Deepshikha Shanker

Each to his own, A day at a time

2007-12-25T12:59:00.000+04:00

So this is a late entry and I am not even sure if any one is reading my blogs but I guess I just crossed the thousand mark which means somebody is reading the stuff on this page. Ofcourse a lot has changed from the last time I put something in this blank space and a lot has changed in the short span. I work now for one of the best companies in India. I Know I am still not doing things I love or care about but time will come when I will.
I have to say though each day is a new lesson. Each minute a revision.. So, starting from Indian politics, which is an obsession in Indian drawing rooms and an alien subject to me to our daily desk top which would never tire of giving new troubles each day I have surely learnt more than I had bargained for.
The first lesson I have learnt that we dont have control on things around us not even our own lives let alone on running and functioning of a country like ours, Gujarat elections being the marker of agressive media campaign and political mudslinging, people of Gujarat decide other wise. So, a new question arises? Is media powerful as it says it is? Or is it the opinion of a few elitists who had time to discuss these things in coffee houses and rich daddies to did not have to be worried about earning daily wages like the rest of us mortals? What about the support stock markets have shown in Modi. So why do the people and the markets have faith in a man media so abhors? Who is right and who is wrong? Quite truthfuly these questions remain to be addressed but are never answered through numerous political debates and discussions.
Need of the hour is for media to become what it is. "Media" nothing more. Stop getting judgemental. Report facts. Saperate them from emotions. Leave Each to his own.

BLANK BOARD??

2007-08-31T18:03:00.000+04:00

Facing the greatest fear of wannabe struggling writer.... Looking at the blank computer screen, with nothing to do with my hands.... So ok my mind is blank, where i could type and type (pretty much rubbish) here I am with nothing...not even RUBBISH... I remember my father always told me that i love to create crisis, now i think may be he was right (pretty much like all the other things in the world). But"creating Crisis" always gave me something to think about. Something to rebel against. Somethng to fight for and least of all Something to LIVE for.. Now i know i wil never go back from where i am, but i still wish for that strange fire in my belly (ahhm not gastro...) for small things with bigger values... For silly crushes that would never concretise and become the song in my heart and make music more alive. For sky high ambitions, movies that seemed to inspire..From now on nothing will ever be big enough and life ahead a blank monotony of making money to gear a demanding career forward and one month of working i am already sick of it because i feel sold out.. I work for the same guys against whom i participated in rallies...

So only one thing lives on..Its hope..Which is found in deepest darkest places and yeah to be practical, ol' friends on orkut and gmail, (new ones too) and mobile sms, and hope that life would take a new turn and will not just end up all WORK..

I met one-handed rickshaw puller and I died with shame....

2007-08-26T17:54:00.000+04:00

Ok this was just after I posted my "post " right here, sallowing about my "condition"(chek the just next post), I met this guy who pulls rickshaw for living and guess what I was never more ashamed about complaining on my status... I know most would kill for what I have while others would scorn, but this guy who lives by a rickshaw when he can beg and make better money. Oh yes i forgot to mention that he has just one hand.. So?? I found a new found dignity in lives of people who make their living every day...I have nothing more to say than that but i was not just ashamed of what he did, I was ashamed of why he had to resort to it... why he dint have a system supporting his kind.. I dont know but will atleast soon find out...

Hang in or hang on??

2007-08-25T18:17:00.000+04:00

OK so I hang my head because I cursed so many things specially the word "Freedom".. A Little update on my Friend if anyone might be interested: She and her guy are married, and absconding because court is so damn slow, while a case is still on my friends "husband", which is registered by her parents (kidnapping?? i doubt but its possible...) . I know the truth, Everything is fine.Don't know the details because I might be in trouble, if i do. So that's it. Happy ending and a "flight of freedom.."

Which brings me to the next set of absurdities I see. At work I have under me three people who are more experienced and older, only that they are my subordinates and worse still MEN. A typical situation I face is that, I earn more than ALL the ladies in the company. If you don't understand my situation, I was already the most hated person on the day that i joined. SO while every one else concentrates on their performance, I had to concentrate on keeping everyone ego cool.... What could be worse, Once i was being reprimanded by my boss, in front of my subordinates, for not in-subordinating them enough, and that turned out to be the worse, I had ever seen personally in my life. During the course of a discussion, The retort I got after seeing my temper flare was: I am sorry because you are going to cry!!

So my male subordinate thinks its OK for him to apologise because I am a female but he would not accept his fault... I was not going to cry and neither was I going to let him off. The issue was resolved. I have come to terms with the work place and we are all friends now when we are not working. But I can never forget that day.

It only shows that we have to keep proving ourselves, I don't know Wat it is for men, but even when male friends talk (even to me) their position is that "my female boss knows nothing..." So it looks like its never going to end. Every day We have to prove our selves so that we can be accepted. As daughters, wives, mothers, sisters, team leaders or team members, its never going to be easy or is it ever going to stop. And so we hang in and hang on... now and forever...No one said being an independent person was easy, an independent girl by way far more difficult!!..

We shall never be free, We never were!

2007-08-16T08:22:00.000+04:00

As India celebrates "Independence day" with jubilant exuberence, we forget that 60 years is just a "twinkle in the eye of history". We forget that when we made a society as rigid as ours, we were never free, we weren't enslaved by The British, but by ourselves. To put it on Arundhati Roy, it began three thousand years ago, when laws were laid down, as to who should be loved. And how much.
I put this post here because I was alone in my room this independence day, because my 24 year old, "independent", working, MBA grad friend was dragged out of our New Delhi Municipal Corporation's Working women's hostel room, By her four brothers. By violence and sheer force (I was in my office, i hear it was a huge scene), her mobile is switched off, she probably locked in her room some where, her boyfriend tells me she is fine, I know he is worried too. No prizes for guessing that even today, this "educated, modern, girl" has no right to marry the guy of her choice. BUT no one stopped them... Her parents don't see what I see, how much they love each other, how happy they are and when I am with them, I see hope and fun and happiness in this world.. I feel guilty because I was the one who advised my friend to give her parents some time, to accept, they were ready to get married, they listened to me. I was Wrong.
Anu, my friend is not the only tragedy of Independent India. We are not free as long as we keep giving in to other people's wishes.. think about what would any one say, what would people think. Social norms have overcome common sense, hypocrisy over sensibility. Modern India is not free, as long as there are flyovers without any foot path for pedestrians (near my office), As long as there is development without equity.
We think we are moving ahead, too fast and too soon. But we are wrong. We need to improve a lot. There is too much that needs be done and too little that's actually be done. And to the above issue there is no solution. No laws that say that its wrong to force and subjugate just because "what would people say?" No! Independence day was not happy for me. And I mourn a dying and decaying society, and a corrupt political system. We are greater slaves than we ever were, of a system that refuses to change or accept...

