Idleness at workplace is not new to me. In my career of 5 years, I have spent close to three years in effect like this. But one so thorough and so comprehensive had never come my way. 8 hours of unconditional daily billability, hourly coffee parleys, daily luncheon trips, aimless socializing and a decent (if not handsome) salary every month. I have started considering myself mother IT's own kid or may be the Son in Law.
Well, in all these years, I have grown up to be comfortable with this state and particularly in this stint I am enjoying a different beat altogether. While doing or rather despite doing all the funny activities all the day, this idleness gives me an enormous amount of solitude. Even though there is no extreme occupancy to dilute in these moments of idleness or my life is not so cluttered with unwanted people that I have to seek solitude, its just another layer of cream on the cake of my life.
Today was another such day when I was idle and I was almost alone. I was analyzing my situation and while doing so, I picked up 'Notes to Myself' after a long time. I wrote about it when I picked up last and here I am with my next pick.
"I need solitude like I need food and rest, and like eating and resting, solitude is most healing when it fits the rhythm of my needs. A rigidly scheduled aloneness does not nourish me."
Well, you are in a state of mind, struggling with the precise words to document your thoughts, you suddenly pick up a book, flip a few pages, read random lines and suddenly you find your answer. How often does this happen to you. I feel like I picked up a mirror. 'Hugh Prather' is amazing and I am sure he has amazed numerous people and has left them in same state of mind as I am. Admiring and wondering, marvelling and content.
I feel no need to analyze his lines and write further. I will close this piece with a very satisfied self.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Thursday, August 16, 2007
इसी इब्तेदा और इन्तेहा के दरमियां तो मैं भी हूँ...
Long back, one of my very good friends sent this Nazm to me. It became my instant favourite and still remains. In the times to follow, my interests got deviated elsewhere and this one slept ignored.
My interest towards shaayri gave me a kick a few days back and I ransacked those old folders. Rediscovered this nazm and it amazed me again, with same intensity. So let me post this one here. There are some Urdu words which might prove difficult to understand. They have been translated.
Here you go..
किसी इब्तेदा और इन्तेहा के दरमियां है ज़िन्दगी,
जहाँ इस तरफ न उस तरफ दूर तक कहीं कुछ नहीं
जैसे दूर कहीं किसी रह्गुज़र के बीच्-ओ-बीच कोई अजनबी
धूल मे खोके रास्तों को हिचकियों से रो पडे
जिसे रहगुज़र की गर्म रेत और आसमाँ को छोडकर्
नज़र की तमाम वुस्अतों में और कुछ न मिल सके
धूप की तमाज़तों की इन्तेहा की वो सरज़मीं,
जहाँ हसरतों के बीज से फक़त सराब ही खिल सके
उस अजनबी की प्यास क्या उम्मीद् क्या और यास क्या,
बाजुज़ अजल का इन्तेज़ार और बचा है उसके पास क्या
इसी इब्तेदा और इन्तेहा के दरमियां तो मैं भी हूँ,
इसी इब्तेदा और इन्तेहा के दरमियां तो तू भी है
जैसे दूर कहीं जंगलों में रेल की दो पटरियाँ,
जो कुरबतों की अनगिनत रात्-ओ-दिन के बावज़ूद्
एक हाथ भर के फासले से रहगुज़र मे बँट गयी,
आह्! कि मिल बैठने की वो शबनमी सी हसरतें
जो ज़ावियों की हेर फेर के जंगलों में फंस गयी
इन इन्तेहाओं के दरमियाँ की सितमज़रेफी देखिये
जो चांदनी से ख्वाब थे वो रास्तों मे खो दिये
जो सिसकियों के अजाब थे वो ज़िन्दगी को दे दिये
इब्तेदा - शुरुआत् - Starting
इन्तेहा - अन्त् - Ending
वुस्अतों - विस्तार् - Expanse
तमाज़तों - गर्मियों - Heats
सराब - Cactus
य़ास् - दुःख् - Sadness
बाजुज - सिर्फ् - Only
अजल - मृत्यु - Death
क़ुरबत - निकटता - Nearness
ज़ावियों - दृष्टिकोण् - ViewPoint
सितमज़रेफी - अत्याचार् - Oppression
अजाब - श्राप - Curses
While posting it, I strongly feel like learning Urdu. Its a very sweet language. I know Hindi and English but no language can substitute another. Every one has a distinct beauty and one gotta marry it to live it. Well, I am presently married to Hindi and English and have to go a long way to understand these two first.
Still, occassional flinges with urdu are not hurting me...:-)
My interest towards shaayri gave me a kick a few days back and I ransacked those old folders. Rediscovered this nazm and it amazed me again, with same intensity. So let me post this one here. There are some Urdu words which might prove difficult to understand. They have been translated.
Here you go..
किसी इब्तेदा और इन्तेहा के दरमियां है ज़िन्दगी,
जहाँ इस तरफ न उस तरफ दूर तक कहीं कुछ नहीं
जैसे दूर कहीं किसी रह्गुज़र के बीच्-ओ-बीच कोई अजनबी
धूल मे खोके रास्तों को हिचकियों से रो पडे
जिसे रहगुज़र की गर्म रेत और आसमाँ को छोडकर्
नज़र की तमाम वुस्अतों में और कुछ न मिल सके
धूप की तमाज़तों की इन्तेहा की वो सरज़मीं,
जहाँ हसरतों के बीज से फक़त सराब ही खिल सके
उस अजनबी की प्यास क्या उम्मीद् क्या और यास क्या,
बाजुज़ अजल का इन्तेज़ार और बचा है उसके पास क्या
इसी इब्तेदा और इन्तेहा के दरमियां तो मैं भी हूँ,
इसी इब्तेदा और इन्तेहा के दरमियां तो तू भी है
जैसे दूर कहीं जंगलों में रेल की दो पटरियाँ,
जो कुरबतों की अनगिनत रात्-ओ-दिन के बावज़ूद्
एक हाथ भर के फासले से रहगुज़र मे बँट गयी,
आह्! कि मिल बैठने की वो शबनमी सी हसरतें
जो ज़ावियों की हेर फेर के जंगलों में फंस गयी
इन इन्तेहाओं के दरमियाँ की सितमज़रेफी देखिये
जो चांदनी से ख्वाब थे वो रास्तों मे खो दिये
जो सिसकियों के अजाब थे वो ज़िन्दगी को दे दिये
इब्तेदा - शुरुआत् - Starting
इन्तेहा - अन्त् - Ending
वुस्अतों - विस्तार् - Expanse
तमाज़तों - गर्मियों - Heats
सराब - Cactus
य़ास् - दुःख् - Sadness
बाजुज - सिर्फ् - Only
अजल - मृत्यु - Death
क़ुरबत - निकटता - Nearness
ज़ावियों - दृष्टिकोण् - ViewPoint
सितमज़रेफी - अत्याचार् - Oppression
अजाब - श्राप - Curses
While posting it, I strongly feel like learning Urdu. Its a very sweet language. I know Hindi and English but no language can substitute another. Every one has a distinct beauty and one gotta marry it to live it. Well, I am presently married to Hindi and English and have to go a long way to understand these two first.
