“There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” - Hemingway
Sunday, September 25
Thursday, August 11
Combating hunger with The Robin Hood Army
The Robin Hood Army is a non monetary NGO whose aim
is to combat hunger. The NGO started out in Delhi in 2014 and now is spread
over 30 cities locally along with seven countries.
Drives are conducted every Sunday, locally by the Robins. These drives are conducted with an aim to provide one proper meal to the people who have to go to bed hungry. The NGO has tied up with various restaurants which provide them with the surplus food that might be deemed waste and puts it to much better use.
In yet another effort to tackle this demon called hunger; the NGO has started out another drive on a massive scale.
This Independence Day, the India and Pakistan chapters have decided to combat the common enemy-hunger, jointly. The India chapter aims at feeding 5 lakh people across the country.
“This drive shows that two countries that are considered rivals can join hands to combat a common enemy,” says Sachin Tyagi, a robin from the Ghaziabad chapter. The aim in Ghaziabad is to feed 5000 people on the 15th of August.
The army is currently on the lookout for more volunteers to join hands. People wishing to join can hit them up on their Facebook pages and/or on their website. (Links provided below)
“It’s a different kind of happiness when you see the smile on the faces of people who wait for your visits and call you Sunday wale bhaiya!” says Sachin, in case you need any more motivation to join in.
Drives are conducted every Sunday, locally by the Robins. These drives are conducted with an aim to provide one proper meal to the people who have to go to bed hungry. The NGO has tied up with various restaurants which provide them with the surplus food that might be deemed waste and puts it to much better use.
In yet another effort to tackle this demon called hunger; the NGO has started out another drive on a massive scale.
This Independence Day, the India and Pakistan chapters have decided to combat the common enemy-hunger, jointly. The India chapter aims at feeding 5 lakh people across the country.
“This drive shows that two countries that are considered rivals can join hands to combat a common enemy,” says Sachin Tyagi, a robin from the Ghaziabad chapter. The aim in Ghaziabad is to feed 5000 people on the 15th of August.
The army is currently on the lookout for more volunteers to join hands. People wishing to join can hit them up on their Facebook pages and/or on their website. (Links provided below)
“It’s a different kind of happiness when you see the smile on the faces of people who wait for your visits and call you Sunday wale bhaiya!” says Sachin, in case you need any more motivation to join in.
The Robins at work!
Website- http://www.robinhoodarmy.com/
Facebook Page- https://www.facebook.com/robinhoodarmy
Facebook Page- https://www.facebook.com/robinhoodarmy
Wednesday, September 16
The fault in our system: decoding CBCS
CBCS.
A lot has been said and a lot more has been done about it. Mass rallies, protests and signature campaigns. Now with the election of ABVP one thing is as clear as ever. This choice rather confusion based credit system is not rolling back anytime soon.
A lot has been said about the confusion that the hasty implementation of this system has led to, but little about the way that it has been implemented. I, as a frehser am willing to give this system a chance. After all it is a step towards a more liberal system of education. But there are few things about the implementation that don't really go down well with us- the guinea pigs of the VC.
1. The hatter skatter - All the confusion, the mad rush about choosing your generic subject and seeing which one goes best with the course that you signed up for. Totally not worth it.
2.Defiance of purpose- The programme talks about providing choice to the students. But what happens when this choice is not granted? In a lot of colleges, students are denied a choice. The professors have decided it between themselves to swap their students and that's done then.
3. The papers offered- It's a good step in order to diversify our education. But that's not going to happen if we are offered the crappiest papers there are to offer under a subject.
CBCS has a lot of flaws and these are reason enough to have stopped its implementation. But now that it is here, and here to stay it's only justified that the party which strongly supports it and the VC look into the matter at the earliest and take some much needed actions.
Note: The following article is posted on the official website of DU Times, The newspaper for Delhi University. ( www.dutimes.com)
A lot has been said and a lot more has been done about it. Mass rallies, protests and signature campaigns. Now with the election of ABVP one thing is as clear as ever. This choice rather confusion based credit system is not rolling back anytime soon.
A lot has been said about the confusion that the hasty implementation of this system has led to, but little about the way that it has been implemented. I, as a frehser am willing to give this system a chance. After all it is a step towards a more liberal system of education. But there are few things about the implementation that don't really go down well with us- the guinea pigs of the VC.
1. The hatter skatter - All the confusion, the mad rush about choosing your generic subject and seeing which one goes best with the course that you signed up for. Totally not worth it.
2.Defiance of purpose- The programme talks about providing choice to the students. But what happens when this choice is not granted? In a lot of colleges, students are denied a choice. The professors have decided it between themselves to swap their students and that's done then.
3. The papers offered- It's a good step in order to diversify our education. But that's not going to happen if we are offered the crappiest papers there are to offer under a subject.
