4 minutes of a life saved!!!!

The EU decision to urge the banning of Smoking in all the nations in the Union is a bold move. It will be a great beginning for individuals to move to a healthier style of life. But, on the other hand, this decision will set the ground for the battles between Large Capitalist Multi-Nationl firms versus public health. It is believed that for every Cigarette that a person smokes, 4 minutes of his life is reduced. If the ban on smoking is succesful in the EU, then it will set the precedent for the complete banning of smoking everywhere else in the world.

Smoking is the main cause for the ill health of a person. It increases the risk of Cancer and several other breathing problems. Over the years, there has been growing belief that Smoking can even affect people who are Non-smokers as well. This is termed as Passive Smoking. If we, perhaps, discount the factor of War and AIDS, then perhaps the next biggest killer is Smoking. If this decision is passed, in what the EU terms it as an Agenda in the Green Paper, then, at least one killer can be eliminated.

But, the very fact that Smoking is considered as the means of easing Tensions and having a good time, penetrating this mindset will just not be easy. Although surveys carried out by the European commission show that majority of the people in the EU may support this decision if passed, this survey is unfortunately not the Guarantee. The problem with Opinion polls is that the respondents will never give their answers with a Guarantee. Also, for the fact, that Laws can be loopholed and amended in ways by which smoking in certain conditions is permissible. The powwer of the Tobacco Lobby in the West is quiet strong, and this might deter any kind of decision regarding the smoking ban.

The very problem in enforcing this decision will be the Permissibility factor. If, smoking is allowed in certain places, then pressure will grow upon the commission to revoke this ban, with backing from the Tobacco lobby. The Opinion polls and its recommendations might be a classic case of being logical on paper, but impossible in real life. This will be quiet unfortunate and it will show that People do not care about their health. Let us hope that this smoking ban is carried out, for at least something will be saved. In this case, 4 precious minutes of a Person's life.

[For more Information on this, Check out the BBC website (www.bbc.co.uk International Edition) dated 30th January, 2007]

The Mark of Genius

Genius: It is a word perhaps which describes the extraordinary attribute within a person. There is a saying that Geniuses are made, not born. The word genius is synonymous with Albert Einstein, because he gave a simple equation which is a totality of everything that happens in this vast universe. In Sports, many people may wonder wether there are geniuses. In this aspect, i would like to say that Sports Geniuses are those which inspire generations and set benchmarks by which the game as a whole improves. By looking at Roger Federer's win at the Australian Open on Sunday, one wonders wether a new legend or genius has arrived on the centre stage.

In my mind, my list of Sports Geniuses include Michael Schumacher, Roger Federer, Tiger Woods and Donald Bradmen. All these individuals have performed in such a way that they are now the benchmark in Sport, rather than the sport being the Benchmark. Michael Schumacher has completely given efficiency, ruthlessness and passion a complete makeover for his exploits on the F-1 track. Donald Bradman batted in such a way that Generations aspire to be like him, and till date nobody has come to match him, let alone come close. Similar scenario for Tiger Woods. But, my focus on this is going to be Roger Federer, who 5 years ago was a god player, but now he is the absolute best, in fact close to being a legend.

Commentators on Sports channels describe Federer's play on the Tennis court a sheer work of Art. His ability to create shots from nowhere and at the same time run the opponent down to the ground reminds us of the legends of Tennis in the 60's and the 70's. Surgical and complete performances is what personifies Federer's ability on the court against any opponent. Due to all of this, at such a young age, he has won 10 Grandslams, and he has only been to 11 Grand slam finals. There is still a long way to go, and looking at Current form, it wont be long before he completes the Grand Slam, the Golden slam perhaps. Roger Federer's dominance is not even boring, the complaint which sometimes goes against great legends. But, watching Federer is always entertaining, for he can just make you spellbound with his shots and movement.

Of course, like all sportsmen, he too will get a time where-in he will be beatable and his form might desert him. But, there will be no doubting the fact that his performances over the last 2 years have been nothing short of Legendary. Opponents say that Federer can be beaten, but someone will have to play out of their skin to beat the Fed-Ex. It will be a sad thing if we see down the line, a Federer who has run out of form. But, this will serve as a reminder of the fact that Roger Federer in this period was absolutely a Legend.

Will Somebody wage a Real War?????

From the time the 20th Century began and till the beginning of the 21st, the world has been characterized by Wars and devastation. But, according to me, all these have resulted in negative blowbacks that have affected the socio-economic and political functioning of nations on this planet. The real War has not been waged at all, and many nations have just ignored this impending catastrophe. I am talking about the start of a New and Meaningful war, titled "The War on Mosquitoes".

Yes, i am dead serious when i say this. The Mosquito has been proved to be a potent killer, numbering in the millions. They are responsible for the deaths of Millions from time immemorial. Malaria, Yellow Fever, Chickungunya, Dengue and other deadly diseases have been caused by these killers, and yet the world remains ignorant on this. Nowhere will this be highlighted more than in the continent of Africa. It is here that the Mosquites have ravaged populations, and the scary part is the number of these killers have grown in number.

It is due to Pollution, Unhygenic surroundings that have led to the development of these useless creatures. The people from around the world have to now patiently, but surely start a programme of eliminating the Mosquito population from the face of this earth. Although the idea will be laughed at and considered too trivial a problem, the scenario in Africa will beg to differ. It is about time that the world eradicates something useful, rather than eradicating certain sections of our own race. With the eradication of the Mosquito menace, the world will have fewer diseases to contend with. But, for that to happen, the first step will have to be taken by us. We have to ensure that our surroundings are clean, so that none of these Blood-Suckers can hover around. When that is done, only then can the world launch a war to eliminate Mosquitoes from this planet.

Not Again!!!!!!!!

I had mentioned previously in other posts that the media in the new year might grwo up, but it seems as if they will never. The importance of Celebrity events, trivializing and focusing attention to the minutest of details has indeed reaffirmed my belief that some sections of the media will never ever grow up. The case of Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachachan going to the Vindhyachal temple in Uttar Pradesh was the focus of the morning news. The Hindi channels gave Nauseating coverage to it, whereas the English news channels only devoted some couple of minutes to this charade.

I shall not commit the cardinal sin and devote paragraphs after paragraphs for this. The fact of the matter is that Abhishek putting the Thilak on Aishwarya's forehead is more of a breaking news than the Selling of Girls and Daughters in Andhra Pradesh. I guess there is a big difference in what is thought out in Journalism schools and what is practiced on the field. I have given up hope of the people trying to raise a voice against all this, for it is now established that the people will remain silent, will want more of this rather than the serious stuff, and reduce their thinking and seriousness to almost zero.

Unfortunately, the whole world will now be the recipient of Infotainment. The problem of Dumbing Down is now a potent problem. If things continue like this, then the people will loose out on reality and be converted into Couch Voyaeurists. Trivialization of News is in reality mocking the intelligence of the people, but they dont seem to care. The Advertisers are the real winners, at the cost of Information. I guess the starting point for Critiques of Capitalism can pounce on the Media this time, not on Dictatorships of the Proleteriat or Classless societies.

India as a Republic

January 26th is Republic day here in India. On this day, the nation had a constituition, and finally it was declared a Republic. This time, Russian President Vladimir Putin is the special guest for this republic day function. He is here on a two day visit to promote closer ties with India. But, the focus is not going to be on that. The focus of this post as the nation enters its 58th year as a Republic is on how far the nation has progressed in several fronts, with the perrenial problems of Corruption and lack of Infrastructure still prevailing.

First and for all, the good part is that India is much better of then it was nearly 50 years ago. The economy is booming, and it is all poised to overtake the economy of the UK in the near future. With leading economists saying that 2007 is a good year for the world economy, India's resurgence is all set to continue. The effects of this boom have already had an impact in Indian society. With a diverse and wide range of Western Material, the Indian consumer now has a multiple of choices in everything ranging from clothing, food and others. The Consumer now is the king in India, and their optimistic mood is reflecting on the economy. The process of Decentralization, along with the inflow of FDI and FII has resulted in India having large amounts of Forex reserves, which will aid in the development of the country.

India is on the throes of a Communication and Media revolution. Print as well as Broadcast Media have recieved a tremendous boost in the country, leading to an Information surplus. The power of the Citizen has been boosted, along with the Right to Information has resulted in Transparency in Administration, thus reducing Corruption. The Internet and the Telephone have reached to the farthest sections of India, thus keeping the country united. The boost in the economy has resulted in a revolution in the Transport and Infrastructure as well. The Railways have managed to overcome their losses and have transformed into a huge success. With the Completion of the Golden Quadrilateral, the highway network connecting Delhi, Kolkatta, Chennai and India, the roadways will be a vital element in India's growth. The formation of several Airliners, both Low cost and High, have also resulted in India openingup its skies, thus allowing Foreign players into the market.

Now, for the bad news. India's infrastructure, although improving, has not been sustainable. Bottlenecks in the completion of the golden quadrilateral have not made things easier. The government, under pressure from the Marxists and the Left parties have all put pressure on the government to curb the inflow of FDI and FII in various sectors. The economy is undergoing slow reformation, with the possibility that foreign players might soon loose their interest in the Indian Market. The Infrastructure of the cities in India is also crumbling, the instances being the Mumbai floods of July 26th, 2005, as well as several other problems.