Still, occassional flinges with urdu are not hurting me...:-)
Happy Independence day
I wanted to feel special on 15th August but I didn't. The night of 14th August came, I reread that powerful speech by Nehru. Once again, I was at loss of words for so many reasons, but it did make me feel the same thrill it always does. I fell asleep. Woke up the next day. Being a resident of rather out of city area, which is a delightfully quiet place, I didn't even get that usual dose of patriotic songs. For some unknown reasons, even my friends and acquaintances were not sending me any 'Happy Independence Day' messages. I switched on the TV but nothing different there too. I, gradually, let myself sink in the day shrugging off all the 15th augustish itches.
All that being said, I do agree that I was not able to suppress a faint desire to write down something on this blog. But at the same time, I did not want to write something just for the heck of it. I wanted to have a real reason and a genuine drive to write.
Now what could I write about? There was a time when people used to curse India through out the year and some of them with patriotic sideburns used to sing paeans on such national days. But as time went by, it became a cliche. Then a wave came when everybody found a newer and fancier hairdo. 'Why do we curse India, its we who make it cursable so stand up and do something', but nobody actually did. I remember discussing the traffic light problems and we deciding against rolling a red signal in Pune. The very next day, none of us could restrain when everybody around was brazenly rolling it. Theory and practical are not related anyway. I also remember my heated debates with some very high profile people in Rajdhani express (which I will write about some other time). But no matter what the outcome was, this new hairdo did seem fantastic and stylish. Just slip on a sentence that sounds something like this and you will immediately attract some of the admiring eyes. Writing about national heroes is also a possibility but who are our heroes today. The freedom fighters are the ones but a mere blog would be too small a tribute. Who else? The business tycoons? Well, they are heroes for me but not the ones to be sung on a day like 15th August.
I had almost dropped the idea of a blog but then I watched
'CHAK DE INDIA' last night.
Lemme see what it has got. If you analyze a few good movies in last few years, you will realize that almost all of the great ones are the unusual ones. You come out of the theater wondering why on this topic and how come such great movie. For me, Lagaan, RDB, Swades, Black, Munnabhai and a few more fall in the same category. But still, a genuine sports movie was yet to come.
It would take a plenty of courage to even think about such topic. sports movies in India were totally unheard off and those that have been made should never have been made. Then, even if somebody wants to make a sports movie, what could ever drive him away from cricket? OK, you do have some fanciful love for hockey then why on earth the women's hockey...???
Well, I am not in a mood to go into movie details right now. My purpose to write here is to find out that special feeling of 15th August and spot my Hero of the day. For me the hero is 'Shimit Amin'. For me, the fact that this movie was ever made echoes precisely what the spirit of Hockey team in the movie does. You have to break the stereotypes. You have to fight against the surroundings. You have to keep your head when everybody around is losing it. You have to keep faith in yourself. You have to stand up for a cause and fight till the end. Rhetoric of 'Dont curse your country and do something for it' can be a cliche but a real act that epitomizes it can never be a cliche. Every such act will be cheered and be given an standing ovation with equal zeal and fervor every time.
I do realize in full measure that a mere movie on Indian women's hockey is nowhere close to what my nation demands, what I want to admire today is the intention and thought process behind it. I may also be blamed for downplaying my expectations on such an important day but for me, this was the movie that gave me that special feeling in a very genuine way. I do want to stand up and cheer for Shimit Amin. Way to go buddy....!!
All that being said, I do agree that I was not able to suppress a faint desire to write down something on this blog. But at the same time, I did not want to write something just for the heck of it. I wanted to have a real reason and a genuine drive to write.
Now what could I write about? There was a time when people used to curse India through out the year and some of them with patriotic sideburns used to sing paeans on such national days. But as time went by, it became a cliche. Then a wave came when everybody found a newer and fancier hairdo. 'Why do we curse India, its we who make it cursable so stand up and do something', but nobody actually did. I remember discussing the traffic light problems and we deciding against rolling a red signal in Pune. The very next day, none of us could restrain when everybody around was brazenly rolling it. Theory and practical are not related anyway. I also remember my heated debates with some very high profile people in Rajdhani express (which I will write about some other time). But no matter what the outcome was, this new hairdo did seem fantastic and stylish. Just slip on a sentence that sounds something like this and you will immediately attract some of the admiring eyes. Writing about national heroes is also a possibility but who are our heroes today. The freedom fighters are the ones but a mere blog would be too small a tribute. Who else? The business tycoons? Well, they are heroes for me but not the ones to be sung on a day like 15th August.
I had almost dropped the idea of a blog but then I watched
'CHAK DE INDIA' last night.
Lemme see what it has got. If you analyze a few good movies in last few years, you will realize that almost all of the great ones are the unusual ones. You come out of the theater wondering why on this topic and how come such great movie. For me, Lagaan, RDB, Swades, Black, Munnabhai and a few more fall in the same category. But still, a genuine sports movie was yet to come.
