Dilip Kumar - The first method actor in World Cinema

December 11, 2015.

Dilip Kumar today turns 93.

One may try to measure the greatness of talent and art but if they were to do so, they would do it in vain. One may count the number of awards, honours and recognitions bestowed on a humanly body with a distinct identification but how on earth could one measure the intangible. Something like how you were moved form within by a work of art.

Of Dilip Kumar, there is hardly anything new to offer about the man or his first-hand accounts that the world does not know by now. And even if there are some, well then of course there is no peaceful alternative to ignorance (or choice, whatever keeps them happy).

I, a self-confessed Hindi film buff, was drawn to Dilip Kumar through cable tv in the 90s that showed some of his films. All his black and white films were lesser a charm to a child who was more fascinated by the fast-paced action and over the top comedy. However, as the easily-impressionable understanding of adolescence waned and along with it was left behind the teenage-like affection one holds for every other thing, Dilip Kumar's enigma dawned upon me.

This enigma still remains inexplicable and I'd rather not try to decipher that and lose the charm of just feeling and experiencing what Dilip Kumar does to me.

In this age of fast internet, one may just juggle some google and wikipedia and come up with facts and statistics about anyone in recognizable public life. Much easily for Dilip Kumar. I affirm my allegiance to the thought of school, as Shabana Azmi writes in Dilip Kumar's autobiography, which propounds that "It is uncultured of somebody to praise somebody elder to them. We stand no authority to even speak high of them. We can only bow our heads and express our respect to them."


Down here is a scholarly account by lyricist-writer Javed Akhtar that consolidates Dilip Kumar as the first Method Actor in World Cinema and narrates how the nonagenarian has left an indelible mark on generations of actors about acting.


"By 1953, the Western World got convinced that they have found the first method actor in Cinema in Marlon Brando. Because, unfortunately they were unaware that in some other part of the world, in India, there is an actor who started his journey in 1944 and, as a matter of fact, he was doing all that is called method acting.

After first few stumbling steps, he found his bearings and not only did he find his bearings, he developed a new syntax, a new grammar, a new language of acting. It is not a matter of opinion. It is a matter of history. The first method actor in the history of World Cinema is Dilip Kumar.

It was one learned man Panini who codified the great language of Sanskrit. He founded the syntax to the vast language. Yusuf saahab is the Panini of Indian film acting. He has codified Indian cinema's acting. That is why you see generations after generations have that influence, that colour, that shape, that shadow, that effect. They have learnt from him.

For 60-70 years he has left his indelible mark. It's not easy in show-business, in mass communication. With time people change, values change, statistics change, aspirations change, morality changes. To remain relevant for more than half of a century is not easy. It's not less than a miracle.

There are two types of people. One who tried to mimic him, imitate him. On the other side there were extremely talented actors who seriously understood his craft. They understood his way of working. They learnt from him and added from there own pool of talent also and passed it onto the forthcoming generations.

Today young actors are following the same trend but don't know the art has come from Dilip saahab. Because it was passed onto them after generations and generations. They are putting the right wheels in their vehicles. But, they don't know who invented the Wheel.

बात अगर सिर्फ़ इतनी ही होती तब भी बहुत बड़ी थी। मगर हैरत ये है के बात इससे भी आगे है!

This does not hold only for actors, even writers have learnt from Dilip Kumar. When we watch his black and white films, we see how he improvised scenes. We see how he leaves the punchline. How he underplays a scene that was supposed to be dramatic. And a sensitive writer would learn from it and would write accordingly. This is the right way.

Outside Films also, Yusuf Saahab has left a deep mark on society and people. There are several dictionaries. There maybe an Oxford or a Webster's but there is one dictionary that each one of us carries and that is in our minds.

In that dictionary you decide what is the meaning of any word. Same word means different things to different people. But, there are many, many who, when they turn the pages of their mental dictionary and look for the meaning of one word - Dignity, they will find only one meaning - Dilip Kumar.

We must thank Dilip Kumar for being himself.

"आने वाली नसलें तुम पर नाज़ करेंगी ऐ लोगों

जब उनको ध्यान आएगा तुमने 'दिलीप' को देखा था"

(A maqta by Firaq Gorakhpuri. Firaq replaced by 'Dilip' in second line)"
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(Pic courtesy: 1 - internet. 2. Dilip Kumar's autobiography - The Substance and the Shadow)


On a better day. :)

The Deepika Padukone vs The Times of India case

     The social media was ablaze with discussions surrounding the controversy sparked by the Times of India after it posted a controversial picture of Deepika Padukone and captioned it -- "OMG! Deepika Padukone's cleavage show!" to which the actress retorted and lashed out at the giant media house for it tried to "attract readers using the power of influence to proliferate recessive thought".

     The event followed with ToI publishing its "point of view" and explaining its position on the internet publications, but still defying and unapologetic.

     Now the debate that has been set rolling among people of honour and other laymen is whether the incident is a publicity gimmick or if ToI has touched a new low in entertainment journalism, too!

     ToI has been known for its flamboyance and how at times it has kept ethics and moral codes of journalism at bay and instead went ahead in quest for catching more eyeballs.

     Call it immaculate on the leading English paper's decision making body that every time they did some bizarre reporting their work has paid off and objective achieved, well almost. To them it seems, any publicity is a good publicity! Well, now you have almost all media -- rivals, alliance, national, international -- taking up this red-hot issue and giving ToI what it has always sought.

     But, that is one side of the story.