The Justice system has also undergone a slow process, but it is only because of Media activism and the fact that the factor of High society, as in the case of Jessica Lall or the Mumbai blasts, with the presence of Sanjay Dutt, led to the Media terming it the revival of India's justice system. The police and the ensuing Justice system is still sluggish and impotent, as in the case of the Nithari killings have shown. Media's continued obssession with Entertainment, as well as the attempt to Tabloidize news has resulted in Citizens not getting empowered with Information. The Right to Information has also been blunted, although the fate of it is still uncertain.

India faces a very tense security scenario. From the time of Independence, the Kashmir issue has remained unsolved. Although both India and Pakistan are both talking on this issue, there is fear that the peace process in Kashmir might stagnate, thus leading to increased militancy in the region. India has a dire problem in the form of the Naxalites, which continue to pose a threat to the Heartland of India. They have managed to establish themselves, and i seems that the Police and the administration of the Naxal affected states cannot do anything about it. Terrorism has and will always be the main challenge to India. The Mumbai Train blasts of July 11th 2006 has exposed the non-existency of India's internal security.

With all this summary, India enters it's 58th year of being a republic with a mixed bag. Although it is doing well on most of the fronts, the problems of Religious Tensions, Caste tensions, and lack of development in the heartland of the country threaten its forward progress. If there is a better time for India and its Citizens to reflect upon where India stands, it is NOW. Also, let us pause for a moment and remember all the victims of the Earthquake which struck Gujarat on this day exactly 6 years ago. The devastation and the loss of human lives that occured on that day in Gujarat was horrifying. Certain parts of the state were completely levelled, in particular Kutch. Now, the state has put that behind, and most of the state has been rebuilt. But, I will admit that i am not doing it any Justice by devoting the incident so little space. But, when India becomes a Republic, we have to also remember people who died on that day when the Catastrophe struck.

Now, will India speak up on Racism????

Following the row that happened on Big Brother regarding the racist slurs against Shilpa Shetty, something close home has once again exposed the fact that India also puts down certain sections of society. Now, wether this will be termed racist is open to debate. But, Bollywood Actress Hema Malini's comments regarding the immigrant population in Mumbai has sparked a row about the migration problem in Mumbai.

Being a Cosmopolitan and a thriving City, Mumbai is the melting pot of India. People from almost all over India come to mumbai to have a slice of the prosperiety which mumbai promises. Most of Mumbai's population is migrant, mostly from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The people from this part of the country have slowly but surely managed to influence the way Mumbai functions. These people have established their presence in majority of the businesses in Mumbai. The Majority Marathi speaking population have been left behind, which is the reason why extreme right wing parties which claim to represent the Marathi people carried out demonstrations some time ago.

The Shiv Sena, a political right wing party, has always considered these immigrants as unwanted. For most of the times, they have targetted the immigrant population, thus making them feel unwanted in this city. The comments by Hema Malini seem to be a furthur continuation of the Anti-immigrant programme. This is the same party which engages in Propoganda against the Muslims and creates communal tensions each time a particular incident occurs in the city. But, for such a mindset to exist in the 21st century is detrimental to the very factor of prospierity and development.

The future of Mumbai lies in its Multi-Culturalism. The people of mumbai, however diverse their backgrounds might be, form an essential part in the development of the financial capital of India as well as the whole of India. However, the state government must have a clear cut solution to the migration situation. Unchecked migration will lead to the stagnation of the Infrastructure of the city. The factor of unchecked migration will only increase the woes of the city, notably in areas of Crime, Exploitation and Poverty. If comments like those made by Hema Malini are to be avoided, then the government has to act now. History is proof that Multi-Cultural cities have always been on the forefront of development, lets hope Mumbai doesn't buck the trend.

Does India need an Oscar?

I am not a film buff, the film awards have never interested me in any ways. But, looking at the glorification that the world media devotes to the Oscars, i just cannot resist it. For India, the category that they always focus on is the best Foreign film category. This time everybody in India were hoping that they would recieve the elusive Oscars for the best film. The choice of India was 'Rang De Basanti', a film which talks about the awakening of the new generation. It had made big waves in India, and it was expected to do the same Internationally as well. However, it was dissappointing as Rang De Basanti was voted out of the final shortlist for the award. Lots of Post Mortems were carried out by the Indian Media, some of them were asking wether India really needs an Oscar or not?

First and formost, as far as the choice was concerned, the film fraternity in India got it absolutely correctly. A film like Rang De Basanti is something which Indian Cinema always craved for after a Mediocre 1990's. This film was different than the rest in that it mixed Modern Generation's thinking with the backdrop of the Freedom struggle. It tells Citizens to wake up and fight for a Cause of the Right. Power punched dialogues and great Cinematography made the film the stuff that Indian films should be made off. In this front, i will go as far to say that the Oscar Awards might be Blind as far as Quality is concerned on some fronts. So, the people of India need not despair, for they know that the film is better than an Oscar.

Secondly, perhaps the Oscars might not relate to the style of the Film Making of the East. India's most prominent actor Amitabh Bachchan has said that the West does not relate to the style of Film Making practised in the East. Another noted film director in India made a valid point when he said that India in the past had sent a lot of wrong choices to the Oscars. This created a mindset among the Oscar Jury about the Quality of Indian films, and hence Indian films do not have much luck at the Oscars.

Thirdly, but perhaps the most controversial of the lot, the very structure of an Indian film should be revamped if they are to match up to International standards. The song and Dance equation, in the middle of the story, might put off the Western Audiences, and hence they do not fare well in the Oscars. The last Indian person who won an Oscar was Satyajit Ray in 1991, and in all of his Masterpieces, there were no song and dances. The very fact that Indian Cinema functions mostly on the song and dance bit, mioght not be helping their cause to get the Oscars.

Another year passes by, and Indian films return empty handed from the Oscars. But, do we need an Oscar to put Indian Cinema on the Map? Already, the Indian film culture is making ways in Europe, and in a small way is also appealing to American Audiences. India has created an Impression around the world in ways which are similar to the spread of American Culture. What America witnessed in the 60's and the 70's on their Cultural front, India is undergoing that now, perhaps not to the level of America. India does have a unique style of Film making, and I am proud of that aspect. However, if the Industry is aiming at International Awards like the Oscars, a Compromise with the structure has to be followed. This year, Rang De Basanti did not make the Cut. I conclude that it is a loss for the West, not for India, for we know how good it truly is.

Dead Patriotism

When I was coming back from class today, i stopped at a Junction. In the Junction, i saw a child selling the flags of India. With the Republic day celebrations just round the corner, these flags should have been accepted by the people. But, i realized that none were wanting the flag, some of the people said that it is not even Republic day, so they wont buy it. It was when i reached home that i realized that me not accepting the flag was a big mistake. Even more alarming, i realized that the sense of Patriotism is dead within me. This is the problem that is facing the country at the moment, that Patriotism as a whole is dead among many Indians.

This incident demonstrates the fact that we Indians have literally taken our country and its freedom for granted. In Ordinary times, we do not think very highly of our country. It is only during times of Crisis that our nation rallies around and remebers that our 'Freedom' is in threat. This was illustrated even furthur during the Kargil Crisis of 1999, when Bollywood stage shows were held to commemorate the valour of the soldiers who gave their lives for the country. After that, this has simply been forgotten, thankfully not completely. However, the genuine feeling of Patriotism all dies down when it has to deal with issues of money and personal benefit.

The picture around the world might also be the same. Although, there is a certain belief going on that the United States pays respect to its flag them any other natio on this earth. But, looking at the psyche and the mindset of the world, people will be Patriotic if any external threat is present. The events of 9/11 made the whole US Patriotic, while the events of 7/7 in UK made the whole nation rally around the flag. So, in this aspect, India might not be different. But, when the people of this nation fought so hard for Independence, this kind of attitude could be Fatal.

Unfortunately, nowadays, people only look for a particular event where in they can buy the flag of India and display their sense of Patriotism. The true Patriot will be called a Madman in today's time, and hence the true patriot doesnt stand up. Perhaps, the bottomline for this generation when defining Patriotism is situational. Even I admit to the fact that Patriotism is dead, but when i go out of my homeland, i will realize the true meaning of Motherland. But, there is a message here. If people have no genuine Patriotism, that nation might soon stagnate and cease to be one. The people of nations must realize Patriotism is essential, without which nations might not function.

Spirit of the people on display

It is at this time of the year that a huge event takes place in Mumbai. Stars and politicians all gather at this event, Media houses from all over the country converge on Mumbai, and thousands participate in this event. It is at this time of the year that the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon takes place. Partcipants from India, Africa and in some cases from Europe participate in this event. The city kicks of this grand event from early morning and continues on till late Afternoon. Over the years, looking at the crowd attendance, the Mumbai Marathon is as celebrated as the Marathons of New York, London and several other cosmopolitan cities. The Mumbai marathon shows the spirit that this city has. This spirit was seen last year when I and our bunch of Friends did something quiet special.

We were given a class project to cover the Mumbai Marathon. However, the main focus of the project was going to be on a particular individual running the Marathon. This individual was Blind, but this did not deter him from participating in the Marathon. This man's name is Jatin, and he had raced in the Marathon for the past 2 years. We focused on Jatin and his training, as well as what his friends and his parents had to say about him.

