into puddles and splashing the rain water was more fun, given that we were already dripping wet and the water puddles within the campus was clean and not muddy. After about 20 minutes of pure bliss, free of cost I must add, it was time to get into the bus and head homewards. The fun did not end there; we sat in the last seat, yelping every time the bus hit a bumpy patch, giggling when our teeth chattered and last but not the least, playing old hindi sentimental hits like O Saathi Re and all that. The others in our bus (frowning uncles and pouting aunties) are used to such behavior on our part though its not like we would be bothered to stop if at all anyone took offense. Somehow, the weather, the rains and the songs, it was all very becoming!! And that made it worthwhile. While I spoke to my friend later that night, he instantly agreed with me that we should do this fun-in-the-rain thingy again.

This was 2-3 days back now and I must say I have tucked it in as a lovely memory. I probably have a glossed look on my face while composing this blog, given that I’ve been thinking of that day and the rains and the lovely weather today which is just like how it was then and hold on, did someone just say A RAIN DANCE PARTY?????

Living up "Atlas Shrugged"

I read Ayn Rand’s magnum opus “Atlas Shrugged” during my final year at college and I have been reading it over and over again, ever since. I’m sure everyone who has read the book faced that “swept off your feet” feeling and I’m no different.

What struck me the most was the way we can relate the on goings around us to the instances depicted in the book. It is as if, we are living the story of the book. And there are various instances around us to enunciate that!!

“Businessmen needing good Washington connections” –
This is well portrayed by the Ambani brothers. While Mukesh Ambani frequently has many a rendezvous with CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, his arch-rival and brother Anil Ambani is known to be particularly close to Samajwadi Party honcho Amar Singh.

“Nat Taggart was issued a notice by a local senator to shelf his transcontinental project” –
Ratan Tata and his Nano project received the exact treatment from the West Bengal government, kudos to the Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Bannerjee. But of course, West Bengal’s loss became Gujarat’s gain. Narendra Modi has to be commended for striking gold at the right time. Ashok Kheny’s NICE project and Deve Gowda's subsequent road blocks against the infrastructural development is yet another example.

“The concept of a person’s need being glorified irrespective whether he toils to achieve it” –
The best example for this is something we have been witnessing for over decades in our country now; the reservation policy in our country!! With the passing years, the situation is only deteriorating rather bring about the desired progress. The Constitution, as originally drafted, laid down a percentage of reservation in the public sector for selected backward classes that were historically oppressed and denied opportunity, for a period of ten years, after which the situation was to be reviewed. This period was routinely (and conveniently) extended by our politicos and the idea which was supposed to be for a noble cause has been thoroughly exploited for vote banks with their “vote your caste” mantra, and no revisions were undertaken. A minister can claim “backward” status and benefit from the policy while a starving farmer, ignorant of the opportunity, continues to starve. Azim Premji, Narayan Murthy and their kind have no takers; be it their opposition over expanding reservation, or their idea of having reservation based on economic status.

I’m sure many more instances of this sort can be listed but there is no purpose served by listing out our issues and lamenting. We need to begin the change, to think and to act. I’m loathe to think of what would happen to our country, if God forbid, our very own Atlases choose to shrug. Viewing the situation around, I do wonder if we are heading the John Galt way!!

Sweltering summer cold...

As if tolerating the heat wave here in Bangalore is not sufficient, I managed the near impossible task of catching a terrific cold. As usual, I tried managing on my own for two days but the status quo situation made me see my doctor and I must add; even he was impressed seeing my feat. Severe cold in summer?? Oh wow…. 

I don’t know if he really does it but I have a feeling he prescribes more medicines than required. Of course I’m no expert in dealing with even drugs but I do not believe in popping pills till illness completely eludes me. We fall ill when our body loses strength and immunity. An interesting fact is that our body fights diseases, infections and microbes to a great extent. I can safely comment without any medical authority certification that our body’s natural resistance begins its war against illness ages before we actually fall ill and we fall sick when that resistance crumbles. 

So I believe our body is naturally capable of taking care of itself, and since the battered resistance is the shortcoming for illness, the medicines we take should only aid the body till such time that resistance gets better. I bought only half the course prescribed and took the very first dose yesterday night!!

To my ignorance, I did not know that all medicines for common cold are sedative in nature. I know Benadryl cough syrup has high alcohol content but not a tablet taken for common cold, despite my doctor’s claims of that particular brand being the mildest of all.. Early mornings are, as it is, the bane of my existence and I slept with a sedative, to add to my agony!!

Waking up at 6.00am today morning, coupled with getting ready on time to catch my regular 6.50am office shuttle, was the second near impossible task I accomplished. I expected the long journey all the way till EC and the boisterous breakfast with colleagues to suffice in keeping my slumber at bay. But no, as I sat in front of my system, I was unable to comprehend even a single line of code, the coding of which had taken up most of my evenings in the past one week. I tried reading a novel (an e-copy of A kingdom of dreams!) to pipe up interest but the drowsiness got better of me. When neither the freshly brewed Barista Hot Chocolate nor splashing cold water on my face had any impact, I retired to the dormitory. Walking till tower-10 was a pain and I knew how I’d feel if I ever got tipsy and then tried walking, déjà vu!! Thank God, there was an empty bed and I only remember hitting the sack. I woke up almost 2 hours later when my team mate called to check on me. 

Anyways I had to return for an urgent meeting and I was better after lunch break. Phew!! That was indeed a soporifically adventurous day……

My first "halli jatre" experience...

My first ever experience of sorts, I visited a typical “halli jaatre” (village fair) over the weekend. Thanks to Paa, we received an invitation to participate in the KaViKa rathotsava (chariot procession) on the auspicious of Ramanavami celebrations at the Ghali Anjaneya Swamy temple in Mysore road.

Despite living in close proximity to the place and for over 20 years now, I had no idea this annual festivity would be so grand. I knew there was a rathotsava but never knew there would be over 12-13 chariots carrying the many utsava murthis (idols meant for procession) and it would be a grandiose affair with dwellers from just about everywhere reveling in the celebrations till early dawn. There are many temples in the vicinity. Each of those temple deities had a chariot and the entire sight was worth a dekko!

The complete stretch of Mysore road was brilliantly lighted, with vehicles barred right from the Mysore road - Chord road junction and the police ever vigilant; we reached the KaViKa factory (Karnataka Vidyut Karkhane) at about 10.00pm on Saturday night (4th of April, 2009) for the chariot procession that would begin by 10.30pm. The crowd had me spellbound; it did not look like it was near midnight. The rural ambience was stunning and totally unexpected. A local orchestra was pelting out the latest hits and the loud applause and encores showed how the people were enjoying themselves. Umpteen hawkers were on the streets selling sweets, toys, clothes and just about everything. There even were computerized astrology predicting robots. The women and children seemed to have a blast while the men took pride in purchasing stuff for their families and protectively guiding them through the rush. We made our way through the din on foot to reach the KaViKa factory premises.

