Pride goes before a fall…..
Life is the greatest teacher…
Blessings of our elders are inevitable in all walks of our life.
Life is a cycle of events, whether it is season, or experience.
I like to get wet in the rain, so that no one would see me crying, I like to get apprised, as I can know my strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats!!
Why do we garnish our own traits while tarnish that of others?
It was nice to see granddaughter coming to see her grandma, at least before joining her college this time.
Was it a realization? If yes well and good.
Still cannot forget the day, when having told that her grandma is sending someone, there was no one at home!!!
Would they have done this if it was whom they want!! What do they have their mobiles for? Just to demand and ask for things??
It needs a fall, to remind us that there is someone above us.
When the results are good, it’s because we are brilliant, when the results are bad, it’s because papers or the task was difficult!!
Events like the reality shows are also an eye-opener.
Indeed, whatever has to go wrong will go wrong, and nobody can stop an idea whose time has come!!!
Grass is always greener on the other side.
Don’t boast. Take time to appreciate and for Thanks giving.
It is all part of future shocks, that we have started depreciating the value of relations!!
It was again Potta Ammavan, who is and was there in the hour of need.
You can fool some people for some time, but not all the people all the time.
It is so good and indeed a blessing to have elderly people at home, you have got so many visitors, and get to know so many people.
Gods blessings are needed in every walk of our life, and when he tests us, we should not give up. Lijohns marriage took place amidst so much of hurdles:
Rain, due to which, house construction delayed, father hospitalized, leg figure swollen and having sugar, business of milking cow had to be stopped, thief, and the day before brother in laws brother expired, yet the wedding happened well.
What you want to do, do it now. You cannot keep it for tomorrow; there is no better time than now! This is the right time. As ammuma said, if you don’t have borrow and give, this time will never come again.
You should never dream of winning a lottery, unless you buy one, and passing an examination, unless you write one, and getting promotions, unless you come out of your comfort zone.
Anubahvikum…That work keep echoing my ears…It is not only sisters, so long as there is life in any individual, he goes through anubhavam, or experiences….Life is indeed the greatest teacher, and each day is a new learning….there are many lessons, learned from life of our own, and of others!!
Monday, June 30, 2008
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Dimensions of Culture
It is said that one who has learnt the language but is ignorant of the culture is a fluent fool. Let us try to know the dimensions of culture:
Individualism Vs Collectivism:
Most individualistic society is USA according to a 1980 study. It is the function of ones reasoning mind. It makes an individual independent, strong, reliable, and confident.
In the orient, there are life long family relationships based on inter-dependence and loyalty. That is collectivism. There is always a safety net.
Whatever, ultimately, you have to face the consequence.
Particularisam Vs. Universalism
Particularisam means an individual behaves as per circumstances and people.
Universalism means there is equality, say like in naxal countries.
High Power Distance Vs. Low Power Distance
Filipino culture ranks extremely high in power distance. There is clear cut distinctions in hierarchy and status. This is seen in Asian families too.
In the USA all are considered equal, so hierarchy is either not acknowledged or is positively de-emphasized. (Classic example-using first names to address people) Hierarchy do exist but it is considered inappropriate to accentuate this fact.
Fatalism Vs. Activism
In Fatalism, individual is a small speck. There is fate or destiny, controlling him. So we Indians forget quarrels, calamities.
In Activism the locus of control is largely internal. There are no limits on what I can do or become, so long as I set my mind to it and make the necessary efforts. People here are generally focused. Americans being so can nevery forget 9/11.
Polychronic Vs. Monochronic
In a polychronic society like India, people follow the IST meaning: Indian Stretchable Time. They don’t realize that the most important thing in life is Time. Those who be on time to places become fools. They have to keep waiting. So much of man hours is lost. But they are good at multitasking too.
In a monochromic culture, time is given and people are the variable. The needs of people are adjusted to suit the demands of time. So there is no concept of being late. Time is quantifiable and there is a limited amount of it at any given time. They belive in completing one task at a time, and only then taking the next.
Uncertinity Vs. Certinity
Uncertainty avoidance is related to anxiety and not just to risk. It leads to a reduction of ambiguity and hence a need for structure.
High Context Vs. Low Context
In high context we need to look the background. You need to look at the undercurrent for survival. It is harder to understand and penetrate. In countries like Japan and France it is highly followed. In families it is so especially between husband and wife.
Eg. Admit mistake and earn respect: In some organizations you may be chucked out.
When everything is explicitly stated it is low context.
East Vs. West
Once upon a time, India was a self-sufficient, self reliant and happy country. Though after coming into India ruling us and living behind, they have left their culture, which we try to imitate and there is confusion. We are on the middle path. Lessons we can learn from the west are:
Freedom from Prejudice: Only open book can absorb ideas.
Discipline: Most important thing in life is time. One needs to respect that.
Professionalism: How to be impartial in relationship. Accept mistakes, let the other man save his face.
Egoism: Only when an individual is happy, he can help the group, to make a collective right decision. It is worthless to make sacrifices when one is not happy.
Self Confidence: Be a go getter.
Appreciation: We should not be critical, but lean to say good.
Planning foresights:
These qualities need to be imbibed.
It is hurting to see that the new generation, instead of looking at this, feels that family relations are a burden or are wrong. It is especially because the individual is not happy.
Accountant Vs. Marketing:
Accountants would like to economize, make optimum use of their resources. If you try to economize, you will not be able to market.
Marketing people would like to spent more and get more. Getting more makes them happy, and they try to influence those around them. (at times with a heavy price)
This was to highlight the different departments in an organization. Though there are differences, both understand the perception and live together.
Roles, superstitions and rituals, Values-The determinants of behavior, also play a great part. Eg. The father as authority figure.
Remember Ethnocentrism: Ethnic+Centre: The tendency to evaluate a foreigner/outside behavior by the standard of ones own culture.
We take our culture for granted.
We see our behavior as correct and others as wrong.
Infuses prejudice, contempt, stereotype, and conflict.
At any cost you will learn but at what cost and with how much pain is important.
All cultures are not readily compatible. Don’t focus on differences, focus on similarity and you can get alone with anyone.
Courtesy:
• Ms. Pushpa Kurups charismatic personality, and valuable training
• Ms. Narayanis thoughts on lessons we can learn from the west.
• Mr. Sajeev and Ms. Tharas gift: The fountain head, and the other books.
• Life experiences.
Individualism Vs Collectivism:
Most individualistic society is USA according to a 1980 study. It is the function of ones reasoning mind. It makes an individual independent, strong, reliable, and confident.
In the orient, there are life long family relationships based on inter-dependence and loyalty. That is collectivism. There is always a safety net.
Whatever, ultimately, you have to face the consequence.
Particularisam Vs. Universalism
Particularisam means an individual behaves as per circumstances and people.
Universalism means there is equality, say like in naxal countries.
High Power Distance Vs. Low Power Distance
Filipino culture ranks extremely high in power distance. There is clear cut distinctions in hierarchy and status. This is seen in Asian families too.
In the USA all are considered equal, so hierarchy is either not acknowledged or is positively de-emphasized. (Classic example-using first names to address people) Hierarchy do exist but it is considered inappropriate to accentuate this fact.
Fatalism Vs. Activism
In Fatalism, individual is a small speck. There is fate or destiny, controlling him. So we Indians forget quarrels, calamities.
In Activism the locus of control is largely internal. There are no limits on what I can do or become, so long as I set my mind to it and make the necessary efforts. People here are generally focused. Americans being so can nevery forget 9/11.
Polychronic Vs. Monochronic
In a polychronic society like India, people follow the IST meaning: Indian Stretchable Time. They don’t realize that the most important thing in life is Time. Those who be on time to places become fools. They have to keep waiting. So much of man hours is lost. But they are good at multitasking too.
In a monochromic culture, time is given and people are the variable. The needs of people are adjusted to suit the demands of time. So there is no concept of being late. Time is quantifiable and there is a limited amount of it at any given time. They belive in completing one task at a time, and only then taking the next.
Uncertinity Vs. Certinity
Uncertainty avoidance is related to anxiety and not just to risk. It leads to a reduction of ambiguity and hence a need for structure.
High Context Vs. Low Context
In high context we need to look the background. You need to look at the undercurrent for survival. It is harder to understand and penetrate. In countries like Japan and France it is highly followed. In families it is so especially between husband and wife.
Eg. Admit mistake and earn respect: In some organizations you may be chucked out.
When everything is explicitly stated it is low context.
East Vs. West
Once upon a time, India was a self-sufficient, self reliant and happy country. Though after coming into India ruling us and living behind, they have left their culture, which we try to imitate and there is confusion. We are on the middle path. Lessons we can learn from the west are:
Freedom from Prejudice: Only open book can absorb ideas.
Discipline: Most important thing in life is time. One needs to respect that.
Professionalism: How to be impartial in relationship. Accept mistakes, let the other man save his face.
Egoism: Only when an individual is happy, he can help the group, to make a collective right decision. It is worthless to make sacrifices when one is not happy.
Self Confidence: Be a go getter.
Appreciation: We should not be critical, but lean to say good.
Planning foresights:
These qualities need to be imbibed.
It is hurting to see that the new generation, instead of looking at this, feels that family relations are a burden or are wrong. It is especially because the individual is not happy.
Accountant Vs. Marketing:
Accountants would like to economize, make optimum use of their resources. If you try to economize, you will not be able to market.
Marketing people would like to spent more and get more. Getting more makes them happy, and they try to influence those around them. (at times with a heavy price)
This was to highlight the different departments in an organization. Though there are differences, both understand the perception and live together.
Roles, superstitions and rituals, Values-The determinants of behavior, also play a great part. Eg. The father as authority figure.
Remember Ethnocentrism: Ethnic+Centre: The tendency to evaluate a foreigner/outside behavior by the standard of ones own culture.
We take our culture for granted.
We see our behavior as correct and others as wrong.
