No joy, no sorrow. Wake up in the morning, go to bed at night. Go through the dreary motions of existing between. Breathe, eat to stay alive. Talk to stay sane. Work to avoid guilt. Continuous paranoia, mind stifled by fear. Inattention to everything. Indifference to everything. Looking forward to nothing. Powerless to fight, pervading air of resignation.
I love my life. I don't want to be like this.
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Friday, August 15, 2008
The Niketa Mehta Case : Much needed food for thought
Not many moral, ethical or legal dilemmas have caught the attention of the nation more than the Mehta case. For those who came in late (or are not readers of ToI from where I found out about it), a little background would help.
So, I come across this article on a couple requesting permission from the high court to abort a 23 week foetus when current laws state that no abortions are legally allowed beyond the 20th week of pregnancy. My first thought was, what the hell is wrong with these people, why do they want these complications? Then I read that the trouble was that the child was seen to have severe congenital defects that held the potential to make it impossible for the child to lead a healthy, "normal" life. On the contrary the child may not survive long and would probably live painfully for as long as it would live. The court did what you expect of it - it said the laws don't allow it, you can't do it. Then the Supreme Court, higher court, same result. The next thought that came to my mind was that this decision means nothing. After all, the couple can always have it aborted illegally and claim that there was a miscarriage. But there would definitely be inquiries afterwards. Now, the whole thing had played out as predictably as any of those ancient Hindi soaps. Not that I am staking any claim to be a soothsayer, I'd say most people saw this coming!
Finally there seems to be some piece of news that is stirring the country into intelligent debate (if the comments section in ToI is anything to go by, admittedly not an authoritative benchmark) rather than fits of rioting and violence. There is so much to discuss and so many opinions - bordering on all possible extremes. And the thing is that all of them are right in their own sense! First off, no one knows whether it was really a miscarriage, but its reasonable to assume that it wasn't. For the purposes of this piece, I will work on the assumption that it was an abortion portrayed as a miscarriage.
Unfortunately I have nothing beyond this point planned out, so it will be haphazard at times. This is me being delusional that someone is actually reading this :) . The moral issue is the most pressing of all. Were they justified in "murdering" an "individual" irrespective of their intentions? View 1, they are cold blooded killers, who murdered their baby whom they had chosen to give birth to, just to save themselves from the extra effort and expense of raising a "deformed" child. View 2, they are saints who have saved their child from enormous pain and suffering, despite how difficult the decision must have been for them. Personally I haven't made my choice between the two, put my pro-liberal stance should put me somewhere in the saint area. Strangely, it doesn't! I still find both sides to have compelling arguments that apply even to the far wider areas of euthanasia and assisted suicide.
The case for view 1 is based on a fundamental set of doctrines that have remained unchallenged for much of human existence. The first is probability. How do the Mehtas know for sure that the child will not be normal or almost normal? After all, medical science is at the point where we can only predict with limited certainty. Maybe they just aborted a perfectly healthy child. The second is the right to choose. They argue that if man does not have the right to create life, what gives him the right to end it, an argument used ad nauseum by anti capital punishment activists. I must beg to differ here, copulation which gives rise to life is very much in our hands, children are not born randomly out of God's will. The point here is, that the choice did not rest with the foetus. The parent's chose to create it, and now it is the foetus' prerogative to choose to live. Thus, the parent's are unjustified in terminating it, ostensibly in all cases. The "right to live" argument holds a little water, but cannot turn this debate. All other arguments are variations on the two above points. I saw a lot of strong comments from people with this view, including folks quoting about their own handicapped siblings and how they would have never thought of "killing" them even if bringing them up is difficult.
But don't get swayed by that. There was also a comment from the parents of a handicapped child who said that as much as they hate it, they hope that their child will die before they do. Cruel as it may sound, they make perfect sense when they say that they do not want someone else and the child to suffer in their absence. Can you imagine what goes on through the mind of a parent who is crushed between a love for their child that wants to keep them from harm, but at the same time cannot bear to see their pain? This brings us to the arguments from people with view 2, who commend the couple for their courageous choice. Their first point is that the emotional and economic drain of taking care of someone like that would ruin the entire family. Which is probably true. Their second point is that it is better for a child who could have those many problems to not be born at all, for its own sake. If it can be spared of the pain, why not? That, to some extent, also makes sense. But where does one stop then? Taking it to the extreme, one person commented that why don't we kill all the old and handicapped then? While that may be really pushing it, lines do need to be drawn. The boundaries are hard to discern and in all likelihood do not exist. Much of the region where the said "line" is are shrouded in gray that will never clear. It will always be subject to each individual's interpretation of what is "right" and that can never be agreed upon.
The second issue that comes in is the ethical issue. What were the Mehtas thinking when they turned this into a media circus? Something so personal should never be turned into a farce. And the media has pounced on it (assumption, I bet a good one) as it always does sensationalizing it beyond all justification. Then when the "miscarriage" happens, Mr. Mehta gives a statement saying that the media exposure resulted in stress which may have caused it. Then he goes on to add that if not the law, at least God was with us. That, frankly, is a very presumptuous statement. Now that its happened (or done, whatever the case may be) why not shut up? The media went far out of bounds with the Aarushi case, they have lost all sensitivity so long ago, its even before the late Triassic. Knowing this, why does a man still keep speaking and licking the media like a dog?
The third is the legal. The less said the better, there is neither use not content for a debate here. No one can disagree that our laws are antiquated, but the levels of judicial activism in our country have been quite poor and the lawmakers are busy with more pressing matters like creating a ruckus in parliament and walking out. Also occasionally walking in with wads of cash. I don't wish to continue on this thread, it's fast becoming a rant.
As always, this debate will also end with no action being taken. We derive so much comfort from the status quo, it will take much more than this to stir our collective conscience into motion. However, it is heartening that the issue is being discussed on its merits - without coercion, violence, and not resorting to "culture" half as many times as we usually do. A few more cases such as this, and things will move. All is never lost.
So, I come across this article on a couple requesting permission from the high court to abort a 23 week foetus when current laws state that no abortions are legally allowed beyond the 20th week of pregnancy. My first thought was, what the hell is wrong with these people, why do they want these complications? Then I read that the trouble was that the child was seen to have severe congenital defects that held the potential to make it impossible for the child to lead a healthy, "normal" life. On the contrary the child may not survive long and would probably live painfully for as long as it would live. The court did what you expect of it - it said the laws don't allow it, you can't do it. Then the Supreme Court, higher court, same result. The next thought that came to my mind was that this decision means nothing. After all, the couple can always have it aborted illegally and claim that there was a miscarriage. But there would definitely be inquiries afterwards. Now, the whole thing had played out as predictably as any of those ancient Hindi soaps. Not that I am staking any claim to be a soothsayer, I'd say most people saw this coming!
Finally there seems to be some piece of news that is stirring the country into intelligent debate (if the comments section in ToI is anything to go by, admittedly not an authoritative benchmark) rather than fits of rioting and violence. There is so much to discuss and so many opinions - bordering on all possible extremes. And the thing is that all of them are right in their own sense! First off, no one knows whether it was really a miscarriage, but its reasonable to assume that it wasn't. For the purposes of this piece, I will work on the assumption that it was an abortion portrayed as a miscarriage.
Unfortunately I have nothing beyond this point planned out, so it will be haphazard at times. This is me being delusional that someone is actually reading this :) . The moral issue is the most pressing of all. Were they justified in "murdering" an "individual" irrespective of their intentions? View 1, they are cold blooded killers, who murdered their baby whom they had chosen to give birth to, just to save themselves from the extra effort and expense of raising a "deformed" child. View 2, they are saints who have saved their child from enormous pain and suffering, despite how difficult the decision must have been for them. Personally I haven't made my choice between the two, put my pro-liberal stance should put me somewhere in the saint area. Strangely, it doesn't! I still find both sides to have compelling arguments that apply even to the far wider areas of euthanasia and assisted suicide.
The case for view 1 is based on a fundamental set of doctrines that have remained unchallenged for much of human existence. The first is probability. How do the Mehtas know for sure that the child will not be normal or almost normal? After all, medical science is at the point where we can only predict with limited certainty. Maybe they just aborted a perfectly healthy child. The second is the right to choose. They argue that if man does not have the right to create life, what gives him the right to end it, an argument used ad nauseum by anti capital punishment activists. I must beg to differ here, copulation which gives rise to life is very much in our hands, children are not born randomly out of God's will. The point here is, that the choice did not rest with the foetus. The parent's chose to create it, and now it is the foetus' prerogative to choose to live. Thus, the parent's are unjustified in terminating it, ostensibly in all cases. The "right to live" argument holds a little water, but cannot turn this debate. All other arguments are variations on the two above points. I saw a lot of strong comments from people with this view, including folks quoting about their own handicapped siblings and how they would have never thought of "killing" them even if bringing them up is difficult.
