Hanging between Life and Death

'We have no right to take away somebody's life as much as he/she does not have the right to take the lives of other people.' Mahati was telling her friend sipping her coffee in the Barista Lavazza opposite Shivaji Park. 'I do not support capital punishment because one, no one has the right to take away somebody's life, whatever the crime they committed. Two, because its not punishment enough, for there are things worse than death, like starvation for example. You give the man only one meal a day or bind him in a dark room with no one to talk to. Three, because hanging for me is government telling me it is not working for them. Hanging is just a way to retaliate terrorism. Neither does it stop, nor can it stop!'

They finished their coffee and took a walk along the Dadar beach. Her friend said, ' The concept of capital punishment is definitely debatable, but not in this matter. This death penalty has been given to a terrorist who was behind nearly 300 deaths. This is not merely a punishment given to the individual but is a sentiment of the masses who were severely affected by the havoc created by the first and the bloodiest bombings the country has ever seen. What will the government achieve by torturing this man? Also, is torturing not worse than death? But what really worries me is that instead of debating capital punishment, people are giving this terrorist a hero's farewell. When they acknowledged him as a terrorist for 21 years, how can they all of a sudden idolise him just because he was hanged?'

They took bus no. 86 to home. As they passed Century Bazaar, Mahati's friend told her,' 22 years ago, a bomb planted in this very 86 number bus went off here, killing some 150 people. 150 common people of different background and injuring more than 250. My uncle who got deafened was among those who were injured badly while his brother died. Terrorism has no religion. Neither life nor death has any religion. It is only in between them that religion appears and in most cases brings death faster!' But, Mahati said, 'stopping such madness can happen only with vigilance, not vengeance. This fight by religious groups can be ended not by retaliation. Do you think terrorism can be stopped by linking it to religion and hanging people?'

'No, this is not vengeance or retaliation,' said her friend. 'This is a way to console the grieving families. Look at what happened in America. A mad man opened fire on a peaceful movie watching crowd. What wrong did they do to him? He will now not be hanged. Will the kin of the dead feel vindicated this way? Hanging such mad men is only a way to assure the affected that justice prevails and that they might be in safe hands. It is just an attempt to bring a smile into the devastated lives of those affected by the heinous act of the terrorist!! There is no justification in telling that the man surrendered himself because he was responsible for bringing in terrorists, accommodating them, storing the weaponry and arranging for scooters and cars to blast off! The death sentence is only a symbolism for assuring the people, no religion involved at all. Definitely no religion.' her friend explained as they walked along the bustling jewelry markets of Zaveri Bazaar.

They reached home. Her friend's uncle just returned from his Isha Salat and sat down in an arm chair and was reading the day's news in the evening paper. He finished reading the paper on the table, folded it with his single hand and looked at his brother's pictured framed on the wall, a tear rolling down his only eye.  

Making a Live-able Planet!

The eligibility criteria for awarding a BharatRatna is still not properly defined and is ambiguous. Existing rules are being bent to give this award. But if we really want to assign a set of qualities one should possess for being awarded BharatRatna, with very less doubt a bodily shape can be given to those characters. His Excellence Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam might not be possessing the flesh part but the body form of his is eternal and is filled only with good words and deeds making him the most precious BharatRatna. What better can people like me ask for than us growing up on his stories and interacting with him!

The thing he most loved..what a smile!

That was a proud day for the entire nation. October 22, 2008 was the day when Chandrayaan-I was launched. It is so far the best day ever in my life. I watched the launch and interacted with Dr.Kalam both and I dream to become a space scientist. The funny but proud thing is that I explained about rockets to this wonderful rocket scientist. He listened carefully. Then he asked, "What is your aim?" I replied. "Abhishek sir." He laughed and said, "Not name, your aim" rising his fist firmly like he always did. I said shyly, "I want to be a space scientist." He left, appreciating me. I decided there and then that I would utter out my dream than my name. That is his influence. Not just a sentence but an impression. A clear one. 'You must think of nothing else. Only your dream!'

