Its 8:30 pm and I m still sitting in office. Just don’t feel like going back today. Its been a while since I wrote about myself and my blog is looking more like the editorial page of “THE HINDU” specially two articles out of last three…So now the next two articles about the second and third pillar of democracy will have to wait for some more time and in the meantime I will recollect my composure. Life is a bit hazy (am not getting the correct word..God..Improve my English!!) these days..and I don’t even know the reason. This has always been a problem with me throughout my 23 summers on this earth. Sometimes I feel very dull..pretty low, without any reason to support that sudden dip in altitude!! It happens once in two months…So, as you can see the frequency of this phenomena is pretty less , so I m managing it nicely… Now forget about this crap…
Saw two movies last week in a span of three days…. VEER ZAARA and MUGHAL-E-AZAM…Liked the first one, although ,I personally feel that somewhere it lacked the punch and it wasn’t looking like a Yash Chopra product…probably that happens when u have lot of expectations…Anyways, it was a nice movie to watch…but I fell completely in love with Mughal-e-Azam…specially with the flawless beauty of Madhubala and the screen presence of Prithvi Raj Kapoor. Just hear him delivering his dialogues and u will go crazy.
Although the dialogues were too long and sometimes it was difficult to interpret them , still they were the soul of the movie along with (ofcourse) PRK.Three of madhubala’s dialogues that are still fresh in my mind:-
Madhubala to Dilip Kumar: “ Kaanton ko murjhane ka khauff nahi hota”!!
Madhubala to Dilip Kumar “ In aankhon se inke khawaab na cheeniye shenshah”
And this one takes the cake..
Madhubala to PRK “ Sahib-e-ala ki zindagi ke liye Zill-e-ilahi ko is kaneez ka khoon maaf hoga”
Appeared for CAT on 21st Nov and even I don’t have the faintest of idea that why the hell I filled CAT form!! Literally destroyed the paper (phod daala)…so now I m expecting calls from IIM-chinchpokli and IIM-Jhumritalaiya….In case, I convert any of those, will join the former as it falls in Mumbai..!!
A sensational news is doing rounds on all the news channels these days and all TV channels are trying to stuff as much as they can in their 24 hours (although some are still managing to show programs (read B grade stuff) like JURM , KAATIL KAUN and CRIME REPORTER!!) The rift between Ambani brothers. Now this is what your ego and hunger for power can do to u. I mean, leave apart a royal life, what the hell in this world are they lacking?? Probably to be at the helm of the most admired business house in India is not suffice. I can write an entire article on this issue but am not in that mood and also there is no need either as all the weekly magazines are filled with articles on this issue only!!
Chalo…am closing here…more later…
PS: wearing washed clothes these days as I have just returned from my home and everything is ARIEL washed!!
Monday, November 29, 2004
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
First pillar of Democracy --- Parliament
I have started reading a new book. No no , I haven’t finished Jack Welch as yet. But I have started this one also. It is “ No full stops in India” by Mark Tully. I have just finished few pages and came across a thought proving line.
“ Democracy has failed in India because leaders have RULED over people and not REPRESENTED them”
Now the obvious question that arises from this statement is “ Has democracy really failed in India?” There can be zillion answers in support of this question and also against it. And although it will be a little overstatement to say this but Yes, I believe democracy has failed in India. It has failed to live up to the expectations with which India decided to become a democratic nation. Probably it failed to bear the burden of 100 crores!! And probably the creators of our constitution failed to visualize this growth from 30 crores to 100 crores in a span of 50 years . As a result, democracy in India is crumbling under its own weight.
Reason?? First and the foremost is, India failed to produce LEADERS…it produced only POLITICIANS. The only worry for them is not how to make India better but how to win next elections. I was reading a piece of stats few days back which indicated that there were 130 odd parliamentary sittings every year for the first two decades which has now reduced to 50+ sittings and we all know what they do while sitting there. The actual time spent in fruitful discussions, logical debates and making policies is even less. That’s because most of the time we hear only about disruptions, adjournments and walkouts. Who’s bothered about eradicating poverty, educating masses and providing health facilities?