But don't get swayed by that. There was also a comment from the parents of a handicapped child who said that as much as they hate it, they hope that their child will die before they do. Cruel as it may sound, they make perfect sense when they say that they do not want someone else and the child to suffer in their absence. Can you imagine what goes on through the mind of a parent who is crushed between a love for their child that wants to keep them from harm, but at the same time cannot bear to see their pain? This brings us to the arguments from people with view 2, who commend the couple for their courageous choice. Their first point is that the emotional and economic drain of taking care of someone like that would ruin the entire family. Which is probably true. Their second point is that it is better for a child who could have those many problems to not be born at all, for its own sake. If it can be spared of the pain, why not? That, to some extent, also makes sense. But where does one stop then? Taking it to the extreme, one person commented that why don't we kill all the old and handicapped then? While that may be really pushing it, lines do need to be drawn. The boundaries are hard to discern and in all likelihood do not exist. Much of the region where the said "line" is are shrouded in gray that will never clear. It will always be subject to each individual's interpretation of what is "right" and that can never be agreed upon.
The second issue that comes in is the ethical issue. What were the Mehtas thinking when they turned this into a media circus? Something so personal should never be turned into a farce. And the media has pounced on it (assumption, I bet a good one) as it always does sensationalizing it beyond all justification. Then when the "miscarriage" happens, Mr. Mehta gives a statement saying that the media exposure resulted in stress which may have caused it. Then he goes on to add that if not the law, at least God was with us. That, frankly, is a very presumptuous statement. Now that its happened (or done, whatever the case may be) why not shut up? The media went far out of bounds with the Aarushi case, they have lost all sensitivity so long ago, its even before the late Triassic. Knowing this, why does a man still keep speaking and licking the media like a dog?
The third is the legal. The less said the better, there is neither use not content for a debate here. No one can disagree that our laws are antiquated, but the levels of judicial activism in our country have been quite poor and the lawmakers are busy with more pressing matters like creating a ruckus in parliament and walking out. Also occasionally walking in with wads of cash. I don't wish to continue on this thread, it's fast becoming a rant.
As always, this debate will also end with no action being taken. We derive so much comfort from the status quo, it will take much more than this to stir our collective conscience into motion. However, it is heartening that the issue is being discussed on its merits - without coercion, violence, and not resorting to "culture" half as many times as we usually do. A few more cases such as this, and things will move. All is never lost.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Unexpected Transience
At my age and position (I have no clue what that is supposed to mean), life's philosophies are more dynamic than one might expect or want them to be. This realization keeps dawning on me with some regularity nowadays. The thing is that I have not yet managed to find the philosophy which really "fits" and which "makes sense". So I just keep changing them as per my state of mind. So why do I feel like talking about this now?
Well, the reasons are two fold. A good friend of mine told me out of the blue yesterday, that my writing is really not half bad. It was a compliment, even though I may not be making it sound like one. I asked him the same thing I ask myself. Where am I going with my half baked writing "talent"? Then he pointed out that one of my illustrious seniors, who is more or less a literary genius, won a $1500 award for writing 18 limericks in Lewis Carrol's style. Now, knowing how much more well read, articulate and creative that individual is, I know I stand no chance of getting anywhere near him. But I still felt like at least putting a few words down, knowing that however badly I write, no damage is done, since my erstwhile regular readers (there were eight at the peak) are no longer such. For more about the illustrious senior, one is referred to his blog.
Now for the second. I had a midterm on Distributed Systems the other day, maybe a month odd ago. I was in a pretty bad state, because there was a humongous amount of material to cover (500+ slides and about 5 chapters from the textbook) and I had no clue how I would ever remember any of it. So, here I am sitting with the book at about 2 AM, with the exam scheduled for 9 AM. There was no way I was sleeping before 4 AM, so I was sitting there waging a battle with my seemingly inevitable fate. And as such things often do, the stress got to me and philosophy started pouring out. A sense of pain and simultaneously a counteracting, heady sense of well being that comes from being in a philosophical state of mind, from seeing the "bigger picture" and saying to yourself that this exam really doesn't matter.
So there I was, my mind racing with these all these ideas which really had the potential to change human thought the way we know it (yeah right!). I said to myself, "Screw the test, sit and write!". But my other self replied, "Don't be a stupid f***, study now, there is more than enough time to do it tomorrow".
Knowing how things work, I had woken up in the morning, given the exam which turned out to be just three generic questions for which I needn't even have studied, my sense of well being returned, and all the brilliant (??) ideas of the previous night summarily forgotten. So much for being the next Plato or Socrates.
Adversity forces you to look at answers to questions where none exist. Its a peculiar need of the human race, that for millenia we have been looking to resolve our existential conundrums. But there are a couple of things that I have been finding out in the midst of all the conflicting messages I have sent myself. One is to be good, unconditionally if possible. The qualifying clause is necessary because most times it is neither easy, nor pragmatic.
The second is to put people first. Nothing is more important in life than the people around you - family and friends, in that order. The most lonely person in the world is the one who has achieved all the success that could possibly be had, but has no one to genuinely share it with. The put people first credo comes from a speech by President Spanier of Penn State which you can find here.
Its shameful that I am personally not following a credo that I am advocating, but I am trying hard to. Somehow I see myself changing into an individual I never wanted to be - one who feels envy at the success of others instead of genuine joy, who sees other's failures as a validation of his own, who judges people without giving them a chance, and tries his best to be as dry as possible so that conversations end quickly.
And so I hereby conclude another rambling needless insight into my life and my thoughts. Some day, I keep telling myself, some day, I will think up of something interesting to write which does not feature my life's (rather drab) experiences! If you made it this far, well, you are either a little too jobless, or a little too much of a kunalophile (sic) !
Well, the reasons are two fold. A good friend of mine told me out of the blue yesterday, that my writing is really not half bad. It was a compliment, even though I may not be making it sound like one. I asked him the same thing I ask myself. Where am I going with my half baked writing "talent"? Then he pointed out that one of my illustrious seniors, who is more or less a literary genius, won a $1500 award for writing 18 limericks in Lewis Carrol's style. Now, knowing how much more well read, articulate and creative that individual is, I know I stand no chance of getting anywhere near him. But I still felt like at least putting a few words down, knowing that however badly I write, no damage is done, since my erstwhile regular readers (there were eight at the peak) are no longer such. For more about the illustrious senior, one is referred to his blog.
Now for the second. I had a midterm on Distributed Systems the other day, maybe a month odd ago. I was in a pretty bad state, because there was a humongous amount of material to cover (500+ slides and about 5 chapters from the textbook) and I had no clue how I would ever remember any of it. So, here I am sitting with the book at about 2 AM, with the exam scheduled for 9 AM. There was no way I was sleeping before 4 AM, so I was sitting there waging a battle with my seemingly inevitable fate. And as such things often do, the stress got to me and philosophy started pouring out. A sense of pain and simultaneously a counteracting, heady sense of well being that comes from being in a philosophical state of mind, from seeing the "bigger picture" and saying to yourself that this exam really doesn't matter.
So there I was, my mind racing with these all these ideas which really had the potential to change human thought the way we know it (yeah right!). I said to myself, "Screw the test, sit and write!". But my other self replied, "Don't be a stupid f***, study now, there is more than enough time to do it tomorrow".
Knowing how things work, I had woken up in the morning, given the exam which turned out to be just three generic questions for which I needn't even have studied, my sense of well being returned, and all the brilliant (??) ideas of the previous night summarily forgotten. So much for being the next Plato or Socrates.
Adversity forces you to look at answers to questions where none exist. Its a peculiar need of the human race, that for millenia we have been looking to resolve our existential conundrums. But there are a couple of things that I have been finding out in the midst of all the conflicting messages I have sent myself. One is to be good, unconditionally if possible. The qualifying clause is necessary because most times it is neither easy, nor pragmatic.
The second is to put people first. Nothing is more important in life than the people around you - family and friends, in that order. The most lonely person in the world is the one who has achieved all the success that could possibly be had, but has no one to genuinely share it with. The put people first credo comes from a speech by President Spanier of Penn State which you can find here.
Its shameful that I am personally not following a credo that I am advocating, but I am trying hard to. Somehow I see myself changing into an individual I never wanted to be - one who feels envy at the success of others instead of genuine joy, who sees other's failures as a validation of his own, who judges people without giving them a chance, and tries his best to be as dry as possible so that conversations end quickly.