As soon as the chariot decorations were done with, my folks and I went with KaViKa chairman Mr.Kulkarni to the venue. The chariot was huge, at least 20 feet high and an equally massive girth. It was a hoovina pallakki (chariot of flowers, jasmine in particular) unlike the 12 others which were all mutthina pallakis (chariots of beads). The aroma of fresh jasmine mixed with the tinge of incense sticks lingered in the air and the richly decorated idols of Ram, Lakshman, Seetha and Hanuman were becoming. It was a treat worth looking at. The crowd went ballistic when the pundits did the aarti and the procession began with shouts of “Ramchandraji ki jai, Seeta ji ki jai, Vaayu suta Hanuman ki jai..”

My folks and I too, were a part of the group of people who pulled the chariot ahead for the initial few feet. While a gang of guys kept breaking coconuts all through the way shouting the Lord’s name, another gang kept brushing the broken pieces aside to keep the group pulling the chariot from hurting our feet. Another gang burst crackers, everyone reveled and participated in their own way.

As usual, there was a power cut in the middle of the celebrations but the dazzling deepas (oil lamps or diyas) and the glare of bursting crackers made the jewel studded idols look splendid. That, coupled with the devotion of the hundreds of people gathered to witness the procession, the nonstop chanting of mantras, the loud shouts of the Lord’s name, the way people participated, reminded me of the Ramayana sequence of “ALilu seve” (squirrel service).

In the midst of all this, I realized with a shock that I had tears running down my eyes. I could visualize my music teacher Sharadha ma’am explaining Tyagaraja’s love and devotion for Rama while telling the meaning of each composition she taught. It made so much sense. My mum apparently echoed my sentiments and said its no wonder Rama is called “Chakravarti tanuja” (emperor’s son), he deserved all the glitter, grandeur and more.

Suddenly everything else became insignificant!! For someone who hates crowds of any sort, I no longer minded the brash rural crowd gathered there. I did not wince at the way people pushed and pulled at each other, for a closer glance of the Lord. I did not feel anything except that idyllic bliss at the bottom of my mind. I was swayed off my feet at the devotion of the common man there and the words about everyone being the same in His presence seemed so true. We are all so insignificant in front of Him.

As the procession entered the main road, we stood aside watching the procession, the fire works and the people for a while. Later we were escorted by a KaViKa official to the Ghali Anjaneya Swamy temple for darshan. Lord Hanuman there seemed almost alive that night, grandly adorned by a myriad of choicest colored flowers and jewels. We offered our prayers and left.

As I retired to bed later that night, my head was full of the events of the previous hour and complete mish mash of so many emotions. A truly gratifying experience!!

Concerns of a first time voter...

With the election fever around the corner and being the first time voter that I am, I just wonder...

The first and foremost fact is that none of the candidates are worth voting for. All of them surely have allegations stacked against them or worse, a criminal background; though I must admit I have not done any kind of background verification. I don’t need to! Another thing I’m sure of, without having to verify, is that they are all uneducated. School or college drop outs at some time, they took to politics like the oft repeated Johnson’s definition of politics being the last resort of scoundrels. They neither have any sort of developmental works to their credit nor a flattering profile. The power mongers took to politics with the sole intention of growing rich by milking the system dry, thanks to the million loopholes and our shameless custom of bribery.

I do not want to choose any of them but the fact remains that, I can only choose the lesser sin of the lot. The Electronic Voting Machines rule out the option of invalid votes. The 49-O forms will never be found at polling booths and heck, I will not have someone else voting in my name.

I’m no expert and I may be wrong talking with respect to India, but I somehow feel the dual-party system, as in USA, works well. There are only two options to choose from, it is either this or that! There will never be an issue of coalition government or a Hung parliament. Somehow we will have a better choice of candidates, if two-party system is the case.

Even better, we can have an ombudsman for ticket seeking candidates. The candidates should have at least a formal degree from a recognized university and a profile that matches the requirements as mentioned in a framework set by the connoisseurs of the arena. This framework should be revised to stay in tune with the changing times and necessities.

Sledging is another commonly used technique. Allegations against opposition party candidates sensationalized especially when elections are around the corner. Another thing is the way issues are blown way out of proportion. Little do they realize that, any publicity is good publicity; tasteless nevertheless. The Varun Gandhi episode, Pramod Mutalik versus Renuka Chowdary and the Pink Chaddi campaign, Modi bashing for publicity, seeking mercy votes and targeting minority vote banks etc. All this should somehow be nipped in the bud, it is disgusting!

Another thought of mine is that only tax payers should be eligible to vote as only they truly value their hard earned money and put in the effort of correctly deciding who should lead and how. A teenybopper I once knew voted for a candidate at the last elections (she was then a first time voter) because she thought he was cute! A bedridden octogenarian (May his soul now rest in peace!) said he always admired Nehru and declared that voting for the daughter-in-law of the family was his way of showing loyalty. How can we expect to have proper leaders when we have voters biased on such unreasonable terms?

It is probably the Ayn Rand influence but we cannot sit back and expect things to become the way they ought to be. The system will not change till the leaders change and the leaders will not change till the people desire the change. We are a democracy and we should find a way of getting the changes we desire to see.

Well, I’m just a first time voter and these are just a few of my concerns! :)

Sniff sniff.. But I'm not weeping!!

After many years, I got a chance yet again to travel in Mysore Road in a two-wheeler and I experienced an aching sense of nostalgia. What seemed to be an olfactory adventure once has now become a sweet memory tucked away into the time elapsed folds of my childhood.

Travelling pillion in Mysore road with Dad was a routine. The fun would actually begin at the Mysore road and West of Chord road junction near the BHEL office. The game was simple, to identify as many different smells as possible from the junction till we reached The Club opposite the Rajarajeshwarinagar arch. I would become all stiff and ready as we neared the BHEL junction.

As we turned towards Mysore road at the junction, I would start sniffing lightly. The first smell was from the fishmonger’s, right at the turning, on the footpath of BHEL office. Of course I found the smell of fish revolting and I would never take more than one whiff of breath as if anything more would kill me.

A few tens of meters ahead from the junction and there would be a light aroma of confectionaries from the roadside bakery. A deep breath and yum, I’ve even remember having water in my mouth a few times.

Further up ahead, the main road had petrol bunks on both sides and the addictive smell of petrol would lightly linger in the air. Another deep breath, I have been a sucker for petrol smell ever since.

As we progressed in the direction, my most awaited landmark in Mysore road would near. The Kwality Biscuit factory, opposite the Siddharooda Aashram!! The air would be rich with the heavenly aroma of freshly baked biscuits. I would inhale and exhale deep and fast as if I wanted to take in every whiff of the delicious smell. Heaven lasted a little while here.

