Headline Stories

Its very sad and distressing to note that Present Day Newspapers of Repute(????)try to vie with one another to project a story or is it to Catch the readers attention by simply Pasting a Groovy or a Catchy headline.
The times in its edition dtd 4th March has Pronounced ''LIFE CONVICT PRAVIN MAHAJAN DEAD'' while DNA has crossed the limits of Decency by Coughing out a very weird and illogical headline '' BROTHER KILLER PRAVIN MAHAJAN DEAD''.
Was it necessary for the TIMES to hand out its own judgement by declaring Pravin Mahajan a Life Convict when the Judgement itself is to be delivered and the matter is still under Sub Judice.While every one knows that Pramod Mahajan was Killed in his house there is no eye witness to the unfortunate incident.Either of the two could have Pulled out the Gun in a fit of rage and the unsavoury incident could have happened in the heat of the moment in the ensuing scuffle between the estranged Siblings.
Time and again the Print Media has projected,sensationalised and distorted NEWS to suit their own Petty Self Centred Interests rather than conveying the correct and concise report to the reader.
The Concerned Print Media in Charge should apologise for using such Sensational Headlines which not only are derogatory ,but totally out of context and hurting and embarassing the sentiments of the bereaved Family.

BT Brinjal- A Boon or Bane ????

The fight for adopting the BT Brinjal is here to stay.The PM has reportedly admitted to look into a fresh intiative launched by the one of the 'CROOK'ed Politicians India has ever Produced.
Sharad Pawar after having Played his usual dirty game of cosying upto the Self Proclaimed thug of Mumbai- Coincidentally another BT(Bal Thackeray)thus embarrassing his coalition Partner,(Congress) has once again tried to ruffle the feathers of the Congress Party by coercing them to accept or rather force a discussion on the BT Brinjal issue.
The Environment minister Jairam Ramesh tried his level best to wrench out the BT Brinjal for the next 2 years but unfortunately the Twisted mouthed Pawar at the behest(BRIBE????)of Monsanto Officials has pushed Jairam Ramesh to the back seat at least for the moment by his usual antics/false and malicious Propoganda Proclaiming that the genetically modified Crops are the next best thing to happen after the green Revolution as it will grow more crops per hectare and the country would be self sufficient in Foodgrains.The Genetically modified crops are supposed to carry a strain of gene which will kill known pests thus reducing the rampant Spraying of fertilisers.
The Opponents of the Genetically modified crops argue that the strain might bring in new Unknown diseases which can cause havoc and epidemic of alarming proportions.
This is one of the reasons why Scientists in many of the developed nations are wary about the Success of Genetically Modified crops.
While Pawar is only thinking of allocating his unappropriated Income coming from many undefined Sources the rationalist individuals are busy in thwarting his evil intentions.
Hope that Pawar's unsatiable appetite for Vitamin 'M' takes a back seat and wisdom prevails amongst the rest of the elite,in this senstive Choice between Prosperity or Doom.

Making Issues out of Non Issues

We Indians sure want attention wherever and whenever the Occasion arises.
Last week the Electronic media in the Country was working overtime with the news of ShahRukh Khans new movie''My Name is Khan'' reportedly being balked by the Shiv Sena Hooligans in Mumbai.The Media went hammer and tongs at the Shivsena defying logic and unnecessarily whipping up a mass hysteria all for the sake of releasing/veiwing a Film on its destined date.
Every body seemed to have forgotten their basic chores,duties and responsibilites and trained their guns on a Film which has tried to portray a certain, Much maligned Community, in a good light.
It seemed everyone had come together on a platform to Oppose the Sena's Usual goonda tactics and expose its diminishing Power.
The freedom of speech and expression Which has been the Hallmark of our SECULAR COUNTRY has suffered in silence since its inception.
I just have some queries in my mind which I want to share with you all..