Lost and found...

2007-08-13T15:40:00.000+04:00

While researcing for a media campaign, this is what I came across and couldn help but place it here...
I know its becoming a collection of other people's work here I promise myself originals will soon follow!!

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, “Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?” Actually, who are you not to be? Your playing small does not serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as we are meant to. We were born to make manifest the glory that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

If this not the end then what is??

2007-08-09T12:47:00.000+04:00

I just realised that my posts are too damn lovy-dovy these days... untill i came across this one forward, which is exactly how i feel..... n jus' had to b here...

Isn't it amazing that George Carlin - gross and mouthy comedian of the 70'sand 80's - could write something so very eloquent...and so very appropriate.
A wonderful Message by George Carlin:> The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings butshorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, buthave less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smallerfamilies, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense,more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, moremedicine, but less wellness.> We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little,drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read toolittle, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.> We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much,love too seldom, and hate too often.> We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to lifenot life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have troublecrossing the street to meet a new neighbour. We conquered outer space but notinner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.> We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, butnot our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplishless. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to holdmore information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less andless.> These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and smallcharacter, steep profits an d shallow relationships. These are the days of twoincomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days ofquick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands,overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill.It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in thestockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time whenyou can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...> Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going tobe around forever.> Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because thatlittle person soon will grow up and leave your side.>

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the onlytreasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.> Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but mostof all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.> Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.> Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.>

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:> Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments thattake our breath away.> If you don't send this to at least 8 people....Who cares?> George Carlin

LOVE ACTUALLY

2007-07-25T21:01:00.000+04:00

Harry Potter the final couldn't have possibly be without the
underlying theme of Christ and his resurrection! JK Rowling was
probably trying to get back in the good books of the Vatican...Just
shows her lack of originality but never the less the final saga
"Harry Potter, and the Deadly Hallows" does strike a chord. I was
wondering which one was it? Then I realised, what she makes the
underlying theme: Love...Yeah, through numerous Bollywood
films and still we cant tire from the concept of "Love" and
relationships, The "ma", the "dost", the "unfaltering lover" love
and relationship...Sans magic, Harry Potter could make a good
Bollywood movie, Yeah, I know there are takers in Hollywood
(good books, Mediocre films) but love is one thing we Indians
never tire of....So I was forced to think of the concept after reading the book and an incident occurred simultaneously I was forced to think further..
As the evening bell rang in my house, and when I opened the
door, my house hold servant entered with what looked like a huge
bush.. I was astonished first but later the horrible (and smelly
bushy branch at least five feet tall , almost my height) was
presented to my mother. As I looked on aghast, It turned out to be
some rare expensive spice. The scene was comical but my mother
seemed visibly touched. I didn't understand what was just
transpiring but it was something weird.. Later my mother told me,
that off all the people this lady worked for she seemed to
remember my mother, imagine, when the bush was being pruned
she thought of me, while she could have sold it for a good price..
She landed here and presented the gift...Reflecting on the thought
I did wonder, we were her employers, but she turned out to be the
bigger person...Reminded me of Lord of the Rings where "even
the smallest creature had the power to change".
Made me positive in a sense..Mom was not going to give her pay raises for bringing bushes home and For what ever reason she found only my mother is not hard to see. We as a matter of principle have been treating
our people with respect and love, and At the end of the day, looks
like that's all we all crave for..
So its not so hard for Potter fans to immediately associate with him because the bigger concepts are much harder to understand..Its more difficult to understand that Ambanis and their SEZ plans are more hazardous than Voldemort's plan and "for greater good" is a leaf out of Arundhati Roy's essay (my favourite) and Politicians and administrators favourite quote where some have to "pay "(experienced it on my own account, the loser side so I know)......So while bigger problems linger on, we will make do with "love" because, that's one thing which is not
hard to understand and makes for great children's books....

Why harry?

2007-07-23T12:42:00.000+04:00

Chatting with an old friend yesterday, we ended up talking about why do people like Harry Potter on the pretext of the book being so expensive. It's the fact that when we read about people with problems bigger than ourselves and elevated from the realm of reality, we find our problems smaller and our own heart breaks easier to deal with. The world seems less sinster and an easier place to like. ...Thats why fairy tales always have happy endings, as if as a matter of principles.. Thats why children never tire of hearing the same story again and again, because YOU KNOW things will be fine. The same reason we like bollywood movies (specially me, despite reprimand from all my friends and relatives). In real world you dont know whats going to happen, sometimes its ok to like things that are silly. For Harry its not magic that gets to our hearts but some thing else, more humane, more achievable, may be a little silly.. ..So that for some time we dont have to worry about our jobs, our boyfriends and their girlfriends, Voldemort is sinster enough to earn our hatred....

No body listens to us chickens…

2007-07-22T17:34:00.000+04:00

I had great expectations from India’s first women president and as Pratibha Patil occupies her position, I can’t help but mourn a great loss. No, I dint expect her to be a rocket scientist or something else but there could have been certain dignity surrounding her candidature. As I see her giving her victory poses I cant help draw parallels with the US elections at hand where the president actually does have powers. There too the question seems like their world does not need able leaders but people who “represent” something, (race, gender?).
This time around there will be “history” made in US too.. They’d either have a black President or a Female President. The real question is: would that make a difference to the world that we live in today? Would US stop the war in Iraq? Would the Trade restrictions (suppressive) be lifted on imports and implemented on exports? As for war in Iraq and numerous other nations, US and allies are non-committal. It’s precisely what Naom Chowmsky said about politicians: (not a direct quote but the gist) they go same schools, join same secret clubs, party with the same crowd and come back and join different parties, they are all essentially the same. Its just like Kyoto protocol which was ratified by neither the Bush or Clinton administration.
Essentially they are all the same so what difference do we expect from our President who actually holds no powers? Nothing! Only a little bit dignity is all we want (maybe a good PR dept may do the trick)
And we are just robbed even of that…

Our heros disappoint us...