A few more hundreds of meters from there and I used to be wary of even breathing, let alone sniff at the smell in air. One of the major water sources of Bangalore once and polluted beyond all limits ever since, Vrushabhavathi flowed. Monsoons and cyclones were the bane of existence for the regular commuters of Mysore road, when the polluted water would overflow onto the main road. The stench emanating was unbearable at all times. I would carefully breathe and as soon as the stench began, I would hold my breath for as long as I could.

Finally, a few more minutes along the same road and I would be hit by a pungent blast of Hydrogen chloride from the chemical factory next to the Rajarajeshwarinagar arch. Another few seconds of holding my breath and I would be gasping for fresh air. Thankfully, I’d have reached my destination by then!!

When I drove along the familiar road after many years, every minute of the journey reminded me of the innocent little girl and her so called olfactory adventure while riding pillion with her father. No, I did not try doing the same this time and I’m sure I’d have choked on the thick smoky air, had I tried.

Other than that, I could not help but notice many other changes. The fishmonger now sells fried fish too; the smell is probably more repulsive now. The old confectionary shop has closed down. The old petrol bunks are now replaced by sleek Shell fuel stations. Kwality Biscuit factory has vanished and replaced by a Bajaj showroom. The absence of the aroma of freshly baked biscuits touched a sentimental note as though it made the end of my childhood glaringly obvious. Nevertheless Vrushabhavathi stank just the same!!

I broke out of my reverie soon, but the aching nostalgia persisted. I wished I could go back to those glorious days of my childhood, when million such little things filled the days and the sole purpose of every minute was to have fun. Period.

Tyagaraja Yoga Vaibhavam...

Currently playing on my IPod is a beautiful rendition of Tyagaraja Yoga Vaibhavam in Anandabhairavi by Sanjay Subrahmaniam. The lines –
Tyagaraja Yoga Vaibhavam…
Raja Yoga Vaibhavam..
Yoga Vaibhavam..
Vaibhavam….
keep coming to me over and over again; I’m reminded of waves in the sea. Nonstop waxing and waning..

Sanjay is undoubtedly one of the finest classical vocalists of recent times. The last time I attended his live concert was at Bangalore Gayana Samaj last year and the only way I could describe the concert was to say that it was electrifying!!

There was no need for this blog but its just that I remembered that concert today morning, while listening to Tyagaraja Yoga Vaibhavam for the nth time in the past few days..

How cool it would be if I could deliver an electrifying concert too!!

Adventures on the Valentine weekend - 14th Feb 2009

Every time I have plans of going out, I make it a point to take a leak before stepping out of the house. One can never be sure of sanitary conditions and cleanliness outside, be it hotels, cinema halls (malls are clean I must admit), coffee shops etc. It never hurts to go prepared so I make sure I don’t have any washroom-visiting-urges till I return home. I’m sure most of us do it, nothing special about it!!

It so happens that every time I go to a film, despite all my precautionary measures I end up being tank-full by the time the film ends. The culprit must be the soda drink during the interval. I consciously do not drink aerated drinks otherwise, so I give in to the temptation only I go to see a film.

Same thing happened last week. It was the Valentine weekend when Sahana, Appu and I went to see Billu at Cauvery matinee show. We left the house at 1.30PM for the show that began at 2.30PM. I went all prepared as not to have any issue till I returned back. The movie was not even 3 hrs long but thanks to the Pepsi I bought in the intermission, I was unusually full (it will not be exaggerating to say I was really really really full) by the time the movie ended and badly wanted to take a leak.

The stench permeating down the corridor extinguished any thought of using the washroom there in the theater. I told Sahana and Appu that I’ll manage and so we walked out. We had agreed to walk all the way till Malleshwaram 8th cross and shop there, after a visit to Janata hotel for their yummy masala dosas. Frankly I had no idea how long I could hold out but refused to think of it and walked on!!

We were barely halfway when we came past Chowdaiah Memorial Hall and this brainwave stuck me. Necessity is the mother of all inventions, so they say. It held true with respect to ideas in my case.

A few weeks back, I’d attended a play at Chowdaiah and had seen how well maintained the washrooms were. Neither a speck of filth, nor spilt water anywhere on the polished mosaic of the washroom!! Anyways we were right in front of the building and it was open, why not use the toilets and rid myself of great worry and the obvious issue??

The huge hoarding on the gate endorsed a dance and music extravaganza Attakalari the next day. I promptly went in telling Sahana and Appu of my intentions. Sahana needed to use the washroom too but here?? Like this?? Oh no!! They two of them shrunk from the prospect of breaking in to an auditorium to use a washroom, but nevertheless followed me inside the gate.

As I made my way into a side entrance, I was accosted by a watchman who wanted to know what business we had there. We did not appear suspicious to anyone from the manner we were dressed. We were casual friends catching up on a weekend and that was precisely what we were. Sahana and Appu froze behind me wondering what I would say to this watchman’s question. The proximity of a usable washroom was so tempting that I wouldn’t have hesitated to run inside before he caught up with me despite the embarrassment that would follow. A hundred answers popped in my head within a nanosecond and before I realized I said we were looking for brochures and info regarding sunday’s programme and if possible the tickets too. I never realized the hoarding advertising Attakalari had caught my attention so strongly till I blabbered this. The watchman obviously finding nothing strange about my reply showed me the very VIP entrance I would have probably barged into. It apparently leads to the side entrance of the main stage and there is this heavenly board that reads LADIES WASHROOM at the entrance.

Stealing a glance inside the auditorium, I saw many artistes setting up the stage for the upcoming show. I returned back to the entrance and went in the sparkling clean washroom. It was empty and very very clean, as expected!!

I next signaled Sahana towards the door. She was now confident, after witnessing my convincing performance in front of the watchman. While Appu and I waited for Sahana, I even managed to show an art-enthusiast the way to the main entrance. She was a firangi and was lost!!

We three had walked but a few steps out of the gate when Appu let out a relieved sigh. She said she has seen such things in films and in TV but could not believe her eyes when I actually “dared” a stunt of the sort. The fact that my face showed no sign of shock or surprise or even fear apparently left her stunned. Impressed too, if I may add. She called me dare-devil, a tom-boy and a string of many such names all the way to Janata hotel.I merely had to walk chuckling and acting like a heroine who managed a non-performable stunt with panache. It feels great to be appreciated, no matter how stupid the reason is. The dumber the reason, the greater kick it gives and this, exclusively when there are friends like Appu to give the perfect reaction sought!! Lol…

Honestly, I was only enjoying a huge sense of relief all the while. I could not have borne that load a minute longer!!!!