Infuses prejudice, contempt, stereotype, and conflict.
At any cost you will learn but at what cost and with how much pain is important.
All cultures are not readily compatible. Don’t focus on differences, focus on similarity and you can get alone with anyone.
Courtesy:
• Ms. Pushpa Kurups charismatic personality, and valuable training
• Ms. Narayanis thoughts on lessons we can learn from the west.
• Mr. Sajeev and Ms. Tharas gift: The fountain head, and the other books.
• Life experiences.
The Fountainhead
In ‘The Fountainhead’ Ayn Rand depicts mans character to be the product of his premises, through various characters, which are distinct classes of humanity:–
Howard Roark a college drop out from, the Architectural School of the Stanton Institute of Technology, self made architect, self sufficient, self confident, self centered ‘monster- because he is utterly innocent about it. His integrity is as unyielding as granite. He is in conflict with the world in every possible way-and at complete peace with himself and is himself at every cost. He knows it, and therefore is never hurt, nor suffers, and has no painful surprises. He has accepted what he is to accept from the world and is concerned with only what he does, which cannot be influenced by anything and anyone on the outside. He neither joins the society nor fights them, but lives on his own but do not mind destroying what he believes to be a destruction of creativity. A hymn glorifying a man’s ‘I’. Who dynamited and destroyed, Cortlandt, as it was he who designed it, and others tried to change it. He did not recognize anyones right to one minute of his life, energy or achievement. After a desperate battle waged he is fortunate enough in finding victory, after facing all odds, hardships and obstacles and of the fanatic denunciation unleashed by an enraged society against a great creator. A man who is as he should be as per Ayn Rand. ‘Are you happy Mr. Superman?’
Parallel to him is his senior in the college and the topper, Peter Keating, a second hander, in whose house Roark lived during the three years of his architectural education. He is a ruthless, unprincipled egotist, who did anything for his ‘brilliant career’, removed Tim Davis, Claude Stengel and Lucius Heyer, from his way, send for the competation drawing made by Howard Roark as his. He was a luckier, selfless man, who having no self also did not have any ethics. His aim in life was Greatness-in other people’s eyes fame, admiration, envy. His philosophy was to always be what people want you to be, then you can get them where you want them. Others were his motive power and his prime concern. Concerned, not truly, but only as mirrors for his own vanity. He borrowed from others in order to make an impression on others. That’s actual selflessness. It’s his ego he’s betrayed and given up. But everybody calls him selfish.
Ellsworth Toohey, contrast to Roark, who did not believe in individualism, but that all are equal and interchangeable, glorified all forms of collectivism, who said to Peter, that kindness was the first commandment. We need to learn to love everything, the humblest, the least, the meanest, and then the meanest in you will be loved. According to him there are two things we must get rid of early in life, a feeling of personal superiority and an exaggerated reverence for the sexual act. He seldom let a boy pursue the career he had choosen. He told them, that it would be wiser to choose a profession about which we can be calm, sane and matter-of fact. And if you hate it, it makes for down-to-earthness. He belived in principles and that there are two procedures in life, you can pull out each single weed as it comes up or prepare the soil in such a manner-by spreading such a chemical- that it will be impossible for weeds to grow. Guess he was busy doing the second, with a mask of the social worker. Who destroyed architecture, literature, theater, press. He spend time creating all form of silly organizations. He made friends who clung to him. He once said to kill by laughter. Laughter is an instrument of human joy, but which can be used as a weapon of destruction, by turning it into a sneer. He was Catherines uncle. When there was an end to the Banner, many newspapers bid for his service. He selected the Courier. He went into ‘intellectualism’ in a big way. A subconscious revenge for his obvious physical inferiority, a means to power his body could never give him. Also he had a cunning perception that only mental control over others is true control. Concerned about others, with an overwhelming desire to dominate them.
Gail Wynand, the greatest publisher, born without a silver spoon in his mouth. A self made man, who had acquired all the wealth, and power in the world. But he ruled only as long as he said what the mob wanted him to say, and all were fair weathering when he said what he wanted. Of whom Henry Cameron, who loved his work for which he fought and lost, who was the only person with whom Howard Roark wanted to work, and did work, had warned when on his death bed. With whom Austen Heller, who had given Roark, his first break in creativity had asked Roark to keep a boundary, to which Roark had said: but nobody has ever given the proper statement of where they must be drawn. With his banner was Alvah Scarret, who had never hated anything and so was incapable of love. When Toohey was to be taken back to Banner, he put an end to it. Mike the electrician, and Steven Mallory, who was the sculptor of the controversial statue of Dominique for the temple, were the few well wishers of Roark. But Gail Wynand ended up giving Roark the biggest and greatest break, in his career, though had lost even his wife for Roark.
Dominique Francon, the exquisitely beautiful women who loved Roark passionately, but married first Peter Keating, and then Gail Wynand, and in the end return to Roark. Hers was the character, I could not digest, may be it is typical of the western culture, and unacceptable to traditional orients! To her everything was a string leading to every other.
Catherine Halsey, whom Peter had jilted for Dominique. Who then takes up work, and believes herself to be temperamentally unsuited to domesticity which is too selfish and too narrow. Who learns to believe in looking at things objectively, and being rational.
Mrs. Keating, full of dreams for her son. A true, normal mother – for whom there is only one perfect child. ‘Motherhood in a changing world’. Can they ever broaden their own emotional view and raise their selfish love for their children, to a higher plane?
About material and non material things:
There are various perceptions given of two great professions Architecture and Journalism.
Money: There is nothing evil in a desire to make money. But money is only a means to some end. If a man wants it for a personal purpose-to invest in his industry, to create, to study, to travel, to enjoy luxury- he’s completely moral. But the men who place money first go beyond that. Personal luxury is a limited endeavor. What they want is ostentation: to show, to stun, to entertain, and to impress others. They’re second-handers.
Man: A man thinks and works alone. The man who attempts to live for others is a dependent. A man cannot rob, exploit or rule-alone. Robbery, exploitation and ruling presuppose victims. They imply dependence. They are the province of the second hander. No one is responsible, no one can be held accountable, and such is the nature of all collective action. The only good which men can do to one another and the only statement of their proper relationship is-Hands off!!! Our idea of mankind is general. All we know of it is the people we meet in our lifetime. Of them, one can feel some respect for people when they suffer. They have a certain dignity. But they are different when they are enjoying themselves. Whatever, we need people in our life.
Then there is reference to the Gallant Gallstone, wherein it is said that there is no such thing as free will. We can’t help what we are or what we do. Its not our fault. Nobody’s to blame for anything. It’s all in your background and….and your glands. If you’re good, that’s no achievement of yours-you were lucky in your glands. If you’re rotten, nobody should punish you-you were unlucky, that’s all. – We all agree to this, but when it comes to practice, there are variances.
In the intellectual discussion there was Mitchell Layton who said, that people would be much happier in all regulated society that had a definite pattern and a unified form-like a folk dance. What makes people unhappy is not too little choice, but too much. Jessica Pratt, for whom education is all that we need, we would have a better world.
Altruism-the sacrifice of self to others, live for others. . If physical slavery is repulsive, more repulsive is the slavery of spirit. The man who enslaves himself voluntarily in the name of love is the basest of creatures. He degrades the dignity of man and he degrades the conception of love. Which is the essence of altruism.
Creator: Is the man who disagrees, who swims against the current, stands alone, the egotist. His concern is the conquest of nature, lives for his work, and basic need is independence. Men have been thought that highest virtue is to give, relive others from suffering. But one cannot give that which has not been created. Creation comes before destruction. We should not shrug at an act of achievement.
Egotism is the sacrifice of others to self, and
‘ From this simplest necessity to the highest religious abstraction, from the wheel to the skyscraper, everything we are and everything we have comes from a single attribute of man-the function of his reasoning mind’.
Neither politics nor ethics nor philosophy is an end in itself, neither in life nor in literature. Only Man is an end in himself.
‘Whatever their future, at the dawn of their lives, men seek a noble vision of mans nature and of life’s potential.’
And this book has given an answer to most of my doubts and questions: And the answer is ‘mans ego is the fountainhead of human progress’ Thanks for it....
A lovely birthday present!!!
Sunday, June 01, 2008
Play amidst work:
All work and no play make Jack a dull boy,
All play and no work make Jack a mere toy.
To balance both, thanks to our S&C Committee at office, time and again, every month, there are various events organized.
Last week, the foreign instructor at KPMG was spell bound to hear sudden commotion, we had our colleagues hunting treasure, all around the office, we could see them, going all around, HR, Managers Cabins, sending mail to S&C, solving puzzles, and finally smelling out the treasure. There were many groups, and finally the treasure was hunted from the locker by Hunters headed by Sreeram and party. That was the Treasure Hunt event of the month.
In April, there was sports day, which was supposed to be held in the month of March, but postponed due to the sad demise of Binu Paulose.
No wonder with such motivation mail from their Leader Yashin Edison, Squad rants were the winning team. ‘In the midst of marriage, exams and fatigue, when the going gets tough, the tough gets going. These were the valiant squadrons who have offered their blood, sweat, toil and tears. Sunday, the whole team came alive. We will not give walk over, we will not bow down and we will not step back…. …..Live for nothing or die for something,’ participated in all events. Their team not only played for themselves but members of their team like Ajeesh, played for other teams too.
Indeed true leadership is revealed in:
Building and maintaining team.
Achieving tasks.
Subordinate Development.
Thereby influencing oneself , others, group, society and also being influenced by others. That indeed is Leadership skills.
True sportsmanship does not lie in winning or loosing but taking part. There were few participants, many could not turn up and indeed inspiring was Mohammed Bilal from Simcore, playing cricket, football, and running 1500 meters, giving commentary, all on the same day.
There were members from S&C committee on Saturday and Sunday, the whole day at Thevara Sacred Hearts College Ground.
Before that was Quest 2008, which brought into light many quizzers in OPI. Here again the winner was Sreerams Team.
