Online networking websites, the orkuts and facebooks of this world were a revolution started about four years ago, when people were on that peripheral verge of losing who it is that they are, and what is that thing called friendship. Everyone had to have an account on a social networking website; it was as if that was the only means available to the common person to keep in touch with friends.
In retrospect it seems strange that from the days of the telephone we matured to e-mails. Apparently we hasten to dismiss the notion of sitting before a computer putting our feelings down on electronic incriminating record and hate to write e-mails. Scraps and shouts and corny little pass it along’s posted on walls or scrap books was the thing to do, the right way to keep in touch, if you will.
I confess my lord, I too huddled once amongst these bushes, trying to camouflage my own inability to remove time and patience to catch up with an old friend. I confess that I didn't want to waste the money that I don't earn on messages sent to a busy friend. I confess to feeling bored to go to a barista to meet someone I haven't seen in years and probably won't see again.
Boon or curse?
I click on a profile, I see pictures and I log off. There my friend is my Odyssey to you, my ever so humble attempt at finding out 'jaane kahan gaye woh din'.
I bow my head; maybe it’s good that profiles are locked to outsiders now-a-days, maybe it’s right that these websites are being banned. Maybe that way we'll be more proactive and try to get in touch more often. Until then, say hello to our new friend, simulation.
Have you looked closely at an incredible India add lately. The other day, I had to prepare a short infomercial about the two sides to India’s copper coin. So the video consisted of the mountains and the seas, the bays and the rivers, the Himalayas and the mangoes. It also consisted of horribly congested traffic jams, a mocking beggar laughing into the camera and a small child of barely three serving tea to Aamir Khan (read from TZP). As the infomercial started out, with the beauties of our great nation, it was rather satisfying to see many of my fellow classmates exclaim in awe over how beautiful our country really is. In the next second however, as the picture flashing on the projector changed, so did the reaction of my audience. It seemed like the audience identified more with the polluted Ganga and the ever increasing potholes. I even heard a loud and clear whistle ring throughout the audi as the traffic jam filled the screen up.
Passive: When we look around and accept what it is that we cannot change.
Revolution: When we give to ourselves the mantra 'Karenge ya Marenge!'
I went to see Krazzy 4 today and stood up like a good obedient girl when before the movie began the national anthem was played. I even kept quite and narrowed my eyes at the foolish young couple sitting before me who kept tickling each other while the flag fluttered in the breeze before us.
For those of you out there who experience some lost sense of patriotism when something really inspiring is shown in a movie, will probably love this one scene from Krazzy 4. Rajpal Yadav, who plays a rather cute fanatic 'desh bhakt’, notices that some idiot who probably was in a hurry to get the job done, has put up our national flag on the notice board in such a way that the green end is up. Promptly, with some sentimental music being played in the background, he goes up to the notice board and reverses the order.
Law: The national flag must always have its saffron end up. It is the fundamental duty of every citizen to keep this in mind.
Generation: group of people who seem to be in a hurry to get everything done.
Anyways, so while watching the movie there is this one scene where a small girl starts singing the national anthem. Halfway through the scene, I and my friends suddenly realized that it is our fundamental duty to stand when the national anthem is being played. (We probably were going through the same haze that Laloo Yadav and Shrimati were when they didn't stand at a Republic Day parade). In classic RBD style (who? What? Was there any such movie?) My friends and I stood up. But to my utter shame, nobody else, not even some of my other friends in the theatre did the same. Mr. Roshan, Sir, could you put it in sub text during the movie, that it is mandatory for every Indian to stand during that scene?
Karenge ya Marenge: the dialogue that could be heard in ‘1942 a love story’. You remember, Manisha Koirala, Jackie Shroff and Anil Kapoor.
Misguided: when you are a history student and don't know about the Quit India movement.
Albus Dumbledore at the end of Book one of the Harry Potter series stumbles upon a bertie bott every flavour bean which apparently tastes like earwax. The movie retains the scene and from the way it has been picturised, it seems that Dumbledore gobbles the bean down, although rather sad that he has come across that particular flavour.
Alas! What a fascinating word it is,isn't it? It conveys so much more than just sorrow or regret. Hmm.....word analysis apparently! Livin la vida loca- she'll make you life her crazy life and take away your pain- said Ricky Martin. Apparently, thats what the woman who he speaks of in the song does. She doesn't drink water, but orders french champagne. Ah, ever wondered what champagne would taste like? Not our Indian version, real champagne.
Rant- a four letter word signifying the need to put down words on paper.