And so I hereby conclude another rambling needless insight into my life and my thoughts. Some day, I keep telling myself, some day, I will think up of something interesting to write which does not feature my life's (rather drab) experiences! If you made it this far, well, you are either a little too jobless, or a little too much of a kunalophile (sic) !
Saturday, January 26, 2008
It's all a damped sinusoid...
Warning: Some unsolicited advice and a lot of cribbing ahead. Be forewarned. I've been nice enough to say this in advance even at the risk of losing my possibly solitary reader!
And so its been more than four months here. Things have changed definitely, some for the better others for the worse. Of course, in the long run, they are all going to work out. They always do.
So what is with the title of this post? Well, the engineers here are probably familiar with a damped sinusoid. For those who aren't, a damped sinusoid is something that moves above and below the axis, but as time increases, it starts staying closer to the axis, never quite touching it. That made no sense, so I'll put up a diagram here. The point here is that any experience in life starts with immense intensity- which may be positive or negative. That intensity eventually decreases till it them goes in the opposite direction. This continues till you feel become inured and feel virtually no intensity at all.
I am of course relating this with my experience here. I have never been bleary eyed about this place, but when I first came, there were just so many new experiences that there was no time to remember your family, friends, your city and country. But now things have settled into a routine and tales of the past start coming back to you. You remember your mom's cooking, your conversations with your dad, the crowds in your city, and all these sundry things. Its not that you'll cry from the memories but a lingering feeling persists.
Its so strange that after this time, I dreamed i was back home. Thrice. This week. I haven't had it for the last two days, but my dreams here have suddenly become "instant". That means that I each night I dream about the same day's events, not the week past, not even yesterday. Just today, and they are so arbitrary. I think they reflect in many ways the turmoil and uncertainty I currently feel.
Some things only Ground Zero can teach you, and now I think nearly all things are learned only the hard way. I guess looking at the short term only makes these lessons look a lot worse, but that is aforce of habit! The first reality here is: You will not like the thought of being in debt. As an individual, you are always in debt, to your parents, to society and many other individuals who shape you. But being in monetary debt is completely another matter. It suddenly changes your perspective because now your freedom has been constrained. Now you need to get your act together. Because you owe money. And you owe it in a certain period of time. And there is no way out. Things look rosy when you are sitting in India and you calculate that with an 80k job you'll have everything paid off in a couple of years. Then you work and save for another three years and then come back and all's well.
But then you find out that there are seniors, good fellows at that, who haven't been able to land a job, that the economy is entering recession and the picture flips 180. Now you're wondering what happens if you can't land a job and have to go back? Going back is fine, except that to pay everything off, you'll probably need six years now. Not looking too happy now, is it? Of course, many will point out (correctly) that I'm being a fatalist constantly conjuring up worst case scenarios, but optimism is not easy to come by.
And still you know that there are so many people behind you, people who you know will always put in their best effort to help you, come what may. These are the people who give you the confidence to go ahead and take a few risks, but then you always fear that you'll disappoint them. I don't know what my state of mind is right now, whether is is worse or better than this post makes it seem, but I have just had a lousy day. Just one of those days when there is stuff to do, and fight as you may, nothing seems to get done.
Keep your chin up brother, things will happen... :)
And so its been more than four months here. Things have changed definitely, some for the better others for the worse. Of course, in the long run, they are all going to work out. They always do.
So what is with the title of this post? Well, the engineers here are probably familiar with a damped sinusoid. For those who aren't, a damped sinusoid is something that moves above and below the axis, but as time increases, it starts staying closer to the axis, never quite touching it. That made no sense, so I'll put up a diagram here. The point here is that any experience in life starts with immense intensity- which may be positive or negative. That intensity eventually decreases till it them goes in the opposite direction. This continues till you feel become inured and feel virtually no intensity at all.
I am of course relating this with my experience here. I have never been bleary eyed about this place, but when I first came, there were just so many new experiences that there was no time to remember your family, friends, your city and country. But now things have settled into a routine and tales of the past start coming back to you. You remember your mom's cooking, your conversations with your dad, the crowds in your city, and all these sundry things. Its not that you'll cry from the memories but a lingering feeling persists.
Its so strange that after this time, I dreamed i was back home. Thrice. This week. I haven't had it for the last two days, but my dreams here have suddenly become "instant". That means that I each night I dream about the same day's events, not the week past, not even yesterday. Just today, and they are so arbitrary. I think they reflect in many ways the turmoil and uncertainty I currently feel.
Some things only Ground Zero can teach you, and now I think nearly all things are learned only the hard way. I guess looking at the short term only makes these lessons look a lot worse, but that is aforce of habit! The first reality here is: You will not like the thought of being in debt. As an individual, you are always in debt, to your parents, to society and many other individuals who shape you. But being in monetary debt is completely another matter. It suddenly changes your perspective because now your freedom has been constrained. Now you need to get your act together. Because you owe money. And you owe it in a certain period of time. And there is no way out. Things look rosy when you are sitting in India and you calculate that with an 80k job you'll have everything paid off in a couple of years. Then you work and save for another three years and then come back and all's well.
But then you find out that there are seniors, good fellows at that, who haven't been able to land a job, that the economy is entering recession and the picture flips 180. Now you're wondering what happens if you can't land a job and have to go back? Going back is fine, except that to pay everything off, you'll probably need six years now. Not looking too happy now, is it? Of course, many will point out (correctly) that I'm being a fatalist constantly conjuring up worst case scenarios, but optimism is not easy to come by.
And still you know that there are so many people behind you, people who you know will always put in their best effort to help you, come what may. These are the people who give you the confidence to go ahead and take a few risks, but then you always fear that you'll disappoint them. I don't know what my state of mind is right now, whether is is worse or better than this post makes it seem, but I have just had a lousy day. Just one of those days when there is stuff to do, and fight as you may, nothing seems to get done.
Keep your chin up brother, things will happen... :)
Saturday, December 29, 2007
The Great Indian Television Sellout
It made me mad. Very mad. I never expected these guys to fall into the trap. Seriously! I always considered them to be cool. To be sensible. To be dedicated enough to their purpose to not give in. But they disappointed me. How could you do this Javed, Naved and Ravi? How could you sell out Boogie Woogie?
Now I don't really know since how long this has been on, but can't have been over three months for sure. I chanced upon seeing it today at my uncle's place, and it nearly broke my heart. Seeing Javed Jaffrey utter the words "danger zone" and "vote" almost made me throw up. It was as bad as any other show. The same melodrama, the same slowmo crying scenes, the same "janta ka faisla" line. The last bastion of "good old TV" has finally fallen.
I suppose the economics simply overwhelmed them. The revenue from sms would earn oodles more money than some that might be lost, if any, due to the sellout. Indeed, we are so desperate for entertainment, that its viewership would probably increase because of the increased percentage of daily soap in the show (obviously at the cost of reduced talent hunt). I've gotten so sick and tired of all these shows that follow one single pattern with minor changes, namely the host and the name of the show, it makes me think if things can go worse from here. This may sound strange coming from a fellow who has seen virtually no television for over 3 months now, but you get my drift.
There is a set of features I've observed in all of these shows, right from American Idol (whom I blame more than anyone else for the state of things) up to Sa Re Ga Ma Pa and what not. They are:
1. Judge wars: When the show starts getting a little dull, throw in a couple of shout fests between the judges, it livens up TRP's as nothing else does. For good measure, have it done by guys like Javed Akhtar or Himesh Reshammiya and air the juicy parts in promos for two weeks to ensure that no one misses the episode. They know very well by now that most Indians cannot resist seeing others fight, be it on the streets, across their homes or on the TV. It sells. So tell Anu to roundly criticize one contestant and Javed to adore him beyond belief. Then tell Anu to call Alisha a stupid bitch, and have Javed agree with him on that. Damn, I'm a genius!
2. Corny lines: Some I've already spoken about above. Then there is the usual stuff about how it's a competition, and how someone has to go. How it could well have been someone else, but maybe it just wasn't your day. How "yeh ant nahi, shuruat hai", and their many varied forms. Along with this, there are addons such as Anu's poetry, Alisha's swooning looks, Himesh's assertions of a contestant's future amongst others.
3. Enough tears to flood the city: Cry when you're sad, cry when you're happy, cry when you laugh too hard. But wait, that's too standard. Cry whenever. All times and places are good to cry. When you're done making the contestants cry, have the judges cry. Have everyone's families cry. Have the studio audience cry! Spare no man, woman or child. Then, whenever someone is crying, ensure that the camera is all over their face till you can see the streaks left on their cheeks and zoom in even further. Have surrounding people wipe the tears and pat their backs. Note that the tear wiping can be recorded at no faster than 10 odd frames a second (for those not technologically inclined, that is about 2.5x slower than normal video). When its all done, tell the hosts to cry as well.
