No more Bollywood for me.

Never in the entire history of my existence have I witnessed a theatre act and ‘Delhi IBSEN festival’10’ gave me a whole new perspective to the concept of what acting is.

‘The Mountain Bird’ by Henrik Ibsen, directed by Lars Oyno (Norway) is a path breaking play that shook my sensibilities towards judging a good act. Despite being surrounded by middle-aged men and women and art connoisseurs that looked like pilgrims, the evening was worth my time. The characters lit up the stage with their exquisite performances and there was pin drop silence in the hall throughout the play. Their performances gripped every audience for nearly two hours. It is amazing to see how each actor breathe the character and how well they presented it. It must be challenging for the director and the casts to coordinate everything flawlessly. The sound of the violent at the background and the feet tapping of the characters reverberates throughout the play. What is interesting is that a good actor need not be a Greek god or anything closer. It is simply the ability to do justice to the character he/she is presenting. It involves a great deal of hard work, dedication and team effort. They performed as if there was no tomorrow and it is this energy, that the show was a great success. My only complaint is the sub-titles because I somewhat got distracted from the story. I couldn’t concentrate and I feel it is too much of multitasking. Guess I need to do a little research on the play to understand it profoundly.

Growing up in India, I am accustomed to a lot of masalas and cheap thrills when it comes to watching a movie so much so that I have unknowingly ignored content, social impact and above all fine acting. These are characteristics that would drag millions to the Oscars.

Given a choice, I would cast my vote to a theatre show and not a cinema hall. It is indeed ‘the new world’ to indulge in.

Go insane with technology.

Dilip Bobb’s ‘Pressing problems’ (TOI Nov’23) talks about the inefficiency of digital substitutes to telephone operators.

Technology for sure has made our lives easier and quicker. Take for instance the metros, online bill payments, ATMs etc. It has also revolutionized the corporate world by eliminating one employee from the corporate food chain and replacing it by what is commonly known as IVR (interactive voice response). Now all that’s required from the caller is to speak to the machine or simply press the buttons on the phone and the call will be directed.

As Dilip Bobb mentioned, outsourcing simple tasks to electronic or digital substitutes is a mistaken belief that it improves efficiency while cutting costs. He also said that sometimes, the human touch matters more than saving money.

It is a tedious pain stalking effort to listen to an animated human voice. It gets worst when one is in a hurry or when the call gets disconnected because for sure he/she would need to go through the same torturous procedure again. The frustration gets further accelerated when the call is diverted to a human being and you’re being asked the same questions. I mean 2-3 minutes just went wasted on the IVR and now another 2-3 minutes explaining the concern to the representative. A sheer wastage of time and credit! Can you just solve my problem? And by the end of it all, all that one can recall is inexplicable frustration and anger.

Companies should take thorough considerations while upgrading their systems to IVR or at least give enough training to their frontline representatives to avoid any disconnect and improve customer satisfaction. Clearly, technology and humans should be well integrated.

The Pope vs. condoms.

In regards to the article ‘A first step’ (TOI Nov’23), it is indeed a welcome step taken by Pope Benedict XVI’s to reconsider the use of condoms to prevent the risk of AIDS infections. However, the use of condoms as a contraceptive is still off limits.

The main motive of using a condom is to prevent infection and conception during sexual intercourse. So they should be encouraged and not abandoned. This is because both HIV and birth control are crucial to human existence. If there’s no cure for the deadly disease at least there should be ways to prevent it and a condom is one of the options. Birth rate on the other hand is growing at an alarming pace not only in India but also in other parts of the world. If this expansion of human population is unrestricted, it could pose a serious threat to the planet. Threats that are certainly unfavorable not only to the present but the future generation too. Nonetheless, the question of religion’s involvement in the issue is trivial.

Therefore, it should be understood that condoms does to a certain extent solve life threatening issues and that their use (whether as prevention of HIV or as contraceptives) should be made mandatory irrespective of whatsoever. It could lead humanity closer to the ‘promise land’.

The myth might just be over.

Even though cricket as a sport has seized the national imagination of India, other sports like boxing, weightlifting, rowing, shooting, swimming and even gymnastics might dominate the Indian sporting arena soon.