7th March 2009 - You've got mail

Yesterday and the day before were apparently the most boring weekend of my life. I’d rather do something I don’t like, than be left with time on my hands but no purpose. This “idle” state of mind drives me crazy and heck, I do not even get devilish thoughts when idle!! I just go nuts and retire into some cocoon that doesn’t exist at other times..

To consciously come out of my cranky mood on saturday, I saw this beautiful flick I’ve seen times without number now – You’ve got mail..

“You’ve got mail” is undoubtedly one of the finest films I have seen. I adore the Tom Hanks–Meg Ryan combination as much as I love the inimitable SRK-Kajol pairing. For those of us who love books, this movie touches a special chord.

I’m not exactly a romantic (hopeless or otherwise) but a few aspects of the film that appealed to my temperament make me wish I was Katherine Kelly myself and I go back to the film over and over again!!
1. The fact that the story revolves around books and a book shop. Books truly mean a lot more than just pages with info sewn together.
2. Joe Fox respects Katherine Kelly for being the professional she is and despite ruining her business, he does not insult her by offering her a job at Fox Books.
3. NY152 encourages Shopgirl to speak her mind when she encounters someone very unpleasant but warns her that she will be filled with remorse later not finding a convincing excuse for her behavior.
4. Joe hates to “stand her up” when he realizes his chat friend Shopgirl (who is waiting for him at a café) is none other than his arch rival Kelly. He stays with her the whole evening without divulging his virtual identity that she was expecting to meet.
5. NY152 cannot lie as to why he never came to meet her at the café despite having no compulsions to be truthful. He promises to reveal the truth later but does not disclose that NY152 is Joe Fox himself and he did keep the date.
6. Joe realizes Fox Books can never mean as much to him as The Shop Around The Corner means to Katherine. The note on her door "We are closing our doors after 42 years, we will miss being a part of your lives" was too touching.
7. Joe goes to see Katherine with a bunch of daisies when she is ill and for the first time, each one creates the right impression on the other.
8. Joe does his best to befriend Katherine rather successfully and even banters about her anonymous chat friend NY152. He realizes he has fallen in love with this spirited woman!
9. Joe asks Katherine how she can forgive someone who stood her up on a date but hate him (Joe) for the smallest mistake of putting her out of business. (The subtle whiff of romance here is mind blowing! Its even wonderful that she has a trace of tears, I did too..)
10. Joe’s words “Don’t cry Shopgirl” when they finally meet, gave me a lump in my throat and for once I even wondered if I was wrong in my belief that romance is best left to books and films.
Hmmm… Lastly, to wrap it up, I came out of the hang over soon and realized that romance seemed so magical precisely because this was a film and my life is way too realistic. I'm no schizophrenic to believe in wanting drama and fantasy in my everyday reality. But for giving me a beautiful outlet to momentarily escape to utopia, I must say -
Three cheers to “You’ve got mail”!!!!

The Delhi-6 experience...

That Delhi-6 was made by Rakeysh Mehra is the sole reason I wanted to see the film in the first week itself. And I made it to Saturday’s matinee show!! 

The movie portrays the eclectic blend of the good, bad and ugly elements of our social structure, and the weight is evenly shouldered by every single actor. Veteran stalwarts like Om Puri, Rishi Kapoor, Waheeda Rehman, Prem Chopra dazzle effortlessly while the younger actors like Abhishek Bachchan, Divya Dutta, Atul Kulkarni, Cyrus Sahukar and Sonam Kapoor have all done justice to their roles under the watchful vision of Rakeysh Mehra. This I say with no kind of bias, none whatsoever!! AR Rahman rocks. Period. 

While I was thinking thus, I realized this is one film I cannot categorize as “liked it” or “disliked it”. There were parts I could identify with and enjoy, and there were sequences that made me cringe. The analogies were amazing, the symbols were fantastic. 

I was contemplating how best I could put together the complete feel of the film, as I felt it, when I read this friend’s blog where he has written exactly what I would have probably penned. And now, “Amen!” is all I can say. 

For the complete and near perfect review, please check - http://jayanthr.wordpress.com/

When I could not resist voicing what I felt...

The story has been narrated time and over again in the past few weeks. I kept wondering why they are this dead intent on publicizing an insignificant issue so magnanimously. I daily read the bits and pieces splashed across the papers till my restraint not to comment on the issue broke. Damn, this has become outright ridiculous!! Hilarious too, if you can see what I saw..

The way of our life is one of our most personal choices and most fundamental of all rights. Nobody, and definitely no local goon is entitled to say what is right and what is not. Goddamn anyone who dares to try!!

The Mangalore pub issue with a bunch of thugs assaulting young pub hopping women was an unfortunate event that needed to be dealt with lawfully. People proactively protesting, was good. We will conveniently forget for the moment that the general elections are around the corner and this is most definitely about saving face, but Union minister for Women and Child Development Renuka Chowdary showing personal interest in the issue was good too. Involving the otherwise dormant NCW was great. But inevitably, the flipsides of the situation were all criminal in nature.

Pramod Mutalik was a complete nobody and all this hue and cry has now made him a public figure. Once spotted by limelight, all publicity is good publicity. I bet he nurses political ambitions and now intends to contest in the next elections.

There is a Subhashitha in Sanskrit –
GhaTam bhitva paTam chitva kuryaath vaa gardhabha swaram
Ena kena prakaareNa Prasiddha purusho bhava

Meaning –
A man has many ways of becoming popular; by breaking the utensils of his house, by tearing his own clothes or even by braying like a donkey.

So much for the protests!!

The pub issue gave him a platform; Mutalik took the biggest flaw of the working of typically Indian collective minds to his advantage and used the V-day opportunity too to further elevate his public figure status. It was an old trick, used for years in Maharashtra and became a super hit this time all over India.

That our law has so many loopholes is an open secret. Incriminating Mutalik and his gang of goons under some IPC section leaving no loopholes open, none whatsoever, and not paying more attention would have been a better idea. Instead we glorified him and his bunch of thugs became local heroes.

What was worse was when things took a 180 degree tilt. The actual issue was unabashedly thrown aside in favor of the same old rabid feminist man v/s woman superiority contention.

The “Consortium of pub going, loose and forward women” was a bouncer. If a woman is classified as “loose”, I assume we are referring to her character. I really really hope “pub going” symbolizes assertiveness and “forward” means career oriented and successful. I’m all ears to anyone who can satisfactorily explain what pub going women, loose women and forward women have in common. A grudge against Mutalik?? No amount of permutation combinations of these three adjectives seems to make sense to me.

“Pink Chaddis” were the heights!! If these “pub going, loose and forward women” really believe couriering undergarments are strong means of fighting injustice, we should have tried sending langotis to the British rather than Satyagrahas and our non-violence movements. I’m sure that would have created greater history than the first ever of the kind non-violent struggle did.

