O2 - The fest!

No one likes to work all the time right?? Everyone needs a break every now and then...  And these days, the lives of college students are equally demanding with the level of competition in this lucid market... Such are the times, college festivals help.. It is a time, students take a break form their books and indulge in some fun n frolic...  Bhavans college too, has its own festival, called O2 - The Fest..

Many a times people may wonder, as to why is a college cultural fest have a peculiar name such as "O2". Well, the answer is quite simple. Just like O2 is the bare necessity for survival for any human being, a cultural festival is a similar necessity for a student to take a break from his academic rut, and unwind.. Hence the name O2 - The Fest. O2 is like oxygen to the students of Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan... They breathe through this fest... The tag line of the fest says it all... "Where Life Begins...."

O2 - The Fest, started 6 years back.. It has travelled a long way from initially being an intra-college affair to a multi-college youth festival. In these years, O2 - The Fest has set various lively n dynamic themes focusing on various aspects of society... After greenerzing the world last year, with its 'Go Green' theme, this year O2 - The Fest, aims to be even more promising, with 100+ colleges participating with their contingents... In wake of the popularity and impact of social networking around the world, the theme set for this year is 'Social Networking'. 


This year, being the 125th birth aniversary of Kulpati MM Munshi the honorable founder of this great institution, the organizing committee of the fest, makes a bold promise to the management to make this cultural festival one to remember.. O2 - The Fest saw an extraordinary footfall of 16000+ last year, and this year, the expected footfall is far greater, with the addition of unique never heard before events...

I for one, am definitely attending this carnival.... December 6th,7th, and 8th are the dates of the fest, do join in, and be a part of the epic affair... As Barney Stinson would say...Its gonna be LEGEN - wait for it - DARY......!!

Happy? Republic Day..! Really??

First of all, Happy Republic Day to all of you....

My god! 62 years of being declared as the largest democracy of the world.... We really do take pride in it, don't we? We boast of it... Many of us, even use this as a suffix, when they say India.. "India - The Largest Democracy of the world.."

But do we really have all the powers entrusted on us by the constitution that we adopted on this very day??

Let’s see on paper… It says “Fundamental Rights in India”

1. The Right to Equality

2. The Right to Freedom

3. The Right to Freedom from Exploitation

4. The Right to Freedom of Religion

5. Cultural and Educational Rights

6. The Right to Constitutional Remedies

7. The Right to Education

Holy Lord! It’s a serious mockery of those who shed their blood for all the above rights. It is lamentable.

How deplorable it is? We call it 64 years of Independence, we did not have a day of it. Only thing replaced was the person who treats us like slaves.

Many of you may wonder what I am saying, others might say 'oh! we are in a democratic country and we do have independence..' There are certain issues that exist, but I am independent… LOL… it’s the best way to fool one self…. I say look at the man in the glass, if you can say to him today morning when you get up the following sentences and mean them. I salute you then.

Just say the following

I, an Indian, on the Republic Day, declare that I have the right to equality. I am considered equivalent to a brother-citizen no matter which part of India I go. There ain’t any reservations and quotas in the colleges I get admitted too, Because 'EQUALITY' is above all. No matter who I am - Hindu, Muslim, Gujrati or Marathi, I am not preferred over anyone. Religion, tribal and regional quotas don’t really exist, cause the law hasn’t recognized them. That’s why I can go purely on my merit anywhere. To any university, to any company anywhere I want. So I say that I have my first right “Right to Equality”.

As for my “Right to Freedom” is concerned. I am an entirely free man. If I am doing anything which is not against the LAW. I face absolutely no problems when I abide by all the LAWS. I have to pay nothing extra, no bribes to get my work done. I don’t even face any delays to my work. No one can just sit over my file for months. I am a free man because the hard earned money I get, can be spent the way I want. I am never questioned by the government on why I spend like that. They TAX system is absolutely something that I understand, because 'the more I earn, the more I pay' is well practiced and there are no loop holes in the system that make it vice-versa. I am a 'FREE' man because I can meet the Prime Minister of the country when ever I want.

Coming to my third fundamental right that is 'Freedom from Exploitation'. It’s totally with me. No one in this free country has the power to detain me without a reason. There is no corruption here, so there is no exploitation. I take pride in saying that in Independent India, I have never been 'EXPLOITED' by the law. Be it the passport office, the Hospitals or the municipality. Keeping the police and the Court of Justice above all.

I am free from any exploitation or at least I can fight any in the Legal court knowing that it won’t go on for years.