Following the XIX Commonwealth Games, India witnessed 101 medals coming in from different sporting categories, categories that were once considered as accomplishments that Indians would take decades to actually fit in. Despite the usual problems of sports administrative bodies and government departments to do everything but promote athletes, success or failure now seems to be dependent on the individual athlete. It is the newly globalize attitude of both the strength and the resources to compete, that most Indian athletes are currently aspiring for. The ongoing XVI Asian Games in Guangzhou, China is yet another example of how India is slowly breaking its norms from conventional sports. A few of what the country have achieved so far at the Asian Games: Sandhyarani Devi Wangkhem silver medalist in 60kg shanshou category, Bajrang Lal Takhar won the gold in men’s single sculls category, Commonwealth champion Dinesh Kumar assured himself a medal entering the light heavyweight 81kg semifinals and Vijender Singh stormed into the 75kg boxing quarterfinals. Glorious achievements and a breakthrough in Indian sports.

Let’s not forget that India is a developing country and that sports is one aspect that no doubt needs a make over. Yet, it is promising that we have at least seen a few symptoms that would elevate not only cricket but other sports too. There is light at the end of the tunnel. 

 

Say goodbye to caste and communal divides.

Who would have expected a three-fourths majority from an underdeveloped state divided by caste and communalism? It was certainly a relief not only for Bihar but also for the rest of the country. Nitesh Kumar’s win over the Bihar assembly election is extraordinary.

He not only boycotted Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi’s chaotic rule but also justified a pre-election statement, “If people vote me to power, I would change the fate of the nation/state”. His dedication and commitment to the state was his weapon to cut across every possible division that Bihar is inflicted and this is that one weapon that most of our ministers ignore by default. His triumph is not only a prospective hope for Bihar but also a slap to other ministers who have failed to elevate the state. He is the perfect epitome to a universal fact that deeds and words can make a massive difference. Apparently, there are good Samaritans.

If only India had more of such Nitesh Kumars…by now the success rate of the country would have soared as high as the D&G price meter.

Is the media compromised?

Has the real essence of what a free press means dwindling? This is the question that the nation is contemplating.

 Following the CWG and the Adarsh scams, we’re now slammed by the 2G spectrum scam. Corruption was there and will always be there. But, the degree to which corruption has crept in is alarming. Now people who are by virtue of exposing what is corrupt are apart of the malfunction, because they have abandoned ethics.

The tapes that were recorded were explicit. Apart from overstepping their bounds, they eventually created a sense of distrust amongst the masses. It simply gives an impression that lately not only politicians and bureaucrats are corrupt but, also our media professionals. They are happily shaking hands and sailing in the same boat. The question is not ‘the degree of involvement’ but ‘the involvement itself’.

However, it is worth noting that one or two media professionals cannot distort the image of the entire media industry. This is because they don’t solely represent the media world. There are others who cling on to ethics and it is unfair to generalize them. We just need to discard the rotten apples soon less they spoil the entire basket. 

Give a JPC a chance.

In regards to Lt. Gen (retd) S P M Tripathi’s article ‘who’s afraid of a JPC…and why’.

                                                

S P M Tripathi was the chairman of the joint parliamentary committee constituted in 2001 to investigate the stock market scam. JPC’s successfully unearthed the stock market scam that not only brought the stock exchanges under its scanner but also other entities involved. I am not quite sure as to why the UPA government should turn down the opposition’s demand for a JPC.

The debate however, is not only on who or who will not investigate but also the degree of corruption, relating to both the 2G spectrum and the CWG. The main issue is a thorough examination of the scams and not on who will examine it. The government is wasting time in turning down the opposition’s proposal which directly affects the smooth functioning of Parliament.

In the opposition’s defense and given a JPC’s prior success, the government should reconsider the proposal and work together for a common cause. Not to suggest that a JPC would be the best way to curb the menace but, it might just be worth taking a risk. There shouldn’t be any reason for the government to be insecure. It’s just extra help.

Caution.

Look who is making news this time and that too for a strange, miraculous, yet joyous revelation. However, for me, the news is a mixture of joy and the different influences it would have on the readers. He escaped the jaws death, all thanks to his several genetic mutations. Yes, I am talking about the 61-year-old “Black Sabbath”, Ozzy Osbourne. He is known as the ‘Prince of darkness’ and he is as famous for his excessive intake of drugs (cocaine, morphine, sleeping cough etc) and alcohol as he is for his voice. He claims to have done LSD every day for two years and he drank booze like water. There is no medical reason for him to be alive. Many of the anomalies scientists discovered had to do with how Osbourne processes drugs and alcohol. I am happy for the man.

