Everyone is entitled to their opinion, however no one's opinion is entitled to anyone.
If it makes sense, apply it, if it doesn't, ignore...
In this blog I share random musings and my 2 cents on things around me. Happy Reading
I still wonder why the concept of "happily ever after" does exist and in most cases it is always taken in reference to the romantic sagas and escapades.
On second thoughts it only exists in the suspension of disbelief, rhetorically speaking I am referring to the fantasy world of fairy tales and cinema, although the cinema world is changing its perception of the concept, the truth is a far cry from all the imagery and no I have no intention of spoiling the anticipation of anyone yearning a fairy tale happening, it's just that I overhear the emcee telling the groom at a recent wedding that with it, comes 3 rings; the engagement ring, the wedding ring and finally the cherry on the cake in the form of 'Suffer –RING'. True I think, as love is hard to find in the time of money, as money gets even sexier than sex itself, and talk about marriage is just shrugged off, as the institution seems to lose ground day by day but all of this in the real life and not reel one. Point taken to which I must add that probably the slow waltz dance the bride and groom danced too was really good and groom was enjoying himself probably thinking this is the last time he has an upper hand in this relationship.
Now talking all of this is making me think and off course making you think, WTF where is this all coming from, even as my relationship status shouts our single aloud, I'd say it's coming from all around me, what I see, hear and learn from. Many a times I've played a listener, hearing out all my friends say when it comes to their relationships etc, and I have come to this understanding that it takes more than an effort to make things happen, more than trust to keep doubt at bay, and above all more of We to keep it going. Everyone fancies falling in love and the romance that comes thereafter, but after that its takes more than a serendipity to make it last.
It's that time of the year when everyone is in a joyful and celebratory mood and the occasion other than the festivities is the 'big fat wedding' and I already know 5 couples who are all set to get hitched in the anticipation of the 'Happily Ever After' tag, to them and the rest of the world I'd just like to share a very interesting line that I came across and which probably should sum up and lead all to the Happily ever after… is that the art of marriage is not just in finding the right person, but being the right partner'
Not so long ago when was I in school, primary to be precise, the one thing that I’d eagerly wait for was our annual vacation as we packed off to our hometown in Goa, but the irony of it all was that as we reached there our relatives would announce it loud (the Bomoikars) that is people from Bombay have come, and the irony continued as I would reach back to school we were known as ‘Macs’ the alias for Goans and not Goanise as some whackos call it…
So the dilemma in me continues to remain not in a serious way, but it always makes me think, but I know deep down wherever I may come from I am always an Indian first, and these words give me a feeling of pride and sense of belonging. Truly in today’s time there is no better place to be in rather than India. Yet the very diversity that holds a billion people together is being questioned and is being put thru the test, in a way the British once did, the age old policy of ‘divide and rule’ is now being practiced by the so called sons of the soil, who in their race to supremacy and power are disturbing the social fabric of our society as if we were owned by them. And it pains to see the same time and again… Bombay yes you read it right Bombay is what it is by the various people who lived here and contributed in making a difference. There are names that I want to mention but I will not for they might just create a bias, because you can’t really ignore a single person’s contribution be it your local bhelpuri wala or a popular Filmstar or even the wealthy business tycoon. Every single being contributes in making Bombay the place it is, yet when the sons of the soil came into power, they played the cards well and renamed this glorious city thus trying to create a social rift… and this age old game still continues so much so that their very own and our superhero of cricket – the master blaster Sachin got the bitter taste, for simply being an Indian first…
I don’t really know how long will this continue and more so in one of the most cosmopolitan cities of India where our so called political leader behave worst than criminals, they are the ones who are first to break the law and yet our administration is never prompt in taking any action. The latest to this great sons of the soil tamasha was the attacks on a news media channel, wherein some goons keyed by the big bosses come in hit employees even women, destroy property and even the editor is not spared thus creating a situation - a situation that reminded of what happened last November when 10 armed gunmen came and held our city to ransom.. There seems to be no similarity between the sons of the soil and the terrorists per se…
And as the irony about me being a bomikar or Goan will play on as I think about it and smile, there are no two ways about me belonging to a beautiful city called Bombay but being an Indian First.