Despite being categorized as taboos to be demolished, it is a matter of decency to limit certain issues to esoteric forums, as long as morality and values exist. I’m loath to think of the mentality of all those women whose collective brainchild was this “Pink Chaddi” movement. Then again, these are the days of fag, booze, dope, pre marital sex and I-pill. Skin show is a sure shot ticket to stardom. “Big deal” is no longer a big deal let alone open discussion relating to lingerie, which reminds me of Alfred P. Doolittle in the film My Fair Lady and his clichéd phrase “middle class morality”; the upper class do not need it and the lower class cannot afford it!!

Another bouncer was the recent claim that Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati got drunk according to Hindu Scriptures so how dare Ram Sena kick a fuss over women pub hopping!! Why the bloody hell did anyone need to quote from Scriptures, wrongly though, without actually doing a thorough research on their claims?? Their audacity is shocking. Neither Mutalik nor his bunch of goons are any authority on Hindu principles. And not even those who made such blasphemous claims!! I’d be shocked if they as much as know who penned “The Hindu View of Life”. If this is about taking potshots at Hindu Scriptures and Hinduism in general, then it is to be condemned as being excruciatingly in bad taste. It is as criminal as penalizing all Muslims world-over for one Osama-bin-Laden. It is as inhuman as branding all Germans as mass murderers for one Adolf Hitler. We live in a secular democracy and it is the duty of not just the ruling party but all political parties and the entire battalion of common citizens to learn to be secular and tolerant towards all faiths. It is of greater importance for people to realize that it is even more wrong to take advantage of such situations, as in using such anti-Hindu accusations as potential vote banks with regard to voters of other faiths, portraying one thug like Mutalik to display the current ruling party in bad light etc.

Caricatures of the Prophet created a global uproar. Fatwas for beheading the artist, though criticized, were proclaimed far and wide. Books and films slightly deviating from the Vatican outlook have been banned. But why are Hindu gods, Hindu scriptures and the Hindu faith in general always taken for granted?? And this is done every time a creature like Mutalik shows its head over the majority. It is amusing to note that it is the majority itself that gives a platform for such anti-social elements. Mockery of the Hindu faith has been done umpteen other times like painter MF Hussain depicting the Hindu Gods and Goddesses in the nude. That was about artistic freedom and creative liberty, my foot!! At the moment, let us just let this matter be, without running the risk of straying from the main blog.

Men have been bar-attendees over ages so why not women, was another offshoot from the issue. NCW apparently held the pub owners to blame for frail security. Here is my advice to all women who were offended over this stand of male chauvinism - Good for you, go ahead and get drunk, in presence of anonymous strangers if you please. It is of common knowledge that alcohol increases sexual arousal and reduces sexual inhibition. Your security will your bloody concern and if things get nasty later on, no one else is to blame but you and anyone who later complains of lack of security can be cheerfully sued for defamation.

When Mutalik and his goons announced they would be sending a Saree as a return gift for every Pink Chaddi received, I could not stop laughing. Global economic meltdown does not seem to have affected the Ram Sena. I wondered if they could sponsor a few projects in the IT sector that are on the verge of being shelved due to lack of financing. I mean, it would be such a great social service they would be doing. Providing employment opportunities to thousands of engineers is not just a noble task but a great publicity stunt too. I, for one, would definitely vote for Mutalik at the next polls. The rogue becomes a hero, filmi style..

Shakespeare, though not in the same context, rightly called it – Much ado about nothing!!

I suddenly remembered Shelley and this followed...

Romanticism and Objectivism are two poles of life. The former glorifies ideals, feelings and sentiments; the latter upholds factual propositions and pragmatism.

From what I have heard and to an extent experienced, life is full of contradictions. Although “converted” to Objectivism and “swept off my feet” by Rationalism (normal consequences post Atlas Shrugged and Fountainhead), I cannot help appreciating the nuances of English poetry and I absolutely dote on the works of “The Big Six” of Romantic poetry. I get my much required break from my daily routine and get sort of geared up to face what is to come with a straight, objective, rational simplicity similar to that of a math equation.

Quoting Rekha Rai, my English lecturer at MES College, John Milton was the true precursor of the Romantic Movement characterized by the Six Bards who revived the true spirit of English poetry by pursuing the "romance" and the sublime, lost since the times of Milton himself. So "The Big Six" comprise of Wordsworth, Coleridge, Lord Byron, Shelley, Keats and Blake.

Lyrical Ballads, the joint anthology of Wordsworth and Coleridge emphasized the signature of Romantic Poetry namely –
1. Depicting the beauty of nature
2. Usage of simple English to convey poetic thoughts
3. Abandon the so called posh, high-society linguistics
This was religiously followed by John Keats, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and Lord Byron in their works, which even incorporated metaphysical issues. Although chronologically the earliest, William Blake was a relatively late addition to the list that was initially called “The Big Five”.

Wordsworth defined poetry as “the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings” and went on to assert that nonetheless any poem of value must still be composed by a man “possessed of more than usual organic sensibility [who has] also thought long and deeply” The theme of romantic poetry therefore is “the filtering of natural emotion through the human mind in order to create art, coupled with an awareness of the duality created by such a process”. The entire movement was greatly concerned with the pain of composition, of translating these emotive responses into the form of Poetry.

My all time favorites include “Tiger” by Blake, “Daffodils” by Wordsworth and “Ozymandias” by Shelley. While “Daffodils” takes me to this beautiful English countryside where peace and calm is the essence of life, “Ozymandias” reminds me of the original purpose of life; “to become immortal” in the true sense of the word unlike Ozymandias himself.

Talking of immortality, I’m reminded of MS Subbalakshmi every time I read Ozymandias. The blessed lady now at His abode, truly is immoral through her music. And to end it all, here goes “Ozymandias” by PB Shelley.

Ozymandias

I met a traveler from an antique land
Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed;
And on the pedestal these words appear:
“My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Look upon my works, ye Mighty, and despair!”
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.

~ Percy Bysshe Shelley

Its Milton.. I finally remembered!!

“ಸಂಕಟ ಬಂದಾಗ ವೆಂಕಟರಮಣ” is popular Kannada adage. It is when we are at our lowest, do we think of God. Natural human tendency! I tend to get philosophical when things do not go my way.

Ever since I have come to free pool, I have been trying to remember something in vain. It was always at the back of my head and came to me in flashes at times but I could neither relate nor get it completely. Yesterday night after dinner, I grasped what I was trying so hard to recollect. It is this poem by John Milton called “On his blindness” which I first read when I was in high school.

Similar to the “Nindhana sthuthi” of our very own Bhadrachala Ramadasulu, Milton blames God and despairs over his blindness in this wonderful piece of poetry. He accuses Him of being unfair. Finally his conscience speaks saying “all that happens, happens for the good”. Yet another proverb!

