I am a photo enthusiast. I love to browse through tastefully clicked pictures. There are many photographers whose work I really appreciate, but this post is not about them.
In so many years of following pictures clicked around themes of portraying different emotions, life, beauty, sins, indulgence etc, I have noticed that photographers pre dominantly use a woman as their subject.
I have very rarely seen men being the posers, especially when it comes to shooting an entire series around a certain theme.
I being a woman am quite proud if we have what it takes to be an artists muse for every emotion, however I really want to know why men are less preferred when it comes to photography.
If any of you have any links to some interesting pictures of men (not single picture -- I am looking for a series) depicting human emotions (not jails or wars) then please do share.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
What keeps India Busy?
Rural development minister, Jairam Ramesh goes for an official work to Bikaner where he was welcomed by cotton spun garlands. Mr. Ramesh keeps it on the table and later uses it to wipe out something off his shoes.
Now the entire nation is offended because of this. The BJP leaders are saying that this act was an insult to Gandhi!!!!
This is totally insane. It just could be a one of situation where someone wipes something off their shoes or dresses with the most accessible linen that s/he finds at that point of time.
To add to this drama, they now demand an apology not only from Jairam, but also the CM!
Linking this to national shame is not really the most intelligent thing to do. Especially when the same news paper has reports on 2G corruption and India being one of the top most depressed nations of the world.
Now the entire nation is offended because of this. The BJP leaders are saying that this act was an insult to Gandhi!!!!
This is totally insane. It just could be a one of situation where someone wipes something off their shoes or dresses with the most accessible linen that s/he finds at that point of time.
To add to this drama, they now demand an apology not only from Jairam, but also the CM!
Linking this to national shame is not really the most intelligent thing to do. Especially when the same news paper has reports on 2G corruption and India being one of the top most depressed nations of the world.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Numerously bitten, never shy!
There were bomb blasts in Mumbai yet again, and I think we (Indians) are responsible for this mayhem. Our basic attitude of tolerance of injustice, ignorance of the politics around us and our 'I don’t care till I am not directly affected' is bringing us to this pitifully dangerous existence.
This culture of inappropriate aloofness is also allowing the government to take our homeland security for granted.
Imagine the Rupert Murdoch incident happening in India. No one would have batted an eyelid. But since this happened in UK, the entire world is talking about this and it and this news is making world headlines. People abroad are sensitive about their privacy and rightly they should be. But the same thing if it happens in India, no one would have really cared much, maybe there would have been a little murmur but nothing when compared to the scale of what is happening in the western world. If you come to think of this, then maybe the only reason I see is the culture. It’s the culture and conditioning of our people where firstly it is difficult to clearly establish what ‘privacy’ means at a personal individual level and secondly we are made to believe that invasion into our lives is no big deal. This ‘adjusting’ culture in this super transient world of complexity, survival struggle, disparity, technology and access (or the lack of it), is allowing injustice to take place without an appropriate remediation or response.
The response is and can never be violence. It can only be solved if the root cause is addressed.
If each of us do our part of the duties honestly – be it awareness, education, health, knowing and demanding our rights, working for a living, paying our taxes, take into politics, be compassionate and learn to fight against injustice – to self or to others.
It is difficult for me to accept that if a nation is firm, honest and compassionate, it will still be subject to atrocities.
If we are dishonest ourselves, if we cannot look at ourselves in the eye, we are not doing our bit.
It’s time we should stop giving leverage to India saying its big, populated and diverse. Security is basic. And no one’s got any excuse. Including us.
May the souls of the 21 people who died yesterday rest in peace, and may their families get the strength to bear the loss which can never be compensated.
PS: Yesterday there were 3 bomb blasts in Mumbai, the financial capital of India. 21 people were killed and over a 100 injured.
This culture of inappropriate aloofness is also allowing the government to take our homeland security for granted.
Imagine the Rupert Murdoch incident happening in India. No one would have batted an eyelid. But since this happened in UK, the entire world is talking about this and it and this news is making world headlines. People abroad are sensitive about their privacy and rightly they should be. But the same thing if it happens in India, no one would have really cared much, maybe there would have been a little murmur but nothing when compared to the scale of what is happening in the western world. If you come to think of this, then maybe the only reason I see is the culture. It’s the culture and conditioning of our people where firstly it is difficult to clearly establish what ‘privacy’ means at a personal individual level and secondly we are made to believe that invasion into our lives is no big deal. This ‘adjusting’ culture in this super transient world of complexity, survival struggle, disparity, technology and access (or the lack of it), is allowing injustice to take place without an appropriate remediation or response.
The response is and can never be violence. It can only be solved if the root cause is addressed.
If each of us do our part of the duties honestly – be it awareness, education, health, knowing and demanding our rights, working for a living, paying our taxes, take into politics, be compassionate and learn to fight against injustice – to self or to others.
It is difficult for me to accept that if a nation is firm, honest and compassionate, it will still be subject to atrocities.
If we are dishonest ourselves, if we cannot look at ourselves in the eye, we are not doing our bit.
It’s time we should stop giving leverage to India saying its big, populated and diverse. Security is basic. And no one’s got any excuse. Including us.
May the souls of the 21 people who died yesterday rest in peace, and may their families get the strength to bear the loss which can never be compensated.
PS: Yesterday there were 3 bomb blasts in Mumbai, the financial capital of India. 21 people were killed and over a 100 injured.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Almost my end of stay in KL
The 2 months i spent in this fast city of Kuala Lumpur was full of food, taxis, learning about a different culture and ofcourse lots of work. A picture of one of the most prominent structures of KL.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Learn, Unlearn and Learn Again
Since quite some time, my actions appear unexplained to none other but me. Yesterday I realized that how shallow I had begun to think. How I had started to silently put myself before I put others. I was never like this. The only pleasant character that I knew in myself was humility, kindness and the ability to put others happiness ahead of my own. But I realized last night that I was being my antithesis. I was slowing giving in to the powerful force of self.
A friend shook me out of the spell, told me how I forgot the definition of love and I realized that it was nothing but true. I have been in fact doing this since quite some time and I did not even realize when an action became a habit. I owe an apology, to this person. I am sorry. And I am shameful that I disrespected the greatest emotion in this world.
But as they say 'Jab Jago, tab Savera' (i.e. If you have woken up, then this moment is morning for you'). Thanks for making me realize. I have started my conscious effort to change the ugly habit that I had slowly imbibed.
Incidentally I had been listening to this song called 'Hor vi neevan ho' by Noori from the Coke Studio (Pakistan), since the past couple of days. Yesterday I figured out the meaning. And I fell in love with the song all over again. Sharing it with all of you. (The translation I picked up from some lyrics website and I hope its accurate).
