Pozicool's cuppa of Koffee...

Negative energy et al

2011-11-28T12:46:00.000-08:00

One thing in this world you cannot ignore or change are negative people and vibes. As long as there is positive energy around, there will be negative energy too. But the trick is to find a way to break its barriers using positive thinking. As a famous author puts it: "Quit thinking that you must halt before the barrier of inner negativity. You need not. You can crash through... whatever we see a negative state, that is where we can destroy it." In today's competitive world, it is hard to keep away this form of destructive energy. For instance, if you get promoted or patted by your boss or even something as simple as your joy, there will be some negative people who will be utterly jealous. The ones who were so-called close to you, will start cold-shouldering you, become hostile and stare rudely at you as if you stabbed someone. Such elements can make you feel guilty for nothing in silence as silence is the best tool to make someone feel really bad about something that might not even exist and you might be left stewing over that fictional 'something'! Their purpose would be to put you down in front of someone else. For all you know it may even be a ploy to bring down your work quality so that they can shine in front of the boss. They can go all lowly attempts to show how bad your work style is. If there is a piece of gossip, they will deliberately get into a huddle and talk about it either in front of you or around you, just to make you feel out-of-place. This normally happens when one enters a new organisation. The newbie may be struggling to learn and understand the 'ropes of trade'. Instead of making him or her feel welcome and make it more approachable, there will be similar attempts as above to create negative energy. Older the person in an organisation, more is the hostility shown by them towards a newbie for varied reasons, unknown to even God, I suppose! One could only guess the reasons. Yet, it is a sad fact that instead of showing initiative in encouraging the newbie to enter a group or breaking ice with the individual, it is often seen that the fresher to the organisation (despite having completed a respectable number of years in the field) is made to feel guilty that he or she has yet not picked up the culture of the workplace. The older experienced guys should remember that they had also started as freshers at some point of time. If they went through a rough training or rude seniors, does not mean that one has to be rude to the new people who join. This becomes particularly important when the so-called fresher is attempting something totally new that he may not have done all his professional life. He or she should be praised and lauded at every step that he is taking in the new field and the organisation instead of putting him or her on a total guilt trip! The vicious cycle could only entail in increasing chances of attrition in an organisation. It is up to the HR to keep a close tab if the fresher is undergoing any struggle to 'fit' into the team dynamics.
This you may wonder is my story and an attempt to make it sound fictional. Thats not the case. It happens everywhere in a very covert fashion. No one really notices it and of course, choose to ignore it. The 'seniors' of the workplace if made aware of this growing trend, shrug their shoulders and react emotionlessly saying "either the fresher/newbie is oversensitive or overreacting. There is nothing to worry!"
This maybe my ranting on negativity and many may even ask me this question: Charity begins at home. What have you done to tone down negativity at the workplace? I am proud to say that I have mentored and helped many newbies feel at home, at my level - many still thank me till this day! I believe if one tones down negativity, the workplace will grow and it will mean lesser attrition! I can only hope that a day will come when one will leave an organisation not because of politics, but better opportunities elsewhere.

7 years as a scribe: ups and downs

2011-01-19T23:28:00.000-08:00

I complete seven long years in journalism in August 2011. I wonder what I have gained and what I have lost. Lets begin on a positive note: what have I gained? An identity of my own (of being a scribe), working on my terms (thats a bit ironical, though!), writing (which was my childhood dream and I do intend to be a successful writer someday), and finally I have managed to reach a senior level (that is also ironical...I would ask: at what cost?). What do I do with seniority and a high paying job when I am still not doing what I always wanted to do? (Delhiites would say: toh kya hua! iska achar daalun kya main?...in literal terms, it would mean: Should I 'pickle' (achar) the salary and designation?).
So what have I lost: precious relationships, my self-respect and probably much more...I am still proud that I am a journalist! But am not proud of the fraternity that I am part of - day in and day out. For long, I supported journalism, was an idealist and activist. I fought with my mom, tooth-and-nail to remain in this field, gave her all the possible arguments like a lawyer! Finally after having entered this field, been there for 7 years now, I feel like a fool thanks to members of the fraternity of whom I was proud of, for a long time. I am compelled to bring this done-to-death topic here, on this forum, 'coz all my friends in the media agree with me and am thankful to all those who stood by me like a wall whenever I wanted to break down! I would call myself a 'solitary reaper' in this field, trying to find my place here. I realised its a futile task trying to prove myself. Long ago, as an intern for a reputed newspaper in the south, my news editor had given me a tip on my last day there. This is what he said: If u can prove yourself in the desk, u can shine as a writer. He was partly right. I did do well in the desk for a while, and used to write well too. But after a few years, I started realising that desk was not my cup of tea. Yet I persisted, giving myself chances repeatedly..never thinking that it had been a himalayan blunder of my life to become a sub-editor! Now that 7 years have passed, I want to break the vicious cycle that is consuming me; follow my heart and resume writing! I know there are a whole lot of risks involved: I would have to financially sustain myself and also incur my mom's wrath for taking another plunge into an unknown abyss. But, I am willing to take a risk 'coz this time, I do not want to lose myself again.

A few rhymes stir childhood memories...

2011-01-06T02:44:00.000-08:00

A rhyme in Malayalam:

Kaake kaake koodevide

Kootinakathoru kunjundo

Kunjinu theeta kodukkaanjal

Kunju kidannu karanyeedum

Kaake kaake nee tharumo

Ninnude kayyile neyappam

Betty bought some batter butter,

But she found the butter bitter;

So she bought some better butter,

To make the bitter batter better

Baa, baa, black sheep

Have you any wool?

Yes sir, Yes sir,

Three bags full:

One for my master,

And one for his dame,

And one for the little boy

Who lives down the lane

Ding dong bell,

Pussy in the well;

Who put her in?

Little Tommy Thin.

Who pulled her out?

Little Tommy Stout.

What a naughty boy was that

To drown poor pussy cat.

Cobbler, cobbler mend my shoe,

Get it done by half past two,

Stitch it up and stitch it down

And I'll give you half a crown.