CBCS has a lot of flaws and these are reason enough to have stopped its implementation. But now that it is here, and here to stay it's only justified that the party which strongly supports it and the VC look into the matter at the earliest and take some much needed actions.
Note: The following article is posted on the official website of DU Times, The newspaper for Delhi University. ( www.dutimes.com)
Monday, August 24
Fate of the V-Tree
Think of Hindu college and there are
a few things that will instantly come to your mind. Among these things is the
incredibly famed V -tree.
Prayed to on Valentine’s Day this tree has been the object of fancy of almost everyone in the campus. For those who don't know the tale behind this tree here is a rough idea- The students from the Hindu hostel and subsequently the whole college pray at the tree every year to a 'damdami mata' in hopes of losing their virginity. Nothing short of a festival I tell you! Now I don't know if the mata actually fulfills their wishes but what's the harm in trying right?
In a completely unprecedented and shocking move the authorities at the college decided to cut down the tree and close down PAM- Pizzas and more. The 'it' place in the college to facilitate the construction of a new academic block and the girls hostel. Hearing this the students launched protests against the college authorities. After numerous protests which went on for as long as one whole semester, FIR’s and RTI’s later the officials and students reached a compromise. The officials cut down the six trees in the V-Tree area and were allowed to cut down parts of the V-tree and in turn were given a penalty of planting a hundred trees in the college campus. If things could get any worse, they did. The parts of V-Tree were cut down on a Sunday to avoid any hassles of protests by the students- nothing short of a betrayal.
In conclusion the V-Tree stands, but it looks like an ugly ostrich at the moment. It’ll take time for the heavy canopy to grow again. Until then all we can do is pray for its quick recovery.
Note to the readers:- This article is also published on the official website of the Delhi University newspaper, DU Times. (http://www.dutimes.com/)
Prayed to on Valentine’s Day this tree has been the object of fancy of almost everyone in the campus. For those who don't know the tale behind this tree here is a rough idea- The students from the Hindu hostel and subsequently the whole college pray at the tree every year to a 'damdami mata' in hopes of losing their virginity. Nothing short of a festival I tell you! Now I don't know if the mata actually fulfills their wishes but what's the harm in trying right?
In a completely unprecedented and shocking move the authorities at the college decided to cut down the tree and close down PAM- Pizzas and more. The 'it' place in the college to facilitate the construction of a new academic block and the girls hostel. Hearing this the students launched protests against the college authorities. After numerous protests which went on for as long as one whole semester, FIR’s and RTI’s later the officials and students reached a compromise. The officials cut down the six trees in the V-Tree area and were allowed to cut down parts of the V-tree and in turn were given a penalty of planting a hundred trees in the college campus. If things could get any worse, they did. The parts of V-Tree were cut down on a Sunday to avoid any hassles of protests by the students- nothing short of a betrayal.
In conclusion the V-Tree stands, but it looks like an ugly ostrich at the moment. It’ll take time for the heavy canopy to grow again. Until then all we can do is pray for its quick recovery.
Note to the readers:- This article is also published on the official website of the Delhi University newspaper, DU Times. (http://www.dutimes.com/)
Saturday, August 1
Sunday, May 17
An Ode to Amity
The day had to come. After two years of listening to every adult around us constantly and incessantly talk about our board exams and appearing for them the farewell was a breather. From three days to go for the farewell to one day, to one hour and to the actual event, we spent them all planning. It came and went, like a tide and we were soon standing outside school, never to go back inside. School was over, once and for all. And the quiet was overwhelming. The days were filled with boredom because of lack of activity, the evenings sans any anxiousness of completing our homework and mugging up notes, but the nights were filled with nostalgia. Remembering and recalling our best lived and favourite moments in the corridors and classrooms of this red brick structure that we got around to calling our home.
So here are a few things, in no particular order that we’ll miss the most about school.
The corridors When we didn’t have a sports period or the guts to go down to the ground between the periods, the corridors were our field. Whether it was running around, laughing hysterically or just talking a walk, it was all done in the corridors.
The classrooms Our ‘addas’ for planning all kinds of mischief and executing them with great precision.
The school canteen Come break and we thronged our school canteen area. And it was here that you’d meet people who were constantly looking for someone to treat them, or constantly asking them for money with a promise to treat them the next day. And we must’ve always bitched about the unfair prices for the food that was so bad that it was good but it is these bullet and kathi rolls that some of us miss the most.
The library Yes we never went to the library, but there were times when Jagdish bhaiya got the better of us and dragged us down. Not like we read books even then. I remember playing passing the parcel once in the library with my class as we sat on the floor serving our sentence.
The school ground The one and only word appropriate enough to describe this place is- Haven. No one missed a single opportunity to run down there and missed every single one to come back up!
The bridge You don’t find anyone in the class? Check the bridge. Numerous times we stood on the bridge to enjoy the weather, to watch the match going on in the ground or simply walking from one end to another waiting for the next class to start.