Oh.. and Yes.. My Right to Freedom of Religion is respected throughout the nation. If I choose to be a Muslim. The Bajrang Dal, VHP or RSS does not come knocking at my door to beat the shit out of me and my family or I will never be slaughtered alive in Gujarat, atleast the Chief Minister won’t let it happen. If I choose to be a Sikh, there really won’t be any Jagdish Tytler backed as a member of parliament in the ruling party of the country. If 'I choose to be a Hindu', I won’t have to buy a VIP or a regular pass to get into a temple. They treat us all equal. As a Hindu, I feel I am safe in this country and not a soft target of Indian Mujahideen (IM), because the government is synonym to Justice, when they catch terrorist alive like Ajmal Kasab and Afzal Guru their execution is not delayed for political gains, but the moment one is proven guilty they are punished all in the duration mentioned by the Law books it self. So I really have faith in the government and face no problems showing my passport and telling my name at the airport. I was never picked up and scrutinized because My name is Khan.

The political parties in the country here really respect my cultural and educational rights. Because I am free to do my Chatt Pooja at Juhu Beach without any confrontation with Raj Thakery. As a North Indian, I can work any where in Maharashtra even in or with the BMC. If I choose not to learn Gujrathi in Gujrat and Marathi in Maharashtra, the Education board does not have any problems. It is not a compulsory subject! No matter where in India I go, the government officers are never racist. They never delay my work because I am from a particular state or I speak a particular language. Even in the Court of Justice, when I demand a copy of my Charge-sheet in my mother language, I get it at no cost.

Rights to Constitutional Remedies is one thing I craved for. I have that now. The media is regulated so well by the government of my country that if I have a case in the Court of Justice to be held. The media will wait for the Judgement and not just defame my image before the judgement. The lawyers are so co-operative that they don’t really think that they are doing a favor to me. They fight for Justice and not play with words in court to mock the system. I can go till the Supreme Court and I am assured I will get justice before the person responsible for the crime dies. I am proud of the fact that Justice is above all in my country and laws are not manipulated by the corporates to acquire land and wealth of the poor for absolute nothing.

And the much spoken Right to Education is a really affordable right. My country’s great. It sponsors education. I give no donation to any institute in spite of having a good merit score. It’s my right. There ain’t any quotas in colleges for acquiring education. Money doesn’t really play a big role in my country when it comes to getting knowledge - that’s cause it is my fundamental right.

I could face the man in the glass. I said it with out even a pause. I am independent and so I proudly celebrate my Fundamental Rights today.

What about the premorse of Kashmir? - Oh.. Who cares?

What about Palestinians? – What Should I do about it? It’s not even in India.

If you have realized the TRUTH. If you have realized what I am trying to convey.

Don’t let the sacrifice of more than a million people go waste. They did not fight to replace rulers.

They fought for liberty. We still don’t have the liberty!

The struggle is not yet over. We, the youth of India have to face this truth. The sooner we do. The faster we can commit to actions and happiness can be pursued. It’s time to revolt. It’s time to wake up. It’s time to fight for the very fundamental right mentioned above. It’s time we fight corruption at it’s root level. It’s time we have leader in the honest spirit of liberty and freedom. It’s NOW or Never. It’s DO or Die.

Sitting 4000 Kilometers away from the Financial Capital of India….

Trying to wake India today to the truth. WILL NOT HELP! – I know.

If you agree to what I say. Let’s do something today.

Something that shakes the government to the roots.

Something that will give us freedom in all senses.

Call it a Political Movement… It will be suppressed – I Know.

But all tyrants have oppressed and people have had sleepless nights

The same man who walked kilometers to Dandi for liberty said

“Be the change you wish to see”

Let’s be the change, till the last breath of oxygen and last drop of blood.

And it’s not for India, Not for Palestine, Nor for Kashmir or any other disputed land…

It’s for the Independence of Humans. It’s for Humanity.

Let’s have a flag for Humanity raised today.

By the way, I love this world more than one particular region here…. and having said that I am more attached to India as anyone would love ones motherland... Jai Hind!

The Ideal Relationship

A boy’s love is expressed differently from that of a girl.. and no I am not talking about just the dubbed love-love relationship between a boy and a girl.. This is bigger.. This is about the love and affection between friends.. between best friends…

If girls could really grasp this fact, relationships all over the world would improve. What happens in most cases is that the girls show they love in warm, mushy ways. They talk…, they share everything (or at least as much as the boy will tolerate listening to), they provide nurture and support. But boys are very different and you know this already.