It would take a plenty of courage to even think about such topic. sports movies in India were totally unheard off and those that have been made should never have been made. Then, even if somebody wants to make a sports movie, what could ever drive him away from cricket? OK, you do have some fanciful love for hockey then why on earth the women's hockey...???
Well, I am not in a mood to go into movie details right now. My purpose to write here is to find out that special feeling of 15th August and spot my Hero of the day. For me the hero is 'Shimit Amin'. For me, the fact that this movie was ever made echoes precisely what the spirit of Hockey team in the movie does. You have to break the stereotypes. You have to fight against the surroundings. You have to keep your head when everybody around is losing it. You have to keep faith in yourself. You have to stand up for a cause and fight till the end. Rhetoric of 'Dont curse your country and do something for it' can be a cliche but a real act that epitomizes it can never be a cliche. Every such act will be cheered and be given an standing ovation with equal zeal and fervor every time.
I do realize in full measure that a mere movie on Indian women's hockey is nowhere close to what my nation demands, what I want to admire today is the intention and thought process behind it. I may also be blamed for downplaying my expectations on such an important day but for me, this was the movie that gave me that special feeling in a very genuine way. I do want to stand up and cheer for Shimit Amin. Way to go buddy....!!
Monday, August 13, 2007
Some Day...Part 1
I rarely watch TV for the reasons mentioned in my earlier post but now that I have bought one, I end up spending at least a few minutes everyday. This duration increases a little more because of cricketing season. Not that I am an avid cricket follower but being an Indian, the whiff of it does invade my nostrils every now and then and I am compulsively drawn towards the TV.
Two days back, during the tea break of Indo-English Test match, they brought up SRK and Gavaskar together. SRK was there to promote his CHAK DE and Gavaskar was there for obvious reasons. After the usual pleasantries, SRK made a beautiful statement. "The best thing I like about my profession is that I get to meet great people without an effort. I have adored Gavaskar since my childhood days and today I get to have a dinner with him". I liked the notion and the intention behind it, particularly because it was so genuinely stated. I immediately stepped into Shekhchilli Shoes, adjusted the pillow behind my back, reclined on the couch, rested my right foot ankle on the left knee and while wiggling my tows, I freed my brooding cow to graze. Honey,...feast on...everything is on the house...!!
I imagine being a celebrity. (I assume therefore I am) Now I don’t want it like Hugh grant of Notting Hill. Coming out of my house in boxers and being photographed maddeningly by a slew of them. I am a celebrity of rather laid back popularity. Somewhat like a great writer or a painter or musician. One who is God in his field but is not a public face that is recognized in every street. I am the guy who is adored among rookies and critics alike. I am profiled on cover page of TIME or Sunday magazine of TOI sometimes. I work only when I feel like and I make as much money as is sufficient to allow me careless squandering. In the times when I do not work, I go on long cruises on my beloved bike and explore all great places around the world.
I meet Roger Federer on one such cruise. We take a jog together and then we hit the tennis court. We play for endless hours. Win some lose some. :-)) I nag him to teach me that impeccable lofted backhand. He obliges and now I know how to play that Godly stroke.
Daytime is for Steve Jobs. He shows me around Cupertino and Emeryville. He tells me how he can imagine right things right way at the right time and every time. The World of Macs, iPods and iPhones...my God, it amazes me even in my fanciful dreams. I will also request him to clean up the palm rest area of my white macbook. It’s become a bit soiled and I don’t have the right chemical solution to clean it up. He then introduces me to Brad Bird and John Lasseter. We all share the table, just for one day in Pixar cafe.
I kick start my bike and go further. I ride long miles, all alone. On the foothills of those soothing mountains, and on the well paved super fast highways, along the heavenly rivers and in the formidable woods. Its evening time, sun is slowly retiring, reddening the whole sky and making the scene a bit dull and boring. I suddenly see dear Sush standing in the middle of the highway. Clad in that 'SAMAY' Dress, (wanna make it that thin plain chiffon saree of 'Main Hoon Na' but not a good combo with my bike) loose hair, that gorgeous posture and that killing smile. She is asking for a lift. I ask her to hop on and we go ahead. I am reinvigorated and we ride a few more hours before the lip smacking candle lit dinner in 'Mainland china'. After that........
It’s a coffee call from the friends right now and I am back from my reverie. Second day will be documented some other time...Vishal Bhardwaj, Gulzar, Jack Nicholson and a few more might figure in next one...
Two days back, during the tea break of Indo-English Test match, they brought up SRK and Gavaskar together. SRK was there to promote his CHAK DE and Gavaskar was there for obvious reasons. After the usual pleasantries, SRK made a beautiful statement. "The best thing I like about my profession is that I get to meet great people without an effort. I have adored Gavaskar since my childhood days and today I get to have a dinner with him". I liked the notion and the intention behind it, particularly because it was so genuinely stated. I immediately stepped into Shekhchilli Shoes, adjusted the pillow behind my back, reclined on the couch, rested my right foot ankle on the left knee and while wiggling my tows, I freed my brooding cow to graze. Honey,...feast on...everything is on the house...!!
I imagine being a celebrity. (I assume therefore I am) Now I don’t want it like Hugh grant of Notting Hill. Coming out of my house in boxers and being photographed maddeningly by a slew of them. I am a celebrity of rather laid back popularity. Somewhat like a great writer or a painter or musician. One who is God in his field but is not a public face that is recognized in every street. I am the guy who is adored among rookies and critics alike. I am profiled on cover page of TIME or Sunday magazine of TOI sometimes. I work only when I feel like and I make as much money as is sufficient to allow me careless squandering. In the times when I do not work, I go on long cruises on my beloved bike and explore all great places around the world.
I meet Roger Federer on one such cruise. We take a jog together and then we hit the tennis court. We play for endless hours. Win some lose some. :-)) I nag him to teach me that impeccable lofted backhand. He obliges and now I know how to play that Godly stroke.