2007-07-15T15:26:00.000+04:00

Really I guess my title is not confusing this time. It begins with Superman and He`man being nothing but breakable toys..disappointing. Then I believe its nothing but chain reaction, your dad then your mom then your favourite teacher, writers, actors, mentors.... The list becomes endless and all these people become human beings, who are we kidding? why do we still believe in people, invest our attentions, and compassions. Quite truthfully, I think its like falling in love, no matter how many times you fall flat on your face you still can't fail to believe or have faith.. Life will continue teaching us lessons, we fail to learn. I guess so much prelude is enough, there are no second choices.. As for my personal experiences, I am talking about my mentor failing me. So many times have I promised myself not to get attached to people but I did and I did fall right on my face (again..)
So here is a word of advise for any one of you headed in direction that I have been to, eg. to have so much faith that it hurts and then end up just playing a part you dont need to.. Be strong, dont give in to impulses or else you may end up really lost into a place of no return... Dont let your heroes disappoint you..

Are huzoor wah Taj kahiye!!!

2007-06-29T10:53:00.000+04:00

Did anyone else notice this "vote for Taj" non-sense or its just me?? Well to cut the long story short, do we still need foreigners to decide for us what is wonderful by their yardstick?
I remember my grandmother had told me that Shah Jahan (who built Taj) had chopped off the hands of his workmen so that they never build something so exquisite again! Another forward tells me that it was an old "acquired" Hindu Shiv Temple. I am not sure if its true or not but that's immaterial. But there may be a grain of truth in thus because foreign invaders have been ruthless, what better example than the Britishers chopping off the thumbs of muslin cloth makers, in Bengal (finest fabric even known, better than even silk)..And killing off the trade at root..
But our present concern is just the fact that we dont need to vote for Taj so that it can be seven wonders of the world. It may be a bone of contention if the gory details I have posted get verified. But they never will be because History leaves no eyewitnesses, only the foot prints of the victors. So coming back to the facts..
No matter what happens things would have an intrinsic value regardless of ones we assign them...
If you have even a pea sized brain, DONT VOTE FOR TAJ!! Because beauty would always lie in the eyes of beholder. And by making Taj, the pin up boy for an entire country, we do great injustice for the many worlds that India represents.
There are many places India should be proud of and Let Taj not be just the only one. Let every day be a Wonder. Let every one who makes us proud be a Wonder, the rains, the heat, the winters, the monsoons, the festivals, the desire to celebrate life and commemorate death and not in the least our people....
Remember Taj is nothing but tomb and will remain so. Mumtaz for whom it was built never saw it. And was not even buried in it orginally to begin with...Please Dont Vote for Taj, Our pride is not worth foreign recognition...

Drenching in the Rains!!

2007-06-28T11:51:00.000+04:00

As Pre Monsoon rains arrive in New Delhi, and you leave without an umbrella or rain coats, there are these four types of people who are seen on the streets, Specially when it starts pouring...

The first kind who start running towards their destination. Its interesting: if its any close, they would be able to reach it, but they would get wet anyways.

The second are those who find the nearest tree or bus stop and stand beneath it, waiting for the rains to stop (mostly bikers and pedestrians). Really, their destinations forgotten, chores put on still, they stand under the shelters, waiting for the rains to stop. ... Because trees don't shelter you from rains and since bus shelters are so full, They also get wet Anyways..

The third are those inside their cars : nonchalant. It would never matter if it rains or pours or snows or sun scorches the world, the temperature inside would always be 26 degrees Celsius. I wonder when these see the other three type, do they even thank their stars that they are not getting drenched.. These would never get wet no matter what...

And the final and the fourth, the ones seen walking (or biking) despite the rains, on the streets emptied because no one else is walking, its only cars and buses moving splashing water, (drenching an already wet person??) . Not because they are in a hurry to reach some place, just because when it rains and you don't have an umbrella or raincoat (or a car for that matter), You are in all probability likely to get wet Anyways...(and dry eventually..), Its best to keep walking...

A letter to would be (or may be not) President of India

2007-06-26T11:28:00.000+04:00

Dear Ms Would be (or maybe not) President,

As much as this letter to you should have come a few days ago regarding your "Purdah" controversy, I am taking the liberty to express my views now. I couldn't help but notice while looking at you on the television, you were covered from head to toe and not to mention, advising others against it may construe hypocrisy.. You have also mentioned that you'd not be "just" a rubber stamp..

The fact is all these things that you are promising the ignorant masses, that is women empowerment, purdah to be done away with etc. are not in your hands. You cant possibly bring about changes you promise with a flick of your Parker pen. And I am glad you CANT do that. No one person should have the right to decide the destiny of millions with a mere signature. In that case its a good thing that You or any one on that chair would remain nothing but a rubber stamp and it is desirable that way.

As for purdah, its not a question of why it came about, or because of whom, History has many culprits... The fact is that its there and exists. The real question is should it or not be allowed to exist? It is my firm opinion that the choice should be left to the person, and not her fathers and brothers and society. What if all i want to be is invisible, behind the purdah? Puting women in bikinies is just as oppressive as purdah, provided it is a compulsion.. The matter rests at the base with the choice, to be or not to be.. let it be my choice to be behind purdah or not.. Freedom cannot be "given " to anyone, it is the basis of one's existance and the very act of using the concept of freedom for women to win a presidential seat is ghastly!

Having said that I hope you'd stop wasting our precious time and revert back to cutting ribbons and attending school functions and annual Republic day parades, and stop making controversial speeches because if there is a question of empowerment, Rakhi Sawant and Mallika Sheravat are much better ambassadors of women empowerment than yourself.

It is henceforth a sincere appeal on my behalf that you stop embarassing us with the new drama about seeing and being blessed by a ghost yesterday. Its a country we live in where millions would be murdered just in the name of religion, and the last thing we need is a President who encourages superstitions. It should be understood that I am all for "Your " freedom to see and believe ghosts but hope you understand that as a President even your sneeze would be a media spectacle and there would be milllions of Indian girls who would aspire to be like you in future. Are we to believe then that we are raising a harvest of superstitious president "purdha free" wanna beees??

Think about it.

Definately not sincerely yours'
Deepshikha

On the heart of River Yamuna ...