It’s a lazy Sunday afternoon and the weather is all gloomy, I say that because it looks like as if its going to rain, but its hasn’t since morning, and I am toying around with my laptop with a hundred thoughts running through my mind about what to write, but I cant really think of anything in particular, as I have those hundreds of thoughts hovering all over, and as I try to filter the thoughts, I crystallize to a thought, and that is; what do most people do on Sunday’s? The answer is go out partying, go out to eat and off course go to the movies, so lets talk movies.
Each passing day, the movies get bigger and bigger, in terms of their appeal to the common man, and I am not be wrong to say that in India the movies are almost another religion, that irrespective of any caste, creed or race many people follow and practice. But that is not what I’d like to bring out in this piece of mine, being a filmmaker myself, I have observed from both the sides as a filmmaker and as an audience. That every film made in whatever language comes with a certain kind of expectation, and that is a little eerie, I say that because every time one goes for a movie and that includes me too, most often one comes out with ohh I thought it would have been this…, this hero was not good, the story could have been told better etc etc. I fail to understand that sometimes a movie may just be a simply story told, but its just not understood, it is just not possible that every movie you go for will be ohh what movie superb or maybe even fuberb.
To my logical reasoning a part of this whole process falling this way, can be built by the producers as they put in the money into making a movie, so at times in order to make their returns the most attractive, the message they send out is distorted and thus resulting in the creation of a false image which further translates in a failed expectation of a particular movie. We all know that there is commerce behind the production of movies, but I think we need to understand, that the movies are also stories told to masses on medium that almost makes it real, and hence any interference or a distortion of the message will result into an unsuccessful movie product. I guess that also explains that despite churning less the 1/3 of the total production that Indian Cinema produces the revenues of Hollywood are almost triple the amount of the combined revenues.
Anyway coming back, it simply makes more sense to watch movies that you feel like watching rather going for a movie that you feel an external force is pushing you to watch, because in such a scenario you are less likely to feel disappointed and more likely to enjoy the flick to decide to watch, thus joining the dots behind the movies.
Most relationships come with baggages, however it is the one's which come with none that we enjoy the company/friendship the most!!! The others are the one's we keep to build what is called a social life/society...
Perhaps life too can be deceiving in the tinted perspectives we keep, which means that the world is not really the problem, the problem is the vision. The vision as how we see the other; as a sort of baggage reliver or just the person itself, without any judging. We live in times that can't really act without reason, everything has to proceed to something, everything has to react to a particular action, now I ain't intending to challenge Newton's law which off course was with regard to motion, but somehow its crept into our lives making us objects in notion.
If you look into your life, you'll realize that you are just a trip in many a strange relationships that you hold, and you hold on to them cos you hold on to baggage... Well I don't know who said love is blind, but in all earnestness what was meant, is that, love has no reason and comes without any baggage, strange that in times today we base our emotions on reason when the most perfect of all emotions 'love' has none.
Gandhiji once said be the change you want to see and lead by example; for in his endeavor there was no reason behind the love for his country, it was just love, which is why he became the change he wanted to see, and did it by fighting in peaceful way for our independence.. So if you want to be free, stop being trip in all strange relationships, and dance like no one's watching, love like you've never been hurt and live like there's no tomorrow for then you'll be the change you always wanted.
Love has no reason or season,
So why keep the baggage of liaison.
Life's journey isn't a smooth sailing ride on a ship,
It's about how you make it for yourself, a worthwhile trip...
It’s been a long journey… A journey of 62 years yet a question remains where are, we…? 62 years ago, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru echoed the heartfelt sentiment of probably every Indian, when he said “that we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes to redeem that pledge, not wholly or in full measure but substantially. Today in 2009 one can see the vision and the heartfelt sentiment turn to reality.
We can see dramatic changes India as a country India has gone through, physically and economically. Yet one thing that always remains constant is the warmth and colours of complexities that this vibrant country gives. Today India is poised as a top contender in the economic world, and everyone wants to be in her good books, the once so called bane for India which was her population has now turned into a boon, today India has grown substantially in all fields, talk about brain in which case we rank 3rd in the collective pool of Doctors, Engineers and Scientist, nor are we far behind with the brawn as we have the 3rd strongest army in the world. Yet as a country we never forget that God dwells in every human that is so well said in ‘Atiti-devo-bhav’.