Another aspect that I can think of, about democracy, keeping in view India only, is the provision of ADULT FRANCHISE. One who has attained 18 years of age is eligible to vote, his educational credentials not withstanding. This practice has gone with absolute smoothness in the west where basic education is not an issue but copying them here is costing us dearly and will cause more damage in the years to come. In the west, more or less, everybody is educated. In India approximately half of the population is still illiterate. It means they are not even literate forget about educated. In India, a literate is a person who can write his/her name and read it. So, this way, constitution has given the opportunity to a person, who barely knows how to write his name, to choose his representative and who in turn will take the decisions, make laws and regulate policies. And in this way a person who is spending his entire earnings of the day (labour class) boozing and beating his wife in the night, is selecting representatives to run this country. No wonder, politics is full of Phoolan Devis and Arun Gawlis these days…
The practice of electing representatives (read rulers) that started way back in 1952 is still continuing and going strong. We have elections for everything now..Parliamentary elections, State assembly elections, Panchayats elections even elections for Municipal councils and wards. And the issues on which these elections are fought and won are (surprisingly enough) still the same and most of the people in our country are still waiting for Food, shelter, clothing, electricity, water , roads, health facilities and education!!!
People are still dying of hunger (in Orissa and Chhhatisgarh) although we became self sufficient in food grains long back. A sizeable population is still managing without shelter and proper clothing. There is no electricity at all at least in 25% of India, roads are not visible as they are made only on paper and I don’t even want to comment on health facilities and education. So in short, democracy has given us this beautiful drama of elections.
Now the question is what point I m trying to drive home?
The need of the hour is a total revamp of the laws to select the representatives who are one of the three pillars of democracy. Otherwise, the cracks which are easily visible on this first pillar of democracy will soon widen enough to break it altogether. We need to analyze closely the need as well as the effectiveness (keeping in view ground realities of India) of the rules and laws to select the representatives, laid down by the makers of constitution long back. There must be minimum educational qualification for both the candidates as well as for the voters (This is very essential). Somehow, they must be made more accountable to public whom they are representing and a strict vigil is needed on the money spent on various public welfare schemes which never see the Day light. After all that money is coming from the pocket of the exchequer.
And for all this to happen, strong political will is required which I am not seeing in the next 20 years!!! Am I advocating dictatorship??? ;-)
“ Democracy has failed in India because leaders have RULED over people and not REPRESENTED them”
Now the obvious question that arises from this statement is “ Has democracy really failed in India?” There can be zillion answers in support of this question and also against it. And although it will be a little overstatement to say this but Yes, I believe democracy has failed in India. It has failed to live up to the expectations with which India decided to become a democratic nation. Probably it failed to bear the burden of 100 crores!! And probably the creators of our constitution failed to visualize this growth from 30 crores to 100 crores in a span of 50 years . As a result, democracy in India is crumbling under its own weight.
Reason?? First and the foremost is, India failed to produce LEADERS…it produced only POLITICIANS. The only worry for them is not how to make India better but how to win next elections. I was reading a piece of stats few days back which indicated that there were 130 odd parliamentary sittings every year for the first two decades which has now reduced to 50+ sittings and we all know what they do while sitting there. The actual time spent in fruitful discussions, logical debates and making policies is even less. That’s because most of the time we hear only about disruptions, adjournments and walkouts. Who’s bothered about eradicating poverty, educating masses and providing health facilities?
Another aspect that I can think of, about democracy, keeping in view India only, is the provision of ADULT FRANCHISE. One who has attained 18 years of age is eligible to vote, his educational credentials not withstanding. This practice has gone with absolute smoothness in the west where basic education is not an issue but copying them here is costing us dearly and will cause more damage in the years to come. In the west, more or less, everybody is educated. In India approximately half of the population is still illiterate. It means they are not even literate forget about educated. In India, a literate is a person who can write his/her name and read it. So, this way, constitution has given the opportunity to a person, who barely knows how to write his name, to choose his representative and who in turn will take the decisions, make laws and regulate policies. And in this way a person who is spending his entire earnings of the day (labour class) boozing and beating his wife in the night, is selecting representatives to run this country. No wonder, politics is full of Phoolan Devis and Arun Gawlis these days…
The practice of electing representatives (read rulers) that started way back in 1952 is still continuing and going strong. We have elections for everything now..Parliamentary elections, State assembly elections, Panchayats elections even elections for Municipal councils and wards. And the issues on which these elections are fought and won are (surprisingly enough) still the same and most of the people in our country are still waiting for Food, shelter, clothing, electricity, water , roads, health facilities and education!!!