4. Accusations of bias/unfairness/foul play: These come in different varieties. The commonest ones are biased judges, regional bias and supposed manipulation by other contestants. These can be easily embellished by picking up snatches of "natural" conversation between a crying contestant and a friend, where he/she talks about how another has been unfair.
5. Shock and despair: "Janta, yeh kya kar diya tumne!". Yeah, you're going, now where have I heard that one before? Pretty much everywhere! More often than not, the judge(s) express exceeding despair at how stupid the janta is, how they are being swayed by concerns such as how a contestant looks or where he/she is from, than by the quality of the singing. Well, dumbasses, YOU left the decision to them in the first place. So shut your trap and say, cool, if that's the way you want it. But nooo, they will go to great lengths to explain that how X who has the most votes is really not better than Y who is in the "danger zone" (how I hate that term...) and will probably get eliminated. Then lets not forget about the one contestant whom the judges routinely and unequivocally lambast, but who yet keeps getting through. At one point, the judges must decide that it is now a significant risk that the fellow might just finish at the top, and they should start praising him, just in case he wins. They can't risk having the contestant they kept calling a schmuck all through win the contest!
I'm sure there are a few more, but these are all that come to my mind. I've discussed this with a whole bunch of people. Virtually all of them are anguished that due to public voting, the truly talented never win, and thus the show does not serve its purpose. It has taken all my patience to sit and explain to these folks that the purpose is not to find the best, it is to make money. Period. But yet, they will attempt to explain to me alternate formats, where the judges have more weightage, or certain rounds where only the judges will score and so on. But hello, earth to people, did I not just tell you that they don't care a rat's arse about the talented winning?
More sms=more money. Easiest equation in the world. And these shows ensure that they do everything in their power to ensure that they maximize the left hand side, thereby maximizing the right hand side. Problem solved. Viewers are happy, they think they are now all powerful. The judges are happy, they have their checks. The production company is already laughing all the way to the bank. Which leaves us only with the contestants. Who cares about them? They can just go fudge themselves!
Now I don't really know since how long this has been on, but can't have been over three months for sure. I chanced upon seeing it today at my uncle's place, and it nearly broke my heart. Seeing Javed Jaffrey utter the words "danger zone" and "vote" almost made me throw up. It was as bad as any other show. The same melodrama, the same slowmo crying scenes, the same "janta ka faisla" line. The last bastion of "good old TV" has finally fallen.
I suppose the economics simply overwhelmed them. The revenue from sms would earn oodles more money than some that might be lost, if any, due to the sellout. Indeed, we are so desperate for entertainment, that its viewership would probably increase because of the increased percentage of daily soap in the show (obviously at the cost of reduced talent hunt). I've gotten so sick and tired of all these shows that follow one single pattern with minor changes, namely the host and the name of the show, it makes me think if things can go worse from here. This may sound strange coming from a fellow who has seen virtually no television for over 3 months now, but you get my drift.
There is a set of features I've observed in all of these shows, right from American Idol (whom I blame more than anyone else for the state of things) up to Sa Re Ga Ma Pa and what not. They are:
1. Judge wars: When the show starts getting a little dull, throw in a couple of shout fests between the judges, it livens up TRP's as nothing else does. For good measure, have it done by guys like Javed Akhtar or Himesh Reshammiya and air the juicy parts in promos for two weeks to ensure that no one misses the episode. They know very well by now that most Indians cannot resist seeing others fight, be it on the streets, across their homes or on the TV. It sells. So tell Anu to roundly criticize one contestant and Javed to adore him beyond belief. Then tell Anu to call Alisha a stupid bitch, and have Javed agree with him on that. Damn, I'm a genius!
2. Corny lines: Some I've already spoken about above. Then there is the usual stuff about how it's a competition, and how someone has to go. How it could well have been someone else, but maybe it just wasn't your day. How "yeh ant nahi, shuruat hai", and their many varied forms. Along with this, there are addons such as Anu's poetry, Alisha's swooning looks, Himesh's assertions of a contestant's future amongst others.
3. Enough tears to flood the city: Cry when you're sad, cry when you're happy, cry when you laugh too hard. But wait, that's too standard. Cry whenever. All times and places are good to cry. When you're done making the contestants cry, have the judges cry. Have everyone's families cry. Have the studio audience cry! Spare no man, woman or child. Then, whenever someone is crying, ensure that the camera is all over their face till you can see the streaks left on their cheeks and zoom in even further. Have surrounding people wipe the tears and pat their backs. Note that the tear wiping can be recorded at no faster than 10 odd frames a second (for those not technologically inclined, that is about 2.5x slower than normal video). When its all done, tell the hosts to cry as well.
4. Accusations of bias/unfairness/foul play: These come in different varieties. The commonest ones are biased judges, regional bias and supposed manipulation by other contestants. These can be easily embellished by picking up snatches of "natural" conversation between a crying contestant and a friend, where he/she talks about how another has been unfair.
5. Shock and despair: "Janta, yeh kya kar diya tumne!". Yeah, you're going, now where have I heard that one before? Pretty much everywhere! More often than not, the judge(s) express exceeding despair at how stupid the janta is, how they are being swayed by concerns such as how a contestant looks or where he/she is from, than by the quality of the singing. Well, dumbasses, YOU left the decision to them in the first place. So shut your trap and say, cool, if that's the way you want it. But nooo, they will go to great lengths to explain that how X who has the most votes is really not better than Y who is in the "danger zone" (how I hate that term...) and will probably get eliminated. Then lets not forget about the one contestant whom the judges routinely and unequivocally lambast, but who yet keeps getting through. At one point, the judges must decide that it is now a significant risk that the fellow might just finish at the top, and they should start praising him, just in case he wins. They can't risk having the contestant they kept calling a schmuck all through win the contest!
I'm sure there are a few more, but these are all that come to my mind. I've discussed this with a whole bunch of people. Virtually all of them are anguished that due to public voting, the truly talented never win, and thus the show does not serve its purpose. It has taken all my patience to sit and explain to these folks that the purpose is not to find the best, it is to make money. Period. But yet, they will attempt to explain to me alternate formats, where the judges have more weightage, or certain rounds where only the judges will score and so on. But hello, earth to people, did I not just tell you that they don't care a rat's arse about the talented winning?
More sms=more money. Easiest equation in the world. And these shows ensure that they do everything in their power to ensure that they maximize the left hand side, thereby maximizing the right hand side. Problem solved. Viewers are happy, they think they are now all powerful. The judges are happy, they have their checks. The production company is already laughing all the way to the bank. Which leaves us only with the contestants. Who cares about them? They can just go fudge themselves!
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
For the heck of it - I
Turns out that I last wrote anything (and I mean anything at all, with the notable exception of assignments) was back in September end. As always, I then became acutely aware of my ostensibly good writing skills (apologies for the seeming lack of any modesty) and decided not to throw away all of it by letting a thick layer of dust on it. It so happens that most stuff in my room has it already, so let me keep this safe at least! That made no sense, and neither will the rest of this post.
I am not writing today for want of things to do, it so turns out that finals are coming up in about 4 days, and I have realized that there are three subjects that require extensive studying, so time is more or less at a premium. There are also three assignments due Friday and a report, which need attention. This of course couple with the usual tasks of cooking and minimal cleaning. I had imagined that when I entered this land, I would have so much to write about, the new experience, the people, the culture, the infrastructure. Turns out that while there is something to write, I have barely scratched the surface of this place. Maybe part of it has to do with the fact that there has been nothing terribly noteworthy to write about, and the other part of it has been my lack of inclination.
It has been so long since I wrote a proper article, I have virtually forgotten how to. And now, no longer in VESIT, there is nothing here where I can submit my writing! Talk about enthusiasm dampeners with a damping coefficient>1! Ouch, geek alert! Now, I do realize that as I am rambling about, I am going into my usual cribber mode, but I am just letting the words flow, knowing all too well that no one is reading what I am writing. But there are thing I am suddenly learning about, and in the hard way too, about planning.
I am hoping to piece together in the near future, the second part of my MS treatise, which will deal with things I am learning only now about foresight. I had never known the pressure this place puts on you, not only in the context of you current academic performance, but also in many other ways, notably fiscal pressure on your current living, and the possibility of future fiscal pressure if your career does not take off. Agreed, those things are somewhere far in the future, but there is simply no dearth of things to worry about here! I now realize that I took the decision of going for an MS too lightly without considering the implications. Saying that I am repenting it would be going too far, but I see many, many things in a decidedly different light right about now. Then again, these ARE things I need to learn myself, and hindsight it always perfect!