Hor vi neevan ho
Bow your head even further down (in humility)
Hor vi neevan ho fakira
Fakir, bow your even head further down (in humility)
Uccha saroon gharoor mein
There is great pleasure in holding the head high in arrogance
Kaddi naa phall paiye, fakira
But, that pleasure will never be fulfilling
Hor vi neevan ho fakira
Fakir, bow your head further down (in humility)
Paiye gaa deedar sahib da
One day you will be bestowed with His presence
Hor vi neevan ho
Bow your head further down (in humility)
Ho rabba koi meray dil diyan kadraan pachanay
Lord, if only someone could understand the deliberations of my heart
Mein sawali jinna naeen koi sawal
I am a seeker who seeks nothing
Mein jogan ban dar dar phir diye
I am a wanderer, roaming from one land to another
Koi na meriyan, ramzaan pachanay
No one can unravel the secrets within me
Mein jogan ban dar dar phiriyaan way
I am a wanderer, roaming from one land to another
O koi na meriyan, ramzaan pachanay
No one can unravel the secrets within me
Mein jogan…
I am a wanderer
Chal meray naal
Come along, come with me
Hor vi neevan ho
Bow your head further down (in humility)
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Friday, February 4, 2011
The Ignored Monkey
As far as I remember I always thought these rules depicted by this sculpture (it supposedly came from a Japanese folk religion) were brilliant, but yesterday, I had a different take on it.
I thought, if I were to build a fresh sculpture of these monkeys, I would have kept only one and fired the other two. They are not required and you will see why. :-)
The monkey that I would have kept would have his hands placed on his heart depicting acts of love – with a meaning that ‘DO NO EVIL’. If people don’t do evil things then no one would have had to shut their eyes, ears or mouth. :-)
As I was writing this post I was trying to find out if these ‘wise-monkeys’ had any specific name. I did not find any name, however I found out that there indeed was a fourth monkey which had his hands crossed depicting the same idea – and hence I decided to title this post as The ‘Ignored’ Monkey.
Just for a laugh: Maybe the artists of the sculpture were hard core communists, they could not allow 1 monkey to take away the job of 3 others, so instead they chose to omit him and keep the other 3!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Interesting Read..
Interesting read (from Vijay Simhas 10 Things, Tehelka)
INDIA IS NOT THINKING OF
1.PLAN B
It’s what every government puts in place, even in Hollywood thrillers. When will we?.
2.LIFE AS A SUPERPOWER
What will our Islam policy be? What do we do about the UN? Will we have world-class products?.
3.2050
What should our population be? How many states will we have? How do we travel? The works.
4.FOOD
We are dangerously addicted to potato and edible oil. Our food joints sell junk. It shows in the way we look.
5.CHINA
Barring icy civility, we don’t have a clue. There are incursions in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. We watch.
6.DRUGS AND BOOZE
Our biggest blind spot. The number of addicts and alcoholics is rising in every state. We wait.
7.POOR LIFE ETHIC
We are not good with ambition and efficiency. We are poor executors. We are not the stuff of dreams.
8.CLIMATE
It’s hot in Srinagar. It’s parched in Bihar’s Gangetic belt. It’s pouring in Delhi in August. What gives?
9.HYGIENE
Gandhi was right. We are masters at spitting and urinating. We don’t wash enough. We fall sick too often.
10.BEASTLINESS IN PEOPLE
Can’t smile. Can’t greet. Can’t give way on the roads. Can abuse. Can beat. Can kill.
10 THINGS SHE IS OVERDOING
1. Fear of Maoism
2. Sense of well-being
3. Importance of CWG 2010
4. Pre-eminence of family
5. Role of Bollywood, they don’t deserve Padma awards
6. Sanctity of courts, they should be accountable too
7. Politics
8. The media, mostly mediocre
9. Religion
10. The Pakistan bogey
INDIA IS NOT THINKING OF
1.PLAN B
It’s what every government puts in place, even in Hollywood thrillers. When will we?.
2.LIFE AS A SUPERPOWER
What will our Islam policy be? What do we do about the UN? Will we have world-class products?.
3.2050
What should our population be? How many states will we have? How do we travel? The works.
4.FOOD
We are dangerously addicted to potato and edible oil. Our food joints sell junk. It shows in the way we look.
5.CHINA
Barring icy civility, we don’t have a clue. There are incursions in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. We watch.
6.DRUGS AND BOOZE
Our biggest blind spot. The number of addicts and alcoholics is rising in every state. We wait.
7.POOR LIFE ETHIC
We are not good with ambition and efficiency. We are poor executors. We are not the stuff of dreams.
8.CLIMATE
It’s hot in Srinagar. It’s parched in Bihar’s Gangetic belt. It’s pouring in Delhi in August. What gives?
9.HYGIENE
Gandhi was right. We are masters at spitting and urinating. We don’t wash enough. We fall sick too often.
10.BEASTLINESS IN PEOPLE
Can’t smile. Can’t greet. Can’t give way on the roads. Can abuse. Can beat. Can kill.
10 THINGS SHE IS OVERDOING
1. Fear of Maoism
2. Sense of well-being
3. Importance of CWG 2010
4. Pre-eminence of family
5. Role of Bollywood, they don’t deserve Padma awards
6. Sanctity of courts, they should be accountable too
7. Politics
8. The media, mostly mediocre
9. Religion
10. The Pakistan bogey
Friday, August 6, 2010
JK-A -2
children and boys with stones or maybe nothing, against a trained army with sophisticated artillery. Does it not say something? Everything obviously is not right.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Jannat Abused.. (JK-A)
Everyday when I open the newspaper, I am saddened.
When I spot reports about the valley, I fearfully try and quickly read if the attacked places are the places where my friends live, is it about anyone I know, or is it about someone who’s their relative.
If I being a non-kashmiri feel this terror, I can well imagine whats going on within the state.
Historically, the basis of J&K to be a part of India was fraudulent. The fact that it continues this way inspite of India calling itself a ‘Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic’ assuring its citizens of justice, equality and liberty, is nothing but shameful.
After years of neglect, oppression, false promises, injustice and betrayal, Kashmir has once again re-ignited the anger in their hearts and are out on the streets to protest against the step-motherly treatment and to fight for their rights.
Sadly, they again seem to forget what they face is a ruthless enemy which has absolute power and the best of ammunitions, as against them who are just some random disorganized groups of disillusioned, troubled and unarmed people (primarily youngsters).
Why would a healthy 17 yr boy would take to the streets and pelt stones if there is no reason for him to do so? If you think the government of India is not responsible for this trouble, you are basically saying the people of the valley are mad. Life in the valley is not normal. Visit it to see and read well to know.
I think what Kashmir needs now is an educated and rational leader who connects with the people of Kashmir and lead this fight for rights and justice. No great fights were won without a great leader. What Nelson Mandela did for Africa, what Gandhi did for India (barring a few reasons why I not totally appreciate everything about him), what Hon-Chi-Minh did for Vietnam and like many other leaders, Kashmir is today in need of the torch bearer who would show the right and well thought way.