The problem is the female species have spent centuries judging the males for love instead of receiving it as the display of love it is. So when the boy gets past the courting phase, becomes solidly committed to the relationship, and the display of affection or compliments begin to fade, then the girls join the legion of sisters who complain either with humor or bitterly about how he just doesn’t measure up to the ideal of what their real boy is…

Let me tell you, at this point the relationship is in danger of ending and it ain’t the boy’s fault! To explain my claims let me share how the real boy loves and see if you can’t begin to look at him through a kinder lens and a heart warmed by just how very much he actually does let you know he loves you.

There are three ways a boy clearly and definitively shows his love and affection. The first thing the boy does when he knows he loves you and is ready to commit to the relationship is he professes who you are in his life. He calls you as someone who he posses really close to himself…He calls you in a special way….with his words and with his body language. You can see it in the eyes and body language of the folks in his world you are introduced to. You see that spark of recognition that you are different from the other girls he has introduced his friends too… His claim on you is obvious.

The second thing the boy does when he knows he loves you and is ready to commit to the relationship is he provides for you. Now, not every man has the  means to buy you expensive things, but to the degree he is able, he will provide for you. One simple example is if you have trouble and ask him for help, he will do everything within his power to assist you in getting it fixed. The boy might be able to resolve the problem entirely… while the other might be able to fix a few things… But nevertheless you should know that the real boy in love wants to provide for you by all his ability and means… Everyday might not produce a perfect conversation or outing, but in any way he sees he can provide for you and is able, he will.

The third thing a real boy does when he is head over heals in love is he protects. No one is allowed to hurt, insult, or disrespect the girl. He will not be able to tolerate her life or her spirit being in danger. and In my own experience, I have observed two important things about a man’s desire to protect his woman. The first is that he will attempt to protect her from herself. This is why a man can become infuriated with some of the choices the woman makes because, as a man with his logical thinking, he could have told her this or that choice would be a big mistake. How could she have put the woman he loves most in the whole world (herself) in harm’s way? 

The other thing I have observed is that a real man in love will sacrifice himself to protect you from himself, if you require it. If you cannot abide him being who he is, expressing himself as a man, he will shrink inside, becoming less effective as a lover and as a partner as he attempts to protect you in the way you say you must be protected. He will not do this indefinitely. At some point, the pressure to express himself as a man will pop and you will lose him. One way or another you will lose him. However, if you find you are no longer invested in exploring the marvelous mystery he is, you might take a look at whether or not you really love him. Because asking him to stifle his masculinity is the beginning of the end….

Shiva Trilogy 2: The Secret of the Nagas (Book Review)

The  success of Immortals of Meluha, by a first time writer Amish Tripathi, took the world by storm! His unorthodox and never-heard-of description of Shiva as a middle age, barbarian junkie was quite intriguing..! Owing to this outrageous success, riding on the back of great expectations, released the sequel.. "The Secret of the Nagas"

So, the story continues... but, the excitement of reading a sequel is short lived.. The book was very predictable and formulaic.. I am not saying, it is not a good read, but, i was expecting the second book to be better than the first one in some way at least, but quite frankly, it isn't..

How Amish managed to construct a whole sequel, with a such a flimsy basic premise, is beyond me.. And the liberties he took with the plot and the myth is  not easy to forgive..The entire book, essentially boils down to one mythological point, the Shiva-Ganesha showdown..! The entire story is an elaborate construct to lead to that which was quite a drag actually and eventually, it was quite disappointing, because, that too never happens, after all the build up throughout the book..! And the biggest eye wash was the name of the book.."The Secret of the Nagas" I was actually waiting for the secret throughout the book and the author finally, reveals the secret in  the last line of the last page of the book! 

I think the name of the book was absolutely out of context to the main plot that the author maintains.. The Secret is, "there is no secret" like he says in Kung Fu Panda..! And the author gives an impression that the gods of India who are sybolically given different forms are actually mutants/deformed nagas who were defied later.. This was too much for me to digest, even if, we play along and accept his version of the Shiva myth..!

Amish wrote using simple sentences. His characters were interesting and spoke in modern, everyday English, which actually gave them an air of easy credibility rather than sounding jarring. The Immortals of Meluha sought to tell a story that made you interested in finding out what happens next. In The Secret of the Nagas, there’s little suspense and by the end, one feels little curios about the finale. 


It seems that while writing The Secret of the Nagas, much of Amish’s attention was upon language. There are obvious and woefully inept attempts at literary flair that make the novel a tiresome read. The book suffers from a rash of exclamation marks and unnecessary italics. Sentences have been sliced to create weak, dangling fragments (“Parashuram charged. Followed by his vicious horde.”). Instead of simply talking, people bellow, scream, whisper and fall silent. They are flabbergasted, they pirouette in the middle of a fight, and use words like “exponentially”, “garagantuan” and “plethora” in their speech. The net result is text that is laboured, trite and awkward. 


