Do we really want this?

Life has its ups and downs, lows and highs, happy days and sad moments... As a middle aged, common man busy in his daily life balancing the home work and office pressures, I don't really get time to, or rather the liberty, to think and select sides, make an opinion reading the facts. And it is this makes me think over whether the majority of us really want whatever is happening in the country...

It has been long coming, too many news channels fighting over a piece of news in a country where the youth are able but unemployed, looking to be part of an action, waiting for an opportunity to prove their worth. It is here where the media is developing a habit of striking the emotional chords of the public. I don't remember any news on a private channel showing just the facts and debates without taking a side. It has always been biased. Even the debates on television have been favoured for or against the motion by the host.

But they get away with the fact that they show what public wants to see. Take for example the recent Beef issue. I have not seen a single television channel actually explaining what the law is and what it will mean. I myself read through some articles online to get a view of the issue. And when I did already a student was beaten up in IIT Madras over the issue. This isn't something new, the moment the news spread there were two sets of stories in the media one stating that the person beaten up was the victim and the other where in the person was allegedly beaten as he was forcing beef in a Jain mess. Kerala organised tons of such fests the day after the law was passed and there were supporters against the law but I don't see a good enough piece of information on what implications this has and why are they opposing the law. Just when this issue was there we had a high court judge saying why Peacock is our national bird and the whole country went crazy! His opinion is a moo point (quoting Friends series). But they were the breaking news for the day and rippled till the next day!

There were days when debates discussed GDP, Growth rate, it's rise it's fall which was not gathering as much attention as it was but it was news rather than just a prime time serial.

I don't care for the news these days, and I wish the times change. I fear for the generation growing up now, who from their young age will be developing opinions based on these channels. Those who will feel the divide of religion before they make friends, those who will make the opinions not based on both sides of coin but because they will not be knowing that there is another right side. And it is this extremism which is creating all the chaos today in minorities and will do so with the majority if things keep going this way.

I hope this is the low we are seeing and the Highs will be coming.

Learnings from movies...

First of all I would like to thank two of my dear friends who motivated me to continue writing. This blog is a place which I use as canvas for my thoughts and write all that comes to mind in the moment and one such feeling I have today.

For a youngster these days, it's not common to see facebook posts with headlines "Look how the friends actors look now" or "How child stars of Sonpari/Kuch Kuch Hota Hai/Mr. India have aged". The generation literally has grown with the television and film industry. Be it harry potter series which led us through the childhood into the teens, the x men which mutated our genes, the pirates who made us look at harsh things of life...

Yes it all is ending (though pirates has given a hope) and it's not the end that frightens me. It's what shall we dive into next that does. We have leant to explore and look into uncertainties from Harry and his friends. We learned to respect diversity from mutants. And the new pirates movie made me see a softer and mature Jack Sparrow. Sparrow who like us is seen lost in the world in the start of this movie is considerate of others, understands things better and looks to save others. What I saw in the movie (in which I missed a sword fight, dearly), was that even if you have lost everything, you can still get back up... Don't give up as you will find a way. Do the right things, help the right people and soon you will know your righteous path.

But the movies we grew up with are ending and it's all Superheroes these days... Being a fan all I can say is keep learning from them... We all are a superhero to someone. Respect that and be responsible for that.

Have Fun. Cheers...

5 Ways you can be Mahedra Singh Dhoni

Can you recall anyone who wasn't done playing and had a commercial movie biopic?? There may have been documentries on lives of many but not a commercial movie. The movie, I am sure will be a grand success, shows a simple life of Dhoni and grips you through it nicely...

There is a pinnacle moment in everyone's life, something that he was made for... something that he dreams and works for throughout his life. It may be a grand prize, a win at a trophy, charm a girl, or even marry the girl he likes... But it is important to know what you want. Looking at the movie you should realise few things that should inspire you to be MSD... What can one do to be Dhoni is what I am thinking upon. Here are my thoughts...

One is knowing what you want. What is really your passion. It is easy for youngsters to say, I don't like studies, I want to play and their parents will definitely not want that as it is much easier to study, develop yourself professionally, get a job or maybe even start a business but being a player requires even more determination. Determined you only get when you have passion. If you really can be great of a game then pursue it with all your hearts. Don't live half heartedly...