People are still dying of hunger (in Orissa and Chhhatisgarh) although we became self sufficient in food grains long back. A sizeable population is still managing without shelter and proper clothing. There is no electricity at all at least in 25% of India, roads are not visible as they are made only on paper and I don’t even want to comment on health facilities and education. So in short, democracy has given us this beautiful drama of elections.
Now the question is what point I m trying to drive home?
The need of the hour is a total revamp of the laws to select the representatives who are one of the three pillars of democracy. Otherwise, the cracks which are easily visible on this first pillar of democracy will soon widen enough to break it altogether. We need to analyze closely the need as well as the effectiveness (keeping in view ground realities of India) of the rules and laws to select the representatives, laid down by the makers of constitution long back. There must be minimum educational qualification for both the candidates as well as for the voters (This is very essential). Somehow, they must be made more accountable to public whom they are representing and a strict vigil is needed on the money spent on various public welfare schemes which never see the Day light. After all that money is coming from the pocket of the exchequer.
And for all this to happen, strong political will is required which I am not seeing in the next 20 years!!! Am I advocating dictatorship??? ;-)
Wednesday, November 03, 2004
Popcorn Khao Aur So Jao...
Not much to write..but one of my friend insisted on a new post..so I decided to write something and while I m writing these lines I really have no idea what I m gonna write.
Saw “Vaastushashtra” three days back. Movie was OK but not too much scary...Still it was OK….I mean what else do u want from a horror movie, that too for an Indian audience. After all u cannot ask the director to make a movie which will take u r heart out from u r mouth!! I have got friend ( female obviously!!) who is afraid to go to the kitchen alone after watching the movie and is seeing “Manish” and “Jyoti” at all places in her flat!! RGV passed with flying colours if we take the case of my dear friend as the benchmark for horror!!
Forgot to write about a movie which I tried to watch a few days earlier. I brought a CD of movie “Popcorn Khao Mast Ho Jao”. I was brave enough to fight with the torture for full 25 minutes. Then fainted. I mean making a movie is OK but how somebody can come up with such a masterpiece after spending 6-7 Crores!!!
Have got a new book now. Autobiography of Jack welsh “Straight from the gut”. Haven’t started it yet. Probably I will finish it during my journey to my hometown..which is scheduled on 10th of Nov and ticket status is still Waiting-13!!(Pray for me..)
On the guitar front, Yeah I m playing strings far better than before and rhythm is also coming good..( This is strictly my perception and cannot be subjected for jurisdiction to any court in india.!!)
Rest all is as as monotonous as it could be…It will be a welcome break for full 10 days when I m leaving for my hometown…Hope to come up with something interesting then..
Byee…
PS: Got this beautiful quote from "Abby"..
"LIMIT IS IN THE MIND. SKY IS JUST AN EXCUSE!!"
Saw “Vaastushashtra” three days back. Movie was OK but not too much scary...Still it was OK….I mean what else do u want from a horror movie, that too for an Indian audience. After all u cannot ask the director to make a movie which will take u r heart out from u r mouth!! I have got friend ( female obviously!!) who is afraid to go to the kitchen alone after watching the movie and is seeing “Manish” and “Jyoti” at all places in her flat!! RGV passed with flying colours if we take the case of my dear friend as the benchmark for horror!!
Forgot to write about a movie which I tried to watch a few days earlier. I brought a CD of movie “Popcorn Khao Mast Ho Jao”. I was brave enough to fight with the torture for full 25 minutes. Then fainted. I mean making a movie is OK but how somebody can come up with such a masterpiece after spending 6-7 Crores!!!
Have got a new book now. Autobiography of Jack welsh “Straight from the gut”. Haven’t started it yet. Probably I will finish it during my journey to my hometown..which is scheduled on 10th of Nov and ticket status is still Waiting-13!!(Pray for me..)
On the guitar front, Yeah I m playing strings far better than before and rhythm is also coming good..( This is strictly my perception and cannot be subjected for jurisdiction to any court in india.!!)
Rest all is as as monotonous as it could be…It will be a welcome break for full 10 days when I m leaving for my hometown…Hope to come up with something interesting then..
Byee…
PS: Got this beautiful quote from "Abby"..
"LIMIT IS IN THE MIND. SKY IS JUST AN EXCUSE!!"
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