If this does not happen soon and the civilians continue their non-focused, unplanned and poor protests, sooner or later either they will be suppressed, or cause even further destruction and damage and death.
As I write this, I recall what the Late Mr. Vijay Tendulkar had once said, ‘Ever time atrocities happen, riots happen, the powerful leftist unions are non-existent. Once the riots stop, they come out in the streets with peace marches’. Sad but true. I wonder what I can do, perhaps I can just write something which hardly anyone will read. But there are so many people in powerful positions, why are they not getting together and raising their voice. Atleast someone will flinch after knowing the reality and who knows, maybe a leader will be born!
As I end, I would like to quote a bit from Sahir Ludhianvi’s ‘Khoon phir khoon hai’:
"zulm phir zulm hai, barhta hai to mit jaataa hai
Khoon phir Khoon hai, Tapkega to jam jaayega
...
...
zulm ki baat hi kya, zulm ki auqaat hi kya
zulm bas zulm hai, aaghaaz se anjaam talak
Khoon phir Khoon hai, so shakl badal sakta hai
aisi shakleiN ke mitaaoo to mitaaye na bane
aise shole k bujhaao to bujhaaye na bane
aise naare k dabaao to dabaaye na bane"
When I spot reports about the valley, I fearfully try and quickly read if the attacked places are the places where my friends live, is it about anyone I know, or is it about someone who’s their relative.
If I being a non-kashmiri feel this terror, I can well imagine whats going on within the state.
Historically, the basis of J&K to be a part of India was fraudulent. The fact that it continues this way inspite of India calling itself a ‘Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic’ assuring its citizens of justice, equality and liberty, is nothing but shameful.
After years of neglect, oppression, false promises, injustice and betrayal, Kashmir has once again re-ignited the anger in their hearts and are out on the streets to protest against the step-motherly treatment and to fight for their rights.
Sadly, they again seem to forget what they face is a ruthless enemy which has absolute power and the best of ammunitions, as against them who are just some random disorganized groups of disillusioned, troubled and unarmed people (primarily youngsters).
Why would a healthy 17 yr boy would take to the streets and pelt stones if there is no reason for him to do so? If you think the government of India is not responsible for this trouble, you are basically saying the people of the valley are mad. Life in the valley is not normal. Visit it to see and read well to know.
I think what Kashmir needs now is an educated and rational leader who connects with the people of Kashmir and lead this fight for rights and justice. No great fights were won without a great leader. What Nelson Mandela did for Africa, what Gandhi did for India (barring a few reasons why I not totally appreciate everything about him), what Hon-Chi-Minh did for Vietnam and like many other leaders, Kashmir is today in need of the torch bearer who would show the right and well thought way.
If this does not happen soon and the civilians continue their non-focused, unplanned and poor protests, sooner or later either they will be suppressed, or cause even further destruction and damage and death.
As I write this, I recall what the Late Mr. Vijay Tendulkar had once said, ‘Ever time atrocities happen, riots happen, the powerful leftist unions are non-existent. Once the riots stop, they come out in the streets with peace marches’. Sad but true. I wonder what I can do, perhaps I can just write something which hardly anyone will read. But there are so many people in powerful positions, why are they not getting together and raising their voice. Atleast someone will flinch after knowing the reality and who knows, maybe a leader will be born!
As I end, I would like to quote a bit from Sahir Ludhianvi’s ‘Khoon phir khoon hai’:
"zulm phir zulm hai, barhta hai to mit jaataa hai
Khoon phir Khoon hai, Tapkega to jam jaayega
...
...
zulm ki baat hi kya, zulm ki auqaat hi kya
zulm bas zulm hai, aaghaaz se anjaam talak
Khoon phir Khoon hai, so shakl badal sakta hai
aisi shakleiN ke mitaaoo to mitaaye na bane
aise shole k bujhaao to bujhaaye na bane
aise naare k dabaao to dabaaye na bane"
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Read this on Discovery Health:
Myth: Cohabitation is just like marriage, but without "the piece of paper."
Fact: Cohabitation typically does not bring the benefits - in physical health, wealth and emotional wellbeing - that marriage does. In terms of these benefits, cohabitants in the United States more closely resemble singles than married couples. This is due, in part, to the fact that cohabitants tend not to be as committed as married couples, and they are more oriented toward their own personal autonomy and less to the well-being of their partner.
Do you agree?
Myth: Cohabitation is just like marriage, but without "the piece of paper."
Fact: Cohabitation typically does not bring the benefits - in physical health, wealth and emotional wellbeing - that marriage does. In terms of these benefits, cohabitants in the United States more closely resemble singles than married couples. This is due, in part, to the fact that cohabitants tend not to be as committed as married couples, and they are more oriented toward their own personal autonomy and less to the well-being of their partner.
Do you agree?
VISION
I am very fond of films, but I am not a sincere audience – what I mean is that I most often watch films at the end of my day, just before I sleep, and hardly watch the entire film in one go (yes, you can frown!). But yesterday was different, I watched a film by Govind Nihalini called, ‘Drishti’.
This film is about a couple played by Dimple Kapadia (as Sandhya) and Shekhar Kapur (as Nikhil) who have a 7 yr old daughter, and who eventually part ways after a 9 year long relationship.
It’s difficult for me to describe the entire story in a systematic way, but I shall try and discuss the plot.
If we question why at the first place Sandhya had a fling with the young musician (played by Irfan Khan) when she looked pretty content in her life with Nikhil and her child, I think the answer is maybe she was bored with the routine and the mundane activities and repetitions and predictability that a marriage brings. And so the moment she met this young mysterious man who shared the common interest of Music with her and displayed much affection and passion towards her, she got into a ‘harmless’ relationship with him. However, when she felt that soon this fling could spill over and destroy her stable family – whom she loved – she backed out and called off the relationship with Irfan. All this while, she was very sure that her relationship with Irfan was not of love, but of passion and adventure, and at no point was she ready to pursue it at the cost of messing up her family life. At a certain point, she also says that Irfan had the eyes of a newly born calf – very ‘vulnerable’ and ‘dependent’. So maybe she also had this feeling of being ‘prime’ / ‘important’ / ‘perfect’ which added to the fervor and her attraction towards him.
Now talking of Nikhil, I suppose, he was looking for the same Sandhya he fell in love with years ago – the one who was energetic, new, fresh and lively. And when he failed to find the person with whom he could communicate and enjoy like he used to, he was drawn away and drifted towards a much younger woman who filled up that void.
Anyway, proceeding with the story, one night Nikhil sat with Sandhya and told her about his affair and informed her that he would be moving out immediately since it is difficult for him to spend even a single day with her. Quite a few months passed and just a day before their divorce, Nikhil visited Sandhya and expressed his desire to return to her giving her reasons that even when he was with this new woman, Sandhyas’ memories never left him (not to forget, he said the new woman had become strange and domestic and perhaps in love with another younger man). This area is a bit gray, since they show a shortly revived passionate moment but the very next scene hints that they had the divorce anyway and later became friends.
