Do Write

Travel by trains. Kiss. And get pregnant! Genuinely, ONLINE.

2011-01-05T05:35:00.000-08:00

‘Cobwebs are certain to be formed on your Brand(s) unless it / they is / are on web nowadays!’

In case the abovementioned statement seems to be any megalomaniac blabber or jibe of a narcissist Internet Marketer, well, in that case also your understanding needs a little bit of reshuffle, if it’s the question of leveraging the maximum benefits through your marketing communications for the Brand(s) – you own / market / sell.

Web or Mobile or other digitally bolstered gadgets / mediums have never been, still aren’t, and will hardly be the nemesis of the conventional media or consumer touch points such as Television; Print; and OOH. Instead, those Web based and Internet led mediums make sure you and your Brand(s) gain the best of solutions for your Marcom (marketing communications)… by ensuring not only greater Interactivity with your TGs (target groups) but also better ROI (return on investment) with almost 100% transparency on the basis of the TGs’ consumption habits / patterns of Internet usages vis-à-vis your Brand’s communications.

In addition, Web based or Internet led communications – happening on one’s PC / Laptop / Mobile – actually help a Brand customise its communication like anything in no real time or labour as such, whenever needed, and that too, involving just some insignificant sum comparing to the cost spent on mainstream media.

Believe it or not, from mere 25,000 Internet users in 1998 the number of users has increased to 100 million in 2010 and this growth is ever increasing… in India.

As against the total population in India, if Brand penetrations into the lives of active Internet users are to be considered till 2010, it’s only 8.4% – a tremendously under-utilised rate awaiting Brands for more exploration, experiment and excellence on Web.

According to a recent survey report, Brands in India have got just 1.1% penetration rate among 13,188,580 Facebook users till August 31, 2010. Don’t think this figure is anyway helping the new media innovation and invasion.

These statistics are indeed soggy notwithstanding the fact that in the Internet users’ rank India’s position is warmly 3rd… just after China and USA.

In fact in India, 40 million access the net through mobile phones whereas it’s only 8% of those carrying mobile phones. So, GPRS enabled sets at a comfortable price and user friendly features can grin here, ear to ear, for sure!

However, irrespective of so much hidden, as well as overt potentialities on Web the upload and download connection speeds in India are factually below dismal. Where even in South Korea the average upload and download speeds are 37.00 Mb/s and 20.36Mb/s, they are 1.42Mb/s and 0.70 Mb/s, respectively. Fair enough reasons for consumers to believe that they are cheated once again – which is nothing new though but yet another de-value addition to them and their expectations for a service.

If consumption patterns of consumers make sense to Brands so as to formulate and chart out their communications on Web to reach the right audience at the right time with the right content, here is a roadmap to them –

Indians go online for: E-mailing (94%); Music Downloading (72%); Instant Message / Chatting (56%); PC to (free) SMS (55%); Social Networking (54%); Info Search Engine (52%); Watching Videos (52%); Screen Savers / Wallpapers Downloading (50%); Online Communities (50%).

Frankly the abovementioned info are not the ultimate means to do the needful but at least with them a distinct indication is made for a micro-level understanding and action – from minute planning to mega execution – where there is no dearth of ‘me-toos’ in any market / category / segment save for a few across India.

Interestingly, when from every nook and corner in India, one techie or the other is claiming everyday to be the SEO (search engine optimisation) Expert by keyword-search, it’s shown – as per a world famous search engine’s survey report for 2008, 2009 and 2010 – that Katrina Kaif; Aruna Shields; How to Kiss; How to Get Pregnant; and IRCTC (India Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation Limited) are the most popular keyword-search options.

Guess that Brands have got pretty handy chances to travel by trains, kiss Indian (or expat) consumers and get pregnant with success! Genuinely, ONLINE.

... still we survive, BEYOND BORDERS

2010-11-12T13:50:00.000-08:00

What is ‘partition’? Just a division between two parts of anything, or something which, for a change, might draw our attention because living itself is nothing but such a wide partition spread out between life and death! And this truth becomes even more evident, if you can experience how it feels to be separated, of course much against your will and wish from your land, values, principles, families, friends, and from everything, everyone you love in order to survive, at least, if not live the fullest.

That’s why; partition is probably life’s one of the most traumatic shakeups, which challenges one’s survival, immediately, where the person’s sex, caste, creed, colour, religion, etc. remain simply inconsequential.

Though a partition sends away one’s life to astray with utmost disdain and ruthlessness and impacts lives of men and women alike; still it affects and, to some extent, infects the women’s health and psyche, bringing unthinkable and unbearable pain and agony to them.

As a matter of fact, what Nita, her mother and her sister had gone through – as picturised in the movie ‘Meghe Dhaka Tara’ – by falling prey to the evils of the partition of India is not at all an alienated phenomenon to the women of today who also delve deeper into such feelings and pathos in their respective lives, thanks to many partitions and borders which they need to break... to go beyond. Either being different from Nita, her mother and sister or being totally indifferent even towards self.

When all that happens somewhere, sometimes, unnoticed, Sharmila Maiti thought of getting behind the lens to let her, as well as every woman’s senses mingle with ours. And, since 2010 incidentally happens to be the 50th year of the movie ‘Meghe Dhaka Tara’, Sharmila chose to salute and commemorate this masterpiece of Late Ritwick Kumar Ghatak in her own parlance of cinema, which would go BEYOND BORDERS.

BEYOND BORDERS is not just a typical documentary film having a retro-effect to talk aloud in Ritwick’s language; instead, it’s the docu-fiction by a today’s Nita whom we rather know as Sharmila.

Not to mention, BEYOND BORDERS was already selected for International Conference of Cinema 2010 in February. It was also screened as the inaugural film at International Womens’ Day film festival in Kolkata and Pune. It was selected for Haryana International Film Festival too. And now, it is going to be screened at Kolkata Film Festival 2010 – the biggest non-competitive film festival in the world. It has also earned the brownie points from the Indian select for Venice Film Festival.

Given this, the DVDs of BEYOND BORDERS are about to be launched soon. These DVDs comprise of priceless and never-before-heard interviews of the three actresses: Supriya Devi, Gita Dey and Late Gita Ghatak (who went to her heavenly abode shortly after the shooting, so Sharmila’s film captured the last days of this cult Rabindra Sangeet singer & actress), making of the film and some interesting tidbits. Thus, for the reason obvious, each of the DVDs is going to be a pride and prized possession or collector’s item to the connoisseurs of movie and entertainment.

So, go BEYOND BORDERS notwithstanding every partition in life, for, the name of the game is ONLY survival, and '…still we survive'!

Dev-D Dulhania Le Jayenge Or Kaun Kambaqt Bardash Karne Ke Liye Pita Hai…

2010-08-30T00:04:00.000-07:00

We don’t care if Humpty Dumpty were gay or not. But we really care for the poor Devdas (poor as in ‘fellow’, not the anti-rich guy, coz his father had a 20 mile long balcony, a 30 mile long courtyard and many more things Bhansali could afford). We have shed gallons of tears for him, haven’t we? After getting fucked by Parvati he still had a sexy option to fall back upon, I mean millions of Indians can just die for that ‘dhak dhak’ woman, how can he ignore her? What the fuck was he doing with those bottles man?