It all happened on 12th November...

2010-11-15T03:19:00.000-08:00

A night that I will never forget all my life, this incident changed my life! It just took a few moments to transform me into a mental wreck. I learnt a lot of things that night. Even now, chills roll down my spine when I recall those tense moments. I know I am making all this sound like an episode of a horror serial or the trailer of a horror movie.
It was my friend's birthday and she decided to treat us. Three of us first went to 'Piccadelhi' (a restaurant which is a replica of the London subways) in Connaught Place to eat. Post that, we decided to shift location and went to 'Nirula's Potpurri'. We all were laughing and having fun after what seemed like AGES. We were bitching about our 'no-social' lives. Deciding to let my hair down, I chose beer and as it seemed to be my lucky day, bagged an extra bottle since it was in the happy hours. Talking and gossiping about old times, we revived a lot of good memories too. Just as we were exiting the place, my memory jolted me that I had brought my light blue stole. I ran back to Piccadelhi, and thankfully the sweethearts had kept it for me. The next, the three of us took a common auto to go back home - one of them had to be dropped at Def Col, while the birthday girl and me to GK-1. I was holding my brown pouch that contained my ID cards and ATM cards. Enroute, our unusually chatty auto driver, an old sardarji, handed me his phone to get it back on ringer mode. "Main anpadh hoon, mujhe samajh nahi aa raha ki yeh kaise theek karoon, toh aap theek kar deejiye" I obliged him and researched his phone painstakingly (the menu was all in Hindi font) and corrected his settings. To test if it was working, I asked his number so that I could ring it. Happily, he blessed me and dropped me off to my home.
Timeline to panic:
10:40 pm: When I reached home, I got the sinking feeling that I had yet again forgotten something - this time it was my brown pouch! I panicked, emptied my bag and searched high n low. Voila! I remembered it was in the same auto. Thankfully my memory helped me retrieve the auto driver's number. I called him and after several rings and collective gasps, he answered the phone, getting my heartbeat to normal mode. I hurriedly reminded him of how I was an unfortunate passenger who had left a pouch in his auto. I heard a rustling sound at the other end. Sardarji told me he had found it, assuring me he would come back to the same place where he dropped me.
11 pm: The phone gets cut and I yet did not confirm from him what time he would reach my place. By then, beads of sweat formed on my forehead on that cold night, thinking of the consequences I would have to face if at all my mom came to know. All visuals formed in my head and further panic attacks hit me when I started imagining him getting lost and not knowing my address.
11:15 pm: I dialed his number and after several rings, I heard him exasperated and annoyed that I was calling him repeatedly. Nevertheless, I gave him benefit of doubt because I knew he was coming from ITO (nearly 13-14 kms from my place). He assured he would reach in 15 mins.
11:30 pm: I was hyperventilating by then. Tried to avoid the itch of calling him again. I knew he was an honest guy, yet I had all negative doubts lurking in my brain. Another 10 mins of despair as I stood on the main road, worried that he would not find me and go back home. My colony's security guards looked suspiciously at me and I fielded yet another angry call from my mom who had by now, gotten suspicious of my sudden urge to take a midnight walk in my colony's park - as I had told her.
11:40 pm: Sardarji arrives, looking irritated at me. I take two deep breaths of oxygen like I breathed my first air - right out of my mom's womb! Yet, he calmly asks me to sit in his auto and spends five minutes, explaining me the importance of taking down an auto driver's number as soon as u board it - in case u leave something in the auto - and second, how I should check all my belongings before I de-board the auto at the said destination. He hands me over my pouch, saying he didn't even open it to check the contents. Sardarji was my guardian angel that night and thanked him profusely, gave him 400 bucks to show my appreciation for his honesty and all the pain he had to take to reach my place. We spoke awhile and at midnight, he took leave. I prayed to all the Gods that day, asking them to bless this kind soul!
Guys, all I can say is that Angels do exist. But not all will be like this guy, so please take care of ur belongings since losing even a single piece of our identity - ID cards/anything - amounts to a whole lot of paperwork and unnecessary wastage of time too...

The New Pyasa song...

2010-09-02T03:47:00.000-07:00

Yeh meetings yeh stories yeh feature ki duniya
Yeh insaan ke dushman, Quark ki duniya
Yeh deadlines ke bhookhe, editors ki duniya
Yeh page agar ban bhi jayee to kya hai.

Yahan ek khilona hai sub-editor ki hasti
Yeh basti hai murda reporters ki basti
Yahan par to raises se inflation hi sasti
Yeh appraisal agar ho bhi jayee to kya hai?

Har ek computer ghayal har ek news hi baasi
Designers mein uljhan photographers mein udassi
Yeh office hai ya aalame management ki
Circulation agar badh bhi jayee to kya hai?

Jalaa do, jalaa do ise, phoonk dalo
Yeh monitor mere naam ka hata do

Yeh user tumhara hai tumhi sambhalo
Yeh computer, yeh paper agar chal bhi jayee to kya hai?

Wanna Partition 3.0 software?

2010-01-01T21:37:00.001-08:00

Its apparently become easy to install this software. Master minded by many, the registration in this portal is very simple: Go to the headquarters of Shiv Sena, TRS, BJP, BSP or better still go to any university. Then pay your black money to them, they will hire some goons for u, who will break bones, glasses, burn effigies, and even take protest marches, causing jams in the city, some MPs who will go on 'fake' fasts. Hmmm sounds simple na? :-) the final results are the most wonderful, I can promise u! This is a no-fail recipe to successful partitioning of ur state or community. Isn't it weird that a democracy which boasted of vibrancy and variety in its culture, is slowly turning into a battleground of blood, gore and destruction. All credit goes to its leaders who are participating in the mass destruction of its own motherland. We are in fact returning back to our roots, ironically, We were a country of small provinces ruled by kings before the inception of 'Bharat'. Due to infighting among the kings, various foreigners came and colonised us. It was only pre-Partition, they realised the need to be united. So do we really need yet another version of Partition 3.0 software installed in our country by 'the others'? Why cant people learn the bitter lessons of 1947 or an 1865? I guess this is wat a wise sage said centuries ago: jaisi karni waisi bharni. And we continue to pay dearly for the compartmental thinking of some idiots who are ruling the country! Thanks to these cracks, our country will be sawed into pieces, if not tectonically, in the near future. So why blame poor Uncle Sam or a Pakistan or our dearest neighbours China for invading us. It serves us right, then! No point in callin the kettle black, right?