The back stairs The words are enough.
Bal mela One day dedicated to fun, frolic and the students. One day of food, rides, games and no studies. The day we looked forward to, all year. The day our school was the most loved school. The day we miss the most.
Hiding cell phones in class We probably came up with the most creative way of hiding phones. I’m not letting out the places, but 12-D knows. The surprise checks couldn’t do any harm to us, and instead brought out our best creative and jugaadu side.
Annual days This was the time the whole school was abuzz with activity. The sound of myriad instruments creating a perfect harmony, elegant dancers showing off the best moves, but it was the narrators and emcee’s who stole the show with their perfect dressing and dialogues.
Running after Ganesh Bhaiya “Ganesh bhaiya Meenu ma’am kahan hai?” “Gnaesh bhaiya substitution list kyun nahi lagi?” “Ganesh bhaiya gate pass dilwa do” Ganesh bhaiya this. Ganesh bhaiya that! Whatever would we have done without him? The knight in shining armor to help us damsels in distress!
Substitution list The teacher was five minutes late to the class and the whole class would run down to check the substitution list. One subsi- “yeay!” Two- “yeeay!” Whole day- “Ground chalo sab!”
Photocopy wale bhaiya Come class twelfth and we were always running to him to get our assignments and notes (especially from Anju ma’am’s antique register) photocopied. Often submitting our I-cards because we didn’t have the money or getting photocopy slips from teachers to get the work done without any unwanted hassles.
Class 11 and 12-D Two whole years in the same class with the most retarded of people. We came up with all kinds of weird plans of the best kind. Whether it was coming up with our own unique way of playing cricket in the class, to plan secretive parties and pull them off successively, break a tubelight and not let anyone know, leave our mark (quite literally) in the school, not sit in for the class photograph and make everyone around us wait only because we needed to have all our classmates present, ‘blatantly violate all rules’ in the words of Deepa Ma’am and get all of our teachers to sit in for the class photograph no one could have done it better than us.
Teachers Thank You, for tolerating us at our worst, never giving up and shaping us up into the people we are today. For trying their best to give us every ounce of knowledge they had. You’ll always be the best!
The 5 rupee Cadbury Dairy Milk Yes we've always talked about how our school couldn't have been more miser, but the only reason we had to be excited about the various birthdays of our founders was this small chocolate, often sneaking in more than one and eating them away during classes.
Eating in class Discussing what we had for lunch that day, opening our lunches within the first two periods, and finishing them off within two minutes followed by going on a hunt for the next one. Getting scolded by teachers continuously, often having our lunches confiscated but that didn’t matter to us in the least. It was all repeated the very next day without an inch of remorse.
And in the end Amity, The red brick structure that has been very aptly labelled home. Thank You, for bearing with us all these years! It's been a hell of a ride!
The corridors When we didn’t have a sports period or the guts to go down to the ground between the periods, the corridors were our field. Whether it was running around, laughing hysterically or just talking a walk, it was all done in the corridors.
The classrooms Our ‘addas’ for planning all kinds of mischief and executing them with great precision.
The school canteen Come break and we thronged our school canteen area. And it was here that you’d meet people who were constantly looking for someone to treat them, or constantly asking them for money with a promise to treat them the next day. And we must’ve always bitched about the unfair prices for the food that was so bad that it was good but it is these bullet and kathi rolls that some of us miss the most.
The library Yes we never went to the library, but there were times when Jagdish bhaiya got the better of us and dragged us down. Not like we read books even then. I remember playing passing the parcel once in the library with my class as we sat on the floor serving our sentence.
The school ground The one and only word appropriate enough to describe this place is- Haven. No one missed a single opportunity to run down there and missed every single one to come back up!
The bridge You don’t find anyone in the class? Check the bridge. Numerous times we stood on the bridge to enjoy the weather, to watch the match going on in the ground or simply walking from one end to another waiting for the next class to start.
The back stairs The words are enough.
Bal mela One day dedicated to fun, frolic and the students. One day of food, rides, games and no studies. The day we looked forward to, all year. The day our school was the most loved school. The day we miss the most.
Hiding cell phones in class We probably came up with the most creative way of hiding phones. I’m not letting out the places, but 12-D knows. The surprise checks couldn’t do any harm to us, and instead brought out our best creative and jugaadu side.
Annual days This was the time the whole school was abuzz with activity. The sound of myriad instruments creating a perfect harmony, elegant dancers showing off the best moves, but it was the narrators and emcee’s who stole the show with their perfect dressing and dialogues.
Running after Ganesh Bhaiya “Ganesh bhaiya Meenu ma’am kahan hai?” “Gnaesh bhaiya substitution list kyun nahi lagi?” “Ganesh bhaiya gate pass dilwa do” Ganesh bhaiya this. Ganesh bhaiya that! Whatever would we have done without him? The knight in shining armor to help us damsels in distress!