Cheers to our S&C Committee!!! We are waiting and watching more actions that follow!!! Good experience after a break of seven years!!! Missed the earlier events!!!
All play and no work make Jack a mere toy.
To balance both, thanks to our S&C Committee at office, time and again, every month, there are various events organized.
Last week, the foreign instructor at KPMG was spell bound to hear sudden commotion, we had our colleagues hunting treasure, all around the office, we could see them, going all around, HR, Managers Cabins, sending mail to S&C, solving puzzles, and finally smelling out the treasure. There were many groups, and finally the treasure was hunted from the locker by Hunters headed by Sreeram and party. That was the Treasure Hunt event of the month.
In April, there was sports day, which was supposed to be held in the month of March, but postponed due to the sad demise of Binu Paulose.
No wonder with such motivation mail from their Leader Yashin Edison, Squad rants were the winning team. ‘In the midst of marriage, exams and fatigue, when the going gets tough, the tough gets going. These were the valiant squadrons who have offered their blood, sweat, toil and tears. Sunday, the whole team came alive. We will not give walk over, we will not bow down and we will not step back…. …..Live for nothing or die for something,’ participated in all events. Their team not only played for themselves but members of their team like Ajeesh, played for other teams too.
Indeed true leadership is revealed in:
Building and maintaining team.
Achieving tasks.
Subordinate Development.
Thereby influencing oneself , others, group, society and also being influenced by others. That indeed is Leadership skills.
True sportsmanship does not lie in winning or loosing but taking part. There were few participants, many could not turn up and indeed inspiring was Mohammed Bilal from Simcore, playing cricket, football, and running 1500 meters, giving commentary, all on the same day.
There were members from S&C committee on Saturday and Sunday, the whole day at Thevara Sacred Hearts College Ground.
Before that was Quest 2008, which brought into light many quizzers in OPI. Here again the winner was Sreerams Team.
Cheers to our S&C Committee!!! We are waiting and watching more actions that follow!!! Good experience after a break of seven years!!! Missed the earlier events!!!
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Opportunities Unlimited for Little Masters...
The kind of money, entertainment, and lessons generated by the merger or standalone of bollywood, cricket and Industrialist, both national and international, is by itself a great proof that medical, engineeing, business, finance or economics are no more the choicest subject students like to study. There are more profitable subjects like cricketonomics, sports or arts like acting, dancing, singing, quizzing….
Today Sachin Tendulkar is not the only Little Master of India. It was a matter of great pride to see Poornasree (Chippy), a little nightingale, who has not even reached her teens, winning a diamond necklace worth Rs. Five Lakhs. How happy her mother Sreekala cheechi and family would be!! Long cherished dream come true, and door of opportunity opened. Samba like dance performed by youngsters, threw a ray of hope that may be one day, Indians too may perform gymnastic. There are so many unknown/Unpopular talents brought to light...
Events like IPL, fearing which even many movie releases has been postponed, ICL, Reality shows, indeed is a platform, most welcome, in a country which has a population of one billion and only one cricket team till now, and few highly paid talents. There are so many young talents that need to be discovered. Realty shows have taken some interest away of people from the Sas bahu serials, which often tend to corrupt the minds, at times, the competition especially the elimination tend to sadden the minds of the participants, creating fights. But it was well managed in the latest Little Master, which was mind blowing. TV is no more doordarshan, you have cartoon-animation, geography-travell, history, sports, pogos, whole lot of newspapers and channels, opening up opportunities for Journalist.
With people like Sania Mirza, Vishwanathan Anand, Jeev Milkha Singh, Jyoti Randhawa, Narain Kartikeyan, who are not far behind their counterparts in cricket, though it is true that right now, no other sport can match the popularity of cricket in India. Other sports like football, golf, tennis, etc. have a future, but it is a long way from now. Hope to have IPL like support, coordination and encouragement in other sports and game activity.
Will we see a decentralized sports (not only cricket) activity in India with a decentralized public attention to match, pooling in all the states? Will we ever top the medal list in Olympics?
Sectors of the economy like travel and tourism, insurance,medical, engineering, finance, small vendors and hawkers, stadiums and yes indeed public relations and management opportunities have creeped in all these areas.
Every coin has two sides. Too much of anything is bad. Opportunities unlimited with negative ideas too…..Want to fulfil ambition and cannot, be a fake swami, there is increase in religious faith among people, Crime and therefore law makers and controllers have increased. Negative ideas would never bring overall prosperity but hatred unrest and commotion. Also one cannot fool all the people at all the times. Can a father who is a dental doctor (Rajesh Talwar) kill his own daughter (Arushi Talwar)? What would a mother ( Nupur Talwar) undergo? Incredible, Unbelivable!!
Owners, money involved and the winners of the reality shows and the ongoing hit IPL, or the death have proved that it is not always Plutocracy, or fame that wins, we cannot and should not underestimate any one (Shane Warne/Rajasthan Royals). Opportunity do not come knocking at your door always, and if it is there one need to use it. First and foremost we need to have life to leave, and also needed is peace… Be positive..Well begun is not always half done, and all is well that ends well. Self Control is very important. Uncertainty is certain.
Today Sachin Tendulkar is not the only Little Master of India. It was a matter of great pride to see Poornasree (Chippy), a little nightingale, who has not even reached her teens, winning a diamond necklace worth Rs. Five Lakhs. How happy her mother Sreekala cheechi and family would be!! Long cherished dream come true, and door of opportunity opened. Samba like dance performed by youngsters, threw a ray of hope that may be one day, Indians too may perform gymnastic. There are so many unknown/Unpopular talents brought to light...
Events like IPL, fearing which even many movie releases has been postponed, ICL, Reality shows, indeed is a platform, most welcome, in a country which has a population of one billion and only one cricket team till now, and few highly paid talents. There are so many young talents that need to be discovered. Realty shows have taken some interest away of people from the Sas bahu serials, which often tend to corrupt the minds, at times, the competition especially the elimination tend to sadden the minds of the participants, creating fights. But it was well managed in the latest Little Master, which was mind blowing. TV is no more doordarshan, you have cartoon-animation, geography-travell, history, sports, pogos, whole lot of newspapers and channels, opening up opportunities for Journalist.
With people like Sania Mirza, Vishwanathan Anand, Jeev Milkha Singh, Jyoti Randhawa, Narain Kartikeyan, who are not far behind their counterparts in cricket, though it is true that right now, no other sport can match the popularity of cricket in India. Other sports like football, golf, tennis, etc. have a future, but it is a long way from now. Hope to have IPL like support, coordination and encouragement in other sports and game activity.
Will we see a decentralized sports (not only cricket) activity in India with a decentralized public attention to match, pooling in all the states? Will we ever top the medal list in Olympics?
Sectors of the economy like travel and tourism, insurance,medical, engineering, finance, small vendors and hawkers, stadiums and yes indeed public relations and management opportunities have creeped in all these areas.
Every coin has two sides. Too much of anything is bad. Opportunities unlimited with negative ideas too…..Want to fulfil ambition and cannot, be a fake swami, there is increase in religious faith among people, Crime and therefore law makers and controllers have increased. Negative ideas would never bring overall prosperity but hatred unrest and commotion. Also one cannot fool all the people at all the times. Can a father who is a dental doctor (Rajesh Talwar) kill his own daughter (Arushi Talwar)? What would a mother ( Nupur Talwar) undergo? Incredible, Unbelivable!!
Owners, money involved and the winners of the reality shows and the ongoing hit IPL, or the death have proved that it is not always Plutocracy, or fame that wins, we cannot and should not underestimate any one (Shane Warne/Rajasthan Royals). Opportunity do not come knocking at your door always, and if it is there one need to use it. First and foremost we need to have life to leave, and also needed is peace… Be positive..Well begun is not always half done, and all is well that ends well. Self Control is very important. Uncertainty is certain.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Can we follow TATAS and say TATA to bad times?
Have you seen :
Forbes Billionaires List!!! For 2006 and 2007….Indians in the top 100!!
And Forbes Brand List!!!! Where are the Indians gone??
After Independence our Industrialists were given a monopolistic market to operate upon, which created fraudulent rupee billionaires!! In the second phase post liberalization, loss making PSUs (Public Sector Units) have been sold in totality at a fraction of the price they should have commanded in the market, for the bribes from the industrialist, causing a few dollar billionaires. Then comes the last phase: Having virtually run out of ways to get more bribes in a privatized world, numerous global billionaires have been created out of existing industrialists through SEZ act, and similar activity. For example to hide one move behind the other, government have signed Smart City Project in Kakkanad, Kerala, increasing the price of the land in and around, after which there is no much further development at that site but, there is selling of HMT to private industrialists!!
Land: basically is needed for three things: Shelter/Residence, food/agriculture and business. Since agriculture is very uncertain, and the output per hectare is self-sufficient only for handful of people, to help a wider section, indeed industries need to be actually developed. Right now the increase in prices in only imaginary, anticipating industrial growth. But if the industrial development is at the cost of agriculture.
Handful of companies are becoming abnormally wealthy by amassing land and natural resources, at throwaway prices. There are thousands of poor farmers and families, who are getting displaced not only from their homes but from their sole source of livelihood. With these acquisitions, rise in the prices around, is so unbalanced to the compensation paid to them that they cannot afford to buy a pin drop of place for what they get.
You find Reliance outlets everywhere; there is no petrol, in the petrol pumps. They have the land.
Economies like China, Japan, Germany, France, create brands, have technological know hows, investing in massive R&D, losing out in competition, fighting back again and finally creating wealth. We too have our wealth creators like Kiran Majumdar, Azim Premji, Narayan Murthi, Kumaramangalma Birtal, and indeed Ratan TATA!!!!