Revisiting 26/11...

2009-11-23T00:24:00.000-08:00

It is 26/11 once again! All of us have been ranting and raving about the whole thing...lots of people lost their lives in this entire mess. Post-26/11, yet again people thought that justice would happen, but somewhere as usual just like any bomb blast happens, the plot once again got lost in translation...media debates, Pakistani terrorist Kasab's arrest, Home Minister P Chidambaram warning Pakistan and screaming out its involvement in the blasts, Pakistan yet again playing mind games with India - denying proof and eye witness accounts. But what about the common man who lost everything in these blasts? Did anyone really care about him? He got stuck in his life, either losing a family member or his dreams shattered because of losing a limb and much more psychological trauma - oh the crassness of it all! When will the destructive cycle end? Our main agenda must be to find out - what do they really want? I know that the answer is written clearly on the walls...yet an optimism exists that sometime, they too will get tired of playing 'bombing the city'! (a game we played in childhood) and come out in the open...Mumbai's 'spirits' were and have always been taken for granted by some cowards who take the megacity hostage at their whim and fancies. After all they succeeded in grabbing the world's attention. But, ironically, Mumbai moved on...but this time, voices of protests have become louder - demanding justice. Thanks to an alert Home Minister P Chidambaram, some sarkari things seem to have changed - making sure that the process of justice is more transparent and logical - where the previous Home Ministers failed! Ask any Mumbaiikar whether they want justice, all they have to say is 'we want peace' and the youth there 'just want a secure, stable nation where their dreams will be nurtured and fulfilled'. None of the media debates ever centre on rehabilitating the youth or taking measures to empower them to face any attacks with will and determination. Political parties just think of 'panels' to discuss the 'strategies' to counter their rivals over petty issues - leaving the country vulnerable and open to terrorists. Our leaders forget that a nation's inner strength are its youth - they are the ones to come forward and take the nation into the next millenium! So its not strategies thats required, its action thats needed now...Youth power can make or break a nation! Hoping that our Gen Y ministers will break the 'dirty politics' mould and help change the demography of India...

P.S.: This is not some kind of speech, but some pent-up emotions pouring out on my blog...

Below is a piece that I wrote last year on the day when the whole 'media' drama was happening. I was working in office that day and it really pained and really hurt me...so just thought of sharing my emotions with all of u...

My last year's blog: http://koffeewithpriya.blogspot.com/2008/11/eye-for-eye.html

For the most wonderful person in my life...

2009-10-20T13:19:00.000-07:00

It took me quite a while to compose myself before writing about my Ammamma. Her loss is insurmountable to our family and we are reeling in the shock that God gave us on October 12, 2008.

I still cannot believe that it has been a year since the tragedy. I can still swear by her presence in our home and life. She is so embedded in my life that I can still hear her voice whenever I have to take a decision. I can hear her react to certain situations in her humorous sarcasms.

I learnt the word ‘unconditional love’ from my grandmother Mrs Indira K Pisharoti. Even after my grandfather's death, she looked after the whole family and kept herself strong for nearly 20 years. A role model for me and all those who knew her closely, she was my confidante, a buddy who knew most of my secrets and also the one who unconditionally supported me whenever I needed her.

A guiding light for many, she played a major role grooming me into the completely independent and bold woman that I am today. In fact, many of the close friends and relatives say I am her carbon copy in looks, attitude and nature! She supported me when I was taking my crucial decision to become a journalist and also when I wanted to take up Arts - accepted me for what I am and my identity.

My first memory of hers is when I learnt to call her Ammamma. I still remember the days when she used to make me carrot juice after school, making me sit on the kitchen platform and feeding me ghee rice with daal, holding my hands and taking me to the school bus stop and picking me up from there as well. And later, making my tiffin early in the morning during my college years. Her one wish that remained unfulfilled (to my regret too) was to see me working in Mumbai itself.

I remember very fondly of how she used to chide me whenever I cried – either because my mum hit me or when both my mamas bullied or teased me. She would always tell me one thing: ‘Don’t ever cry but react or hit back whenever you are hurt. And in case you feel like crying, then shut yourself in a room!’ She hated me sulking in a corner. That was my grandma – always motivating everyone to smile and ‘live life to the fullest’ was her funda and is mine too. 'Peace at all costs' was another one of her principles in life. She hated fights in our house and discouraged one and all for the same.

She adored both me and my cousin Rohan and since I was the first grandchild, I also was the privileged one to receive her love and unconditional support for 19 years! She had an infective optimism and laughter that was spread in each wall of the house she lived in. Wherever she went, she left an aura behind her.

My grandma had been fiercely independent all her life - she preferred to live alone in her own house even when she was under treatment and medication a whole year. However, fate had something else in store for her. Our world was shattered on March 5, 2008 when she suffered from brain haemorrage, slipped into semi-coma, lost her speech and also got paralysed on her right side. She was bedridden for seven months!

When I came to see her in the hospital, she was a transformed woman - from an independent and active person to a completely shrunk person who lad lost the will to fight for her life. She could hear everyone, but reverted her eyes whenever anyone came to see her - perhaps feeling ashamed of having become dependent on tubes and nurses to help her survive and also the feeling of hurting her loved ones.

I was however determined to bring her back from the hell she was in. After a lot of coaxing and cajoling, and my constant conversations with her, she began gripping my hand. That was a big miracle for the doctors and nurses and for me too - I realised ammamma was telling me something else too - 'I will be with you always!' She started maintaining eye contact with me. Whenever I came to meet her, she would smile. I used to wheel her around the hospital - taking her to the window - motivating her to get well soon. Doctors had begun noting her recovery. But the haemorrage had somehow taken away her survival instincts - thanks to heavy medication. Those seven months, I experienced a sense of desolation and a feeling of loneliness crept in. Somewhere I had also begun losing hope, though I prayed for a miracle from God.