Happy Valentine's Day peeps!
ps: If you can light a candle for Britney Spears.
pps:Some really smart fella's made a trailor of what Titanic sequel would be like. Guys, the promo looks real. However, close inspection shall reveal traces of a lot of biggies.
The Tiger and the Dragon sit watching each other in a symphony of varied emotions. It is the destiny of one to extinguish and the fate of another to destroy. It is the birth of one that leads to the death of another. Welcome, to the New Year.
The New year entry last year, it seems, said it all. So this year, I dedicate my poem to everyone out there who promises to be productive this year. Happy New Year Dearies!
Asha stood rooted in her place. She looked at the man standing before her with great sorrow in her eyes. Accusation and outrage formed an odd sensation within her heart, but she kept quite. She didn't recognise who the person she was listening to talk was. The man she had spent twenty odd years of her life with was not this man. It couldn't be! This was not her Adarsh.
Ha what a joke! Adarsh!?! This man, who was asking her for a divorce after 20 years together couldn't be her husband.
Tu Yeh Maane Ke Na Maane Log Maanenge Zaroor
"I'm sorry. I think we have grown apart. I don't think living together anymore is the right thing to do," he said in a voice heavy with some sort of emotion. It couldn't be remorse, he hardly looked like he felt bad. Asha shook her head, in an fruitless effort to clear her muddled head.
"I don't think you'll have a problem. The kids have all got their own lives now. I've spoken to both our children, and they've handled the situation with great maturity," he said.
Asha smiled proudly. Her children knew how they were going to handle this new hurdle in their life. She had taught them well. But what was she going to do?
"This house if yours,it always has been...." he said, his voice trailing off, as if he didn't know what else to say.
Yeh Mera Deewanapan Hai Ya Mohabbat Ka Suroor Tu Na Pehchaane To Hai Yeh Teri Nazron Ka Kusoor Yeh Mera Deewanapan hai....
She was hardly 21 years old when she had met Adarsh. Her parents had set her up with the 'handsome boy from the community every mother wanted for a son-in-law'. Adarsh had then seemed like the sort of level headed person she could spend her life with. She never had any illusions of any great love stories. So Adarsh had seemed like her most sensible choice.
She had set up home and had her first child within the first year of her marriage. It seemed odd to her now, as she sat in her living room, how she had never confessed to Adarsh that she loved him. She had grown into a love that her mother told her about before her marriage.
Her children told her that it was okay to be divorced now. It wasn't such a big deal anyways! They were ofcourse sad that their father had moved away from home, but then they would do so too soon, so it seemed again- okay.
Asha looked around her living room, looked at the pictures adorning the walls. Happy times, peaceful times. Times of great contentment.
Dil Ko Teri Hi Tamanna Dil Ko Hai Tujhse Hi Pyar Chaahe Tu Aaye Na Aaye Hum Karenge Intezaar Yeh Mera Deewanapan hai..
What was she going to do now? She had a degree in fashion designing, ofcourse 20 years back it wasn't called that. Besides, definition of fashion was so much different now than before.
She figured though, that if her daughter Reena could bring her up to date with what length hems now ruled the market, she could open her own boutique. Living was a neccessity. One couldn't stop that just because someone wasn't around.
It was true though, that in some part of her mind she still hoped that Adarsh would realise the fraility of this phase her was going through. She couldn't make up her mind however, whether it was worth forgiving him or not. Asha drummed her fingers absently on the table top.
Would she take back a man who left her? It wasn't like he was involved with someone else! Maybe this was some form of male menopause!
Shaking her head in silent laughter, Asha came to the conclusion that maybe, if Adarsh came back, she would take him back. She still loved him.
Aise Veerane Mein Ek Din Ghut Ke Mar Jayenge Hum Jitna Ji Chaahe Pukaro Phir Nahin Aayenge Hum
Asha looked at her old family photographs fondly. They looked happy together. Maybe something went wrong somewhere. She shrugged absently. Well, we'll never know, will we!
Wincing slightly, she rose from her seat. She looked at her new sketches. Turned out that retro was back in fashion. Her business was doing well. She was stable. Her son was married to a beautiful girl named Lata. Reena was doing well financially, and was happy.
"Ma, come on now. We're getting late for the reception," said Reena from the doorstep.
Asha looked up. Old memories really caught up with you when you least expected it to. Adarsh was getting married again. To someone he had met at work. It had been three years since their divorce. Asha had long ago given up hope of ever reconciling with Adarsh. What will be will be.
She had cried in person, when Adarsh told her about the new woman in his life. Well, there was that question answered.
Reena had once in her innocence of still one very young asked her if she would take Adarsh back if his second marriage didn't work out?
Asha thought about it for a minuite and then replied - "No". What is done is done! Right?