Like I said, I tend to become philosophical when I’m not my usual self. I must be frustrated subconsciously that I have been unknowingly thinking of this particular poem. Or maybe the effect of my continuous autosuggestions that everything will work out just fine.

I’m not saying I’m on par with Milton but the poem sort of echoes my sentiments at the moment. NSP sir did a great job while dealing with this poem. I’ve been cribbing about recession and free pool while Milton cribbed about his blindness. And “waiting” is what I’m doing too….

On His Blindness

When I consider how my light is spent
Ere half my days in this dark world and wide,
And that one Talent which is death to hide
Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent
To serve therewith my Maker, and present
My true account, lest He returning chide,
"Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?"
I fondly ask. But Patience, to prevent
That murmur, soon replies, "God doth not need
Either man's work or his own gifts. Who best
Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state
Is kingly: thousands at his bidding speed,
And post o'er land and ocean without rest;
They also serve who only stand and wait."

~ John Milton

Get well soon, Atal-chacha....

I remember the time since it was a milestone in my personal life!! My folks and I were busy with my high school admissions, I was being admitted to Vidya Vardhaka Sangha High School in Rajajinagar 1st block and that was nothing short of a dream come true. It was early 1998 then and Atal Bihari Vajpayee became the 16th Prime Minister of India!!

I have been subject to ad hoc tarka-vaada sessions on rights and wrongs ever since I can remember. Current affairs, science, technology, math, sports, films, books, music and even Advaitha philosophy formed the dinner table conference topics at my place. Watching the 9pm Star News just before dinner was almost an unbreakable ritual. It was a pleasure to watch Prannoy Roy and Vinay Chandra deliver the happenings across the nation and abroad, with finesse.

Generally how and what our family think, we presume that as right and so build our ideologies and beliefs. My family has always been for progress and rationalism, and never a fanatic for any political party as such. I was encouraged to read editorials in the dailies or headlines at least each day, and that coupled with must watch 9pm Star News gave me this strong headway to be able to form my own opinions on anything and everything.

Coming back to what I intend to say, it was election time in the year 1998 and results were almost out. The saffron flag flew high. It was then I was introduced to Atal Bihari Vajpayee..

I have always liked listening to stories and my silence at our regular dinner table discussions prompted my mum and dad to tell me about our then Prime Minister, whom they fondly adored, still do!!

Vajpayee-ji was born on Dec 25th 1924 at Gwalior. He holds a masters degree in Poiltical Science and is also an eminent poet and journalist. He began his political career very early as a freedom-fighter but gained notice only after being elected to the Parliament in 1957 as the leader of BJS (Bharatiya Jana Sangh) His commanded respect, recognition and acceptance even in the opposition.

During the general elections in 1977 after the resignation of Indira Gandhi, BJS joined hands with various like-minded regional and social parties to form the Janata Party which eventually won the polls with Morarji Desai as the Prime Minister and Vajpayee-ji as the Minister for External Affairs. During this tenure, he created history with his visit to China in 1979 thereby settling relationships with China after the 1962 Indo-China war. He also visited Pakistan and initiated normal dialogue and trade relations that were frozen since the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War and subsequent political instability in both countries. Vajpayee-ji represented the nation at the Conference on Disarmament, where he defended the national nuclear program, the centerpiece of national security in the Cold War world, especially with neighboring China being a nuclear power.*

The rise of the Janata party and subsequent birth of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 1980 with Vajpayee-ji and others like LK Advani, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat as lead, witnessed many milestones of Indian History like opposition to Sikh militancy in Punjab, Operation Bluestar, the following Hindu-Sikh harmony, the demolition of Babri Masjid at Ayodhya etc.

His first stint as Prime Minister in 1996 was a mere 13 days as the BJP was unable to gather a majority. His second stint in 1998-99 saw Vajpayee-ji remaining as “care-taker-prime-minister” till the general elections but witnessed few historic milestones like the five successful nuclear tests at Pokhran, the Lahore Summit, the Delhi-Lahore Bus service and the tragic Kargil war.

I remember the Social science class room discussions with BLM ma’am where we spoke of Pokhran tests and the retaliating Chagai tests by Pakistan. Kargil war details were splashed across the newspapers and all TV channels while we contributed a modest amount from our school to the Indian Army. Although we were too young to assess the magnanimity of the war and the surrounding horror, we were all jubilant and proud to be able to come of help to the country as and when need arose. I even wrote a poem, “An Ode to the Kargil Heroes”, which was widely appreciated.

Vajpayee-ji led BJP won a stable majority in 1999 and on Oct 13th 1999, Vajpayee-ji took oath as the 16th Prime Minister of India. This was history itself for becoming the first non-Congress government to last the full term of five years. Almost everything that followed was a part of our daily talks. This included the National Highway Development programme wherein Vajpayee-ji took personal interest, the then US President Bill Clinton’s visit to India, the Ram Janmabhoomi issue, the Kashmir issue, the RSS-VHP-BJP alliance, Vajpayee-ji’s knee surgery at Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital, the Tehelka scandal, the attack on Parliament building and of course, the breaking of ice in Indo-Pak relationships when the then Pak President Pervez Musharraf not only visited India but also paid a visit to his birthplace and his ageing childhood nanny touching a sentimental nerve across borders. Last but not the least, Vajpayee-ji and his government led the mass literacy scheme “Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan”, which aimed at improving the quality of education in primary and secondary schools, eradicating illiteracy, and providing school children with midday meals. It has been reasonably successful. I also remember this album containing his poems that was released. Shah Rukh Khan starred in the album.

A collage of the Sonia Gandhi led Indian National Congress and various minor political allies, called United Progressive Alliance, won the 2004 general elections and India is currently under the tenure of Dr. Manmohan Singh. Vajpayee-ji retired from active politics in Dec 2005. He is currently hailed as one of the grand-patriarchs of the party and of the country too, from various perspectives.

Vajpayee-ji was such a major figure in my growing years. My family being such great supporters of Vajpayee-ji, I grew up with immense respect for the octogenarian. Everything about him was news and we were proud to say he was our Prime Minister. The best times were when we had Vajpayee-ji as our Prime Minister and Dr.Abdul Kalam as our President. India could proudly flaunt to the rest of the world, for having such stalwarts to lead.

Flashes of my high school days came back to me when I read in the newspapers last week that Vajpayee-ji had taken ill. News had it that he was admitted to AIIMS when he complained of chest pain and is put on a ventilator. A part of me felt very sad on saturday to hear Vajpayee-ji’s health was further deteriorating. I just saw the latest web results and I now feel like cheering.

Atal-chacha is stable and responding to the treatments.