I still prefer to keep her bubbly persona in my sweet memories that I have of hers. Jogging down the memory lane, I still see her smiling at me - motivating me all the time. The last time I met her before her death was on Oct 2, 2008 - my ammavan's birthday - she just looked at me and my mother for one and a half hours, gripping my hand. The world came crashing on my family as we all lost our life's anchor on Oct 12, 2008.

Trust me, she is still alive in our memories, our house and most of all our hearts!! Thanks a ton, ammamma for whatever you did for me and the person that I am today :)

Ever been in love with your childhood buddy?

2009-08-03T03:26:00.000-07:00

Many friends have told me about how their friends have proposed to them and they got embarassed, but I have to confess that it was the reverse case for me: I am in love with my childhood friend and want to propose to him.
Neither was he a part of my gang, nor was I! But we shared a gang feeling ever since we met - in third standard. Funnily I remember tying rakhi to him and his elder bro - i stopped after I reached seventh standard. Maybe I thought it to be kiddish...
So, should'nt it have been a secure feeling to know that you love your childhood friend? Someone who has shared your ups and downs, pulled you out of the depths of despair and put you on Cloud Nine too...And the day, I realised that I was in love, very naturally, I confided in my childhood friend. Her maiden reaction was - "Wow! I am excited" and in the next moment, we simultaneously reacted: "No ways"! The reason being - how can you fall in love with your childhood buddy!
Insane as it sounded, in our own juvenile way, we decided to trash the whole thing - helping me 'overcome' rather ignore the feeling. We even promised each other not to mention this to anyone in the gang and then partied that night. But it stuck on - I changed cities - went to Kerala to study, then later went to work in Bangalore. All through, I kept missing him. I kept dilly-dallying in between 'should I' or 'should'nt I'...The next when I met him in Mumbai after a good long 4 years, I suddenly started feeling positive all over again.
And love is not something that goes away that easily. Whenever I spoke to him or the time he ignored my calls as he was busy with work - I truly missed spending time with him! I got a good opportunity - and could have made use of it too - to go to Nagpur for his elder bro's wedding. I was far too excited...I simply could not stop blushing the moment he came to pick me up from my aunt's place to his house. But somehow, I never mustered courage to tell him. Life goes on - as they say - in a cliched manner. We still remember the good old days that we spent together - about the days when I used to play in his house - three of us - his bro and me tumbling and wrestling each other, playing video games, later sharing notes about our poor academics then our bosses, sour relationships, turning to each other for 'love' advice etc - I simply feared losing all this! Almost a decade later, when I look back, I laugh and cherish that feeling. But at the same time, somewhere in the deep recesses of my heart, I still regret why I did not tell him. But you never know when life takes a sudden U-turn. And all the same, I still have hopes left. Motivated by buddies, I feel am ready to go pop the question! So all you guys and girls out there, take a risk and tell your best friend if you love him or her. You never know what might happen next...One thing I learnt from a close buddy of mine - she says - At least U wont have a regret that u didnt listen to ur heart at the right time.

From spoit brats to 'Lil babies'!

2009-02-05T01:02:00.000-08:00

"Ninth grader from plush Santacruz school stole from parents; school refrains from stern action; asks him, parents, to go for counselling... We've heard of cases of students flaunting their wealth in school. But, in a case that attracted eyeballs from everyone at the Lilavatibai Podar Senior Secondary School in Santacruz, a 14-year-old student from Std IX was found with a sizeable wad of cash that he had stolen from his father's vault." (Read full story)
This is an excerpt of a shocking news item that I found in a leading Indian newspaper.
To what extent do kids go to these days to flaunt their wealth and status? A dangerous trend described by psychologists, urban kids these days have become extremely 'class-conscious'! My mother works in a popular school run by bureaucrats and IAS officers in the Capital. She narrates stories of how students misbehave with teachers in the school, throw 'starry' tantrums and how rich mommies come running to school because their 'li'l baby' (a ninth standard hulk) was 'hurt' emotionally by his teacher. Little knowing about their 'baby' ka karnamas (breaking window panes, bulbs in the classroom with footballs, bursting firecrackers in washrooms and bullying the younger/weaker kids). Initially it all looked so filmy to me. But then a greater reality dawned on me - busy and rich parents pampering their children - buying them expensive gifts and giving 'too much attention' to their 'babies'. Never mind! I am proud that my mum - in spite of 'rich' mommy complaints, does'nt 'give in' to these tantrums. Instead she gives them the entire 'report' of their rich n spoilt brats - not giving them a chance to justify their deeds.
Just because they pay higher fees, does'nt give them license to do as they please or misbehave with teachers. I now realise the importance of our old teachers' maxim: 'Spare the rod and spoil the child'!

Epitaph for my lost mobile

2008-12-19T05:04:00.000-08:00

An epitaph for my lost mobile 3100: You came into my life when I needed you the most! You recorded the best and worst moments of my life (in photographs). You were the one who helped me talk to my my friend, philosopher and guide! I shall remember you ALWAYZ..I just wish u happiness wherever you are....ALVIDA! :D
Anyone who wants to pay last tributes to my 'late' cell can do so...right here!

Ad-filmmaker Prasoon Joshi expresses his grief...