Daytime is for Steve Jobs. He shows me around Cupertino and Emeryville. He tells me how he can imagine right things right way at the right time and every time. The World of Macs, iPods and iPhones...my God, it amazes me even in my fanciful dreams. I will also request him to clean up the palm rest area of my white macbook. It’s become a bit soiled and I don’t have the right chemical solution to clean it up. He then introduces me to Brad Bird and John Lasseter. We all share the table, just for one day in Pixar cafe.
I kick start my bike and go further. I ride long miles, all alone. On the foothills of those soothing mountains, and on the well paved super fast highways, along the heavenly rivers and in the formidable woods. Its evening time, sun is slowly retiring, reddening the whole sky and making the scene a bit dull and boring. I suddenly see dear Sush standing in the middle of the highway. Clad in that 'SAMAY' Dress, (wanna make it that thin plain chiffon saree of 'Main Hoon Na' but not a good combo with my bike) loose hair, that gorgeous posture and that killing smile. She is asking for a lift. I ask her to hop on and we go ahead. I am reinvigorated and we ride a few more hours before the lip smacking candle lit dinner in 'Mainland china'. After that........
It’s a coffee call from the friends right now and I am back from my reverie. Second day will be documented some other time...Vishal Bhardwaj, Gulzar, Jack Nicholson and a few more might figure in next one...
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Can I have those '20 minutes' back..? Please....!!
Very distinctly do I remember the time '8:40 PM' when, long years back, dear Doordarshan used to air SAMACHAR. We, being what we were as kids, used to ignore the Idiot box for 20 minutes and then come back to it for 9:00 PM Dharavahiks. Yet, from whatever times I did watch SAMACHAR, I do remember some faces; Shammi Narang, Ved Prakash, Manjari etc. Sometimes it even was a guess game, who would read news today? After a few years, as teenagers, when there were other similar trips down the memory lanes, we, being what we were as teenagers, used to make fun of the time 8:40. Why on earth 8:40? Why not a more convenient time like 8:30 or 9:00? Why to broadcast news for an odd duration like 20 minutes?
Today, I woke up early. My roommate was awake even before me. He had switched on the TV. I was in ignore mode and carried on with my daily cores. After a while he chuckled. "Siddhish, wow there was no crappy news on TV in past 20 minutes...yesssss" and he switched it off. As if the idiot box wouldn't hold for 21st minute and would blurt out the crap to prevent indigestion. I passed a careless smirk and forgot. Then, on my way to the office, this thought came back to my mind. 20 minutes. Precisely the duration that was sufficient for Prasaar Bharti to capture the entire day of the nation. Today, I am sure news channels will close their shops if they are asked to filter out just 20 minutes of sanity off their entire day of filth. More so, when I ask for sanity, I mean only that much. I am not asking for a sense of national or social responsibility. That is something I have stopped expecting long back. But Dude, I do demand sanity.
Freedom to media used to be a discussion in the times when I had not acquired enough discretion in these matters but being what I am as a 27 year old young man now, I swear I too would have supported it if it were to happen today. When you open your markets, a lot of things come as package deal. Opening up of news space for Private channels is not too distantly related to the historical turnaround of 1991. India's first step towards free markets. While it achieved countless favorable things, it is failing in some aspects for sure. Our Hindi news channels are an example. Although, I am a firm believer of Ayn Rand's theory that 'Free markets are a self correcting mechanism', I fail to visualize if this will correct itself too. May be because I am expecting wrong thing to correct them. I must consider that despite broadcasting uninterrupted filth, these channels do make money.
I would like to quote my friend Siddharth Pandey, 'How does one stop this nonsense, and more importantly WHY..., if this is so popular??' I still do not have an answer. But, this gives me the keyword to weigh Hindi news channels on Ms Rand's scale.
POPULAR. That’s the word. I have to agree that despite the ceaseless stupidity, all news channels enjoy a humongous popularity. If one is to watch news, he/she has two options. Hindi news or English news. English news channels make much more sense when it comes to content but then they are limited to the population that understands English. Hindi news channels (and their other vernac counterparts) have a much better reach and penetration. Nevertheless, It is more surprising to observe that in the cafeterias of two software companies that I have worked so far, Aaj Tak is preferred over English news channels. Needless to say, this time the social strata in question is the one that is considered as intellectual elite. This strata constitutes the bunch of hundred thousandish IT geeks who are charged with adding more than three billion dollars to Indian forex bounty every year. So its easy to infer that these channels do enjoy a viewership among the supposed intellectual lots as well. If that is not proof enough their improving TRPs do say it all. Not to mention the huge advertising revenues they harvest each day. It means that at the end, these probably do not defy Ms. Rand's scale too.
So is there no stopping? What happens to an object that is debased to the roots, meaningless from every perspective and cheap by all standards but is still popular and makes money too? Does that become acceptable? We know it should not but how do we stop it? I don’t know. But now I do understand why Doordarshan had just 20 minute slot at 8:40.
It will probably be impracticable to limit the news airtime to mere 20 minutes now but yeah, a conscious censuring and enforcement of standards that would clearly determine what can be termed as a News-piece-worth-broadcasting should help. I know it sounds like controlling the media and going back in time. But since self correction does not seem a possibility, control is the only solution probably.
Today, I woke up early. My roommate was awake even before me. He had switched on the TV. I was in ignore mode and carried on with my daily cores. After a while he chuckled. "Siddhish, wow there was no crappy news on TV in past 20 minutes...yesssss" and he switched it off. As if the idiot box wouldn't hold for 21st minute and would blurt out the crap to prevent indigestion. I passed a careless smirk and forgot. Then, on my way to the office, this thought came back to my mind. 20 minutes. Precisely the duration that was sufficient for Prasaar Bharti to capture the entire day of the nation. Today, I am sure news channels will close their shops if they are asked to filter out just 20 minutes of sanity off their entire day of filth. More so, when I ask for sanity, I mean only that much. I am not asking for a sense of national or social responsibility. That is something I have stopped expecting long back. But Dude, I do demand sanity.