2007-06-20T13:31:00.000+04:00

Today, as I went to another venue near Yamuna, upper Yamuna which was cleaner and stench free, rich with picturesque surroundings, you know, the ones that are supposed to be there! There were these huge cranes, or flamingos or what ever they might be, seemed to me just out of the Alice in the wonderland book, I couldn't help but think about miracles. I had exclaimed to my friend " Are they real?", Their stillness were unnerving and they really seemed either ceramic from the distance or as though they were meditating. My friend's response was " Yeah, I got up early in the morning, swam across to the island and placed them there!!". Funny as it was and there was a possibility of truth in his words (its a TV show, we assume anything is possible...), I know it was not true because, for one he cant swim, and second, these things did move after some time and as local youth dived into water with lithe agility, these birds who seemed to me as tall as me from where I stand, took off majestically, without a backward glance, in eloquent "v" formation. Miracles! I was not looking at them in a Zoo, there was no tag which classified their phylum and I'd probably never know what they were unless I open Salim Ali's Book (which I would not...) Actually, I just googled images and looks like they are "Flamingos".. Anyways, I just saw them where they are supposed to be... And thank god it was not Zoo...

It was strange, I remember once having asked a Christian friend, Christ could walk on water, do you think he could have swum on land? The same thought occurred to me again and also her response.. There is no need to swim on land... You can walk, was all she could say. The place was not just full of Flamingos, but also pristine white cranes, domesticated buffaloes and cows, crows and dogs, and their relationship with each other nothing but sheer magic....

Crows had dared to venture just with in my hands reach, who would just swoosh down on an unsuspecting fish, I could help notice they had individual differences too, one was infarct brown, grey and some jet black.. The cows and buffaloes floated on water with crows and cranes perched on them; A lovable stray dog was doing his best to steal the fishes crows had caught..the water was muddy clean (because of the recent rains) and the aroma of water, clean and fresh filled up my lungs far far away from the madding city crowds..We were told, we were standing on what used to be river bed once...Right on the Heart of River...

Yesterday I was not keeping well and seriously, living alone in big city can render you more lonely then ever. I could have stayed there forever! However, as I stood there today morning, I couldn't help but feel like an intruder, I know I didn't belong there, neither did that electricity tower I could see in the distance nor the chairs and table we had bought with us for the show nor could we ever give back all that we have already taken away. But the local youth, the local peasants and all (perfect swimmers )did seem like they belonged there..

Being in the heart of madness does make me wonder what are the solutions as of now and I foresee none, there is growing talks of green politics and stuff really, as much as I hate to say this.."I don't Know"...

Happy Fathers Day!!

2007-06-18T10:18:00.000+04:00

Do we need to single out one day to commemorate what our fathers have done for us?? What about the thousand times you asked your father to sing the same song and he obliged, what about the thousand times when you were out of cash and broke and there was only one person you could fall back on.. the list is endless, the warning letter for ragging, house hunting in ruthless places like New Delhi, Every single day of endless, selfless love.. Is one day enough to for centuries of traditions, nurturing and lecturing.
You dont need one day to nudge your self into saying "Happy fathers day"... We should be happy we have a father, to love, to cherish, to be shouted at... The truth is One day will never be enough, not even a life time.. Instead for a "Happy fathers day!" our fathers deserve a simple "Thankyou and I love you!" everyday everytime..

YES MISS PRESIDENT!!

2007-06-16T12:11:00.000+04:00

"India's first women president would send out a message to the world that we are committed to women's empowerment".. That's what the the ruling party UPA has to say regarding their presidential candidate. Its interesting how this entire farce is working. The best part being the President does not have any real powers anyways.. Is that what we try to project when we have a Dalit, a women and a Muslim President? Look here world we have all these people who one person represents and we are "committed" to their empowerment!

It really escapes me how politics really works... How can we have a post like that of a President who has pretty much absolutely no powers.. Are we to understand that our last president (a good man though) was to send a message to the world.. : we are committed to the Nuclear weapons and there is nothing you can do about it.. (he was the nuclear scientist if some one would remember)..

In first place, the Post of the President is nothing but a Public Relations stint, where He/She is expected to do nothing but cut ribbons, attend meetings and sign papers Parliament has already approved.. Would it not be more sensible to do away with it rather than use the colonial hangover where you need a nominal head no matter what.. Why are we still stuck with such silly, and extravagant practices and what is a Female President likely to do for women where thousands of unsung heroes, heroines and reformist are falling flat on their faces.

The last time I heard, Ex-Defense Minister Pranab Mukharjee was in race too.. What "Message" was he likely to give? "WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE DEFENCE of our country"! To defend from whom, for what? There is no Defence now. As long as the other side has the same arms and the first world has nuclear stock piles, there is nothing to do, there is no where to go and in short nothing to be "defended" from... The concept of Defence is our greatest enemy.

My first plea is do away with this Post that has no part to play in creating any equity in the society: going by the record previous Presidents could not stop emergency when it was not required, Kalam could not rationalise Office of Profit bill even when he wanted to and there are likely to be longer lists if each one of the Presidents were to be taken in account. If Parliament needs a rubber stamp, let it not be shrouded as a person who is "supposed to send out some sort of message to the world." A democracy should have no President, with any powers with out the consent of the people and if the Prime Minister is doing the same job, we Indians dont need a President.

Yamuna and me..

2007-06-13T10:28:00.000+04:00

A little prelude first, Yamuna is one of the most polluted rivers in the country and I am going to limit this post to my experience while more data is freely available on the internet.. The upper Yamuna which is a bit more cleaner because drinking water is derieved from it while as i said before lower Yamuna is nothing but a slimy drain.

While searching for the venue to hold the next forum we were looking for the most polluted parts of Yamuna, its known that their are around 15 thick canals draining effluents in the river while the effluent treatment plants are lying around doing nothing.
The most interesting thing I noticed was on the first venue which was below the bridge and obviously (we shudda known), Official secrets act was invoked where cameras are not allowed to take pictures of bridges and buildings and stuff(not going into too much detail).. To cut the long story short, show couldn be done there.

While talking to the local divers (who fish out dead bodies and other stuff and i wonder if they are ever paid...), it came to my attention that there was a small slum there which was evacuated and was now nothing but forest.. The diver told us that the politicians blamed the slum dwellers for "polluting the river" and got em evicted as soon as possible... I could beat the irony!! The river was still dirty and slum dwellers were gone some place else.. reason for another political "gandagi hatao" manifesto...

Other venues were just as bad until we did zero on the one we needed.. Some thing happened on the show (once it started) like people who had suggestions about making a dam which would help...Seriously, Missing the point again... Looks like Dams are solutions to all the problems in India ...Bijli, and Pani and polluted rivers... Of course, I don't have a say and as much as these people are concerned.. I think, there are severe issues here.