Amish’s attempts at philosophy are as half-baked as the characters and plot. For example, he suggests thoughts are radio waves that could be communicated by temples, which were actually powerful transmitters (see pages 111 & 112). Unlike Bappiraj, who is clearly an attempt at humour, the temple-transmitter theory is elaborated upon in all seriousness. Now, thanks to Amish, we’re seeing the temples of India as the Facebook for ancient priests.

 Glibly written, without much attention to the nuances of mythology or known historical facts, the book still manages to be good light read.. And, please don't go by the cover of the book, for there is no serpentine element in the book..!

Humiliation Down Under!

After the humiliating defeat from the hands of their colonial cousins, India set foot in the land of their arch rivals, Australia.. One too many pundits of the game thought, this was India's best shot at winning a test series in Australia, with, many of the star players in their side, injured.. (C'mon! Who are we kidding here?! India and the favorites to win a test series in Aus..! If wishes were horses, beggars would ride..!) Maybe, after a horrific series in England, everyone thought, we, can't fall any lower, I guess, our players proved the world wrong, and showed everyone, the art of losing, and finding deeper pits to fall...

The ongoing series in Australia, was supposed  to be a redemption series.. A chance to redeem thier respect and reputation, after an all out insult in England... The series was talked about a lot, and hyped up by the media as usual..A semi-depleated Australian side v/s a full fledged Indian line up busrting with vengence, after 4 months of torture in England.. The series promised a mouth watering, edge-of-the-seat thriller!!

The first match of the series was on boxing day, in the iconic MCG, all eyes on Sachin, the world waiting to see the man score the ton of tons..! But that was not to be, maybe the little master has to wait another series for it... The match was quite in balance for the first 3 days, but eventually, Australia went on to win it without breaking a sweat..! 

The second match was at Sydney.. The same place where the infamous Monkey gate controversy happened 2yrs back.. well, maybe the ghost of the past kept haunting the Indians..We fell like a pack of cards, The Great Wall of India, finding a brick or two missing maybe, for he was out bowled in both the innings.. The margin of defeat increased by the end of the match, and it looked like the repeat of the England series..! 2 down, 2 to go??

Next destination was the fiery pitch at Perth! A perfect spot for a massacre! Both teams going in with 4 pacers, well, atleast, Aus going in with 4 pacers, and India with 3 pacers and Vinay Kumar..! More like 3 and a half pacers..! India put into bat, and as usual, bowled out cheaply, with no resilience what so ever..! Then started the real movie, "Friday, the 13th", David Warner productions..! The talismatic young batsman walked to the crease like a thug in anger and destroyed the Indian bowlers... David Warner treated Vinay Kumar like someone who has dated his sister twice and dumped her when she refused to put out...! He was ruthless and showed no mercy, he went on to slam the fastest ton by an opener in test cricket..!

The test seies, sure is heating it up 'down under' for the Indians..! The great Indian batting line up, is looking like the "the great Indian Tamasha.." 6 straight defeats overseas for India, looks good, for a 8-0.. What record is India chasing? Trying to beat Undertaker's wrestlemania record of 15-0 maybe..! 

Shiva Trilogy 1: The Immortals of Meluha (Book Review)

Shiva! The Mahadev! The God of Gods! Destroyer of Evil. Passionate Lover. Fierce Warrior. Consummate dancer. Charismatic Leader. All-powerful, yet incorruptible. Quick wit, accompanied  by an equally quick and fearsome temper...

This is the opening lines explaining the trilogy.. These opening lines by the author, developed an exitement in me to know more about Shiva! The trilogy is all but a tribute to the lord himself.. The Immortals of Meluha, is the story of a man, whose karma re-cast him as a Legend..! The plot is set in the early 19th century, where there existed a clan of people know as the Suryavanshis, who resided in the heaven like city created by Lord Ram many centuries ago called Meluha.. 

The near perfect empire is however facing a grave danger.. The constant terrorist attacks by arch rivals, the chandravanshi tribe is bringing up an unavoidable war, or a 'Dharmayudh" The Chandravanshis have a deadly  alliance with the Nagas.. Nagas are a tribe of outcasted and sinister race of deformed humans with astonishing martial skills..

The Suryavanshis are banking on a single ray of hope for the survival of their empire.. The Belief in a Legend.. "when evil reaches epic proportions, when all seems lost, when it appears that your enemies have triumped, a hero will emerge"

Is this tribe unmarked barbarian really a hero? Will he accept his Destiny? Will he stay true to his Karma? Will  Shiva lead the Suryavanshi vengence and destroy evil?