Freedom to media used to be a discussion in the times when I had not acquired enough discretion in these matters but being what I am as a 27 year old young man now, I swear I too would have supported it if it were to happen today. When you open your markets, a lot of things come as package deal. Opening up of news space for Private channels is not too distantly related to the historical turnaround of 1991. India's first step towards free markets. While it achieved countless favorable things, it is failing in some aspects for sure. Our Hindi news channels are an example. Although, I am a firm believer of Ayn Rand's theory that 'Free markets are a self correcting mechanism', I fail to visualize if this will correct itself too. May be because I am expecting wrong thing to correct them. I must consider that despite broadcasting uninterrupted filth, these channels do make money.
I would like to quote my friend Siddharth Pandey, 'How does one stop this nonsense, and more importantly WHY..., if this is so popular??' I still do not have an answer. But, this gives me the keyword to weigh Hindi news channels on Ms Rand's scale.
POPULAR. That’s the word. I have to agree that despite the ceaseless stupidity, all news channels enjoy a humongous popularity. If one is to watch news, he/she has two options. Hindi news or English news. English news channels make much more sense when it comes to content but then they are limited to the population that understands English. Hindi news channels (and their other vernac counterparts) have a much better reach and penetration. Nevertheless, It is more surprising to observe that in the cafeterias of two software companies that I have worked so far, Aaj Tak is preferred over English news channels. Needless to say, this time the social strata in question is the one that is considered as intellectual elite. This strata constitutes the bunch of hundred thousandish IT geeks who are charged with adding more than three billion dollars to Indian forex bounty every year. So its easy to infer that these channels do enjoy a viewership among the supposed intellectual lots as well. If that is not proof enough their improving TRPs do say it all. Not to mention the huge advertising revenues they harvest each day. It means that at the end, these probably do not defy Ms. Rand's scale too.
So is there no stopping? What happens to an object that is debased to the roots, meaningless from every perspective and cheap by all standards but is still popular and makes money too? Does that become acceptable? We know it should not but how do we stop it? I don’t know. But now I do understand why Doordarshan had just 20 minute slot at 8:40.
It will probably be impracticable to limit the news airtime to mere 20 minutes now but yeah, a conscious censuring and enforcement of standards that would clearly determine what can be termed as a News-piece-worth-broadcasting should help. I know it sounds like controlling the media and going back in time. But since self correction does not seem a possibility, control is the only solution probably.
Monday, August 6, 2007
दौर नया पुराना...
काफी दिनों तक अंग्रेजी की परतें खोलने के बाद आज अचानक से मातृ भाषा मे लिखने का जोश सा चढा है. पिछले दो तीन दिन से कुछ न क़ुछ ऐसा घटित होता गया कि आज बस अंगुलियाँ कसमसा रही हैं हिन्दी लिखने को. य़ूँ देखिये तो एक विडम्बना ही है कि अपनी ही भाषा मे लिखने का जोश चढाने के लिये किसी प्रेरना स्त्रोत कि ज़रूरत पडे, पर ठीक है, ऐसे ही सही.
क़ल एक फ़िल्म देख आये हम्. १९५७ मे बनी 'नया दौर्'. अब आज क़ी तारीख मे पचास बरस पुराने 'नये' दौर को देखने जाना है तो थोडा अटपटा, पर करें भी तो क्या, हम प्राणि ही ऐसे हैं कि ज़िन्दगी मे कुछ न कुछ अटपटा न करें तो ज़िन्दगी अपनी सी नहीं लगती. और उस पर ये सौफ्टवेयर की दुनिया. 'काम भगाने वाले सबसे बडे मनहूस' का तमगा साल दर साल जीतने के बाद भी ये नौकरी हमें थोडा तो दौडने पर मजबूर कर ही देती है. ये दौड भले ही 'रैट रेस' हो मगर जाने अन्जाने हिस्सा तो हम भी बन ही चुके हैं. तो कभी कभार मन विचलित हो उठता है कि कुछ दम रुकें और रुककर अपने माज़ी को देखें और सराहें. जी मैं अपने खुद के माज़ी की बात कतई नही कर रहा, मैं बात कर रहा हूं अपने समाज के माज़ी की, उससे जुडे कईं पहलुओं के माज़ी की. उदाहरण के तौर पर सिनेमा जगत्. तो बस कल रविवार ऐसा ही एक दिन था. पता चला कि ई-स्क्वायर में नये रंगों वाली पुरानी 'नया दौर्' लगी है तो कुछ मित्रों से आग्रह किया कि भई साथ दोगे क्या? मित्र भी मूड मे थे तो हम सब साथ हो लिये.
अक्सर लोग कह डालते हैं कि कला के नज़रिये से हिन्दुस्तानी सिनेमा जगत पहले जितना समृद्ध था अब उतना नही रहा. मैं खैर इस बात से तो इत्तेफाक़ नही रखता पर हाँ, उस समय के सिनेमा की भाजी मे इनोसँस का जो तड्का हुआ करता था, वो ज़रूर कहीं खो सा गया है. अब 'नया दौर' को ही लें, कहाँ मिलेंगे ऐसे अजीत जो वैजयन्तीमाला को एक नज़र देख कर लट्टू हो जायें और उन्ही के घर में उनका हाथ पकड कर लाइन मारने लगें, मगर मज़ाल है कि चेहरे पर से भोलापन एक पल के लिये भी हटा हो. और उसी भोलेपन से अपने य़ुसुफ भाई (दिलीप कुमार्) ने तो कमाल ही कर डाला. पहली मुलाकात मे लट्टू हो बैठे, दूसरी मे हाथ पकड लिया और तीसरी में तो सीधे डेट पर ले उडे गाँव के मन्दिर में. अब अपनी गाँव की गोरी वैजयन्ती ही कौन सी कम थी. 'माँग के साथ तुम्हारा मैंने माँग लिया सन्सार्' गाने मे चँद मिनट ही लगे उन्हे.
किसी भी युग का सिनेमा उस युग के समाज क दर्पण होता है. नया दौर के पात्र न सिर्फ फिल्म के पात्र हैं बल्कि उस युग के समाज को भी परिलक्षित करते हैं. तो अब सोचिये कितना फायदा हुआ. सिर्फ १३० रुपये देकर हम तीन घन्टे कि यात्रा सन् १९५७ में कर आये. तो आप इस लेखान्श को यात्रा-विवरण भी कह सकते हैं. राहुल सान्स्कृत्यायन जी यदि आपत्ति न करें तो हम इसे घुमक्कड शास्त्र का उदाहरण भी बना सकते हैं.