     Deepika, on the other side, expressed her anger over the distasteful story through Facebook and Twitter, where she has followers in millions. Nowadays, celebs prefer using social media to express their stance or to make any statement and this understandable.

     But the point in this case being that the incident seems perfectly timed for two of her films' release. That Deepika is a star and has featured in multiple box-office blockbusters is an undeniable fact. But then again, to deny any possibility of she using her fame for 'Finding Fanny' - an offbeat looking film - would not be a sensible thing.

    Moreover, her "point of view", has made the entire episode more an issue of women empowerment and how ToI is disrespectful to the entire woman fraternity. Which of course has generated a spiraling effect of endless debates with mostly the 'politically correct' ones edging out the other. 

     So what could have been resolved and made a good precedent for benefit of society at large has been converted into a mass movement (on social media platforms) with almost everyone affirming politically correct statements and using rationale that coincides with the pious theme of empowering women and gender sensitisation.

     Well, the collective wisdom of people at large has always been a point of discussion and more so when in India it concerns Film industry and media.

     Morality at the level of media, showbiz and society is now under utter doubt. The point in this case being how we have kept a large number of people engaged in "an issue" which might well in time emerge as something non-issue.

     To quote Buddha, "The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook."

     Well, the Lord knew it too well but his was a time of meta-physics and now we are in the age of swift communication and defamation suits!

     The actress still can file a defamation suit against ToI if the incident has left her genuinely bewildered and if she is in for some substantial gender sensitisation. Moreover she could express her indignation by offering to return the TOIFA Best Actress Award which ToI had conferred on her in 2013. 

     "I am not naive about my profession: it is one that requires lots of demanding things of me. A character may demand that I be clothed from tip to toe or be completely naked and it will be my choice as an actor whether or not I take either. Understand that this is a 'Role' and not 'Real' and it is my job to portray whatever character I choose to play convincingly," Deepika had said in her Facebook post.

     Now there seems to be a problem of understanding that she might have in case incurred. The demarcation of role and real is a vague, thin line as far as audiences at large understand. There are film-stars who have learnt this the hard way. You can't have the best of both worlds, you just can't!

     While in my recent reading of Dilip Kumar's autobiography I came to know that the legendary actor, considered epitome of acting in Indian cinema, had rejected many assignments because they were too crass to be done by someone well identified with public.

     "I strongly subscribe to the belief that an actor should be aware and conscious of his social responsibilities and contribute as much as he can to build the character of admirers who look up to him," Kumar wrote in the book.

     Here, too, as much it is a case of ideology (of the actor, the media house and society) it is a case of diagnosing the right wound and medicating it the right way.

     A day in future--

     "The Honourable Court, referring to the judgement in The Deepika Padukone vs The Times of India case (2014), pronounced its decision that the media house was lax in its reportage and that the constitutional protection for speech and expression is not absolute and that it is subject to reasonable restrictions based on considerations of 'public order', 'defamation', 'decency and morality' among other grounds  thereby leading to deviant behaviour which would adversely affect notions of morality..."

     But this case lies in the courtroom of future, if only it does.

On a better day.

Govinda- one fine actor

Govinda was already a stellar-actor when I was born. He was ruling bollywood. A mass entertainer, a multi-faceted entertainer. Around early and mid-nineties his movies and he - literally were "No.1". Now two decades down, stars have changed positions. But for an avid 'masala cinema' lover, he is still unparalleled. Many actors followed him and made mark but none could be him, irreplaceable.
When it comes to acting, Dilip Kumar-Amitabh Bachchan-Govinda. This is how I sequence the hindi cinema's legend, a century old. While Kumar is a thespian par excellence and also a strong indicator that you need not be loud to act, Bachchan single-handedly changed the perception of 'Hero' in hindi films and brought machoism to the forefront.
Govinda, on the other hand, was most often the happy go lucky young man who would often beat the goons and save girl or elderly people, dance and sing on the streets in colourful pants (which are back in fashion now), cry during emotional sequences, and win in the end to "live happily everafter".
I cannot recall many actors besides Govinda who would do a "yaa.. yaw" during action scenes, which is a genuine expression during fights. I mean who fights lip-sealed sans all that oral aggression!
When Govinda cries on-screen you can actually see the tears. Its less about glycerine, believe me, just try imagining Bachchan or Dilip Kumar with eyes tear-filled. I know its hard work. Only Shah Rukh Khan is a match here.
Dance. Certainly a USP that will keep Govinda among the top when it comes to dancer-actors. Hrithik Roshan is phenomenal, no doubt, but dude... why so serious all the time? Mithun Chakraborty - magical on feet, was someone who danced with joy. In recent years, Salman Khan too has built an image for himself on the same line- dance is fun.
Dialogue delivery... perhaps one of the finest voice modulations one could be audience to. As assertive as assertion, as interrogative as interrogation. Comic timing, not far from Mehmood some say. Delhi Safari, India's official entry to Oscars 2012 in animation category, is a fine example of how things are said! Govinda, solely with his voice, had nailed it.
But then you cannot hold time. You cannot hold stars from changing positions. You cannot undo wrong decisions. There is a lot you cannot!
Govinda's stardom was toppled because was no more punctual to work by late 90s. His sudden disappearance from top-slot was similar to what had happened to Shammi Kapoor and Rajesh Khanna's stardom and much for the same reason- they had become tardy. Often late at work.
Bad decisions. He did a number of brainless movies which unlike his other no-brainers were short on entertainment value too! Diving without life-jacket, doomed to drown! Bad PR management when corporates were taking over the industry finances and lack of A-grade lobbying could also be very well be reasoned for the down-fall of Govinda who in 1999 featured on number 9 in a BBC list of global entertainers of the millennium.
Then, rejecting 'Taal' and 'Devdas' at a time when he really needed some good A-class work could be best comprehended by the actor alone but not doing what Anil Kapoor and Jackie Shroff later did was something Govinda fans would have loved to see.
It is a less-known fact that Govinda had occasionally contributed to the lyrics, dialogues, writing and music in the movies he worked but without any credit, no patent issues back then you see.
Not to forget the contribution of Rumi Jaffery, Kader Khan, David Dhawan, Saroj Khan and others who helped carve out the artist from a lump of talent people called Govind Arun Ahuja.