Speaking about fiscal issues, I got my first paycheck two days back! And had the simultaneous pleasure of earning my first real pay, and the disappointment of paying my first taxes! It may not be a large percentage of the pay, but it turns out that the amount of tax I paid would have sponsored my lunch for nearly a month and it feels like a kick in the shins. :(
Rambled long enough for nobody's pleasure but my own. Now there is food to be cooked and studying to be done. Wish me luck!
I am not writing today for want of things to do, it so turns out that finals are coming up in about 4 days, and I have realized that there are three subjects that require extensive studying, so time is more or less at a premium. There are also three assignments due Friday and a report, which need attention. This of course couple with the usual tasks of cooking and minimal cleaning. I had imagined that when I entered this land, I would have so much to write about, the new experience, the people, the culture, the infrastructure. Turns out that while there is something to write, I have barely scratched the surface of this place. Maybe part of it has to do with the fact that there has been nothing terribly noteworthy to write about, and the other part of it has been my lack of inclination.
It has been so long since I wrote a proper article, I have virtually forgotten how to. And now, no longer in VESIT, there is nothing here where I can submit my writing! Talk about enthusiasm dampeners with a damping coefficient>1! Ouch, geek alert! Now, I do realize that as I am rambling about, I am going into my usual cribber mode, but I am just letting the words flow, knowing all too well that no one is reading what I am writing. But there are thing I am suddenly learning about, and in the hard way too, about planning.
I am hoping to piece together in the near future, the second part of my MS treatise, which will deal with things I am learning only now about foresight. I had never known the pressure this place puts on you, not only in the context of you current academic performance, but also in many other ways, notably fiscal pressure on your current living, and the possibility of future fiscal pressure if your career does not take off. Agreed, those things are somewhere far in the future, but there is simply no dearth of things to worry about here! I now realize that I took the decision of going for an MS too lightly without considering the implications. Saying that I am repenting it would be going too far, but I see many, many things in a decidedly different light right about now. Then again, these ARE things I need to learn myself, and hindsight it always perfect!
Speaking about fiscal issues, I got my first paycheck two days back! And had the simultaneous pleasure of earning my first real pay, and the disappointment of paying my first taxes! It may not be a large percentage of the pay, but it turns out that the amount of tax I paid would have sponsored my lunch for nearly a month and it feels like a kick in the shins. :(
Rambled long enough for nobody's pleasure but my own. Now there is food to be cooked and studying to be done. Wish me luck!
Saturday, September 29, 2007
The Vent - I
So here I am blogging again, after such a god forsaken interval of time, I often wonder why I don't quit altogether. But the keyboard always holds some lure that brings me back to it. The only writing I have done lately is the one I was made to in the written English exam out here. That was an essay and writing it did make me happy, so here I am, pounding the keyboard on Chakku's laptop. BTW, thanks a ton Chakku! This machine is my lifeline, with no phone, no TV, basically nothing.
That said, the title (probably one of many to come) serves the exact purpose of this piece. And the reason why I originally started blogging. Periods of uncertainty in my life tend to push this out of me. I keep it bottled up, it gets worse. I tell it to the world, they might call me a loser, but it still makes me feel better. I don't know why, but I have a nagging feeling of insecurity about myself at this point, no clue about how well or how badly I'll do, what the immediate future holds. Haven't spoken to the folks at home for nearly two weeks, so there is some strange worry perpetually at the back of my mind.
College is yet to start in earnest, but in the only 2 lectures I sat for, assignments have already been given, so studying has started yesterday too. Shopping needs to be done, I'm not sure what courses I'm getting and cooking cycle is not yet set. None are very big issues and things will probably sort by next weekend, but I can't shake off a sense of peculiarity today.
Doing this helps a bit. Guess I'll just sign off and go for a long walk :)
That said, the title (probably one of many to come) serves the exact purpose of this piece. And the reason why I originally started blogging. Periods of uncertainty in my life tend to push this out of me. I keep it bottled up, it gets worse. I tell it to the world, they might call me a loser, but it still makes me feel better. I don't know why, but I have a nagging feeling of insecurity about myself at this point, no clue about how well or how badly I'll do, what the immediate future holds. Haven't spoken to the folks at home for nearly two weeks, so there is some strange worry perpetually at the back of my mind.
College is yet to start in earnest, but in the only 2 lectures I sat for, assignments have already been given, so studying has started yesterday too. Shopping needs to be done, I'm not sure what courses I'm getting and cooking cycle is not yet set. None are very big issues and things will probably sort by next weekend, but I can't shake off a sense of peculiarity today.
Doing this helps a bit. Guess I'll just sign off and go for a long walk :)
Thursday, July 05, 2007
That Crazy Thing
Two species of people are particularly prolific all over India - madmen and Godmen. Who is holier of the two, is not as obvious as it seems. While Godmen occupy only certain 'exalted' locales, madmen are quite as omnipresent as about anything can be. You'll see them wandering on the streets, in torn clothes, matted hair, carrying out conversations with the infinite selves within themselves. Makes one sad to look at them, you wonder what the man must have gone through to end up in this state, and how pathetic it must be to live in that state of squalor. But then I think I've found an exception.
This one is technically a madwoman (sic), mad enough to qualify for an award. I have never seen her outside of a 20 ft stretch of road, and never seen that stretch of road without her for quite a few years. I can safely hypothesize that she rarely, if ever, has ever left that 'home' of hers. Usually, she is seated majestically on the footboard of one of the parked two wheelers. Her usual position is with her nose stuck up in the air, preening herself in a manner that can be described as regal. I saw her in conversation today, apparently with thin air, but practically with an entity she believes to be quite real. I think she considers herself to be a queen, and most of her routine conversations involve commanding mere minions to do her bidding. It doesn't quite matter to her that no such minions exist and that she lives off discarded food and is the object of hundreds of critical glances daily.
Gives me a feeling that she is much happier than most of us are. While its true that that her existence is quite unenviable and pointedly useless, she lives in a world where she is far better off than many of us who lead lives which have some 'point'. While we trudge through our daily share of miseries, she floats through them; for as far as she is concerned, they don't even exist! What put her into this condition must have undoubtedly been very traumatic, scars that deep which refuse to heal don't form easily. We human beings are surprisingly resilient. That given, she is probably far better off in her make believe world than she would be facing up to what has happened to her. After all, her reality is just as real as yours of mine. Isn't all reality ultimately what me make it out to be?
Of course, all mad men don't end up with the same kind of luck. Many of them spend their lives fighting with themselves (physically, literally), shouting abuses incessantly to an invisible enemy who won't leave them alone, and reliving some past incident that leaves them dithered. A strange way for the human mind to work. It makes you crazy when it can't take the pain, but only the lucky ones leave the pain behind. The others must simply live with it, not even understanding what it is that they are living. Or whether they are living.
Just so much for craziness, I'm suddenly detecting a lot of symptoms of it in myself! Heck, aren't we all; I just have a little more of it!
All of us sane people are the ones who are truly insane. And those we call insane, are dancing only for they can hear the music of The Maker...
This one is technically a madwoman (sic), mad enough to qualify for an award. I have never seen her outside of a 20 ft stretch of road, and never seen that stretch of road without her for quite a few years. I can safely hypothesize that she rarely, if ever, has ever left that 'home' of hers. Usually, she is seated majestically on the footboard of one of the parked two wheelers. Her usual position is with her nose stuck up in the air, preening herself in a manner that can be described as regal. I saw her in conversation today, apparently with thin air, but practically with an entity she believes to be quite real. I think she considers herself to be a queen, and most of her routine conversations involve commanding mere minions to do her bidding. It doesn't quite matter to her that no such minions exist and that she lives off discarded food and is the object of hundreds of critical glances daily.
Gives me a feeling that she is much happier than most of us are. While its true that that her existence is quite unenviable and pointedly useless, she lives in a world where she is far better off than many of us who lead lives which have some 'point'. While we trudge through our daily share of miseries, she floats through them; for as far as she is concerned, they don't even exist! What put her into this condition must have undoubtedly been very traumatic, scars that deep which refuse to heal don't form easily. We human beings are surprisingly resilient. That given, she is probably far better off in her make believe world than she would be facing up to what has happened to her. After all, her reality is just as real as yours of mine. Isn't all reality ultimately what me make it out to be?
Of course, all mad men don't end up with the same kind of luck. Many of them spend their lives fighting with themselves (physically, literally), shouting abuses incessantly to an invisible enemy who won't leave them alone, and reliving some past incident that leaves them dithered. A strange way for the human mind to work. It makes you crazy when it can't take the pain, but only the lucky ones leave the pain behind. The others must simply live with it, not even understanding what it is that they are living. Or whether they are living.