But today as I write this piece I am still aware that behind all the good, there are something’s that are not right, many of us reading this are among the fortunate ones, but there are many others who are less fortunate, there are many who live below the poverty line, and who are affected by natural or man-made calamities such as riots and communal disputes.
I am not a politician, who will tell you what to do and what not to and then ask for a vote but I am a Indian, and a voice in me echoes, that I need to take a little more care of my motherland, and as our Prime Minister said that its time for an inclusive growth. So in my own small way the next time I do something, let me think about the less fortunate one and see that, my actions will contribute to making my India a better place to live in, for you, me and those who are less fortunate, so that 62 years hence we will have full-filled the calling our leaders of Substantial and Inclusive growth.
So it was formally announced today ‘Budget 2009’ presented by our finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, it was something that everyone was really waiting for, ok honestly not everyone, because that really reflected with all biggie news channels getting the who’s who of the corporate world to talk and discuss the allocations, deficits, subsidies, tax cuts or implementation etc, there were other opinions but they were for filler’s sake, but on second thought most of the above mentioned terminologies often sound as jargon to the aam aadmi and what he really and simply wants to know is, what during the financial year is going to cost him more and what’s going to cost him less and what is it that he will pay as tax from all that he earns. And no I ain’t a financial expert who’s going to spell out all our esteemed minister has presented, I am here to simply put forth my opinion in blogophere about what I felt about Budget 09.
For starters each year the budget gets bigger and bigger and this bigger is apart from the actual amount, which this year surpasses 10Lakh crores, it get bigger in terms of expectations and hype that surrounds it, and that is all market triggered, as the so called trades at our indices are looking for news at almost every micro sec I’ll bet. In continuation the markets reacted in the negative as they didn’t seem to get ‘news bit’ that they were really looking for, so the mood seem damp everywhere as the market seem to simply have a ripple effect on the country when its suppose to be the other way round.
While the experts figure out the fine print, and come out with their various interpretations, about how this budget is going to pan out and be implemented, I for one believe that the budget 09 was an inclusive one, and for starters, it’s a roadmap for what we should look for in the next 5 years, something that leaders with a vision foresee for you and me, given that we have given them the mandate in the electoral and you can’t really please all the people all the time, and when you’re talking a 100 Crore plus people, its simply not going to happen.
So in the lay man terms, the LCD TV, bigger cars, some imp basic medication drugs are going to be cheaper, while gold, silver and set top boxes are going to hurt your pocket. Women and senior citizens have something to cheer about as the exemption limits for income tax on them have been raised by 10k and 15k respectively.
I truly hope that this budget is actually implemented as presented and not simply be spoken as of, there is wide gap today in India, and this gap is so evident, that progress can only be achieved if it is inclusive. So as an aam aadmi and a citizen of this country I hope that the gap between Bharat and India narrows to the thinnest, thus catapulting our nation on the top of the world.
You are most likely to use the above mentioned title, in situations that are not the very nice ones, but have you in a happy moment realized that we never question the same when our joys know, no bounds.
A story is told of a very famous tennis player, Arthur Ashe, a winner at major tennis tournaments, he also won the Wimbledon title in the year 1975, being a sportsperson he was regular with his workouts and was a fit personality, however in the year 1979, he took the world by surprise when suffered a major heart attack thus, he had to undergo a quadruple bypass surgery. Having recovered from the sickness, the tennis star was all set to return to the green grass courts, but fate had something else in store for him, he tested positive for HIV, which he contracted during the blood transfusion of his heart surgeries. Arthur, however never seem too complained, he spent most of his last days, towards the betterment of AIDS affected people worldwide, and he even founded the Arthur Ashe Institute for urban healthcare.
He was once asked what he felt about, how fate had played unfair with him, to which he gracefully replied, each year a million learn to play tennis, only a fifty thousand take it to the next level, from which only a five thousand play the game professionally, from which about a 100 odd reach Wimbledon, 2 make it to the final, and only the winner takes the prize, when I won the coveted prize I never asked God why me, So why do ask now?