Happy Birthday Govinda!

On a better day.
Have fun!
Take Care :)

Bhaago Budget Aaya...

Budget, in its literal sense, refers to an economic event. It summarises income and expenditure in an organized manner and represents the direction of the economy. Come to India, my nation, and it is much more beyond the laissez faire economics.  One of the queers of Indian Budget lies in the fact that we first prepare the expenses list and then the income. Irony rules.

February 22, Budget Session of the parliament kicked off with the President of India addressing a joint house. The president, in his monotonous reading of his speech, uttered nothing which was not speculated of the government. Clarifications and justifications on not being able to provide sound economic ambience by “My Government” in a globally effected economy seemed the President’s objective.

However, the President is not the man of the hour instead it is the Finance Minister Mr. Palaniappan Chidambaram who’ll be placing the cards for India’s future discourse on February 28, 2013.  A shrewd economist, hardcore technocrat, troubleshooter politician and miraculously an MP from Sivaganga constituency in Tamil Nadu are attributes clutched in Chidambaram’s sophistication.

Finance is Chidambaram’s forte but he wouldn’t be very pleased by the state of domestic as well as global economy. In a time when the GDP growth rate has hit decadal low (5.3 from last year’s 6.7) , multitude of economic revamping in sight and votes at stake Chidambaram is sure to lose calories on chair. The budget 2013-2014 is critically important in wake of the government’s misled past years. The expectations of a fair budget by all sectors and people at large, during a time when nothing good (except for some foreign investments in drips and trickles) is coming FinMin’s way, this budget will test his mettle as no prior budget did.

Removing subsidies from Petro-products and removing cap from gas cylinders has raved news in recent times. Food Inflation and Retail Inflation were recorded at 6.62% and 10.79% respectively (as in January 2013). The Food Subsidy Bill, perceived as UPA-II’s trump card, will bring in lot of relief to the government wherein they do not have lot many eye-pleasing schemes to offer, blame limited revenue for that. Nearly 40 percent of India’s population lives below poverty line. Providing food to vastly deprived majority is remarkable on government’s part and so is the direct cash transfer scheme which aims at providing cash benefits instead of subsidy. The implementation of both schemes will be worth notice, as both schemes carve out huge amounts of government income which could have been used otherwise. 

 The GDP growth is not understood by masses, but figures do intrigue mediocrity. Sadly, it is not on government’s side, as it reached 5.3% in closing month of 2012. Reducing the Fiscal deficit is a herculean task, another point on Budget agenda. Fiscal deficit has increased from last year’s Rs.26, 199 Crore to Rs. 31,016 Crore this year. Fiscal deficit is an issue of grave importance, it is pivotal in deciding India’s economy down the years. Increasing the exemption limit on income tax and limiting interest rates will control middle-class mood sway.

Indian economy is in dire need of structural reforms at large level, is a fact well acknowledged by experts and populists as well. Imports have rose from USD 43 billion last year to USD 45 billion this year, while Exports saw a negligible growth from USD 25.4 billion in last year to USD 25.6 billion this year. The Forex reserves have dropped from USD 316 billion to USD 295 billion while the currency depreciated in its value Rs/USD 49 to 53. The only figures that seem to bring roar to Chidambaram’s vocal chords is the FDI inflow that has increased from 3 to 6.4% last fiscal.

With Goods and Services Tax, Land Acquisition Legislation, Restructuring Electricity Boards losses and Single Window Clearance for large projects on cards, Chidambaram might very well be able to please the private sector, but it’s always easier said than done! The middle class is media-driven, the poor driven by fate.  The growth of economy would surely be on the government’s prime agenda as every year a new 10 million youngsters enter the workforce and providing them with work will be significant as a huge young lot will be out there to cast its vote for the first time. Not in his dreams can the Finance Minister sway with such big vote bank.

In the most abstract terms as I read it this budget, Chidambaram has to please a list of sectors while keeping the fiscal deficit minimum thereby not letting the Reserve Bank to increase interest rate. He will talk good on the dais as he presents the budget on Thursday, February 28 and showcase a vision to revamp a crippling economy standing at crossroads.

On a better day.

Have Fun!

Take Care! :)

Resolving my Resolution

Every new year I come up with thoughts of yearly resolutions. Watching the attachments to 'resolutions', I found it quite interesting. With attachments I mean the retrospection that one is clouded with over the last week of the year, and also the important events occurring during the same time frame. Its kind of cool talking about my yearly resolutions, the 'what' and 'why' added with zeal to improve myself. It all seems so blissful - new year resolution, cutting/adding on some habit and evolving as a better guy.

Then I recall some new year from the past and how my resolutions' failed drastically! Somehow every time, every single resolution that I took up was either forgotten after few weeks or ...
Taking up a resolution(decision)  is simple, sustaining it is not!