Look at our Dev, Anurag played a completely unfair game with him. No Ash no Nene, firbhi, he didn’t give up. He showed his maturity, kicked those bottles and picked a frenchly leaner and thinner version of Chandramukhi (the only option), our very own Kalki. Well, Anurag knows the new age Indian youth has moved from voluptuous to more size zero fantasies, so our Dev is not that oppressed after all. ‘Jhankar Beats’ taught him a simple lesson: ‘Chandramukhi ho yaa paro ki fark paenda hai yaaro’ and believe me, he has never lost focus since then.

But I have this curious little feeling it’s not just that Devdas didn’t get the opportunity to watch ‘Jhankar Beats’ and fucked himself up. It was more than that historical impossibility. Did anybody care to clarify the content of those bottles? Well, Dev was drinking Vodka and Devdas, probably Whisky. And there lies the key. No wonder Devdas was screaming ‘kaun kambaqt bardash karne k liye pita hai?’ He just meant: bullshit all bardash-wardash, I drink because I just love it and I won’t leave it till I die. So, the moral of the booze is, I mean, the prose is whisky is any day sexier than Vodka. Whisky is a drink for which you can leave Madhuri Dixit. Whisky is a drink you can die for. So reconsider the ‘Genie in the bottle’ before you call Kashyap smarter than the melodramatic, extravagant Bhansali.

Oh Dumbo Oh by mesushovan

2010-08-25T04:56:00.007-07:00

Oh Dumbo Oh by mesushovan

O Maa Phire Esho Naa by mesushovan

2010-08-25T04:56:00.001-07:00

O Maa Phire Esho Naa by mesushovan

We need YOU. Really.

2010-08-12T02:08:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time there was a little boy. The boy would always dream to become a singer or a painter. But he could neither become a singer nor a painter. Instead, he’d to become an engineer turned advertising copy writer to earn money in a faster way. Firstly, to survive somehow and then to maintain his lifestyle i.e. “style sans life”.

He’s quite successful today in his profession, if others’ notion or consideration is to be taken into serious account. However, to himself, he’s ever been an unsuccessful painter; a ruined singer.

The abovementioned lines are not the excerpts off any melodramatic saga or tear jerking opera. Rather, it’s a naked testimony of how a kid had to surrender his dream and natural talent to financial pressure, which had hardly allowed him to breathe easily, since childhood.

Unfortunately, this reality had not only occurred to that particular boy but also it’s been prevalent phenomena, even NOW, for innumerable kids across India; precisely who hail from the families with precarious socio-economic conditions.

Given such situations, those kids are expected to sacrifice their dreams and talents, as early as possible, because in our society sacred goats are acknowledged, appreciated and accepted as obedient children. And, not to mention, this kind of obedience provides those children with roti (bread), kapda (dress) and makan (house) without nerve-wrenching struggles, day in and day out, at home or outside.

Nonetheless, there are still the rebels, thankfully. Who hate to concede defeats; loathe selling off their dreams and talents at a cheap price for lifeless safety, security and styles; and are game to fight, fight and fight… only to WIN.

For those never-say-die spirits; indomitable kids; rare talents… it’s time to do something. Substantial and meaningful.

So, presenting Hu‘e’man Karkhana – an open forum formed and firmed out by a set of people who are willing and tireless in their efforts to instrument and ensure “Human Excellence with Different Hues”.

Unlike me-too or run-of-the-mill NGOs, this forum ONLY works for the kids who don’t have sound economic backgrounds but do have exceptional talents to excel… up to the pinnacle of success in the domains of performing art and unconventional territories such as music, dance, acting, sport, photography, painting, and the like.

Hu‘e’man Karkhana primarily takes care of the three basic needs of a kid. That are “nutrition i.e. food”, “education i.e. knowledge” and “communication i.e. expression and presentation”.

On the basis of needs and requirements, a kid can get four types of functional support from Hu‘e’man Karkhana in the forms of: (a) Financial Aids; (b) Vocational Training; (c) Advertising, Marketing, and Promotional Helps; and (d) Assignment / Engagement / Program / Endorsement Management.

Needless to say, this endeavor of Hu‘e’man Karkhana requires everyone’s support, active participation and help. For funds, and functionalities.

Irrespective of your status as a corporate house or as an individual, if you reckon that you envision our vision and thus can fuel our mission with your time, contacts, and currencies, you are MOST welcome to effect and ensure Human Excellence with Different Hues… being a Hu‘e’man to Hu‘e’man Karkhana.

For any clarification in order to know how you can help a kid, feel ABSOLUTELY free to send in your lines at rana12feb@gmail.com

After all, please remember, “Alone we fight but we only win TOGETHER, and none of us fights to lose.” So we, at Hu‘e’man Karkhana, really need you.

*PS: A l’il singing sensation who’s been participating in the ongoing Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L’il Champs 2010 on Zee Bangla is already being taken care of by us at Hu‘e’man Karkhana.

Selfishness is Selflessness!

2010-06-30T06:23:00.000-07:00

It’s one globe. Irrespective of a few fundamentalist wankers and their errant jerking off spree, here and there, to divide our world into parts. Mostly, in the name of different isms and conned issues based on race, religion, caste, community, terror, politics, war, strike, and the list goes on.

The sole objective of propagating such mushy activities is nothing but to create disturbance and dissonance among lives with an ambition to make everyone’s life difficult, worldwide.

So that the funda “life is complex” can be sold off to people at large as a problem first and then some heinously crappy concepts can be offered to the same target audience as solutions to that problem.

It’s not that that we don’t know or understand it. But, our mentality has somewhat become like this that unless and until our own home or Rome is burning, we fail to realise that the same fire which is burning other today can also char us tomorrow.

Which is why; you, me, he, she, they kinda pronouns’ viability needs to be redefined, soon. In place of them, the pronouns We, Us will do better, I guess. Not in grammatical sense but in terms of commonsense.

For, if anyone of us is motivated to be selfish, I politely ask you to refer to the Maslow Pyramid of needs before you prefer to pursue your motivation. And then relate to your motivation in line with the hierarchy of needs.

In case, you couldn’t relate, never mind, I’m making it more lucid for you to comprehend what selfishness is all about.

“Selfishness is nothing but selflessness.”

Wondering!? Considering me a mad and calling my name for that? Please do. After a while, take a break and read on…

You become selfish for what?

To do better and get more, right? Net-net to achieve maximum success in life.

No harm. As you must go up in the hierarchy, so if you are acting selfish to get it done, you are doing the right thing.

Now imagine your gradual climb to success vis-à-vis selfishness as a pyramid. And you have reached on the top. Precisely, at the tip i.e. the pinnacle or vertex of success.

From there, you are looking on and it’s showing everything, everyone is under you. But mind that, none is with you then or beside for that matter. Because at the apex (of success) there is no horizontal space to accommodate anyone else but you.

On the contrary, it says that success is better established, amplified and enjoyed, if, and when shared. However, you can at the most offer things to people who are under you but can’t share anything with them. Be it success or happiness.

And even if you wish to share, they will either fear you or will be in awe because of your positional advantage… and neither fear nor awe is anyway conducive to the act called sharing.

