Tuesday, December 27, 2005
2005
I got hold of Outlook magazine's annual issue last evening. One article from the issue, Mahesh Nair's 2005: A Bollywood lexicon had me in splits.
Some real good ones:
Abhishek (adj): the ability to succeed after you fail. Also used loosely to envy what you dismissed.
Emran Hashmi (v): to kiss, accompanied with a Pakistani hit single.
Mangal Pandey (adj): to look silly after five years.
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In the same issue, NDTV's Abheek Barman has an interesting prediction, that by 2014 general elections, the Left could well emerge as Congress's main challenger.
It is possible. After all, nine years is a long time, almost an era, in politics. As long as the BJP continues to follow the RSS agenda, it would be difficult for it to emerge (again) as an alternative to the Congress. The key is to jettison the so called contentious issues and, highlight more fundamental (read: economic, social) issues. You can't fault the Left parties in this aspect.
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Current music: Luka Chhupi/Rang de Basanti (Lata M/A R Rahman)
A nice song, really. Remember, Lata is 76.
Some real good ones:
Abhishek (adj): the ability to succeed after you fail. Also used loosely to envy what you dismissed.
Emran Hashmi (v): to kiss, accompanied with a Pakistani hit single.
Mangal Pandey (adj): to look silly after five years.
---
In the same issue, NDTV's Abheek Barman has an interesting prediction, that by 2014 general elections, the Left could well emerge as Congress's main challenger.
It is possible. After all, nine years is a long time, almost an era, in politics. As long as the BJP continues to follow the RSS agenda, it would be difficult for it to emerge (again) as an alternative to the Congress. The key is to jettison the so called contentious issues and, highlight more fundamental (read: economic, social) issues. You can't fault the Left parties in this aspect.
---
Current music: Luka Chhupi/Rang de Basanti (Lata M/A R Rahman)
A nice song, really. Remember, Lata is 76.
Friday, December 23, 2005
ek behatar kal
I was quite impressed by one of the old advertisements of NDTV-India channel.
The words go like this (may not be complete recall)
एक बेह्तर कल चाहते है हम,
पैसे की चमक पर हुनर न पडे फ़ीका,
खुदगर्जी खोखला ना कर दे सोचने का तरीका.
ताकि अच्छे आदर्श और विचार महज किताबीं बाते न रह जाये,
मजहब से पहले हमेशा देश याद आये.
एक बेह्तर कल चाहते है हम,
इसलिए सच दिखातें है हम.
The words go like this (may not be complete recall)
एक बेह्तर कल चाहते है हम,
पैसे की चमक पर हुनर न पडे फ़ीका,
खुदगर्जी खोखला ना कर दे सोचने का तरीका.
ताकि अच्छे आदर्श और विचार महज किताबीं बाते न रह जाये,
मजहब से पहले हमेशा देश याद आये.
एक बेह्तर कल चाहते है हम,
इसलिए सच दिखातें है हम.
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
The great Indian middle class
If you have heard Vinod Mehta (editor : Outlook) during television debates, chances are that you would have thoroughly enjoyed that debate. He is a straight talker and his witty comments go nicely with that.
Read his Delhi diary from the latest issue of Outlook. He writes besides other things, the middle class's relishing about the Volcker issue, and ignoring the real issues like water, electricity, roads, healthcare etc.
I would tend to agree with that. There is a tendency of blaming the media for sensationalising the non-issues. But the truth is that the media is just pandering to their viewers' demands.
And from the same issue, read the ending paragraph of this article.
Read his Delhi diary from the latest issue of Outlook. He writes besides other things, the middle class's relishing about the Volcker issue, and ignoring the real issues like water, electricity, roads, healthcare etc.
I would tend to agree with that. There is a tendency of blaming the media for sensationalising the non-issues. But the truth is that the media is just pandering to their viewers' demands.
And from the same issue, read the ending paragraph of this article.
Monday, December 19, 2005
Thodisi dhul meri
Thodisi dhuul meri dharti ki mere watan ki - 2
Thodisi Khushbuu baurai se mast pavan ki
Thodisi dhondhane waali dhak-dhak dhak-dhak dhak-dhak saansein
Jin mein ho junoon junoon voh boonde laal lahuu ki
Yeh sab tuu mila mila le phir rang tuu khila khila le - 2
Aur mohe tuu rang de basanti yaara
Mohe tuu rang de basanti
Give me a Rehman anytime.