Well in the recent past year, my life has been more eventful than ever before. Graduated from Allahabad University, moved to Amravati for Post Graduation, enrolled into Journalism, new people, new ambiance and a lot new to be explored laid in front of me. Suddenly, one lazy Sunday morning I realized that something is missing. Something non- material, something from within me eludes. I took time out of my free schedule to look within and resolve my curious case. Who do i talk to about this, and more importantly What do i talk about? After earnest attempts of introspection, I could pin point that I have NOT been writing since long!
Writing for myself, writing for my blog post and few interested (coerced) readers.

On the dawn of 2013 i decided that I will write regularly. I have a resolution to keep, an instinct to suffice. Nevertheless, this sheer laziness and lost soul inside me keeps me wandering in less productive and fruit-less works. I intended to publish this post in the first week of January. posting it now, a month later! I need to improve my timing and be more disciplined.

Nothing much of satire or sarcasm, least of all humour in this post. Should it always be like that, maybe not.

एक शेर लिखा था जब इलाहाबाद में पेहले साल था तो ..

हवा खुश्क , मौसम कुछ सर्द था 
और बस थी इतनी खबर के बेखबर थे हम ..  

On a better day!
Have Fun, Take care!

KD :)

Thok-Pal..

Already three months to this year, eh? Belated, Happy New year!

Team Anna staged a one-day anshan at the jantar mantar on 25th march,
and re-itereated their deamnd for jan-lokpal bill to be passed.
two days later, i.e today a motion of censure was passed in the parliament against the usage of derogatory remarks by team anna against the parliamentarians during their stage shows and speeches for it hurts the righteousness and supremecy of the parliament (as bestowed by the constitution). However, interestingly, there was no such motion or even any action against the MPs who tore the women's reservation bill and the lokpal draft bill much prior to this incident. Moreover, the allegation is vehemently and plausibly challenged by the basic fact that there are 162 members of parliament who are still under CBI probe and other criminal charges (cases still pending). Now the underlying fact is that only three more days for the ongoing budget session of the parliament are left, which means no jan lok pal bill will be passes in this session. The movement which started actively last year (from april 5, 2011) , is yet to see any substantial improvement, and what is interesting here to know is that no member of the parliament opposes the lokpal individualy (or in media) then who stops the improvement is anybody's guess! No consensus among members is cited as the justification for this delay. 10 minutes is quite enough time to make consensus and reach a decision for the motivation has to be salary-hike, but for lokpal bill even a year does not suffice.
The television, newspaper, lok sabha, rajya sabha, auditoriums, public stages, drawing rooms, facebook, twitter, brains, brainless.. all are filled with debates. Unfortunately, it is only school debates that end up with results, not national debates. Dialogue is the key to solve issues, no doubt but dialogue should be followed by action too. It took 3 years to frame the Constitution of India, but what makes it take more than 40 years to induce in it a lokpal (lokpal bill first proposed in 1968) is certainly a matter to ponder over followed by some substntial actions.
The UPA-II rule has seen some of the ugliest scams in any goverment's rule is a fact, as true and believable as the sun that shines. These matters do not hurt the sentiments of the MPs. They remain unhurt, unshaken and unagitated to the news that 16 jawans (who were carrying amenities for the tribes including sewing machines, bicycles, medicines and others) were martyred by the naxalites while they were condemning someone who called them "CHOR". Tables, chairs, paper-wieghts and microphones have been hurrled and thrown in the august house is now a well digested fact, it never caused any agitation among the members. The Mafia growing so blatant that it kills the IPS officer and policemen leaves them unacting except for a two-minute silence. They (MPs) did not agitate to the fact and stats that in 5 years time 22000 farmers have committed suicide because of ignorance to their living conditions (as in 2011) while the 543 members of lok sabha have a combined asset (as declared in 2009 induction to lok sabha) of Rs 30,750 million. But, they are hurt by the terminology used by common people!
The common man is not akin to the "constitutional" lingua, so they they lose the right to ask their representatives to bring in a check to corruption. As pitty as pathetic it is.
Criminalization of Politics and Politicization of Crime is the (law and) order of the day.

All this while, the catalysing force for the movement, i.e We, the people, tend to losing the zeal and enthusiasm as each day passes by. This is but natural to us as the time has moulded us, we tend to lose interest and enthusiasm in any matter which stays for quite sometime, be it any trending news, be it kolaveri di, be it martyrs, be it rise in fuel price. Everything subsides now in a few days. The anti-corruption movement will get "boring" day by day. This innate human tendency, to move on, is known to the ruling government and they are tapping it to the best of their use, by delaying the lok pal bill.


Meanwhile, Mr. Vijay Mallaya can be accredited to the fact that nowadays children name Kingfisher when asked "Name a flightless bird.".


On a better day.

Have Fun!
Take care!

Zindagi Ka Saath Nibhaata.. Chala Gaya..

.. अरे कोई अंदाजा है ये देव आनंद की उम्र कितनी होगी?
पता नहीं यार कबसे तो देख रहे हैं, हमारे बाबा कहते हैं उनसे भी पुराने हैं ..
.. तो शायद अल्लाह मियाँ से दो -चार साल छोटे होंगे और क्या!

I have a sense of personal apology. The reason, this not being "a better day".


88, quite a ripe and digestible age for demise. But certainly not for someone whom the world knew as Dev Anand. D-E-V A-N-A-N-D countless adjectives have been conferred upon him. But the greatness emerged when the name itself was adopted as an adjective. "अहा .. मेरे देव आनंद!" Even I, (born '91) heard it at occassions. Such is the legend, such his magnamity.