Just so much for craziness, I'm suddenly detecting a lot of symptoms of it in myself! Heck, aren't we all; I just have a little more of it!
And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.
-Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche
All of us sane people are the ones who are truly insane. And those we call insane, are dancing only for they can hear the music of The Maker...
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Our weak Gods and strong devotees
Some things are in the news for all the wrong reasons. The omnipotent lord Ganesha in the Siddhivinayak temple happens to be one of these. Its been a while since the said terrorist threats against the temple, I haven't kept track of the time. Being a temple of such importance, it had to be protected, it was said. And so it was. A huge wall was built around the temple complex, footpaths for pedestrians were removed, traffic was diverted and a twenty four hour armed guard was established.
That, however, is not enough. Now, devotees are no longer permitted to offer coconuts or large garlands to the deity. Besides, as if the life of the residents isn't bad enough, it is proposed that the road be closed down to traffic for good. All this, in the name of the benevolent Lord Ganesha, a deity who never fails to grant what his devotees ask of him. One must wonder that if God now needs a safety net to avoid grenade from being flung in, how safe are any of us?
I've seen a similar scenario at Akshardham, New Delhi. While the temple is fantastic, the entry procedures betray such a strong sense of paranoia, that is puts you off from wanting to go there. They virtually make you strip, even after you deposit innocuous items like pen knives! Is this what it has finally come to? That we cannot even look up to God even to protect himself, let alone us?
Anyway, getting back to Siddhivinayak, rumour has it that they will soon be allocated protection by the Indian Army itself. As we speak, three tanks, five medium machine guns and two fighter planes (some Sukhoi variant) are on their way to protect this landmark. Any devotee to gain access will have to do a one time registration, where he will need to provide proof of identity, residence and bring two witnesses. Then, before each darshan, he must inform 24 hours in advance. When he comes, he must strip naked, pass through a metal detector, X-ray and MMR machine, and then wear special gowns which allow no concealment of weaponry or dangerous goods. Once inside, you must march straight to the idol, no stopping, bow once, and leave from the right exit within 60 seconds of entry, failing which you may be brought down by sniper fire.
Now, now. Don't complain. It is very necessary. If you want to crib, go to a lesser powered Ganesha or pray in your own home. But wait a second. Isn't the omnipotent, omniscient God present everywhere, in equal strength provided you have the faith? Naah. Siddhivinayak Ganesha is waaaay stronger. You have to go there. We enjoy having you here. Please come next time.
That, however, is not enough. Now, devotees are no longer permitted to offer coconuts or large garlands to the deity. Besides, as if the life of the residents isn't bad enough, it is proposed that the road be closed down to traffic for good. All this, in the name of the benevolent Lord Ganesha, a deity who never fails to grant what his devotees ask of him. One must wonder that if God now needs a safety net to avoid grenade from being flung in, how safe are any of us?
I've seen a similar scenario at Akshardham, New Delhi. While the temple is fantastic, the entry procedures betray such a strong sense of paranoia, that is puts you off from wanting to go there. They virtually make you strip, even after you deposit innocuous items like pen knives! Is this what it has finally come to? That we cannot even look up to God even to protect himself, let alone us?
Anyway, getting back to Siddhivinayak, rumour has it that they will soon be allocated protection by the Indian Army itself. As we speak, three tanks, five medium machine guns and two fighter planes (some Sukhoi variant) are on their way to protect this landmark. Any devotee to gain access will have to do a one time registration, where he will need to provide proof of identity, residence and bring two witnesses. Then, before each darshan, he must inform 24 hours in advance. When he comes, he must strip naked, pass through a metal detector, X-ray and MMR machine, and then wear special gowns which allow no concealment of weaponry or dangerous goods. Once inside, you must march straight to the idol, no stopping, bow once, and leave from the right exit within 60 seconds of entry, failing which you may be brought down by sniper fire.
Now, now. Don't complain. It is very necessary. If you want to crib, go to a lesser powered Ganesha or pray in your own home. But wait a second. Isn't the omnipotent, omniscient God present everywhere, in equal strength provided you have the faith? Naah. Siddhivinayak Ganesha is waaaay stronger. You have to go there. We enjoy having you here. Please come next time.
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Let's go that way!
Everyone, me inclusive, has incessantly wondered where this country is going. What with reservations, moral policing, religious intolerance and the likes. I've always wondered where my life's going to, but that question will remain unanswered for good. Back to the country. Well, now you can stop wondering, because we have an answer! Downhill!
Once that is clarified, each one of us can now decide what we want to do. For instance, I now know that there is no point in pursuing engineering and am giving serious thought to joining the Sambhaji gang, the VHP, and possibly the ABVP. My life is getting highly frustrating and the simplest way to vent it out is some good old smashing!
Every now and then, I feel like hitting someone, breaking something. Sadly, that is not under the purview of legal things to do, UNLESS I can give a well justified reason for it. Example, a heart shaped card being sold in the nearby Archies store around February. It is clearly ruining my culture, unduly influencing Indian youth and pushing further our sell out to the West. I take umbrage, and as a dedicated citizen of this country, I have the right to smash the shop windows, burn the cards, and break the bones of the shop attendants. C'mon guys! Do you think I want to do all this because I'll enjoy this? Has any political party ever gone on a rampage because they LIKED to?
Nope, not at all. But the constitution does give me the Freedom of Expression. And once I'm in a mob, I can choose to express it anyway I wish to. Like the other day when I saw a guy walking in the mall holding hands with his girlfriend. That insults me, because I don't have a girlfriend whose hands I can hold and walk in the mall. It offends me and see it fitting that I haul up the guy for being indecent, bash him up soundly and hand him over to the cops.
I say our society is on the right path. We have finally woken up. The next logical steps are to ban all forms of Western clothing, revive Sanskrit by enforcing anti-English legislation and remove all foreign influences on our youth, most of all television and the Internet. And while we are at it, let us ensure that copulation is carried out with closed eyes, ears and mouths and performed only because it must be for the propagation of the species.
Now what the hell are you reading this for, do you want something broken Indian culture hater?
Once that is clarified, each one of us can now decide what we want to do. For instance, I now know that there is no point in pursuing engineering and am giving serious thought to joining the Sambhaji gang, the VHP, and possibly the ABVP. My life is getting highly frustrating and the simplest way to vent it out is some good old smashing!
Every now and then, I feel like hitting someone, breaking something. Sadly, that is not under the purview of legal things to do, UNLESS I can give a well justified reason for it. Example, a heart shaped card being sold in the nearby Archies store around February. It is clearly ruining my culture, unduly influencing Indian youth and pushing further our sell out to the West. I take umbrage, and as a dedicated citizen of this country, I have the right to smash the shop windows, burn the cards, and break the bones of the shop attendants. C'mon guys! Do you think I want to do all this because I'll enjoy this? Has any political party ever gone on a rampage because they LIKED to?
Nope, not at all. But the constitution does give me the Freedom of Expression. And once I'm in a mob, I can choose to express it anyway I wish to. Like the other day when I saw a guy walking in the mall holding hands with his girlfriend. That insults me, because I don't have a girlfriend whose hands I can hold and walk in the mall. It offends me and see it fitting that I haul up the guy for being indecent, bash him up soundly and hand him over to the cops.
I say our society is on the right path. We have finally woken up. The next logical steps are to ban all forms of Western clothing, revive Sanskrit by enforcing anti-English legislation and remove all foreign influences on our youth, most of all television and the Internet. And while we are at it, let us ensure that copulation is carried out with closed eyes, ears and mouths and performed only because it must be for the propagation of the species.
Now what the hell are you reading this for, do you want something broken Indian culture hater?
Sunday, September 10, 2006
The curtain falls on the GREATEST Formula1 driver EVER
And it finally came. Michael Schumacher will be retiring after the end of the 2006 season...
After winning an incredible race at Monza in front of thousands and thousands ot tifosi, MSC announced that this race would be his last at Monza, he would leave F1 after the remaining three races. He started off by apologising to his fans about the delay. He described his career, thanked Ferrari, his race crew and engineers, his dad, his late mother, and most importantly, his family - his wife and kids. He also spoke about being very happy about his replacement, but never mentioned his name. He also clarified that the announcement had to come now because Felipe Massa, whom MSC described as a 'great guy and team-mate' had to decide his future, which he could not do without MSC's decision.
There were no tears, no exaggerated emotions, no melodrama. It was MSC being totally forthright touching the chords of millions all around, his fans, and his detractors. It was in this very simple fashion that the curtain has fallen on the greatest Formula1 driver ever.