हिन्दुस्तान के लिये १९५७ वक्त था आज़ादी के बाद का वक्त और दुनिया के लिये था मशीनीकरण का वक्त्. एक तूफानी वक्त रहा होगा वो. नेहरू जी हिन्दुस्तान की नैया में पँचवर्षीय योजनाओं और लाइसँस राज़ की पतवार लगाके पार पहुँचना चाहते थे. वो सही थे या गलत, अब ये तो बहुत विवाद का विषय है. य़ा यूँ कहिये कि पून्जीवाद और समाजवाद के पुराने झगडे का एक और उदाहरण है. पर नया दौर एक दर्पण ज़रूर है उन लोगों का जो उस नैया में सवार हुए थे. कुछ डूब गये, कुछ पून्जीवाद के स्टीमर पर कूद कर बच गये और कुछ अभी तक सन्घर्षरत हैं. हालाँकि फिल्म् में मशीनों की हार दिखायी है, पर देखा जाये तो आने वाले सालों में सच ने कुछ और ही रास्ता अख्तियार् किया था. बी. आर्. चोपडा जी ने भले ही ताँगे को जितवा दिया हो पर वक्त ने जीवन की बस को ही जितवाया है. किसना (अजीत्) के कन्धे और शन्कर (दिलीप कुमार्) का ताँगा मिलकर भी मशीनीकरण की आँधी को रोक न सके. खत्म होने से पहले फिल्म भी तो इस बात को स्वीकार करती है और कहती है कि 'बाबू तुम तो पढे लिखे हो, कोई बीच का रास्ता निकालो, हमें मशीनों से कोई दुश्मनी नहीं'. ये बीच का रास्ता बडा ही गूढ प्रश्न है. ये वो ही है जिसे हम 'समन्वयक पून्जीवाद्' (इन्क्लूसिव कैपिटलिस्म्) कह्ते हैं. पर फिर सोचो तो ये भी सिर्फ एक वाद या एक विचार ही है. अपने दिलीप भाई ने भी प्रश्न को उछाल कर छोड दिया है. उत्तर नही दिया.
उत्तर दिया है मनिरत्नम के 'गुरू' भाई ने. और इस् बार कुन्दन (जीवन्) की बस ही आगे निकलती दिख रही है. आप और मैं सब सवार हैं इस बस में, देखिये किधर ले जाती है.....
क़ल एक फ़िल्म देख आये हम्. १९५७ मे बनी 'नया दौर्'. अब आज क़ी तारीख मे पचास बरस पुराने 'नये' दौर को देखने जाना है तो थोडा अटपटा, पर करें भी तो क्या, हम प्राणि ही ऐसे हैं कि ज़िन्दगी मे कुछ न कुछ अटपटा न करें तो ज़िन्दगी अपनी सी नहीं लगती. और उस पर ये सौफ्टवेयर की दुनिया. 'काम भगाने वाले सबसे बडे मनहूस' का तमगा साल दर साल जीतने के बाद भी ये नौकरी हमें थोडा तो दौडने पर मजबूर कर ही देती है. ये दौड भले ही 'रैट रेस' हो मगर जाने अन्जाने हिस्सा तो हम भी बन ही चुके हैं. तो कभी कभार मन विचलित हो उठता है कि कुछ दम रुकें और रुककर अपने माज़ी को देखें और सराहें. जी मैं अपने खुद के माज़ी की बात कतई नही कर रहा, मैं बात कर रहा हूं अपने समाज के माज़ी की, उससे जुडे कईं पहलुओं के माज़ी की. उदाहरण के तौर पर सिनेमा जगत्. तो बस कल रविवार ऐसा ही एक दिन था. पता चला कि ई-स्क्वायर में नये रंगों वाली पुरानी 'नया दौर्' लगी है तो कुछ मित्रों से आग्रह किया कि भई साथ दोगे क्या? मित्र भी मूड मे थे तो हम सब साथ हो लिये.
अक्सर लोग कह डालते हैं कि कला के नज़रिये से हिन्दुस्तानी सिनेमा जगत पहले जितना समृद्ध था अब उतना नही रहा. मैं खैर इस बात से तो इत्तेफाक़ नही रखता पर हाँ, उस समय के सिनेमा की भाजी मे इनोसँस का जो तड्का हुआ करता था, वो ज़रूर कहीं खो सा गया है. अब 'नया दौर' को ही लें, कहाँ मिलेंगे ऐसे अजीत जो वैजयन्तीमाला को एक नज़र देख कर लट्टू हो जायें और उन्ही के घर में उनका हाथ पकड कर लाइन मारने लगें, मगर मज़ाल है कि चेहरे पर से भोलापन एक पल के लिये भी हटा हो. और उसी भोलेपन से अपने य़ुसुफ भाई (दिलीप कुमार्) ने तो कमाल ही कर डाला. पहली मुलाकात मे लट्टू हो बैठे, दूसरी मे हाथ पकड लिया और तीसरी में तो सीधे डेट पर ले उडे गाँव के मन्दिर में. अब अपनी गाँव की गोरी वैजयन्ती ही कौन सी कम थी. 'माँग के साथ तुम्हारा मैंने माँग लिया सन्सार्' गाने मे चँद मिनट ही लगे उन्हे.
किसी भी युग का सिनेमा उस युग के समाज क दर्पण होता है. नया दौर के पात्र न सिर्फ फिल्म के पात्र हैं बल्कि उस युग के समाज को भी परिलक्षित करते हैं. तो अब सोचिये कितना फायदा हुआ. सिर्फ १३० रुपये देकर हम तीन घन्टे कि यात्रा सन् १९५७ में कर आये. तो आप इस लेखान्श को यात्रा-विवरण भी कह सकते हैं. राहुल सान्स्कृत्यायन जी यदि आपत्ति न करें तो हम इसे घुमक्कड शास्त्र का उदाहरण भी बना सकते हैं.