December 4, I woke up to the news that Dev Saab is no more with us. An instantaneous feeling of sadness poured in. The day passed, the feeling did not. I do not doubt that this feeling might just transform into a nostalgia eventually. Its quite obvious with someone like myself to whom bollywood is an obsession. Infact, its not just about bollywood or global cinema, it is all about greatness. Greatness in the form of Dev Anand.

We all see old people around us but hardly few (especially octagenarians)
so active as Dev Saab was. I do not know other celebs high on age so ignited in minds and passion (besides, Khushwant Singh) for work. To him age was just a number and he romanced that too!
So the news of his leaving for heavenly abode was more a kind of shock. He celebrated life. He personified life and living. Death, is like cheating on life and he was too honest to do that. Life's biggest asset and objective, to him, was life itself. So it was basically not in the nature of Dev Saab to die. People around him till that fateful ( read fateless) day never attributed death to him. Presumably
even they had immortalized him. No wonder why the world refers to him as "Evergreen"!

Shammi Kapoor, Feroz Khan, Jagjeet Singh, Dev Anand.. my Immortals!


P.S. Do see his movie Guide, if you have not.
(two lines have been quoted from an article in the Times of India)

DEMO(n)CRACY!

Violence is never good, though it may seem appropriate at certain situation.

Sharad Pawar, union minister for agriculture in India, was bewildered with
a slap which was perceived by the civilised intelligentsia as an "assault" on
democracy.

Now what really wonders me is that there are two perceptions of democracy
we breathe in. There are two constitutions, one for the ordinary citizens also
resented as "the common man" and the other for their elected representatives.
The citizens' constitution begins..
"WE, THE PEOPLE.."
and the other opens..
"WHO THE PEOPLE?"

Todays' incident followed wave of reactions. Some condemned it, some believed its a
publicity stunt, some (posing intellect) remarked it as the outburst of the affliction on the common-man. Nevertheless, bottomline -everyone enjoyed.

Drifting a bit, the winter session of the parliament has begun. With all the chaos and non-agreements, all three days (as yet) have been wasted. No discussions, no bills, no work.
Being responsible, have the members of parliament given a thought to the
fact that an hour of session costs Rs. 25 lakhs and a day Rs. 2.25 crore and the whole session would cost Rs.52 crores.. I doubt. Talking about all the 8 sessions of the present 15th Lok Sabha, it should have worked 897 hours but it turned out to have worked only 372 hours!
Outside the parliament they talk about justice to tax-payers' hard-earned money and
taking up issues of public interest but when in house what are they upto is anybody's guess.

But, that does not disappoint, because recently a culture has evolved in which discussions are not held in official places instead issues are discussed in news channels with a pannel of few guests (a couple of rival politicians, an economic expert, a social worker, etc) and a journalist cum host, which often concludes with the line ..और समय की कमी के चलते इस बहस यहीं समाप्त करते हैं। नमस्कार। Let us see, where it takes us.

And just for information, foreign direct investment (FDI) has been approved in Indian retail
market. Walmart et al to soon be seen, shine in Indian cities. On the other hand, UN says, India has 40 percent of its population living below poverty line. Indian officials deny, they say ONLY 37 percent!


On a better day.

Have Fun!
Take Care! :)

SPLIT- personality!

After more than half a century of Independence, large area and population now hinders the growth and development. Once the PROs now the CONs.

With a total land area of 294,500 sq. kms and inhibited by a phenomenal popluation
of about 19.95 crore individuals, Uttar Pradesh is all set to get split into four parts-
Pashchim/Harit Pradesh, Awadh Pradesh, Purvanchal and Bundelkhand.

Now here is something to "Whop!"..
Uttar Pradesh is not only the most populous state in India but also the most
populous substantial entity in the whole world! Only five countries (China, India, USA, Indonesia and Brazil) have a population more than Uttar Pradesh.
Uttar Pradesh is half the size of France, double the size of Portugal, it can fit in seven Switzerlands and ten Belgiums. And guess what.. It's slightly bigger than England, our masters for two centuries!
Findings say that every 3rd guy in the world is Chinese, 4th an Indian and 36th औ का- अपने यूपी का!

And to criticise(righteously) if its not population, area and birth rates (not the crude birth rates)
Uttar Pradesh ranks among the lowest in almost every index of economical and social development be it health, litercay, employment.

Then, there is certainly much more to this split than just the "whops" mentioned above.
Uttar Pradesh resides 16 percent of total Indian population. Reserves the highest number
of chairs in Lok Sabha (माई-बाप की हवेली), unambiguosly has a strong political presence at
the centre. Besides, it is seen as a trump card by BSP(Bahujan Samaj Party- Mayawati wali) for the forthcoming state elcetions in Uttar Pradesh. History records it, A Trump either Makes it or Breaks it!

Here is the apparent crux of the split:

• Mayawati gains politically as her core constituency - Dalits - are evenly spread throughout the state.
• Samajwadi Party's 8.7 per cent core Yadav vote is not uniform. One chunk is in Eastern UP and another in Etawah, Mainpuri and Etah belt.
• RLD has been campaigning for Harit Pradesh in Western UP region. It is bound to gain there because of the dominant Jats.
• The Congress like the BSP has influence in all regions, but it's far too thin, so no visible gain.
• The BJP has influence in Eastern UP because of caste equation of Rajputs and Brahmins.