The 1/3 of the Shiva Trilogy: Immortals of Meluha is a must read, for it is a gripping entertainer and gives you a fair insight into the life and times of Lord Shiva..!

 

I was always facinated to learn more about Shiva, and this book does a fair job in doing so..  The author Amish Tripathi, has done a decent job for his first book, and deserves all the appreciation coming his way.. The writing on one hand is quite simple, at the same time, it takes you to those times and makes you visualize the life at times during his era.. The book started off quite well, but as i progressed, the plot was pretty week in the middle parts, where he talks about the love life, which is a slight drag and not very interesting... But he manages to hold it back with some gruesome battle sequnces.. Overall, it is a good read, and you surely would not be disappointed.. On a scale of 5, i would rate it 3.5/5.. 

The Year That Was. . . - Emotions Leaked Through Pictures..!

Pictures often express more than words themselves.. Here are a few pictures  of events that made this year so memorable.. Enjoy the pictures, for it will take you back to those nostalgic moments and make you re-live the year through them.. The last day of the year, what better day to think about the year that was.....

First team to win the World Cup at home..!

Man who led India's First War against Corruption

Hurricane Irene, which swept through West Virginia in the US..

The Egyptian Revolution at the Tahrir Square

Fall of the Last Arab dictator

Keenan Santos & Reuben Fernandes, the two brave hearts  who lost their lives fighting against eve teasing. 

The Face of Terror, finally saw his end..

The Final Frontier Tour of the Legendary Metallica

3 faces, hardly anyone will forget... The Harry Potter movies finally ended with the final movie this year..

the fatal Nuclear Reactor Leakage at Fukushima-japan

The song that went Viral all around the World

2011, was no exception for Terror's favorite Destination... 3 bombs that rocked South Mumbai this year..

Dr.Conrad Murray, MJ's doctor sentenced for 4 years in prison for MJ's Death

The continued Stock market crashes and falling of the ruppee..

Sharad Pawar, slapped hard by a common man..

The news that got the entire world to tears.. Legendary Steve Jobs Passed away..!

The Year That Was. . .

Wow! What a year it has been...! Time really flies... doesn't it?! I mean I still clearly remember what I did last new year's eve and within a blink of an eye, a whole year has passed...! I mean gimme a break, man! Are times really going so fast or am I the only one feeling this way?
As we'are just a day away from welcoming a new year, let's just take a pause and rewind to the year that was....I mean it sure was eventful... I'm going to list down a few highlights of the year, which have affected the lives of millions across the globe....

First and foremost, is the death of Osama Bin Laden.. The famed and much celebrated leader of the Al-Qaida was finally hunted down by American troops... His death restored peace and justice to people all over the world, yes it is cruel to celebrate someone's death, but at the end of the day, What goes around, Comes back around, right!?

2011 was a special year for some of the African countries like Egypt, Libya, etc who saw the end of decades of dictatorship... It saw the fall of many powerful leaders and rise of the 'Common Man'. This year has been a landmark year for, it saw the independence and evolution of people, from being ruled to become the rulers of democracy!

This year saw one of the biggest anti-corruption movements of the world, witnessed in India, led by a Gandhian called Anna Hazare... The world is left awestruck when the largest democracy in the world carries dour such a big movement against its politicians and it's political system..! It was indeed a year to be ear-marked as the year, when the first war against corruption was fought...!

In the sporting world, one of the big things was Formula One racing making its pit stop in India... The innaugral Indian GP at the world class Buddh International Circuit, was a massive success and it showed the world, that India is ready for the big stage...! Truly, it was an emotional or rather proud moment for all Indians around the world...


India was on the place to be this year, with international Music greats having gigs around the country... The Legendary rock band Metallica, paid a final frontier visit to India, and drove the country mad with their ever green hits... Apart from Metallica, Prodigy, Karnivool, Lady gaga, Pitbull and many other international stars made the country dance to their tunes in 2011..! 

An obvious highlight that most of us would have noticed is the death of many celebrated people around the world... 2011 claimed the lives of one too many.. I dont know, but it was something very mysterious, that legends were falling one after another... It was a year that saw immortals like Joe Frazier, Steve Jobs, Jagjit Singh, Amy Winehouse, Shammi Kapoor , Elizabeth Taylor, Dev Anand and many more, bound to the chains of mortality...

