On Slum Dog Millionaire

The ruling Congress for once got it right. Times of India reports of congress moving ahead to take the credit for Oscar success of Slumdog. It is indeed success of congress isn't it. The very story of the movie wouldn't have been possible but for the sprawling slums in our cities. And don't we have the congress to thank for it, with it being in power both at Centre and state for bulk of the time. So here's to the ruling party which made this wonderful movie possible.
Looks like Amitabh Bachan is simply not able to digest the fact that Slumdog has won Oscar, looking at the criticism he has for the movie and the number of times he has called it a medicore enterprise. Well Bachan sahab look at the number of medicore movies you have given over years, which have been huge successes - Mard, Coolie, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Ghum to name a few. Compared to them Slumdog is a classic.
And finally the Oscar success of Slumdog, for me the story was about those kids from dharavi, sharing the space with who’s who of Hollywood and making everyone groove to their beat. Don’t we all dream of moments like this, and for all their other misfortunes these are the moments which will stay with them for years to come and make their life that much more better.
Jai Ho

Kala Bandar

Kala Bandar:- I sat through the first half of Delhi 6 wondering, where the movie was headed to, but in the end (well not actually in end, but about 10 min before that), it proved to be worth the wait. While I won’t get into the cinematic brilliance (or lack of it as critics are saying), what I liked the most is the point which the movie makes.

There is this brilliant line in a Swadesh song by Javed Akhtar:-

देख धज के पाप रावन, राम तेरे मान मैं, राम मेरे मान मैं, मान से रावन जो निकले राम उसके मान मैं.
The movie brings to light the Ravan – Kala Bandar which resides in our heart, which makes us do all sorts of weird things, which we won’t do if we pause to think for a moment about our actions. Friends for years, suddenly turn into enemies as the monkey in their hearts makes them forget everything they have shared over the years.
At the end of it though was left with a more disturbing thought, what is it that unites India, what will it take to unite a nation of billion which is divided along billion possible lines. Ramchandra Guha in “India After Gandhi” says that the uniting factors for India are Cricket, Bollywood and Democracy. But are they good enough to hold us together for next 60 years while the Kala Bandar wrecks havoc in our minds? How do we find the Ram within us, while Ravan rules our pysche?

An Obama for India?

Some of the questions which media is asking for last couple of days is
• Who can be India’s Obama?
• Will India get an Obama?
I think these are irrelevant questions. The question that we should be asking is does India deserve an Obama?
How Obama will turn out is a different Q, but what he symbolizes is hope, unity, a sense of purpose, a belief. America has united like never before and kept aside its prejudices to vote an African American in power. This unity is probably the biggest strength which US has.
Contrast this with our situation. At the same time when US is uniting we are finding new excuses to divide ourselves. Today’s web is carrying reports about vandal activities in a theatre in Pune for showing Kannada movies. Maharashtra Karnataka border issue is still not resolve even after 50 years. I fail to understand what is so difficult for the people in this area to stay in Karnataka, unless the state purposefully acts against them just because they speak marathi. There is also news which says Shiv Sena may ask all kanadiga’s in state to leave. If that happens surely, Kannada Rakshan Vedike will reciprocate.
In a population which is divided along all possible lines and not ready to move beyond them, I ask myself can an Obama rise?

The answer to me is “No”, after all “in a democracy people get the government they deserve”

Couple of Q's troubling me this morning

Why is that the only references to the work done by the newly appointed Chief Minister of Maharashtra related to formation of separate revenue district for his constituency - Nanded and attending the award ceremony for Lata Mangeshkar Puraskar? What action has he taken to make sure that 26/11 doesn't happen again or atleast we are better prepared to handle if such a occurance happens again? Wasn't that the reason for which Deshmukh was kicked out and Chavan brought in?

Why should government give a 2000 CR bail out Satyam? Its not as if the company has lost its customers and the market turned bad for it. Freeze all the assets of Satyam and associated firms (maytas) and individuals and more then 2000 Cr can be raised. Isn't Maytas the firm were most of the money go?

Ridiculous

Looks like Indian Law Makers have nothing better to do. While most of our laws are archaic with bulk of them a legacy from the days of the Raj in their intent, content and language, the one they are trying to amend takes us back even further.

Having realized that it takes 2 to commit adultery the government is intent on passing a bill which will punish the women also for indulging in out of marriage relationship. Adultery will invoke criminal proceedings and term of up to 5 years.

First, by very definition the act is between 2 adults who are doing it on their own consent. It can result in a divorce, that is acceptable; but a criminal proceeding is like taking it back to the days of Manu. It is a socially unacceptable behavior and can cause considerable anguish to other people is agreed upon, but it being a criminal case simply doesn’t seem right.  At best it can be a civil case where in it involves a breach of trust between a husband and wife.

With courts having such a huge back log and the Supreme Court chief justice not having enough time from his foreign trips do we need these added set of cases?

Thought for the day

Following the crash in oil prices from 140USD to 43 USD, there is a thought which comes to my mind: MG Rocks.

How right he was when he said: There is enough for everyone's need but not enough for everyone's greed.

Musing

My mind keeps going back to two points:
1) In the civics class I learnt that just as I have my civil rights, I also have my duties. While today I am demanding my rights am I doing my duty or what is expected out of me as a citizen.
2) This line from a sang geet: जागरूक जनता के केन्द्रों से होगा अमर समाज