हिन्दुस्तान के लिये १९५७ वक्त था आज़ादी के बाद का वक्त और दुनिया के लिये था मशीनीकरण का वक्त्. एक तूफानी वक्त रहा होगा वो. नेहरू जी हिन्दुस्तान की नैया में पँचवर्षीय योजनाओं और लाइसँस राज़ की पतवार लगाके पार पहुँचना चाहते थे. वो सही थे या गलत, अब ये तो बहुत विवाद का विषय है. य़ा यूँ कहिये कि पून्जीवाद और समाजवाद के पुराने झगडे का एक और उदाहरण है. पर नया दौर एक दर्पण ज़रूर है उन लोगों का जो उस नैया में सवार हुए थे. कुछ डूब गये, कुछ पून्जीवाद के स्टीमर पर कूद कर बच गये और कुछ अभी तक सन्घर्षरत हैं. हालाँकि फिल्म् में मशीनों की हार दिखायी है, पर देखा जाये तो आने वाले सालों में सच ने कुछ और ही रास्ता अख्तियार् किया था. बी. आर्. चोपडा जी ने भले ही ताँगे को जितवा दिया हो पर वक्त ने जीवन की बस को ही जितवाया है. किसना (अजीत्) के कन्धे और शन्कर (दिलीप कुमार्) का ताँगा मिलकर भी मशीनीकरण की आँधी को रोक न सके. खत्म होने से पहले फिल्म भी तो इस बात को स्वीकार करती है और कहती है कि 'बाबू तुम तो पढे लिखे हो, कोई बीच का रास्ता निकालो, हमें मशीनों से कोई दुश्मनी नहीं'. ये बीच का रास्ता बडा ही गूढ प्रश्न है. ये वो ही है जिसे हम 'समन्वयक पून्जीवाद्' (इन्क्लूसिव कैपिटलिस्म्) कह्ते हैं. पर फिर सोचो तो ये भी सिर्फ एक वाद या एक विचार ही है. अपने दिलीप भाई ने भी प्रश्न को उछाल कर छोड दिया है. उत्तर नही दिया.
उत्तर दिया है मनिरत्नम के 'गुरू' भाई ने. और इस् बार कुन्दन (जीवन्) की बस ही आगे निकलती दिख रही है. आप और मैं सब सवार हैं इस बस में, देखिये किधर ले जाती है.....
Friday, August 3, 2007
Those Moments
Creative thoughts have a strange knack of finding out when can I not jot them down or type them over or share them across. They tread on my unprepared mind like a flash and just go away before I find a tangible means of documenting them. It happens with me almost every other day and at different times of the day. Its like you see a divine rainbow in the evening, on your way back home. You savor the moment, you want to hold it, you wish it stays with you forever, you want to be able to recreate it at your will but it just doesn't work that way. Good things work in their own right.
I was on my way to the office today morning and had just started reading a freshly acquired novel, 'Three English Plays' by Gurcharan Das. Guess I hadn't even read it long enough but my mind started galloping around and I found myself in the company of the same creative thoughts. I longed for my laptop but I didn't have any. Even if I had, I believe I might not have been able to capture everything because It was not just some regular flow of thoughts, it was a spate, a deluge. Something beyond my power to tame and carry. I felt my creative energy crossing the limits. I had a feeling of creative orgasm. I felt I could even be a great writer or an accomplished philosopher if those moments stayed for a few days with me. But it didn't happen. Best moments are always shortlived. Not choosing to be an exception, these too left me, suddenly.
Looking in retrospect now, I feel cheated. I sulk in the frustration of a premature ejaculation. I hate it.
I was on my way to the office today morning and had just started reading a freshly acquired novel, 'Three English Plays' by Gurcharan Das. Guess I hadn't even read it long enough but my mind started galloping around and I found myself in the company of the same creative thoughts. I longed for my laptop but I didn't have any. Even if I had, I believe I might not have been able to capture everything because It was not just some regular flow of thoughts, it was a spate, a deluge. Something beyond my power to tame and carry. I felt my creative energy crossing the limits. I had a feeling of creative orgasm. I felt I could even be a great writer or an accomplished philosopher if those moments stayed for a few days with me. But it didn't happen. Best moments are always shortlived. Not choosing to be an exception, these too left me, suddenly.
Looking in retrospect now, I feel cheated. I sulk in the frustration of a premature ejaculation. I hate it.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
The 'Sanjay Dutt'
I do not really like to write about or comment on the daily news, specially about the crimes in India. I had lost faith in Indian Police/Judiciary long back and after the deluge of pitiable (read contemptible) news channels, I have lost all intrest as well. Today, however, is an exception. I find it impossible to ignore and keep mum.
Sanjay Dutt got a 6 year sentence. A very well deserved and a very very late decision. I am not even a mere observer in this entire drama. I was neither intrested in its progress (for the reasons mentioned above) nor was I waiting for the denouement. Nevertheless, despite this assumed nonchalance, I have to agree that as soon as I overheard people in my cubicle talking about it, I did open a news portal to check out the story. I also have to agree that I, for a few moments, actually found it relieving too. I have read about Mumbai Blasts a lot in the book 'Maximum city' and I grew up detesting everybody involved, the perpetrators as well as the Shrikrishna commission. So when another Criminal involved in the blasts was convicted yesterday, it brought a faint smile on my face. Judge Kode had restored a scintilla of my faith back in Indian Judiciary.
I did not care to think anymore, brushed things aside and got back to my daily routine. I came back home and expectedly found all news channles blaring out the same story at top of their voices. They had to. It was the top story of the day. I watched a visibly disappointed Sanjay dutt trying to keep his calm.
Later in the day, I was talking to a regular group of friends and this was the part that really frustrated me. This was the part that made me write what I am writing at present. I am unable to understand why people have even a tiny problem with Sanjay Dutt's conviction. Is there a single thing that suggests he did not commit the crime? Possession of AK-56 is a crime. Being a party to such a heinous act as Mumbai Blasts is a crime. I would intend to think that a lot more has been probably suppressed about him and the accusations have been brought down to merely keeping an AK-56 and then trying to destroy the same. People give following reasons why he should not have been punished.