Yes, the greatest Formula1 driver ever. Yes, better than anyone in this era. Yes, better than anyone in any area. I can hardly stake claim to be a huge MSC fan, I started watching F1 barely 3 years ago, when MSC was already twice as good as anyone in the field. I, sadly, missed the time when he was a mere rookie, but had the greats of that time cowering in fear - messrs Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, Damon Hill, amongst others.
Starting out in 1991 in a pathetic Jordan, MSC stamped his authority right in that year qualifying 7th in his debut race at the Spa. In the next year, he finished 3rd in the championship in a far from perfect Benetton, no mean feat for a mere rookie. In 3 years after joining, in 1994, MSC won the first on his seven WDCs with Benetton. After that he won with Benetton in the succeding year, and then with Ferrari in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004. His worst finish in all these years has been in 5th in 1999, which was right before his run of 5 straight WDC's.
As a driver, MSC has always been characterised by a killer instinct, steely nerve, absolute focus and a will to stop at nothing to achieve what he must. This is reflected in the "infamous" incidents which are routinely quoted to undermine MSC - be it the Damon Hill incident of '94, the Villeneuve incident of '97, the team orders incident of '02 or the Monaco incident of '06. No, he isn't a cheat, it is just his evil genuis at play. Pray tell me, how can a cheat win 7 WDCs and win the admiration of countless fans across the globe?
Imagine a man who had to tolerate "pundits" declaring him an also-ran because a new-kid-on-the-block with a better car was doing better than him. Imagine a man who holds more than half of all records in F1 having to listen to these people who couldn't even get an F1 car started, let alone race, let alone win. The cycle then repeats in 2006, all hail Alonso, MSC is just too old, he no longer has the fire to win. Suddenly, the genius awakens, and when he does, you can't speak, you can neither appreciate nor criticise, you can just stare in open-mouthed awe, thank God for giving you a chance to be looking at what unfolds in front of your eyes.
MSC is now 2 points adrift of FA, Ferrari now lead the constructors' championship by 3 points.
Love him, hate him. There are still 3 races to go. Savour it while you still can. F1 will never be the same again...
Must watch: http://youtube.com/watch?v=AM0OgnWSZrA
Michael Schumacher Goodbye video by his greatest fan ever - Arun Retro-Virus
Michael Schumacher Factfile:
Starts: 247
Victories: 90 (record)
Poles: 69 (record)
Podiums: 138 (record)
Maximum wins in a season: 13 with Ferrari in 2004 (record)
Championship points: 1344 (record)
Triples: 22 (record)
Sources:
http://www.sportinglife.com/clients/planetf1/formula1/drivers/mschumacher.insdat
http://www.sportinglife.com/others/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=others/06/09/10/AUTO_Schumacher_Best_and_worst.html
After winning an incredible race at Monza in front of thousands and thousands ot tifosi, MSC announced that this race would be his last at Monza, he would leave F1 after the remaining three races. He started off by apologising to his fans about the delay. He described his career, thanked Ferrari, his race crew and engineers, his dad, his late mother, and most importantly, his family - his wife and kids. He also spoke about being very happy about his replacement, but never mentioned his name. He also clarified that the announcement had to come now because Felipe Massa, whom MSC described as a 'great guy and team-mate' had to decide his future, which he could not do without MSC's decision.
There were no tears, no exaggerated emotions, no melodrama. It was MSC being totally forthright touching the chords of millions all around, his fans, and his detractors. It was in this very simple fashion that the curtain has fallen on the greatest Formula1 driver ever.
Yes, the greatest Formula1 driver ever. Yes, better than anyone in this era. Yes, better than anyone in any area. I can hardly stake claim to be a huge MSC fan, I started watching F1 barely 3 years ago, when MSC was already twice as good as anyone in the field. I, sadly, missed the time when he was a mere rookie, but had the greats of that time cowering in fear - messrs Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, Damon Hill, amongst others.
Starting out in 1991 in a pathetic Jordan, MSC stamped his authority right in that year qualifying 7th in his debut race at the Spa. In the next year, he finished 3rd in the championship in a far from perfect Benetton, no mean feat for a mere rookie. In 3 years after joining, in 1994, MSC won the first on his seven WDCs with Benetton. After that he won with Benetton in the succeding year, and then with Ferrari in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004. His worst finish in all these years has been in 5th in 1999, which was right before his run of 5 straight WDC's.
As a driver, MSC has always been characterised by a killer instinct, steely nerve, absolute focus and a will to stop at nothing to achieve what he must. This is reflected in the "infamous" incidents which are routinely quoted to undermine MSC - be it the Damon Hill incident of '94, the Villeneuve incident of '97, the team orders incident of '02 or the Monaco incident of '06. No, he isn't a cheat, it is just his evil genuis at play. Pray tell me, how can a cheat win 7 WDCs and win the admiration of countless fans across the globe?
Imagine a man who had to tolerate "pundits" declaring him an also-ran because a new-kid-on-the-block with a better car was doing better than him. Imagine a man who holds more than half of all records in F1 having to listen to these people who couldn't even get an F1 car started, let alone race, let alone win. The cycle then repeats in 2006, all hail Alonso, MSC is just too old, he no longer has the fire to win. Suddenly, the genius awakens, and when he does, you can't speak, you can neither appreciate nor criticise, you can just stare in open-mouthed awe, thank God for giving you a chance to be looking at what unfolds in front of your eyes.
MSC is now 2 points adrift of FA, Ferrari now lead the constructors' championship by 3 points.
Love him, hate him. There are still 3 races to go. Savour it while you still can. F1 will never be the same again...
Must watch: http://youtube.com/watch?v=AM0OgnWSZrA
Michael Schumacher Goodbye video by his greatest fan ever - Arun Retro-Virus
Michael Schumacher Factfile:
Starts: 247
Victories: 90 (record)
Poles: 69 (record)
Podiums: 138 (record)
Maximum wins in a season: 13 with Ferrari in 2004 (record)
Championship points: 1344 (record)
Triples: 22 (record)
Sources:
http://www.sportinglife.com/clients/planetf1/formula1/drivers/mschumacher.insdat
http://www.sportinglife.com/others/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=others/06/09/10/AUTO_Schumacher_Best_and_worst.html
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Undeniable Greatness
"Har sant kahe, sadhu kahe,
Sach aur saahas hai jiske man main,
Ant main jeet usi ki rahe"
Sach aur saahas hai jiske man main,
Ant main jeet usi ki rahe"
- Mitwa
Lagaan
Yes, you guessed right, I did happen to catch "Lage Raho Munnabhai" yesterday. Say what you must, throw as much mud as need be, but you have to accept that Mahatma Gandhi is the greatest Indian to date, and will stay so for many, many more years to come.
Find me another person who could bring together thousands of people at any given time, time and again. Find me another person whose each word a million would hang on to. Find me another person who could quell riots by simply standing there. If there is one man who could stir the collective conscience of such a diverse people, inspire within them a concrete belief, guide them along a path hitherto unheard of, and defeat colonial rulers without might, purely by belief, faith, and the power within a million souls - then that man is undoubtedly Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.
I won't ever say he was the perfect man. He had his flaws. Obvious ones, and major ones. But no one on this whole ruddy planet can deny him his achievements, can discredit his intentions, can unlock the enigma of this almost naked man in a dhoti who could hold crowds in a trance and break the backbone of an imperial power without so much as ever raising his hand.
The more pertinent point is whether Gandhian principles can truly work today. A quick recap states that the primary ones are truth, non-violence, compassion, cleanliness. Now, what is bad about any of these? Is it possible to debate the validity or sanctity of any of these basic tenets? I guess not. It is the application part where things go sour. Continuous use on on-violence in the big, bad world makes you look weak, proves that you aren't capable of defending yourself, standing up for what is yours. But then again, does it?
Part of accepting Gandhian philosophy is looking at the bigger picture. It is closely intertwined with the very fundamental karma philosophy. While following what Gandhi says, don't look at immediate consequences, also think of that final meeting which will be only between you and The Maker. Do you ever worry about the abyss mankind is plunging into where momentary gain is worth perdition?
If there is something which can lead us out, it is the truth, it is faith, it is belief...
Does anyone remember the name of the movie starring Robin Williams where he is a do-gooder doctor? The movie which inspired Munnabhai-I? If you ever feel low, watch it. If you can't get your hands on it, watch "The Terminal". All hope isn't yet lost for mankind :)
Lagaan
Yes, you guessed right, I did happen to catch "Lage Raho Munnabhai" yesterday. Say what you must, throw as much mud as need be, but you have to accept that Mahatma Gandhi is the greatest Indian to date, and will stay so for many, many more years to come.