1)What would have been the impact if our ENLIGHTENED MEDIA had woken up when Mrs Gandhi had slapped Emergency and throtled DEMOCRACY in 1975?
Perhaps the Media had then stuck its tail between its hind legs.
2)No one from the Media had stepped up to protest/highlight when Youth Congress Workers at the behest of the Congress bigwigs had forcefully Prevented and beaten up the actors from staging the Marathi Play'' Mee Nathuram Godse boltoy''.
3)Where was the Media when the book Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie was banned by the SECULAR INDIAN GOVT with the so called MINORITY COMMUNITY unleashing terror tactics in communal sensitive areas like Bhendi Bazaar,Govandi,Bhiwandi and Mumbra to name a few.Mind you,Salman Rushdie is not even an INDIAN NATIONAL yet roads were blocked,stones rained on unsuspecting Bystanders and office goers and a riot like situation had engulfed the whole nation for No rhyme or Reason.
4)Why was the Media a mere onlooker when a similar Ban was enforced on Lajja a book by Taslima Nasreen on the fundamentalisms in Islam.Here the Author Taslima a Bangladeshi National was denied citizenship by the SECULAR CONGRESS GOVT for Securing the Votes along with Placating the Minorities in the long run.
Going back to the issue of the Shahrukh Khan Starrer ,reportedly made at a staggering sum of about 45 Crores(reportedly sold to Fox entertainment of US at 80 Crores) there was a huge stake to make this Film a Hit.There's news about a clandestine deal between SRK/the Distribitors and the biggies in the Sena to Publicise this Film in a huge way with the media too raking in the spoils in between.
This may seem absurd to many but it is better to recollect the memories of the Publicity Stunt by SRK in the US of A earlier last year when he was frisked by the Custom Authorities and he had openly with the INDIAN MEDIA in tow had claimed that the frisking had taken place because of the KHAN name in the Passport.
People can stoop to the lowest Possible levels to get cheap publicity and money with the News Hungry MEDIA ever ready to don this mantle to perfection.
What have we acheived by releasing this film on time or watching this film?Do you think the Sena's ego has ebbed or they have been marginalised by the media onslaught?Has there been any Change in the Living standards of the Poor who struggle for 2 square meals a day?Has the rampaging Inflation been controlled?Have the suicide rates come down?Have the Farmers in Vidharbha given a fair deal to cope with their debt?Has the Corruption rate come down?
There has been a RDX blast in Pune's upfront German Bakery instigated by one of our HOSTILE Neighbouring Country.Suddenly all the focus seems to have shifted from the REEL to the REAListic World.

Unfortunately most of us Indians do have a HERD mentality and we tend to get very aroused,excited and emotional on trivial issues like films,sports and Politics.
Neither a Film nor a Book Projecting them as Peaceful or naive will give the Muslims a true identity ,they have to join the National Mainstream Casting aside their age old Madarassa mentality ,their fanatical,rigid and radical thinking and embracing a scientific ,rational and a Pragmatic approach.They have been cheated ,fooled and deprived of mental and Psychological growth by Congress and the Samajwadi Parties for the Past 62Years and used as a Plank to grab Votes by Placating them with empty Promises mostly based on Communal divide .

While the Common man without any issue gets involved in all this,the ever waiting Media,akin to the HYENA's roaming in the Wilds of African landscape join in the meelee for the freebies and the ultimate winner is the wily Politician,PRO Savvy film star or a Cricketer who laugh all their way to the bank riding on the emotions and gullible mindset of our People.

Political Drama : All hype and Hoopla

All this stage managed show just to show that I am bigger or better than you is useless.There are enough problems in this country the rampant corruption(obviously started by he r highness-Indira Gandhi),high level of inflation,rising terrorist attacks and other criminal activities.The media is also involved in raising this ruckus to a new high, they search for new issues every day,only to forget it and find another attention grabbing headline.Readers would note the Shiney Ahuja case or the Ruchika case.No body knows or is interested to know what has happened to the unfortunate victims now after all the hullabaloo.The Media latches on to a piece of News add some spice and once the Gravy is cooked the same is thrown away in search of 'fresh Meat' available in Plenty.
If only Raj /Bal Thackray 's views were not highlighted or even cared for (their veiws should be totally isolated) all these tamasha could have been avoided.
Its election times in Bihar and the Congress has no agenda with it(Nitish Kumar has contributed hugely to Bihars small but successful turnaround in a very short span of time.
One should appreciate the work undertaken by Nitish Kumar and if his plans succeed then the poor Biharis need not migrate to other so called lucrative places in the country getting kicked and beaten for no rhyme or reason.One should note that Congress has ruled Bihar and Uttar Pradesh since Independence and has deliberately kept out developement and literacy so as to satisfy its dirty and kinky agenda.

People should understand that all politicians at least in India have a vested Interest and new politicians on the block create an artificial aura and bring some hyped hope in the minds of the gullible and ignorant people of India and then its back to square one.

