No rules for the rule makers???

Since the date election has been announced, all the television channels, news papers are filled with lots of news and ads by different parties and their campaigners, mobile inboxes are filled with SMS ads, TV & radio channels are tuning different party anthem. Now every party has jumped into the battle filed of election 2009.

But here I have few things to discuss. As we know that almost every social activities has always been moderated either by a board or by the government himself. Be it sports, cinema or any other activities. Board (For an example cricket board, censor board etc.) set the parameters for everything we do, specially in cinema they have so many obligations what a filmmaker should or should not show on screen. Let’s not comment here because like others this issue also has its both positive and negatives sides. Possibly we can discuss it some other time

When we take an example of any small or large organization or institution most of them has couple of things in common, like a CODE OF CONDUCT and AGE TO RETIRE. But its seems not mandatory for those aspirants who are pursuing their political career in India.

I know EC (Election Commission) has already published a code of conduct for the politicians before the election but how many of them really follow this? We have seen in the recent past that so many ace politicians have caught on cameras bribing the voters, speaking with no sense of responsibility in the public rallies. They speak less about the development of the country and their agendas but more about the loop holes of opposition. They spend more time on fighting with each other rather than focusing on the other important issues of this nation which need to be addressed. They use nasty tricks to get votes from the innocent people be it through money, power, or by the name of religion and God.

Why there is no strong action against these people who does not know how to behave and what not to speak in the public. If there can be a life time ban against a sports person, why it can’t be against a politician? We choose a person among ourselves to help us in managing this country and its resources but they try to rule us. We call these people as our leaders but they mislead us.

It’s like no rules for the rule makers.

With Love,

Ashu.

Too much of reality; what’s your say?

There used to be an era in Indian Television where hardly we had seen any program airing episode by episode serially, but certainly after few years the crowd from the streets vanished for an hour every week to see some all time classic TV serials like Ramayana & Mahabharat. That was the time when Television set was considered to be a luxury item in Indian middle class society. Whether it’s a town or a village a TV set was always surrounded by a houseful crowd to watch those serials.

That was an era of mythological & fantasy serials like Alif Laila, Vikram Betal, Ali baba chalish chore, Chanakya, Malgudi days to name a few. This era ended during end of 90s which was beginning of another new era of daily soaps in Indian Television. The industry became more polished and organized by that time. The characters in those family dramas were more stylish more modernized and ageless. Full of twist and turns in each episode and full excitement for the audiences mainly for the house wives

After the era of daily soaps then Indian television industry jumped into a different modern era of reality shows which started with some Music competition shows like Meri Awaz Suno, Sare Ga Ma Pa etc. All these audiences were excited to see all these new sensation, new style of operating the shows.

But I think now it’s more of an ultra or super modern era because now every channel has number of reality shows running everyday. Now it does not just show the reality of the competition but they claim that, they show the real emotional outburst of each individual involved in these shows. They do not just show case their talents but they get into their personal lives to add more spice to the show and as an audience we also enjoy it. Isn’t it?

But I think it’s too much of reality now. People have forgotten the difference between personal and public life, now what they just want is more and more publicity. They don’t feel shy to showcase their private life; neither have they felt bad to abuse someone on national television. Some people have now taken a step further, they don’t mind to showcase their private affairs like marriage & death. They made it a public affair or more of another reality show to showcase these sensitive occasions of personal life.

Is this all real? If it’s real then is it healthy for them or for their society? Why they make so much of public affair of their own private lives?

I am neither writing this for sake of it nor judging anyone on the basis of morality. Actually I am little confused and want to understand the idea behind all these from all of you.

Waiting for all your answers.

With Love,
Ashu.

Why can’t life be smooth?

Well again I am here to discuss something and probably with not so new topic this time.

We all know about it, we all did it; we are still doing it i.e. nothing but competition.

Life has become more of a competition isn’ it?
We all want to have everything which will keep us in the frontline forever in every area.
We have the latest gadgets, the finest car, the best job, highest salary the most luxurious house
in the town but still we are not able to be happy because somebody else has the same thing. Its competition so it is bound that we need to be always one step ahead of everyone.

This is not a case of any particular age group, society or country, it is same for all. Everyone wants every best thing in life and anything less than that not acceptable.

Actually speaking there is nothing wrong in competing with each other to score more marks in study, to have a better life style in the society but as long as its a healthy competition its fine, but if we just wake up every morning with a mindset that we have to compete with each other then don’t you think we will miss all the fun, all the sweetness of life. Why can’t life be smooth and steady?