And it has been almost a year since Swades was released (17-12-04). In the times of MPs accepting bribes for asking questions in Parliament, Oil-for-food scams, Ranvir Senas, its message seems even more relevant.
Thodisi Khushbuu baurai se mast pavan ki
Thodisi dhondhane waali dhak-dhak dhak-dhak dhak-dhak saansein
Jin mein ho junoon junoon voh boonde laal lahuu ki
Yeh sab tuu mila mila le phir rang tuu khila khila le - 2
Aur mohe tuu rang de basanti yaara
Mohe tuu rang de basanti
Give me a Rehman anytime.
And it has been almost a year since Swades was released (17-12-04). In the times of MPs accepting bribes for asking questions in Parliament, Oil-for-food scams, Ranvir Senas, its message seems even more relevant.
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Death on duty
आवाज उठाओ, कहीं हम आवाज उठाना ना भुल जाये !
(Courtesy the ad for NDTV India)
Here, and here.
This guy from IIML could have easily landed a comfy desk job
in any MNC across India but he chose to join a PSU, Indian Oil, and
took on the powerful oil mafia paying the ultimate price.
Has our state failed to protect its citizens ?
(Courtesy the ad for NDTV India)
Here, and here.
This guy from IIML could have easily landed a comfy desk job
in any MNC across India but he chose to join a PSU, Indian Oil, and
took on the powerful oil mafia paying the ultimate price.
Has our state failed to protect its citizens ?
Monday, December 05, 2005
Memorable
And staying with Sachin, my latest book acquisition was in the form of the master-blaster photo-essay titled Memorable and compiled by Peter Murray.
Thanks to the Great Crossword Sale, I picked it up for 199 bucks (about 60% down from the cover price of 495/-).
An excellent collection of photographs from his school days to the World Cup 2003, it is a must have for all the fans of the little champion.
Thanks to the Great Crossword Sale, I picked it up for 199 bucks (about 60% down from the cover price of 495/-).
An excellent collection of photographs from his school days to the World Cup 2003, it is a must have for all the fans of the little champion.
सानिया, जरा जपुन
Advice to Sania from well known sports commentator Dwarkanath Sanzgiri in Saturday's Chaturang supplement of Loksatta.
Excerpt from the article:
सचिन आज ३२ वर्षांचा आहे. पण त्याचं राजकीय मत तुला ठाऊक आहे ? किंवा सामाजिक मत काय आहे ? ते जाऊ देत, गांगुलीबद्दल त्याचं नेमकं मत काय, हे तरी तुला ठाऊक आहे का ? तो वाद्ग्रस्त विषयाच्या वाटेला जात नाही. पण त्या विधानाने समोर येऊन रस्ता अडवलाच तर त्या विधानाला तो शांतपणे वळसा घालुन जातो.
(Sachin is 32 years old today. But do you know his political opinion ? Or his opinion on social issues ? Okay, do you know what is his opinion on Ganguly ? He doesn't meddle into anything controversial. If any controversial subject comes across him, he just ducks it out.)
The complete article is here. Let us hope that Sania's racquet does all the talking.
Excerpt from the article:
सचिन आज ३२ वर्षांचा आहे. पण त्याचं राजकीय मत तुला ठाऊक आहे ? किंवा सामाजिक मत काय आहे ? ते जाऊ देत, गांगुलीबद्दल त्याचं नेमकं मत काय, हे तरी तुला ठाऊक आहे का ? तो वाद्ग्रस्त विषयाच्या वाटेला जात नाही. पण त्या विधानाने समोर येऊन रस्ता अडवलाच तर त्या विधानाला तो शांतपणे वळसा घालुन जातो.
(Sachin is 32 years old today. But do you know his political opinion ? Or his opinion on social issues ? Okay, do you know what is his opinion on Ganguly ? He doesn't meddle into anything controversial. If any controversial subject comes across him, he just ducks it out.)
The complete article is here. Let us hope that Sania's racquet does all the talking.