TATAS: here is one group which now produces from the most exotic high-end cars, to the ones for the lower section of the middle class, from heavy commercial vehicles to mini truck, from coffee, tea to salt to steel, insurance and mutual funds, from high end software services to telecommunications and sky, from retailing of apparels (Westside and Trent) to jewellery (Tanishq), from the most exotic hotels (Ritz Carlton, Peirre and Taj) to budget hotels like Ginger, from broadband to providing of financial services like insurance and mutual fund, from production of electricity to production of lubricants, from online interactive education to production of composite materials and construction equipments, from Direct To Home (DTH) service to industrial automation and air conditioning, from the most exotic watches to the publishing of books, from oil exploration to strategic consultancy and from solar power to agro-chemicals. The Tatas have been doing much in the last few years with respect to acquisition. Today, post acquisition of Jaguar & land Rover, Corus and a few others in the recent past, the Tatas is a $60 billion plus entity. Nor look back from the step kept forward by Jamshadji Tata. Indeed a journey of thousand miles begin with a single step.
Diversification like that of TATAS is the need of the hour.. If each of the TATA companies uses the products of the other, then TATAS already have a huge market to cater to.
And I guess this is the case, unlike Reliance, where there is already a rift, don’t know if this is the reason, why the two brothers are in the Forbes Billionaires list!! The rift for core competency is clearly evident. And they don’t use each others goods…you find, airtel connection in Reliance outlet…is it smartness or drama or fight!!
What is important to realize is that in case of problems on the external front, one can easily sustain during the lean period if each of the element of that captive economy is viable and contributing like that of TATAS.
Billionaires!!! Inflating land cost…and nothing to eat……was the trend so far..lets see how helpful though really not productive, is the waiver of loans of the farmers, in the present budget, is really going to work and help.
That the Indian economy is yet to be opened properly is vindicated by the fact that a stronger rupee is increasingly becoming a major cause of concern for the government and the exporters, at a time, when India ideally should be celebrating the strengthening rupee as a sign of a growing and potent economy.
Can we follow TATAS and say TATA to bad times?? True the time right now in India is not very bad, but it is salary rise for the rich, price rise for the poor!!! Present growth is beneficial only for those whose salaries have grown more in proportion to the price rise!! Donation seats and education for the rich, and illiteracy or bare minimum education for the poor. It further leaves the middle class where they where. That unfortunately is the story of India……or say anywhere in the world today?
Tough time never last, but tough people do. United we stand and divided we fall. We can fool some people for sometime, but not all the people at all the time. In the I alone world, let us have the we culture…Be self sufficient!!
To make the BRIC (Goldman Sachs's most famous Global Economic Paper(Brazil, Russia, India, China) ), the bricks of the BRIC will have to be first of all put in the right place, or else the 'I' would just collapse like a pack of cards.
3rd March - Birth Anniversary of Jamshedji Tata
Fanaa….Destroyed in love…
Zooni Ali Beg (Kajol), a blind Kashmiri girl, meets Rehan Quadri (Aamir Khan), a local tour guide and an incorrigible flirt. Her friends warn her against this good for nothing roadside Romeo, but she chooses to ignore them. It is now her time to discover life and love. Is this really the right choice?
Rehan is fascinated by Zooni and wants her to see life as it should be seen, in its many colours. He promises her that the time spent with him will be the most precious in all her life. And it indeed was….Zooni sees Delhi, life and love like she never has before, because of Rehan. She gets her eyesight back. But believes that Rehan is no more, after the bomb blasts in Delhi. He was infact the mastermind, and after completing his mission, moves forward to achieve his greater goal.
Eight year later, Rehan as an intruder, army man trying to save himself reach Zoonis house in Kashmir, where he meets his son. He was confused on seeing them, but since she was blink then, couldn’t recognize him, at the first instance. What Zooni doesn’t know is that Rehan has another side of his life that he has kept from her. Something that can not only change her life, but can also destroys it. He becomes the cause of her only support and strength, her father Rishi Kapoor. Finally like mother India, she shoots him…Thus they were destroyed in love…
Choices…to choose between right or wrong, is simple, but what defines ones life is the decision between the greater of 2 goods or the lesser of 2 evils.
This is the advice that Zooni receives from her father just as she is about to venture out into the world on her own for the very first time. Little does she know that these very words will shape her life.
Directed by Kunal Kohli and produced by Aditya Chopra, this is a film which some could not digest, but has left a lasting impression on many. There is the Fanaa Shayari!
“Tere Dil Mein Meri Saanson Ko Panaah Mil Jaaye, Tere Ishq Mein Meri Jaan Fanaa Ho Jaaye.”
"Humse door jaoge kaise, dil se hume bhoolaoge kaise, hum wo khushboo hai jo saanso me baste hain, Khudkee saanso ko rok paaoge kaise"
"Baithee hain hoton ko seekar..........pachchhtaaengee aap, Ishq jaag uthtaa hain aksar aisee khamoshi ke baaad"
"Phool Hoon Gulab kaa Chameli ka matt samazna, aashiq hoon aapka, apnee Saheli ka matt samazna"
"Naa shahar dekho naa biyaban dekho, Naa shahar dekho naa biyaban dekho.., Khuda ka eklauta namonishan dekho , buss aankh uthao aur Rehan dekho"
"Insaan kee khwaaish kee koi intehaan nahi, Insaan kee khwaaish kee koi intehaan nahi, Do gajj jameen chahiye .... do gajj kafann ke baad"
"Dard se aankhen chaar kar lenge, hum bhi intehaan dedenge, teri dosti kee khaatir aye dost, hum dushmano se bhi pyaar kar lenge"
"Kaash main oon kaa gola hota, Kaash main oon kaa gola hota aur .... Unkee ungliyon me liptaa hota ....Kaash wo mera sweater banakar garmiyon me bhi pahne rahtee........"
Bekhudee kee jindagi hum jiya nahi karte,
Jaam doosron se chheen kar hum piya nahi karte,
Unko mohabbathain to aakar ijkaar kare,
Peechha hum bhi kisika kiyanahi karte...
paani sey pyaas na bujhi toh maikhaane ki taraf chal nikalaa
socha shikaayat karoon teri khuda sey
pur khuda bhi tera aashik nikalaa
bhool kar agar humse koi bhool hui ho
toh usey bhool samajhkar bhoolaa denaa
lekin bhoolaana sirf bhool ko
ghalati sey bhi hamein naa bhoolaa denaa
rone de aaj humko aankhein sujaane dey
baahon main leley aur khudko bheeg jaane de
hai jo seeney main kaid dariyaa woh chhoot jaayegaa
hai itnaa dard ke tera daaman bheeg jaayega
adhoori saans thi, dhadkan adhoori thi, adhoorey hum
magar abb chaand hai poora falak pe
aur abb poorey hain hum
aisaa lagaa khuda ne rakh diyaa hamaare dil pey haath
liyaa naam hamaara unho ney kuchh aisi adaa key saath
aag sooraj main hotii hai
chalanaa zameen ko padtaa hai
mohabbat nigaahein kartii hain
tadapnaa dil ko padtaa hai
Jaan usey do jo apnaa dil tumhein dey
Lekin apnaa guroor sirf uspey kurbaan karo
Jo tumhaarey pyaar main fanaa ho jaaye
awaz jaisey toofaan sey pehle baadalon ki garaj
mahek jaisey pehli baarish ke baad mitti ki aah
ehsaas jaisey fakir key bhes main shehzaadaa
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Think Big… Leave a Legacy….
TAJ-Mahal- Shajahans Legacy....And the price paid for it is cruel death from the hands of his own son, Aurangazeb.
"Yeh manushya janam paaya hai to kuchh karke yahan se jaana chhahiye, kuchh kar ke dikhana chhahiye."
Jesus, Mohamed or Krishna….
Newton, Edison or Einstein
Mother Theresa, Rajneesh, Amruthanthamai
Ashoka, Akbar or Gandhiji
Tata, Birla, Reliance.
Where and how did they get that idea!!! Indeed, an idea can change life…not only your, but also of those around you.
They were somebody who were much ahead of their time, Genius minds, who stood against most influential people of there respective field, great visionary and very intellectual persons who exceled in their respective field throughout their life. Against all odds, they succeeded.
Desire Dream Do
Vision Mission Action
"Growth has no limit. Only when you dream it you can do it."
"Think big, think fast, think ahead. Ideas are no one's monopoly"
"Our dreams have to be bigger. Our ambitions higher. Our commitment deeper. And our efforts greater."
"If you work with determination and with perfection, success will follow."
"Pursue your goals even in the face of difficulties, and convert adversities into opportunities."
" Relationship and Trust. This is the foundation of our growth"
Nothing big can ever be achieved without a certain soft, delicate, sensitive, understanding human touch in all one's deeds and words. And also needed is money, influence and power.
One need to read about what is happening around the world, listen carefully and ponder about the pros and cons.
Go with an open mind. Keep your eyes open. Demand to see everything, look into everything, and learn everything.
Most important: make friends. We need to keep our relations and have friends everywhere, if we have to grow big.
One must be ready to pass through hell, the fire of envy and opposition, criticism and attacks.
Mahatma, a lot has been written about him, even before, and there is his autobiography, My experiments with truth. Mohandas Gandhi and Dhirubhai Ambani were the two most famous scions of the Modh Bania, a Hindu commercial caste based in the arid Saurashtra(Gujarat) peninsula. But when Mahatma died, Ambani was just 16.
"Begin earning some money," his mother nagged. That angered Dhirubhai. "Phadia, phadia su karo chho," he snapped at her, "paisa no to dhanglo karees." (Why do you keep screaming for money? I'll make heaps of money one day.)Just after Dhirubhai was through his annual matriculation examination and even before the result was out, at 16, he was Off to Aden and when Indians there had to choose between Britan and India, he choose India, and from then on began his great idea… He began as a big joint family, and dreamed, and did what Tatas and Birlas took decades to do.