On Marathon day, he was getting ready along with his running mate for the Half-Marathon, which ocnsisted of 21 kilometres. Among the thousands that started, he was lost among them. But, thanks to the alertness of our friends, we could spot him and he was running quickly. With the help of our friends, we could track his whole journey and we were waiting for his return. Time passed by, but he was no where to be found. Particpants who had participated in the full marathon, which was of 42 kilometres were finishing the race. On the horizon, we spotted Jatin, who was indeed fatigued.

Remarkably, he had finished the race. The touching aspect was that he finished the race with dehydration and foot cramps. The spirit and determination shown by him was worthy enough of a medal from a prominent Marathon Coach, as well as from his other running mates. After that, we watched the footage and edited out to fit into a two minute news item. We got the best marks in class, along with several other news items that were presented.

Looking at the footage though, I was realizing that how ordinary we as Normal human beings are. The fact that a person with a disability showed such spirit and determination made me wonder wether we have understood the meaning of life. The fact is that we being normal, we like to take things quiet casually and on a platter. We need to look up to people like Jatin and get the meaning of what life's true aims are really. It is people like Jatin who give us a reason as to how life should be approached, and that it is all in the Heart. Jatin is not really disabled, for he has shown us the way life should be seen. Detremination, Spirit, a Big Heart, Support from the ones we love are the essential ingredients for a person to achieve some things. Hence, Jatin is indeed an achiever.

Do we need the VHP?

First and foremost, i will keep it real short. According to me, the VHP represents a farce that is putting the whole Hindu community in a bad light. According to me, the VHP represent, along with the Islamic fundamentalists, the gravest threat to the internal security of India.

If Sagarika Ghosh's blog on CNN-IBN is to be believed, the VHP is a Joke. She claims that pilgrims and all the Sadhus all scorned the VHP dharnas that were held during the ongoing Ardh Kumbh Mela in Allahabad. The base upon which the VHP bases itself is unstable, so the claim that they represent the grievences of the Hindu Community is false. The month of February will indeed show that why the VHP and its leaders need to be shut down, so that India can remain secure at least on the internal front.

The carnage that the VHP and its associations carried out in Godhra represented a dark period for the whole country. It has led to segregations among different communities. The Babri Masjid demolition caried out by the Hindu Fundamentalists resulted in the whole of India burning. The aftermath led to the deadly Bomb blasts in Mumbai which resulted in the death of hundreds. From the time of Independence, India has had to deal with problems regarding Pakistan and Terrorism on the Kashmir front. With the creation of the VHP, fundamentalist forces have arisen in the country, thus presenting the scenario of India being fragmented.

The VHP and the other Fundamentalist groups represent the gravest challenge to the sovereignity of India. The country is faced with religious fundamentalism, and on the other hand it is dealing with a peasent and non-religious fundamentalism in the form of the Naxals. The VHP is one reason why Nationalism and Fundamentalism is such a two edged sword. It does not benefit the common man, and in all these years, it has only led to the destabilizing of the socio-economic order in the country. So, we do not need the VHP for the betterment of the country. If the VHP is eliminated, along with other fundamental forces, only then the country shall progress.

Hanuman is Crying!!!!!

What has the world come to? Are News Organizations in India so starved of important news that they have to focus on irrational and superstitious stories like Hanuman is crying, or the Ganesh Idols have drunk the Milk? When this is the era of Scientific and rational thought, why are Irrational items bought out in the open so that the thinking of this country is set back two paces?

This is the reason that I emphasize that Religion and any matter that pertains to Religion should be confined to the four corners of a persons home. What could have been important news that affects the country is now taken up by all this superstitious items. By working upon the Faith of the people, the channels, notably Hindi news channels, have found a new avenue to garner more viewers, and thus more advertising and the beginning of Trivialization of news.

One cannot understand why our country faces such bouts of Irrationalism. Even more bizarre, one cannot digest the fact that technologically superior News channels consider this as a news event. By the simple process of Science, this event shall be a farce, and pretty soon, it will be pulled off the air. But, then, why was Precious Air Time wasted for something so Bizarre? I guess, in a country like India, when we move ahead with the times, some aspects might never change. Unfortunately, the factor of Religious beliefs will not change and hence incidents like Hanuman Cries will dominate the Tabloid Broadcast waves. Now though, forget Hanuman Crying, the Common Man is Crying about the fact that when will the Hindi News channels Grow up!

The Double Standards of policing the Net

The Internet is one of the most blessed technological innovations of the 21st century, for it has eliminated the barriers of distance and time between diverse nations. However, the Web has fallen prey to the concept of Propoganda and is an active platform for hate groups. It is on this account that this post is going to deal with. The problems of Propoganda as well as the fact that the Web is cursed!!!!!!

This is with reference to the recent Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that was filed against the online socializing website www.orkut.com. This was regarding the inflammatory comments posted on the Orkut Community "We Hate India", with the symbol of the burning flag of India. This PIL exposes the double standards that exist here in India. When the same "We hate India" makes people here boil over with anger, in India, there exists 1000 communities which Hate Pakistan as well. However, there seem to be no action on this front, and under the guise of Legitamacy, Indian users here can go on publishing inflammatory remarks against Pakistan, and the people. This gives a platform for fundamentalists on both sides of the fence to indulge in Cyber Terrorism. Instead of completely eliminating the whole, by trying to get rid of only the part, the process is underlined with double standards from the very beginning.

This does not mean that only one set of Hate Groups should survive. If something has to be banned, then it should be done in totality. Unfortunately, the mindset of majority of the people worldwide is that whatever is put out on the net is the gospel truth and nothing but the truth. The lines of fact and Propoganda are completely blurred, and thus hate groups and other Propoganda sites thrive on the Web. As I had mentioned that the net is cursed, it is on the security front where there is prominent. The Web Security is very much like the Panapticon, and hence Policing the net is close to impossible. The Panapticon was the mythical Watch Tower, where in Guards were stationed on the top of the tower and was situated in the middle of a Huge space. The guards could observe what each person would be doing, but they could not impose their presence on others, and hence the Panapticon was rendered useless. The same scenario confronts the security front on the Internet.

So far that Human beings have gone in the development of Technology that the basic factor of security was overlooked. Now, Propoganda and hate may seem to be the dominant trend of the Internet. However, technological development can be used in a better way itself. The new century represents a real challenge of finding a way to effectively police the Internet. The policing must be done in ways that Freedom of speech and Expression is NOT curbed, but at the same time Hate and Propoganda must be filtered and then eliminated. It will be this quest to find a security apparatus for the Net which will direct Technological development in the coming decades of the 21st century. But, unfortunately for the moment, the net will be a platform for Hate and Propoganda to a certain extent, and humans are powerless to do anything against it.

Man vs Animal: Who is the winner and the loser?

Among the species on Earth, Human beings are the most advanced because of their ability and the power to think. The Brain is what has made Human beings superior among the rest of the species that inhabit the planet. However, when the mind begins to function in an irrational and destructive way, it makes us wonder as to why we evolved Superior. This refers to the case of the two leopards which strayed on to residential societies in Nashik and in Kashmir. In the case of Kashmir, the leopard was tortured to death. It is this kind of thing which makes me feel disgusted about the human psyche.

The question remains as to who is responsible for this Man and Animal Conflict? In the first instance, Animals stray on to Human spaces due to encraochment by humans onto Forest Land. The pace of economic development and the swelling population has meant more people wanting more houses, but less amount of land. The Forest land is taken up by human beings, owing to which animals are displaced. These creatures loose out on their meal, which is smaller animals, and thus wander out into human spaces to search for food. Thus, it is the fault of Human beings selfish drive for development that is already putting the animals at danger.

The exploitation of the forest for other glamorous economic processes has resulted in more animals getting displaced and losing their habitat. It is as if their shelter has been demolished, and now they are wandering for miles looking for a place to live. It is easy to equate this phenomenon with the plight of the poor people, whose hutments are destroyed and they are left wandering here and there for stability. But, since the poor animal is unable to speak up for the wrongs that is inflicted upon it, it becomes a target for torture like in he case of the Leopard in Kashmir.

The incidences of today show both sides of the animal and man conflict. One thing which goes against the animal clan is that they too kill human beings for food. If the people in the affected region are to be believed, the leopard and several other wild animals have eaten up Children as well as maimed some other people. It is perhaps this one factor which over-rides the public mind, and hence their death is not regretted. The savagery shown by Human beings is proof that in this world, their personal space is valued beyond anything else. If their space is violated, Ironically, the ANIMAL within them is risen. Unfortunately, in this case, the Leopards had to be on the recieving end.

The visuals that were shown on TV today were shocking and made me absolutely sick. The savagery with which the leopard was stoned and beaten to death is indication that Human Beings are the most cruel species on this planet. One wonders after this that wether all this talk about Humanity and feelings is nothing but a Load of Bullshit. The irrationality that was evident on the visual indeed shows us that in this conflict, Man is winning, and though I am a human being, I am regretting that we are winning it. I will admit this tough, that if a Leopard or any animal encroaches my space, I will feel agitated and fearful. Circumstances might force me to take up arms to kill it. But, in my heart, i shall ask for forgiveness for killing an animal, because they too have a Heart.