Lastly the Media should shun its YELLOW JOURNALISM and give a proper and meaningful projection of the state of our Country that was divided even before it was born and to make matters worse we have got enough people with a sick mind to divide our Country on the basis of caste and regionalism.

Shun Pakistan

Right from the day Pakistan got severed from India in 1947 the animosity between the two bitter foes has not Decreased.It all started with the Kashmir issue and much water has flowed when Pakistan Occupied Vast areas of Kashmir and even Dared to GIFT a Part of it(AKSAI CHIN) to CHINA in 1963.The Congress Govt stood as a silent spectator without any murmur of Protest which further boosted Pakistan in propagating the AZAAD KASHMIR movement in the Valley.
The US in its eagerness to snub and end the Soviet Domination in Afghanistan Propelled Young Men and Personally trained them in sophisticated Arms,and Subsequently,these very men have become messengers of Death funding Terror World Wide.

Pakistan has tried to destabilise India in every Possible manner, Particularly in Mumbai -the Commercial Capital courtesy Mumbai serial RDX blasts (1993),Mumbai serial train blasts(2006) and the more recent 26/11 terror attacks.
Innocent lives have been lost in these attacks and many households collapsed as in many cases,the sole bread earner was the Unfortunate Victim.
India has extended the Olive Branch on several Occasions but every Opportunity was thwarted by the Pakistani Govt and no sincere attempt was made to end this bitter enmity.

Now its surprising and annoying to note that that the Times Of India Group has initiated a new forum called -AMAN KI AASHAA... to foster friendship between the two warring nations.What for??
The Pakistanis certainly cannot be trusted at all and very soon it won't be surprising that if they resort to some other Evil and sinister designs to Spread hatred and target important Places in India.

I for one was very Happy when the Pakistanis were not entertained in the IPL-Cricket League and the Organisers refrained from giving any contracts to them.
Its very true that we should not mix politics and Games but the mindset and the wounds of 26/11 is yet to heal the ego and the psyche of our fellow Indians, who were the Victims of a high profile and treacherous Ploy staged managed by the Pakistani Govt .

We should shun Pakistanis at all costs be it their actors/actresses/singers/or any other entertainers.Let them Understand that all of us need Peace but if the Peace is breached repeteadly and consistently after a certain lull,then its certainly not on.

Many of us are LUCKY that NO ONE FROM OUR FAMILY HAS DIED/OR HAS BEEN MAIMED IN THE RECURRING ATTACKS.IMAGINE YOURSELF IN THEIR PLACE, AND THEN TRY TO MAKE PEACE WITH THE PAKISTANIS,PLAY GAMES WITH THEM ETC.MAY BE,THEN YOU WILL THINK ON THE SAME WAVE -LENGTH AS MINE..TIME HAS COME TO ACT VERY TOUGH AND ISOLATE THIS TERROR BREEDING COUNTRY TO A REMOTE CORNER TO FEND FOR ITSELF.

Alang- The Final Resting Place

Most people know ''Alang'' which is in Bhavnagar District in one of the most upcoming and happening state of Gujarat.
Alang is almost synonymous with Ship-breaking.Almost 50% of the ships in this mortal world comes to its Final Resting Place here where the Ship is stripped down to sheets which then makes its way either to a Steel mill or a Scrap yard.Alang Provides opportunities to almost 40000 unskilled Labourers who THRIVE and INDULGE in hammering out the Vessels which are Past their Prime.The Labour is dirt cheap, just about 1 to 2 dollars per day, quite measely by World Standards which makes Alang very cost effective and competetive.
The Vessels which are dismantled, contain substances like Asbestos and PCBs(Polychlorinated biphenyls) and other Toxic wastes which the Developed Countries get rid off easily by dumping them in the 3rd World Countries.These Hazardous Chemicals over a prolonged contact, often causes Cancer and life threatening diseases.
The Labourers who come into contact with these dangerous chemicals are mostly illiterate and do not realise that the very employment that seems to 'Sustain' them is dragging them to a Slow and Painful death.
Devoid of any expensive lawsuits or healthClaims this Part of the ''ILLITERATE and IMPOVERISHED World lies on a Potential time -bomb of Epidemic Proportions.
One of the International Non Govt Organistion named BAN (Basel Action Network) is of the view that there should be a International legislation on Ship Breaking.The Ships which are inbound should be DETOXIFIED in its country of Origin and only then it should be allowed to be dismantled.However the western World is not to keen to pursue it as it would have to forego millions of dollars for implementing a process which so far is avoidable by ''selling'' off the Muck to the Developing Countries.
Further the Once Pristine beach has been ravaged by the toxics released as a result of this mindless saga.
The marine life too has been damaged and the fish consumed by the humans is often, full of these deadly chemicals which has reduced the life span of the people in and around this region.
Sometimes I wonder whether Alang is a Final Resting Place for the Ships or the Unskilled Labourers who toil relentlessly for the Spoils which is often like a Distant Mirage, Full of Hope and aspirations but ultimately what accompanies them is Pain and misery throughout their Shortened and Chemical filled Life Span.