Just across the road from where Dhirubhai lived in Mumbai, there was a young man of about the same age as he whose thoughts ran the same way. He also was facing a similar wholesalers' blockade as Dhirubhai. He was then living on Peddar Road and his name was Rajneesh, Acharya Rajneesh, the Osho of the later years. His predicament was no different from Dhirubhai's. Books wholesaler had stonewalled him as cloth wholesalers had Dhirubhai. Rajneesh also was loading his newly printed books in the boot of his baby Austin car and going about the city piling them at the books retailer counters on similar terms as Dhirubhai was offering to the retail cloth merchants.
Then why the offsprings cannot keep up the spirit. Why do they quarrel?
It is said that Philosophers in the earlier century were more respected, successful and honoured than the scientists, though both are parallels in the histoy. No wonder unremarkable mark has been left by people like:
Jesus, Mohamed or Krishna….
Newton, Edison or Einstein
What is done need not be concrete things, it can be abstract..but one need to do....and doing comes from thinking, ....and just thinking can lead you no where, so belive and do.....What? An idea can change life.......
Belive in yourself and in the strength you have to shape your destiny, for nothing is impossible for a willing heart.....
Why do things go wrong, how do things go wrong?
Sree-Bajjis, row, says that their barks are louder than their beats. Well for the sake of money, though not brothers, now in the scene two, they say, they are like brothers. Their acts have proved that Australians where not fully at fault, when they accused Sree-Bajji.
Only if there is something Ugly, we can truly distinguish and appreciate beauty. Every cloud has a silver lining, and this indeed is a mark on the Well organized, marketed, and commercialized IPL.
Why soon after death of Dheerubhai Ambani, the great fight between Mukesh and Anil?
Is all this drama, joke, ignorance or smartness….
Why do things go wrong, how do things go wrong? Agreed to some extend, we ourselves are responsible, but not always. As often written, whatever has to go wrong will go wrong, and nobody can stop an idea whose time has come. Or is this wrong or right?
There could be disagreement, and hence fights, because of many reasons like:
1. Preconceived notion.
2. Each of us being in our own well – Famous story as said by Vivekananda in Chicago - ‘Putta kenateela thavala’
3. Difference in attitude and temperament. Ideologies and interests clash and reconcile or cancel each other.
4. Ego.
5. As the couplet in janapana: ‘Sattukal Kandu shikshichu chulumbol, shatruvey polley krindhikunu chillar.’ When a good person punishes for some mistake, some consider them to be enemy, and the desire for revenge.
6. Money
7. Frustration, not doing our duty, running away from responsibility-Failures and Fights.
8. Idle mind is devils work shop.
Why this fight between India-Pakistan, we were one once, and now this .... petty quaralles, and the D-I-Ls are so expert in brainwashing the sons against her in-laws? Why those once very close, then about to beat, and have a fight, and was separated by those around, cannot come together? Why cant a person who keep saying about their kids Maman often, think that her husband is mama of some people and think what he had done for them when they where in such situations?
Anger is only one letter short of danger. United we stand divided we fall, some do not want to see people united, and therefore, they create reasons that others fight, and stand and laugh behind them. As is said, when two fight, it is the third person who is benefited. Cant you think of the means to end fights rather than adding fuel to fire?? Dont people realise that when they are pointing a fingure at others, other three are towards themselves?? What right do they have to criticise others, when they themselves are not perfect?? Nobody, is perfect in this world..
It is said that womens ego are the most destructive force, great epics like Ramayana and Mahabaratha are a proof of it. Women are like water and fire, very much essential for life, without which life itself is not possible, but if uncontrolled, can create havoc like flood, Tsuanami or destructive fire. So they are not the only ones to be blamed.
To the questions in our life we are the only answer, to the problems in our life we are the only solution. Then why do we quarrel and What is the solution for this?
Only if there is something Ugly, we can truly distinguish and appreciate beauty. Every cloud has a silver lining, and this indeed is a mark on the Well organized, marketed, and commercialized IPL.
Why soon after death of Dheerubhai Ambani, the great fight between Mukesh and Anil?
Is all this drama, joke, ignorance or smartness….
Why do things go wrong, how do things go wrong? Agreed to some extend, we ourselves are responsible, but not always. As often written, whatever has to go wrong will go wrong, and nobody can stop an idea whose time has come. Or is this wrong or right?
There could be disagreement, and hence fights, because of many reasons like:
1. Preconceived notion.
2. Each of us being in our own well – Famous story as said by Vivekananda in Chicago - ‘Putta kenateela thavala’
3. Difference in attitude and temperament. Ideologies and interests clash and reconcile or cancel each other.
4. Ego.
5. As the couplet in janapana: ‘Sattukal Kandu shikshichu chulumbol, shatruvey polley krindhikunu chillar.’ When a good person punishes for some mistake, some consider them to be enemy, and the desire for revenge.
6. Money
7. Frustration, not doing our duty, running away from responsibility-Failures and Fights.
8. Idle mind is devils work shop.
Why this fight between India-Pakistan, we were one once, and now this .... petty quaralles, and the D-I-Ls are so expert in brainwashing the sons against her in-laws? Why those once very close, then about to beat, and have a fight, and was separated by those around, cannot come together? Why cant a person who keep saying about their kids Maman often, think that her husband is mama of some people and think what he had done for them when they where in such situations?
Anger is only one letter short of danger. United we stand divided we fall, some do not want to see people united, and therefore, they create reasons that others fight, and stand and laugh behind them. As is said, when two fight, it is the third person who is benefited. Cant you think of the means to end fights rather than adding fuel to fire?? Dont people realise that when they are pointing a fingure at others, other three are towards themselves?? What right do they have to criticise others, when they themselves are not perfect?? Nobody, is perfect in this world..
It is said that womens ego are the most destructive force, great epics like Ramayana and Mahabaratha are a proof of it. Women are like water and fire, very much essential for life, without which life itself is not possible, but if uncontrolled, can create havoc like flood, Tsuanami or destructive fire. So they are not the only ones to be blamed.
To the questions in our life we are the only answer, to the problems in our life we are the only solution. Then why do we quarrel and What is the solution for this?
Amchi Mumbai……
Let the proclaimed Sarkar not hear a malayali tell this, else it would be another reason for him to create commotion and be in news, for he is willing to accept Rajanikant as Mumbai wala and not Amithab. Isnt it all an outcome of the linguistic division of states…Even the name has been changed from Bombay to Mumbai…
In the railway stations there the crowd is akin to Pooram everyday. And the cost of living there!!! Incredible!!! Some beggers earn Rs.3,000/- per day. Most of the billionaires in India live here, Industrialists, filmstars and sports stars, this being the commercial capital of India, and therefore, now even in news as often, being the 7th richest/Costliest city, where billionaires live. Here you indeed find, Unity in diversity. Dhalal Street and Dharavi. Bollywood and Business. City Streets, Mals, and country roads, poverty, and wealth. Also lot of underwold activities, takes place here. Though Cricketers say, we don’t go to shooting places, it is the filmstars who come to watch cricket, there are nexuses between Bollywood, and BCCI, which has further strengthened with the IPCL. If for Americans New York is the city that never sleeps, Mumbai is India’s New York.
As Salma Rushdie puts it:
Bombay was central, had been so from the moment of its creation, the bastard child of a Portuguese-English wedding, and yet the most Indian of Indian cities. In Bombay, all Indians met and merged. Also they met what was not Indian. It is an ocean of stories.
What was beautiful in Bombay was that it belonged to nobody, and to all. You could see the everyday live and let live miracle thronging its overcrowded streets. Words like it being of Maharashtrain’s alone are not easily digestible. On the way to Bombay the rivers of blood were usually diluted, other rivers poured into them, so that by the time they reached the city’s streets the disfigurations were relatively slight.
But the 1992, series of Bomb blasts, is indeed the masterplans of those who hated India, those who sought to ruin it, wanted to ruin Mumbai. Again there was issues nearly 15 years later, in 2006.
If you are a real Mumbaikar and away from Mumbai, you get sentimental
1. Even if you hear words like Kalyan,Chembur; Dadar;Andheri and Bandra.
2. Mumbai - the only city where people no matter what language, religion and caste, express frustration by saying 'chyayla'.
3. The only place where even bus conductor motivates us "chalo aage badho"
4. For Mumbaikars - Burger bole toh bakwaas, vada pav bole toh zakhaas.
Mumbai - A city where people come to make their career and end up making their life.
5. You never say angry. You say "dimaag ki maa behen ek ho gayi he"
6. Some words we use often - ghanta, waat lagayi, aai shapath, item, pandu, faadu, iski maa ka, bhai party, bantai, kat le, jhol, le bhari, ek number bhai.
7. In India we drive on the left of the road. In Mumbai we drive on what is left on the road.18. In Mumbai matter word has more social reference than scientific (matter ho gaya bhai)
8. While giving directions you say right/left maaro aur yaahan pe ek bridge Girega
9. No salsa, hiphop, moon walk, B'boying or jazz can beat our visarjan dance.
10. No starbucks flavored coffee can beat of our own cutting chai/ coffee.
11. We dont understand "humko and tumko". We prefer "tereko and mereko"
What India, you should go and see Mumbai…My grandmother said first after returning from Mumbai, soon after marriage. Grandfater was in military and posted in Colaba when they had got married. There is yet another story narrated by my Muttachan, that comes to my mind on seeing the Taj,
Once when Tata, had been to a good hotel, they read a boad ‘No entry for dogs, and Indians’, the incident made him feel bad, and he was so determined that he started this hotel. I am not sure if the story is right or wrong.
It is said that Mumbai or Mauth sey Koye nahi lauttha. There are many people who on landing to Mumbai set a time frame to retun back to their home town but can never do that, whether it be Sharuk Khan, for whom Delhi is the place for Dil walas, or be it Jayan Chettan, whose plan was to return by 2000, but there is no chance he would return in next 20 years. But my father belived:
‘Happy the man, whose wish and care,
Few paternal acres bound,
Content to breath his own air,
On his own ground’
And hence returned to Gods own country.
