transition

reservations

2006-05-20T10:04:00.000-07:00

Jus 2 things 2 say...
1. reservations suck...
2. congress sucks...lets nt vote 4 it agn...

Hero worship...

2006-04-14T10:09:00.000-07:00

Salman's recent visit to the jail n back has been creatin a lotta news lately...the Times of India went on 2 describe his daily time table...diet...how he shits...whr he shits...at wt tme n lotta other shit...
n i dont really understand y!....
dont these people have better things 2 report...isnt anythin else happenin in da country...which is more significant in nature?
secondly...Salman's devoted fans have been kind enuff 2 get cakes n pasteries for him on da day he retuned...they r happy he's outta jail...gr8...but dear fans..have u considered y he went 2 jail in da 1st place? sum ppl argue tht he court has been 2 harsh wid Salman...well...i dont really think so...the court has set an example...poachin is illegal...u go against the law...u pay for ur deeds...n the same law applies 2 every1...whether you are a star or a spot-boy...
Another arguement put forth by a frnd was "so many ppl commit murders...y dont they do anythin abt it..." well i wud say thts a completely different story all together....we cant use tht as an arguement....
I think Salman deserves every bit of wt has happened...n i hope ppl stop acting like fools...stop sendin more flowers n cakes 2 him...n look at the other side of things...

Rape....

2006-03-27T07:59:00.000-08:00

Uncle Rapes Niece.
Minor Gangraped.
Teacher Abuses Teenage Girls.
Girl Raped by Lover's Friends.
We read these headlines everyday in the newspaper. Every minute a woman is raped in some part of the world or the other. Isnt it scary? What is this world coming to? What are these men thinking? Abusing children, teenagers, women! Why is there a sudden rise in the number of rape cases? Is this rise sudden? Or is it just that people are speaking about these issues lately?
I saw this Marathi movie a couple of days back which got me thinking about this issue. The story of the movie goes like...
There are these college-going girls staying in a hostel. They are going around with some guys n stuff. On Valentine's day one of the 2 couples goes for a stroll in the woods where a policewala catches them. The guy gets scared and runs away deserting the girl. The policeman taking advantage of her helpessness rapes her. She is thrown out of the college but is allowed 2 give her exams and stay in the hostel. She registers a complaint but hides the issue from her parents. Her boyfriend breaks up with her. Not because he doesnt love her anymore. But jus because she was raped. Her not being a virgin bothers him. He cant digest the fact she was raped. The girl on the other hand is pretty strong. She forgives him and lets go. Their friends speak to the guy one night about him breaking up. And he puts forth a question "will u marry ur girlfriend if she was raped?" And his friends have no answer to that question...they are in love but not ready to support their girlfriends when they are raped. They cannot marry a woman who is raped. They cannot accept the fact that she isnt a virgin. That somebody else has "used her".
The climax includes the last hearing in the court. When the girl is given a chance to speak she goes on to explain how she is blamed, how her guy leaves her as he cant face her anymore, how she has to pay a heavy price for being a woman, how she has realised what the society is like. In the end she says, " i dont need justice" for it doesnt matter to her anymore.
The movie though clumsily done highlights many issues:
1. The most important..Rape. It is one of the biggest social evils today. Many innocent women have to suffer just because somebody cannot control his raging hormones and is desparate for sex. The offender gets away in most of the cases. It is the victims life which is messed up.
2. It is always the woman who is blamed. Some time back Shiv Sena's mouthpiece Samna come up with an article which said "the woman invites rape". What do u make of that? I dont think there is a single woman in this world who wants to be raped. I know women do fantasize about such things but then they are just fantasies. Reality isnt all that rosy. Rape isnt something a woman would long for. Some people went further to say that "women dress provocatively". Are you trying to say that you are so implusive and that you have no control over yourself? A girl dressed in a skirt and a sleeveless t-shirt get you so wild that you are compelled to rape her? And dont we, women, have a right to dress as we like. Do u expect us all to clad ourselves in burkhas n go everywhere just because you men are desparate animals?
Why is it that the woman is criticised? Why is that everyone points fingers at the girl? Why is it that she is the one who is thrown out of the college? Why is it that she has to live with the tag forever? Isnt her humiliation by one person enough that the whole society has to join in?
3. The police is no different from our roadside romeos. All Mumbai-ites are aware of the Marine Drive rape case. A college going girl was raped by a constable, Sunil More in broad daylight. The news sent shockwaves through the city. People were very agitated. But now the whole issue has been forgotten. I would like to mention here that our Constitution states that a woman cannot be arrested between 6 PM and 6 AM. Also when she is arrested, she can demand the prescence of a lady constable and also demand to be taken to an all-women-police-station. Today we need protection from the police and not by the police. We need to be aware of our rights because awareness might just save us from being raped.
4. Another important point that the movie makes is that even though we are living in the 21st century our thoughts and beliefs still remain orthodox. How many of us will break up if we find out that our partner had been sexually involved wid someone else? how many of us are ready to accept the idea that he/she must have enjoyed sex wid some1 else? how many of us
would marry a girl who has been raped? and how many of us will be able to forget what happened n move on? Most of us would just prefer to walk away. Who wants to live wid such a burden?
5. What is our Government doing about the increasing rape incidents? Sometime back a person accused of rape was left scott free just because according to the judge he was "the sole bread winner of the family" and tht if he was put in jail his family would have nowhere to go. Now my question is didnt the person realise that he was the "sole bread winner" when he commited the crime? Why didnt he think about his family, his wife, his children? What kind of justice is this? Does this mean that any1 who is the "sole bread winner" is free to rape any1 he feels like? Why doesnt our Government pass a strict law? Why isnt a person commiting rape sentenced to death? When a girl is raped her whole life changes. The emotional trauma she goes through is unbearable. In addition to this the society is after her life. Moreover the media doesnt spare her. What is her fault? Why is she being punished like that? And the person who is responsible for all this is allowed to continue wid this life? This is a complete mockery of the whole judicial system.
The movie has brought so much to light. The film has raised so many questions. Finding answers to these is necessary. Any1 of us can be a victim tomorrow. The issue has to be given a serious thought.