Now if I come to think of this particular story and analyze why their marriage did not work, I think it just the lack of efforts by both of them to overcome the obvious consequences that familiarity and routine brings to ones life. I am saying the above statement in context to relationships which have matured and is based on more intelligent reasons like intellect, sharing similar ideas about life, appreciation of the partner and his/her personality and character. I don’t know very clearly, since I am not saying that couples have to stay together even when they don’t have the desire, but what I am saying is that maybe one should not walk out simply because there is no passion in their relationship. Passion is transient – what you are passionate about today, may become boring / familiar tomorrow. And we are talking of people here, not objects. I think its grossly unfair for the other person (You may argue that staying with someone you don’t love is being unfair to yourself and in a way also unfair to the partner, but that is another debate). I agree that to maintain a bare minimum health in a relationship there should be a mix of discipline, trust, respect, space and adventure. And it would work only if the couple shares this responsibility of maintaining sanity, peace and affection. Its easy to say, its not working, but its only fair and honest to discuss, talk and then respectfully decide what needs to be done.
I know may be I am talking of ideal relations, but life is anything but ideal. I have hardly heard of thinking people having one marriage. But I still have not completely understood why it can be impossible to maintain a unique and ‘custom-made’ relationship with their partner – particularly when the initial deciding factors were not frivolous.
You are born with most of relationships, only friendships and partners are chosen by us. Don’t choose if you are not sure. And if you get in, you must have a very good reason to walk out. Don’t you think?
This film is about a couple played by Dimple Kapadia (as Sandhya) and Shekhar Kapur (as Nikhil) who have a 7 yr old daughter, and who eventually part ways after a 9 year long relationship.
It’s difficult for me to describe the entire story in a systematic way, but I shall try and discuss the plot.
If we question why at the first place Sandhya had a fling with the young musician (played by Irfan Khan) when she looked pretty content in her life with Nikhil and her child, I think the answer is maybe she was bored with the routine and the mundane activities and repetitions and predictability that a marriage brings. And so the moment she met this young mysterious man who shared the common interest of Music with her and displayed much affection and passion towards her, she got into a ‘harmless’ relationship with him. However, when she felt that soon this fling could spill over and destroy her stable family – whom she loved – she backed out and called off the relationship with Irfan. All this while, she was very sure that her relationship with Irfan was not of love, but of passion and adventure, and at no point was she ready to pursue it at the cost of messing up her family life. At a certain point, she also says that Irfan had the eyes of a newly born calf – very ‘vulnerable’ and ‘dependent’. So maybe she also had this feeling of being ‘prime’ / ‘important’ / ‘perfect’ which added to the fervor and her attraction towards him.
Now talking of Nikhil, I suppose, he was looking for the same Sandhya he fell in love with years ago – the one who was energetic, new, fresh and lively. And when he failed to find the person with whom he could communicate and enjoy like he used to, he was drawn away and drifted towards a much younger woman who filled up that void.
Anyway, proceeding with the story, one night Nikhil sat with Sandhya and told her about his affair and informed her that he would be moving out immediately since it is difficult for him to spend even a single day with her. Quite a few months passed and just a day before their divorce, Nikhil visited Sandhya and expressed his desire to return to her giving her reasons that even when he was with this new woman, Sandhyas’ memories never left him (not to forget, he said the new woman had become strange and domestic and perhaps in love with another younger man). This area is a bit gray, since they show a shortly revived passionate moment but the very next scene hints that they had the divorce anyway and later became friends.
Now if I come to think of this particular story and analyze why their marriage did not work, I think it just the lack of efforts by both of them to overcome the obvious consequences that familiarity and routine brings to ones life. I am saying the above statement in context to relationships which have matured and is based on more intelligent reasons like intellect, sharing similar ideas about life, appreciation of the partner and his/her personality and character. I don’t know very clearly, since I am not saying that couples have to stay together even when they don’t have the desire, but what I am saying is that maybe one should not walk out simply because there is no passion in their relationship. Passion is transient – what you are passionate about today, may become boring / familiar tomorrow. And we are talking of people here, not objects. I think its grossly unfair for the other person (You may argue that staying with someone you don’t love is being unfair to yourself and in a way also unfair to the partner, but that is another debate). I agree that to maintain a bare minimum health in a relationship there should be a mix of discipline, trust, respect, space and adventure. And it would work only if the couple shares this responsibility of maintaining sanity, peace and affection. Its easy to say, its not working, but its only fair and honest to discuss, talk and then respectfully decide what needs to be done.
I know may be I am talking of ideal relations, but life is anything but ideal. I have hardly heard of thinking people having one marriage. But I still have not completely understood why it can be impossible to maintain a unique and ‘custom-made’ relationship with their partner – particularly when the initial deciding factors were not frivolous.
You are born with most of relationships, only friendships and partners are chosen by us. Don’t choose if you are not sure. And if you get in, you must have a very good reason to walk out. Don’t you think?
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Aye-Ghame-Dil
Oh how much I love this Nazm.
I would like to thank Sandeep who gave us an insight on Majazs' life in one of his comments on my previous post on Aawara. I would urge people to read what he wrote.
Monday, May 10, 2010
RangDo - Project 2, Uttaranchal Beckons!
With the overwhelming success of our previous event at Delhi, we now head further north to a picturesque village somewhere in the beautiful valleys of Uttaranchal.
This time we are painting a 'Balwadi' (a Pre-school) run by an NGO called Chirag.
Like last time, we again invite you to come with family and friends to this place called Simail Gaon, near Spila in Nainital District and participate in painting their little place with the colors of love, laughter, care, compassion and ofcourse bright paints!
The participants are expected to contribute Rs. 1000 for the cause to help us meet the expenses that we would incur to execute the event. Given the nature of our jobs, I am sure the contribution will not be a deterrent for most of us. After all we all know we need the money to make the change. :-)
Participants from Delhi can take the Ranikhet Express which leaves at night and reaches Kathgodam (the closest station) in the wee hours of morning. This place is another 3 hrs taxi ride from the station. We could arrange a car for pick up and we could put you up with a host family in the village.
Pure 'swadesi' experience is assured. You can spend the Saturday painting with the team (we already have 7 enthusiastic canadian participants) and spending time with the kids, and on Sunday we all could chill out.
It will surely be a weekend well spent! Think about it, if you are interested, pl leave a comment with your email id, and I will get back
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Convicted, 26/11
Its judgement day for the lone surviving attacker of 26/11.
I was listening to a few video clips which highlighted the divided views of the lawyers on the kind of punishment that they felt appropriate for Ajmal Kasab.
Half of the people interviewed thought capital punishment was the only punishment which could be given in order to get even with the crimes he committed, and another section of people thought that life imprisonment was more suitable, since men on such missions are generally in acceptance of death.