2008-12-02T05:18:00.000-08:00

Is baar nahin
Is baar jab woh choti si bachchi mere paas apni kharonch le kar aayegi
Main usey phoo phoo kar nahin behlaoonga
Panapney doonga uski tees ko
Is baar nahin
Is baar jab main chehron par dard likha dekhoonga
Nahin gaoonga geet peeda bhula dene wale
Dard ko risney doonga,
utarney doonga andar gehreyIs baar nahin
Is baar main na marham lagaoonga
Na hi uthaoonga rui ke phahey
Aur na hi kahoonga ki tum aankein band karlo, garden udhar kar lo main dawa lagata hoon
Dekhney doonga sabko hum sabko khuley nangey ghaav
Is baar nahin
Is baar jab uljhaney dekhoonga,chatpatahat dekhoonga
Nahin daudoonga uljhee door lapetney
Uljhaney doonga jab tak ulajh sake
Is baar nahinIs baar karm ka hawala de kar nahin uthaoonga auzaarNahin karoonga phir se ek nayee shuruaat
Nahin banoonga misaal ek karmyogi ki
Nahin aaney doonga zindagi ko aasani se patri par
Utarney doonga usey keechad main,tedhey medhey raston pe
Nahin sookhney doonga deewaron par laga khoon
Halka nahin padney doonga uska rang
Is baar nahin banney doonga usey itna laachaar
Ki paan ki peek aur khoon ka fark hi khatm ho jaye
Is baar nahin
Is baar ghawon ko dekhna hai Gaur se
Thoda lambe wakt tak Kuch faisley
Aur uskey baad hausley
Kahin toh shuruat karni hi hogiIs baar yahi tay kiya hai

Mumbai attacks: A msg for the terrorists!

2008-11-30T23:19:00.001-08:00

Dear friends across India and the world,
We're all feeling the shock of the awful attacks in Mumbai. All our hearts go out to the victims and their families. The attacks were aimed at our people, our prosperity and our peace. But their top target was something else: our unity. If these attacks cause us to turn on each other in hatred and conflict, the terrorists will have won. They know that hatred and chaos feed on division. As radical extremists, their only hope of winning is by turning the rest of us against each other. Let's deny them that victory. We're launching a message to extremists on all sides and all our political leaders, one that will soon be published in newspapers across India and Pakistan. The message is that these tactics have failed, that we're more united than ever, united in our love and support to each other, determined to work together against terror and call on our leaders to do the same. If millions of people sign it, our message will be unmistakable, click below to sign it and please forward this email widely:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/india_undivided/98.php/?cl_tf_sign=1
It's time to speak out, let's do it together.

Thanks,
Venkat Ananth

Mumbai attacks: A msg for the terrorists!

2008-11-30T23:19:00.000-08:00

Mumbai attacks: 'An eye for an eye'

2008-11-27T05:46:00.000-08:00

An 'eye-for-eye' seems to be the refrain of terrorists these days... They seem to be having a go at every other city in India... (experimenting, I suppose!)... The chronology is completing itself in an alphabetical order too: Ahmedabad, Assam, Bangalore, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Delhi, Guwahati, Kolkata, Mumbai... and this list continues.
Even as I am writing this blog, fresh firing and explosions can be heard at the Trident and Oberoi in Mumbai. The Taj Hotel, Mumbai's oldest hotel, is slowly getting destroyed by terrorists who have lost their humanity and are fanatic robots following orders of emotion-less 'terrorists'!
Apart from terrorists bombing our country, our own TV channels seem to be no less in sensationalising the terror attacks across the nation. They keep bombarding and raising the heckles of the public with their striking headlines! India TV even went, rather stooped to the extent of airing an interview with an atankwadi who belonged to a terror group called Deccan Mujahideen. In the history of Indian television, no terrorist has directly spoken to a channel...then why choose India TV...The questions asked were as follows: (As if terrorists care about India TV, huh!):
India TV: Aap kitne log hain Taj mein?
Aatankwadi: Hum kyun bataye hum kitne log hain
Interviewer: Dekhiye, agar aap sab bol rahe hain ki is waqt aap Taj mein hain, toh hum jaanna to chahenge hi...
Aatankwadi: Achcha, hum saat log hain
Interviewer: Ab bataiye ki aap kyun yahan par aaye hain? Aap yahan kyun aatank macha rahe hain?
Aatankwadi: Hum bas hum par (musalmanon) par ho rahe atyacharon ka badla le rahe hain!
Before the interviewer could start asking any further questions, the 'aatankwadi' hung up on him...
The media has made a circus of the entire gun firing and encounter - it looks more like the T20 match where the commentator updates us ball-by-ball about how many wickets are gone! Ironically, this time it is innocent people holed up in the hotels...what have they done? and a news anchor constantly shouting out into the mike about how many terrorists have taken ppl hostage! To top it all, idiotic politicians criticising the government and their policies and indulging in mud-slinging.
I am actually numbed about the fact that Mumbai and India in general has become so vulnerable that anyone could attack it from anywhere - sea/road/rail/even air!
Anger seeps in when I find politicians hogging all limelight just at a time when the NSG and Army and all the armed forces are uniting to save the hostages...
We talk about voting for the right government, but where is that 'right' person! Whichever govt comes, India is always attacked. Why can't our politicians think beyond votebanks and for once help create one federal body, and try and work out stern measures to root out terrorism from India! The very fact that terrorists attack only India and Pakistan (in South Asia) (looking back at statistics, I come to the conclusion that China, Korea and Japan have remained unscathed), shows that we are totally TFGs (taken for granted). Our Govt has been so soft on terror and terrorists that external elements now feel it is their birthright to attack us left, right and centre! All I want is that arrested terrorists must be given capital punishment so the next time they come attacking here, they will think twice!
People often poke fun at me being proud of being a Mumbaiikar - but so wat? I cannot stop caring for a city and its people even if am not living there...My birth city has given me my identity, afterall! So, I would also want as a citizen of India, to ask the Government to become more responsible and help uphold the nation's pride! For now, Jai Mumbai, Jai Maharashtra!

Driving away mid-week blues...