 Understand that, it is a very rare situation and he was lucky enough to have his genetic mutations however, not all individuals possess them. Therefore, swimming in a pool of booze and excessive use of drugs brings nothing but destruction. Osbourne is not endorsing anything here and neither was he performing a stunt on fear factor. It is a chapter in his actual life that he has unfolded and it has got nothing to do with whether or not one can survive the odds he survived. There is absolutely no need to try and be like him.

My only endeavour is that, Osbourne continues to be an inspiring rocker and that his secret survival as a ‘mutant’ wouldn’t be misinterpreted and taken otherwise by the readers. Long life Ozzy.

Ctrl+c & Crtl+v

Is there any research or conceptualization in most of India’s reality shows?

Guess they are not required. Somebody else’s doing it on their behalf. What does India do then? Let’s try and find out.

From ‘Top Chef’ comes ‘Amul Master Chef India’. ‘Big Brother’ to ‘Bigg Boss’. ‘Fear Factor’ to ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi’. ‘Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader’ to ‘Kya App Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hai’. The list goes on.

‘Plagiarism’ is not a topic of discussion because some of the shows may have copyrights. The fact is that these shows have already been there, why not come up with something new. Concept and research as I mentioned seems to have a very little role to play. It’s simply the technique of copy and paste, an alteration perhaps in the name and a negligible deviation from the source.

The source is what matters and not how well it’s being copied. We literally have a bunch of talented people with exquisite ideas to give the west some healthy competition. 21^st century, guess we’re done with copying.

Harry Potter minus Hedwig.

“Following “Harry Potter”, there seems to be a strange fascination even among the urban middle classes for presenting their children with owls,” environment minister Jairam Ramesh said.

I personally just don’t know how to react to that. But poor ‘Hedwig’ (Harry’s snow-white owl) and poor Harry they've done nothing. I can understand the minister’s concern for the illegal domestication of owls however; my question is how many misguided viewers are there who purchase dogs, fish, birds or other animals after seeing them in films. We cannot generalize the notion otherwise, it gets a little loose. What about animal lovers who would not abandon animals: until death do they part.

Parents I’m sure are aware of what kind of animals that can be used for domestication and even if they have other unusual choices, they would not for certain nurture a dinosaur just because their kids saw it in “Jurassic Park”. It is just weird and its common sense. I don’t know anyone who has got a pet owl and in regards to the endangered species, there are ways and means to bring it to light in order to increase public awareness. But, blaming “Harry Potter” is just too lame. If the world starts literally imitating what is on TV, guess what kind of world we would be living in. Matrix?

Talk or not to talk.

It is perhaps ‘the’ question that India as a country should ponder upon.

The question as to why we can’t talk about Kashmir but its OK to interlocute about it (Jug Suraiya’s  editorial ‘Jargon jagran’ (Nov 5).

Kashmir is a sensitive subject in India. Arundhati Roy and S A S Geelani were accused of sedition because they tried to talk about Kashmir and the possibility of freedom for it and for their pains.

Now, this is an extreme reaction from the government and they simply blew things out of proportion. Where is democracy and where is the right to speech and expression? If the masses need someone (like an eminent person in power, experts, netas etc) to speak on their behalf, why did the constitution generalizes such rights then to every Indian citizen. There are for sure a million and one subjects that the public discusses everyday. For a simple reason that they are current and they concern humanity in one way or the other or for mere gossip. Therefore, a person voicing out his/her opinion or reacting to things around in a lawful manner cannot be considered unlawful and accused of sedition. Besides, why should the public keep their mouths shut when things are simply being procrastinated? And it’s only when the government is threatened that words like ‘accused’ become so apparent.

Vulnerable maids

 

This is in regards to the Bill that was cleared by the Union Cabinet on Nov 4. The Bill revolves around protecting women against sexual harassment at the workplace. Therefore, women subjected to sexual advances (verbal or physical) has every right to complaint against their colleagues and if anyone is found guilty they’re likely to face financial penalties, loss of employment or even a police complaint.