--> He did not acquire AK-56, somebody planted it in his house.
--> He did keep AK-56 but for self defence.
--> He did keep AK-56, so what..? He did not kill anybody.
--> He has already suffered a lot of mental trauma, court should forgive him and grant him a bail.
I would not go categorically discussing all these and many more of this sort but what really concerns me is the underlying mentality that shrouds you all. Why in first place are you not ready to except him as a criminal? Is it because he is a celebrity, moreover, a very good actor and even more he has recently shown his onscreen-heart-of-gold as Munnabhai? Or is it because he is son of a supposedly great soul Sunil Dutt who has enjoyed an iconic presence in India till his death? is it becasue Sanjay enjoys a great rapport with fellow Bollywood personalities and entire film industry is standing in his support? (Dilip Kumar went to the extent of filing a PIL for his acquital) All this is true but I fail to relate any of these to the crime he perpetrated or was a party to. There exists absolutely no relation between his real life and reel life acts. He can go on winning filmfares and rule the heart of India as 'Gandhian Munnabhai' or 'Dr Murali Prasad Sharma', but by no means can any consideration be given to him for this while deciding upon the punishment for his acts.
Now, turning my attention to my dear friends who go on making claims in favour of Mr. Dutt: Guys, are you really that naive that you even want to believe that Somebody planted the Gun in his house or he kept it for self defence. I pity you if you do believe it. I would also like to ask, 'Would you have believed the same claims or even considered them if they had been made by some other lesser known criminal?' Why this partiality? I would go on to ask another question, 'Would you have given Sanjay same consideration if he had not made his mark in a couple great movies in last few years?' give me an honest answer. I know it would be 'NO'. Then what is the root of all this. The only answer that comes to my mind is 'Star Worshipping'. This is insane. This is gross. Is well being of the nation above your petty likings of the movie idols? Have you forgotten what havoc was wreaked in 1993? I hate you for short memory. The only grudge that I have with Honourable Kode's decision is that the decision took all these years to come up. This is the very reason of your short memory too...fellas.
I know that media loves controversy. Not only loves it, it thrives on it. I probably wouldn't blame media for beating the trumpet in Sanjay's favour. But not you my countrymen..!! Gimme reasons to believe that you are a much better lot.
Sanjay Dutt got a 6 year sentence. A very well deserved and a very very late decision. I am not even a mere observer in this entire drama. I was neither intrested in its progress (for the reasons mentioned above) nor was I waiting for the denouement. Nevertheless, despite this assumed nonchalance, I have to agree that as soon as I overheard people in my cubicle talking about it, I did open a news portal to check out the story. I also have to agree that I, for a few moments, actually found it relieving too. I have read about Mumbai Blasts a lot in the book 'Maximum city' and I grew up detesting everybody involved, the perpetrators as well as the Shrikrishna commission. So when another Criminal involved in the blasts was convicted yesterday, it brought a faint smile on my face. Judge Kode had restored a scintilla of my faith back in Indian Judiciary.
I did not care to think anymore, brushed things aside and got back to my daily routine. I came back home and expectedly found all news channles blaring out the same story at top of their voices. They had to. It was the top story of the day. I watched a visibly disappointed Sanjay dutt trying to keep his calm.
Later in the day, I was talking to a regular group of friends and this was the part that really frustrated me. This was the part that made me write what I am writing at present. I am unable to understand why people have even a tiny problem with Sanjay Dutt's conviction. Is there a single thing that suggests he did not commit the crime? Possession of AK-56 is a crime. Being a party to such a heinous act as Mumbai Blasts is a crime. I would intend to think that a lot more has been probably suppressed about him and the accusations have been brought down to merely keeping an AK-56 and then trying to destroy the same. People give following reasons why he should not have been punished.
--> He did not acquire AK-56, somebody planted it in his house.
--> He did keep AK-56 but for self defence.
--> He did keep AK-56, so what..? He did not kill anybody.
--> He has already suffered a lot of mental trauma, court should forgive him and grant him a bail.
I would not go categorically discussing all these and many more of this sort but what really concerns me is the underlying mentality that shrouds you all. Why in first place are you not ready to except him as a criminal? Is it because he is a celebrity, moreover, a very good actor and even more he has recently shown his onscreen-heart-of-gold as Munnabhai? Or is it because he is son of a supposedly great soul Sunil Dutt who has enjoyed an iconic presence in India till his death? is it becasue Sanjay enjoys a great rapport with fellow Bollywood personalities and entire film industry is standing in his support? (Dilip Kumar went to the extent of filing a PIL for his acquital) All this is true but I fail to relate any of these to the crime he perpetrated or was a party to. There exists absolutely no relation between his real life and reel life acts. He can go on winning filmfares and rule the heart of India as 'Gandhian Munnabhai' or 'Dr Murali Prasad Sharma', but by no means can any consideration be given to him for this while deciding upon the punishment for his acts.
Now, turning my attention to my dear friends who go on making claims in favour of Mr. Dutt: Guys, are you really that naive that you even want to believe that Somebody planted the Gun in his house or he kept it for self defence. I pity you if you do believe it. I would also like to ask, 'Would you have believed the same claims or even considered them if they had been made by some other lesser known criminal?' Why this partiality? I would go on to ask another question, 'Would you have given Sanjay same consideration if he had not made his mark in a couple great movies in last few years?' give me an honest answer. I know it would be 'NO'. Then what is the root of all this. The only answer that comes to my mind is 'Star Worshipping'. This is insane. This is gross. Is well being of the nation above your petty likings of the movie idols? Have you forgotten what havoc was wreaked in 1993? I hate you for short memory. The only grudge that I have with Honourable Kode's decision is that the decision took all these years to come up. This is the very reason of your short memory too...fellas.
I know that media loves controversy. Not only loves it, it thrives on it. I probably wouldn't blame media for beating the trumpet in Sanjay's favour. But not you my countrymen..!! Gimme reasons to believe that you are a much better lot.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)