Yeh Mera Deewanapan...
Disclaimer: The song "Yeh mera Deewanapan" is from the movie "Yahudi", sung by Mukesh. I do not own any rights to the song. No copyright infringement is intended.
An Indian man walks into a bank in New York City and asks for the loan officer. He tells the loan officer that he is going to India on business for two weeks and needs to borrow $5,000.
The bank officer tells him that the bank will need some form of security for the loan, so the Indian man hands over the keys to a new Ferrari parked on the street in front of the bank. He produces the title and everything checks out. The loan officer agrees to accept the car as collateral for the loan.
The bank's president and its officers all enjoy a good laugh at the Indian for using a $250,000 Ferrari as collateral against a $5,000 loan. An employee of the bank then drives the Ferrari into the bank's underground garage and parks it there.
Two weeks later, the Indian returns, repays the $5,000 and the interest, which comes to $15.41.The loan officer says, 'Sir, we are very happy to have had your business, and this transaction has worked out very nicely,but we are a little puzzled. While you were away, we checked you out and found that you are a multi millionaire. What puzzles us is, why would you bother to borrow '$5,000'.
The Indian replies: 'Where else in New York City can I park my car for two weeks for only $15.41 and expect it to be there when I return'.
Ah, the mind of the Indian...
This is why India is shining...!! !
A lady in a faded gingham dress and her husband, dressed in a homespun threadbare suit, stepped off the train in Boston, and walkedtimidly without an appointment into the Harvard University President's outer office.
The secretary could tell in a moment that such backwoods, countryhicks had no business at Harvard and probably didn't even deserve to be in Cambridge.
"We'd like to see the president," the man said softly.
"He'll be busy all day," the secretary snapped.
"We'll wait," the lady replied.
For hours the secretary ignored them, hoping that the couple wouldfinally become discouraged and go away. They didn't, and the secretary grew frustrated and finally decided todisturb the president, even though it was a chore she always regretted.
"Maybe if you see them for a few minutes, they'll leave," she said tohim!
He sighed in exasperation and nodded. Someone of his importance obviously didn't have the time to spend with them, and he detested gingham dresses and homespun suits cluttering up his outer office.
The president, stern faced and with dignity, strutted toward the couple. The lady told him, "We had a son who attended Harvard for one year ."
He loved Harvard. He was happy here. But about a year ago, he wasaccidentally killed. My husband and I would like to erect a memorial o him, somewhere on campus."
The president wasn't touched. He was shocked.
"Madam," he said, gruffly, "we can't put up a statue for every person who attended Harvard and died.. If we did, this place would look like a cemetery."
"Oh, no," the lady explained quickly. "We don't want to erect a statue. We thought we would like to give a building to Harvard."The president rolled his eyes. He glanced at the gingham dress andhomespun suit, and then exclaimed, "A building! Do you have any earthly idea how much a building costs? We have over seven and a half million dollars in the physical buildings here at Harvard."
For a moment the lady was silent. The president was pleased. Maybe he could get rid of them now.
The lady turned to her husband and said quietly, "Is that all it costs to start a university? Why don't we just start our own?"
Her husband nodded. The president's face wilted in confusion andbewilderment.
Mr. and Mrs. Leland Stanford got up and walked away, traveling to Palo Alto, California where they established the university thatbears their name, Stanford University, a memorial to a son thatHarvard no longer cared about. Moral :You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who they think can do nothing for them. Let's make sure we are not one amongst themand...
India is one of the few countries in the World, which gained independence without using violence.
1. The greatest games of all, CHESS and PLAYING CARDS originated from India.
2. The Art of Meditation and Yoga originated from India . 3. Martial Arts (karate and Judo) originated from India, not China.
4. The World's first University was established in Takshila, India, in 700BC. More than 10,500 students from all over the world studied more than 60 subjects. The University of Nalanda built in the 4th century BC was one of the greatest achievements of ancient India in the field of education.
5. India has never invaded any country in her last 10,000 years of history.
6. Everything which was either discovered or invented by the Hindus in India was cleverly denied authenticity and downplayed by those who came to rule India, the Arabs and the British.
7. Sanskrit, the oldest language in the World, originated from India. 8. The ancient Indian astronomers had tabulated the movement and positions of the sun, planets and the stars in space, long before Isaac Newton came up with the theory of gravity after the apple had fallen on his head.
9. USA based IEEE has proved what has been a century old suspicion in the world scientific community that the pioneer of wireless communication was Prof. Jagdeesh Bose and not Marconi . 10. Cleverly termed by the west as Arabic numerals simply because the Arabs brought the knowledge of India to the West after invading India. Hindsaa (numerals) in Arabic means from India.