Dearest Atal-chachaji,
You have been a patriarchal figure in our country’s history. You have been an invariable hero for countless youngsters like me. We salute you and we need you all the more now, especially since we are old enough to release the burden from your shoulders to take up our responsibilities and thereby take our country in the road to progress. Your immense experience and your advice to us are greatly required. Get well soon.

Wishing you a speedy recovery!!

Aishwarya Rai became Padma Shri.. What crap!!!

A certain Aishwarya Rai became a Padma Shri.. Hold on, what are we up to?? Insulting the Padma Shri winners so far?? What exactly has this ex Miss World turned actor turned Bachchan Bahu done???

To summarize her “contribution” since her Miss World days, this is what I can say in brief..

The Miss India first runner up was crowned Miss World 1994. After a totally forgotten debut and a string of flop films, a talented young director Sanjay Leela Bhansali agreed to audition the beauty upon his close aide Salman Khan’s insistence. “Hum dil de chuke sanam” happened!! Although it will always be considered as Sanjay’s film, it made her a star and so began the lead duo’s romance wherein she could exploit Salman’s name to her fullest advantage. A second string of flops followed!! Sanjay came to her rescue again.. A sensational “Devdas” happened taking her to greater heights, only this time the beauty in the ageing face got noticed more so abroad. Loreal, Longines and Nakshatra fell in her kitty!! Cannes beckoned only to create headlines over Ash’s suicidal wardrobe. A very possessive Salman got ditched for Vivek Oberoi for insisting marriage. Ash got usurped in Black and Chalte Chalte due to old Salman link up issues. Sanjay, who was the reason for her two successes, proclaimed Rani was always the original choice while SRK promptly replaced Ash with Rani for Chalte Chalte causing Ash to make press statements about Sanjay and SRK having to go a long way as good human beings. Severing ties with the powerful Salman definitely had its negative impact and Ash needed a strong back-up, unlike the love struck Oberoi who was talking all over the timsel town about how much he wanted Ash in his arms!! “Kyon.. Ho gaya na!!” was a box office disaster, despite Big B’s (idiotic though) presence.. “Bunty aur Babli” was shot with Ash in an item number with the Bachchan Sr and Jr. What was just another fling for playboy Jr Bachchan turned out to be the decision of a life time for the ageing beauty who was already halfway in her 30s. Deepika Padukone of Bangalore meanwhile had caught the King Khan’s attention and even otherwise, the rush of rising starlets and especially the mega launches of star-kids necessitated the need for a strong back up.. Abhi’s Ring came at the peak time!! Vivek was unabashedly thrown aside when Ash decided to get the title of the Bachchan Bahu. Mani Ratnam’s “Guru” was greatly benefited in the hustle though JP Dutta’s “Umrao Jaan” bombed. “Dhoom 2” positively stank!! It was an out and out Hrithik’s film with Ash looking like a cancer patient after an overdose of radiation therapy. Damn, she’s beautiful and the directors should cash in on ”that” since they cannot rely on her acting skills (if any!). A hush-hush marriage followed where half the film fraternity felt insulted by the sweet boxes sent out after the wedding. Ash went around squashing pregnancy rumors (I only heard her denials of a supposed rumor, never got the rumor though) while Abhi faded away from public view. Big B and Bachchan Bahu make news while Abhi basks in their reflected glory, to this day (poor hen-pecked hubby Abhi!)
If it can be considered, the girls’ school started by the Bachchan family in her name, is the only “contribution” of merit. The beautiful otherwise average actor is Bachchan bahu and with strong political links, the late Rajiv Gandhi family, Amar Singh to mention a few.

And Aishwarya Rai Bachchan became a Padma Shri and has gracefully accepted the award with great humility..

And so we insult all other actual achievers like Kamal Hassan, Jaya Bachchan, Mammooty, Mani Ratnam etc who have been conferred the Padma Shri for their outstanding contribution in the field of cinema, so far…

P.S – Ram Gopal Verma or Mahesh Bhatt will probably take the backbone of the story of Aishwarya Rai, add a little “masala” maybe and make a sensational film. The real life story of Padma Shri Aishwarya Rai Bachchan actually matches their genres of film making.. Beat that!!

This was when I got super pissed!!!!!!

I'm solidly "benched"....
I mean, my hands are tied and I need to spend 9.5 hours in the office campus. The office library positively stinks so reading book to pass time is out of question. I can't bring myself to read Paulo Coelho or Edward Bono. I have nothing against them but I can't read their books, not now atleast. Neither can I cram techie stuff, I still curse the day I took to Engineering. Maybe I can try and excel here but the point is just that I'm not interested!!
GRE/GMAT/GATE preparation is not a good idea too. That leaves me with the option of browsing the net all day long which unfortunately gets to me thanks to the 20min time out procedure here.
What cannot be cured, has to be endured!! Which is what I'm convincing myself to somehow do. I mean, I'm "benched" and so going through all this. It can't get worse, right??
I mean.. The no-place-so-sit-on-cafeteria-building-steps and jobless-so-kill-time-browsing-the-net and so on.. Every single day of my life seems pointless and worse, I can't do anything about it..
This has been the scenario for the past 6-8 weeks, though I must admit I had my cubicle back then. And heck, this is the scenario in most places.
God!! How did I end up here?? When will this end?? For the good.....

I just remembered that verse from Shankaracharya's Bhaja Govindam...
"Punarapi jananam punarapi maranam
punarapi jananii jathare shayanam
iha samsaare bahudustaare
kripayaa apaare paahi muraare...."
[Born again, death again, birth again to stay in the mother's womb ! It is indeed hard to cross this boundless ocean of samsara. Oh Murari ! Redeem me through Thy mercy....]

Amen!

Oh my love...

Whenever we talk of role models and ideal examples, we always imply achievers in the real world.. Its always patriotic heroes, sportsmen or actors and sometimes even authors, poets, artists.. A few here and there talk of their folks at home, maybe parents or siblings closely followed by cousins and aunts and uncles, etc.. Post 26/11 Mumbai attack, the NSG commandos have made it to the most favored list too!!

I do not say that is wrong nor do I wish to say what I say next, because I consciously choose to be different from everyone. Yes, I hate to be a part of a crowd or one in chorus.. I like being in the limelight and I'm not ashamed to say that!! As for being grouped into a category, I detest it unless I myself approve of the folks already present in that so called category.. A certain “Nam Gang-u” and “d3musketeers” for that instance, I’m involved there by choice..

But this question of choosing a role model, I must confess I’m yet to meet someone who has similar view point to mine. All I want to say is this…

How do we define a role model?? My definition is that of a person who –
Has absolutely no flaws
Is passionate for a cause, come what may
Is practical yet sensitive
Is the epitome of integrity and responsibility
Is strength of character personified, yet bold enough to accept when wrong

I can probably add a few more qualities but these five points are enough to show how idealistic the whole issue is. Also, I’m surer that sure that there is/was never a person ever in this whole wide world who can fit the bill!!