Any talk he gave, any place he went, he never forget to remember his teachers. He gave everyone his/her due credit. What an influence he is for the world. How difficult is it going to be to replace him! Difficult, yes but not impossible.Who ever said he cannot be replaced? He laid a path. Strong with concrete. All we need to do is traverse along that path, lay new roads and strengthen the route! But he will be remembered forever for having first laid that road. He can be replaced. Any one can step in his shoes. It is a responsibility only another person of that will power can take. We all shall take up the responsibility and carry his legacy forward. That would be enough. He has done enough things for him to be remembered till birds stop flying! Now no body need to name roads and buildings after him.

The people he most loved!...I was a kid when I met him too!!

The ever sincere, ever simple and ever smiling Abdul Kalam is probably the only man in centuries to have won so many hearts and so very less haters. How can the "missile man" be called the "People's president??" That too he was part of the nuclear programme of the nation. There is only one explanation. He loved his duty. As a scientist, as an Indian, as a human being. That is all. He has one unfinished lecture..."Making a Live-able Planet." Let us take inspiration from him and put into action the lecture he just started!

P.S: Dear Kalam sir, we promise to fulfill your vision and need your continued blessings which we already have. Thank you for, well everything sir.

Bahubali - the beginning

Telugu is the third largest language in the country in terms of native speakers. But how famous is it? How many Telugu movies/directors have become famous all across the country when people belonging to the Tamil industry like Manirathnam and Rahman have carried their works to Hindi too. When was a Telugu movie discussed even in states like Punjab as the movie 'Robot' was? There probably was never such a Telugu movie. But now there is. Bahubali is the movie that is hot favourite of even the North Indians.

I watched the movie in Delhi to see how the response was for the movie.
It was excellent. Obviously, the huge promotions of the movie led to the large response it got across the country. I was convinced that this movie is a marketing genius. Be it roping in Karan Johar to present the film in Hindi or taking into the audience the fact that the movie is the costliest and the largest Indian motion picture worked wonders for the movie makers. The response was tremendous and of course the movie did not disappoint. Not a bad movie despite a sorrowful story and indecency on part of the protagonist!

Rana Daggupati as Bhallaladeva was brilliant in the movie

This is a special cinema especially when Telugu movies are increasingly depending on comedy for success. The movie only works on its taking. There is absolutely nothing new in terms of the story. It is that most common folklore story where two princely brothers fight for the throne. But that is the last thing one has to worry about. Apart from an unnecessary molestation of a warrior lady by the hero, the movie had nothing new in terms of scenes. It is the production value of the movie that impresses the most. The carefulness with which the movie is made is great. It is clear that neither the producers nor the director or the entire cast were in a hurry to complete the movie. It took them two years to complete the movie. This coolness in shaping up the movie is seen in the smooth flow of the scenes. The actors were all good and it is not the first time in a Rajamouli movie that the antagonist has impressed much more than the hero! The picturisation of the Chalakudy falls was beautiful!

The movie is not a trend setter like Magadheera was. One should watch it without comparing it to any other movie. This actually followed the new trend of creating complete new language. The sets which took 200 days for construction will probably be used better in the next part of the movie. But kudos to the producers of the movie. They are the highlight of the film. I have not known a producer who kept a careful ledger of the happenings of a movie. probably for Sholay? We all can look forward for a nice book on the 'Making of Bahubali.' The producers are keen on getting back the money spent. They have earned it well.

This movie can be a nice research project for management students. And Kamal Hasan can take a leaf or two out of their books for promoting Viswaroopam 2.
Bahubali is a movie which can be watched for all the hype built around it. Do not try to search for logic. One will need an atomic force microscope for that! Just marvel at what Indian film has achieved! This is an indigenous marketing and graphical genius! 

ICC could actually offer something to Greece

Well, that was one hell of a shockingly sarcastic article. The timing is either extremely hilarious or extremely rude. Whatever it is, it was fun. James Marsh brought out some light humour from the dire situation that Greece is presently in. A one and a half billion euro debt to the International Monetary Fund(IMF)!! Apparently, Greece needs 50 billion euros to get out of the sticky situation its political leaders have landed t in. If anyone is ready to come forward like the ICC is, I would want to request you to consider dropping 0.1% of that amount for me. I would rename myself after you if you want!