Second is the fact that never get bogged down by your failures or circumstances. If you have determination, then mere failures or circumstances should not bog you down, your moment will definitely come if you keep pushing. Dhoni everytime came up with a smile on his face and a much mature attitude after every low point... It may be due to the sport authority's personnel, accidents, work pressure, even rejection in team... And he never showed his weakness to anyone... (His sister like most did figure out at an instance though that he was bothered).

Third is to understand the situation and then act. This is what makes one a great and humble vs an arrogant person who is more likely to have a steep fall off summit. MSD understood the necessity of a job when he was getting opportunities, he understood the moment to leave Yuvi behind and face Murli (I am a big Yuvi fan and still I believe that was the perfect decision, Yuvraj himself accepts Murali was most scary for him as a batsmen), he understood that life will not wait for him...

Fourth is to learn from anyone and everyone, be it anyone... If they can teach anything of value learn... Like the famous Helicopter shot (Slap-shot as per the movie)

Fifth is to be youself! This brings us to the point where you all will be like why am I saying you to be you if the post is "5 Ways to be MSD".. Being a cricket lover, it was shocking to see about the first encounter between Yuvi and MSD. Yuvraj is a stylish player from young age and the moment where Jharkhand loses a match not on cricket field but on basketball field" is truly what tells you a lot. Greats are great. You should always look upto them. Learn what is the best in them. Develop yourself to be like them but "Sachin is Sachin and Dhoni is Dhoni". What is inspiring you develop yourself like that but you should not become them. What if Dhoni also looked upto Yuvraj that night? Or what if he started to play like Sachin... He wouldn't have been the MSD we know... None of the two greats are alike... Pick anything... Pick anyone... If you follow a great path you will end up in the foothills... Make your own path, follow it with jest and just.

I would like to thank a special person with whom these thoughts took words today...

India vs Pakistan : The water war...

In continuation to the post on this blog where I shared views on the future where water wars will be increasing... Merely ten days into the future we see ourselves at another such and a more larger world recognizable issue of water.

Responding to Uri attacks on its soldiers, India has addressed that they will utilize water of the untapped Indus river and its tributries to the full limits. This is probably the first signs of water being used as a weapon in international word wars.

The story is amazingly and quietly written and bought to our notice by BBC. Here's the link : Why India's water dispute with Pakistan matters

This should make countries use the resource more wisely now! We should learn when we have chance... Don't waste water, every drop count... save it!

Is diversity a strength?

Religion, Region, Gender, Race, Rich & Poor are something we hear frequently these days... Some days we see them presented in a manner that unity in diversity, most days we see it being the reason behind every crime. All news media can be categorized into these. This post is to share my views on this diversity and explain my views on whether it is a good thing or a bad thing.

As an Indian, our history books are filled with British rule of India. All of us must have heard that the Britishers' used 'Divide and Rule' tactic to manage a stronghold in India. But they were helped that India wasn't one at the time... It was already divided into regions under kings. Why do then we say that Britishers divided us? They just made use of the opportunity and grabbed their chances of ruling. Who wouldn't...? Even we grab any fortuitous opportunity with both hands. Since history is a testament and the best thing to learn from... Is it safe to assume diversity led to British Empire and thus is bad? We have seen fights between Black and White; Muslims and Hindus; feminism protests and civil wars and a pessimist can show how bad it is.

But I am not one. Move into the Gandhian era of freedom struggle... He knew that we need only unity and freedom will be ours. Along with the slogans like "Angrezo, Bharat Chodo" were the slogans "Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Isaayi; Hum sab hai bhai bhai"... But we got freedom with probably the worst effect! The partition and the war of religion and region led to so much bloodshed that its not accounted for.

Why was it that we fought for something as one unit that we fought amongst ourselves as soon as we achieved it? I have a simple understanding... The more pressure a group is put under, the more likely they are to work together as a unit. They are not focused on the differences but on the similarities which bring them together. Its just like when you are not friends with someone in class but you have to do a project together. And there is a probability that the outcome will be much better than what others managed. It may be because you want to overdo and show the other person... It brings a positive fight among the team.