So, how would you justify your success or your selfishness is worth your life, living and lifestyle?

Since, when none is with you or beside you, your existence of self doesn’t apply in reality or logically. Simple reason being, one can’t stand first or last when he’s the only one in his class.

That means, “self = world” - where all of us belong to, side-by-side, together. And this proves the fact that in spite of our best efforts we can never be selfish but always selfless.

Hence, whenever you tend to be selfish, please take pride in self for trying to be selfless.

With love, Subhamoy turns Suparna YOUnique

2010-05-10T06:33:00.000-07:00

This summer is different for Suparna. Courtesy her husband Subhamoy and his unique desire to unfold his tranquil love over his better-half.

And where there is any need for uniqueness, there is YOUnique, always, as you have known it for sure by now.

So, Subhamoy contacted us to gift a YOUnique Umbrella to her beloved wife.

As usual, the YOUnique questionnaire was sent out to Subhamoy and he provided us with quite a few info on Suparna.

Based on that, a YOUnique scale on Suparna’s uniqueness was set; exploiting which we actually designed the YOUnique Umbrella for her.

The base colour of the Umbrella is taken as blue because this shade is Suparna’s favourite.

On that spread of azure, a landscape design is created to express and magnify Suparna’s liking for this form of art.

On top of the Umbrella, around the centre spindle, the aperture captures one’s attention on Suparna’s shutter-bugging spree.

Finally, two green (tender) leaves personify the name Suparna (a tender leaf) in line with her penchant for Kathak dance by forming a typical mudra of hands of a flying bird.

Now, if you too wish to bestow such a YOUnique love, affection and care upon someone you love, feel free to email us only at itsyounique@gmail.com, today!

From broth to brothel… how relationship travels

2009-06-05T03:22:00.000-07:00

You wear shoes? I’m sure you do. So do I. But our respective sizes differ. Hence neither you nor I can get into either’s pair. Tough! Just the reason, matching one’s footsteps is not that easy for others.

But, if we felt like walking beyond the barrier of (self-inflicted) “social jungle”, barefoot, a bit at least, I guess things would have been different in every walk of life. Unfortunate that it never happens, rather we don’t like to get it happened that open and free way.

Reason? None knows. Still our animal instinct flows. Generations after generations, yielding nothing but a BIG ZERO for a BIG HOLLOW, when we love to define ourselves, helplessly, as “social animals”… massaging false egos, flaunting pseudo pride, practicing prejudice, and killing the truest LOVE all around.

Resulting… almost every selfless relationship nips in the bud, divorce helps a marriage go successful, miscarriage fulfills a pregnancy… and the saga of agony and dismay continues. Ironically always in the name of family and relatives, and the likes.

In India we call it ethos, but just outside of our mushy cocoon, our ethos turn into perpetual pathos. Admit it or not. And when it happens, even in the year 2009, the phenomenon can only be described as the SICKNESS OF MIND – incurable, unbearable, and above all else condemnable.

Perhaps that’s why, George Bernard Shaw explained it aptly a long ago: “Marriage is nothing but legal prostitution.” So true. As every unsuccessful marriage is the “broth” duly and intentionally spoilt by many cooks with their ingredients of injurious concern to take away all the “sweet n salt” off a relation… making the “broth” indeed a “brothel” – from where both the husband and the wife get compelled to sell their real emotions, feelings, and eventually themselves to the “bazaar” called society.

Sorry folks! I don’t belong to that society. Because I know my limitations. I know I can never be a “social animal”, instead ever remain a “social human” until I breathe for the last.

And every humiliation on a relationship or a marriage notwithstanding, my fight will continue against this corny society, which actually creates frustration across the length and breadth of lives to promote nothing but “bastard-ism”… in order to breed more and more ailing “social animals” – whose only criterion of living is “suffering from an acute identity crisis”, and thereby forgetting the basics of life that SOCIETY IS FOR HUMANS BUT NOT OTHERWISE.

Alice in YOUnique-land

2009-06-01T04:58:00.000-07:00

Next day a presentation was lined up. For that, I was burning my ass in office. Given my fantastic complexion though the burn would hardly affect the tan of my orbs, still the fire was felt. Quite tellingly in fact.

My corneas were aching as well. I needed to catch some sleep. I folded myself somehow in a nearby chair and slipped down instantly… deep into the rabbit hole.

I landed. A tender touch welcomed me there. “Hey who’s this?” My mind enquired.

“Hi, this is Alice!” The tenderness personified, as she introduced herself with a soft smile.

She looked at me. Precisely she looked into my eyes. I was fixed. Mesmerised by her sight.

I never knew her. But her company was so comfortable that in response to her introduction I could only say, “Hi, I just can’t do without you.”

Once said, I was expecting indifference from her. Nope. It didn’t occur. She took her strides toward me. Winged open her arms. Took me in, and asked, “Why? Tell me Rana, why can’t you do without me? I’m serious, tell me why?”

Oops! She even knew my nickname. Amazing!

My heart fluttered. I felt a sudden choke inside. It was getting tough for me to keep the eyes dry. “But, hey, I’m a guy. So can I cry?” Not really. Hence my jaws were struggling to remain softer. Huh! Sadly all in vain. Tears tore me apart. Sent my toughness for a toss. And simply threw me in the air of emotion that I never realised still alive in me.

Weakly, I could murmur, “Because I love you!”

Alice said nothing. She lowered her head on my chest and decided to nest in there. I thought for ever.

In a single moment, life became worth living a million years and everything turned hunky-dory.

Then???????

Then Alice began to get sleepy. She slipped out of my arms and slept in dark. Her world of fantasies, her impossible dreams, and her larger than life confusions started to take its toll on her… and she refused to stay awake anymore in light.

Her heartstring uncoiled off mine, soon. To catch and give credit to the dollars with the wings. And willingly she chose the captivity to the freedom.

Also, from outside of the Rabbit hole, I heard a call. Gosh! The presentation awaited my presence, immediately. “I have to talk, talk, and talk… slide after slide, after slide… notwithstanding the landslide that happened inside.”

I was in a great hurry. I looked at Alice. Kissed on her forehead, caressed her mane (perhaps) for the last time. And silently said, “Tata!”

And on my way up off her, I left behind my heart on the layout of a YOUnique Kurti for Alice, which she can wear, nowhere, but only in the world of YOUnique-land!

To know more about what happens in YOUnique-land, email at: itsyounique@gmail.com

YOUnique Artist Wanted

2009-03-25T05:55:00.000-07:00

This is an appointment ad of YOUnique. Anyone comes across this ad and feels that you have it in you what it takes to be a YOUnique artist, feel free to click on the ad, get it enlarged, and spend some time on the same. Thereafter, if your confidence level keeps soaring high in an effort to explore your "unique" dreams, we are just a communication away. And if you had missed out our email id in the ad, owing to your sheer excitement of working with us, here it is once again itsyounique@gmail.com

Clean. Grin. Love

2009-02-13T05:34:00.000-08:00

This valentine’s day YOUnique has been wild and witty with its V-day card. YOUnique products are unique by default as they tell your unique story through your YOUnique product. But this time it’s unique because a single YOUnique card is telling every one’s story. From witty fun lover to a shy adorable, this card shares everyone’s feelings.