No number of Forest officials and activists can save Animals. They are all doomed, because of the pathetic mindset of the human race that is hell bent on destroying anything that encroaches their space, or anything which poses a threat to their dominance. It is indeed a mournful day for the animal kingdom, and I truly regret this.

The Problem of Racism

South Africa and the UK have been in the news for incidents of Racism recently. Herschelle Gibbs, a South African Batsmen, racially abused some Pakistani spectators during the Cricket Match against Pakistan. In the UK, Bollywood Actress Shilpa Shetty was on the recieving end of Racist taunts by some British Stars in the reality TV show Celebrity Big Brother. These two incidents are just a spate of racist incidents that have become almost commonplace in the world of today. The era of Globalization has meant that individuals now are a global citizen, in addition to being the citizen of their own country.

The very factor of Globalization has bought in the societal problem of Racism. The Global Citizen indeed has to face up now to this bitter reality. Racism can arise out of several factors, namely out of Jealousy or in the false pretext of Patriotism or plain simply, to give an atmosphere of Unwelcomness. This Colonial Mindset, notably in the European Countries indeed shows the divide between the West and the East. Racism still exists in the United States also, although it is not as explicit as it was nearly 30-40 years ago. Why is the world now cloaked in a mindset of Irrationality, when we actually are supposed to be living in a Liberal world?

The answer to this is very murky and uncertain. Negative Stereotyping of communities on the basis of colour, caste and race is now indulged casually, which represents a grave danger to social Tranquility. In India, which claims itself to be on the recieving end of the Racist slur in case of Shilpa Shetty, needs to look at its own Racist Culture. In India. not only are the people Casteist, but also Racist. Looking at the treatment that Indians met out to Black Africans, as well as to the Muslims is a reminder that India also indulges in Racism. The treatment of India, towards the Dalits, is an indication that the tentacles of Racism are entrenched even in India as well.

Along with Globalization, Technology has also played its dubious part in promoting Racism. The Internet is the largest mode of communication in the world, and its content is read by millions. Unfortunately, the content on the Internet is blurred between Fact and Propoganda. The Internet represents the platform where in Hate Groups and other Racist elements can dish out their stuff, thus strengthening Racism. The fact that the Internet cannot be policed thoroughly, makes their Job even easier. This is evident from the fact that the most Liberal and technologically advanced country in the world, the USA has more than 5000 Internet Hate and Racist Groups. Also, Certain Methods of Coverage by the Media may have in an indirect way played its part in portraying the community.

The Media, perhaps fighting space and Time constraints, might portray the community in one aspect only. If that aspect turns out to be negative, then that Stereotyping remains and the whole community has to bare the brunt. The scenario post 9/11 and the ensuing War on Terror, along with many other Terrorist incidents, have marginalized the Muslim community world over. Thus, by focusing on this one aspect only, some Irresponsible Tabloid Media outlets end up indirectly promoting Racism. Perhaps, the paranoia and the horrors of 9/11 have resulted in societies in the West shying away from Globalization, and returning to the mode of Isolation.

The Stereotyping of Individuals on the basis of Colour, Caste, Race, Language make us wonder wether there is such a thing called Humanity as well. The natural processes which take place in Nature over the last million years have resulted in diversity among Human beings in all the above factors mentioned. How and Why Racism started will never be known. Right from the time of the Jewish slavery in Egypt till Circa 2007, the factor of Racism has dominated Mankind, and there have been reactions to it which have altered the histotical process. Darwin's theory of 'Survival of the Fittest' has being misinterpreted, and continues even today. Jealousy, False belief of Superiority of one race to another, So-called Patriotism have all given Racism the license to come back. This does not bode well for modern Society, for it is evident that Toleration and assimilation into the mainstream is the way forward. If Racism comes back in the Civilized society, it wont be long before the Dark Ages of Ignorance and Irrationality is ushered back in.

The Ride to Hell and Back

Two days ago, I was watching a film titled Kalyug. The main theme of the film related to the Blue Film Industry, Pornography and the wider issue of Human Trafficking. What struck me the most was the background that some of the characters in the film had come from. The poverty which affects these people makes them desperate to earn money, hence they adopt the desperate and easy way of making money. By getting into Pornography, they earn a quick buck, but the price that they pay for themselves as well as in society is heavy and one which is devastating.

It is on this point that I will emphasize on the socio-economic conditions of the country. While I am typing this post, somewhere, in some corner of the country, a girl will be engaged in Pornography or will be part of a Blue Film, all for the sake of money. Several ideas are in the forefront, but all do not seem to be working. The recent closure of Dance Bars in Maharashtra did not solve the problem. The reason being that all the women and girls that were left on the open could fall prey to Crime and other abuses. The government has not found a solution in the right manner which it should. By closing of the dance Bars, the Maharashtra Government sent a message that they were out there to save Morality of Society. But, they had not considered the back up for all the women who would be left jobless without this venture. They had also not considered the societal isolation and abuse which they might face.

This is indeed a difficult dilemma. The major step has to be taken by the people from all walks of life to ban any kinds of Pornography altogether. But, the citizens have maintained a silence, and hence even today the sale of Blue films continue. The posting of Pornography on the Internet has intensified the problem, and thus the youth are in more danger of being exposed and then slowly but surely getting corrupted.

The business of Pornography is such that it might appeal to a certain set of people and evoke their sexual passions, hence to speak out against it could be a losing battle. The Poverty in India stil is widespread, and nobody knows how many poor women are trafficked to the cities for indulging in Pornography. The numbers could be quiet high, and the silence of the Citizens as well as the narrow mindset of the Government has meant that Pornography stays. The solution, possibly, might rest in the conscience of the individual. If there is a collective Conscience drive against Pornography and all its elements, then the problem of Human Trafficking for such obscene deeds might not happen. But, since the dynamics of Society is towards Individuality and Money, this ride could be a ride to hell and back.

Setting of Priorities

Yesterday, i was just checking my Inbox and i received a forwarded mail about a particular News incident. The news was that an Army Major had lost his life while fighting terrorists in Kashmir, but there was no mention of it in any of the News Channels. The mainstream Hindi and English News channels were busy covering events relating to Bollywood Marriages, Cricket Controversies as well as other Voyaurestic and Tabloid news scoops. All of this makes me wonder wether the concept of Ethics and Priorities is indeed something which the Media needs to look at.

To consider the concept of ethics and priorites would be a waste of time in today's Socio-Economic dynamics. The tendency in this case is to sell the news by which the Advertisers and other major businesses get a boost. News has indeed become a Commodity, and one which is devoid of any Seriousness. The scary part of all this is that the public have resigned to this fate and they are not speaking aloud on this issue called Desperate Journalism. Maybe, a very radical thought has to be tabled out to prevent Desperate Journalism. In one of the Communities on the Socializing site www.orkut.com, memebers there have called for the stopping of 24 hour News channel. Since all this kind of Desperate Journalism is due to the very nature of 24 hour television, this might not be a bad idea.

But, the competition has reached such unethical proportions that to say anything against banning 24 hour Television News would be equivalent to curbing freedom of speech and Expression. News Channels, more in particular the Hindi News channel, have taken obscure events and made them into BREAKING NEWS. All Trivial and personal issues have been bought out in the open and have been relayed in the form of the Soap Operas, which dominate the Indian Television Market. Rajdeep Sardesai, the Editor in Chief of the English News channel CNN-IBN, gives an account of this tabloidization in his blog updates on his website ww.ibnlive.com. The fact that a Criminal surrenders not in a Police Station, but in the studio of a News channel, indicates the extent to which the Tabloid Media can stoop to for airtime and Advertiser revenue.

In my posts, I have often being very critical of Advertising, and this is the reason why. Tabloid and Trivial events dominate the airtime, while serious and important issues which plague the nation are pushed into the background and given little airtime then they deserve. The news of the Army major killed in a terrorist encounter in Kashmir is overshadowed by Glitzy news emanating from Celebrity parties. The way that competition is brewing among the news channels gives out a clear signal: Those news channels which engage in Tabloidization and sensationalism will stay ahead in the competition and rake in more money. The news channels which do give out serious NEWS will stay behind, forcing some of them to go down the sensationalist path.

But, the silence of the Indian Public is indeed Deafening. This also exposes the pathetic mentality of the general public which takes pleasure and also encourages news channels to engage in sensationalist ventures. The Soap Operas in India has created such a fan base that certain news channels have adopted the Soap Opera style. The proof to this comes from a viewer who gave an interview to a prominent magazine, when she said that she watches Television News for Entertainment, for they are similar to Soap Operas. I guess this silence is bound to stay, because looking at how things are going about in the Indian Media market, the News Opera will continue.

Shattering the Apathy

Apathy is one of the most potent problems that is facing man in the world of today. It involves indifference as well as Non-Participation in an important event which is essential to man's everyday functioning. This Indifference when spread to areas like Politics, Justice can be detrimental to the very functioning of Democracy. It is necessary for citizens to shatter the bubble of Apathy that they have built. By Ordinary Citizens engaging in Political and Judicial Activism, the country can truly call itself progressed. By engaging in Active Participation, Citizens are vigilant against chronic problems like Corruption and Mismanagement. Let us look at instances where Activism has helped and the reason why this should be initiated at all levels now.