So diversity is a great thing as it brings the best of different worlds provided they have a common goal... So what should we as a world be looking at? There are plenty of issues to start with... Terrorism, Global Warming, Depleting resources! Humans can work around any of these if they see the amount of pressure these are having on us as a living being on this planet. This pressure needs to be oppressed into us instead of making us understand who we are in childhood and the results can be beautiful.

Is PINK the new BLACK?

Firstly unlike my previous post where I got to the topic like a road going around the mountain... Here I am sharing thoughts over the newly released Hindi movie PINK.. So spoiler alerts..

So the movie is basically about a night where three girls get along with three guys and things go awry and includes political influence over police (which is now easily acceptable to Indian public). But the rest of it is all about how Indian society treats women.

The movie raises all bits and pieces of everything in the society... How girls are judged if they drink, come late, have boys as friends, wear wrong dresses, get frank and everything that will come to your mind... Even the treatment of northeastern girls... And I am very pleased if I was expecting this from a movie hyped so much by the media and public... But its a weak story. Even the end argument seems like just a mere formality.

I still am unsure why was the movie made. If it was for awareness among the masses of what the girls face in the society then the focus should not have been on Amitabh Bacchan rescuing them. The intensity wasn't even building up with him sure to come around and save the day. His sarcastic lessons or rules of safety manual where neither laughable nor thought provoking. There are movies where you connect with actor who is being oppressed and you want to lend him/her a hand yourself to stop their suffering which wasn't there... Some might say that it was to make women aware and self empowered then the only thing a women learns from the movie is that "you can get a bail for a non-bailable offence on a Saturday'. The characters were building up but before they could they were all sobbing. Even Meenal who was shown as most confident of the lot looses it only for Amitabh to drop her hoodie cap down. There was a brief phase where society and its views were targeted but that was only a matter of a second. And lastly it may be a correction lesson for boys who are gone rogue... But I don't suppose any guy who thinks like that will go for such a movie and those who do already believe the issues are basic etiquettes a man should have.

I would love to see a movie on such a sensitive issue made true to the core. Where they need not point to every issue but raise and justify the ones they pick. I would even have thought if it was a sad end where the girls are charged guilty because that is the sad reality these days. But in PINK they have just jotted down all they could and tried to create an essay kinda like this blog builds up. The end never got me something new to think.

A woman deserves all the respect and the movie is made with a good mindset and should be a good beginners guide for boys. But the current society yearns for change of the current mindset as well where the movie for me doesn't pull any string.

Is this the future?

Developed countries led the world into the present and the developing countries will lead them into the future...

Whatever we see in our current world is mostly from the developed parts of the world and then there are countries like India are getting better nowadays. But all this development has its effects. We have been made to understand since schooling that we are using natural resources at a rate more than the earth can replenish it. Coal, Petroleum and other energy producing resources are highly debated and fought over! Middle east, South China Sea and what not!

But this isn't about what we are seeing, its about what India is leading into and along with it the whole world. What the humans see but dint value are the most important things and such is water. Already we have an understanding that there is already a shortage of drinking water and it is getting worse for the future. But we saw a glimpse of water war in the last week. As soon as the Supreme court announced its verdict, we saw Bangalore, the city considered as one of the most peaceful cities burning. Was it a way of showing what the world is getting into? It wasn't a war between countries... Wasn't even a war in the entire country... It wasn't even a war... But nevertheless it was violent.

I know many will give it political angles and what not... But whatever it may be... It was a reason enough for a mob to get violent over. I hope this incident is seen as a sign. Maharashtra already face droughts almost every year even though having rains and water logging in Mumbai. Last year only Chennai had the worst floods it has faced. Offices were closed down for week and over to get the balance back. Yet it has water shortage within a year. This year itself a lot of areas faced lots of rains but still there will be definite shortage of water.

I hope this incident is not overlooked and taken as a stepping stone for encouraging water saving, rain water harvesting and help make every state, city self efficient. I am not looking at a immediate solution but only an initiative. Atleast making sure that the resources we are getting are not wasted. It isn't a way which should have been waited for but it is here and should be taken seriously.

SAVE WATER... Aware Others... Lead by example... Small efforts count and A drop saved actually means a lot...