So after a rendezvous with many people who marginally fit the role by meeting one or more of the listed qualities but never all, I saw what I wanted.. He was there all the while, in my very vicinity but never considered.. I’d seen him but never noticed..

Most people who know me, are aware of my obsession for the works of Ayn Rand and Atlas Shrugged being the top favorite. A few close friends also know that I treat my copy of that book like its my baby.. In that regard, I want to say that Francisco d’Anconia is my perfect role mode!!!!

I know folks who have read and got carried away by Atlas Shrugged claim John Galt as God.. The fanatic followers of Objectivist philosophy are great admirers of John Galt and also Howard Roark who is apparently the “incarnation of the perfect man”. I do not oppose their views but its just that it was Francisco who appealed to me more than anyone else!! John Galt and Howard Roark stuck me as the perfect protagonists but somehow Francisco came more alive and seemed more real.

When Francisco said he would do something, he meant doing it superlatively. His passion to stick to what is right, his sensitive yet practical nature, and just about everything is worthy of appreciation. He loved and lived life.. He is everything I have looked for in a role model and which is precisely why I wouldn’t be wrong in saying he is the perfect love of my life!!

Francisco is a fictional character and therefore his qualities are definitely exaggerated!! It is not possible to live life the way Ayn Rand describes that Francisco did. To even try with such intensity is preposterous; one cannot survive in a real society with such ideals or morals. But if anyone can take a few leaves by his example and learn to love and live life that way it ought to be loved and lived, their life by all means is a success.

I now realize how I can love my life and make every precious minute of it worthwhile. I’m thankful God has given me the opportunities I now have and I realize there are folks without that also. I realize that to do something means to do it superlatively and nothing can compromise that!! I understand that every single choice I make, no matter how trivial, echoes what kind of a person I am. I declare that all relationships in my life are the ones I make consciously with my full judgment, and not merely due to forged bonds, though I’m polite enough to acknowledge all acquaintances, blood related or otherwise. To directly quote Ayn Rand, I will say “I think, therefore I am!!”

To have made all this possible, I’m eternally indebted to Ayn Rand and of course, the particular character of her magnum opus, Francisco d’Anconia.

You, who is so deeply engraved in my heart and soul, in my senses and emotions, in my choices and decisions, in my work and in fact, in my whole personality.. My friend, philosopher and guide.. My role model.. My biggest challenge.. My greatest addiction.. My baby.. Me, myself..

You are the perfect love of my life!!!

And here comes the Revolution, moving the wheels of change...

Saw Obama being sworn in as the 44th President of (lets face it!!) the most powerful country in the world, the United States of America.. I was hanging on to every word of his speech!! It had snippets of Ayn Rand here and there, especially the statements - 1. We have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord2. The time has come to set aside childish things and to reaffirm our enduring spirit3. All are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness4. Greatness is never a given. It must be earned. 5. America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction. 6. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works - whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. 7. Those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account.8. The question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control.9. A nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. 10. Our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please.11. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense. (I loved this one!) The son of a white mother and a black Kenyan Immigrant taking the most precious oath in presence of over 2 million citizens and millions more through television is nothing short of a phenomenon!! Ever since Clinton and Obama started their respective campaigns, I wondered.. For a land that is notorious for racism in terms of color, descent, race, gender etc, on par with the unimagineable opportunities for growth, development, success, name, fame etc; how will the common chauvinist white male react!!!! It was not surprising that one such typical sexist specimen threw his shirt at Clinton who was amidst her campaign at New Hampshire.. "Iron my shirt" is what the man and his comrade apparently yelled before being yanked away by the cops!! Nor is it unexpected that Obama became an inevitable victim of racism for his African descent and his muslim roots.. Such claims, despite being the crappiest bullshit can destroy a candidate's chancs for election.. So caught between a woman and a black, what can a typical chauvinistic, sexist, racist, white , American male choose?? My heart almost went out to those who couldn't help but be offended by the choices dished out at them.. "What cannot be cured, has to be endured" goes a popular adage.. I'm neither supporting those typical specimens' narrow outlook here nor am I opposing it, but just making observations like anyone across the globe has the right to!! And they chose Obama while Clinton gracefully accepted the role of Secretary of State and not to mention, the most powerful person on the scene, next only to Obama!! The rest, they say, is history.... Coming back to Obama's inaugural speech, he is one helluva spokesman.. His charishma and his oratory skills have that finnesse that perfectly suits the US President role.. The afore mentioned points are the ones that touched me the most.. Could not help comparing this whole scenario with our state of affairs!! If an X gets a party ticket to elections over Y, then Y will make sure to take revenge on X at the next available oppotunity.. If X wants to campaign, Y will get a whole sheet in the most read newspapers and weeklys to print truths and untruths on X's coruption and greed.. Was Y any better any day, is a question we will choose not to ask!! If X wins this election, Y will win the next and make sure X is prosecuted.. This is enough to get the general idea!! Speaking of India and USA comparison.. We are greater in population and they are greater in land availability and resources.. Like that dialogue in Swades, whenever there is this comparison and we are on the losing side, we talk of our heritage and culture and the same old irrelevant crap!! But the point is, how can we bring change?? How can we make this better?? We need to choose the right leaders. For this we need to assess the election candidates and choose the best among the lot!! For that we need to be aware of the happenings around. For that, we need to read newspapers, weeklys, follow news on current affairs on mass media etc.. To simplify, we need to be able to study the situation, assess the candidates and make our judgement for which the one and only requirement is EDUCATION!! If this happens, our current leaders will no longer remain leaders. So its best not to let people get better. Let them stay the way they are and our leaders will remain benefited!! To me, it seems like a deadlock situation.. Till people are educated, there won't be right leaders and till there are right leaders, there won't be mass literacy.. US suffers from discrimination in terms of color, race, origin, descent and gender.. We have it in terms of caste and creed!! US suffered greatly from terror attacks, so did we.. We have Pakistan as our neighbors, beat that!! I should not be generalizing but its suicidal to teach children from their school days that India and Pakistan are enemies.. Its like incubating next generation terrorists!!
So its not altogether compare the two nations.. If they can do it, so can we.. British are known for their penchant for being adamant and stubborn. The early settlers of British origin are ancestors to most of current day American citizens.. Of course its a cultural pot pourrie out there with people from across the globe, but are we different?? We talk of "Unity in Diversity".. We have several hundreds of individual mother tongues.. When it comes to religious faiths, we outdo all other countries of the world.. So if not same, are we not similar to US??
I'm not sure if I strayed or if I stuck to what I had in mind but I'm just ending it here..
If US can do it, we can as well.. Its time for a change, for a revolution..
And know what?? I think we are game for it...... :)