A tribute to Anne Frank...

2006-03-11T23:28:00.000-08:00

I was readin "The diary of Anne Frank". Finished it sometime back. N she has touched me so deeply. I have 2 write abt her.
Anne was a 13 yr old girl who lived in Amsterdam wid her family. Jus like any 13-yr-old Anne went 2 school, had a big grp of girlfrnds, was cheerful n cheeky n attracted boys. But her normal life was distrupted whn the Germans invaded Holland n the Jews had 2 go into hiding (Anne was Jewish). Her father, Otto Frank, had seen this coming n had already made arrangements for them 2 go underground. It was called "The Secret Annexe". The Secret Annexe consisted of a a few rooms 2 house the Franks n the Van Daans. When Margot, Anne's sister was summoned for deportation (Hitler hated the Jews tremendously for reasons which one can only guess n hence the Nazis followed the policy of exterminating the Jews.) the Franks decided 2 move into the Secret Annexe.
Anne had received a diary on her 13th b'day. She addressed it as "Kitty". She confided in her diary, wrote abt her deepest feelings n emotions. She continued writing her diary even after they moved into the Secret Annexe and till the time they were caught by the Nazis. Anne's diary was published by her father after her death. It gives a beautiful account of a lil' girl who was taken away from her normal life n thrown into a scary situation at a v tender age.
Anne passed formative yrs of her life in The Annexe. Her initially entries bring out her childish innocence. She goes on 2 describe her life in the Secret Annexe. The tensions n troubles. Her confusion. Her feelings towards her parents, the Van Daans. The problems of adolescence. As one reads thru her diary, one notices that Anne is maturing, she starts thinking abt things, she realises how vain some people arnd her are, how she wants 2 be different from them, how she wants 2 live her life in the postwar period. She has beautifully sketched her feelings towards Peter, the Van Daans son. The initially attraction between them. She wanting 2 help him discover himself. Her disappointment in him whn she realises that he starts depending on her.
Towards the end of the diary one sees Anne struggling to solve her own problems. She becomes more n more independent. She perceives her shortcomings n tries to overcome them. She realises how she needs 2 change 2 become the person she wants 2 b. She discovers her ambition. Anne wanted 2 become a journalist. She wanted 2 write for writing helped her immensely. She was able 2 express herself the best thru writing. If only she had lived....
Anne met a terrible end. She wasnt 16 yet. The Franks n The Van Daans were arrested by the Germans in August 1944. They were taken away. Anne, Margot, Mrs. Frank, Mrs. Van Daan, Mr. Van Daan, Peter died. Otto Frank was the only 1 who lived. Reading Anne's death made me cry.
Anne expresses a wish in her diary. She says "I want 2 go on living even after my death..." Yes Anne, you are alive 2day. N u are touching millions of hearts. Your diary has made me realise so many things. Brought so much 2 light. I was always awestruck by Hilter n his capabilities. But now i realise, he wasnt really gr8. You cant even call him inhuman. The things he did 2 Jews. The miserable life you had 2 live jus bcoz he "din like Jews". He has spoiled and destroyed. It is really hard 2 imagine wt u n millions like u went thru.
Secondly, i really admire your courage. In the last pages you say " saying i am weak is easy"...n u try 2 figure out how it can b 'easy'. It is easy Anne. It is the easy way out. You were strong. Very strong. You were strong as beautiful. Beautiful in mind n soul. N wt a fine woman you wud have grown up 2 be. If only it wasnt for the cruel Germans...
Thirdly, you wrote so well. You wud have made a great journalist.
Fourthly, i really admire how u cud c urself thru a third person's eyes. Not every1 can do tht. I have learnt so much from you. I am gonna try n be like you. Try 2 c my own faults, try 2 improve upon them, try 2 make myself a better person, try 2 be the person i want 2 be, try 2 be independent like you, try 2 work hard like you, try n follow everything tht you have taught me.
Your dream has come true Anne. You are immortal. :)