While these men in black robes confidently declared the best punishment for this man, there was a screen rolling behind them which repeatedly kept showing the pictures of Kasab, one in which he had an AK47 in hand, another where he was lying in a hospital bed, then there was one where he sat handcuffed in a police station, and another one at the court, and a last black and white close up of his face. Those pictures almost silenced the video, and I thought if such punishments are only way to deal with people who are victims themselves.
Ajmal Amir Kasab was a son of a poor man from Faridkot. He was a petty thief in the streets of Lahore, when one day he decided to take arms training so that his job of stealing became easier. Little did he know that the people who were prepared to give him free arms training would slowly poison his mind in such a manner that he will become ready to kill others for a meagre sum of money (which would be given to his family later) and a confirmed place in 'jannat' after he achieved martyrdom. The indoctrination was such that this young man of 22 years set out on this dangerous mission without much thought and knowledge. Of course, we cant excuse him for his stupidity -- more because his stupidity has caused misery to hundreds of families and also to the entire country, but are punishments like death or life in prison fair for people who are puppets in the hands of fatalist fanatics? The question is, is it fair to kill the messenger?
I think India should use the information Kasab can provide and try to nail the big pins. India should allow him another chance and by giving him an environment where he is able to realize the agony he caused to so many people and then send him back to his hometown to tell his story and maybe save more innocent young men like him from becoming soft targets of the real terrorists. This way may be we could get a little closer to the real culprits and also save another boy from becoming another Ajmal Kasab.
Many will argue that had I been a victim, I would have thought differently. I cant say for sure, but for now, as Gandhi said, 'An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind'.
I was listening to a few video clips which highlighted the divided views of the lawyers on the kind of punishment that they felt appropriate for Ajmal Kasab.
Half of the people interviewed thought capital punishment was the only punishment which could be given in order to get even with the crimes he committed, and another section of people thought that life imprisonment was more suitable, since men on such missions are generally in acceptance of death.
While these men in black robes confidently declared the best punishment for this man, there was a screen rolling behind them which repeatedly kept showing the pictures of Kasab, one in which he had an AK47 in hand, another where he was lying in a hospital bed, then there was one where he sat handcuffed in a police station, and another one at the court, and a last black and white close up of his face. Those pictures almost silenced the video, and I thought if such punishments are only way to deal with people who are victims themselves.
Ajmal Amir Kasab was a son of a poor man from Faridkot. He was a petty thief in the streets of Lahore, when one day he decided to take arms training so that his job of stealing became easier. Little did he know that the people who were prepared to give him free arms training would slowly poison his mind in such a manner that he will become ready to kill others for a meagre sum of money (which would be given to his family later) and a confirmed place in 'jannat' after he achieved martyrdom. The indoctrination was such that this young man of 22 years set out on this dangerous mission without much thought and knowledge. Of course, we cant excuse him for his stupidity -- more because his stupidity has caused misery to hundreds of families and also to the entire country, but are punishments like death or life in prison fair for people who are puppets in the hands of fatalist fanatics? The question is, is it fair to kill the messenger?
I think India should use the information Kasab can provide and try to nail the big pins. India should allow him another chance and by giving him an environment where he is able to realize the agony he caused to so many people and then send him back to his hometown to tell his story and maybe save more innocent young men like him from becoming soft targets of the real terrorists. This way may be we could get a little closer to the real culprits and also save another boy from becoming another Ajmal Kasab.
Many will argue that had I been a victim, I would have thought differently. I cant say for sure, but for now, as Gandhi said, 'An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind'.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Alif
Parh parh ilm te faazil hoya
Te kaday apnay aap nu parhya ee na
Bhaj bhaj warna ay mandir maseeti
Te kaday mann apnay wich warya ee na
Larna ay roz shaitaan de naal
Te kadi nafs apnay naal larya ee na
Bulleh Shah asmaani ud-deya pharonda ay
Te jera ghar betha unoon pharya ee na
Bas kareen o yaar
Ilm-oun bas kareen o yaar
Ik Alif teray darkaar
Bas kareen o yaar
Allah Sayyaan Allah Sayyaan
Nee main jaanaa Jogi de naal
Jo naa jaane, Haqq ki taaqat
Rabb naa devey us ko Himmat
Hum Mann ke darya mein doobey
Kaisi nayya? Kya manjhdhaar?
Bas kareen o yaar
End the race, my friend
Ilm-oun bas kareen o yaar
Allah Sayyaan Allah Sayyaan
Friday, February 12, 2010
Best Place to Live
1. France
2. Australia
3. Switzerland
4. Germany
5. New Zealand
6. Luxembourg
7. The U.S.
8. Belgium
9. Canada
10.Italy
Read more here
2. Australia
3. Switzerland
4. Germany
5. New Zealand
6. Luxembourg
7. The U.S.
8. Belgium
9. Canada
10.Italy
Read more here
Promises unkept
Its been a little more than a year since the time America had chosen its new leader. A leader who had mobilized the masses, the youngsters and the optimists, showing them a dream and giving them a hope of bringing back their lost dignity.
Huge strategic promises were made while the entire world watched -- everyone thought that this man could be the leader a nation as big and powerful like the United States was waiting for.
Bringing an end to the Overseas Contingency Operation, bringing back the lost jobs, assisting in Palestine-Isreal conflict and more..
I read here Obama admitted and apologized for not being able to understand the difficulties involved in restarting the peace process (bet. Israel and Palestine).
Like its said, playing a leader on stage is much different than actually being a leader.
Huge strategic promises were made while the entire world watched -- everyone thought that this man could be the leader a nation as big and powerful like the United States was waiting for.
Bringing an end to the Overseas Contingency Operation, bringing back the lost jobs, assisting in Palestine-Isreal conflict and more..
I read here Obama admitted and apologized for not being able to understand the difficulties involved in restarting the peace process (bet. Israel and Palestine).
Like its said, playing a leader on stage is much different than actually being a leader.
You cant have what I have!
More often than not, when I read any news item, there has to a mention of the United States. I am amazed with the ability of this nation to some how make itself a part of virtually everything - play the devil and then pose as the greatest well wisher.
Recently the news Iran developing Uranium Enrichment Plants is making the powerful and pseudo-threatened countries frown.
According to Iran, the big powers had promised to provide it with fuel rods made from low-enriched Uranium for a medical reactor. But since this UN - brokered plan collapsed, Iran decided to go ahead and develop technology to enrich the Uranium to upto 20% from its existing capability of enriching it upto 3.5% thereby sufficing its own needs.
Now, why is the west so afraid of letting a nation do what it wants to with its own resources and without causing harm to others? Say for a moment we even believe that Iran is steadily moving toward making nuclear arms (given the fact that Uranium needs to be enriched to almost 90% to make bombs), even then countries like US, France and Israel should not get angry, simply because they are themselves armed with hi-tech nuclear and biological warfare. It almost reduces to being fear of losing the position of power which a deadly weapon brings.