11. India was the most peaceful country on earth before the Arab invasion in the 8th Century.
12. The art of Navigation was born in the river Sindh 6000 years ago. The very word Navigation is derived from the Sanskrit word NAVGATIH. The word navy is also derived from Sanskrit 'Nou'.
13. Bhaskaracharya calculated the time taken by the earth to orbit the sun hundreds of years before the astronomer Smart. Time taken by earth to orbit the sun: (5th century) 365.258756484 days.
14. Ayurveda is the earliest school of medicine known to humans. Charaka, the father of medicine consolidated Ayurveda 2500 years ago. Today Ayurveda is fast regaining its rightful place in our civilization . 15. Budhayana first calculated the value of "pi", and he explained the concept of what is known as the Pythagorean Theorem. He discovered this in the 6th century long before the European mathematicians.
16. Sushruta is the father of surgery. 2600 years ago he and health scientists of his time conducted complicated surgeries like cesareans, cataract, artificial limbs, fractures, urinary stones and even plastic surgery and brain surgery. Usage of anesthesia was well known in ancient India. Over 125 surgical equipment were used. Deep knowledge of anatomy, physiology, etiology, mbryology, digestion, metabolism, genetics and immunity is also found in many texts.
So many times I stared in wonder and barely hidden awe at the human capacity to experiment with their look. Even though I seem to belong to a class of potential responsible citizens of this country, I can't help but chuckle when I realise that half of the law student population has either tattoo's or piercings. I find it amusing imagining these very people ten years from now arguing in court all the while hiding a strategically placed rique tattoo. And the phenomenon seems to be spreading fast. I see medical students everyday flashing chinese symbols etched onto their arms or necks in permanent ink. I see so many people piercing their ears day by day.
To admit quite frankly, I always wanted to get my ear pierced. My parents got my lobes pierced when I was very young(for which I am eternally grateful) but I wanted the second earing quite badly. It held a sort of fascination for me, which at this very moment I can't put into words.
Well when I turned 18 I made up my mind that I'd get my ears pierced. Unfortunately though, I couldn't muster the courage. It was thus with some sort of rebellious streak that I finally got the same done yesterday. Now to those of you who saw Oprah getting her lobes pierced on tv, you must remember how much of an issue she made about the thing. I however was quite literally thrown onto the battelfield without a warning. Needless to say my best friend, who accompanied me for moral support was baffled by my descision. You see she knows how hard I laugh when I see people showing off their tattoo's as if they're their prized possessions and how I cringe when I see someone who has an eyebrow or tongue pierced.
It was just something that had to be done. And I did it. And had fun. Anyways- I just had to record the experience somewhere. So there we go.
untill next time- Taklia.
PS: For anyone out there who wishes to get their ear pierced and is afraid, feel free to drop me a line and I shall enlighten you on the fraility and sheer mortality of pain.
Alas! The pain of living through the ordeal known as unrequited love. It has often bewildered me how the human emotion of this hormonal reaction transforms an almost selfish act into something so mystical and apparently magical.
What brough on this stark realisation was the movie saawariya. I came to a really serious conclusion. Apparently unrequited love is really life's way of throwing a challenge your way. Its a blow meant to test your patience and bring you down. And as Ranbir rather eloquently puts it, there's only one way to make sure that this unfair unhappiness doesn't take over your life. That is- to smile. And fight.(in the movie)
Apparently: Agar aapko aapka pyar mile, Toh samjho ke Khuda aap par meherbaan ho gaya,
Aur agar aapko aapka pyaar nahin mile, Toh samjho ke Khuda aap se ek jaan hi gaya. (STrictly the dialogues of the movie saawariya. WARNING: UNACCOUNTABLE CONTENT. BLOG OWNER DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY IF THE ABOVE WORDS DON'T HOLD TRUTH)
So here's my request to everyone, cause everyone has faced unrequited love atleast once in their lives- do not fear. Madhuri says that there is someone somewhere made for everyone. So hang in there.
My opinion, Ranbir and Sonam are both raw but I'm sure given some time both will emerge as good actors. Both have screen presence and an acute sense of camera. Rani is a delight to watch. She excels at even the small role given to her. A news channel asked me after I came out of the theatre if I would go watch the movie again, and I said maybe........(to be fair though I've never gone to watch a movie twice in a theatre.) So there you go, for those who are looking for an opinion of someone who isn't professionally reviewing the movie.
Here's wishing you all a very Happy Diwali. God bless!