Substitution list The teacher was five minutes late to the class and the whole class would run down to check the substitution list. One subsi- “yeay!” Two- “yeeay!” Whole day- “Ground chalo sab!”
Photocopy wale bhaiya Come class twelfth and we were always running to him to get our assignments and notes (especially from Anju ma’am’s antique register) photocopied. Often submitting our I-cards because we didn’t have the money or getting photocopy slips from teachers to get the work done without any unwanted hassles.
Class 11 and 12-D Two whole years in the same class with the most retarded of people. We came up with all kinds of weird plans of the best kind. Whether it was coming up with our own unique way of playing cricket in the class, to plan secretive parties and pull them off successively, break a tubelight and not let anyone know, leave our mark (quite literally) in the school, not sit in for the class photograph and make everyone around us wait only because we needed to have all our classmates present, ‘blatantly violate all rules’ in the words of Deepa Ma’am and get all of our teachers to sit in for the class photograph no one could have done it better than us.
Teachers Thank You, for tolerating us at our worst, never giving up and shaping us up into the people we are today. For trying their best to give us every ounce of knowledge they had. You’ll always be the best!
The 5 rupee Cadbury Dairy Milk Yes we've always talked about how our school couldn't have been more miser, but the only reason we had to be excited about the various birthdays of our founders was this small chocolate, often sneaking in more than one and eating them away during classes.
Eating in class Discussing what we had for lunch that day, opening our lunches within the first two periods, and finishing them off within two minutes followed by going on a hunt for the next one. Getting scolded by teachers continuously, often having our lunches confiscated but that didn’t matter to us in the least. It was all repeated the very next day without an inch of remorse.
And in the end Amity, The red brick structure that has been very aptly labelled home. Thank You, for bearing with us all these years! It's been a hell of a ride!
Wednesday, May 13
Being Famous
This famous man needs no introduction. One of the biggest
superstars in the country, he has starred in major blockbusters year after
year. Lovingly called 'bhai' by nearly the whole subcontinent, this man is the
founder of the largest or probably one of the largest charities in the country-
'Being Human'. The man is also a convict, and no one can change that. (Bhai
fans, take note.)
The previous week started with the actor getting sentenced to a
five year prison term for an accident that happened thirteen years ago.
Here are the events of the fateful day, 13 years ago.
Here are the events of the fateful day, 13 years ago.
Mr. Famous Guy along with two other people exits a bar after
having had a jolly time. He drives under the influence of alcohol, his car goes
out of control and climbs a sidewalk, killing one, and injuring two other
people.
Now, after 13 years of numerous visits to the court, arguments and rebuttals, the court finally passed a judgment. Mr Famous Guy was convicted and sentenced. Except obviously lobbying. Mr. Famous Guy was granted an interim bail of two days in two hours and two days later, with the submission of a new bail bond, was set free for another two months.
For those who think that this was the worst that could have happened, this is just the beginning. No, there haven't been any advancements in the case yet, and that is precisely the reason why the fans of Bhai are rejoicing.
Outside the court compounds and his apartments these fans were present in large number, anxiously awaiting the ruling from Bombay High Court. One such fan decided to take his own life by swallowing poison as his nerves and love for Bhai overpowered every inch of sense left in the man.
Now, after 13 years of numerous visits to the court, arguments and rebuttals, the court finally passed a judgment. Mr Famous Guy was convicted and sentenced. Except obviously lobbying. Mr. Famous Guy was granted an interim bail of two days in two hours and two days later, with the submission of a new bail bond, was set free for another two months.
For those who think that this was the worst that could have happened, this is just the beginning. No, there haven't been any advancements in the case yet, and that is precisely the reason why the fans of Bhai are rejoicing.
Outside the court compounds and his apartments these fans were present in large number, anxiously awaiting the ruling from Bombay High Court. One such fan decided to take his own life by swallowing poison as his nerves and love for Bhai overpowered every inch of sense left in the man.
Several thousand others thronged his apartment complex, as a mark of their unmatched love and loyalty to the man, and as the news of an extended bail reached their ears were seen dancing, bursting crackers, congratulating each other and removing their shirts, a La Famous Guy style!
The madness doesn't end here. The film fraternity decided to stand with their beloved NO MATTER WHAT. Not if he killed a person, not if he was drunk driving and had no respect for law. They went ahead and called the sentence too harsh.
The fraternity and the fans fail to recognise and understand the fact that their loved Bhai is a criminal in every sense of the word, a lawbreaker, who started a charity with an ulterior motive of giving peace to his guilty conscience. Justice was served when he was punished and denied when he was allowed and extended bail period and NOT the other way round. Fans and Fraternity, take point!