In moments of despair we all turn to God in condemnation asking why me… why? He knows best what he does after all it is he who made you, so you’ve got to learn to trust, and understand that there is a bright side to every dark moment in life. A right attitude is what it takes to make it, and know that ‘from what we get, we make a living; but what we give, however, makes a life…”
Well sometimes you chance upon something really so nice that you wanna share it with all the people you know and even that you don't.
I too chanced upon a very interesting forward, which I would like to share with you all, so here goes
When I was a little boy, my mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage, and extremely burned toast in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his toast, smile at my mom, and ask me how my day was at school. I don’t remember what she told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly
on that toast and eat every bite!
When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my mom apologize to my dad for burning the toast. And I’ll never forget what he said: Honey, I love burnt toast. Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his toast burnt. He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Johnny, your Momma put in a lot of hard day at work today and she’s real tired. And besides a little burnt toast never hurts anyone! You know, life is full of imperfect things ... and imperfect people. I’m not the best housekeeper or cook.
What I’ve learned over the years is that learning to accept each others faults - and choosing to celebrate each others differences - is the one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.
And that’s my prayer for you today. That you will learn to take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and lay them at the feet of GOD. Because in the end, He’s the only One who will be able to give you a relationship where burnt toast isn’t a deal-breaker!"
We could extend this to any relationship in fact - as understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or friendship!!
Don’t put the key to your happiness in someone else’s pocket but into your own.
What I am referring is not the 2001 Nagesh Kukunoor flick, but the inherent voice from within that almost 1/3rd of India’s populations feels or yearns for, off course who would not want their share of 15 seconds of fame, its an ultimate feeling of Euphoria, that one can ever experience without the use of any sort of drug, and no I am not advocating the use of drug for euphoric feelings, what I want to share is what I feel is that innate feeling of Bollywood calling.
For starters as kid, I grew up watching cinema, to be more precise Hindi Cinema or even more simply put as Bollywood films of late 80’s and 90’s, the impact was phenomenal, like most of those who watched films back then, I too felt that I should have been in the shoes of the Hero, who fights against all and wins the hearts of many and the icing on his cake is he gets a really cool girl, this proposition seemed more coolers than any others present at that time, but time captured on film is all part of the reel world and not the real one, so sooner or later you realize that, but somehow the feeling always remains and maybe it transcends from the conscious to the sub conscious mind, but sooner or later it comes out again and this time it’s a much stronger feeling because now you are grown up and you can most likely make a decision of what you really want to do, as for me it go clear by the day that I too was part of that population.
So lets talk about the films that actually make up Bollywood, but what really made Bollywood come into existence not that it is a place like how Hollywood is, so as mentioned on wiki, we take it that Bombay + Hollywood came to be know as Bollywood, that’s one helluva story for starters, continuing further bollywood is only a reference to Hindi Cinema and not the other multi lingual films that make Indian Cinema.
So the films of Bollywood have ever since evolved from the Alam Ara to Pyasa to Sholay to QSQR to DDLJ to K3G to Ghajni and off course the new age cinema that film makers cater to, its an array of sorts, but to each of those working the this colourful industry, there is one thing common among all, and that is each of em’ at some point in his/her life felt that instinct of Bollywood Calling
It so very strange, shocking and unbelievable, the King of pop Michael Jackson leaves all behind his to his eternal rest. Not just me, but I guess everyone around the whole world is in the same mode of feeling.
But what truly amazes me, is that till a few days back nobody really went gaga about MJ and all that he was going through, his life was mired with controversy, debt, and allegations yet he went through it all, not being deterred and fighting each moment. His selfless giving to the unfortunate ones was something he took pride in and it teaches us " that its we who got to heal the world and make it a better place, for there are people dying, but lets care for those who are living and truly make it a better place for the entire Human race.
What is the uses of all the praise and glory given now, when the one its being given to is far from all this, a lesson that comes along with this episode, is that now is the time to go and tell your loved one that you truly love him/her, to make amends if you have faulted and to tell all around you that you really care, for it might just be a little too late, when you find an empty chair,
MJ your song 'Heal the world' got me a prize in school, you trully are a lengend and your music will never die.