For those of us who have lived through quite a handful of tragically boring movies just to wait for the exciting court scene at the end, a career in law seems like a dream come true. To have one moment been a student, confused and bewildered as to what course to lead in life, our transformation into slightly sure and confidents law students has been remarkable. Someone who entered the college on day one with a very unclear and sketchy idea of what the course was about, to someone who daily surfs the net researching new things, and reading up on current issue’s , its been a wild ride.
Frankly, it’s a bad world out there. We as humans are very shifty people. We’re indecisive, unreliable and in often cases quite obviously adamant to maintain our own course. This world works on the principle of survival of the fittest and in our ever increasing challenge to be that one person that survives, human beings step on many toes and take liberties with each other. That’s where we lawyers come in, ‘cause it really is true that till such time that humans shall inhabit this earth, lawyers will never go either out of fashion or be forced to turn to another profession.
This brings us to our very profession. All of us have at one point or another in life heard a crude or not so funny lawyer joke. Often referred to as ‘liars’, we’ll probably live a life being constantly called that by our peers. To take an example, a little before I applied to the college for admission I received a call from my friend who was aware of my plans to opt for law as a profession. She dispensed with the pleasantries quite early on in the conversation and headed straight for my choice of profession. Probably not so sure of the required question she muttered fruitlessly for a while and then said the unthinkable. “You’re going to become liars no?” I was mortified, almost melting in a puddle of shame. Swinging between my urge to laugh like a maniac and cry, I corrected her, but not before my opinion about the profession had altered slightly.
From my experiences at college, I believe we lawyers are quite frankly harmless people. Probably not to the outside world that often pay lawyers through their noses, but to each other. After all the glaring and frowning that they do at the other during a hard day at court, the biggest of rivals might actually go home and drink to each others amazing facial ex-pressions and voice modulations. What sportsmanship!
It seems like the best scenes play out in the courtroom. If they want, lawyers can probably put Ekta Kapoor’s many actors out of business. After all, the profession makes incredible demands on you. Client confidentiality, incredibly loud gestures, a quick mind and a reckless drive to win. We are the modern world’s answer to King Alexander or Hitler, depending on your height. Wouldn’t life be less bright without us around?
Lawyers it seems make the most obvious mistakes too. Probably in the heat of the moment, with the blood surging through your veins and arteries at an exceptionally high rate, and your breath being slightly hitched, you tend to forget the essential signals your brain is providing you with. Mistakes made while questioning a witness may sound absurd but when a lawyer asks you “Was that the same nose you broke as a child?” or “Were you present in court this morning when you were sworn in?” you don’t really have the time to think over what a completely insane that question is.
All said and done, the world would not have been such a great place to live in if it weren’t for lawyers. So let’s get together and shout out loud, Long Live the Lawyers.
है येह एक कारवाँ जो चलता है रहा, यूँ देखो ज़रा, है येह दिल में मेरे क्या, जो अब येह फ़ासला मिटाने लगा क्यूं मुझे देखो लगता है जैसे मेरे सपनों में जो है, इन रास्तों पे उस्सेकभी मुलाक़ात हॉनेको है
चलते चलाते, ये रास्ते हाय कब बदल जाए, यों अब बताए कोई बताए क्या होगा आगे हाँ.
तुम हस्से जान ए जान, तोह हुआ नूरानी समान, अब तुम्हे देखें नहीं तोह और क्या करें.
चाँदनी की रोशनी में हम चल रहें है, अब तोह तुम्हारा साथ ही मंज़िल है, क्या हो तुम, कहाँ से हो आए, अब तोह ये सवाल मुझे सूझते भी नहीं.
है एह एक कारवाँ जो चलता है रहा, यूँ देखो ज़रा, है एह दिल में मेरे क्या, जो अब एह फ़ासला मिटाने लगा क्यूं मुझे देखो लगता है जैसे मेरे सपनों में जो है, इन रास्तों पे उस्सेकभी मुलाक़ात हॉनेको है
गुंसूं बिठाए केहते हो हाय क्या होगा आगे, यों अब बताए कोई बताए क्या होगा आगे हाँ.
हम मिले जान ए जान, तोह हसीन है फ़िज़ा, अब तुम्हे देखें नहीं तोह और क्या करें.
I saw Jab We Met yesterday and the movie sparked off my wish to write some hindi poetry. BTW, the movie is fantastic. Kareena's best performance to date. Go watch it if you want to laugh and enjoy.
Jaane Kahan Gaye Woh Din
India: a revauation of our so called PATRIOTISM.
Alas Earwax!Happy V day!Titanic 2
Yeh Mera Deewanapan Hai-another heart broken
Happy Diwali-Saawariya
Lawyer-GIRI
Jab We Met Again