Note: If you are by any chance a frustrated one and all alone in this Valentine as she has ditched you, YOUnique card can do a lot for you. On Valentine’s Day present the card to her and show her even If she has given a shit on you, you clean with love.

I see the sky

2009-02-07T00:38:00.000-08:00

From the sun I get my light
From the moon I get my dreams
With the stars I chart my path
With my love I build a home

Life is fun… I laugh galore
I sail my ship… to the happy shore

I face the gale… I kill the shark
I kindle hopes… deep in the dark

Post every fall… I stand tall
I win again… I do reign

I care a damn… for petty rules n laws
I give a fuck… to filthy social clause

So, if you leave me… I say goodbye
I close my doors… I see the sky

** THIS IS MY LATEST COMPOSITION TO DESCRIBE MYSELF IN LIGHT OF BLUES AND CALYPSO FUSING TOGETHER.

It’s Not about Love

2009-02-06T00:38:00.000-08:00

Ok Rahul, tell me what was the colour of her nail polish on the day when she first sneezed in front of you? Your options are: A) red, B) black, C) nothing. If your answer matches with your girl friend’s you can win a couple pass for the film ‘Love Main Low Balance’ at Inox on Valentine’s Day.
If this is for FM radio listeners, news papers readers are not neglected at all. Write love message for your special person in 10 words which will be published on Valentine’s Day. Best will win gift voucher from Café Coffee day. Through out the month, Nik Nish, Archie’s, Pantaloon’s etc have created an off season SELL only for the love day. You can see the advertisements of audio or video CDs accumulating romantic love songs specially released for Valentine’s Day. Music channels decorate themselves lovely with red hearts and other sensational props. And we, the victimized metropolitan youth never miss even the Valentine’s Day special beauty tips sponsored by L’Oreal Paris. Flowers, chocolates, gifts, lunch, dinner, party, romantic songs, dresses matching the occasion, romantic games these are what the Valentine’s Day blows. Did I miss anything in the list? Yes may be I have missed the love. If most of the readers didn’t notice the missing ‘love’ then may be we born to be victimized. A very few who missed the love on the Valentine’s Day, for them I only have an incident. A girl is very upset as she has broken up with his boyfriend. She is telling to her friend how the boy had called her to a coffee shop and told that he didn’t want to continue the relationship anymore. The girl is crying like anything when she is telling the story to her friends. Suddenly, one of her friends says, which coffee shop did you go? Is it Barista or Café Coffee Day? You know, Barista complements break ups more than CCD.

It’s higher than knee-high

2009-01-07T09:10:00.000-08:00

‘Knee-high protagonists of shows like Uttaran and Balika Vadhu continue to be TRP grabbers’ Calcutta Times, Tuesday, January 6, 2009.

I would like to add one more daily series here, Jai Sri Krishna (Victory of Lord Krishna!). It also has a little protagonist Krishna whose accretion even has been delayed for grabbing TRPs. Even the viewers, who don’t like the soap, like the little adorable child in the role of Krishna. So, here Krishna may grow up in real time rather than screen time (at least something realistic!). The very talented Avika Gor (Anandi), leading Balika Vadhu (Child Bride), and the brilliant actress Sparsh khanchandani (Ichcha) of Uttaran (hand-me-down) also have propagated themselves in primetime slots by their very natural and influential acting.

Therefore, it is now persuaded that ‘India television is riding high on these little shoulders’. We have seen how cute babies can quickly popularize a TV commercial. Thus, this is not a very out of the box concept of giving hits for the creative behind the camera. To them it is another hit formula like saas-bahu. Then, is this the next for Indian TV after saas-bahu saga? Is that all the mature Indian audience deserve? Here one important point I want to bring up that Balika Vadhu is creating history in terms of TRPs. This series is more popular than the other two. All the three have talented, cute and adorable children, then why Balika Vadhu? Here leaves my argument, knee-highs are not the only thing which popularizes these soaps or I can say the secret of the triumph of Balika Vadhu can tell what exactly is liked by the viewers and what exactly the future of Indian TV drama is.

Balika Vadhu is a story of a child bride Anandi. The plot is based on a village of Rajasthan. Like other daily soaps place (Rajasthan) is not just an information here. In every moment of the episodes one can feel the flavor of Rajasthan. From the dialect, consumes, sets, ambiance, rituals, thought process everything is bearing Rajasthan. If we remember Kasauti Jindegi ki, they had introduced that series in a Bengali plot but after some episodes they forgot all about the Bengali quintessence. Though the characters occasionally wore Sanjay Vansali version of Bengali shares!

The most significant difference between Balika Vadhu and other two serials (Uttaran & Jai Sri Krishna) is their way of approaching. The other two are descriptive and divide their characters in black & white, positive & negative. Uttaran is a story of a small poor girl with lots of unfulfilled dreams and the little girl doesn’t understand why everything is unfavorable to her. Her mother is a servant of House. The Malkeen (owner of the house where Ichcha’s mother works) and her mother of Uttaran series are always negative because may be they don’t belong to the class of the protagonist Ichcha. Jai Shree Krishna is the Hindu mythological story of Lord Krishna. The little Krishna wins every fight and always well acclaimed even if he is doing wrong things as he is God.

Balika Vadhu gives enough space to all the characters. Every character has both the positive and the negative instinct and everyone has to say something in their support of themselves. In Balika Vadhu the ‘Ma Sa’ Kalyani Devi is the head of the family but she is never a typical mother-in-law. Her activities apparently seem negative but she has some viable points too in support of her activities and the script writer is giving that persona enough space to speak for her. This is where the modern viewers can relate them with the characters and the series gets its huge viewership. I remember in an award show Mr. Pankaj Kapoor got the best negative role award for his role in the film Blue Umbrella. After receiving his award he said in his speech that he didn’t understand why they called the character negative. Where as the character was portrayed as normal human being with his voracity, fear and love. For some reason he is behaving negatively but this doesn’t make him negative. The script writer Purnendu Sekhar and the director Siddharth Sengupta of Balika Vadhu are following this approach and instead defining the characters as positive or negative they are leaving the discourse for the viewers. This is what the viewers enjoying most.

To sum up, I can say saas-bahu, small cute children these are only the ‘changing themes’. The future of Indian TV drama is laying somewhere else. A more detailed and realistic approach and the psycho analysis of the characters; these are what modern spectator deserves and the key to excel and sustain on primetime in the long run.

Film Studies, Studies in Deed

2008-12-28T05:35:00.000-08:00

For God’s sake clear your perception about what Film Studies is all about. This is the high time because now this subject is going to intrude into undergraduate and graduate studies of most of the universities. The very general fallacy about Film studies is ‘it is a study of film making’ where as it hardly takes the liability of making a Film. Rather, it is a study of film genres, authors, different film movements, different ideological and philosophical beliefs, etc. and with the help of these studies; this subject will school you to read a ‘made film’.

Film is a topic on which everyone can present at least an hour long speech. No matter he is literate or not, he is of course film literate. Then why should one be wasting time on doing a course which merely teaches how to read a film? Everyone knows that. When this question arises to our mind we certainly forget the difference between ‘watching’ or enjoying a film and ‘reading’ a film. In case of reading a film you must have some previous knowledge of film theory. This answer will lead to another question which is more specific than previous, that is ‘what is the need of reading a film rather than watching or enjoying?’.