वैसे अगर हमारी मानें मुख्यमंत्री मायावती जी तो उत्तर प्रदेश को एक अलग देश ही बनवा लें और स्वयं प्रधानमंत्री बन जायें!




P.S. The Split resolution has been passed by the State Assembly, it is yet to get a final nod of agreement from the Central Government.


On a better tomorrow.

Have fun!
Take Care! :)

Formula- "Won"

Been quite some time. Doesn't make much of a difference.
What brought you here? My text message/ call/ fb notification?
Whatever be it, I appreciate you are here. Thank you.

So, it was morning, today itself, when the news flashed that
the world has crossed 7 billion mark population. Surely debates and discussions
are to follow and like always "who cares?" and why not as all these "discussions and
debates" lead to the one and same objective- the TRP (television rating points).
But nevertheless, With the birth of every child I realize that God has still not lost hope in Human Race.

Now onto "bigger", much hyped and talked issue - Formula-One!!
Fans had an overwhelming response and excitement. On the other hand rather other pole
the critics and the "socially-concerned" intelligentsia have their own arguments, well
supported but not accepted. Poor fellas! They'll die concerned but unconsidered!
But the biggest of inference, the whole event was a herculian task carried out well in time
(except for Metallica performing in Gurgaon) and apparently no malpractices.
The reason lies in its sole private organisation and management. Had it been a government
organised- managed event.. (ha ha ha)

बाकी सब सही है। भ्रष्टाचार तो चल ही रहा है India Against Corruption भी चल रहा है। वैसे ठीक ही है क्योंकि ये सब ख़तम हो जाएगा तो ये लोग करेंगे क्या??


On a better day.
take care :)

India vs Indians

Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.

Anna hazaare, as a force, has pounded the door of political authorities with the aim
to slam down the corrupt practices. Gathering a mass support Anna and his team have
made their motives clear. But..(I so frenzy this word, it changes the whole equation) it is
almost next to impossible to get over the UPA II's team of hardcore professionals.
Citing the UPA's rule it is a state of desparity that it lacks a leader. A mass leader.
What it has got is a team full of professionals ranging from legal consultants to taxation expert
to Media managers and Lobbyists. However shrewed these " elected representatives" be, nevertheless I have faith in Anna "the silver lining" Hazaare.

Now, into the sixty-five year of our Independence. A lot many things have changed. The supposed and proposed base lost in thick air. India, an agrarian country, shifted its attention from the villages to the Metropolis. अब दिल्ली में बैठा बाबू ये तय करेगा की फलां फलां गाँव में या जिले में क्या और कैसे होगा! The "decentralised outlook of our good governance"!

Freedom of Speech. The least said, the best said.
P.S. The above written statement does not imply to General Secrataries of Indian national congress.

And sometimes I really go awestruck the way electronic media has emerged.
Since recent, with the debate over good governance a point has been raised and reiterated
countless times and that is "The Parliament is Supreme." Should i laugh at it or scorn it off. Pathetic knowledge. BREAKING NEWS "The Indian
Constitution is Supreme!" nothing/no one parallels, not even the Parliament.
The media is a flock of cattles. One drowns they all shall drown.

Gandhi wanted SYSTEM IN POLITICS. Gandhi(s) brought POLITICS IN SYSTEM.

A stoic war of ideologies has always prevailed in my country. A war between bad and worse.
An unproclaimed, undeclared war between the ruling and the ruled.

Lets participate, await and see whether this mass movement turns into a revolution with the expected consequences.


On a better tomorrow.

Have Fun!
Take care!

Jai Jai Mumbai Maazha

July 13 2011. Mumbai faced another violent attack. A serial bomb explosions. Three in specific.
Killing several and several more were left injured. Investigations Allegations Suspicions clarification its all on..
Politicians, activists, social workers all condemned the incident. Summing up, they, praise the non stopping Mumbai and its Resilience! Some are resilient by choice and some, on the other hand, by force. And as I see, Mumbai (or for that matter
India) falls in the latter category.

Fundamentally, the resilience we talk about is the power of emerging back strong after a devastation. But in this case, it is the repeated nature of attacks that has made us adept to be resilient. In simplified terms, if there has been a destruction, lives have been lost, people injured, So the injured one would get a treatment and try to get back to work at the earliest despite having the greatest sentiment and empathy to the lost souls. A Middle class, working, responsible man cannot afford to be impracticly sentimental!

Later while investigating the NIA quits on grounds of non co-operation by the local authorities and agencies.
Well it couldnt have been a greater of an irony that the NIA quits the task which was solely formed to investigate the terror attacks such as this one.

But, on a personal level I dont want the agencies to come out with any specific results and accuse any terror organisation.
Maybe thats because I have lost (not exactly) my faith in the trials and execution procedures of the judiciary system.
26/11 Kasab.. December 13 2002 Afzal Guru..

(and I had a raised eye brow when I found that Rs.8.5 lac is the daily cost of keeping Kasab safe and secure for a "fair trial")

And then we have our "elected represenatatives" speak their wisdom.
कोई बात नहीं नेता जी पहले गैर जिम्मेदाराना बयान दे दो फिर लोकतंत्र की दुहाई दे देना, सीट तो आपकी पक्की ही है!

Anyways, there is another quickie to follow that amazed me.

The mess canteen at the Parliament of India does not have coldrinks on its menu!
Take a moment to guess why.. the Pesticide thing! Remember that. It was true.
The coldrinks have been found strikingly high on pesticide contents in it.
Wise, the lot of people who serve as our representative. Safety First Scams Second!