Friday, May 09, 2008
The Moor's Last Sigh
'The Moor's Last Sigh' by Salman Rushdie is the tale of the fall from grace of the da Gama - Zogoiby family, Set in the Indian city of Bombay (or "Mumbai") and Cochin (or "Kochi').
The plot traces four generations of the narrator Moraes Zogoiby 's family and the ultimate effects upon the narrator. The first part of the book is about the first two generations, in Fort Cochin, the Da Gamas. His mother married Abraham Zogoiby, and it was his parents who moved to Mumbai. Abraham Zogoiby was a great businessman, whose business ends with him. He had all the underground and great links, having left his mother for Aurora Da Gama, and is belived to have a link in her death on Ganapathi eve too. Who is Moors father is also a mystery.
Moraes, who is called "Moor" throughout the book, is an exceptional character, who’s physical body ages twice as fast as a normal person's does and also has a deformed hand. Moor leads an interesting life, especially in his relationships with women, including his mother Aurora, who is a famous national painter. When he was green, his beloved Uma told him in fondness, ‘Oh, you Moor, you strange black man, always so full of theses, never a church door to nail them to’, which is the beginning of the tale. Also he has three sisters, Jimmy Cash (Christina) Minnie (Inamorata), and Mynah (Philomina). Finally, after the strange deaths of his mother, Uma, siblings, and to free himself from the undeworld Mumbai , the riot and commotion in Mumbai, he moves to Spain, meets the lesbians, who take him to his childhood tuitor and mothers long time mate, Vasco, where he learns, more bitter truth, and finally Aoi, and Vasco meets their death.
Vasco Mirand’s view on Mrs. Gandhi returning to power, with Sanjay on her right, was that there is no finaly morality, but only Relativity. The Indian Variation upon the theme of Einstein’s General Theory was given thus:
‘Everything is for relative. Not only light bends, but everything. For relative we can bend a point, bend the truth, bend employment criteria, bend the law. D equals mc squared, where D is for Dynasty, m is for mass of relatives, and c of course is for corruption, which is the only constant in the universe- because in India even speed of light is dependent on load shedding and vagaries of power supply.
There is the all knowing, all powerful, Uma, who at the same time, move around with Moor, his father and brother in law. Uma is well versed in every subject. I remembered Sowmya, my one time hostel mate…on reading about her. There was a good amount of secrecy behind her. For her Moor said ‘ I will not die for you, my Uma, but I will live for you. However harsh that life may be.’
And yes, much is being nailed down. Colours, for example, to the mast. But after a not-so-long (though gaudily colourful) life Moor is fresh out of theses. Life itself being crucifixion enough.
The novel is populated with a heterogenous spread of characters: an old Portuguese family descended from the explorer Vasco Da Gama; the Jewish clan of the Zogoiby’s who trace a clandestine history with the last Moorish king of Grenada, Boabdil; a jealous Christian priest Olivier D’Aeth (controversially pronounced All Over Death); the Muslim gangster ‘Scar’ controlling the Bombay underworld; a Hindu fundamentalist Raman Fielding, also known as mainduck after the signature-frog accompanying his cartoons. Interestingly, Fielding as a character cuts across both the fictive and real worlds, with many pointing out that the character is a thinly disguised caricature of the Hindu nationalist leader Bal Thakeray who, like Fielding, started out as a cartoonist with the English daily The Free Press Journal before going on to establish himself as a Hindutva stalwart in Mumbai.
Blind Faith
A fragile, delicately wrought parable on the limitations of vision and the dark side of love……. A fiction novel by Sagarika Ghose. That is ‘Blind Faith’.
Somewhat akin to God of small things, which I took a year to complete, but could complete this within a day.
When Mia, acutely depressed by the suicide of her father, and compelled by her mother, who is to remarry and move to US, meets Karna, a young Indian guru who seems to have walked straight out of her fathers painting of the Kimbh Mela, she feels compelled to follow him all the way from London to India. At the same time she meets the suave corporate, Vik. She feels that marrying Vik, will help her reach Karna.
In India, Mia hears of Indi, Viks accomplished, inordinately attractive mother, and IAS officer who is now blind, and in Goa, but is not able to meet her. Within a year she is chasing a duplicitous love, she travels to the Kumbh, to the heart of her fathers paintings, where life, she learns allows another perspective….a stunningly beautiful account of lifes distorted perceptions: of reason that blinds, of hate that liberates and of love that strangles.
It says that Families are nothing but traps, they weaken you.
Anger when it comes, is not just a noisy tantrum. Anger focuses the mind, quietness the soul, sharpens the intelligence. Anger bides its time, anger is polite, anger is well-behaved because anger grows into a conviction, a belief and then it starts to find ways to express itself in the most efficient manner.
Revenge need not be impetuous. It can become fanciful and imaginative, reflecting the twists and turns of the growing up years. Revenge is not just a silly bout of crying, revenge plots silently and becomes a reason for survival.
Today thing were changing. Fortunes were being built from mud. A young graduate might set up a computer centre in a mustard field and begin a lucrative outsourcing business to an Ameircan firm headquartered in Memphis. Today’s cooks are tomorrows motel owners in Dubai, and day after’s international tycoons. Fathers may push carts of fresh fruit down the street but they’ll do their damnedest to make sure son is happy.
The absorption of unnatural circumstances is achieved easily by the depressed imagination.
Indi’s story in the parallel, which had shades that of Indira Gandhis, and Mia – Maneka, According to Indi, this mother thing is a terrible trap. Mother is a category without change, without dynamism, without democracy. Everything else can change , the world can change, but mother cannot change. Just mother. Mother Mary, Mother Earth. Pavithra Ashramas motto, Pure love of the mother women!!
When a mother gives birth, she doesn’t know into which undiscovered county her child will lead her.
Perhaps giving birth is indeed dealing out a certain kind of death, perhaps the act of creation carries within it the act of destruction. And only a mother knows this secret.
Middleclass indulges themselves in flabby, comfort seeking ways, as contrasted with the higher principle of pleasure which came from adventures that are close to death. Death was an ideal, while comfort was mediocre and centered around money. The rich and sheltered, need to feel the misery of the poor and unloved.
‘A heightened sense of persecution, the feeling of a cunifromly hostile environment, a focus on coincidences and schemes, is another dangerous sign that the mind is breaking up into delusion and that the patient might require drugs simply to slow down the rate of thought.’
The ability, attitude and the actions, of a rich son Vik, who was brought up with all luxurious, with lots of chocolates, to keep his mouth shut, as you throw a ball far away to keep a dog away when it is disturbing you, and his early death leaving behing two women, mother Indi, and wife Mia…..
Men and women are not they same, and they cannot be, it is difficult to phantom, each other…The female ego is the most destructive force….and Personal liberty is seen as the basis for community improvement….
Somewhat akin to God of small things, which I took a year to complete, but could complete this within a day.
When Mia, acutely depressed by the suicide of her father, and compelled by her mother, who is to remarry and move to US, meets Karna, a young Indian guru who seems to have walked straight out of her fathers painting of the Kimbh Mela, she feels compelled to follow him all the way from London to India. At the same time she meets the suave corporate, Vik. She feels that marrying Vik, will help her reach Karna.
In India, Mia hears of Indi, Viks accomplished, inordinately attractive mother, and IAS officer who is now blind, and in Goa, but is not able to meet her. Within a year she is chasing a duplicitous love, she travels to the Kumbh, to the heart of her fathers paintings, where life, she learns allows another perspective….a stunningly beautiful account of lifes distorted perceptions: of reason that blinds, of hate that liberates and of love that strangles.
It says that Families are nothing but traps, they weaken you.
Anger when it comes, is not just a noisy tantrum. Anger focuses the mind, quietness the soul, sharpens the intelligence. Anger bides its time, anger is polite, anger is well-behaved because anger grows into a conviction, a belief and then it starts to find ways to express itself in the most efficient manner.
Revenge need not be impetuous. It can become fanciful and imaginative, reflecting the twists and turns of the growing up years. Revenge is not just a silly bout of crying, revenge plots silently and becomes a reason for survival.
Today thing were changing. Fortunes were being built from mud. A young graduate might set up a computer centre in a mustard field and begin a lucrative outsourcing business to an Ameircan firm headquartered in Memphis. Today’s cooks are tomorrows motel owners in Dubai, and day after’s international tycoons. Fathers may push carts of fresh fruit down the street but they’ll do their damnedest to make sure son is happy.
The absorption of unnatural circumstances is achieved easily by the depressed imagination.
Indi’s story in the parallel, which had shades that of Indira Gandhis, and Mia – Maneka, According to Indi, this mother thing is a terrible trap. Mother is a category without change, without dynamism, without democracy. Everything else can change , the world can change, but mother cannot change. Just mother. Mother Mary, Mother Earth. Pavithra Ashramas motto, Pure love of the mother women!!
When a mother gives birth, she doesn’t know into which undiscovered county her child will lead her.
Perhaps giving birth is indeed dealing out a certain kind of death, perhaps the act of creation carries within it the act of destruction. And only a mother knows this secret.
Middleclass indulges themselves in flabby, comfort seeking ways, as contrasted with the higher principle of pleasure which came from adventures that are close to death. Death was an ideal, while comfort was mediocre and centered around money. The rich and sheltered, need to feel the misery of the poor and unloved.
‘A heightened sense of persecution, the feeling of a cunifromly hostile environment, a focus on coincidences and schemes, is another dangerous sign that the mind is breaking up into delusion and that the patient might require drugs simply to slow down the rate of thought.’
The ability, attitude and the actions, of a rich son Vik, who was brought up with all luxurious, with lots of chocolates, to keep his mouth shut, as you throw a ball far away to keep a dog away when it is disturbing you, and his early death leaving behing two women, mother Indi, and wife Mia…..
Men and women are not they same, and they cannot be, it is difficult to phantom, each other…The female ego is the most destructive force….and Personal liberty is seen as the basis for community improvement….