Film reflects everything in this world. It includes any damn subject around us. Film comprises history, geography, science, sociology, philosophy, politics, economics, psychology, and many more subjects. Therefore, study of film is a packaged study of all these subjects. Simultaneous reading of all these subjects and its application on practicing film reading will completely revolute thought process and kick start your innovative spirit, in whatever field you are. It may seem very hypothetical but it’s absolutely true in practice. Though, the bottom line is ‘the subject is strictly restricted to the film lovers’.

Unfortunately, many people, even film makers find it very useless subject. According to them, a film course should be only of film making. Film theory doesn’t help to make a film. Absolutely true, one must need practical knowledge to make a film. But as I have mentioned in the previous paragraph the ‘thought process’, a good film maker must have a thought process, or one must know the right way of thinking. Film Studies is very much prescribed in the making of the right way of thinking. However, will you believe any fool... who is telling: Chemical theory is not at all needed in the making of medicine, all you need is practical knowledge!!

Will the current financial crisis affect your personal lifestyle?

2008-12-14T06:54:00.000-08:00

A visit to a popular mall with thousands of footfalls per day left me intrigued. None of the 12 washrooms had a toilet paper roll. I attributed this aberration to napping janitors & caretakers. But a recent report in a local daily led me to believe that disappearing toilet papers are not due to janitors & careless caretakers. It is one of the myriad ways adopted by many employers to cut costs.

Welcome to post economic tsunami washrooms!!

The economic meltdown is subtly yet surely affecting our mindset & hence our lifestyle. All of us are directly or indirectly affected by job retrenchment. If not our own selves, at least one or more of our colleagues, friends, relatives or acquaintances have lost their job or are on the chopping list. It is new age socialism where the head of the CEO is as likely to roll as that of the junior most executive. Such a scenario is causing us to crib less about our employers & bosses & we are just plain grateful to be on the payroll .Thereby, it is causing us to be more contented with our current jobs. In the wake of retrenchment by reputed employers like Lehmann Brothers, A-grade business school pass outs can no longer snigger at their less fortunate peers. It has also meant that many careers are abruptly on hold where parents have paid through their nose to enable their wards to pursue courses of their choice. Its again back to struggling & penny pinching lifestyle in many such families. So, if your parent paid an astronomical sum for that fancy degree, you will have to wait a while before you can buy them that vacation or a small car as a mark of gratitude.

The underlying cause of this crisis is over- consumption , very high standard of living & a ‘give me more’ attitude. But this crisis has led to a general tightening of the purse, hence, under consumption & a lower standard of living in the past couple of months. Gone are the days of complimentary snacks, freebies, frequent flier privileges & off-site meetings at fancy locales. People are giving desserts a miss to cut down on their restaurant bill. It is no longer’ movie & candle lit dinner’ if you are in love. You might have to give either one of the two a miss!! And if you are used to being picked up by the luxury car that your company sends, do not be surprised if you see a chartered bus coming to pick you up.

The positive aspect of this economic meltdown is mostly felt by environmentalists & green brigadiers. To cut costs, employers are cutting down on refrigeration & air conditioning, thereby reducing the carbon footprint. So, if you were in the habit of sitting back for an hour in your air conditioned workstation in office, chatting with your friends on the many social networking sites, you will have to just break that habit.

We are gravitating towards a vegetarian diet instead of high calorie non vegetarian meals. If this trend continues, it would imply a predominance of vegetation agriculture than livestock agriculture. Thereby, it will reduce our demand on soil, water & land resources. A pronounced shift towards vegetarianism, as it burns a smaller hole in your pocket, provides a faint ray of hope of reducing mortality due to ‘diseases of civilisation’ like cancer, diabetes, cardiac, etc.

Because of escalated prices of fossil fuels, we are opting for car pooling & public transportation leading to slightly less congested roads. Hopefully, now governments will pay more heed to developing non conventional sources of energy like, solar, wind, bio-fuels, geo thermal,etc.

Excess demand on the environment is also caused by overpopulation. News of couples postponing having babies, is trickling in from many European countries would.It seems that the economic crisis will enable us to achieve what many population control programmes could not. This again implies a DINK-double income no kids-lifestyle. And if you wanted a small ‘Barbie like cute girl’ for your ‘whiz kid son’ to play with, even that has to be on hold for a while.

The crisis has caused a reduced dependence on crèches & day care facilities. So, nuclear families are going back to the old joint family system where children grew up listening to tales & fables narrated by their grand parents.

Two wrongs do not make a right. And neither can one hope to go back to old value systems by making forced personal compromises ,riding on the wave of the current economic scenario. But the crisis has taught us a lesson or two about life & counting our blessings for a change.

The sailor

2008-12-13T20:46:00.000-08:00

It was one click which came out just as I wished it to.It was a humid MAY DAY(not the 1st!) in Kolkata this summer.I & my parents along with my son had gone to spend a couple of hours at the Mangal Pandey Park in Barrackpore.The park is a photographer's delight-well kept grounds, towering trees, plus a view of the ghat...

I was busy capturing my son & parents in frame after frame , when all of a sudden, this man came in his small boat & tried to get ashore.As it was cloudy, the red shirt of his stood out amidst all the grey around us.And, I captured one of MY favourite memories...

A night to remember

2008-12-09T06:58:00.000-08:00

The over night study tour to a dark site for the night sky observation is a very important event in our school calendar. This year the excitement for the trip was at an all time high as the astronomy club membership is a whopping 63 comprising of 11 & 12 year old & their zest is far higher than the 16 or 17 year olds who take a casual interest in most things. So, it was quite a task to manage these young & eager kids during the full 14 -hour study tour.The site was a school in the small village called Jewar , which is around 100 kms from Noida. We took 2 1/2 hours to reach the site . As we stepped down from the warm comfort of the bus, we were greeted by a sharp nip in the air. After steaming cups of piping hot Chai, we started with our observations. The resource persons of S.P.A.C.E., who conduct these clubs in various schools, were all set with their powerful reflecting telescopes. The first study was of Venus & the craters of the moon. The image of the moon was so sharp that the bright speck was even visible when your eye is a foot away from the eyepiece. The image was so beautiful that I could not prevent myself from holding my cell-cam in front of the eyepiece to take a click. That is the image you see above this text. Beautiful!After a while we were treated to a tasty veggie dinner while the RPs(resource people) went about setting up their telescopes for the next round of observations. It was 9.30 pm & a sweater & jacket seemed inadequate for the falling Mercury. The children were now being taught how to use the latitude finder & planisphere( a chart that helps you get an idea of the night sky at a particular time of the day of the month/year). The senior kids, who are well versed in the usage of these devices were being shown deep sky objects-about him we read only in the science pages of the leading newspapers. Hold your breath!! The first objects that were focussed were star clusters located millions of light years away. Next on were the Nebulae(!!!!) Orion &Crab. It was a moment when we realised how miniscule we were in the larger scheme of things. While the kids were all excited at these sightings, my co-teacher & I were in deep discussion about how insignificant & small were we in this galaxy. As if these musings were not enough, the RP announced that he was ready with THE fuzzy object on his telescope. Can u guess what he focussed ? It was the ANDROMEDA galaxy, the farthest object visible to us, situated 2.5 million light years away & containing one trillion stars. So, on that cold December night of the year 2008, we were watching andromeda galaxy, the way it looked 2.5 million light years ago!!! A humbling & spell binding experience.Meanwhile, the junior group were being taught to locate rare constellations like, Cassiopeia, Taurus, Aries, Cancer etc. Let me add, that in urban areas one can see only 30-40 stars with the naked eye. While, here, the sky was a black velvet banner with over 2000 twinkling stars!!