The call to shatter Apathy came from a Hit film in India called 'Rang De Basanti'. Several other films had been made earlier which called upon people to change the system, but 'Rang De Basanti' captured the psyche of the Indian public in ways which no other film had done before. Several Dialogues stand out of which these two are the most potent. "No Nation is Perfect, it has to be MADE Perfect." The other dialogue is "There are two ways of living life. One, keep on bearing it. Watch silently as things happen. The Other, TAKE Responsibility and CHANGE things". It is the second dialogue which is so important. For far too long, India's Public has silently watched as Corruption and mismanagement have set the country back. In the dynamics of the 21st century, it has become necessary for Citizens all over the world to participate actively in Politics, so that Politicians think twice before mismanaging the country. Citizens Scrutiny ensures better transparency and hence smoother functioning.

Being engaged in Activism has got its advantages. The Jessica Lall case, Priyadarshini Mattoo Case and the Nitish Katara case are examples that Activism by Citizens can ensure that Justice is delivered. With the growth of the Media indusrty, the scope of Information is plenty. Thankfully, the Media is reinforcing the power of the Citizens by enforcing the concept of Citizen Journalist, hence there is a platform for vigilance on behalf of the citizens. For too long, there was no clear path between the Citizens and the pillars of Democracy. Now, with the change in Times, Media is providing this path.

Of Course, it would be completely wrong for the citizens to entrust the scope of Activism for the Media alone. Media suffers from bottlenecks ranging from Infotainment, Tabloidization and absolute Trivialization. The growth in Media Industry has led to a whole range of Voyareustic Adventures, and thus the Citizen will be completely disengaged from this 'Soap Operization' of News. It is thus up to us to remain vigilant, and ensure that Unity on many fronts is maintained.

The Right to Information is a tool which once again reinforces the power of the citizen. But, it suffers from several roadblocks, and there are attempts by the Political establishment to weaken the Right to Information. It is in this case that Citizens need to look at Alternative sources of Information, to ensure that they do not remain duped. The country can only be saved by the Citizens, and they can do it because the ways are open for them, only key things are Patience, Assertiveness and Vigilance.

The only question remains as to who and what will Push the Citizens into Activism? As mentioned above, Media and several other Citizen Laws have bottlenecks and loopholes, by which Corruption will stay. Accordin to me, it is about time that Citizens glance down at their conscience and seek to right the wrongs. Citizen Scrutiny, Participation with Unity, follwoing the framework of the Law and the determination to right the wrong has to be the mindset of the Citizens. Maybe, the first push can come from an Ordinary Citizen, but the message is clear. If Apathy Continues, then the country is bound to stagnate. If Activism grows, then the country will be truly developed.

An India within an India

About a year back, when India celebrated it's 59th year of Independence, there was a feeling that things in India were changing for the better. And indeed, when you look at the development that the country has achieved after Liberalization in the 1990's, there is a sense of Optimism. But, wether this development is for the good of the country is doubtful. I say this because of an incident I witnessed during the Independence Day celebrations here in my Society in Bhopal.

The traditional Flag-Hoisting ceremony was taking place, and all the members of the society were invited. But, the Workers in the society, namely the maids, the Gardeners, the Garbage collectors and the Cleaners were all excluded. For me, that was a sign that the poor still are not free as the rest of the country percieves. This interpretation may vary from place to place, but for me the incident that took place indicated that there is a visible class difference in India, and thus there is an India within an India.

For the poor, Independence has still not come to them. The India that they visualize in their life is different from the India witnessed by the elites. The age of Liberalization, so far for the past 15 years, has had mixed fortunes for India. The Haves have got the majority of the benefit, while the Have-Nots have furthur degraded. India's agrarian base is almost on a state of collapse, the proof being the increasing number of Farmer suicides in many regions. The Naxal menace is dangerous for the very fact that the poor will now carry arms. With a new Peasent uprising, the social tranquility of the country will be at stake. Class barriers in the heartland of rural India exist and this furthur alienates the poor sections from moving forward in their socio-economic conditions. The poorer have gotten poorer in today's India, and thus it is leading to a whole new situation.

Due to the failure of the Agrarian base in the rural areas, Migration to the major cities in India is on the rise. The surge in the immigrant population is causing the Infrastructure of the cities to crumble as wll. The case of Mumbai is the prime exampe, with shanty towns in every third street of mumbai, as well as high rates of Crime. The poor people who migrate to the city have to live in inhuman conditions. They have to do work like cleaning streets, Toilets at homes of the rich, as well as wash utensils and clean houses for a living. Inspite of the fact that the majority of people see this discrepency of poor and rich, they just ignore it as if it is invisible. The apathy of the rich and the elite furthur aggravates the poor sections of society and this leads to a disruption in the normal functioning of society.

All this while when this situation exists, India celebrates its independence and shows off to the world that it is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Many elitists have gone on to say that the year 2007, where India celebrates 60 years, will be it's time. There are clearly Two Indias: One India which touches the Sky, and another which is barely able to jump off the ground. Will the people of India realize this or will they continue to be ignorant? The answer to this could lie with the people themselves. There is perhaps a limit as to how much people can be ignorant of the severity of problems that plague our country. The problem is there is no determining factor to that Limit.

Long Live the King

January 8th, 1935 was designated as the day in which a person would singlehandedly change the very scope of music in the world. This person, as he grew, would sing and blend all the different kinds of Western Music forms with effortless ease. He had the largest number of Number 1 singles Hit Songs in History. It was Cruel that he passed away at such a young age. Elvis Aaron Presley still continues to inspire us and live in our hearts, almost 30 years after his death. It is on this day that i as a fan of Elvis tell as to why he was and is still is the Greatest.

I was listening to Elvis Presley's Number 1 music collections, and it was at that time I thought to Myself that why not i check up on Elvis's life in detail. So, i went to the website www.elvis.com, and it was there i got a glimpse of Elvis the Man himself. First and for all, i have to apologize to Elvis himself, for forgetting his Birthday. But, a belated wish is better than nothing. For me, it was his confidence and the need for some fresh ideas everytime which made him great. His confidence for the fact that he could sing all kinds of music, and fresh ideas for the different kinds of Rhythm and tone that he used to put it in every song. That is why Elvis remains the King. The least talked about attribute about Elvis, but which later sustained him in the 1970's was his Awareness. After he had taken a break from in the later part of the 60's, he had realized that the music world had undergone profound change. Hence, he adapted himself and gave us some Rocking Hits. His last Hit in 1972, 'Burning Love' was indeed an all out rock-n-roll number.

Elvis was also a fine actor, and he achieved acclaim as a great actor during his early years itself. Most Notable among his films which made him popular was King Creole, G.I.Blues and Blue Hawaii. His Comeback Feature 'Elvis' in 1968 was watched by millions all over the world. That shows his popular appeal among diverse cultures, inspite of the fact that did not tour Abroad much.

But, his later years were very troubled indeed. The Breakup of His Marriage, the heavy dosage of Drugs had taken a toll on his health. Elvis in all these years had accumalated a large amount of wealth, but he was financially obliged for his family, as well as the staff and other things. Elvis suffered from Self-Doubt, believe it or not, and he suffered from poor management. Hence, he threatened to quit show business altogether, but situations that i have mentioned in the above paragraph made it very difficult. His Overdosage of Drugs ultimately resulted in his death in 1978, and the whole world was in a State of Shock. The cruel thing was that Elvis was only 43 years of age.

So many awards, so many accolades, so many felicitations upon him by ordinary and prominent Americans, that it makes you wonder wether he was for real or not. He was the symbol of the times that America underwent in those 3 decades that he rocked us with. He has inspired generations following World War-2, and even in the 21st Century, his music and his style continues to inspire so many other musicians. Just ask Michael Jackson. Many people consider his antiques on stage similar to the ones Elvis did during his time. Elvis Presley was waaayyyyy ahead of his times, and he still makes his dance to his tunes even today.

Some people consider Elvis to be a Redneck as well as for the fact that he souded too Monotonous. I really pity those people, for they are truly missing out on Quality. I have only One message for them, which is: "You ain't nothin but a Hound Dog, Crockin all the time". Thank you Elvis for entertaining us, and in this birthday of yours, i only rue the fact that you could not be alive at the time when I was born. Now, i am only confined to knowing about you through wannabe look alikes, on websites and your records. But, as people say, it is better to have something than not have anything at all.

NOTE: Some information in the second,third and fourth paragraph is from the official website of Elvis, which is www.elvis.com

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa- The pain called Advertising

We are in the middle of a good movie on Television. The crime is just about to be uncovered, and suddenly the movie makes way for a break and it is from then on that the audiences are subject to Advertisements. It normally lasts for 15-20 minutes, and it consists of ads for any kind of products. This is the kind of Television formats that audiences are confronted with. This 21st century television format does have its share of problems as well as the advantages. Although, i would like to mention beforehand itself that according to me, there are few advertisements which are useful, and some aspects are good, but the majority of it is quiet bad.

Advertisements mould the audience to face up to the challenges of their everyday functioning. Information regarding products of utility to products of consumption are the benchmarks upon which Ads thrive. Advertisements also cater to businesses who want to step into the massive consumer market, and make themselves known. Although the factor of Quality varies from situation to situation, it is a fact that Large number of Advertisers with large revenue indicate good progress in the economy. India is estimated to have the third or fourth largest expenditure on Advertising, which is indicative of its good economic progress. The power of the visual ads is such that it influences audiences to go out there and buy. This is where the buck just about stops as far as the good things are concerned.