The first one is Political.. Changes in Policies, Like industrial effluent control policies.. With the entire rampant industrial growth policies (SEZ: special economic zones... ahhm ahhm more pollution for rivers.., Nuke deal, Power plants..), Rivers will be gone before we realise they are no more there..Yamuna makes me cringe.. I see how we have left no space for birds, dogs, bees and cows in these rivers.. We have weighed em down with our problems and we conveniently blame those who cannot speak for themselves, the poor, the cows, the dogs and the birds...

Its time we rethink, we dont have much time ahead of us. I dont say we discard everything we have created but put stuff on hold.. Let the environment reconcile with it self.. The first thing we have to do is Re think!!!

Yamuna is a beauty!!

2007-06-10T15:54:00.000+04:00

There is so much rant about the Yamuna being the most polluted river in the country and loads more. Today I got to go for a Forum where the anchor interviews an expert panel and also people to react to this atrocity. Of course Yamuna, which has given life to cities like Delhi and Agra for Aeon's is now nothing but a black drain.

I felt the panel was missing the point when they kept talking about cows bathing in Yamuna and stuff. On the contrary I was at the outdoor venue by 8 in the morning near a vegetable patch and a small mound where Forum would be put... There was this one small tree where the arrangements where made.. As I stood on the mound in cool early morning breeze, I had become quite used to the pungent sulfide smell (or rotten egg smell Yamuna now emanates).. Eye sight can be so deceptive.. below the mound there was a small vegetable patch.. Lush green in summer heat and beyond was a dying river and as I saw water buffaloes with just their horns out, I couldnt help it, " It was beautiful!" . I shared this thought with the friend who'd come with me.. He obviously grunted his disapproval, not very happy with the prospect of a shoot where you get up at six and be at venue by 8, which was so smelly that your nose may burn from pinching it...to top the effect some lunatic telling ya its beautiful.

I sincerly feel cows should be allowed to bathe in the river, people should be allowed to pray and offer their rituals, there is only one thing ruining the river and that is industrial pollution..

Delhi, Gaziabad etc have more industries than a few smaller states combined.. to top it up people flush their toilets with water cleaned and treated, derieved from the homes of so many displaced, with sewage lines directly slushing into this already dying river which has brone the burden of an ancient civillization and a modern industrial revolution, furthered by the the ideology of ten percent growth.

But who cares what I feel.. The picture of this would be with me for some more days and I cant help it, I still find her beautiful and will remember her fondly..I find it much better than being caged in panels of glass and steel and trapped in AC building shutting out the real world and then complaining about the heat, for which Air conditioners are directly responsible.. Welcome to New Delhi, This is how things are out here. A typical example of a pyramid where environment and socially and economically backwards subsidise the life style for the rich..

Do i care?

2007-05-24T12:00:00.000+04:00

Its interesting to write your final exams and realise that you are plunged into a whirlpool of activities making the entire freedom of choice a farce concept. Right now interning with the best Hindi news channel, there is only one thing i can figure.. its absolute chaos and a lot of hard work.

How ever, i do like what i see around here, first one being able to learn what no text book can teach you, making real life so much different from cafes and college debates.

I have also realised another thing, How dominent is the dominent paradigm...well that should be for another day..For now i am just coming out of my prejudices and i just hope things work out for better.

Lastly, i have also realised how Gandhi is misunderstood in the modern society, having read hind swaraj quite recently. India is deffering steeply from the path he envisioned also, i see it in the organisation i work with and i think every thing he said would happen, if followed this approach would happen, its in front of our eyes.

There is a great need to realise that we read him, even if you want to disagree with him, read him..

I know the title is confusing, but its a story, the first question my first boss asked me was who is the third president of India, and i dont know what made me say it but i said i dont care, and with a good reason.. As the mud slinging contest on the new President unfurls, I really wish no one cared about the President, we started with a President who was an acedmecian and have ended with a nuclear scientist, As the race gets murkier, with what ever out come, I sincerly believe no one would care about the President except political parties that too for their own end...I hope people would find better things to care for...

Strange Democracies....

2007-04-19T13:55:00.000+04:00

The mass shoot out in the USA University made headlines world over. Fair enough! There were not just Americans who died there, there were also two Indians there. As I mourn for all who died, I mourn for the one who killed them. ...

What went wrong with him? If he had taken the therapy would he not be cured by now? Is that not why they let him out, let him live with six others who might as well have been dropped dead by him? Wait a minute.... there is one answer, he did not kill these people with his bare fist in a fit of fury!! He had A GUN... Its true modern science cant cure every one as I read dominant media reports about how sick this person was, I understand everyone cant get well... However, he had with him one advantage, had he been a normal psycho, he would be able to kill one person at the max, but again HE HAD A GUN, who the hell is putting guns in the hands of 23 year olds?

Why is this point being missed out totally? Why is control not being discussed in the American parliament? Its very simple: THEY DONT WANT TO..THEY DONT CARE....Not even after Columbine, not after America ranking highest in gunshot deaths..Any one who has seen the documentary, " Bowling with the Columbine" may be able to understand wee little bit.. And then they are cheeky enough to get soppy in media and blame video games..

Along with this there are other news stories doing rounds, the killings in Baghdad (its in Iraq), and nuclear enrichment program in Iran..

One true democracy rises out of this....The Gun..

Its Blind: It doesnt care that the person who holds it is American in Iraq, or Tamil Tiger in Sri Lanka, or a Student is some small town in sub-urbia, It also kills indiscriminately...Doesnt care whether Indian or American, black or white, Hindu or Muslim...

We are building the foundations of modern societies on the basis of weapons of mass destructions, making one person capable of killling many. The only first step of World peace is complete disarmament.. I know of people who would argue otherwise. They'd say even if guns will not be there, there would be people like Cho..I agree, only difference is that, such people will not be able to kill 32 people in a go.. True, we dont have all the answers, but we are searching for them in the wrong place...

I am glad for one thing in India.. We dont have the "Right to carry arms.." NO ONE SHOULD..

Clouds Clear..

2007-04-10T16:45:00.000+04:00

Past two weeks were as interesting as they could get..My tv production team did in our dept what had not been done in 20 years of our teacher's service.. This is exactly what he told us when he was firing us for bringing camera late from schedule.. A little prelude..
We decided to make a documentary on handloom weaving industry in Kerela (a friend's idea). We were to return the dept camera in one day because its the only one used for outdoor shoots and then our friend got sick. We were delayed and everyone hated us but all was resolved.. For the interview we found a very senior officer who was ready to speak to us but surprise surprise when we came around he was already attending his retirement party.. Our panelist backed out on us on last moment, and last moment means time was 3.00 pm, and he backed at 3.00 pm, the other dean of commerce was already here, so in last moment we had to find an expert who could speak. Commerce dept HOD was helpful and convinced Economics dept HOD to comply. When we reached the studio, the current went off and we have no generator. Within a jiffy we set everything in the lawns. AHHM..its not over, the studio camera costs more than five lakh rupees and is not supposed to even be touched. We actually commited a crime by taking it to lawn. Chairman again fired us. He said we had guts that we pull stuff like this. We told him thats the only thing that could be done. Once pacified, he was appriciative of good decision making. So they say, alls well that ends well....