Interesting breed, Politicians!

Enough of my unproductive patriotsim for now.
On a better day.

Have fun!
Take care!

REVOLUTION ???

SHRI RAM JAI RAM JAIRAM RAMESH!

Sounds familiar? Recently there has been a stir over Mr. JaiRam Ramesh's statement, involving IITs and IIMs, much to our awareness.
A page full of facts, both in favour and as opposed, could be presented in response to his statement. But, my take is certainly on a happy note. There are politicians, that too a cabinet minister, who has a concern over such a matter oblivion to common eye and he is responsibly outspoken about it.


Moving to another issue. Perhaps mammoth of an issue. Baba Ramdev agitating the nation on matters of corruption and huge amounts of black money. He has started his 'Satyagraha' along with thousands he is spearheading. We have seen him being well opposed by the ruling government. The latter's motive quite understandably unclear.


Later, on the protests' first night itself, the whole organisation had been demolished. It was 2 am when Lathicharge and Tear Gas was set open. I am really awestruck and appalled by the actions taken. I wonder why such kind of actions were not taken to curb the Gurjars claiming for a
pity motive as reservation! The gurjar Movement had reportedly caused a loss on hundreds of crores and loss of lives. Crores can be regained. But lives lost cannot be replenished. And the government has been so quick in curbing this non-violent movement. Similar to the Gurjars was the Jats' movement. Resulting in loss of lives as well as money.


To Debate over the matter, the government has accused him of connections with the RSS, the VHP and the BJP. I say, even if he is connected, THEN WHAT? Baba, as I have known his agenda, has a transparency, clarity and Vision unlike his counterparts who always end up saying "the matter shall be discussed and thought over... " when questioned. Its been more than 60 years of freedom, and the political parties still have FOOD on their manifestos. "60 SAAL SE ROTI ME HI PHASA RAKHA HAI.. VIKAS KISE CHAHIYE"


In Hope for rational outcome.


On a Better day.
Have Fun. Take Care. :)

Incredible India!

He is able who thinks he is able.

Have you heard about Julian Assange? Wikileaks? Black Money? Assange is the Editor-in-Chief of the novelty Wikileaks website. But, thats not the concern, instead what concerns me more is his latest statement(s) over the black-money issue in regard to India.
Until now, I knew that India has about 400 Lac Crore black money deposited in the swiss banks. But, Mr. Assange iterated the amount to be $1500 billion! Isn't that flabbergasting? I feel it is! Some quickies in connection to this pretext:

• India is the biggest depositor of the black money in the world.

• The net black money generated in India is more than that of Germany, Russia, United Kingdom, Italy, China, Brazil and Ukraine all combined.

• The total amount of black money India has supercedes the national foreign debt and that too by 13 times.

In case, if we get the money back, then what we CAN do with it:

• 30 years of tax free nation.
• 100 crores to each village all across the country.
• 50,000 crores each district.
• or 2.5 lac to each family (no stats available for bachelors!)
• 4 lane roads from all villages to Dilli.
• No electricity shortage for upto 2100 AD

Facts keep building with passage of every single second! I am not really sure if we will get back our money and that too soon, but certainly I want it back. In the coming days wikileaks might reveal the names of Indians holding thier foreign accounts brimmed with black money. I wont be shocked if Mr. Vilasrao Deshmukh, Mr. Sharad Pawar or Mr. Ahmed Patel make it to that list.
Sometimes I really feel that we have a comlex and complicated constitution, laws and legislature.
Aristotle marked Democracy as a perversion. O Aristotle! I get u now!

कलमाड़ी साहब पटियाला हाउस में पेशी के लिए जा रहे थे । अचानक ही उनपर किसी शख्स ने चप्पल बरसा दी। 1977 ki यादें ताज़ा हो गयी होंगी! चप्पल चप्पल पे लिखा है खाने वाले का नाम!




Some better day. Some better thoughts.
Take Care!

Aaj Ki Baat..

So, after a gap of generations, we have done it again. We are the champions, the best in the entire cricketing world! This victory does not get barred to cricket alone. Had we not won it, a nation in agitation would have lost few seldom moments of pride and smiles. Blessings, we did it!

Meanwhile, just got to know, the big packet of a bread now costs rs.35! Anyways, thats not my take now! Jab 50 ka hoga tab is baare me chinta vyakt karenge! ;)

In the news, Anna Hazare has initiated his fast-unto-death from april 5. He has gathered a whole lot of support from the entire country. The JAN LOKPAL BILL the cause, the reason. I got to know that prior only Gandhi and JP Narayan had gathered a mass support to such degree. But, it might just be too early to put him in that league. Nonetheless, the valour needs to be commended. Sitting about half a thousand miles away from him, in my comfort, this is the best I can do.

The government is in a stir over this issue. They dont reply to Hazare's letters to consider his request. But in digitalised form "they are ready to discuss the matter and are open to suggestions!" The PM has already constituted a GoM(group of ministers) to take stock of the matter and the litigations. And the greatest of the ironies that emerges is Sharad Pawar is the chairman of this GoM! Are we living in a funny nation?

Courage is great, greater the thought and greatest the ideology!

At 72, Anna surely has what it takes to be that great. Recalling his past, reformations as an environmentalist, RTI torch-bearer, fundamentalist and social activism greatness is definitely not what drives him and that in itself is great! Nonetheless, not all protests succeed.. Darshan Singh Pherumann died after 74 days of fast whereas Mamta Banerjee succeeded after days 25! Politics mere yaar cheez alag hai!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Lokpal_Bill

Please check out this link and atleast know what the cause is!
Hume pata hai "isse kya hoga? kaun sa desh badla ja raha hai" Par kya ye behtar nahi hoga ki hum kam se kam ye to jaane ki aakhir baat hai kya!