The negative points of Advertisements are the inability for audiences to differentiate reality and fiction. In some cases, it is a very potent factor for Censoring the News Media. This factor is more prevelant in the West, where Corporations own large media houses, in addition to balancing their other assets. The case of GE (General Electric) owning NBC Television in the United States , one of the Public Service Broadcasters, is an example. The unfortunate dynamics of News Media Functioning is that it is Money-Centric, rather than Information Centric. If there is even a barrage of Important Serious news, the Advertisers use their clout to pull out of the News channels and search for other rivals to place their ads.

It is this final point that is so problematic, and thus my fundamental mistrust for Advertising. In the United States, which boasts of a Free Press, Advertisers act as the biggest censors, and it has Constituitional Validity!!!!!!! The First Amendment of the US Constituition says, "Congress shall make no Law which shall abridge the Freedom of Expression of the people and of the PRESS". The press in America consists of the print, Internet and Broadcasting medium like TV and Radio. But, it also embraces Advertising. Hence, one media censors the other, and in this case it is Advertising. Hence, America does not have such a free press as it boasts.

The potency of Advertising in India is highlighted better in a Film titled 'Page 3'. In that, a breaking news about the Sex Racket by a notable businessman is bought out by a reporter. But, it cannot be printed in the newspaper because of Managerial threats to withdraw Advertising for the paper. Even in real life in India, there are so many instances where Important news do not come out in the open because of Advertiser pressure. Under the pretext of Audience appeal, the advertisers justify behind the scenes about the non-screening of serious news programes.

But, the battle is a losing one. For, i have resigned myself to the fact that without Advertising, Television and people cannot function. News will now be reduced to trivial items, and the genre of INFOTAINMENT is going to be the key Mantra in the functioning of news in India. Advertising has had such a profound influence on the minds of individuals all over the world, that it is now an accepted form of life. I guess this pain is there for a long time, and there seems to be no medicine in sight.

THIS POST WAS BOUGHT TO YOU BY SIDDHARTH'S COMPUTER AND BLOGGING SERVICE. UPDATED VERSIONS GUARANTEED. It has even got to me now, and I have truly lost the War.

The Inability to write

Today is one of those days. I just dont know what to write. There are issues which are present all over the world, by which you can give your two penny thoughts. But, these two pennies are not used to write material that is there on my blog. Call it Boredom or call it the absence of organization of ideas,today i am unable to write, and this is something that i have always dreaded.

My biggest fear with my friends as well as my parents is that i cannot find anything to talk on. Sometimes, they say Silence is Golden. But, in most situations, i consider silence as not being golden. The world is made up of issues and events, but the biggest problem that man faces is how to organize his ideas around that issue and present it in a way that publics will know and frame their opinions on. Even as far as writing is concerned, i have said that it is a general blog. But, today, i am facing the flipside of this deal. Having nothing to write on can be a worry, and it might make me wonder whether this updating of my blog is really worth it.

Ideal remedy in this case would be to take a break and organize your mind and think about topics which you have an idea about. This topic is then presented with the simplicity with which ordinary people can get a glimpse of. However, the problems with this break include boredom and finally dropping this whole thing called Writing a Web Log. This situation has confronted me many times in the past, and perhaps that has slowed my ability to expand and utilize my skills and ideas. In 2007, the year which holds a lot of promise for me, this is one thing that i have to do. This will give an indication of the determination that I have as well as the seriousness that i possess in doing something.

So many things to write on, yet man cannot write about it. The human mind is very exemplary, hence this is one of the stumbling blocks in the communication process. Maybe, the inability to write on anything is a blessing in disguise. If individuals write on anything, then the probability increases of miscommunication among the public. Streamlining of ideas is one critical aspect that writing teaches us, so it is better safe to be sorry and so i admit, that i am unable to write on a topic today. Perhaps, with the arrival of a new day and new ideas, you all might see an important post for which this blog has been created.

Reality of the Ravine

The landscape is bleak, for miles on end. In the fields, there is no growth of crops, only the growth of guns and more guns. Life is an everyday test of survival. Dacoity and Banditry are the only means of getting food and money. Society is firmly divided on Caste lines, and Superstitions dominate. This is perhaps the picture in the interior heartland of India. The world outside does not get a glimpse of this real India, but for the people in the heartland, the factor of reality is based on survival. This is the reality of the Ravines, in particular of the largest and the most inhospitable one in the country. This is the story of Chambal, a province in Northern Madhya Pradesh, stretching for over 1000 sq.km.

I was watching a documentary on ETV Madhya Pradesh about Chambal. They were going into the history of the region and also why Dacoitism and Banditry flourish in the region. But, my focus in this post is going to be regarding the practice of Superstition and the societal orientation in the region. It is these two factors which have made survival the critical issue among the people in the region of Chambal. Even the Feudal Landlord system is prevelant, and therefore the spectre for conflict arises even more. Despite the large Chambal river flowing through, the landscape is still barren, thus increasing the hardship of the people and also presenting a dry and inhospitable terrain.

The age old practices of Child Marriage and Sati are very much prevelant in the deep corners of Chambal. It is because of these two factors that dacoits are made, as in the case of Phoolan Devi (see below) shows. It was because of moral outrage towards society by which she tooks up arms. It is also the case of the powerful landlord system by which hundreds are driven into becoming dacoits and robbers. Illiteracy and apathy has led to many people becoming frustrated at life itself. All these above factors present an ideal scenario for increase in Crime.

The social conditions in Chambal are a very indication as to why Casteist Oreintations present a threat to the very development of individuals. Isolating certain sections of the population, while preferences are giving to Elite classes will create conflict, thus degenerating the social order. Also, the very absence of Vigilance, by both Government and Police, means that there is no control over happenings and it becomes an accepted mode of life. The scenario in Chambal should be an indication that Casteism needs to be Purged from all societal aspects of India. This will result in the mainstreaming of all sections of society, thus contributing to the development of the country.

People will be mistaken if this situation will remain confined to the borders of Chambal. If the people of India do not pressurize the government to initiate change, then this will even affect them in the long run. Already, people travelling by road, train through this region have suffered number of robberies, and the situation just goes from bad to worse with each passing day. It is about time for genuine and embracing reform practices to come to Chambal, rather than the practice of damaging superstitions. The very hardship of life that people have to go through has been documented grimly by Shekhar Kapur's film "Bandit Queen". The story revolves around real life Dacoit Phoolan Devi, and this gives an insight as to the realities of the Ravines of Chambal.

While I am writing this, the cosmopolitan India will indulge in more Business Deals, many people will ppan their Holiday ventures and also several business ventures. Teenagers will go on bikes and paint the city red with fun, while they smoke Hookah and eat in all the fancy joints and discuss about EPL, Cricket and other sports. But for the people of Chambal and the heartland of India, another day passes where in they have managed to survive the hardship that life dished out. They all wonder when will the hardships end. When will the myth be shattered that being a Dacoit will not achieve the means? For how long the people of India blindfold themselves to the happenings of the Real Bharat? One conclusion can be drawn from all this: Chambal illustrates the presence of an India within India. The heartland Bharat, coping with all kinds of Problems that are potentially ruinous, while there is a Cosmoploitan India indulging in all wealth and ignorance. For them, reality is about survival, while for Urban India, reality is immediate luxury.

They say "Ignorance is Bliss", but in the case of Chambal, it will and may not be a wise thing. Chambal highlights the grim fact of Multiple realities within India, and the elite public may decide on it only by the factor of Perception and Convinience. This is the real fact that the Ravines of Chambal dish out.

Assam's state of troubles

The state of Assam has witnessed a bloodbath during the last 48 hours. 55 labourers were gunned down by suspected ULFA militants, and majority of these labourers belonged to the northern parts of India, notably Bihar. This is not the first time that this incidence has taken place in Assam. In 2000, militants targetted members of the Hindi Community from Bihar in Assam, leading to several deaths. These deaths are being viewed by the government as an attempt to destabilize the state as well as give momentum to the 'Liberation of Assam' drive!!!

If the government is to be believed, then Opinion polls conducted in the state indicate that 95% of the people do not agree with the Liberation drive. The repeated attempts at the peace process between the Government and the militants has been shattered, on account of apathy on both sides. Looking at this current terror act, the centre has deployed Army personnel in the state. The government has sent in a committee to review the situation in the troubled areas. Even railway minister Laloo Prasad Yadav is planning to visit Assam.

With this latest round of violence, the North East has come back into the agenda of the government. They now can no longer continue to ignore what is happening in Assam, and that some active action to eliminate ULFA and other militant outfits should be considered. By initiating such action, the government is sending out a clear message that anybody who initiates violence which disharmonizes society will be punished. It is about time that the ULFA militancy is categorized in the same bracket as the Naxal menace, for these two groups pose a real threat to the internal security of India. There is a message also for the Government, and that Apathy on their behalf will only result in violence and the strengthening of such militant outfits. The sooner action is taken against them, the better it will be for the whole country.