2008-10-30T02:28:00.000-07:00

Sufi music has been popular with people who liked soft music while going on long drives. It has remained an all-time favourite of people especially after NDTV Imagine's programme Junoon: Kuchh kar dikhane ka.
Of late, a genre called Sufi rock has taken birth. Pakistani as well as Indian bands are popularising it. Be it Jal, Strings, Abida Parveen, Allan Fakir, Kailash Kher, Rabbi Shergill or the latest Sufi sensation Shafqat Amanat Ali - Ustad Amanat Ali's son - all share one common factor in them - they all specialise in this genre.
Shafqat Amanat Ali's sufi rock cured me of all my day's blues on a rainy Wednesday evening. Braving heavy showers, like other Sufi lovers, I too managed to reach Siri Fort well in time for the concert. Let me confess this was my first live Sufi concert and probably my dream one, too! I had butterflies in my stomach as I took my place in the packed auditorium. The concert kicked off with an introduction on Shafqat and the launch of his latest album Tabeer.
As the hall became dark, Shafqat with his band Fuzon, belted out my favourite numbers Mora Sayyan (Khamaj), Yeh Haunsla (Dor), and all songs from his latest album.
Shafqat even went to the audience and invited three people from the audience who sang 'Yeh Haunsla' with him on the stage. He was also the voice, which enthralled listeners with 'Mitwa' from the movie Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna. His album Tabeer was launched by Music Today through a three-city launch tour, in New Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata.
One identifiable feature about his voice is that when he speaks on the mike, its barely audible, but at the same time, you would be shocked at the pitch that he sings in.
After the formal launch of his new album, he transported the audience from the real world to his own world - the world of music. For two hours, we remained entranced as the music ebbed and flowed from soft numbers like Teray Bina, Khairheyan de naal, Mora sayyan, Ankhon ke sagar, naina to fast-paced rock numbers like Dum-ali-dum-ali.

Books for a Woman's soul!

2008-09-30T07:13:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered what is it with women and that self-help' book section in the bookstore? Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus, Who Moved your Cheese?, A Fish Tale. These names may sound familiar to you. In case you haven't you can go to any bookstore's 'Self-help' or 'Non-fiction' segment and check them out.
Wait, in case you are still wondering what I am talking about, then let me tell you that I am actually talking about the Chicken Soup series and the How-to-win-back-your-husband/girlfriend/boyfriend type of books - those which you might scoff at and end up believing, sometimes even following the tips given in these books to solve your life's crises - very religiously!
In fact, having read a few such books, I remained curious behind the psyche of picking these books from the bookshelf to simply even flip through! The titles too attract your attention. Some even have an attractive coffee table book jacket with some good eye-catching graphics.
I spoke to most of my friends and a few colleagues - some of whom agreed, while others disagreed with my theory that self-help books become a part-and-parcel of a woman's existence, helping her through the most difficult times.
Sumegha, a student of Delhi college of Arts and Commerce, says that she read some of them more out of curiosity, initially. But admits the main reason one would pick up such books are when you may feel low or defeated. For instance, she read Born to win after she was rejected in LSR college, and says she got good vibes and positive thoughts after reading it.
Sometimes bitter personal experiences make one read these books too. Twenty-seven-year-old interior designer Amrita Singh, who has had several heartbreaks, has now turned to relationship books to find solace. "I have read a couple of books on relationships by Paulo Coelho, but found them very depressing. I recently read 'The Secret' by Rhonda Byrne and found the chapter on love and friendship very interesting. Another book that I have read is 'Brida' by Paulo Coelho, which is also about love and finding your soulmate," she says.
If these books are so 'preachy', then what is the reason behind such a huge readership? Well, surprisingly most women feel that they could either identify with the protagonist of the book or one of the situations mentioned in it. Media professional Nitasha Sharma says that when she began reading Sheila O Flanagan's Yours faithfully, she began to identify with the second wife of the man in the book, even thinking of what would she as the second wife do after she found out about her husband's first marriage. Such is the involvement that the author creates with the reader!

Some say these books even help them analyse their present situation/crises in their life. Media professional Kanika Mehta says she reads them to just analyse her feelings and reactions to people. "They kind of reaffirm my stand at times," she explains, saying that most people read these books to know their boyfriends or life partners better. Both guys and girls want to sort out problems between friends and more than 50 per cent are low on confidence and use these as morale boosters. How true, isnt't it?
For Srishti Jha, a student of Miranda House, these books have never ended up mapping her life. She says, "Reading books on relationships makes me to look at life in different colours and strengthens my approach towards relationships in my life. Such books really help me discovering my limits and the limits that I should pose to people in my life. I have read the God Of Small Things. But, they have never influenced me nor have they changed my way of thinking."Agreeing with Srishti, a former staffer of Crossword, Suja Pisharody says women can read these books, but they cannot expect to live their life according to the diktats of the book. So, one must not take these books seriously - especially to improve your relationships with your family/spouse/even friends!
At the end of it all, I was even more surprised when I found out that even men read such books. DJ Madhu Prasad admits he just wanted to read these books to find out what people think when they write about these topics. "I have read Boundaries: When to Say Yes, When to Say No to Take Control of Your Life by Henry Cloud and John Townsend," he says.
Women after all have been known to be 'emotional' fools and it's an open secret that all women at some point in their life, do read these books - accept or reject it!

Missing 'Single in the City' column

2008-09-05T01:55:00.000-07:00

Missing Single in the City column? Yeah that's right! Its been almost six months since Sushmita Bose stopped writing this column. I guess whoseover used to read Hindustan Times - my guarantee is that male/female, would never have missed reading her amazing stories about living as a Single in Delhi. I miss it thoroughly now! Though I would have loved to live truly 'single' in the big bad Capital (by default am with my parents!), I just satisfy myself with 'adventurous' tales that I hear from my gang here (mostly males) about either going to Gurgaon and eating hot paranthas at midnight from the Moolchand flyover or perhaps going on a long drive on the Gurgaon Expressway. But I can still boast about my adventure that I had with a couple of friends who bought beer and chicken. We waited for all our colleagues to leave office and had it right outside our office building - that too at midnight! Oh it was such fun, trust me as we worked right through the night even after a peg or two...I reckon, it increased our productivity that day...Oops!! :)

Mukhbiir

2008-07-13T13:27:00.000-07:00

Starring: Sameer Dattani, Om Puri, Jackie Shroff, Suneil Shetty, Sushant Singh, Rahul Dev

You may have watched terrorist movies under varied themes: the most common being a terrorist on the run from the Interpol, a Gangster's love story, a don running a Company (RGV fame), a Satya and perhaps more.