On the contrary, 2011 also saw many celebrities becoming proud parents, the most anticipated and talked about baby being 'Beti B'.. I wish all the lucky parents congratulations and hope their babies grow hail and hearty and someday make them proud..! It almost seemed as if the legends gave way to see the birth of these lovely little ones..!

On a personal front, the year was quite disapponiting for me.. It has been a year of heart breaks... Firstly, I couldnt accomplish my goal, I had worked so hard for.. I had given my all into something so important for me academically and professionally, but in the end i was left wanting for a little more.. Some call it fate, some call it Karma, I say, maybe a little more efforts from my side...! And secondly, a beautiful 2-year relation with a special girl came to an abrupt end, leaving me with scars that are still healing... Heart aches which are still paining and Memories which refuse to fade...

Well, what this year has taught is that, anything can happen anytime... you never know what is gonna happen tomorrow.. One fine day everything seems all right, and then all hell breaks loose within a matter of days.. that has been the story of 2011.. So don't postpone anything for tomorrow, you have to do it, the time is now... Life is not about the number of breaths you take, it is about the moments that take your breathe away.... So let yourself go.. life, death, happiness, sadness, worries sorrows, joy, grief, defeat are all part of life.... Life is not fair, but still it is beautiful..

I wish everyone a Happy New Year, hope this new year brings in new joy and happiness to your lives.. Learn from the past, and make the present a happy jouney.... After all, one life, why give others a chance to rule it....!!

Anna's Lokpal Roar..!

Anna Hazare-The young man who rocked the nation earlier this year, demanding a Jan Lokpal Bill, in a bid to clean the 'gutter' at the highest level is back again.. 74 year old Anna, had gone on an indefinite fast, to demand a Lokpal bill, which brings all government officials including the prime minister under one umbrella, and which would enable any civilian to question the actions of the officials at the highest authority in the government.. Lokpal Bill, is an optimistic first step to end corruption in the country! 


The inefficient Government panicked at Anna's 'satyagraha' which became viral throughout the nation and which was gaining increased international media coverage.. Even as the nation united in demand of a transparent system, all the government cared was to somehow suppress the issue and stop Anna. Hence, to end Anna's protest, the government made false promises to pass a strong Lokpal in the next session of the parliament..


Well, Little did the lousy government know that, Anna isn't going anywhere.. Anna's mantra seems to be 'Stop me if you can!' Anna hazare is back at doing what he is best at.. making the government run for their lives.. The Lokpal Bill should have been passed till now, and obviously, it hasn't been yet..! (when have we ever kept our promises) 


Anna Hazare who stoked public anger at India's scandal-prone leaders earlier this year, threatened to renew protests on what he sees at watering down of the Lokpal bill, a move that could blight the government's New year election drive..! The Gandhian said that he will gather greater support to picket the homes of party leaders like Sonia and Rahul Gandhi and he aims to get arrested to highlight demands for a powerful, graft-fighting ombudsman, the Lokpal..


The government is losing its respect and credibility in the eyes of its people.. A strong Lokpal should be tabled as soon as possible.. Most of us today have not seen Gandhiji, but i guess, Anna Hazare is our Gandhiji of today.. His non-violent antics has rocked the government, and he is fast becoming a nation's chant.. 

Right to Internet..

Connectivity! that is the first word that comes to my mind when i think about internet. Internet is a global system, which interconnects and unites the world to make it into one global village.. I guess, our Indian politicians have to be reminded about the use of internet and how actually it works... A Right to use the internet is as important a right to an individual as anything else.. The importance of uncensored internet is recognized by the UN and has duly  recognized it as a basic Human right..

Recently, a senior minister in the government( name withheld to protect identity) had made a public statement to restrict internet usage and to screen the content posted by public in social networking sites like facebook and twitter. He went on to say that, most of the content published by the people, causes unwanted rumor and panic among the people, and hence, the content should be edited or screened.. I mean, what level rubbish is this?? Does the freedom of expression have no meaning to him?? Is he talking about,  imposing government control over the media?? or, is he hiding some big skeletons in his closet?? kyu minister saab, Why fear about a rumor when you have nothing to hide?!!

Socializing on facebook and twitter, helps you keep in touch with your friends, be updated in the happenings of your loved ones and the world at large... For a lot of people, these popular sites are newspapers with a variety of news and updates... Cmon, you cant even think of censoring such stuff... I mean most of the content is a highly personal opinion of the individual.. People arn't stupid to follow any stupid status update or a tweet, so i don't think there should be even a discussion of screening the content, for if it has some concrete stuff, it is sure to go viral, i don't think a million people can be tricked by any false alarm or intended panic as our minister here thinks.. C'mon sir, what do you think the audience is..?!