Interestingly enough, the government has excluded domestic helps from the purview of the Bill, the most vulnerable section to such abuses. Officials argued that they were left out due to lack of witnesses and the effectiveness of the local community in the accused’s house.

The decision is outrageous. It is not only an act of injustice to the particular section but also injustice to the entire female community. It’s like synonymous to saying that maids are susceptible to such abuses and if by chance they lack witness, there’s nothing that can be done. Why is this section being left out? Are they not women? Isn’t it the same abuse? Providing witnesses for such a grave offence does not substantiate total exclusion of the entire domestic section. It in fact, demands crucial measures and exceptions that the government should take into consideration. The decision here is not only the future sorry plight of the domestic helps but also the increase of such offenders because, now, they can flout rules without impunity.

If words could kill...

I agree with the editorial ‘Kept out of bounds’ (Indian Express, October23).

The editorial talks about the inappropriate choice of words the bench used as it tried to define the contours of domestic partnerships and give unmarried woman in long-term relations some of the legal benefits in marriage. For example the use of ‘keep’ by the Supreme Court (referring to a woman whom a man maintains financially for sexual purpose and or as a servant) is offensive and reflects badly on women.

This is because words are so powerful and they not only communicate ideas but, they also reflect the mindset and attitudes of people. We are all passing through a transition in social perceptions wherein we are trying to bring some respect to socially disadvantage sections by abandoning certain terminologies that were commonly used in the past. Words like ‘negro’ is offensive because it is a term associated with the long history of slavery, segregation and discrimination that treated African-Americans as second class citizens, or worse. It is a term that racists would use simply to get black people mad wherein, we can simply refer to them as African-Americans. In the process we would just land up hurting others sentiments and wreck their peace. It is again like calling a Jewish person Hebrew or an Asian person Oriental. No one wants to be labeled by others especially when the label is derogatory.

The quick fix is more or less the ability to coin better substitutes of words, to protect others dignity and avoid misinterpretations.

Secure in Secularism

When will the much awaited-verdict on the case over the ownership of the disputed site at Ayodhya happen?

Guess even the Supreme Court would not have an answer to it! Would the verdit be based on anarchy or law?

In either case we all have to wait.

It is sad because a country like India that is amidst diversities has somehow not acquired that sense of what we  have in common : the assumptions, the habits, the shared-reference points an so on.

From my personal opinion, 2.77 acres of land, can that not be divided. If Rohan Bopanna from India and Aisam-Ul-Haq-Qureshi from Pakistan can play together during the US Open men's doubles; and if Hindus villagers in Karnataka Gadag district can offer help to rebuild the 50-year-old mosque for the benefit of a handful of 20 muslims in the village, why can't there be a healthy way out to resolve the issue rather than depending upon our so called government's decision.

Meaning of Demeaning..

An autobiography is an account of a person's life written by that person. So what's wrong if Shania Twain wants to pen down
her own autobiography?

Anil Thakkar's counterview was that it simply demeans literatue. An autobiography does not demand
set rules or agendas and ceratinly age and achievements are not qualifying criterias. Why would I incorporate 'social and political landscapes I inhabited' when its not even necessary? I don't need to be a Henry Adams, a Gandhi or anyone to write my own autobiography. I do not want to shake or wreck anyone's world and neither do I intend to touch or change anyone who reads it. It is an insight upon my own life and I will certainly pen it down if the same calling comes to me.

 Therefore, why can't we just let the poor country singer live her life and we get back to ours. It would for sure save us a lot of time, money, and effort. There is nothing to debate but to vacate that space in the newspaper to other articles worthy of a debate.

The old and the beautiful

“Women are lining up to marry me, because I’m a nice guy, because I’m loaded, because I know how to deal with women.” The exact words Silvio Berlusconi (The Italian Prime Minister) answered on why women find him irresistible.

That was a blunt delivery. Is there anything else apart from what you have just mentioned Mr. Prime Minister? Hope your reaction wouldn’t be misleading just to find your queue shorter. Wish those are the only demands  fitted within the ambit of what a woman would define as her picture perfect hubby. By the way you have just unfold what Donald Trump, Nicholas Sarkozy and Salman Rushdie never dared. Kudos!

Look who’s growing up at 40.