Sunday, April 20, 2008
"U ME Aur Hum" or "I me aur main!!! "
An emotional film from the talented and sensitive couple, quite unexpected, beautiful, touching, sensitive, emotional story and really wonderful love story (few hindi films have it)....of a married couple .....
The wording in the beginning of the movie, in my favourate blue and white was super.Indeed, sometimes the greatest journey is the distance between two hearts.....And that could be any hearts...mother-son, husband-wife, friends...Anyone...
Ajay & Kajol both fit to their roles. A special worthy praise is deserved by Kajol (as always) for her lovable act and Ajay for choosing a difficult subject.
The overall impact at the end of the movie is quite touchy.
The first half starts with the usual hindi masala, 'one feels' But after the marriage of the lead actors, the film just moves on to a different unexpected platform. That is the beginning of they lived happily everafter...The story is about the wife suffering with Alzheimer disease and how the family and friends around, face this truth with love and courage. In the backgroud was the happily unmarried couple and unhappily married couple....
Why one feels becuse I had not realised until I read this blog of my friends about the gentle hints that Devgan drops during the first half on Pia’s disease- she serving tequilas instead of vodka or turning up for salsa at 7 instead of 6.http://criticatwork.blogspot.com/2008/04/u-me-aur-hum-is-for-all-of-us.html
The most lacking department of the movie is the Music. Though there were few songs, and indeed there was singing of songs from old movies which was good and isnt that what happens in real life parties.....
It can be said that after "Thanmathra" this is the second movie on the theme of this disease and how the family copes with it, that is in news in the recent past, and it is good to have such kind of movies at least people would come to know the situation of such people too....when they cannot realise, seeing their own ones suffering...especailly I was very much hurt to see ammuma suffering this and hear, her son say, she is acting.....
The film indeed makes us thing if the world today is "U ME Aur Hum" or "I me aur main!!! " Whatever ME is common....
But the movie has the truth of life in it. Anybody can face this, as we all live in an uncertain life. And "U ME Aur Hum" teaches how to live life with love even when the times are real tough. Kash there could be such love in real life....I know there is but its rare.....how beautiful the world would have been.....
Go for it if you feel that Love is the way to live Life. I really liked it.
Indeed life is not a bed or roses for everyone at everytime....and why me? (the feeling by those who suffer) or a particular person has to suffer??? Isnt it still a mystery???
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Taare Zameen Par
A hearttouching moving, well maketed, which was the need of the hour...
Every child is special, infact every person, as is said, 'Child is the father of Man…'.There are many films made on this subject….Its so true…Beauty conscious people starve to keep fit, and some starve because they have no choice…..child laborers, mentally retarded people, orphans, illegitimate kids…some among them get special concession, what about others, there are those amidst the normal people, who really deserves special care but often gets neglected…..
Children need to be motivated, and not pressurized. It is mere ignorance that some parents boost about their talented children, without realizing that its Gods gift…Anything could happen, anytime, anywhere…..
11 children died in Delhi, this March not able to withstand the examination pressure.
I remebered a small conversation between a father & Son:
Father: At your age, Abraham Lincolon was sitting under the street lights and studying.
Son: At your age, he was the president of US....
Children should not be compared, but best out of them should be brought out.
Anjali, Taare Zameen Par, and Black….at times films like this keep me going….
Failure should never go to your heart, and success should never go to your head, both make a person to fall in life.
Havent you heard the story, of a Guru, telling his disciple on the last day, ‘ Now my son, don’t forget, there is God in everything, everyone’.
While returning home, there was commotion on the road, all of them where going in the opposite direction, one small child came to this young student, and asked him too to follow as there was a mad elephant coming from that direction. But he did not heed that childs advise. The elephant came and hit him, some how he just escaped death. When his Guru came to see him, he asked Guru, you said there is God in everything, everyone, why did not God save me? Guru said, God came in the form of a kid but you ignored him.
Now God has come home in the form of Vaishak, Godu and Solu, or Gopan Kunjachan, Kavitha.…..
Vice today, is virtue tomorrow. When others drink, smoke, flirt or do something negative, it’s a big mistake, but if its own son!!! Hide it, or Justify it, that’s society. Same way is with succes,it goes so much into head, that people forget the need for elders blessings, gets indulged in it so much, that they need a failure to make them realise its importance in life...Or is it what they say in malayalam : Ariyatha pulla Choriumbol Ariyum? Well hope movies like this will have an influence on the society, and it would not be soon seen and forgotten.
Every child is special, infact every person, as is said, 'Child is the father of Man…'.There are many films made on this subject….Its so true…Beauty conscious people starve to keep fit, and some starve because they have no choice…..child laborers, mentally retarded people, orphans, illegitimate kids…some among them get special concession, what about others, there are those amidst the normal people, who really deserves special care but often gets neglected…..
Children need to be motivated, and not pressurized. It is mere ignorance that some parents boost about their talented children, without realizing that its Gods gift…Anything could happen, anytime, anywhere…..
11 children died in Delhi, this March not able to withstand the examination pressure.
I remebered a small conversation between a father & Son:
Father: At your age, Abraham Lincolon was sitting under the street lights and studying.
Son: At your age, he was the president of US....
Children should not be compared, but best out of them should be brought out.
Anjali, Taare Zameen Par, and Black….at times films like this keep me going….
Failure should never go to your heart, and success should never go to your head, both make a person to fall in life.
Havent you heard the story, of a Guru, telling his disciple on the last day, ‘ Now my son, don’t forget, there is God in everything, everyone’.
While returning home, there was commotion on the road, all of them where going in the opposite direction, one small child came to this young student, and asked him too to follow as there was a mad elephant coming from that direction. But he did not heed that childs advise. The elephant came and hit him, some how he just escaped death. When his Guru came to see him, he asked Guru, you said there is God in everything, everyone, why did not God save me? Guru said, God came in the form of a kid but you ignored him.
Now God has come home in the form of Vaishak, Godu and Solu, or Gopan Kunjachan, Kavitha.…..
Vice today, is virtue tomorrow. When others drink, smoke, flirt or do something negative, it’s a big mistake, but if its own son!!! Hide it, or Justify it, that’s society. Same way is with succes,it goes so much into head, that people forget the need for elders blessings, gets indulged in it so much, that they need a failure to make them realise its importance in life...Or is it what they say in malayalam : Ariyatha pulla Choriumbol Ariyum? Well hope movies like this will have an influence on the society, and it would not be soon seen and forgotten.
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Vagmon tour....A refreshment.....
After having just completed The Painter of signs, By R.K.Narayanan,which was an average one, though was pinned up to it till the end, no doubt......
On Saturday we the AFL team from our office went to Vagmon for a one day trip....setting out at 6.15 in the morning from Kakkanad, others getting in on the way, reached there by 10 am. Majority also wanted to go to Thekadi, so didnot get on to Kurusumala, went to a church, tea estate behing, Mutta kunnu....the breeze there was not letting us go....We felt as though we would be gone with the wind...into ..Where??? Then the Pine garden, ....and off to Thekady, but didnot get the tickets for boating, had lunch, and on the way back, stopped at Kulamavzhu dam.....Enjoyed the day with two kids, Bablu, and Anjali, and our wonderful network and tele team....Majority of the day was spend in the Tavera with Manikandan driving, and on the way back, after Sreeja got down at her house, there was a small reminder from God....Every cloud do have a silver lining....A scorpio hit the Tavera from behind, and the drunk scorpio person, fled away......
I enjoyed everybit of the speaking of the songs, the drive with scenic beauty of varied nature around, the cock screw roads....dashes avoided, elephents and much more......
Human mind is such that, they find time to do all that they want, as per their priority, and complain that they dont have time to do any thing...especially the things they dont want to do..right..By any ways, it depends on once priority, thats it....for time is the same for every one......
Within a week had seen so many things.....
1. Death of the closest Neighbour.
2. Birthdays...
3. Reading of three novels....cant imagine...the one that was lying in the shelf unread for last 6-7 years...completed it in just 3 days.....
a. The Moors last sign...and enjoyed every bit of it....
b. Blind Faith
c. Eleven Minutes.
And three movies after a long wait, Eak se Bhadkar Eak...:
a. Taare Zameen par...well marketed,must watch by all parents, which have brought tears to many eyes.
b. Jub We Met...which matched with my though of 'Shayad Ghaadi choot gayi, and have never missed a train' Same pinch, with beautiful songs....Successful beginning of the end
c. Tara Rum Pum Pum- That was my favourate of the three.....The aftereffects of buying by paying by instalments..and the race....
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Greatest Discovery......& Little about sacrifice.....
What do you think is the greatest Discovery?
If this question is asked to each of us, there would be nearly one crore answer....I remember once a sir saying, it was agriculture...
So it is a matter of Perception. Again remembered the story at office yesterday. Parasivan forwarded a mail with a boy crying, one girl smiling, and one semi smiling, and had named them, Processor, Manager and Team leader. Our BB resend it, rearranging the boy crying to be in middle naming him the Team leader, the one smiling to be the Manager, and the third, processor. The Managers perspective would be still different.
Kali asked Kalidasa: Ask for a wish.
Kalidasa said: Grand me anything, except one thing.
Kali asked: What is that one thing.
Kalidasa said: Dont put me in an unfortunate place where people will not understand me or my poetry.
Each of us on earth has our own task to do. Talents differ, all is well and wisely put.
We need to do our duty with utmost sincerety, work with excellence...If you sweep the street, sweep it so well as no one has done before. Everybody should remember you for that. Roses, bees, never doubt their capacity or ability. Cuckoo is never tired of singing and ants of working.
Its always wise to turn your hobby into business. There should not be conflict between your work life and things you enjoy outside work.
Each of us, can make use of our tremendous capacity, of the brain cells, discover ourself, find out our dormant mind.
The moment you are satisfied and aspire no more, you die. - Pondichery mother. (The most esential thing air)
You aim for the skies only then, you can reach for the stars. The world is reacher for those who aspire to ever and ever reach higher and higher.