Greece and cricket have had historic ties. For instance, the rain rule is Greek to most cricket fans

On the human side of the situation, the Greeks have put majority of their faith in Syriza, the radical leftist party and gotten themselves a prime minister in Tsipras, who have not for one day thought of what the economic situation of Greece was when he gave all those promises to his people. He cannot go back on his promises nor can he not repay the debt. It is not a small amount too. So naturally, a blame game starts. In the end, everyone seems to have forgotten what would happen to those thousands of lives. The politicians are only interested in staying n power, the creditors in getting back their money.

A referendum in this matter is a very very bad move, a cowardly one.

On top of all this, the person sitting in the hot seat, the man who is responsible to take the most responsible decision for his country has lifted his hands in despair and 'left' it to those who put faith in him. The most important thing for the country is now left in the hands of 'majority.' Just imagine if the decision to revamp reservations in our country is left to the people to decide and a referendum is set up! I wonder what Arvind Kejrwal would have done if he is the prime minister of Greece! What if the majority decides that they have to  stay with the Eurozone? What if the majority decides that the old people do not need any assistance and can be neglected? The prime minister can still stick to his seat and go back on his promises!

Even though I am not even a speck before Paul Krugman, I disagree with him that Euro has been a mistake. It has been a boon in disguise for the entire continent of Europe. I feel a common currency s what is really keeping the entire region together. It should continue to do so. Even though it is written in a jovial fashion, it can actually be true. Top companies and organisations can come forward and invest n the country. That would in practical mean taking a loan to repay another but there should always be a way. A way to make sure humanity and the human nature survives rather than sticking to power and running away from responsibility. There is always a way to avoid that "Grexit."

I miss you!

A wise man once said, you don't realise that you love someone until 'you let her go'! Very poetic, nothing more was the first thought. But turns out that it is absolutely true. Or maybe the both of us were so together that I did not for 'two minutes' think that we would be separated. Anywhere I went, I knew I could be with you. Anytime in the day or night I was sure you were there for me. But now its all gone!!

Sad part is I could not even say a goodbye. Fate has taken you away so fast. But wherever you are, please do not forget that I am waiting for you. And I promise that when you get back, I am not letting you go. I don't care if you have one bad quality. I only see all those other wonderful things you possess. Its okay if you wear a lot of make up or if you don't at all, it is what that is inside that interest me. You are like a diamond for me. Yes, unless a diamond is polished a lot, it has no value. You are likewise. Who ever said you are bad? And why could I not say all this to you before? I feel bad for not confessing my love to you when you were with me. Now you are gone. Will you ever come back? I have no count of those difficult times you got me through. Please come back so I can at least thank you.

I would give anything for you to come back. And when you do come back,I am not letting you go. I do know that there are many others who like you and who would want to confess their love for you. Some might already have told out their love to you. But trust me, no body loves you like I do. There might so many others out there. But somehow I feel I cannot love someone like I loved you. You are the best. I am so desperate for you that soon, if you don't come to me, I might come in search of you. Wherever you are, any state or country, I will find you. Mumbai or Milan, Delhi or Dallas, I will come!

I am sure you like me too. Why else would you be with me on those wonderful trips to Ponmudi in Kerala and Mussorie in Uttharakhand! Now, if I go to those places, your memories are definitely going to haunt me. Don't do this to me and lakhs of other people. The empty shelves in supermarkets are also waiting for you. They are reluctant to let any others to take your place too.
Miss you maggi. We all know you'll come back strong.

--
A college hostler

One of the worst things!

Mahati went about her daily chores. Wake up an hour after the alarm ring, get ready to slog for ten hours in a crammed cubicle in a centrally air conditioned building which largely smelled of coffee from the cafeteria. She made sure she got her lunch box, lest she has to spend seventy rupees on a muffin. She also made sure she wore the right shoes so that she would not slip on the highly polished floor in her office.