This is in regards to what Rahul Gandhi said at a press conference in Kolkatta on September 16, 2010.

Despite testing times in Jammu and Kashmir, this is what the Congress General Secretary has to say “Omar is a youngster and has a tough job; we have to give him time and support.” My question here is WHY!

The high-profile Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) failed to suggest any steps to address the alarming situation in Jammu and Kashmir, the Centre announced a political package close to Eid but nothing happened and in regards to withdrawing the Armed Forces Special Power Acts that’s just a distant dream. Over and above this, we still need to wait for the 40 year old Omar to grow up! Rahul Gandhi’s late realization I’m afraid will not do anything to cool down tempers in the valley. Mere talks and promises are not enough. We need the government to urgently step in and take charge. The death count since June has climbed up to 85 and for sure we would not want the figure to go up waiting for Omar to grow or for the government to keep starching their dhotis. Seven years as a Chief Minister, what! It’s certainly now or never.

Whose gender is it anyway?

Gautam  Adhikari, ‘Women With The Dragon Tattoos’ (Sept 11,2010).

Gautam questions the present existence of men and whether or not they have a future in today’s emerging context of changing gender trends. Spot on title I should say! The article draws comparison to trends on men and women in America today and how women in particular have dominated the current workforce. He shows a little apprehension to India, as he feels it is difficult to comprehend.  One of the reasons is that large sections of the country still prefer sons to remain the prize of marriage. He also questions certain qualities of women like sensitivity, empathy and how with time they could replace a man’s brawn.

All of what Gautam wrote, kept me pondering on whether the future would be a man’s world or a woman’s world or both. But  I am certainly not sure of what his intention was to introduce Lisbeth Salander. The writer describes Lisbeth as a 24 year old lady, who emerged as an independent adult from her abused childhood. She has a dragon tattoo down her slender back, small in build, not conventionally attractive , is bisexual and hack computers. Then Gautam questions “Do women like her at all need men in their lives apart from sexual intercourse?”

These characteristics are no longer the determining factor. Woman in the 21^st century are
way  independent and secure. They do not look for rescue anymore. They are content with their lot in life. What they want is a structured future and the rest shall follow. Sexual intercourse for pleasure and reproduction is a matter of choice. So to agree with Gautam, men are no longer the top priority. However, after taking into consideration the statistics and researches, we still don’t have a clear majority. Even if it does, what difference would it actually make? 

Pros and Cons

Of late movies have come a long way. A general idea of what each movie industry is at the minute, is superficial (referring to Hollywood and Bollywod). To say that Hollywood actors are just about impeccable looks, self-made, the one who finds time to come up with hilarious one liners even in the middle of a dangerous crisis; or Bollywood actors are fair-skinned, has a rich father who dosen't hug him enough, craves true love...is certainly not the answer to what is wrong with the movie world. To prove my point here are a few movies from both Hollywood and Bollywood that does not comply to any of the above set characteristics: 'Billy Elliot' (a talented young boy becomes torn between his unexpected love of dance and the disintegration of his family.), 'Crash' ( 'Crash' takes a provocative, unflinching look at the complexities racial tolerance in contemporary America. Diving headlong into the melting pot of post-9/11 Los Angeles, this urban drama tracks the volatile intersections of multi-ethnic characters as they struggle to overcome their fears while careening in and out of one another's lives. In the gray area between black and white, victim and aggressor, there are no easy answers.), 'All About My Mother' (Spanish drama film written and directed by Pedro Amodovar. The screenplay deals with complex issues such as aids, transvestitism, faith, and existentialism.), 'The Jane Austen Book Club' (six Californians start a club to discuss the works of Jane Austen, only to find their relationships...both old and new...begin to resemble 21st century versions of her novels.), 'Raincoat' (it tells the story of two lovers, separated by destiny, who meet again one day. This encounter allows each to realize the truth about the lives they are living.), 'The Japanese Wife' ( this lyrical but contrived tale of unfufilled love shows two women coming together after the tragic death of the man they both loved. One, the Japanese wife of the title, the other a silent widow of meagre means. This story of a long-distance 'marriage' between a Bengali bhadra-lok from rural Bengal Snehmoy (Rahul Bose) and his Japanese pen-pal Miyage (Chigusa Takaku) suffers from an incurable disease known as Inherent Silliness. They're both so annoying and outdated in their naivete.), 'The Namesake' (American-born Gogol, the son of Indian immigrants, wants to fit in among his fellow New Yorkers, despite his family's unwillingness to let go of their traditional ways.)......These movies have broken the norms that were once dominant in both Hollywood and Bollywood. Such movies are limited and they cater to a minor (intellectual) section of the society. My endeavour is that our directors should look at things in a different perspective and let heir money work harder for them. In India the process may be a little slow. No one is to be blame. The bottom line is, if masala sells  why not...our directors would make more money at the box office. Therefore, a blanket conclusion is not enough. Lets look at both sides of the coin.