Why we take ourselves so seriously? I think we can be happy with the best thing that we have rather than being worried and unhappy because somebody else has the same or more.
Why should we do just because others do the same? Why can’t we be different? Why can’t we do things which will make us happy, I think a person who is happy will do a job better than the others.

There is very famous phrase which I believe would be a right fit for this context i.e.

“Life is a journey not a destination”

I think this quote says it all; that we neither should regret upon our past which can’t be changed nor we should worry about future which is uncertain so we better enjoy our life that is this very moment.

We all are born for this journey, we may have to take a different path to reach our destination but we are meant to learn new things in our journey to enjoy it to the most.

Popularity, Success & Skill

I want to be popular and I believe we all want to be popular among our colleagues, friends’ relatives, and in the society for some or other reason. So what’s wrong in this? Nothing.

Being popular is really great; even very few people get this opportunity but the problem is which path we choose to be popular. There are very few people who choose dignity above popularity and they always try to be themselves. Some people choose certain way where the become popular, get all the fame they always wanted but it cost them their dignity & honesty so when time goes on this popularity fades away along with the time

They demand a responsible position but they do not know how to carry them. To be a great sports person you need to have the right skill and passion for the game, to be an actor who needs to learn the lessons of acting, to be a great politician you need to understand your people and their feelings. These set of people they do not believe in learning they always seek for a shortcut which will take them to the top of the Everest but they do not know to sustain on top; you need to master the right skills.

At this current era everyone wants to be popular using all the possible ways. There are many people who want to be popular so that they can create a space for themselves in politics, sports, entertainment etc. They may/may not have the required skills but they use their money, power and create hype about themselves through media by promotions, controversies.

We all know media plays a vital role in the development of the nation as its citizen. So I believe media should also take the responsibility to provide a right platform to the right person rather than just running behind the BREAKING NEWS to gain TRPs. They should not encourage people who use the media to gain some popularity for the wrong reasons.

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There are so many topics to be discussed and this is one among them. I don not know who can help it or how I can help it to resolve but I believe if you really want something passionately then you will get it but not necessary to choose a shortcut for it. Just be yourself and work towards your dream.……

Let’s do it…..…

Once again we are going to see the high intensity million rupee drama of IPL (Indian Political League). It has been an experience of roller coaster ride for us and I believe our political leaders must have experienced the same.

I am here not to promote or demote any political party or their so called agendas. I am here to recall our experiences of last five years which we have moved together side by side with lots of ups and downs, hopes and tears. During this course of five years we have achieved so many milestones even we lost so many of our near & dears in many different tragic incidents that happened.

Let us glance through some of the issues which are still in our minds while moving towards the future with lots of hopes and aspirations.

- Global economic melt down.

- A troubled neighborhood – Jihadis in Pakistan and Bangladesh. LTTE in Sri Lanka, Ulfa in Northern-Eastern Region, Naxalites in Andhra Pradesh, Chattishgarh, Orissa and above all we have some home grown jihadis too.

-Attack on heritage hotels like Taj Mahal & Trident Hilton in Mumbai. Serial bomb blasts in many parts of India

-Attacks on the innocent people in Orissa, Mumbai, and Karnataka on the name of religion and region.

-Fighting over the issues of Cauvery and Kashmir since many decade

-Gujar agitation in Rajasthan

- Attack on Indian embassy in Kabul, attack on ethnic Indians in Malaysia

There are countless issues on which we have been debating, fighting and blaming each other but it’s not like we have only issues to fight for but there are many achievements on which we take pride as well.

- Successful completion of the mission Chandryan

- Wining Oscars by the musical maestro A.R.Rehman, Resul Pokkuty, Grammy by Ustad Zakir Hussain or wining gold in Olympics by Abhinav Bindra.

- Wining the World Chess title by Vishwanthan Anand, Booker’s prize by Arvind Adiga.

- Mukesh Ambani displacing Lakshmi Mittal to be the richest Indian in the World

We have many issues to fight for and we have many points to take pride. A leader is as good as its followers similarly a country is as good as its own citizens. It’s a cliché to say but yes if we are creeping that we do not have charismatic leaders, good infrastructures, opportunities then no one is responsible for this other then WE.