But have you ever given a thought about the 'informer' who tips off the cops about the 'terrorist'? His life? or even his mere anonymous existence? The answer is a big NO.

The first rushes of Mukhbiir would make you think that its one of those 'run-of-the-mill' terrorist movies. But as the scenes unfold, each layer of the movie reveals new details you would never have imagined.

Kailash (Sameer Dattani) as the protagonist, plays his role of an anonymous informer with aplomb. Like other police officers, the local SP (Om Puri), also picks up Kailash in one of the rounds and uses him as his informer for dangerous operations. From helping the police to find a naxal leader to exposing the top brass of the police department involved in drug trafficking and global organ trade, he leads a dark, anonymous existence. Apart from this, with every operation, Kailash has to change his appearance and even religion to protect the operation and his identity.

For a police officer, his Mukhbiir is his biggest asset to cracking cases and in this case, Om Puri is under pressure at all times, to reveal the name of his informer. Mukhbiir empathises with this informer whose life is quite unstable, and often unpredictable. It borders on the extremes as he has to put his life in danger at all times.

So as to not make it look like parallel cinema, Mani has even managed to insert a love angle with Raima Sen playing Sameer's love interest (just one scene!).

The film has spine chilling moments when Sameer is tortured by a gang to identify his cop 'friend' Om Puri and also when he is asked by gang leader (Sushant Singh) to shoot at a woman and child. Sameer's intense acting manages to Mani Shankar has managed to keep the film gripping towards the second half.

Perhaps the movie's USP lies in the fact that unlike other terror films, it focuses on the informer/informers who probably die in operations, remaining unknown.

The movie has its weak moments which have been overshadowed by some brilliant piece of acting. The musical score of the movie has been given by Illayaraja and Karthik Raja.

Whether it is protagonist Sameer Dattani who breaks his chocolate boy image, Sushant Singh as the cruel gangster warlord or Rahul Dev as a calculative, global terror leader, Suneil Shetty and Om Puri as the honest cops - director Mani Shankar has managed to keep the intensity of the film and the audience focus on the theme. And unlike other terror films, it focuses on the informer/informers who probably die in operations, remaining largely unknown.

This movie may not be a song-and-dance one, but it will surely give you something to take back and cherish!

Mirroring Persia in frames...

2008-07-03T21:21:00.000-07:00

Veils, iron curtain, underground schools, war, veiled women with guns ('Nuns with guns' was the most famous caption for these women) ... these are the images of Iran that come to mind. Iran is indeed an elusive Islamic republic! But I realised there's more to this tiny country. The book Persian Mirrors written by an Italian scribe exposes the fallacies of Iran's rulers and clergymen who ruled Iran for decades and in the name of Islam's tenets, how they instilled fear among women, so much so they all got closeted within the four doors of a household/gym/private parties!! Whether it is Khamanei, Khomenei, or Mohammad Khatami: authority has not managed to put down the Iranian women. They all seem to have carved their own niche in society; they run their own business, are doctors, lawyers and even sportswomen. Some women featured in the book have shown remarkable courage in speaking out openly against authority, have courted arrest. One of the women's newspaper even faced shutdown thrice. Yet she continued her fight for women's rights unrelentlessly!
At the end of it all, the book manages to shatter many myths and perceptions about Iran! The USPs of this book: the author's narrative abilities! What totally appealed to me is Elaine's courage to have gone to Iran and reported events over 3 decades - sometimes even putting her own life in danger (covering the hostage crisis and the Iran-Iraq war) - the signs of a true journalist!
This is one of the best books that I've read and strongly recommend to everyone out there... :)

Love bein' single!!

2008-05-30T05:47:00.000-07:00

Here I am back again with my set of contradictions...Deny this or not, I am sure that at some point in life, you surely would have loved the feeling of being single!! Yeah I still feel the need for that 'someone' special...Thank god! I hv not yet reached the cynicism levels of some older frnds of mine who are 'technically' single and depressed. I still do have a ray of hope here - that I will someday meet that 'special' one! Hmm...anyways, singlehood doesnt always mean your relationship sans a partner! It could simply even be a bent of mind - doing things your way, handling ur own finances, living on your own in a strange city (Read Sushmita Bose's column 'Single in the City' in HT!!). Its your faith in yourself that matters at the end of the day! Anyway, since I hate getting preachy, I will stop right here! My personal experience with relationships has taught me to be independent - mostly in my thoughts! Thats because I have been independent otherwise in all spheres (thanks to my parents!). I have always seen that somewhere, somehow, and all the time, I have been for my friends during their distress times, but when I needed them during my crisis period, I'd always end up being alone (dont blame my frnds at all for that - its all circumstances!). So all that made me keep my feelings to myself...handle all my crisis on my own as I hate being judged! Some may think its being snobbish...but that is also a part of 'singlehood', I guess! So being single is not as boring/negative as its universally perceived. Having faith in yourself is the core idea of any relationship (with oneself/friends/lover/parents) . They say: If your bond with yourself is strong, then u can succeed in any relationship in life!! You would never even have to try!! People perceive relationships as a tool to reduce their loneliness and as a panacea to their singlehood. But it never works that way: fortunately or unfortunately! You could even remain depressed even with that special someone. I have strengthened myself to the hilt that I can stand alone with my head held high! So now all u guys, now u know why I am called 'Pozicool'!! :)

Love bein' single...

2008-05-30T05:03:00.000-07:00

Yeh hai Bombay meri jaan!