Hoo Haa India, Har Gaya India

The chant of the Pepsi Blue Billion will be saying this for some time to come. When all the hope was built up, the end result was as always dissappointing. The killer instinct went missing, and the will to win vanished. So, after having created History by winning the first test in Johannesburg, Team India squandered the lead and lost the test series to South Africa. The final test in Cape Town ended with South Africa winning the match by 5 wickets, and thus ending a miserable tour for India.

With this result, Team India has to do some very serious and deep thinking. It is about time that the team for the World Cup is announced, and ensure that the rotation and flexibility policy be practical and helpful, not detrimental, as in the case of Irfan Pathan. Make sure that every person in the team has a defined and a more precise role, so that the players have confidence in themselves. Last, but possibly the most controversial suggestion, ensure that there is a COMPLETE MEDIA BLANKET TILL THE END OF THE WORLD CUP.

It is on this point that I would like to stress upon. Let the team concentrate on playing rather than endorsing products. If team India fails at the World Cup, then the people should not blame the players, but rather the Advertisers and other Media firms who want tohese players to endorse their products to the public. This is highlighted by the fact that before the trip to South Africa, the players walked on a fashion ramp, rather than preparing for a series!!!!!! It is this kind of attitude that must be changed among the players, and hence the Media blanket is an effective way of changing it in the short term.

The players now have to believe that they can win. Being Mentally strong is the first step towards securing victory. After that, it is the application put out by the players which will lead them to the final goal. The world cup is barely three months away, and looking at rhe current form and performances of the team, many people would not be mistaken to believe that this team will not do well in the World Cup. But, sports is a funny field, and Cricket is known to throw up surprises. Let the Cricket administrators in the country ensure that the options in the above paragraph are more or less followed, because if they are not, then the chant "Hoo Haa India, Har Gaya India" will be unfortunately true.

After 85 years

Warwick Armstrong would be a very happy man. His Australian Cricket side had achieved a whitewash against England in the Ashes in 1920-21. Now, in 2006-07, Ricky Ponting's Australian team have achieved a 5-0 whitewash of England by winning the 5th and final test at Sydney. Other than the funfare associated with this historic achievement, it also brings sadness. Three of Australia's best players Justin Langer, Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne are retiring from Test Cricket. They have joined Damien Martyn, a reliable Middle order bat, into the Sunset.

This series will mark the passing of the torch, where the older generation makes way to the younger and equally dominating set of players. Wether the new generation can take up the mantles of Martyn, Langer, McGrath and Warne will be eagerly watched. But, is it time to write the Beginning of the Aussie decline? The answer at this point of time would be NO. The chances of Australia going the West Indies way might seem very distant. The current Australian team has been compared to the Great West Indies Cricket team of the 1970's and 80's. The only difference being that Australia in today's time have ruthlessly conquered any nation that has crossed its path, either abroad or at home.

The present success of the Aussie team is the Tough Mental makeup and the excellent sporting facilities and infrastructure which the country boasts. The tradition of Sports Culture runs very deep in the Australian Psyche, hence they have achieved success in other sports also, barring Cricket. The Cricketing facilities in Australia are enviable and this is the reason why Aussie Cricket is dominating. The toughness aspect of this team has been demonstrated time and again to be remarkable. For instance, when the Aussie team toured South Africa in 2006, they had scored 434 in an One day International! South Africa scored 438 and clinched the series in what was deemed the greatest One Day International in History. After that incident, many other teams would be psychologically down. But, this team bounced back and immediately completed a 3-0 Whitewash in the Tests.

Not barring the fact that Australia have won the Cricket World Cup 3 times, it is proof of their ability and almost superhuman toughness. The factor of Intimidation is what made the Aussie team imposing on any team. Players like Glenn McGrath were proof of that. His very aggression translated in his bowling, and his accuracy will make him the Benchmark to which other bowlers in future generations will adher. Even the King of Spin Shane Warne was a genius in his own right. He produced deliveries which would be remebered for centuries. His "Ball of the Century" Barring, his tally of over 700 wickets and 1000 international wickets will be acknowledged forever in History.

Although the Old Guard has vanished, this Australian team has not vanished into the Sunset. With the coming of the new younger generation into the national team, the Sunrise of a new and better Australian team is on the horizon. The fact of the world is that Mighty nations do fall and struggle in the future. But, in the case of Australian Cricket, the wait could be a lot longer

It is So Cold

The Northern part of India is currently undergoing a Cold Wave, and this has confined people to their houses. This post is going to be a poem about how the people cope with the cold, taking into account some of the hassles that are faced by them in their daily life:

It is so Cold, It is so Cold
People refuse to come out in the open.
All are bundled up for warmth,
hoping for some comfort,
But It is so Cold, It is so Cold.

Trains and Flights are all delayed,
and people start to feel hot with anger.
They curse the way of nature,
but they continue to remain patient.
Yet their patience has been tested,
Because It is so Cold, It is so Cold.

Yet, People carry with them bundles of Faith,
for even in the chill, they take a dip in the Holy waters,
To cleanse their souls.
Yet, I feel that al these people are so Crazy,
because It is so Cold, It is so Cold.

Bonfires burn in some corners of the street,
for the poor can soak in some of the heat,
But, this may not be enough,
for he has little clothing and could die,
Because It is so Cold, It is so Cold.

Yet, this weather brings out some good things.
The mist and the dew drops that we see in the early morning,
gladden and warm our hearts in a quiet way,
inspite that It is so Cold, It is so Cold.

Past is Past!!!!!!

I watched a CNN-IBN today about the state of RK film studios. The sad state of affairs really made me think as to how far and uncaringly has Indian Cinema gone into the future. What was once the landmark of Mumbai for decades is now another rundown studio which people dont even give a second glance. The same place where a genius called Raj Kapoor had grafted some films which would establish him and his ideas as the cornerstones of the film industry in the country. But, sadly after his death in 1989, the studio has not recovered and today it is facing stagnation and possible elimination.

Have we as Indians moved so far into the future that we cannot even consider the golden past? Today, India is defined by all the Dhooms, the Rang De Basantis as well as other glitzy production films. But, India was put on the world stage because of some of the ideas that originated out of this studio 40-50 years ago. Films like Shri 420, Mera Naam Joker are not world renown, but they have managed to capture the Indian Ethos in ways that the present generation is still using those techniques. Who can ever forget this song "Mera Jhootha hain Japani, yeh Pathloon Englistani", which caused an uproar in the Soviet Parliament at that time. Raj Kapoor's ideas captured the essence of India and the people in a certain way, but now he would be a very sad soul looking at his flagship stagnating.

Many people say that Bollywood is a money making enterprise and that the Past is the Past. The condition of RK Studios is proof of that. It shows us that the Indian film industry goes well ahead into the future, without considering the glories of the past. Maybe, people have to hope, for the Great Man Raj Kapoor himself sang in 'Mera naam Joker', "Kal Khel mein, hum ho na ho, Gardhish mein Tareh rahenge sada". It is with that line that we hope that RK film studios is rejuvenated, for if not, Indian Cinema may loose one of its most revered symbols.

India Turns 60 years

2007 is an important year for India. The country is now 60 years old, and it has transformed itself remarkably from the time it has gotten independence. With Periods of Economic Stagnation and Political Uncertainty, the country has managed to be one. In the age of Globalization, the country is now a rapid economic powerhouse, creating an impression in the rest of the globe. But, the country still faces a lot of problems as it celebrates 60 years of being an independent country.

The country woke up to the new year with revelations of the Mass Killings in Nithari village in Sector 31 of Noida district in western UP. More than 50 Children are reported to have been killed by one man, with the motive being Organ Trading. This has exposed countless times of the Inefficiency of the Police as well as the lack of knowledge in the Administration. As India Progreses in the coming decades, it is very important that the internal social tranquility is maintained, and that the police play an efficient and stabilizing role. The Noida killings have exposed the problems of the Police functioning and the country must learn from the mistakes as quickly as possible in order to avoid repeats of such incidences.

The Rivers of India have always been the pride of millions. But, now, the holiest of these rivers, the Ganga, is now in Danger. The river has gotten polluted to such an extent that saving it might prove to be next to impossible. Illegal Industries dumping their affluents and unhygenic activities by many villages have led to the Ganga losing its purity. The Citizens of the country must organize campaigns to save the Ganga, so that the government can save it. If action is not taken now, the country will commit Hydrological Suicide, and thus it will take two steps back.

The Justice system needs to be modified. The year 2006 was a landmark year as verdicts to three high profile cases were announced. The Jessica Lal case, the Nitish Katara Murder and the Mumbai Blasts verdict have restored the faith of millions in the Judicial system of the country. But, doubts remain as to wether this is all an Eyewash. These were high profile cases, and constant media vigilance ket the citizens informed and spurred them into activism. Wether the Judicial system will work like this in the case of a common individual of the nation is debatable.

The one thing that India can be proud of in 2006 has been the functioning of the Media. The Media in the country gave the power to the citizens and aroused the spirit of Activism. The phenomenal rise of the Broadcast Television Media in India is proof that the country is moving one step closer to better connectivity and homogenity. If Media can take this a notch higher, and keep Citizens informed on all issues which plague the country, then our country will be the real torchbearer of a Democratic system.