Who pays for my fan?

2007-03-17T12:29:00.000+04:00

Considering how my head is going tizzy so often these days (as stepping out of cocoon comes closer), I was forced to read an article that ensured I should not sleep for days.. GREATER COMMON GOOD <http://www.narmada.org/gcg/gcg.html> ..ofcourse, the title is a satire.. what were you thinking? Looks like nothing is going to happen anytime soon to pacify my confusion..
As I said, this article has made me think twice about complaining when there is no electricity.

"Dams are the temples of Modern India."

-Jawahar Lal Nehru, Former Indian PM and hailed as architect of "Modern India".

He is lucky we dont bury our dead according to Hindu customs, where he was likely to turn in his grave if he read it.

Normally, I ask a lot of questions in the class and am reprimanded by my classmates not to ask so they can be free. Thats why I refrained yesterday. We were to read this article and comment on it. Ofcourse, each of 24 journalism student emerged an expert, they all had comments to offer, some evaluated the writing style others put their ideas forward. As I was confused totally after reading it, (I understood it and that fueled more confusion..), normally outspoken, I spoke a line and kept shut.

What was to follow, was a confession by my teacher, a displacement victim himself, and a shock to the rest of us. It never occured to me that this problem of evacuation or of displacement would strike so closer home to me. For some reason Narmada problem has become the food for media, there are reports (never read sometimes) and this article was published in 1999, I was in 9th class, I was more bothered when current was out than who is being thrown out for bringing this current in.

Old habits die hard, I still complain when electricity is out.It all seemed so distant. But all this is irrelevent. And truth be told I did'nt care. Even so, when I started reading it I was angry, every cell in my brain screamed, putting forth the prejudiced arguement of developemental requirements I grew up with. At the end I was even more jarred, I saw no solution. The article effectively puts forth a point, but what is the solution?

I decided I would seek council from my teacher fully aware his views were likely to be biased. And biased they were, why should they not be? The fan in the class room runs because the village people like him played in are submerged, the river which is source of life, drowns every thing that people own and by displacing a community, you throw away a culture, an existance, for people like this, entire life. I would be biased too, if my house was purposefully drowned and my family made a pauper, sister dropping out of school and father to coolie, imagining same story for millions of people...

....I understood, I tell him, but what is the solution?

"Change cannot be brought in a day or two, you cannot stop using fan and expect it to make a difference", he said. The change has to come at policy levels, the change will take time and effort, and change is struggle.. Struggle it is, and if you have read this piece till here, care enough to read " Greater common good", its long, its boring and makes a full text book for some enviromental journalism courses, but its worth the effort because it can make one think and consider this, Indians dont have the money to buy the food they produce themselves while Centre exports food grains..

Long live democracy!
As for me confusion continues..

India Wins Freedom?

2007-03-15T11:27:00.000+04:00

Living in 21st century India, I was under an extremely misguided picture of this country just as all of the others like me out there.. Partly my parents can be conveniently blamed for not educating me enough, I did not know of the caste issues, or discriminating against women, or north-south divide(oh come over it, it exists!!), rural urban divide, political marginalisation etc etc..and am still quite ignorant had it not been the ongoing scandal in the university. Also, as i complete my post graduate course, i don't feel scholarly at all!! I know for sure now that I know nothing. There is land grabbing campaign by the government the very sentry of our democracy, the police is murdering and raping and the rural India is still stuck with traditional evils. Closer home, university students in girl's hostel are penalised just for speaking up, talk of great democracies. From the very threshold you are being told "shut up and tolerate non-sense! or else be persecuted!!". I am confused. As I would be collecting my convocation certificate, I want to ask the University people what have I been taught? I know a lot, about the universal human rights, constitution and yada yada... and yet Why am I confused? I am a self proclaimed materialist and yet why do I feel ashamed of wanting to wrap corporate shit in tin foil. Is it the media hollering over non-issues or is it the very act of decidedly putting you in a box from the day you are born..as I said I am confused and so should be every one under the roof.. If you have one that is, instead of making every one believe all is great and fine with the world ..

Of racism and bias

2007-01-23T15:15:00.000+04:00

I wonder how the dust kicked up for racist discrimination of Actress Shilpa Shetty accounts for the rest of the common world suffering it every day.

One of our own professors had recounted tales of racism he himself had recounted in the course of his foreign travels.

The people immigrate to greener shores because the land they are living in is not giving them enough. Even for the case of Shilpa Shetty, why would she do a degrading show abroad when she’d still have her hands full back home.

The bitter truth is simple, even though Indians call themselves a Diaspora, without actually understanding the meaning. Diaspora usually referred the Jews who had been evicted from their land for centuries. Indians have never been evicted nor have they taken off for the fear of persecution, only for better prospects and better standers of living these places provide than here. So then why complain? Either stand up for what you believe is your right, and as far as I know no place discriminates as a matter of law.

I don’t know much about the world but I know for sure, that the most racist are likely to be Indians themselves. When Shilpa’s fellow contestants commented that she wanted to be white that’s why she bleached her face, honestly they were right, she did want to be fairer, then who is more racist? What about the millions of fairness creams creating fear psychosis for increase in their sale. How can an international product like L’Oreal dare to sell a skin whiting cream and have former Miss world, Aishwarya Rai endorse it. There is nothing that’s not racist here, how many times did you get to hear that you don’t look like your family because you are much darker and hence must be adopted. Well I did. And I am not adopted just that my skin is 100 shades darker than the rest of my family. I don’t care what they say but I decided early that I am not going to give business to L’Oreal or any other corporate organization that plays on fears created in society.

How many times did you come across printed ads stating the desirable girl to be wedded to be fair and how many times did you stare shamelessly when an African tourist landed on your bus. Colonial rule is over but the dung that they filled in our brains are here still. And racism is just the tip of the iceberg, racism exists even when you can see it or choose not to see and only way to come around is stand up for your self, or else no one will. What about the entire concept of freedom? Which is still largely lost on the society..yeah that’s another story for another day…

for now, those who make a choice to leave their homeland for the comforts of the foreign land must bear in mind that they have package to deal with and if ever perpetuated STAND UP for your self and deal with it before you make it an international issue.