If these nations are seriously concerned and are against nuclear armmaments, then why dont all of them destroy their weapons or they all come together at a central place and deposit their weapons into safe custody. As funny as it may sound, if they cant do this, they should not expect that the rest of the world does not have the right to build up their own defenses.
Recently the news Iran developing Uranium Enrichment Plants is making the powerful and pseudo-threatened countries frown.
According to Iran, the big powers had promised to provide it with fuel rods made from low-enriched Uranium for a medical reactor. But since this UN - brokered plan collapsed, Iran decided to go ahead and develop technology to enrich the Uranium to upto 20% from its existing capability of enriching it upto 3.5% thereby sufficing its own needs.
Now, why is the west so afraid of letting a nation do what it wants to with its own resources and without causing harm to others? Say for a moment we even believe that Iran is steadily moving toward making nuclear arms (given the fact that Uranium needs to be enriched to almost 90% to make bombs), even then countries like US, France and Israel should not get angry, simply because they are themselves armed with hi-tech nuclear and biological warfare. It almost reduces to being fear of losing the position of power which a deadly weapon brings.
If these nations are seriously concerned and are against nuclear armmaments, then why dont all of them destroy their weapons or they all come together at a central place and deposit their weapons into safe custody. As funny as it may sound, if they cant do this, they should not expect that the rest of the world does not have the right to build up their own defenses.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Fable from Heaven on Earth. Part 1
It was a green spring morning and the eagle soared high in the sky, on one side there were tulip valleys all around and the fragrance of flowers filled the air and on the other side were the valleys full of the mighty chinars and tall pine trees. Amid the spectacular landscape was a kingdom of birds. Beautiful birds - of every color and every kind, amongst them was the 'Raaz-E-Haanz' - he was the one with the sharpness of a new sword, the body of a carefully handcrafted sculpture and unmatched royalty. Just like they have in fairy tales, it was a utopian kingdom - with no jealously, no pride, abundant food and peace and happiness. But like fate had it, one day ..
Part 2 to follow..
Part 2 to follow..
Learn!
Did you just say that you are waiting for the weekend to arrive soon, so that you get to meet your special person who gives you hope and strength to walk thru these twisted roads of life? Take my advise, dont wait. I learned it the hard way, and like its often said that advice is like kissing, always pleasant to give, so please let me indulge. :-)
However, I am quite certain that none of you will listen to me. Each one of you will learn the hard way - thats life. No one can save anyone from going thru another little hell .. we all learn the lessons of life the way they are supposed to be learnt -- by experience.
Oh by the way, I am not saying that you should not wait because you should do it right here right now and all that jazz.. I am saying this because you are responsible for your own happiness. If you thought its someone elses duty to make you happy, you are grossly mistaken. Trust me. I learnt it. And earlier I used to be defensive about it because I used to think loving someone also meant what you want to do certain things for that someone which on a regular day you might not do. :-) .. I remember reading somewhere 'with great love comes great responsibilities' .. but i think the meaning of 'great' and 'responsibility' here are ambiguous... I think there is certain intellectualism in ambiguity. :-) .. If you cant understand something, its intellectual - its beyond you!
YOU are reponsible for your own happiness and there is nothing in this world you cant live without. Not even 'Hope'. I used to be a very strong believer that till the time a person has 'hopes' (read dreams) a person is not poor (read dead). I realized that all these are just mere concepts. You can live without everything -- provided you dont desert yourself.
You should love people from whom you expect nothing, you should not waste your energies loving people whom you need.
Love the less fortunate, the happiness you will get cant be explained in words -- all I shall say is that it will be much better than the happiness that you expect to get on the weekend for which you were waiting.
The opposite of Love is not Hate. It is indifference.
However, I am quite certain that none of you will listen to me. Each one of you will learn the hard way - thats life. No one can save anyone from going thru another little hell .. we all learn the lessons of life the way they are supposed to be learnt -- by experience.
Oh by the way, I am not saying that you should not wait because you should do it right here right now and all that jazz.. I am saying this because you are responsible for your own happiness. If you thought its someone elses duty to make you happy, you are grossly mistaken. Trust me. I learnt it. And earlier I used to be defensive about it because I used to think loving someone also meant what you want to do certain things for that someone which on a regular day you might not do. :-) .. I remember reading somewhere 'with great love comes great responsibilities' .. but i think the meaning of 'great' and 'responsibility' here are ambiguous... I think there is certain intellectualism in ambiguity. :-) .. If you cant understand something, its intellectual - its beyond you!
YOU are reponsible for your own happiness and there is nothing in this world you cant live without. Not even 'Hope'. I used to be a very strong believer that till the time a person has 'hopes' (read dreams) a person is not poor (read dead). I realized that all these are just mere concepts. You can live without everything -- provided you dont desert yourself.
You should love people from whom you expect nothing, you should not waste your energies loving people whom you need.
Love the less fortunate, the happiness you will get cant be explained in words -- all I shall say is that it will be much better than the happiness that you expect to get on the weekend for which you were waiting.
The opposite of Love is not Hate. It is indifference.
Freedom from wires!
After years and years of hearing about wi-fi enabled homes, today I am staying in one!
Hopefully, that means that I can now be 'online' at the comfort of my bed.
And hopefully that will translate into frequent posts.
Am not sure if any of you are glad to hear this, but I am..
I get so many ideas.. I wish to write but then I get lazy.
So now with wi-fi, I have only less excuse!
:-) .. cheers to my first wi-fi post!
Hopefully, that means that I can now be 'online' at the comfort of my bed.
And hopefully that will translate into frequent posts.
Am not sure if any of you are glad to hear this, but I am..
I get so many ideas.. I wish to write but then I get lazy.
So now with wi-fi, I have only less excuse!
:-) .. cheers to my first wi-fi post!
Monday, December 21, 2009
After long..
So much on the news that its difficult to channelize thoughts on one subject. With the risk of making readers feel that I am trivializing issues, I will just randomly write with the flow.
1. Oh, Tiger Woods! -- Why?? I mean if a highly successful rich man who has what it takes to have magnificient women throwing themselves at him just enjoys the attention that he's getting, then what problem does the entire world have? I mean if at all someone has to have a problem, it should be the people involved with Woods and not the world at large. Disengaging him from endorsements and removing all ads on which he appeared, and almost emotionally forcing him to declare a break from golfing makes no sense. Its truly a WTF (as amitV would call it) non-issue.
2. Telengana - TRS chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao got into a 11 day hunger strike and won Telengana. How about PC getting a bit worried about Irom Sharmila who has been on a hunger strike for the past 10 years for the roll back of AFSPA? On the other hand, without debating if it was a good move or a bad move to have a separate state, I wonder if everyone started thinking getting separate was the solution, we would land up having some 600-something states (considering we have some 600-something districts) in this nation.