The Government may have done a lot of things in 2006. The economy grew by 9% for the first time in a long time. Realtionships with other nations were improved, and the country entered the Nuclear club after 30 years, with the signing of the Indo-US Nuclear deal. But, the country still faces some threats to its progress. The Naxal menace is growing everyday, but the government is still inactive and there are no concrete steps to tackle the Naxal problem. The Internal security of the country was breached by the Train Blasts of 7/11 in Mumbai, killing 183 people. Terrorism is the one weapon which might derail the country's progress, and soon as the Government takes a Proactive effort in curbing Terrorism, the better it will be for the people. Also, the ties with Pakistan are stagnating, because of a stalled peace process in Kashmir. This will pose a problem in the coming years as well, and the two nations must realize that the solution for Kashmir must be achieved so that terrorism does not achieve legitamacy.

And, lastly, Indians will be hoping that on the 60th year, they remain healthy and fit. The cases of Dengue, Chickengunya and Leptospirosis affected some sections of the population. It is upto the Citizens and municipal administrators to be proactive to ensure that the environment that they live on is clean, because a healthy population generates a wealthy and prosperous nation. Here's wishing our Country a Happy 60th year.

The EU Enlargement

Everybody in the world greeted 2007 with fireworks. However, two countries have ushered in 2007 with absolute Joy and funfare. As the clock struck Midnight and 1st January 2007 began, Romania and Bulgaria ushered in a new era for their people . As of this day, both nations are official members of the European Union. The long awaited dream of these two nations has been fulfilled, and it is upto the governments of the two nations to ensure that they become prosperous in the years to come.

However, the entry of these two nations will test the EU in the years to come. After this, the EU does not go into an expanding venture at least till 2015. These two countries are joining at a time when the very scope of a Multi-Cultural Europe is being debated. The EU nations have not agreed to a constituition, and many citizens of the EU believe that furthur expansion will only stagnate the EU furthur. Romania and Bulgaria are the two poorer nations of the EU, and this means that there will be a large number of immigrants from this two nations into Western Europe.

These two countries have joined the EU on very strict conditions, and unless the governments of the two nations do not improve the situation internally, the EU will cut off their annual funding. Hence, the message is clear. If Romania and Bulgaria do not improve their present condition, then their membership in the EU could become a Liability. Many nations have declared that they will allow only a select number of Romanian and Bulgarian workers annually, although the exception in this case could be the UK.

Romania and Bulgaria have put their oppressive past behind, and the people now expect better times now that they are part of the EU. There has been prosperiety for every nation that has joined the EU, and these two countries will hope that they continue the trend. But, the challenges these two countries face are enournmous. Poverty, Unemployment, Organized Crime are several of the factors which have inhibited true progress within these nations. The Governments of these respective nations now have to dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to ensure that their people get the accolades from the entire EU. These two countries might reaffirm the belief among millions that the Future of Europe lies in Multi-Culturalism, tolerance and that the EU stands for prosperiety and upliftment.

The New year is in motion

2006 is now done, and the whole world now awaits what 2007 isa going to offer them. In this post, I am going to look at certain key events that have created an impression in the region and try to give its dynamics in 2007.

The world witnessed mixed fortunes in 2006. The Middle East continued to be volatile, with tensions increasing in both Iraq and Israel. Now, Iran seems to be going the Nuclear path, to add to the dangers already plaguing the Middle East. The Israeli-Palestinian conflic seems far from resolved, and it looks to continue well into 2007. Wether there will be increased bloodshed in the region is being watched upon by the world. Also, the formation of a new government has led to changed policy in the region. Ariel Sharon's ailment led to Ehud Olmert leading a new party to power in Israel. The country was tested with external aggression in the form of Hezbollah attacks in Northern Israel. The country went to war with Hezbollah, leading to destruction in Lebanon and unstabling the government there. Nobody knows who won this war or who lost it, but it was interpreted that Israel had suffered the most losses. The situation in Lebanon is now unstable, and the radical Hezbollah is attempting to establish itself in Lebanon, which would really put the Middle East on boiling point. The condition in Iraq is what will determine the world political dynamics in 2007. The US faces strong opposition at home as well as growing world isolation for its mishandling of the Iraq situation, hence what will happen in Iraq during this year might as well set the pattern for the following years.

Europe in 2006 recovered from its economic stagnation, but not significantly. The factor of Multiculturalism, upon which Western Europe prides itself, was tested in early 2006. Race riots in France shattered the social tranquility of the nation, while European countries rejected the EU constituition in a referendum. The factor of Turkey joining the EU has many europeans divided. Admitting a Muslim nation into a predominantly Christian EU will continue to be a question posed to Europeans in the next couple of years. In 2007, the EU will have two new members, Romania and Bulgaria. The size of the EU from 2007 will consist of 27 members. However, the situaion is mixed in Central and Eastern Europe. The economies of Estonia, Slovakia and other Baltic states are growing faster than Western Europe, and there are immigrants from states like Poland who now work in the UK

The other side of all this has led to the Authoritarianism of Russia. It has engaged in Arm-twisting Politics in the case of Ukraine, Belarus and Georgia. With the threat of cutting the Gas and Oil supplies to several countries in Central Europe, Russia is showing off its economic clout in a big way. Vladimir Putin has consolidated power and does not look like relinquishing it in the year 2007. There remains the problem of Chechnya which the whole world has ignored. Hence, the actions of Russia in the near future will affect the working of the member states in the EU.

Africa has had to cope with the problems that have continued for a long time. By the end of the year, Somalia and Ethiopia have engaged in War, in order to drive away the Islamic militias. The outcome is not yet clear, but the west is keeping a close eye on the Horn of Africa, for this could affect the War on Terror operations for 2007. The problem of Darfur in Sudan has shown the inability of the African Union to impose its will and prevent Human rights atrocities in that part. The situation in Darfur was known to the world surprisingly due to vigilance by the Western Media to cover the issue in Central Africa. Unfortunately, Internal Civil Wars have ravaged the most part of Africa, and in the case of Congo, it is continuing to wreck havoc in Africa. Africa's World War in Congo, where a total of 7 nations are involved, is continuing to be the stumbling block for Africa's revival. So, unfortunately, in 2007, might be covered for Civil Wars, Famines, AIDS and other natural calamities by the West.

The United States goes into 2007 with an uncertain future. Its image abroad has been tarnished on account of the Iraq mismanagement, and unless President George.W.Bush does something drastic, its image abroad will continue to take a beating. With the Republicans losing the majority in both the Senate and Congress in the midterms, the US now has to tread a careful path from not messing up the Middle East even furthur. The factor of illegal immigration dominated American Politics for some time in 2006. The land of immigrants was turning away illegal immigrants, namely from Mexico and other Latin American countries. Even the Economy of the US is not showing signs of rapid growth, and it will be interesting to see what policies does America advocate in 2007.

The Asian countries will label 2006 as the year of resurgence, in particular countries like India and China. China continues to have the fastest growing economy in the world, and India is following close behind. China and India are standing up to the traditional economic powers of the West, also staking a claim in the G-8, G-20 and in the case of emerging economies like Brazil, India and South Africa, a permanent seat in the UN. However, it is in the Southern part of the continent where problems still persist. The conflict in Sri Lanka between the LTTE and the Government has reached bloodier proportions, and calls for a ceasefire have been ignored by the Tamil Tiger group (LTTE). India and Pakistan have committed to discussing the Kashmir problem, but the fear in 2007 is that unless action is not initiated in this problem, it might stagnate and the whole process could be back to Square One. The fate of Kashmir will determine the stability of the Sub Continent in the coming years, more importantly in 2007. Afghanistan and Pakistan have had a tough 2006. Afghanistan is now unstable and the War on Terror there seems to have lost its focus, and the Taliban are resurfacing and have engaged in open conflict with NATO and the United States. Pakistan had to cope with internal strife, namely regarding the status of Balochistan. The country witnessed riots by angry Balochs following the death of a prominent Baloch leader Mohammed Bugti. There has also not been any progress on North Korea, and there are fears that North Korea may already possess Nuclear weapons, making East Asia the battleground perhaps for a Nuclear War. Negotiation between US and North Korea and the US have stalled, and there seems no way forward for this dangerous situation.

Overall, 2006 was a dangerous year for the world in general. As far as India is concerned, it was a mixed year. The economy grew at 9% for the first time after a long time. The country witnessed Media activism to call for Justice, thus empowering the Citizen and reaffirming the Power of the ordinary Indian Citizen. The IIM's and all other prestigious instituitions continued to put India on the world Map, and India's Railways was revived thanks to initiatives by the Railway Minister of the country. But, there were problems also for the country in terms of Security. The 7/11 train bombings in Mumbai bought the horror of Terrorism even closer to home, and for some time, the social scenario of the city and the country was tense. The old spectre of communal riots was always lurking around the corner, with another attack this time on a Mosque in a small town of Malegaon in Maharashtra state. To add to the security woes, the Naxal menace was wrecking havoc in the Eastern as well as in the Northern part of the country.

2007 is a new opportunity for nations and the population to seek new ideas and make things around them better. The hangover of the end of 2006 is over, and it is upto Heads of States and the population of the states to ensure that 2007 is a year of Prospereity, Tranquility and Happiness. The evils of this Techno-Age will continue, but it is upto Human beings to evolve and adapt to this scenario.