The idea of Indianness

Jug Suraiya's 'second opinion'(Sept 1,2010) to Chetan Bhagat's plea of boycotting the Common Wealth Games, won my heart.

He said the games has boycotted us before we could boycott the games. He backed this up by citing examples of farmers in western Uttar Pradesh (how their villages are threatened in the name of 'progress' and 'public interest') and also the plight of the Kondhs of Orissa (due to bauxite mining operations in the area).
http://www.editorialjunction.com/2010/09/jug-suraiya-whose-boycott/
I would strongly not boycott the game for a simple reason- I am an Indian and I cannot back out. Blame game, that has always been our style. How about standing up as one nation (despite the odds) and say that we put up that show. If we fail or we succeed that is a different story. At least let us stand up for once. That is the idea of Indianness. We have come so far with so little. So what. Ultimately, let the world have only a finger and not two to point out. But for that I would suggest Chetan Bhagat and his followers to read : Pavan K Varma's book titled ‘Being Indian' http://www.flipkart.com/being-india-pavan-k-varma-book-0143033425and Sashi Tharoor's book titled 'The Elephant, the Tiger, and the Cell PhonePhone.' http://www.infibeam.com/Books/info/Shashi-Tharoor/The-Elephant-the-Tiger-and-the-Cellphone/9780670081455.html

A sigh of relief

This is a reaction to an article 'Cricket In Crisis' (Sept.31). The article is regarding the allegations with a betting racket during the England-Pakistan Test series. The article talked about the stringent of Indian and South African boards as to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) when it comes to match fixing. The urge is that the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the PCB should not spare anyone irrespective of whatsoever if they are found guilty.

There is light at the end of the tunnel. The ICC suspended Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer on 03/09/2010. Even the Pakistan High Commissioner Wajid Hasan was also suspended.

It is an inspiring move by the ICC to curb the menace. I mean if you are guilty you are ought to be punished. There is no second thought about it. This would not just make cricket fans lose trust in the game but it would further refine cricket to a much higher level. I am glad it happened. Otherwise, I would also start playing cricket and become a millionaire overnight......because anyway I'll be FIXED!

Welcome to Atlantic city

Very thought provoking article by Gautam Bhatia, 'Will The Games Be Worth It'. He talks about fiscal malpractice in the Common Wealth Games (CWG) and the unaccounted figures that the country is ignoring. He draws comparison from other countries which are intriguing. Over and above all this, he tells us about the aftermath and impact of corruption (the question of engaging other poor countries for such mega events).http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/Will-The-Games-Be-Worth-It/articleshow/6487193.cms

I think he has got a point there. It is not just our pride that we are fighting here. It is the confidence and the trust of whether other poor countries (except for Canada, Britain and Australia) as he mentioned, would also be given a chance to host the CWG or not. The side effects are vast and it would be shameful if we are not able to set the benchmark. Would any of our organizers, builders and contractors be the lifeline?

Fashionably Challenged

Jug Surauya was lucky to be at the Van Heusen India Men's Fashion week. But Who ever invited him (just to have him give a slap back)? This is in reference to Jug Suraiya's article 'After a Fashion'.