The fraternity and the fans fail to recognise and understand the fact that their loved Bhai is a criminal in every sense of the word, a lawbreaker, who started a charity with an ulterior motive of giving peace to his guilty conscience. Justice was served when he was punished and denied when he was allowed and extended bail period and NOT the other way round. Fans and Fraternity, take point!
Saturday, March 7
Friday, June 20
Confessions of Movies
Life is full of
inspiration. We bring you some of the most inspirational quotes from places you
would have never thought could be your source of encouragement.
#1 You were in a lion fight. Just because you didn't win
doesn't mean you don't know how to roar (Dr. Webber, Greys Anatomy)
Life is all about grasping
opportunities. Winning and losing are just the two sides of a coin. The
question is how to remain optimistic and have a positive outlook even after losing.
#2 Destiny’s a pretty big concept, when you
think about it. Where you are in life, how you got there, what would have
happened if one thing or another had been different (Mr.
Destiny, 1990)
James Belushi couldn’t have been more correct. Destiny is vast, the more you think about it,
the more you tend to dwell on the past and get lost in the way.
#3 So you can waste your lives
by drawing lines or you can live your life by crossing them. (Meredith Grey, Greys
Anatomy)
Restrictions
bind us. They put a fence around us which we are not supposed to cross.
Boundaries are there to be broken. To live our lives we need to step on to the
other side, because if we are willing to take a chance, the view from the other
side is spectacular!
#4 Every man dies, not every man really lives (Braveheart,
1995)
Death is inevitable. But living every moment doesn’t
come naturally. We do get to decide how we’re gonna live.
#5 Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times if only
one remembers to turn on the light. (Harry potter)
We
all face the darkness at times. Dumbledore hits just the right chord with his
dialogue which has inspired millions of fans all over the globe.
Fashion faux pas to steer clear of!
It’s a very
common sight to have a person commit a fashion mistake. Though some are still easy to digest there are
some no less than fashion blunders. Go check!
Men-
- · Ill- fitting clothes- No! The excuse of comfortable and loose clothes doesn’t work here!
- · Improper tie-length- A tie should always end at the center of the belt buckle. Having a tie too short or too long is a clear sign of arrogance. And while we’re at it, never pair a tie with a check shirt. Requests to be paid heed to.
- · Wrong colours- It’s important to match the colour of your shirt with your skin tone. You don’t want your shirt to take away all the attention from you! If you have dark skin you can either wear dark colours. If your skin is fair- light colours are the most flattering on you.
- · Branding- There is no need to walk around as advertisements for different brands unless you’re sponsoring them. You don’t want to publicise them for free do you?
- · Wrinkled clothes- The worn wrinkles are cool! Even James Bond sports them. But the un-ironed wrinkles? Do away with them right now!!
Women-
- · Sloppy clothing- Most women and girls think drowning themselves in excess cloth will help them in hiding the extra flesh oozing out. The trick is to clinch in your narrowest part!
- · Counterfeit handbags and sunglasses- Women with false handbags and sunglasses accept it makes us all angry. If you can’t afford it, don’t fake it!
- · Excessive makeup- A chammak challo is the last person you want to turn into. We are not auditioning for Ghanchakkar part 2. Keep your look subtle yet pretty.
- · Dressing outside your age- Act your age! There is nothing wrong in dressing 15 when you are in fact 15.
- Appropriate shoes- If you can’t walk around in 6-inch heels, then don’t. It most definitely beats wobbling down roads and having embarrassing falls!
Thursday, April 3
Youth revisiting cultural roots after globalisation peeped in.
We’ve started to switch off mobile phones
once a week now, wanting to go back to the no-communications era. We’ve started
to crave home cooked at least on weekends. You know? Busy people, meals on
wheels becoming the mantra? Don’t we all
remember the movie Lunchbox? Where Irfan Khan craved for home-cooked food with
someone’s company, wanting a break from his monotonous office schedule. He had
a longing for some human touch in his life. We want to go on vacations, Get
away from these busy schedules. We’ve started to move back to the past when
there were no unwanted disturbances, when life was peaceful, without the
hassles of mobile phones and offices and paperwork.
We entered an age of individualism. And it
seemed its rule will never end. As for religion- it was declined, as for
marriage-it was postponed, as for ideologies-they were rejected, as for
patriotism-it was abandoned, as for strangers-they were mistrusted. Only pot,
selfies, and Facebook abides and the greatest of these probably Facebook. But
we’ve created an uproar- Forwarding to the past being the Takiya Kalam of every other individual.