Find me another person who could bring together thousands of people at any given time, time and again. Find me another person whose each word a million would hang on to. Find me another person who could quell riots by simply standing there. If there is one man who could stir the collective conscience of such a diverse people, inspire within them a concrete belief, guide them along a path hitherto unheard of, and defeat colonial rulers without might, purely by belief, faith, and the power within a million souls - then that man is undoubtedly Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.
I won't ever say he was the perfect man. He had his flaws. Obvious ones, and major ones. But no one on this whole ruddy planet can deny him his achievements, can discredit his intentions, can unlock the enigma of this almost naked man in a dhoti who could hold crowds in a trance and break the backbone of an imperial power without so much as ever raising his hand.
The more pertinent point is whether Gandhian principles can truly work today. A quick recap states that the primary ones are truth, non-violence, compassion, cleanliness. Now, what is bad about any of these? Is it possible to debate the validity or sanctity of any of these basic tenets? I guess not. It is the application part where things go sour. Continuous use on on-violence in the big, bad world makes you look weak, proves that you aren't capable of defending yourself, standing up for what is yours. But then again, does it?
Part of accepting Gandhian philosophy is looking at the bigger picture. It is closely intertwined with the very fundamental karma philosophy. While following what Gandhi says, don't look at immediate consequences, also think of that final meeting which will be only between you and The Maker. Do you ever worry about the abyss mankind is plunging into where momentary gain is worth perdition?
If there is something which can lead us out, it is the truth, it is faith, it is belief...
Does anyone remember the name of the movie starring Robin Williams where he is a do-gooder doctor? The movie which inspired Munnabhai-I? If you ever feel low, watch it. If you can't get your hands on it, watch "The Terminal". All hope isn't yet lost for mankind :)
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
When retrograde is progressive...
A nation on the brink, ruled by people living in an eternal flashback...a flashback would have been far better than the present state of affairs.
Long gone are the days when India used to be a proverbial "golden nest", aplace where science, philosophy and religion flourished, when India was the nerve centre of education and trade. After a lean patch, it truly seemed for a while that "India Shining" was more than just a gimmick. A recent Newsweek survey reveals that the maximum number of respondents (33%) in a survey on which country would produce the best engineers 10 years hence, voted for India. Our demographic is more than impressive, with a working populace of well over half the total, India should today be at a crucial juncture, at a point of take off.
There is global as well as domestic optimism about the future of our nation, but is everything as hunky-dory as it seems? Hardly. Take a look at most of the news items in our papers and the optimism will decay exponentially. While the semblance of progress is maintained, there is deep reaching rot in our psyche. Each day, we become less tolerant as a society, each day we justify untenable foolishness, each day we drive a nail in the coffin of our country. What brought on this piece is the recent banning of so called "adult content" from satellite television channels. Another one in a string of forcing a conscience on every mature person, of every citizen.
The attempts at moral policing were first comical, then irritating, and have now reached the level of downright abhorrence. How long can we let out choices and morality be dictated to us? Aren't these issues of purely personal preference? Why do I need to be told to not do a gazillion odd things some freak finds "morally offensive" and "against our culture"?
The point is how long we intend to keep yielding to this, and where will the line be drawn? If the nation is going to continue along the same path, people who wish to settle abroad can hardly be blamed to want to be leaving this place. Let me not even get started on reservations, which are going to make sure that all talent is forced to leave this country even if they dont want to, purely because he sees incapable people doing better than him. It seems to be fashionable to be a reactionary, to be impractical and stubborn, to hinder progress in any way possible, then be it religion or "culture".
The irony of this situation can escape no one, in light of just having celebrated our 59th Independence Day a few days back. We are destined to remain a third world nation, after all, we are the ones who want it that way...
Long gone are the days when India used to be a proverbial "golden nest", aplace where science, philosophy and religion flourished, when India was the nerve centre of education and trade. After a lean patch, it truly seemed for a while that "India Shining" was more than just a gimmick. A recent Newsweek survey reveals that the maximum number of respondents (33%) in a survey on which country would produce the best engineers 10 years hence, voted for India. Our demographic is more than impressive, with a working populace of well over half the total, India should today be at a crucial juncture, at a point of take off.
There is global as well as domestic optimism about the future of our nation, but is everything as hunky-dory as it seems? Hardly. Take a look at most of the news items in our papers and the optimism will decay exponentially. While the semblance of progress is maintained, there is deep reaching rot in our psyche. Each day, we become less tolerant as a society, each day we justify untenable foolishness, each day we drive a nail in the coffin of our country. What brought on this piece is the recent banning of so called "adult content" from satellite television channels. Another one in a string of forcing a conscience on every mature person, of every citizen.
The attempts at moral policing were first comical, then irritating, and have now reached the level of downright abhorrence. How long can we let out choices and morality be dictated to us? Aren't these issues of purely personal preference? Why do I need to be told to not do a gazillion odd things some freak finds "morally offensive" and "against our culture"?
The point is how long we intend to keep yielding to this, and where will the line be drawn? If the nation is going to continue along the same path, people who wish to settle abroad can hardly be blamed to want to be leaving this place. Let me not even get started on reservations, which are going to make sure that all talent is forced to leave this country even if they dont want to, purely because he sees incapable people doing better than him. It seems to be fashionable to be a reactionary, to be impractical and stubborn, to hinder progress in any way possible, then be it religion or "culture".
The irony of this situation can escape no one, in light of just having celebrated our 59th Independence Day a few days back. We are destined to remain a third world nation, after all, we are the ones who want it that way...
Saturday, June 17, 2006
Oblivion
A large room preferably, with most of the area at the centre cleared off. Close the windows, draw the curtains. Close the doors. Reach for the light switches. Even the fans. All turned off? Now raise your hand, bring it till your face till you can feel your breath. Do you see it? If yes, you're doing something wrong, check for that small sliver of light from under some door, a gap in the blinds perhaps. Done? Good.
Try and make your way back to the centre of the room, dont grab on anything. Just stand. Close your eyes. Now open them. How do you know they're open? Blink. Turn around a few times. Do you know which direction you're facing in? Where are you? Is the ground still beneath your feet? You feel like your falling, falling into an endless void, falling into oblivion.
Be quiet. Listen. To your heart, your breathing. The steady beat of your heart, in the percussion section. Move your hand through the darkness, smooth as satin, slipping like silk from between your fingers. Listen very carefully, hear the rustling sound. Your mind plays games with you, a light breeze feels like a hurricane tearing through your consciousness. Each sound amplified a million times, completing the symphony of the night along with your heart.
Are you afraid? Do you feel the beads of sweat on your forehead? There is nothing, nobody around...but the mind, yet again, plays games. What is it that you fear? The nothingness, the oblivion? The feeling of chaos in order, of delirium standing still, of absolute cluelessness though you know perfectly well - or think you do - of where you are?
Be afraid. Close your eyes, again. Listen, again. Unknowingly, your lips curl into a smile, you open your eyes. You feel the darkness wash all over you, a cold shudder makes its way through your body, the head, the shoulders, right upto the toes. It is then that you see - there is such beauty in it! Beauty in simplicity personified. Mission accomplished. Make your way back to the switches, grappling around. See your world, seemingly originating from thin air, originating from oblivion...
Silk, symphony, simplicity...how had you missed it all these years?
Try and make your way back to the centre of the room, dont grab on anything. Just stand. Close your eyes. Now open them. How do you know they're open? Blink. Turn around a few times. Do you know which direction you're facing in? Where are you? Is the ground still beneath your feet? You feel like your falling, falling into an endless void, falling into oblivion.
Be quiet. Listen. To your heart, your breathing. The steady beat of your heart, in the percussion section. Move your hand through the darkness, smooth as satin, slipping like silk from between your fingers. Listen very carefully, hear the rustling sound. Your mind plays games with you, a light breeze feels like a hurricane tearing through your consciousness. Each sound amplified a million times, completing the symphony of the night along with your heart.
Are you afraid? Do you feel the beads of sweat on your forehead? There is nothing, nobody around...but the mind, yet again, plays games. What is it that you fear? The nothingness, the oblivion? The feeling of chaos in order, of delirium standing still, of absolute cluelessness though you know perfectly well - or think you do - of where you are?
Be afraid. Close your eyes, again. Listen, again. Unknowingly, your lips curl into a smile, you open your eyes. You feel the darkness wash all over you, a cold shudder makes its way through your body, the head, the shoulders, right upto the toes. It is then that you see - there is such beauty in it! Beauty in simplicity personified. Mission accomplished. Make your way back to the switches, grappling around. See your world, seemingly originating from thin air, originating from oblivion...
Silk, symphony, simplicity...how had you missed it all these years?
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