“With the cigarette my hand I felt like a man”a line made famous not only the by the popular anti-smoking ad that hit national TV in the late 90’s but also as an effective technique used by tobacco companies. Smoking today is a lifestyle statement, many of those who try smoking for the first time get addicted to this lethal and slow killer.
Historically Smoking
Smoking simply defined is an act of inhaling the smoke of burning dried or cured leaves of the tobacco plant for pleasure. A common practice among Native Americans, it was later introduced by European explorers to the rest of the world. Smoking tobacco can be traced back to thousands of years. Tobacco products were compulsorily included in military rations during World War I. later cigarette smoking became socially acceptable for women was advertised as an attractive carefree lifestyle product, It was in the 1930s, that the possibility of tobacco being injurious to health drew concern from Nazi medical and military leaders and their scientists were the first to confirm this link. It was in the year 1938, that Raymond Pearl a biologist in the United States, who confirmed the ill health effects of tobacco smoking. In 1950s and 1960s, the medical society along with various governmental bodies, and Readers Digest magazine, began an anti-smoking campaign by showing its hazardous effects to human health. Although tobacco smoking in many regions of the world has dropped dramatically in recent years, worldwide tobacco production is still growing. Smoking rates continue to remain relatively high in some Asian countries.
Risking it…
The burning of any substance creates polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons and while smoking, it is particularly benzopyrene that causes the damage, when inhaled it mixes with oxygen thus producing an epoxide, which permanently distorts the DNA, which increases the risk to cancer. Hence the risk of a person contracting a disease is directly proportional to the length of time as well as the amount of smoke consumed by that the person. A study in the United Kingdom that lasted over 50 years showed that nonsmokers lived about 12 to 15 years more than the smokers. The main health risks in tobacco pertain to diseases of the cardiovascular system, in particular smoking being a major risk factor for a myocardial infarction (heart attack), diseases of the respiratory tract such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and emphysema, and cancer, particularly lung cancer and cancers of the larynx and tongue. One of the primary reasons of not quitting the habit of smoking is the addiction to a substance called nicotine; which is a powerful, addictive stimulant and is one of the main factors leading to the continued tobacco smoking. Although the amount of nicotine inhaled with tobacco smoke is quite small it is still sufficient to cause physical and/or psychological dependence and many a times even despite knowing how hazardous smoking can be; many smokers continue to smoke only because of their addiction. Passive smoking is another form of smoking, which can defined as the smoke inhaled by non-smokers due to the company or the presence of smokers in their surrounding environment. Passives smoking can be fatal as smoking as the smoke inhaled is carcinogenic and contains harmful toxic components present in second-hand smoke. Many a times for non fault of their passive smoke pay a price the smoker is responsible for.
Quit Smoking before life quits you
There are many a reasons as to why you can quit the so called habit, they are very astonishing, but trust me they are real:
Quitting smoking changes your life thoroughly – The food you eat will smell and taste better. The foul odour in breath will vanish so will your common cough and cold. This will work for men anIyd women of all ages even those who already have a disease or condition caused by smoking.
By quitting smoking you can cut the risk of lung cancer, many other cancers, heart disease, stroke, other lung diseases, and other respiratory illnesses tremendously and live a much healthier life.
It has been proved that the ex-smokers are much healthier than current smokers; they have quick recoveries during illness and lesser health complaints as compared to smokers.
By quitting the killer stick, you will notice a big financial impact, an average smoker who smokes a pack a day spends roughly about Rs. 40/- per pack which translates into Rs. 14,000/- per year. Imagine the amount of money already spent blown into smoke.
The latest studies have shown that every cigarette smoked shortens life by approx 8 minutes a real waste of time.
If the above reasons don’t make sense then at least think about others like family members, coworkers and others who breathe the smoker's cigarette smoke, called secondhand smoke, passive smoking can be detrimental.
‘Precaution is better then cure’ so let the New Year 2007 be a year of change to all smokers instead of waiting till you get affected, its time to say goodbye top those killer cancer sticks. Supremacy gives you a pointer plan to kicking the habit, however we recommend you consult your personal or family physician before you use the plan.