Our minister's statement may just manage to qualify to be the most nonsensical statement by a statesman in the modern era.. Where the intent is right in the minister's thought, the idea is stupid, i mean, you are removing the idea of a freedom of thought, freedom to speak and express what you feel like, and freedom is everyone's birthright, yea, following one's expression is a choice, but you can't disallow anyone from expressing their thoughts...  Right to Internet and Socialize in a basic Human right, and everyone is entitled to it..

AIDS - The Worst Medical Catastrophe!

Billions of people have died, Billions, are struggling with it, Billions fighting it, and Billions born with it...

Today, the 1st of December each year, the world remembers them all...  

Today, We mourn for those fighters who died after fighting a stiff battle, 

Today, We  pity those, foolish people, who threw away their lives to chase the two minutes of erotic pleasure, 

Today, We  feel sorry for those, who were victims of used needles,

Today, We cry for the cursed few, who were born to a life, awaiting death..

Today, we look back, and think,

What if, Condom was not perceived to a socially undesirable word

What if, people were faithful to their partners,

What if, we had good medical aid for everyone,

What if, poverty never existed

What if, everyone is alert and aware

What if, people for once act like 'Human Beings' with a Heart

Probably, then, AIDS would not have been the Worst catastrophe of the Medical world..

Among those suffering from AIDS, a large number of them are women, who go on to pass it to their babies during delivery due to lack of awareness... And thus the chain is in a never ending loop, where a husband or a partner gives to the wife, who eventually passes it to their babies, hence, this virus is unstoppable if people aren't educated to take the necessary precautions... 

One really wonders, as to why the hell aren't people aware of this virus, when there is extensive measures taken for its awareness and education? the answer to this may be, because, of lack of interest or fear of knowing.... about this medical condition and the dramatic effect it may have on their present lives... Yet, isolated voices have much to ask, but often these loud-less cries of help gets lost in the noise of the surrounding... 

Our society is a coward lot... and it is by our very nature of the way we are brought up, makes us scared and weary of small things, and adding to this, the dreadful tag to the HIV virus, our society, more often than not, isolates people suffering from this virus.. They don't understand that it is not by choice, but my fate that are suffering this.. A normal person can be with the HIV infected person, work with them, hug them, kiss them, eat/ drink with them WITHOUT getting infected yourself.. HIV is transferred only through the medium of blood.. So, guys, don't hate, but Appreciate... Fight the Virus, Not the People with the Virus...

Homelessness, Increased violence, Unemployment, Poverty, Lack of good Medical treatment for all, are the OUR problems, and together WE can make a difference.....in the lives of numerous fathers, mothers, babies, friends, brothers, sisters, Together,  We can Fight this! Together we can Win this, Together we can live! Today it is them, Tomorrow it can be you, or me! Spread awareness, educate, evolve, sooner or later, we will be telling tales to our grandchildren about how we fought a war, to have a safe world for them.. Wake up! An uncountable number of people have died, people are dying even  as you are reading this, 

check out this documentary on AIDS Awareness, which tells you the stories of the forbidden ones, maybe then you will understand the real picture....

Love Chemistry (Book Review)

Love Chemistry by Shubham Arora is a short & sweet book.. The  plot is set in a high school atmosphere where the story revolves around the lives of young 17 somethings, Advaita Rahul Manu, Parv and their respective girl friends..In a typical school scene, the young boys are rebellious for studies, and like all boys at their age, love is in their heads too... So the story goes, that these guys meet at school, and turn out to become the best of friends, and what follows is an exiting and enthralling 150 pages of the love chemistry and its associated reactions ofcourse...! It is a pleasant read, takes you back to the time you were 17 and in love... 

However, the negative aspect of the book is, the story is very predictable,  and the English is ordinary.. Accepted that it is the first book of the author, but, somewhere, the words lacked the punch in it.. The Author has a long way to go, and i sure hope, he comes up with something more exiting in the future...   
Overall, My Review.. Love Chemistry- Average... but go for it.. for some nostalgic moments awaits you...  you can order the book from http://www.flipkart.com/books/8183520898


I won this book in the 'Author in Talks initiative of Cupid Speaks- An Online Youth Magazine...  Cupid Speaks is an online youth Magazine, acts as a platform for the youth to showcase their  talent in appreciating and recognizing   their work... The Author in talks initiative of Cupid Speaks is one of its kind way of promoting the work of upcoming authors.. The Author is interviewed by Cupid, and then, there is a contest organised by Cupid for its 'cupiders' and a hand picked few get a chance to win a copy of the book.... I think Cupid Speaks is setting benchmarks in its activities, which is creating waves in the industry..I wish them the best of luck, may they grow to become something phenomenal...