The chill in the air was causing shivers , after all its not everyday that you are out in the open at 1 am in the night with the mercury at 4 deg Celsius. The salvation was another round of a hot cuppa strong ginger tea. The students , meanwhile, were sketching their observations under torch light. I must mention that it was pitch dark(hence the name dark site) which made it impossible to see a person who is sitting 5 feet away. The second study session came to a close at about 2.45 am .

The students were free to take a nap or watch a documentary on the International Space Station. While some sought refuge under blankets , others watched the documentary.

Soon it was time to get up for the last & final session. This time it was the beautiful Saturn. I have no words to describe the 1 millimeter sized image of the planet along with its ring. As the students took turn to watch the most beautiful member( I would say) of the solar system, the care takers had laid out our breakfast of hot puris with mixed vegetables. It was something out of the ordinary to have one’s breakfast at 5 am in the morning, outdoors, when the temperature is 7 deg Celsius.

It had started to sink in that our date with our galaxy was over & it was time to return to the dust & smog of Dilli.

Mama Mia- is ‘ABBA’ once more!!

2008-12-09T04:20:00.000-08:00

For all those fans of ‘ABBA’ & ‘Mery Streep, out there, here is a movie that you just cannot miss!!

Mery Streep is Donna, a single parent with a 20 something daughter Sophie(Amanda Seyfried) who is to tie the knot very soon. But Amanda is determined to find her father before her big day. But, she has a problem. After reading her mother’s private diaries, she discovers that he may be one of her three past loves. So, she invites all the three of them to her little Greek island home. And what ensues is confusion, fun, & a heady dose of dancing & laughter to the greatest hits of the & 70s band, ABBA.
It is s a movie to watch with friends & family & sing along to the foot tapping numbers!! And not to forget, the spirited show by an all star cast comprising of Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Dominic Cooper and Julie Walters.

Period.

2008-11-28T07:04:00.000-08:00

Yet another mayhem of militants has been rocking the tinsel town for more than 48 hours from now. A real life blockbuster is happening at Mumbai. Two hotels - the Taj and the Trident are staging the mega shows in particular where guests in those hospitable institutes and innocent people at large are giving away their lives to grenades, bullets and bombs.

As usual the natives from other cities and states in India are quite proactive in consuming and sharing the news and nimble enough for expressing shocks and sadness, anxiety and anger, and condolence to the slaughtered ones and their bereaved family members.

But is it just the action which is expected from the people of India against terrorists and their heinous and gory exploits of this magnitude?

If the answer is yes, then let’s celebrate terrorism like this only; today at Mumbai, tomorrow at Delhi, day after tomorrow at Kolkata and so on.

Or, if the answer is NO, then all of us have to put our thoughts and act altogether and begin a syndicated assault on terrorism at every nook and corner of the country. NOW.

This effort or movement can be termed as “Terror on Terrorism” or “Counter Terrorism”.

I’m sure reading hitherto some intellectual foreheads have got the crease on, or some attitudinal eyebrows have made some upward arches, or some sagging lips have gone dry making acute angles to rubbish this concept.

And, why not, as the world, precisely India, is full of “how-can-I-do-it-alone?!” typos to whom it’s always easier to follow one’s back than leading from the front or taking any initiative on their own. As if they also follow someone else, while they hit the bed to do it with their spouses. I wonder! I’m bewildered!

It’s really pathetic that that kind of passing the buck game has become a well cherished and ideally practiced phenomenon in our society and system where we rather call this scenario as “diplomacy”.

Funny! If this is diplomacy then what is hypocrisy? What is collective fear, chocking and cringe?

Ironical that militants have still failed to understand the simple fact that in India they don’t need to kill innocent people to dethrone the system. Because the system itself had come down to dust a long ago in this country when we actually divided our motherland into India and Pakistan to meet one’s personal greed of becoming India’s first prime minister.

On the contrary, no force, no atom bomb, no militants, no terrorists can do any harm to us, if we just do the basics right and follow the maxim “Charity begins at home” or “Self-help is the best help”.

We don’t need leaders, we don’t need any police, and we don’t need any paramilitary. All we need is the courage and spirit to withstand self and others and a compassionate mind to think that what’s happening at Mumbai today can also happen in our bedroom on the next day.

So we better be prepared, and begin leading from the front. And in the process bring the ULTIMATE TERROR on terrorism.

Period.

Games Indians Play- A book review

2008-11-26T06:16:00.000-08:00

Games Indians Play, by V. Raghunathan ,explores the Indian mentality of being privately smart & collectively foolish.The author, a faculty at one of the IIMs, uses behavioural economics & game theory to explain why we do what we do & how acting in the common interest of everyone will do good to us in the long run.The author uses prisoners' dilemma to explain why we Indians act selfish & go for short term gains. The book doesnt tell us anything new that we already dont know but the mode of putting across his point with a dash of humor ,makes it a very good read. I have never touched Economics even with a barge pole but his lucid explanation, with a good sprinkling of examples ,made the aforementioned theories qute simple to understand. Do grab a copy!!

The economic wasteland?

2008-11-26T05:28:00.000-08:00

I am less worried these days. The headlines are not screaming figures of pink slip issues in thousands. And, if the 'pink slip pandemonium' is not a front page story but is now occupying a 2x2 space somewhere inside, I am not complaining. For a person like me, who is working in a sector which is least likely to be affected by economic tsunamis, I can only imagine the plight of the employees who have been at the receiving end. I really do not understand the dynamics of 'systems & operations' & 'finance' of the corporate sector but I do wonder if sacking was/is the only solution.

My very very limited entrepreneurship sense says that a more moderate approach could have been adopted.Instead of laying off 2000 employees, perks of say 5000, employees could have been scrapped, threreby covering part of the loss & cost.One does wonder, if the employees who managed to save their necks , do not mind the extra work that has ended up on their laps.Even if they are complaining, they dare not be vocal about it.Maybe , there is a paragraph somewhere (in some page of a thick book on Corporate law& finance) about a lower scale being offered in exchange of retaining one's position in case of an economic crisis..I am just wondering.

With each one of us burdened with mortgages & instalments, I can only hope that our economic pundits come up, fast & quick, with some plans of economic salvation.

Who said life is difficult outside the Earth?!! It isn't easy here, either.

A day with friends!!