The Expressway

2006-03-09T06:51:00.000-08:00

It was arnd 9:30 in the mornin yesterday. I was on my way 2 pune. The Expressway began. N thts what got me thinking.
The Expressway IS an amazing road, very different from our usual roads. Doing a lil' bit of research, i found out tht the expressway has been contrusted according to international standards using modern technology. There is fencing on both the sides of the road, bridges have been provided for crossing at regualr intervals, two-wheelers, bullock carts, tractors are not allowed on the Expressway, there are telephones provided in case of emergencies, trees have been planted on both sides, beautiful flower-bearing plants diving the 2 sides, prper lanes, tunnels are well-lit, there are signboards on both sides indicating exits, speed limit to be maintained, food malls, everything. After being used 2 a camel-ride all the time being on the expressway doesnt make u feel like u are in india.
The Expressway is an important infrastructural development in the country. It has not only reduced the distance n time between pune n mumbai but also provides for a safer n pleasent journey, accidents in the ghats have been reduced greatly, traffic jams are lessened. consumption of fuel and pollution has also decreased, travelling to pune has become so much easier.
The Expressway brings out an important point. It shows that it is possible for us 2 have good roads n better infrastructure in India. We only have 2 use a lil' bit of our brains, some common sense n loads of modern technology.
I came across this interview of Mr. Narayan Murti the other day where he said "while trying 2 give jobs to 100 people we cause inconvenience to 1000s."
What he said is absolutely true. We are so short-sighted. Our policies are so wrong.
Indians have the best brains in the world. Sadly every1 wants 2 run aboard 4 a better job. However we fail 2 realise that India is a better place 2 make money. If we stick here n use our education and skills we can turn this country into a superpower. One may argue about corrupt politicians n a bad bureaucracy but then who are the politicians? Who forms the bureaucracy?
We do. You n i do.
We are the future of the country. We have to bring about a change. We have dirty politicians, a corrupt bureaucracy, wrong policies, etc. But along with all tht we have a gr8 Constitution. The largerst n perphaps the best. It may not be perfect. But it is good enough. Also we have an independent judiciary. A very supportive judiciary i wud say (if u are readin the newspapers regularly, u'll find a number of examples tht will pint this out.) We can file PILs, move to the court, participate in elctions, form pressure groups, do 100s of things.
All we need is a bit of courage and a strong urge to make a difference. We all feel frutsrated when we are stuck in traffic or when we watch lalu snoring happily in a Lok Sabha session. But we do nothing 2 change the picture.
We have 2 be aware. We have to bring abt a change. Because we are the future.

my new blog

2006-03-06T20:46:00.000-08:00

hey every1...
welcome 2 my new blog...dun have time 2 write jus now....but thr r loads of things i wanna write abt...will b scribbling stuff soon...till then...
happy bloggin :)