The government decided to open up our
economy to foreign products in the year 1991- the New Economic Policy. But this
was not just a one day move. The effects of liberalization and globalization
came into being much earlier than that. The workmen in the country took time in
getting accustomed to the changes in the economy. There were abundant products
barging in through the newly opened trade barriers. As I’ve pointed out earlier
films are a reflection of what’s happening in the society. The celluloid saw
the rise of the Angry Young man. But there were multiple angry young men in the
country unlike only one on the silver screen. This was because of the prevalent
unemployment in the country. People were
not earning much. They wanted financial stability. MNC’S made a debut, and lo and behold people were ready to move
out of their native places in order to earn more. Though the unemployment
levels in the country went from being 7.32% in 1987-1991 to 5.99% in 1991-1993
the migration levels rose. Everyone was ready to sacrifice things of personal
interest to be able to work. Joint family setups were slowly breaking away
making way for nuclear families. The children of double income couples were
devoid of any values and morals that a grandparent would imbibe in them.
Bedtime stories took a backseat when office presentations became important. Even
couples were readily agreeing to separation and divorce instead of letting go
of their individualistic incomes. The nuclear family system had started the
idea of individualistic attitude but the world does not work on ‘I’ but ‘WE.’ It was the youth who had to face the brunt of
the rampant divorce cases and we’ve now seen a steep fall in the number of
divorce cases as compared to the early years of globalization.
We’ve grown up with music systems belting
out nursery rhymes. But so was not the case when globalization had just
entered. It was a whole new platform of exposure to the people. The people were
so amazed at these new gadgets that everything took a backseat. The western
culture had a huge impact on our value system. The traditional Namaste was
replaced by the wave of a hand or a hello. Jeans and t-shirts were the new cool
quotient! And the traditional sarees? Well they were packed and put away.
Offering cokes and fries to people visiting was more impressive and certainly
easier than offering them home made lemonade and potato chips.
I’m
reminded of what Pope Francis had said of globalization-
“In many countries globalization has meant a hastened deterioration of their own cultural roots and the invasion of ways of thinking and acting proper to other cultures which are economically advanced but ethically debilitated.”
“In many countries globalization has meant a hastened deterioration of their own cultural roots and the invasion of ways of thinking and acting proper to other cultures which are economically advanced but ethically debilitated.”
But things are changing now. Khadi has made
comeback and with its inclusion in the Lakme Fashion Week it’s official! Old
school IS the new cool! The traditional way of celebrating the festivals was
going out and mingling with friends. But these greetings have started to happen
through SMS’s. But now we do prefer going out and sharing sweets with people
and having a laugh with them and maybe discuss what’s going on their life and
we do prefer to light the earthen Diyas instead of those Chinese led lights on
Diwali.
The Oxford dictionary defines values as a
set of beliefs and attitudes that people when start sharing is called the value
system. Over the years our values have molded us into who we are. But these
values keep changing from time to time. Lord Krishna had advised Arjuna to pick
up weapons and fight against his own family. That right there was the start of
a change in the battlefield of Mahabharat. The change was to give importance to
Dharma. The next change we saw was when globalization came into being in India.
Today we again see a change again- Revisiting our roots, understanding them,
accepting them and living with them. It seems they said it right! Change is the
only constant. And the youth of today is surely changing it’s way and retracing
it’s steps and going back to their roots.
Tuesday, March 11
Day 1 of the last year in school.
Day 1.
SO class 12th? Treat me good! Treat me well! SO (not) looking forward to it!
Class 12th. I'm here! Finally!
This is just the beginning said my teacher. *Yes! The beginning of the repeated "Beta 12th hai! Board hai! Padho! Padho!!"*
SO class 12th? Treat me good! Treat me well! SO (not) looking forward to it!
A vigilant citizen ensures good governance. Certainly not!
Who is a
vigilant citizen? Is it a person who truly guides the government with correct
criticism or is it a person who in the name of vigilance tries to hog the
limelight and actually acts as a deterrent to good governance.
Need I name
such citizens to clarify my point? The likes of Medha Patkar and Arundhati Roy
are way too many for me to be able to count them! One wonders whether the stir
they created in the name of saving the environment was a sincere effort or just
an eyewash.
Allow me to ask you that even if the citizens sincerely tried to keep
vigil upon the government how many of the vast Indian multitude could be
considered fit for doing such a task? Statistical data clearly shows that
majority of the Indian populace is languishing in utter poverty. All that they are concerned about is how to
procure two square meals a day. Do you think they would worry or care about who
forms the next government?
Moreover
the citizen’s vigil is done in fits and starts. It has never been consistent
and cannot be for the simple reason that it’s not our business. Why would we elect and appoint governments if
we had to do half their work? I’m of the opinion that we as citizens should be
content and leave the government to the best of its capacity. Hobnobbing on the
citizen’s part and unnecessarily bringing about the showdown of the government
will definitely not help in good governance.
The long
list of scams in our country bears testimony to the harsh fact that there are
no vigilant citizens’s and even if there are they just cannot help.
And last
but not the least I’d like to point out the dangers of mob
psychology. In general the public does not discern between right and wrong
governance. At times their review is biased or faulty. This is a direct
consequence of their heavy dependence and blind faith in the media.