3. Narayanpatna -- Shame on our system. As nisha susan rightly puts it, someday 'You will not be more afraid of the police than a rapist.'
4. Prostitution, Make legal? - Well I think yes, but make legal with stricter control on the licenses. A good article on outlook, highlighting what happened in places (Australia, Netherland etc) where it has been legalized vs the places (eg. Sweden) where the traffickers have been gotten after, is a good read.
5. Overseas Contingency Operation -- Mr. Obama, 2009 is over and soon will 2010 go by. Do you remember your promise? The world is watching, give us up'dates'!
6. Blue-eyes, Blonde, a sparkling smile, artistic, gentle mmm preferably with a pinch of naughtyness - Scientists say thats how babeis will be 'made' in 2020! The fear that diversity of gentic codes will progressively be lost (considering no one would want to have short, dumb, blind children with crooked smiles) and ofcourse relationships will have different meanings, and the whether it is ethically right to play 'God' are being debated on. But as a respite, parents would not have a tough time explaining their kinder garden kids about how they came into this world!
1. Oh, Tiger Woods! -- Why?? I mean if a highly successful rich man who has what it takes to have magnificient women throwing themselves at him just enjoys the attention that he's getting, then what problem does the entire world have? I mean if at all someone has to have a problem, it should be the people involved with Woods and not the world at large. Disengaging him from endorsements and removing all ads on which he appeared, and almost emotionally forcing him to declare a break from golfing makes no sense. Its truly a WTF (as amitV would call it) non-issue.
2. Telengana - TRS chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao got into a 11 day hunger strike and won Telengana. How about PC getting a bit worried about Irom Sharmila who has been on a hunger strike for the past 10 years for the roll back of AFSPA? On the other hand, without debating if it was a good move or a bad move to have a separate state, I wonder if everyone started thinking getting separate was the solution, we would land up having some 600-something states (considering we have some 600-something districts) in this nation.
3. Narayanpatna -- Shame on our system. As nisha susan rightly puts it, someday 'You will not be more afraid of the police than a rapist.'
4. Prostitution, Make legal? - Well I think yes, but make legal with stricter control on the licenses. A good article on outlook, highlighting what happened in places (Australia, Netherland etc) where it has been legalized vs the places (eg. Sweden) where the traffickers have been gotten after, is a good read.
5. Overseas Contingency Operation -- Mr. Obama, 2009 is over and soon will 2010 go by. Do you remember your promise? The world is watching, give us up'dates'!
6. Blue-eyes, Blonde, a sparkling smile, artistic, gentle mmm preferably with a pinch of naughtyness - Scientists say thats how babeis will be 'made' in 2020! The fear that diversity of gentic codes will progressively be lost (considering no one would want to have short, dumb, blind children with crooked smiles) and ofcourse relationships will have different meanings, and the whether it is ethically right to play 'God' are being debated on. But as a respite, parents would not have a tough time explaining their kinder garden kids about how they came into this world!
After long..
So much on the news that its difficult to channelize thoughts on one subject. With the risk of making readers feel that I am trivializing issues, I will just randomly write with the flow.
1. Oh, Tiger Woods! -- Why?? I mean if a highly successful rich man who has what it takes to have magnificient women throwing themselves at him just enjoys the attention that he's getting, then what problem does the entire world have? I mean if at all someone has to have a problem, it should be the people involved with Woods and not the world at large. Disengaging him from endorsements and removing all ads on which he appeared, and almost emotionally forcing him to declare a break from golfing makes no sense. Its truly a WTF (as amitV would call it) non-issue.
2. Telengana - TRS chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao got into a 11 day hunger strike and won Telengana. How about PC getting a bit worried about Irom Sharmila who has been on a hunger strike for the past 10 years for the roll back of AFSPA? On the other hand, without debating if it was a good move or a bad move to have a separate state, I wonder if everyone started thinking getting separate was the solution, we would land up having some 600-something states (considering we have some 600-something districts) in this nation.
3. Narayanpatna -- Shame on our system. As nisha susan rightly puts it, someday 'You will not be more afraid of the police than a rapist.'
4. Prostitution, Make legal? - Well I think yes, but make legal with stricter control on the licenses. A good article on outlook, highlighting what happened in places (Australia, Netherland etc) where it has been legalized vs the places (eg. Sweden) where the traffickers have been gotten after, is a good read.
5. Overseas Contingency Operation -- Mr. Obama, 2009 is over and soon will 2010 go by. Do you remember your promise? The world is watching, give us up'dates'!
6. Blue-eyes, Blonde, a sparkling smile, artistic, gentle mmm preferably with a pinch of naughtyness - Scientists say thats how babeis will be 'made' in 2020! The fear that diversity of gentic codes will progressively be lost (considering no one would want to have short, dumb, blind children with crooked smiles) and ofcourse relationships will have different meanings, and the whether it is ethically right to play 'God' are being debated on. But as a respite, parents would not have a tough time explaining their kinder garden kids about how they came into this world!
1. Oh, Tiger Woods! -- Why?? I mean if a highly successful rich man who has what it takes to have magnificient women throwing themselves at him just enjoys the attention that he's getting, then what problem does the entire world have? I mean if at all someone has to have a problem, it should be the people involved with Woods and not the world at large. Disengaging him from endorsements and removing all ads on which he appeared, and almost emotionally forcing him to declare a break from golfing makes no sense. Its truly a WTF (as amitV would call it) non-issue.
2. Telengana - TRS chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao got into a 11 day hunger strike and won Telengana. How about PC getting a bit worried about Irom Sharmila who has been on a hunger strike for the past 10 years for the roll back of AFSPA? On the other hand, without debating if it was a good move or a bad move to have a separate state, I wonder if everyone started thinking getting separate was the solution, we would land up having some 600-something states (considering we have some 600-something districts) in this nation.
3. Narayanpatna -- Shame on our system. As nisha susan rightly puts it, someday 'You will not be more afraid of the police than a rapist.'
4. Prostitution, Make legal? - Well I think yes, but make legal with stricter control on the licenses. A good article on outlook, highlighting what happened in places (Australia, Netherland etc) where it has been legalized vs the places (eg. Sweden) where the traffickers have been gotten after, is a good read.
5. Overseas Contingency Operation -- Mr. Obama, 2009 is over and soon will 2010 go by. Do you remember your promise? The world is watching, give us up'dates'!
6. Blue-eyes, Blonde, a sparkling smile, artistic, gentle mmm preferably with a pinch of naughtyness - Scientists say thats how babeis will be 'made' in 2020! The fear that diversity of gentic codes will progressively be lost (considering no one would want to have short, dumb, blind children with crooked smiles) and ofcourse relationships will have different meanings, and the whether it is ethically right to play 'God' are being debated on. But as a respite, parents would not have a tough time explaining their kinder garden kids about how they came into this world!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
No time for love
Almost 2 decades ago, Andrew (Andy) Warhol said in future everyone will have “15 minutes of fame”.