We have to take the responsibility to bring the change, to achieve many more milestones for our country, to choose the leaders through a responsible and unbiased voting.
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Let me be honest and tell you that I have already crossed few years from the minimum age of voting but still not voted anyone but over the years I learnt it that its better to vote and take the responsibility rather than blaming the country and its leaders.
Let’s vote during this general election ……………..


This is an appeal to all those young Indians like me who have not experienced the power of vote

Freedom

62 years before our forefathers brought the freedom for this country and for us. So many of our own country men/women struggled and sacrificed their happiness, luxury and life to get this freedom.

I born in a free India like many other but still I can realize that how much pain they have gone through to get this freedom for us but when I am looking at the current scenario there is only one question always popping up in my heart “What is freedom?”
Freedom is the liberty of expressing one’s own thoughts without offending any other person’s feelings/sentiments in any way. But do we really have this? Looking at some double standard parties or people who claim to be the custodian of our culture and religion are stealing our freedom forcefully; however government (be it any govt.) is not really ready to take any sincere and serious action against them because most of these political parties bank on the same set of people for votes.

We already know that this country has been always faced a lot trouble through terrorism which has been promoted by our neighbors but I believe the act which has been pursuing within the country by some of the evil minded people is not less than any terrorism. They spread this terrorism across the country by the name of religion, region, cast & culture.
This country’s progress is our progress but it’s always hindered by poverty, illiteracy, terrorism and now there is one more to add on the list i.e. anti-secularism or anti humanism

We always proved to the World that it’s great to be an Indian and we proved it through our achievements in every sector but in mean time the image of our country has been tarnished by certain shameful acts be it in Orissa, Mangalore, Mumbai or any other part of our country.

I am asking a question to myself and to the billion people of this nation; shall we have a freedom for this country again?

Mesmerizing Memories at Puducherry

Last January I went to Pondicherry during the eve of Republic Day celebration. It was quite a long weekend so I ganged up with some of my old roommates to go to Pondi. I finished my office work on 23rd Jan and rushed for the train to Yeshwantpur, I was just on time for the train but it was as usual on its old format, 45 minutes late….
The train was an entirely air conditioned coach. A special train to Pondi for a limited period of time and the fact is, that was thoroughly cleaned, and yes it’s true. Thanks to our dear Railway minister Mr.Lalu who introduced this Garib Rath.
Many of you must have visited, but this is for those who are yet to visit as I did for the first time. Pondicherry is one such place which if you know before hand will have lots to offer as a good holiday destination. I always had a good reaction from people visiting Pondi. I believe if you know how to enjoy in Pondicherry then you will enjoy.
Pondicherry or Puducherry as it is now called is a union territory near Chennai. It’s a coastal city with the Bay of Bengal is to its east. It’s a perfect weekend getaway. The city has a distinct French feel to it even now. Especially places near the beach road. Many streets still have French names and the place is so clean that you wouldn’t feel you are in an Indian city. The city has many places to stay but you should make sure you book it in advance if you are planning to visit the place during any of the weekend.
Pondi (As I fondly called it like many others) isn’t a very big city, if you want to explore it then best way would be to go by walk or hire a bike or bicycle. My favorite place is the long beach road with the Bay of Bengal on the side and the restaurants; if you want to taste some really good cappuccino/tea during the late nights then I would recommend you to go to the restaurant “Le Café” where you can enjoy your drink along with a nice view of the sea.

Apart from good food, nice weather and wine the place is also famous for the most renowned spiritual guru Shri Aurobindo and his ashram i.e. The Aurobinda Ashram. You can visit Aurobindo ashram, Auro Vill and Matri Mandir. As you move from the rock beach & Aurobindo ashram you will land up in a street called Mission Street with lots of shopping outlets; if you are interested you can enjoy your shopping there with a nice scoop of Kulfi (Indian ice cream).










If you are done with your exploration inside the city then probably you can take a ride to some of the beautiful beaches and backwaters around the city like Auro beach or Paradise beach. Auro beach is full of different nationalist along with few Indians but if you want to enjoy a boat ride on the backwaters then probably Paradise beach is the best for you. It’s really a great place to have fun.








After three days long enjoyment of the vacation at Pondi we finally signed off on Monday evening to Chennai and from Chennai to Bangalore and the most difficult part was we covered the entire route by bus. This is the problem you face if you don’t book it well in advance.
But still I have not explored the city thoroughly probably some other time I will try to do it. This is really an amazing place with great culture and environment.