I would
like to conclude with a very pertinent question: Will you depend upon the
judgment of half-informed, half-baked whimsical citizen’s to manoeuvre the
steering wheel of the country?
Think about
it!
Interview with Nidhi Kulpati
Journalists are a mirror of the society!
Says Nidhi Kulpati Anchor NDTV India, who
hosts ‘Badi Khabar’ and the newly launched campaign, ‘Vote ka Dum’.
Q1) How has the journey been for you as a female journalist?
I have loved my journey. It has sustained me all these years. It is my source of bread and butter. Also, journalism gave me my space when I felt lonely. I have always learned and grown through this profession. Every time when I’m in a studio or somewhere out reporting, it is a new experience. Something I really like about this profession is that it is not monotonous; it offers new things every time.
Q2) Most prominent quality a budding journalist should
have?
Undoubtedly, a budding journalist should have an interest in
the society. Be it any kind of journalism (political, environmental, social
etc.), one needs to be receptive towards what is happening in the society. A
budding journalist should associate, empathise and relate with the
surroundings.
Q3) As a female journalist, what is the best way for
propagating women empowerment in India?
Education indeed is the best way for propagating women
empowerment. I have done shows and reports pertaining to women. And what I have
learnt is, women need to be educated and we need to make them aware where they
stand. I have been to Iran and
women there are liberal at their homes but not outside. Here, in India, women
are liberal but we need to channelize it and uplift women.
Q4) How do you feel when you come across cases of
atrocities on women? What’s your first reaction?
It is
definitely humiliating. And this is something not new. Ten years back too,
women felt humiliating when they travelled in buses. I would request all women
and girls to raise their voice speak out and be open and only then will we see a
change.
Q5) How beneficial is reading for a career in journalism?
Most important! Reading is the most important thing.
Journalism is not about glamour, it is about hard work. Being knowledgeable and aware are two must
have’s for journalism. The more you read, the more you know and the more you
report.
Q6) what extent do you think India has transformed
since independence?
The change in the society has been very slow. People here
flout rules and there is a lack of chang in the system. There is no system to
change these people so I believe we need to get that system. We got a beautiful
‘loktantra’ but we couldn’t sustain it and that’s extremely disappointing. Now,
a change is needed. We want that change so we have to work towards getting that
change.
Q7) How do you see the perspective of the present Indian
society towards women/ girl child?
The
perspective towards women needs to change and it is changing. Today, mothers
are speaking out for their daughters and stand for themselves. The change in
women needs to be highlighted and they should be encouraged to speak for
themselves and their voices should not be suppressed.
Q8) What would you say about the Indian education
system?
It is good
but it needs to be overhauled. Teachers should be trained in a manner that they
are able to get more children to interact in the classroom. Practical reality and practical applications
of the concepts taught to students need to be brought in.
Q9) Do you think journalism today has become intrusive?
Journalism is a new profession, it is not highly evolved. It
needs time to evolve and it is evolving. Though, I won’t say it is intrusive
because journalism is very important, it makes people aware and educates them.
Though I feel that self-regulation is lacking and that needs to evolve.
Q10) Today we have too much information. Do you think we
need so much?
There are a
lot of scams and corruption so there is a lot of news. It depends on how you
perceive it. Media creates psyche of people. Media samaaj ka aaina hota hai.
Q11) A message for the youth?
Love your country and have pride in it. We need to work as a
nation. We need to get that positive outlook that will scale us up as a nation
and also as individuals.
RAPID
FIRE
Q1) One lesson fame has taught you?
To be grounded.
Q2) Who is a better journalist? A good speaker or a
person who is better informed?
Definitely a better informed person, but at the same time a
person also one needs to be a good speaker, because, if you don’t speak, you
cannot convey your point through the media.
Q3) Who do you give credits to, for your journalistic
talent?
My Parents and the profession as it has helped me grow.
Q4) If you become the CM of Delhi, what would be your
first move?
Work on sanitization.
Q5) The best de- stressor?
Exercise.
Q6) Your favourite dessert?
Chocolate!
Q7) The best thing about media as a profession?
It makes you go on and feel young.
Q8) One quality you admire about yourself?
I like to work hard. Also my multi tasking skills!
Q9) Do you crumble under pressure?
Never. I become a goon in stressful situations which
stresses me out later!!
Q10) Anything you’d like to change about yourself?
I wish I were more forthcoming, tech savvy and had read more
as a child.
#With Ms. Kulpati.
Thursday, October 17
Thenk God I know the Pythagoras Theorem!
“I don’t know
how to go about managing my money but I know the Pythagoras theorem! But where
will H square = B square + perpendicular square help me? In helping me decide my career? No. In helping
me get a job? No! The validity of our education system is being questioned
every day. Teach us something coherent is what the students
demand.