Who does GURU falter?

2007-01-22T13:59:00.000+04:00

I know! The title is confusing but the movie is not..Even though Guru chronicles the ethos of Capitalism blatently, its strikes a chord. The desire to dream, to make it big and the dare to say " The word 'no' is not in my vocabulary.", Guru has it all but for one flaw, if the doors are'nt open to him, he'd kick em down.
The movie starts with haunting AR Rehman's music and why it has been given four stars by some paper called New York times and how it benifits my knowledge escapes me. The interesting part of the movies is the disclaimer that it does not portary real people while Guru's life resembles uncannily to the Great baron Dhiru (names sound similar to) and there are parsis whose hundred years of business is threatened by Guru's fast track spint (did I hear the murmur Tatas any one?) And the word no is not in his dictionary..well..So, the protagonist would do anything to make his dream come true, starting with taking dowry so that he can raise capital for the “bigness” he wants to start in the city. The defect is obvious. Even so the man has a heart of gold, he is everything that’s actually wrong with the society. There should be no justifications, no reason to perpetuate evils like dowry and bribery and if Mani Ratnam is trying to project the man against system, which is inherently wrong, dog, eat dog world, there should be different ways. In short, despite the makings of a good entertaining piece and beautiful music, the concept of Guru is flawed. There is no need for the greed to be so big that you swallow the whole world in a single gulp and his antagonist Shyam Sasena is not antagonistic enough, he is quick to say “ Guru is every thing that is wrong in the society” but can hardly put him behind the bars where he belongs. Abhishekh Bachchan is amicable and so is his real life fiance and wife in the movie Aishwarya but.... Guru fails..., every one, the concept of egalitarian society, environment conservation and much more.
The unequivocal spirit of Guru can be appreciated, his philosophies cannot.

Is female foeticide really murder?

2006-12-20T16:12:00.000+04:00

Two incidents have cumulated in this write up. One is the mention of international attention the issue of female foeticide is getting according to an aquaintance and second the rally organised by my father and his unit for the same cause. The second one had a deeper impact because I was quite against the hungama being created for the issue. I have various reasons for that.
In first place, a foetus is a foetus and not a person so its not a "murder" and applies just as much to all the foetuses. Abortion is a legal procedure and in truth a feminist right. The law forbids sex predetermination on the basis of which the female foetuses a not allowed to be "murdered"(and i have deep regard for that) with all the parties liable including doctors or the abortionists.. However, imagine the despration of a couple who would go to the extreames of finding a doctor to do this test and then paying an astronomical sum just so they are not stuck with a girl child.

Any child born to such a family just because of legal pressures is bound to be abused and harassed. The law can ensure female children to be born but they can't force their families to love them and not reduce them to mere house hold servants. It is here I disagree with the statenment made by Renuka Chawdhary, (Minister of family welfare). She had mentioned how women should be empowered. You cant "give" freedom and empowerment to people. Female foeticide is just the result of scientific technology that exists, before people simply murdered the female infant, probably still do.. Its an ancient patriachal setup that we are fighting against, an extention of culture and tradition we are so hell bent on preserving. To prevent female foeticide and for parents not WANTING to commit female foeticide, its important to change the mindset of people. Running rallies once a year and making legislations is not enough.

In the state of Haryana, sex ratio is as low as 500 to 1000 boys and the average is 700 to 1000(citations needed). When I walk by, here on the streeets I see a nursing home or hospital in ramshackly premises and I cant help but wonder how many are involved in this barbaric process. Female foeticide is the tip of feminine problems in this country, Just letting a girl child be born is not enough from government side, she needs protection from abuse, harrassment, and deserves education and empowerment which the state is yet to ensure at grassroot levels. Girls need not just be born, they need both love and respect. Its our duty to ensure that!

I rant therefore i am!

2006-12-16T14:09:00.000+04:00

This is a rant from Mumbai airport. First things first..hearing Hindi atlast!! Its actually wierd that i can UNDERSTAND what people around me are talking about..like the kid in front of me in the que wanted to know his weight just as the luggage..no one obliged him ofcourse and he decided not to throw a tantrum..well,he should have, who cares..he must have weighed like 5 kgs..it wont break the machine for gods sake!! The guy in sify cafe is busy getting his AC rack upgraded, and the workman refuses to understand his concept, i want to help but i dont care...
The airline stewarts are hot! Why the hell is Sharukh Khan earning one crore when people can just fly and have these hotties serve you? Indian models have quite a competetion here:)
When Jerry Seinfeld said humans are not meant to fly he knew what he was talking about... Well i dont have the take off and landing anxieties, its just plain annoying and monotonous, starting from the begining, when you take off the houses become smaller and smaller under they are just dots, i got an east side window so all I saw was land and for some great reason I always get a window seat near the wing which reduces the angle of veiw of earth to 30'... and full view of sky which is not so interesting.
Coming back to the dots...is that how it must look from heavens? Probably we can excuse gods for because ignorance can be pleaded as a defense...They just dont know whats going on down here..sorry people of Iraq! I saw a fire(some where in mumbai, from "up there" which must be huge and should be in tomorrows papers) it just looked like a bon fire..
Then whats with the Air Staff bothering you with stupid announcements, I just wanted to catch up on a few readings..I have been reading a lot for exams but not my taste exactly.. just as i get engrossed a lady hands me snacks with like 10000 calories, this way i will never get out of my fat body i just want to read and when i doz off, it comes to be the time to land... And the slums near Mumbai airport!! What an irony people living in tin houses with tarpauline roofs against people who have so much money that they decide to defy laws of gravity.( I am not one of them, i fly courtsy Indian government who compensates measly pay though strange ways)....to be continued........

Doomed With Dhoom 2!!

2006-12-07T12:52:00.000+04:00

Even as Dhoom 2 was decidedly released before the commencement of final exams, I couldn’t stay away from it.. So we( a few friends and I) decided to catch the flick and why not! It has the casting coup of the century.. most considered K3G as so, since there was SRK and AB, well.. You are as wrong as you can get..