In the quarter hour she managed to get to grab a bite, she finished her lunch. She had no option to sit down and relish the taste of every morsel of food. She, however made sure she did not waste any food. She ate to the last piece carefully. "There are millions of people who don't get this one tiny box of food for an entire day," she thought. "Every farmer when he gets the harvest to his hand, feels one thing more than anything else. He is not worried about how much profit he gets. All he is worried is whether his hard work would be useful for some purpose or will it go waste? Profit, he might get a lot sometimes. Sometimes, he might not. He just have to understand the demand of the market. But will his sweat-child feed people? Or will the harvest lay wasted in those useless go-downs? Will it be enjoyed by those disease infecting rodents?" Mahati felt an increased respect for farmers in the country. Their love for the land and its gift to humankind. "This is definitely the mindset of an average farmer. His hardship should never go wasted. We should consume only how much ever we need. Not a bit more, not necessarily a bit less!"

She looked around in the dining area. People got food from the cafeteria in trays, filling them with a plethora of the non-local food they could find. Mahati observed that nobody ate fully. A farmer's heart is welling up somewhere in this world, she thought. Wasting food is one of the worst things man can ever do. It should be considered a sin. Maybe, wastage should be made a part of gluttony as the seventh deadly sin. It should be propagated well by the world leaders. Every religious and scientific text talks about the importance of food. Why don't people see the greatness and the difficulty in germination, in growth? It is very easy to throw away food. You need not check the soil condition, need not worry about manure, rain, irrigation, pests. You need not constantly monitor the food when you throw it away. You just drop your food in the bin with no second thoughts. "Well, yeah India now has the highest number of hungry people. They could be fed if the food is not wasted in such huge amounts. If the wastage in a small cafeteria itself is so huge, what about big restaurants, marriage ceremonies and even those silly birthdays which are celebrated as grandly as the independence day celebrations! There is enough to feed everyone in the world. Only that everybody does not get the access! There is one password. Money!," thought Mahati and left the place furiously.

"On the top of all this, the most disgusting thing is that, those who waste food do so in the confidence that there is always somebody or the other who will accept those leftovers. That is pathetic. That kind of thinking should definitely change" concluded Mahati as she traveled to her flat. She saw her roommate and asked what they should do for dinner. She got one immediate reply.
"First, throw the leftovers in the rice cooker from lunch to some dog!!"

The Super-rich telugu movies

There is a flurry of new trailers in Tollywood, the telugu film industry. All the major movies look very rich or have a lot of graphics.All the 'big' actors seem to be acting in very high budget movies. Also any role involving those actors come with rich, with brand new bikes, cars, high-end restaurants and shopping places. Probably doing a movie involving the common man is out of their league and new, small actors seem to have shouldered that responsibility. If this is the trend, it is sad and bad.

A latest movie involving the superstar of the industry is titled, "Wealthy Man." According to the trailer at least, the protagonist seems to be a super rich guy who is bored of all the material pleasures and goes to some village. There he is seen in v-necks, riding a bicycle, again a very expensive one. Just the location changed. Not the richness. Not only this movie, for quite a long time, almost every movie involving 'big' heroes have shown them as a billionaire philanthropist type guys. Even if the story needed a middle class set up, it was only the creamy layer of the middle class. Probably the hero would be a software engineer or an architect which are the 'rich-middle class jobs.'

None of the present generation heroes appear as auto-rickshaw drivers or daily wage laborers or even as bank clerks unlike their previous generation which entered the film industry with practically no background. In fact, today's heroes cannot play any role which is not rich because they do not know how it is not to be rich. They were born with a silver spoon if not with a golden or platinum one. All the acting experience they acquire is from those acting schools which charge a lot of money and employ well known actors to teach acting. It is however, impossible to teach things like poverty, hunger and employment. They are to be experienced. No other way.

Of course, one cannot blame the film makers for showing what the majority audiences really want. The larger portion of the audience is the middle class. No middle class person would want to see their lives again on the screen. They want to see what they want to be. Living in huge flats, driving sedans and dining in five star restaurants. Even the 'poor' audience are not interested to see what the real society is. Everybody seems to be longing to be how their favorite hero/heroine is: rich, fair and beautiful. No body is interested to see their most revered hero to be like how they are: poor and routine looking. 

There is no movie which makes people feel that the lead role is from their neighborhood. People are living in a virtual reality. The definition of reality itself is a tough and complicated one. There is no explanation for a virtual reality!