The columnists was physically present to witnessed the VHIMFW show. The article talked about his alienation to men's fashion and females designers. He went on to explain eloquently how models looked and their attire when they strolled down the runway. He felt they were 'pilgrims' like those kanwararias- who'd gone off course and hadn't been to a barber for a while. He felt that the tie looked like a napkin and that the model had forgotten to remove it from his neck the same way he had forgotten his shirt (as the model was off shirt).http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/jugglebandhi/entry/after-a-fashion

As I mentioned earlier, eloquently written. However, the interpretation of what fashion is, is very disturbing. He thought it was hilarious but it think is absurd. Men did fashion as well? that was his question, unbelievable. I mean its alright by me if you have little knowledge on a particular topic. But to actually mis interpret its essence- that is just not fair. I say this because the effect on the readers would be tremendous. The whole idea of fashion has got nothing to do with gender. The models looked a certain way because it is a collection and the designer had for sure planned it that way. I feel it is just a mockery on new ideas and concepts. For him becoming a designer male model is merely not shave for four days and cut his hair for six months. Glad Jug Surauya was not able to digest the ramp. Imagine how could he have digested whats behind that glamorous ramp. I guess he needs a little dosage of the Vogue's Fashion Night Out on Sept.10/2010 (probably his perception would change).

A model presents a creation by John Galliano during the Spring/Summer 2010/2011 Men collections at the Paris Fashion Week, in Paris, France, 25 June 2010.

Men wear sindoor and skirts at the fourth Lakme India Fashion Week. Creation by Rohit Bal.

Way to go Nepal

"Nepal gays hold first pride parade." according to the report(http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/headlines/4772028.cms).

It is not the first time that I am aware of gay parades but it is certainly the first time that I have heard about politicians taking part at a rally,apart from human rights organisations and gay activists.

My deepest appreation is that thier presence would give a substancial weightage to the parade and people would not look at it as a cliche rainbow march for nothing.

So dont think that it is all...just about 'politics.' Our politicians have a lot in store for them!

Hope the report changes the vague perceptions of millions.

A fair deal.

Fashionistas: Icons or victims?

This article by Shobha De appeared in Bombay Times on monday the 25/08/2010.(http://shobhaade.blogspot.com/)

Interesting, Shobha.I also feel that Mumtaz and Kangana Ranaut are fashion icons(if you are just talking about clothes).But looking at Posh Spice and Jennifer Aniston, I would still give Johnny Depp and Sarah Jessica Parker the Oscar (again if you are just talking about clothes).I feel they define vesatility in fashion on screen and everywhere else. 

(http://www.corbisimages.com/)Twenty first century,its incorporating the best of what fashion has to offer(be it a Chanel dress or a Shiffon dress from Sarojini Market) and how you carry it off.


But the people you have mentioned in the article are all celebrities.Wish we could have looked at the common man, probably.I am sure they would have a lot to offer and even give reigning stars a competition.

Actress Sarah Jessica Parker attends the "Sex and the City: The Movie" DVD launch at the New York Public Library in New York City. Dress by Alexander McQ...

Sister Act

'Keeping the Faith (http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Lisa-Ling-Goes-Inside-a-Convent is a report Lisa Ling(Oprah Show correspondent) shares while she visited the nuns of Dominican Sisters of Mary, a thriving convent outside of Detroit.The show went live at the Oprah Winfrey Show on Feb 09,2010. The report reveals contradicting elements pertaining to rules at the convent.


Marriage is an important issue in the Christian life.The book of Gen. 2:18, 21-24 tells us:
'It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him'...and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh.


Then the Lord  made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, 'This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman,' for she was taken out of man.' For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.


The excerpt clearly explains that marriage is God's idea.It gives a clear indication of companionship and intimacy between a man and a woman. So why can't nuns get married?


Further, the report left me thinking about cloistered nuns praying for 12 hours a day (is that how we find salvation?) The rules and regulations they follow in the convent (are they in accordance to what the Bible has to say?) and their vows (would they guarntee a ticket to heaven?).I t somehow gives me a vague picture that there is so much to do before judgement day.


The relationship between God and man is divine.The relationship can be maintained only if one abides by what God wants and not by what society has to say. At the end of the day He decides who will go to heaven and who will not. It is therefore important to learn to communicate to him. By what means? You decide.

Hi readers,
My name is Aaron Ian Lyngdoh and I am pursuing a Post Graduate Diploma in Applied Journalism and Media Communication.
My topic on the blog would revolve around 'COLUMNS' be it an article in a newspaper,magazine or any publication.My interest on the topic lies in the fact that columns are personality-driven by columnists or authors and contains an opinion or a point of view.Therefore,my aim is to look at columns not only from the author's perspective but on how we as readers interpret and react to them.