अति सक्षम और अति बुद्धिमान लोगों से बदलाव की आकांक्षा नहीं करनी चाहिए !
Do give it a thought!!

On a better tomorrow!
Take Care! : )

Being Naive..

Back.. Back after Recession.. A Recession of thoughts, thought- provoking thoughts!
Apologies to 'the few' who might have given a recall.. "o yes, he started writing blog, what happened now?" and to others, I like u as well, but, your life didn't take a pause with this pause and neither did mine! (plz tolerate my PJs)


All this while, there have been issues.. Issues at individual level and at rather comprehensive, collective level. December -Januray, the mercury dropped down to levels that even 'global warming' had frozen! Come summers, and electronic media will have a 24*7 ready 'issue' to be presented.


Quite a time ago, there had been voices over coldrinks containing pesticide! A little later it shuddered down, though. But recently, I found out that coldrinks sale had risen even better than anticipated. And it was interesting to know that the reason was, Farmers using coldrink as pesticide, 'cause it cost them cheaper than the government subsidised pest-controls!


There's definitely a lot more to come.. I've lots of time.. If I can't find time for myself, then its better, I'm off myself!


आज सुबह खबर में पढ़ा के कलमाड़ी साहब फरार हो गए हैं! हमे लगता है की इतना रुपया बनाया है तो सकता है दुनिया की सैर पे निकल गए होंगे!


-Shall get you more, on a better tomorrow! :)
take care!

Summer 2010!

Ah, summers at peak! Every season has its own grace just like we have blooming bouganvillia and sweating foreheads adding rather elementing the summers. A little more time and 'this too shall pass' with monsoon arriving in and giving us another thing to 'dislike'.
With the change in weather, all what's going to remain same, is the moisture on our bodies transforming from sweat of summers to rain water(lest u feel the rain, more than just from your window pane). The former uncherished and the latter highly awaited.

Being fortunate enough, we show our dislike for the heat sitting in the coolers and fans! Not only the heat, the case is same with the flooding rains or the rib tickling cold. The only sufferer is the poor on the streets. Weaving grass covers during summers for coolers and taking up seasonal
jobs to earn the evening meal. Our kind of heat is felt for short duration of time and that makes us unadaptive to the season.




Nevertheless, its really hot out here. Lets wait for the rain drops to pour us down and in the meantime try your measures to Beat the Heat!

Issue'd' In Private Interest

How often it happens with us, that we feel strongly about some issue or the other.

By default, we've been put on earth in an age when time elapses so soon, things change, people change, issues change and what does not.

The other day, I was really worried about the electricity shortage. Then aircrash, followed by the train mishap. In recent times naxalism has also been a much talked about issue.

So, the issue i want to raise is that, what makes something an issue? And how it affects people like me. The typical middle class strata youth busy deciding what to study, new profile pic, sms pack, hanging out etc. We see a celebrity, posing for a photo with vegetation in the backdrop and then enchanting the mantra "only 1411 left... save tigers". Being null at mind, I join the group to "save tigers"! But I'm still unaware of how it's going to help. I mean I wont kill a tiger even if the count was somewhere in millions and probably none would do except for the few who do. Wouldn't a stricter law be more apt to regulate such an issue?

Citing another issue, our patriotism. Its a sensitive topic to be dealt with. Our kind of patriotism is not a quotidian thing, its more like a festive thing being flaunted twice a year. Had it not been so, India would have been a lesser problematic nation. Nevertheless, there are many activists around us, who would change the system if they get that opportunity/authority (sarcasm intended).

And to a great despair, why it happens that an issue doesn't survive more than a couple of days?

Why the common voice and views are bound to that corner tea stalls only, where only Guptaji and Sharmaji take a note to it and then ask who won yesterday's match? A consensus is made that politics is bad, the country will not progress, Naxalism can't be tackled, inflation can't be curbed, et al.

Most of the trouble in the world is caused because of people wanting themselves to be more important.

With a population 1/6 of the world, troubles are sure to trouble us, its just that we need to be ordinary in our demands and simpler in our attempts of demand.

Decision unmade...

Its seemingly quite mixed sort of thoughts I get when I take time out of my free schedule to look back, from where I started almost a year back.

It was around this time only, 10+2 results were out and without any amazement to anyone I managed to make it "an average" show. Post results the time I had was really significant in moulding my life which would follow my decisions taken then. Thereafter followed some entrance examinations, out of which I managed to get into half of them, surprisingly for myself, as for others!

Now one of the most bizarre incidents ever happened with me is that despite being eligible for one of the best institutes, I settled with the second option I had. Befuddled with my decision, I was often asked why did I not take the best option I had? I was always of the thought that how do i justify it rather should I justify?

The reasons or to be more precise the intentions were clear, 'What's best for all, could not necessarily be the best for me.'

It has become a real tough scene for people deciding over important issues. Issues that are life moulding. Having encountered a few, I, at no point wanted to regret what I decide. How would I tackle any reprehensible thought? It's more important to know what I want form myself. When I look at myself inside and out, I know what I want from myself. Name, fame, authority? I guess ,not! One thing was sure I never wanted the general best. Not being maverick but self.

So, the decision is yet to be taken, not in pursuit of happiness but satisfaction!