With a zillion mediums and a zillion things to do, there is ample chance of the prediction turning out to be true.
15 minutes of fame may come easy but making it last longer is a challenge.
Was actually reading up some stuff on highly successful people like Michael Jackson, Marylyn Monroe, John Lenon and the likes, and even though on the surface most of these people had a star studded flashy lifestyle, but underneath their shiny skin lived a unrest and unfulfilled soul.
Maybe the discontentment, the disillusionment, the sadness was their recipe for genius, but then each one of them, at certain times in their lives had expressed unfulfilled desires and longing for genuine relations.
Recently I read about the tapes that MJ had recorded earlier this decade where in he was talking about his life, his family, his work, his relationships and his belief system. It was saddening to hear that he said he was craving love, for genuine feelings. He had become so disillusioned that he had started doubting the intentions of everyone he met. He acknowledged that he was on the road to self destruction.
The more I read about the lives of artists and geniuses, I find some facts that are eerily common with all of them. One is that most of them have disturbed childhoods, they have sudden stardom, they have multiple complex relationships in quick successions, they have drug abuse problems, they have high levels of emotional stress, they earn negative media publicity, they run into huge debts and they eventually die unnatural sudden deaths. I believe they start out with a passion for their art and aim for humble beginnings and then the fame, popularity and strange fixations ruins the balance of their lives and they lose control . I know by saying this I am over simplifying things, but however complicated a picture you draw, the gist would more or less be this.
You work all the way to the top and then you realize that the money you earned becomes so worthless because you cant buy love and maybe you somehow cease to have time for it.
So what does it come back to? Contentment? Peace? Love?
I wonder if having-no-time-for-love is same as having no desire to feel loved. Is it the same thing?
With a zillion mediums and a zillion things to do, there is ample chance of the prediction turning out to be true.
15 minutes of fame may come easy but making it last longer is a challenge.
Was actually reading up some stuff on highly successful people like Michael Jackson, Marylyn Monroe, John Lenon and the likes, and even though on the surface most of these people had a star studded flashy lifestyle, but underneath their shiny skin lived a unrest and unfulfilled soul.
Maybe the discontentment, the disillusionment, the sadness was their recipe for genius, but then each one of them, at certain times in their lives had expressed unfulfilled desires and longing for genuine relations.
Recently I read about the tapes that MJ had recorded earlier this decade where in he was talking about his life, his family, his work, his relationships and his belief system. It was saddening to hear that he said he was craving love, for genuine feelings. He had become so disillusioned that he had started doubting the intentions of everyone he met. He acknowledged that he was on the road to self destruction.
The more I read about the lives of artists and geniuses, I find some facts that are eerily common with all of them. One is that most of them have disturbed childhoods, they have sudden stardom, they have multiple complex relationships in quick successions, they have drug abuse problems, they have high levels of emotional stress, they earn negative media publicity, they run into huge debts and they eventually die unnatural sudden deaths. I believe they start out with a passion for their art and aim for humble beginnings and then the fame, popularity and strange fixations ruins the balance of their lives and they lose control . I know by saying this I am over simplifying things, but however complicated a picture you draw, the gist would more or less be this.
You work all the way to the top and then you realize that the money you earned becomes so worthless because you cant buy love and maybe you somehow cease to have time for it.
So what does it come back to? Contentment? Peace? Love?
I wonder if having-no-time-for-love is same as having no desire to feel loved. Is it the same thing?
Monday, September 28, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
backlog 4
I was recently reading an article on the conspiracy theory that Prez Barrak Obama is not a legitimate US President because he has not yet produced long form birth certificates and college records stating that he was born in Hawaii.
The rumor is that Obama was born in Kenya. A Kenyan ambassador and Obamas grandmom have gone on records stating the Obama was born on Kenyan soil.
However, what was particularly interesting is that in the comment section of that debate, I found quite a few Americans (atleast they claimed to be americans) being absolutely cool about the fact that their president is theoretically not one amongst them. Most of them have said that they would be more than keen to outsource all the jobs to people of different nationalities if they could match the skills and prove to be the best person for the task in question.
I hold similar views.
But then maybe this is possible in countries like America where the diversity in terms of people, religion, caste, terrain, economy and neighborhood politics is not as complex as say for a country like India.
Coming to think of it, how many Americans, unlike Indians, would care or be even bothered that their president may not have been born in US. Perhaps very few (of course, given the very infamous high IQ (ignorance quotient and not intelligence quotient), I think most of the Americans would not even know where Kenya is, so you could easily coax them into believing that its a state in United States itself, and get done with all troubles!). Jokes apart, I remember how when Mrs Sonia Gandhi opted not to become the Prime Minister of India and in turn made Mr. Manmohan Singh take the throne, was actually perceived as a great and correct political move. More because most people kind of knew how the people of India would react to having a 'foreigner' as their prime minister. Even though, Sonia Gandhi has proven herself to be just as much Indian as any other politician in India. In addition, I am convinced that she is far better than many of the other so called leaders.
I feel bad and ashamed of these acts and views of pseudo national pride which prejudiced citizens (mostly the educated lot) are proud flaunting.
Anyway, I have been told that I am narrow minded in several things as well. Whatever! (Am not dismissing the claim though ;-))
The rumor is that Obama was born in Kenya. A Kenyan ambassador and Obamas grandmom have gone on records stating the Obama was born on Kenyan soil.
However, what was particularly interesting is that in the comment section of that debate, I found quite a few Americans (atleast they claimed to be americans) being absolutely cool about the fact that their president is theoretically not one amongst them. Most of them have said that they would be more than keen to outsource all the jobs to people of different nationalities if they could match the skills and prove to be the best person for the task in question.
I hold similar views.
But then maybe this is possible in countries like America where the diversity in terms of people, religion, caste, terrain, economy and neighborhood politics is not as complex as say for a country like India.
Coming to think of it, how many Americans, unlike Indians, would care or be even bothered that their president may not have been born in US. Perhaps very few (of course, given the very infamous high IQ (ignorance quotient and not intelligence quotient), I think most of the Americans would not even know where Kenya is, so you could easily coax them into believing that its a state in United States itself, and get done with all troubles!). Jokes apart, I remember how when Mrs Sonia Gandhi opted not to become the Prime Minister of India and in turn made Mr. Manmohan Singh take the throne, was actually perceived as a great and correct political move. More because most people kind of knew how the people of India would react to having a 'foreigner' as their prime minister. Even though, Sonia Gandhi has proven herself to be just as much Indian as any other politician in India. In addition, I am convinced that she is far better than many of the other so called leaders.
I feel bad and ashamed of these acts and views of pseudo national pride which prejudiced citizens (mostly the educated lot) are proud flaunting.
Anyway, I have been told that I am narrow minded in several things as well. Whatever! (Am not dismissing the claim though ;-))
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