Vikram from class
XIth who wants to become a director says Chemistry is one subject which he
thinks won’t prove useful to him. How is H2So4 and sodium sulphate related to
casting actors in a movie is what he wonders!
Gunisha who
wants to pursue Fashion designing says- “The fashion world is all about
glamour, creativity and colours. How is Sanskrit going to help me in designing
costumes? Pathti, Pathta, Pathanti why?”
Shrey who wishes
to become a lawyer one day says Trigonometry won’t ever help in fighting a
case.
The Indian
education system needs a change right now. The system should be based on
practical teaching rather than rote learning. That is what the need of the hour
is!
The Evolution of Comic Books
· In 1842, "The Adventures of Obadiah Oldbuck"
became the first
comic book published in the United States. This was the beginning of a new era
altogether.
·
Tintin (1907) I say that name and the image of the boy with the golden hair and the white dog flashes in your mind.
Didn’t we all love Tintin for his exhilarating adventures? And the captain for
his famous one-liner ‘Blistering Barnacles’? Or the two detectives Thomson and
Thompson? Oh! I could go on and on!!
·
The common man (1951) R.K Laxman’s ‘The common man’ holds a very significant place
in the history of Indian comics. The strip has very nicely showcased the fears,
hopes, and troubles of the mango people in India.
·
Asterix (1959) The famous French cartoon follows the exploits of a French
village as they oppose roman captives. The interesting part? The puns and the
tongue-in-cheek humour.
·
Richie Rich (1960) Haven’t we all dreamt of becoming Richie Rich one day? The
boy with the sprawling mansion, a redhead girlfriend, his butler Cadbury and
his dog dollar everyone loved. Don’t you miss him already?
·
Chacha Choudhary (1971) The old man with a red turban, white moustache
and that giant man at his foot. Ring a bell? Don’t say it doesn’t! Humour was
the basis of this cartoon. Every family has its own wise man; chacha ji was the
wise man of his village. Oh! How I loved reading his books in dim lights on the
long train rides.
Thursday, October 3
Dream. Believe. Achieve.
All of us have a dream. A lousy day dream it might be, making it's way in your head during the sunny hours when all you want to do is shut your head to the world. But give that one thought the benefit of doubt. Give that one dream a chance to turn into reality. Give yourself one chance to live that dream. Sit up, believe-in yourself and the dream and fight, to follow it, to achieve it. Because if you do you'll be the happiest person on the planet. A person who imagines and dares.
So make a wish. Dream it. Believe in it. Achieve it. And show it to the
world what you’re capable of doing. What
you can achieve, and who you are.
Wednesday, August 28
Still recovering!
Recovered?
No, not yet! If you are wondering what was it that I had to recover from here's
the answer- Miley's VMA performance.
I logged into twitter the other day and saw the twiterrati going mad about Miley’s performance. The numerous tweets excited me a lot and I decided to watch the VMA’s that night. Only if I knew what lay ahead!
A nasty hairstyle, red lipstick with a tongue awkwardly sticking out of her mouth Miley came onstage wearing a bear onesie and sang her hit number ‘We can’t Stop’. Everything was going well until the Blurred Lines star Robert Thicke joined her onstage and Miley stripped down to a pair of nude lingerie and with her hand in a foam finger pointing at her own genitals twerked away to glory. (Read criticism) The crowd in Brooklyn arena was taken aback by this act of ‘cheapness’ with several weird and ashamed facial reactions from the guests.
I logged into twitter the other day and saw the twiterrati going mad about Miley’s performance. The numerous tweets excited me a lot and I decided to watch the VMA’s that night. Only if I knew what lay ahead!
A nasty hairstyle, red lipstick with a tongue awkwardly sticking out of her mouth Miley came onstage wearing a bear onesie and sang her hit number ‘We can’t Stop’. Everything was going well until the Blurred Lines star Robert Thicke joined her onstage and Miley stripped down to a pair of nude lingerie and with her hand in a foam finger pointing at her own genitals twerked away to glory. (Read criticism) The crowd in Brooklyn arena was taken aback by this act of ‘cheapness’ with several weird and ashamed facial reactions from the guests.
The Smith family's EPIC reaction to the performance. The last award function for the Smith kids? Probably!
Drake reacts to Miley's performance.
Rihanna sure was disgusted! Do notice the expression on Liam's face. Mocking the star Zayn?
While the other people were shocked, Taylor and Selena here were.. scared? Shocked scared.
The
performance was branded as cheap, disgusting, atrocious, and too desperate on
Miley’s part to be dancing (read twerking) with a 39 year old father of two.
There she goes!
I sincerely hope all those who felt personally victimized by her
performance recover soon.. after all we need to concentrate on some other things
as well like Why is Liam not tweeting!
See you soon
Girl behind the glasses
See you soon
Girl behind the glasses
Love.
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