Coming back to Dhoom 2 and yeah, the casting coup.. Three most beautiful people in the world Aish, Hritik and AB junior and the classy African deserts and Latin American beaches and no need for using much of your brains, what else could one ask from a movie? Seemingly Bipasha and Uday were there too, but they didn’t have much to do and how can they in the presence of AB Jr and Hritik every one dwarfs down. No pun intended! The movie was like a good junk food, it tastes great, and is particularly no good other wise, but who cares, it did taste great….
Hritik as the honest thief, who pulls up unbelievable “Bondish” Hollywood style heists and AB jr close at his heels with Aish as his spy in Hritik camp..Hmmm, who will catch whom, who will get away and who does the pretty lady Aish decide to take sides with? That’s pretty much it, and yes a lot of bikes and skateboards and choppers and trains…
Its amazing that Indian blockbuster cinema comes of age, Don was disappointing, I actually dared to sleep half way through even with the noise..err music. No.. nothing much Indian about it, except the fact that it made in Hindi.. Dhoom 2 is representative of what Indian youth are suffering with, a huge western influx and well, rootlessness that can't be defined.
So the movie is great, the threads are tied well together and it is Bollywood to hilt be cause..ahmm cant’ tell, must watch the ending for yourself and you’ll know and yeah you must watch it before Censor Board can get the scissors ready and go chop chop..

Populated we are..

2006-11-13T14:30:00.000+04:00

This is another radom place from the city i live in that is
Mangalore.. I honestly dont know whats it called.. and its just a simple example of out 324 people per square kilometer population. Really, I dont understand how people can live one person or two persons in one km.. it would be quite motonous and boring.

Honest suspicions...

2006-11-13T14:24:00.000+04:00

A women eyes Robert suspicously as we decided to venture out in the infamous Mangalore riots "curfew relaxation" time.

Road to No Where...

2006-11-13T14:20:00.000+04:00

The GRAND road to the Alma matter:) we dont know where we came from or where we are going..

Right to compete....

2006-11-13T14:10:00.000+04:00

Medicos in Mysore in a silent rally ( in media absence...) against reservation in higher elite institutions of learning. The only demand they have is a fair enterance exam with out divisions on the basis of castes or classes..

Out of a holiday post card.......

2006-11-13T14:07:00.000+04:00

Freedom Curfewed!

2006-11-05T13:43:00.000+04:00

This is a common sentiment we all felt when Mangalore was "bandh" and we were shut down inside our homes.
Ever wondered how does it feel like when your own living quarters become prison? Welcome to A Curfewed city! For five days we were not allowed to go out side the hostel and for five days we suffered. The food supply started dwindling and for those of us who love outdoors than insides, claustrophobia set in. The walls seemed to shrink and we ran out of gossip and humor as there was'nt even the scope to look out. Now all is normal but for those of us not communally sensitive its time we realise there are issues bigger than us on the horizan that need immidiate focus. We cant cant live on like this and we cant take even a basic fundamental simplistic entity as freedom for granted!

It rings a point..A martyr story

2006-11-03T12:54:00.000+04:00

2006-11-02T14:29:00.000+04:00

Another sunset...

Change

2006-11-02T14:25:00.000+04:00

Receding monsoon and your campus....

An evening in Mangalore University

The song of Yaakshis...

2006-11-02T13:05:00.000+04:00

YAKSHAGANA-the song of Demi Gods.. Yakshagana is mainly assumed to be inspired by the Kathakali dance form of the Indian State of Kerala. There are two types on Yakshagana, Tenkutiitu and Badagn tittu. To an untrained eye the difference may only be minute. While Tenkutittu is a fast paced, high pitched performane, Badagntittu is more sutle and less emphatic, and both of them carry enigmatic beauty assciated with theatre and ballad.
The performance by the Mangalore University Students, is known as " Sudershanvijjaya" - victory of Sudershan..

The act opens with Laxmi, the goddess of weath praising her husband, Sri Hari for all the great deeds he has done on earth.

He is the vanquisher of all the evil, he is humble and kind and he is preserver of rightous and good (not to miss the coke bottle by his side).

This infurietes the Lord's weapon, Sudershan. Sudershan believes that the Great God Sri Hari cannot be any thing with out his support or help. It was he, Sudershan, who killed the evil demons.
Laxmi gets agitated at this remark but the Lord calms her down and patronises Sudarshan' s pride.

Meanwhile, the Heaven is attacked by the Demon king, Shatrupasudana.

The demi-gods wage a brave battle but lose because Shatrupasudana is blessed with a boon. He can only be killed with a weapon that can take human form. Thus, the gods approach Great Lord Sri Hari and request him to vanquish Shatruprasudana, Lord obliges but not without Sudarshan. With the help of Sudarshan, Sri Hari slays Shatrupasudana, but this elevates the pride in Sudarshan and pride comes only before fall.

When Sudarshan crosses his limits, Lord's wrath falls upon him and he is cursed to be reborn as Human on the earth, this makes Sudershan realise that nothing is above the God and he pleads for forgivness. Alas! whats done cannot be undone. The irony remains in the title "Sudarshanvijjaya"....

Talents day..

2006-11-02T12:56:00.000+04:00

Razz matazz and Mangalore University

The Mangolore University talant hunt, the home to all the future national artists was celebrated with full dhooom on the campus..check out the pictures and also the details about what you did'nt attend...Yakshagana..

The event of course was marked by the usual foramlities: prayer, speech and what the slouch could not mar was student enthusiasm...

This was followed by Yakshagana in the evening...

Nature and Myth...

2006-10-26T08:45:00.000+04:00

Dobare elephant camps, Madekeri is an effort to help lost elephant calfs by the Forest Department, Karnataka. Elephants are known to live in herds and time and again one stray or the other is found loitering about. These young ones may or may not survive, given the adverse living conditions and ever encroaching human population. Dobare is the place they are bought to and trained so that they can survive.

The environment provided is as natural as it can get. The calmness and serenity of the place is hard to miss and as time stands still, reflecting on the merits of such a place is hard to question. For example the elephants are chained and kept in shackles at all times except for the time of bathing. They are also made to give rides to tourists who come along.

When asked the same question, one of the officials said that this is actuallly humane as the elephants treated like children.

"If they ere not bought here, there are chances that they may die in the wild and we dont want that to happen do we?" came the simplistic reply. The question still remained if keeping in shackles and making them give rides become humane?

Well the official still said " They are alive arent they, they should be greatful for that.."

2006-10-26T08:41:00.000+04:00

When stars descend on earth....

Vrindavan gardens

Mysore

Karnataka

2006-10-26T08:36:00.000+04:00

KRS dam, Mysore

Karnataka

2006-10-24T00:04:00.000+04:00

Beyond the sunny skies....

Surathkal beach, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
Photograph: Aditi Gudipati