2008-04-12T02:27:00.000-07:00

Chaats....pani puri....bhel puri...paapri chaat...Chinese dosa, sandwich....smells still waft through, filling my senses! The familiar smells in Crawford market...un galiyon mein chalna...doing window shopping on Fashion street...then going to 'khau galli' near Churchgate...Goin all the way to Fountain to buy books (mostly bargaining) and that too in the searing heat of Mumbai! Those were the best days of my life!!!
So it was but natural that I would have also read 'Maximum City' by Suketu Mehta (I guess every proud Mumbaiikar has read it!) ...I drank in that book...'coz i am so familiar wid every nook n cranny...evry galli...of apunka Bombay (i still hate the name Mumbai)!! Anyways..each time I visit Bombay, nostalgia overtakes my soul and stirs me! There's certainly some pull from this amazing city - no other city (amongst the 5 cities that I've lived in) has pulled my heart's strings and chords so much!! I still feel envious of my frnds who r a part of this little island, pushes me a li'l bit more to get engulfed in its populace!
This city was the first to give me MY OWN IDENTITY!! A diffident child that i was - this land gave me confidence to hold my head high amongst the millions who travel to this city every day....I became independent thanks to this city! 'A Bombayiite will remain one forever' - i do believe this maxim thoroughly now!! 'Coz being in Delhi - has still not changed the Bombayiite in me...and no Thackeray can ever dare to change that!

A roller coaster ride in an amusement park called LIFE!!

2008-04-09T04:25:00.000-07:00

I've never ever in my whole life ever gone to an amusement park. I was forever scared of heights, depths, water...and most importantly since childhood, i've always had a FEAR OF FALLING!!! At all times, I've been a 'safe-playing' person...and yet all the disasters happened wid me - the worst injuries happened to me (thankfully not to my frnds - who probably were more risk taking and more adventurous than me!). Whenever anything bad happened - i would start crying and was made fun of by my uncles who actually got a bucket to fill my tears...Yet everytime i fell - i learnt something new. Everytime there was a crisis - i learnt to handle myself! My first being when my grandfather passed away (when i was in sixth) - I cried n cried and believe it or not - i visualised myself and then my parents dying in a few years (i used to count on my little fingers the number of years i'd hve to pass out frm school...)...I was this insecure about life...Then it felt wat it was to sit on a roller coaster in Essel World/a Veegaland etc....Little was i to know that death was not the only thing i'd hv to learn to battle out with - there was more in God's list of 'experiences' tat i was supposed to have...heartbreaks, my first crush, my first kiss, first love, college, studies and probably more to come... I even kept this 'Imagine the worst' policy to buffer me frm disaster - but God turned even cleverer - he twisted and turned everything that came my way - he confused me all the time - if i proposed - God disposed! The moment I got a comfort zone for myself - he made sure I am displaced yet again! I hv lived in 5 cities now (Mumbai, Coimbatore, Kottayam, Bangalore n now Delhi!). Again I am wary - its 2 years here - after this where, what! I have this unique way of dealing wid my surroundings (cities) which probably gets me adjusted 2 whichever place I go to...Thanks to God...now I have stopped looking for stability...love...dreams...watever i wanted in my life! I just flow wid life and God's plans and dont dare swim against the tide...become kinda laidback - say "God has his plans for me". Dont know whether this happens wid everyone...yet...my whole life revolves around "TO BE OR NOT TO BE"...wat about u guys? Huh, wasnt reading this a roller coaster ride for u all...am sure it was...:)

Second love et al....

2008-04-07T10:23:00.000-07:00

Hmm...i was damn jittery when i got to know I AM IN LOVE yet again! I actually began 2 think whether I'd hit gold again. They say: Once bitten is twice shy! Probably i am going thru one of thos phases: Should I/not...This was quite inevitable - After my first breakup, I had become unusually high-strung! I was becoming way too lonely...was living a miserable single life and wid no ray of light in the 'dark clouds' of my life, I was searching for HOPE. Perhaps I was turning pessimistic too. All day and night i simply prayed to God to take me away somewhere...i even tried wat the 'others' do when depressed - i attempted suicide! My life was going to the drains/dogs/and wat not...Lonely in Bangalore - i sought solace in my buddies who were there for me throughout in Bangalore...I took 2 partying whenever possible...(beer, vodka et al) - not that i became an addict. But just to defeat Life/God and the person who 'broke' my heart! I was taking vengeance with everyone/anyone who spoke against me (my parents too were not spared). After a lot of coaxing frm Dad, I decided to move to Delhi (for good)...i dedicated my entire time to work....(literally 24x7)...anyways, i decided to start life afresh! My best time in my career was the Mumbai Project...a 20-day project which changed my ENTIRE life...Soon after i met a buddy who accepted me for wat i was (whole n soul!)...Later i realised I was fast falling in LOVE...but as usual 'the second love bit' felt a li'l bit jinxed! Watever it was - he made me realise that I was actually in luv etc....i never took it seriously for fears that i might lose this frndshp...Its 4 months for our relationship on April 10th. I dont regret this 'relationship' even one bit as this isnt like the 'other' relationship which didnt even work...At times, i do think the pain of this relationship might leave scars...yet strangely enough, I feel happiness and positive energy flowing through me as though I am on another cosmos/planet, whenever I think of him...There's this one thing i learnt frm another frnd - "Every relationship doesnt come with a life-time guarantee tag..." So live life as it comes and most of all - dont lose the ppl who love/cherish u more than u love/cherish them..they maybe the ones who might stick by u all ur life!! So....SECOND LOVE is not all that bad, eh!

'Coffee' and me!

2007-07-30T04:41:00.000-07:00

That dark brown fluid in the cup kickstarts my day. I am sure it does to urs too... The day i miss it, my day definitely goes disastrous. I distinctly remember the day when i woke up late, I did not get the time for my precious mug of coffee. I looked at the clock on my bedside of my '2x2' room. I was horrified and startled. I simply jumped off and nearly bounced off the bed, made a mad run for the loo. In the melee, I forgot my slipper, knocked my knee on the wall and injured my li'l toe finger in the process. Neverthless like a brave soldier, i limped foward to get my clothes. I finally had my bath and managed to get myself into the 'right' clothes! I shall explain 'right' to u in a while. Anyways i reached office and realised i'd missed a press conference by an hour. I felt a slight headache take over me! I knew it coming...so i went out and decided to go and get a coffee from ICH (Indian Coffee House). Mumbling a small headache, i told my senior that i am going out to get a fresh breath of air (as if the air within was foul!). The moment my friend (the waiter) got my coffee, i just pounced and gulped it as if i were 'manna' (Jesus' holy bread dipped in wine)! And the rest of the day i was on CLOUD NINE!!!