They are famously know as the five keys to quit smoking, studies have shown that these keys will help you quit and not just quit, but will help you quit for good. But the most important key to the whole program is you and there is no substitute to you, its all in your hands. So arm up and get ready to say adieus to smoking. The following are the five keys to quit smoking.
Decide from when you want to quit, choose a date and remember it just like you would in the case of a birthday or anniversary.
Get a makeover of you environment; Get rid of ALL cigarettes, ashtrays and any other stimulants that will tempt you to smoke in your home, car, and place of work also don't let people smoke around you.
Do a thorough review of your past attempts to quit and jot down what worked and what did not and like wise come up with a plan to deal with cravings, withdrawal symptoms, and times when you usually smoke a cigarette.
Studies have shown that you have a better chance of being successful if you have help. In your endeavour to quit the habit you can seek help from those around you.
Inform your family, friends, and co-workers that you’ve quit and want their support in order to sustain your effort. Request them not to smoke near you or leave cigarettes where you can see them.
Get counseling it can be individual, group or telephonic. Counseling doubles your chances of success.
The more help you have, the better your chances are of quitting. They are Free programs that are available at local hospitals and health centers. These are run either by local authorities or NGO’s and can be of great help.
If properly used and under supervision from certified physicians, medications can help you not only to stop smoking but also lessen the urge to smoke.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have approved medications to help you quit smoking some of which are available over the counter and the others by prescription.
Medications will in most cases double your chances of quitting the habit for good.
Nearly everyone who is trying to quit can benefit from using a medication..
5. The other side.
Many a times, cases of relapses occur within the first three months after quitting. Don't be discouraged if you start smoking again. Remember, most people try several times before they finally quit. The following are some difficult situations you may encounter:
Alcohol & Other Smokers. Avoid drinking alcohol and being around other smoker as these can lower your chances of quitting as they are stimulants to smoking.
Weight Gain. Many smokers will gain some weight when they quit, this happens due to the metabolic change in the body. Maintaining a healthy diet and staying active is important. Don’t let weight gain distract you from your main goal—which is quitting smoking for good.
Bad Mood or Depression. There are a lot of ways to improve your mood other than smoking. Some quit-smoking medications also lessen depression.
Finally, when you’ve quit the habit don’t just be happy for yourself but for others too, because by kicking the habit you will make life not just better for yourself, but for others too. Remember the cigarette is not a cool fashion statement and it will not make you feel like a man, instead the end will be just like the famous 90’s anti smoking advertisement “with the cigarette in your hand, you’ll end up being a DEADMAN”.
It’s that time in our democracy, that we as citizens get a much closer look and probably some, a chance to hear, speak and voice opinions to our leaders to whom we refer to as politicians, and boy do we seldom have a good thing to say about them. In most cases, everyone of us that includes me too, might have emptied out our wrath in abuses and disgust about a particular politician especially when something dint go our way, after all you only get them once in 5 years, and its been the same throughout many will argue, and this goes on and on and on…
But my point in question is: look around for once and take a closer look at your surrounding, India is not the same as it used to be, the progress made is fast and steady, and we’re still getting better. For starters lets take the example for the mobile phone, a technologically luxury once, today it is a necessity, even my local newspaper vendor has one. Or for that matter we all complain about traffic jams but why don’t we complain about buying a new vehicle, just because its so much more easier to get your bike or car, and it doesn’t stop there, most of the tier 1 cities are have excellent facilities and with the mall culture here to stay, our country is surely getting a makeover.
The development story may not be translating to all strata’s of society, but it will eventually, bureaucracy isn’t a new phenomenon, and in a country like India where its population was once considered a bane, it has now become a boon as its fosters faster growth, there is bound to be slowdown and complains will trickle in forever as you can’t afford to keep a 100 crore people happy all the time, for each has their opinion and in any given situation there are 3 - the proposition, the opposition and the right one.
Hence the next time we get irritated about our good old politicians, lets remind ourselves that its not about them, its also about each one of us, as we make it count, and lets do our bit as John F Kennedy said,
“Ask not what your country can do for you,
but what you can do for your country.”
Simply put, all you can do this time around, is take the effort and go cast your VOTE. It will make a difference…