The World we live in

breathe for a moment for all dats left
never know what the future might just bring
in this world full of murder, rape and theft
we try to believe but we are left falling

sons are lost and children are dead
for the good of the country all dats said
but it wont be forgotten and wont be forgiven 
for in the name of war mothers lost their children

lonely nights left cold and weak
hardly enough breath left to speak
not a morsel for days and hes in the streets
life for this kid is indeed very bleak 

we pray to god everytime we desire sumthn we need
what about those kids who cant find enough food to eat
tonight i'll pray for those who know what  has been
tonight i'll pray for a change in the world we live in..

I think, these days, people are too concerned and worried about their inner circle, that more often than not, they get confined to their self set limits. So that is where their thinking also ends, and their inner circle is all they care about and live for. Their life is all about, me and the things that affect me..


Its funny how, 2000 rupees looks inexpensive while buying a new pair of shoes, and 2 rupees is so valuable when it comes to giving to a beggar
Its funny how, people cry at the pain of their friends and family, and barely a look of sympathy to people whom they don't care about
Its funny how, food is wasted in your households, where half the world is dying of starvation
Its funny how, people bargain to save 50rupees to eat n drink junk, to eventually spend 5000 on medicines to bail them out of their health issues.
Its funny how, apparently 'old fashioned' clothes are thrown away in the dustbin or used as cleaning cloths, where children in the street have none to cover their body.


I want to live in a world where people are dancing and playing in the rain in unity, without any class, cultural, racial or social divide. 
I want to live in a world where people take the world as their home, and not just their apartment
I want to live in a world, where, there is equality, brotherhood & friendship
I want to live in a world, where there is no religion, no boundaries, no country
I want to live in a world. where there is love
I want to live in a world, where there is no God
I want to live in a world, where people see the 'God" within each other, and respect and fear that, and not any external source of power
I want to live in a world where people are happy!


I want to live in a world, where people are living as human beings and not some blood hungry hounds chasing money, power, post or whatever. I just want to live in a happy & content world. It maybe a just a dream, but this is what i wish for, and i will do my best to do my bit to change the world i live in at the moment. And i am not the only one, who is taking an oath like this, check out the following video, to see the effort of this insirational man, who wants to create a change in the society. And to him, I salute..! Sir, you are truly an inspiration and a  big motivation. 


So, i urge my readers, please look beyond your lives.. Expand your circle, Think big.. Don't categorize people are friends and 'others'.. Feel for everyone.. Wake up to social issues.. Don't just talk about the change you want to see, rather as Gandhiji said, Be the change you want to see.. And even the smallest of effort can take flight to provide a big impact.. 

We Want Justice!

October 20th:

A day when two guys or should i say two HEROES  Keenan Santos & Reuben Fernandez stood up to protect their friends..They stood up against  something they cant tolerate. They stood up for what is right... and what did they get for it?  DEATH..! They were stabbed to death in cold blood!

Is this what happens to people who stand up for something good? What kind of a democracy are we living in?


Its been more than a week & no action has been taken against them! Police started taking this case seriously only after the youth of the nation has ignited.

Why does it always happen that the police & the government start the work only when they're pushed by the 'aam janta'? Why don't they start investigating as soon as the crime takes place? There are so many questions unanswered. 

Women are still not respected in this male dominated country. Any random guy walks up to a girl & pass lewd comments. These men just think that women are weak & always target them. Keenan and Rueben were the MEN who couldn't tolerate such non sense..

Are you supporting the 'No Tolerance' campaign?  
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/zero-tolerance-campaign.html  Or Are  you simply staying back only because it didn't happen to you? Life is unpredictable. You never know what's coming your way. Keenan always said, "ladne ke liye jaan ki nahi, Jigarr ki zarrorat hoti hai.."

Let us find that jigarr in us that our friend Keenan always talked about..Let us stand united and  fight for Keenan & Reuben. Let us stand united and fight for justice. Just like all of us showed solidarity in the Jessica Lal Murder case, we need to do something similar to get these ruthless hooligans behind bars for the rest of their lives... Cmon guys, lets show the country, what miracles young blood can achieve..! i for one, solemnly swear, I WILL FIGHT FOR THE JUSTICE TILL THE END.. have you taken the oath yet?? Join the ZERO TOLERANCE campaign, and be a part a voice in this nation's scream for justice! 

Keenan santos, and Reuben Fernandez, u have lit a spark and we will turn this spark into a rage fire, which will burn the legal system down to ensure that you rest in peace..!