AN OPEN LETTER TO MR CHETAN BHAGAT

Dear Mr Chetan Bhagat
I saw the movie 3 Idiots which is based on your book '' Five Point Some one''.I also noted your name being there in the credits at the 'end' of the film (and obviously hope that some credit has also materialised in your bank account too as per the agreement signed on the dotted line with the Film Producers).
We are also aware of your writing prowess which itself is a God's Gift and is limited to few individuals who can manipulate and impose their views on their readers unknowingly,albeit quite effectively.
We are obviously proud that some Indian has finally sprung up on the Horizon and who can weild his PEN very effectively and portray a wide range of emotions from being extremely bouyant to the person contemplating suicide,one who can gauge or visualise the emotions of the readers in such way that the reader does'nt read the words but is mesmerised by the depth of the swaying 'Poetry'that is being thrust upon him and carrying him to a Place which is absolute bliss.
I am sorry but the Praise stops right here and right NOW.What happened to the movie''Hello '' based on your novel -One night@the Call Centre??Probably you were ashamed that how come ONE of your best creations till date and 'translated' on the BIG SCREEN was relegated to the sidelines after failing Miserably at the BOX -OFFICE? It has been reported that Farhan Akhtar, has Purchased the rights for making a movie based on your book -The 3 mistakes of my Life as well.The Indian masses who are already mystified by your WORKS would be eager to 'test' this Movie as well.
It is an accepted fact that a movie is destined to be a HIT on account of a good story line-the Message it wants to convey,the way it is directed,the way the actors/actresses throw their emotions into it ,the way the film is edited and the PUNCH LINE -the way it ENDS.
It should be able to take the People watching it with them, even reviving their own Childhood memories and making fantasies look like a reality even though for a LIMITED PERIOD of 3 ODD Hours.
Let me narrate a short incident in my own life.I was studying in the 8th Std Class (NEW ENGLISH SCHOOL,BANDRA-East) and our English teacher an elderly lady,Mrs Cherian wanted us to write an essay on -My Favourite Hero.This was to be written in a time span of 35 minutes.For the next 10 minutes all were in a quandry, as whom to Choose the right person as our Hero.One of my classmate, Kaustubh Bhagwat narrated a story in Marathi about a Soldier Sacrificing his life for our country.I just ''Borrowed'' the STORY and wrote the essay using my own creativity and Imagination.Mrs Cherian was very impressed with the essay and made me readout the essay in the Whole Class.While Kaustubh, complained that the story was his, Mrs Cherian fondly asked him whether he could have written the essay in the same way?
This is the PUNCH LINE, Mr Bhagat though it may be your own story, the script writers have used this as a base and using their own fantasies have created a MAGIC which has unfolded amongst the masses and woken them from a deep slumber which we Call - Competition, where our Students mug Up subjects like Parrots, devoid of the Knowledge and only the Opportunity to squeeze ahead of our nearest Opponent in whatever manner it may deem fit. Something like...SURVIVAL OF THE SWIFTEST..to many....
Let us in unision, thank the true architects of the 3 IDIOTS viz.Rajkumar Hirani -Director,Abhijit Joshi-for Screenplay,Producer-Vidhu Vinod Chopra and the Outstanding actors/Actresses of this film for protraying an image larger than Life and entertaining us all, aging from 6 to 60 rather than fighting over some miniscule ''CREDIT RATING'' which GENIUSes like you should avoid, by stooping so low and making a fool of yourselves amongst the masses.
I know that I am a NON-ENTITY in front of you but hope that you would take my sincere and humble advice before ''twiiting'' or blogging or intimidating someone just for some cheap Publicity.