2008-11-24T01:46:00.001-08:00

I am happy.I am eager. I am worried how I would look tomorrow.I am going out with friends , you see.
I am not a lonely island, swimming in the vast sea of loneliness. I am a busy body-trapped in the busy traffic of life, who is worried that the beautiful view outside the window is passing by & there is no way, I can park on the side & take in the sight.So, I look forward to every chance of fun , that comes my way,with child-like eagerness.I am going out tomorrow as part of a small group of six colleagues, who are on the verge of becoming friends .

We dont have anything earth -shattering in our plans. No lunch at a five star restaurant or no front rowseat at a sell-out theatre play.Neither its a long drive through scenic country side. We are just meeting at a nearby mall. We have no long shopping plans in our agenda.Whats in the agenda is lots of fun & laughter & teasing & noise & all of us trying to speak at the same time.I am not sure how long it will last but what I am sure of is that after I come home , I will still feel ,'arrey,yeh toh bataya hi nahi!!'
I feel good about myself that we are grounded enough to derive so much pleasure out of something simple like this.Or is it really so simple?Maybe not.If you or I read between the lines, there is so much at stake. Formation of new bonds, time well spent, a cure for loneliness, laughter with like- minded people.
I know that tomorrow,might, it just might , mark a beginning of a new way of moving through life -getting out of the car just to enjoy the view.

Shelter your image

2008-11-22T11:22:00.000-08:00

When it rains cats and dogs, or just drizzles, or the sun decides to toast you with its scorching heat, and albeit you have to go out then what comes first on your mind? No poetry, I guess.

Then and there you think of nothing but an UMBRELLA for sure to hold it over your head and step out.

Now if you think a little deeper, I’m sure you also acknowledge that an umbrella means more than just a shelter to you on moves.

In fact, an umbrella helps you relate to the inspiration of your grandpa, or to the protection of your parents; to the first kiss in the rain, or to the first loss of anything in a private vehicle; to the impromptu support of a friend, or to the nagging load in your bag or hand… altogether to the world where you belong to and which belongs to you.

Undoubtedly this world is your very own. Still it behaves like the unknown. Because it tests your character, evaluates your merit, tickles your feelings, puts light on your personality, examines your image, challenges your confidence and demands your success… wherever you go or whatever you do beyond the assurance, comfort and safety of your cocoon called YOURSELF.

And this is that. Accept it or not. Either you have to win a life of your choice or you have to be defeated, conceding others’ preferences.

Hence it’s better if you decide to win. And this decision should be substantiated with your choice of things that you want to do, want to wear, want to carry, want flaunt, or simply want to conceal.

Be it your shirt or saree; your watch or bracelet; your perfume or lipstick; or simply your umbrella match it with yourself in such a way that it complements only your personality, rather exclusively, creating an image that’s unique and unmatched.

It’s not far fetched or any ridicule; insanity or obscene, in case you unfurl an umbrella which is designed for you only… thereby giving shelter not only to your body but also to your matchless image as expressed by your personality, traits, characteristics, behaviour, lifestyle, style, and, last but not least, your profession – while you decide to take the rain or the sun in your stride. Outside.

The trend is called IMAGE SHELTERING! Brought to you by your UMBRELLA.

So, to know more about how to shelter your image exclusively underneath an umbrella, feel free to email at: bonniesd@gmail.com or rana12feb@gmail.com immediately.

After all, time and tide, and exclusivity don’t really wait.

Rituporno GOSHHH !

2008-11-20T02:14:00.000-08:00

I think it was most probably in 1998 a new Bengali film got released…’ Unishe April ‘ It brought a freshness which the Bengali film industry was suffering that moment. Every Bengali film lover saw a savior in Rituporno Ghosh the director of the film. I just completed my college that year and it was the first Bengali movie (apart from some children’s movie which I watched when I was a child) I went to watch in a theatre. After coming out from the theatre I instantly became a fan of Rituporno Ghosh.

Unishe April fetched national awards and after this film Mr.Ghosh directed numerous movies that became favorites of many Bengalis…including me. He became the most talked about man and many controversies surrounded him. The way he talked, the way he dressed were all topic of discussions among common men. Due to his distinguished personality and style, anchors started imitating him on shows and on stages. MIR, who is a very well known anchor and a RJ imitated him the best. Mir is a person of immense talent and he again brought a new trend in the field of anchoring. He imitates many celebrities as mimicry is an art (maybe its an inferior art) and imitating celebrities is very common and the audience loves it.

Rituporno Ghosh conducts a talk show ‘ Ghosh & company ‘ which is aired on a private channel every Sunday. He invites eminent guests on the show and does a very informal ‘adda’ with them. Undoubtedly the show is quite a hit show and the guests are stalwart personalities. Shobha De, Dilip De, Aparna Sen, Kalyan Ray, Bappi Lahiri, and many more celebrities were invited on the show. Last Sunday (16th nov) Mir was Mr.Ghosh’s guest. The teasers throughout the week were very attractive and I’m sure that day a lot many people watched the show than other Sundays as Mir and Rituporno talking to each other is something everyone would love to watch because Mir imitates Rituporno ditto.

The show stared. It’s a 1hr show…the first 15 minutes were general discussion about Mir’s childhood, his full name etc. Now a talk show of 1hr is divided into 4 slots, 15 minutes each, 3 slots are for discussion and 1 slot is for advertisements. After the first 15 minutes were over the rest 30 minutes Rituporno completely attacked Mir taking him off his feet. He insulted Mir by saying that as mimicry in an inferior form of performance he (Mir) is earning his living by practicing this art. He told Mir that Mir has no right to insult the minority community (effeminate men) by mimicking Rituporno as Rituporno is the representative of that community. Anybody who watched that episode will realise that it was a well rehearsed, well planned, well thought beforehand to insult Mir. Mir was so taken aback that he just kept quiet and whenever he tried to say anything Rituporno stopped him and went on attacking him. He even questioned Mir whether he tries to hide his identity (as Mir also belongs to a minority community) by shortening his name and why he (Mir) married a hindu lady.

The Sunday’s episode was an eye opener to all Rituporno’s fans (including me) I guess, about the man (?) he is. It is Rituporno’s talk show where he invited a guest with a preplanned notion to insult him…this of course does not give a very good picture of himself. Rituporno used his position, his weight as a nationally famous personality to take revenge on a person who is not at par with him by inviting him on his show. If Mr.Ghosh knew that mimicry in an inferior form of performance then why did he invite Mir on the same forum where he invited Aparna Sen and Moushumi Chatterjee?? We all have seen Ritupono enjoying Mir’s mimicry on him in various award shows… then why pretend whereas in reality he held so much grudge against Mir?? Rituporno was not even honest enough to tell that he feels insulted and he don’t like Mir mimicking him but instead he kept on telling that it doesn’t bother him but he is worried and letting Mir know what the minority community (effeminate men) think. What a joke Mr.Ghosh !!!

At the end of the show Mir just told one thing “ aamar mone hoy personally tomar kothao aante gha legechhe tai tumi amake Ghosh & Company te deke eisob bolchho” (I think somewhere your ego has been hurt so you are insulting me by inviting me in your show). Even I think Mir what you told is completely correct. Rituporno should be honest enough to accept the reality. If you want to establish that you are an effeminate man then why get angry when the world tells you that?? This was not at all expected from a man of Rituporno’s stature, a person who is well known for his sensitive cinema suddenly became so insensitive to insult a guest on his show…that too in national television. Mir, u need not worry…your fans will always remain your fans but I think after this episode Rituporno will lose some fans…at least I can tell about myself.

