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...... :)