Remember:
I Can! I Will ! I Shall!
We Can! We will! We shall!
Having written so much about all this, the noble price, etc....it would be incomplete not to put forth that, all great people may not be rewarded or get awards or noble prices, but they would always be remembered for their gretness, deep down in the hearts..
The greatest example being none other than our Mahatma Gandhi, Vivekananda etc....Moreover, Familys love is indeed lifes greatest blessing.
Speaking about Gandhi, one would always remember:
Truth & Ahimsa,
Simple living & high thinking....
But there is also the 7 sins that he spoke of:
1. Politics without principle.
2. Wealth without work.
3. Commerce without morality.
4.Knowledge without Character.
5.Pleasure without consciousness.
6. Science without humanity.
7. Worship without sacrifice.
This brings me to sacrifice...
Sacrifice is letting go of something that you are holding on to, or are attached to, which gives you pleasure for something bigger that would bring good. Sacrifice brings strength in life. Life without sacrifice is stagnant. Sacrifice gives you the quantum leap. It takes you, to a higher pedestal. Often, people think sacrifice makes life dull and joyless. Infact, it is the sacrifice which makes life worthliving. The amount of sacrifice in your life brings out your magnimity and helps you to move out of misery. A life without sacrifice is nothing. Zeal, enthusiasm, strength and joy are all connected to sacrifice.
This is the reason why, all the greatest persons, including our parents, are all having a story of too many sacrifices behing them.
The beginning and the end seems to be quite contrasting right. But in it is the beauty of life...How beautiful would be a garden, if there was only on kind of flower, or the world, if there was only one colour??
So do let me know what you thing is the greates discovery?? Do put it in the comment...It would be nice to read it...
Budget time....A Reminisce....
Well, I am not going to write about the pros and cons of the present budget....but about the opportunity of being able to attend the beautiful budget session discussion at Lyola College, Nungambukam, Chennai on 1st March 2002 presided by our present finance minister Mr. P. Chidambaram, Mr. Pattabhiram and Mr. T. N. Manoharan. ...Three classic personalities I admire.
And I could speak one to one, with each of them. On asking Chidambaram about the poverty, and what could be done, to reduce the misery of the people on the road side, he said, that now in Inda, there is better growth rate, and poverty has come down from 37% to 26% (In 2002) i.e. 27, crore people. Moreover removing poverty of the downtrodden people is a state subject .. A classic oritor, charismatic personality, indeed a great blessing, and memorable evening to have had this gift, a memory to cherish. Especially being a commercial student, may be they are akin to yesterdays, Kauthilya....
On asking T.N. Manoharan Sir, who soon after was the president of ICAI, for his advise to CA students, he said, Keep trying its, 50% confidence, and 50% hardwork.
And Our Pattabhiram Sir, said he is not a great orator like Chitambaram, nor has he immense knowledge like TN Manoharan, but has immense love for India. He said we ought not to work hard but to work smart...His speeach was more a comparison with Indian Economy, with that of China...But the introduction still echos in my ears.....
I love her, she is loving, she is caring, she is obese, she is old, 55 years, she is my mother India....
Well, I had come to know of this at 4.30 pm, and was in my hostel flat, behind Saint Thom, Mylapore, left the place at 5.00, and reached the spot by 5.30 when, it had already begun, but could be there till the end...at 7.30.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Gitanjali...
Git- Means Song, and Anjali -Means offerings, Thus Gitanjali means song offerings...
Happen to read this last week, having taken the same from Mavalipuram, EMS library....
"The progress of our soul is like a perfect poem,
It has an infinite idea which once realised makes all movements full of meaning and joy.
But if we detach its movements from the ultimate idea, if we do not see the infinite rest and only see the infinite motions,
then existance appears to us a monstrous evil, impetuously rushing towards an unending aimlessness"
Githanjali, Tagores Nobel winning masterpiece was first published in 1912. These immensely touching verses were written in Bengali in 1910, after he lost his father, wife, second daughter and younger son. Later he translated these verses when he set sail for England a third time. He showed the translations to William Rothenstein, who showed it to William Butler Yeats, who wrote the Introduction for the book.
Renowned for its lyrical beauty and spiritua poignancy, Githanjali is a classic in its own right, which won Tagore the Noble prize for literature in 1913.
Being in constant touch with rural like, he was also in touch with the nature. He founded the Visva Bharati University at Shantiniketan.
A renissance icon, Tagore left behind a huge legacy of work. These run into twenty-nine volumes. He died in calcutta in August 1941.
Having studied bits and parts of it in school, my favourate is 11th and 77ths part which says:
Thou art the Brother amongst my brothers, but I heed them not, I divide not my earnings with them, thus sharing my all with thee....
Gitanjali also reminds me of the model Gitanjali Nagpal - who very ambitious, left her home town, and was finally found on the streets in Delhi, without anything.......
Sunday, February 24, 2008
The New Economic Policy and The Corporates.....
With the LPG (Libralisation, Privatisation and Globlisation) dont we see a sea change in our economy especially after the New Economic Policy was brought into in 1991......What an idea???
Kudos and thanks to almighty that we have people like Manmohan Singh, Chidambaram, taking care of our affairs.......
Nodoubt still there are strikes, and unrest...that the nationalised banks are being privatised, with increase in competition, only the fittest would be able to survive....Will the bigger fishes eat the smaller ones, and increase poverty?? Hope we will not have to wait and watch that scenario....There is no dirth to the mergers and acquasitions taking place daily. Earlier it was the foreigners only investing in India, now not only that we have FDI's , but there are many Indian corporates investing out....
There is more of security, with increase in insurance business.
Thanks for breaking the barriers, with improvement in communication, and other infrastructure....Travel and Tourism has improved.....
First it was only Tatas and Birlas, and Public Sector or Govt. organisations....Now we have great wealth creators in India like Other than Ratan Tata, Kumara Mangalam Birla, the Ambanis, Software Tycoons like Murthy and Premji, Bios...Kiran Majumdar, Vijay Mallaya, Mittals, Gopinath.......
Unlike China, we are far behind in technology, and technological growth. Hope with increase in the cost, soon the software trend in India would not slow down, and they opt for cheaper destinations outside India. And here is still a bad news, Obama sticks to anti-outsourcing stand. Indeed no one can ''shy away'' from globalisation. But also one has to be very careful while signing agreements and pacts......Especially like those of NTP, WTO, etc....
Finance Ministers then was wondering if they should sanction car industiries in India, or should they make our roads better first. They decided to do the first and felt that sooner the roads would be better, and they hopefully are right.
It was indeed a great news to hear about the latest Car Nano....Since then I was often wondering, that though the Tatas (and then there are news that Bajaj and many other companies are bringing out similar cheaper cars) are producing good locks the key is with Reliance and the like. Reliance has been trying to create a monopoly in most of the industry...with Petroleum in their hand.....
It was a good news to read that was published in The Hindu, and through Guardian Newspapaers Limited Mr. Goodwin sees three stages to a process of change: Converting all autos to diesel which can then runon biofuel, making the step to bioelectric and finally to hydroelectric, meaning cars will run on water........
Will this really happen?? Or is it like the news few years back in India, saying vehicles would run with water??? Let us wait and watch for some more time...It should not be imposible as it has been proved sometimes back that electricity can be produced even from walking......
In Middle East countries where petrols are cheaper than water, ordinary people can afford to have a car, but in country like India, though with the reduction in cost, people would be able to purchase a car..running and maintenance cost, plus the roads are a concern.
Have you ever thought of how much service tax you end up paying always!!!!
Hindi film Industry or Bollywood........
Once upon a time my favourate was the three A's Amithab, then Anil Kapoor, and then Aamir Khan, and among female it was Sreedevi, Rekha and Hema......Then Kajol, and Vidhya ....
It is the days of K's there, first it was Kapoors, now it is Khans.....No wonder Karan Johar and Ekta Kapoor together would name their movie Khan-Dhan.
Indeed a place where many would want to be, Hollywood, Bollywood, Lolywood, or at least Malayalam film industry!! (But not me ha...) There is money, power, fame, anything and everything....
If not then why and what is Ash and Sush doing here???
With lot of fans for Sanju (Ash) in 1992, the mumbai architetural student missed the crown to the Calcutta Girl Sush, which made many in Mumbai sad, but then they were both there making India proud, and raising lot of contraversies and questions, on being crowned Miss Universe (Sushmita) and Miss World (Aishwarya) .....Well it was answer to the questions that they gave that made the difference, and after one year of contract it was over.....And both of them landed in Bollywood...One married into Bachan family and having had a great contravarsial wedding, who receives parcel containing Euro from unknown senders and other adopting a daughter at 24 years, running or atleast being heard of having a ship and shipping business we are going to see another competition over their RaniLakshmi Bhai.....Let see whats going to happen over that.....
There are manythings to learn from them too.....
The friendship fight or cold war between Khan and Bachan...The diplomatic Johar....
Marriages, Divorces and the relations.....
True anybody would envy, touch wood, Madhuri and Meenaksh, they enjoyed all this and still have a cool distant family life.....The south Indian Hema and Sree Devis wedding.....And now this Saif Ali Khan-Kareena-Amrita Sing Drama......
Well these are open news, there are so many Page 3 news....
We have Aamir Khan following the foot steps of Shekar Kapur....And to some extend here too its sunny days for Sons....
There are many people in this industry, most of them unknown to us, who make it what it is today. Many people behind the screen working day and night, others contorlling it from the underworlds, many striving to be there, and the greates number are those like me, spectators.....
My favourate there today is Karan Johar, a great chap indeed.
In his book Brand Names and Product Dynasties, Lessons in retrospect, by Barrie Black Coleman, he says, 'k' is a strong and incisive sort of letter, an expletive consonant. ....that he said for Kodak, but see its true here too....all the movies from K, and then Karan Johar and Kajol!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)