Special Strangers

2008-11-20T01:36:00.000-08:00

It is always a pleasure to take a trip down memory lane especially if the road is paved with beautiful rememberences.
Two such memories instantly come to my mind. I was appearing for my class X exams. I used to cycle to school & the school bus would take us to our center at IIT- Kanpur. One such day, as I was going to school, two boys in a moped came ,& I think, hit my cycle deliberately. The front wheel of the cycle was badly twisted, leaving me with no option other than leaving it with a shopkeeper nearby, who offered to retain it for me till I returned from my exam. After I gave my exam, when I went to the shop , I saw that my cycle wasn’t there & neither was the shopkeeper .All kinds of doubts & suspicions crossed my mind. At home, I related the entire episode to my mother & she was only relieved that I wasn’t hurt .In the evening, my dad & I went to the shop. And, guess what? !!!! There was my cycle, looking in great shape-who would have thought that in the morning it had met with such a fate. We thanked him & I was embarrassed to have been suspecting his intentions , when all he did was that he had repaired it for me! There was still some kindness left in the world.
This isn’t all. I was the lucky recipient of one more act of kindness a few years later when I went to Nagpur to do my graduation. I had to reside in a hostel & it was the first time alone without parents. As a result, I wasn’t in the habit of carrying a wallet. So, on my first day to college, as I boarded the bus, I realized I didn’t have any money to pay for my ticket. The conductor listened as I explained why I wasn’t carrying it. I promised that I would pay him next day as I would be traveling at the same time. He nodded & went away only to return a minute later. He said ,’As you are not carrying a wallet, you wont be able to pay for your fare when you return. So, here is the fare for the return ticket’. And, he handed me Rs 2! I could only look at him & wonder from where he got his good sense, judgement & kindness.
I could not return them the kindness that they bestowed upon me but I do try to be a little considerate to people I meet without expecting the same in return. It is better to pay it forward & let not the chain break…

More of your time

2008-11-19T08:35:00.000-08:00

I look forward to the few precious moments that I get to spend with you.When we are so caught up in the entries of the appointments in our diary, a few lines of snatched conversations here & there seem to be the highlight of the day.In an era where everything is designed to make life simple for us, why a simple conversation with a loved one is so hard to manage? Why I cant just pick up the phone & talk to you ?Why I cant speak with you for three uninterrupted minutes? Why I need to cook up excuses to talk to you? Why cant you just speak a few more lines to me? Why cant you just talk to me?Or simply say that you want to talk to me? Why do I have to wait for something important to come up so that I can talk to you?Why cant I just get to sit next to you for a few minutes & watch the crowd pass us by? Why are we like a crowd who are passing each other by in a busy subway? Why are we like the parallel tracks of a railway line which travel miles together but they meet only to go their separate ways? Why cant we just merge together so that you & I cant differentiate who is who? You say I understand whats in your mind. Then, why cant you understand whats on my mind?I want more of you. But if you cant give me, then let me atleast have more of your time...

Precious Illusions

2008-11-19T04:15:00.000-08:00

It's past midnight & I cannot sleep.
You are constantly on my mind.
I keep on wondering what you are doing
At this time of the day or night…
I wonder if you are having smooth ride…
I wonder if you are at peace,
As that’s how I want you to be..
I wonder if you need somebody to talk to
And I wish that it were me …
I know that you don’t belong to me
But I am happy that you are near me ..
Why I feel so warm when you talk to me?
Or I freeze when you simply ignore me?
I am wondering are you really so indifferent as you seem?
Or is there something more in your eyes
When I catch you glancing at me?
I feel there is something more in the way that you sometimes touch me…
Or when you could have but you don’t…
Perhaps its nothing more..
Than my mind playing games with me…
Maybe these are precious illusions...

But they are raising a storm inside me.

The Genaration NEXT !!!

2008-11-18T05:38:00.000-08:00

Nowadays due to my preoccupation and my son (who is only 4yrs old but has this amazing quality to dominate me and my life) I don't get much chance to watch television. And even when I get a chance, it is strictly restricted to the cartoon channel. That particular day I returned home early and as there was no one at home I thought to entertain myself and spend sometime with the idiot box.

As I had nothing in particular in mind, I was surfing through the channels when I got stuck at MTV. MTV Roadies was being telecasted that time and recently I heard a spirited arguement on this programme among a group of young students on my way to work. According to them it was THE reality show, the most intelligent and smart show. So that day when I got a chance I did not want to miss THE show on screen. I gathered myself on the sofa and concentrated full heartedly at what was going on.

There were 6participants (3 boys and 3 girls)...they were in the age group of 18-20yrs, smart, confident, good looking, well dressed, and speaking with an accent. Now 6 young people with these attributes were a feast to anyone's eyes (so were to mine). A rapid fire round was going on. Any right answer fetched them marks and a wrong answer meant negative marking. The anchor asked them many questions. Some were easy and some of the answers even I didn't know...but I was surprised, amused, disappointed to see that none of the participants knew the name of India's President. When this question was asked I thought ohh!! This is too easy a question. But I was wrong !!! None could answer this question...one participant answered Abdul Kalam (that was the nearest answer), one answere Shankar Dayal Sharma (God save his soul !!!), one of them kept quiet (he was the wisest), one lady kept on giggling and falling on her neighbour, one told he knows the answer but cannot remember at that moment.

Now personally I wanted A.P.J. Abdul Kalam to remain as our President but I was equally happy and proud (being a woman) the day Pratibha Patil took her oath as India's first lady President. I thought India at last is changing and watching this show I had to agree India has really changed !!! When we were 18-20yrs of age maybe we were not as smart, confident, with loads of attitude (read false attitude or "atti") but we atleast knew about the country we are born in, about our history, about our heritage. I wonder what is this new generation running after?? If they are our country's future then what really is our future?? I don't know the answer but its time we ask ourselves these questions and try to find out the answers to save ourselves and our country...if possible.

Amazing! Isn't it? NOT REALLY.

2008-11-16T03:57:00.000-08:00

Hi!

You know what, when (in 1996) I was looking forward to start my career as a copywriter... in contradiction of my formal education in electrical engineering, life was ruthlessly tough on me and my ambition.

In the process, I also came to know the fact that if I could be a copywriter then a goat would fly! Quite a lesson for me, I swear. Especially, when it came from one of the leading ad honchos in Kolkata.

So, I kept on writing with a burning hope to make a goat fly. But, alas! Despite of my best of efforts, I couldn't succeed in helping a goat fly; instead, I became a copywriter, and eventually a creative director (copy) to ensure Brands fly with me now.

I'm so sorry for the goat! I'm equally apologetic to that ad guru, who predicted my future along with the goat's.

Amazing! Isn't it? Not really. It's all about chasing a dream, remaining inspired all the time, and shedding off all inhibitions.

And if I could do it, why can't you?

So, DO WRITE with me. DO WRITE with your friends. DO WRITE all alone. Only on www.dowr8.blogspot.com

Awaiting your lines then.

Thanks!

Sushovan