Africans Attacked - Why You Need Not Worry Homie!

I have something to add to the ongoing Africans Attacked debate. While violence really is the tool of the weak, gratefulness is the virtue of every good human being. You come here, work here, eat off our Economy, and then beat up a hardworking man with a chair because he refused to carry 'six' of you in his cab? Can you imagine any Indian doing that to African nationals in their country? How would the local populace react then? We all know the answer to that, we'll be lucky if we get to see his body.

Yes, this country has bid farewell to the 'eye for an eye makes the whole world blind' way of life. We're actually racing towards the 'two eyes for an eye' brand of living. If and when needed. So tell me, if you come into my house and disrespect me, beat me, how should I react? You are crushing my body, spitting on my self-respect, and then you expect me to treat you as a friend? Too much to ask for brother!

But you don’t stop at this; you go ahead and fabricate a mellow-dramatic show of racism. You sing a song the world loves to listen to. You make us look racist and parade on our roads. If this was a movie, India would surely win an Academy Award for portraying ‘supporting actor’ while you executed your drama.

If you haven't forgotten, not too long ago, in a war torn nation, India came to the rescue of African nationals. India evacuated over 4,000 people, out of which 250 were from foreign nations. I was never good at Maths but I count some 63 African nationals on the list of foreign nationals rescued from Yemen by India. Would a 'racist' nation do that?

Ever heard of the West Indies cricket team? They walk in this country as if it’s their own. They feel the love and warmth we happily give. In no other country you will receive a welcome like India. But that does not give you the authority to think of us as ‘soft’ and ‘weak’ people. Don’t forget, we worship you as Gods not guests; but we also recognize the devil when we see him.

Someone has died and death is a vicious hungry beast. Let's not add fuel to the fire and test each other's patience. Indian students too get 'targeted' across the world. But we deal with it, as a few cannot be allowed to represent a rich and diverse 1.2 billion strong nation, that embraces you with arms wide open every single time.

Here’s hoping to a better understanding between us in coming days. Leaving it all behind is nothing new for us Indians. You take the map of Asia and check our bordering nations. We have always applied our brains towards a peaceful and mutually beneficial solution. We know diplomacy and we believe in forgiveness. Cheers to a better partnership homie!

Intolerance in India: Media adding fuel to a fire with no heat

This time when they use religion against us, they will do it very smartly. They won’t make it too obvious. In fact, they will fight against it, only to give it more prominence. These 'controllers' will now create public mood and opinion. Frankly speaking, it has already begun, and the worst part is that it is a huge success.

I’m not too keen on scooping out the author of this horrible narrative called: 'intolerance in India'. Currently, as citizens of this country, it must be our top priority to stop letting them fool us. Let it stop today.

I have one simple question for all of you. Why is it that I get to see intolerance on media channels and platforms only? If it is so evident, why isn’t everyone up in arms? No really, it starts with a tweet, becomes a Facebook post, and runs on loop on every ‘news’ channel in less than half an hour.

We’re being made to watch intolerance, read intolerance, hear intolerance, and even discuss intolerance. No doubt our minds have been convinced that intolerance does exist and needs to be taken care of.

They have created an opinion, a mindset, and now they wait. While intolerance doesn’t really exist in the country, the media is hell-bent on adding fuel to a fire with no real heat. It is sickening to see the media ignore key issues concerning the public forum, and jump to baseless remarks and monotonous commentary about intolerance in India.

They feed us non-sense every day. There’s no intolerance in India, please! We’ve all grown above all this, both as faithful worshipers, and as ordinary citizens. Our faith holds an important place in our heart, but our mind is still clear on right, and wrong. Yes, a few incidents do upset us every now and then, but let’s not allow these foxy politicians to trick us into fighting a ‘war on faith’.

Communal tension bred unrest does not take long to erupt. People here are very particular and highly insecure about their religion. If intolerance in India did really exist, things would've been very different today.

I sincerely hope that my observations helps you see the ugly game being played by some anti-nationalist today. It may be someone in the government; can be foreign parties; or someone else; but yes, there is someone who is trying to fool us again into believing that there is growing intolerance in India. Beware!

If you liked my work and want to read something more, I have a very good suggestion to make. I suggest that you read Mandir Industry: Commercialization of Religion

Nyoma Mutiny: Who takes the bullet?

Justice evades everyone in this world, even the most disciplined gentlemen have failed to be just.

I read ‘The Week’ on a regular basis and have been trying to keep it that way. Why? Well, mainly because nothing can replace print media in this world. The digitization song NDA is trying to teach will surely echo till eternity, but may rhyme only for a while. There’s still a newspaper over my doormat every morning; advertisers still spend on newspaper ads and flyers; and bookstores continue to walk shoulder to shoulder with shops selling a Kindle.

The Nyoma mutiny was extensively covered by the digital media, but somehow, escaped a few of us. I stumbled upon an updated version of it on The Week. Allow me to rewind the clocks back to 2012 when a nobody sepoy Suman Kumar was allegedly beaten, harassed, and set to trial by a pretty lopsided bench of ‘Sahab log’. The officers argue that Suman Kumar tried to molest a senior officer’s wife. But the other side of the story carries more weight and genuineness.

Suman Kuman was sexually harassed by an officer’s wife, as per his version. What followed was an endless phase of physical and mental torture for Suman who had cold water poured on him while he was naked, in Ladakh. Just the thought of it can freeze you to death. But Suman lived to tell the tale and to live what was left of it.

The ill and unjust treatment handed out to Sepoy Suman Kumar (no they’re yet to court-martial him) ignited anger and disgust among others. Brawls between the two groups started as Suman was found in a make-shift hospital and not an Army hospital (as per reports, this was done to cover up the assault).

Some 119 jawans have been accused of planning a ‘mutiny’ against the senior officers, and might as well be court-martialed in some time. This is the first mutiny of independent India which has been carried out by jawans against officers.

Suman’s version was supported by a certain Subedar Mahender Singh who told the court of inquiry that Suman had mentioned it to him that a senior officer’s wife was misbehaving with him. As per Suman, the officer’s wife did objectionable things like removing her top in front of him, and even asked him to join her in the bed.

Why would a sepoy make the effort of stitching together such an elaborate cover-up? That too, after being punched in the face by Major SK Sharma, who did not even think about questioning him first? The other two officers who beat up Suman were identified as Major AD Kanade and Major Kapil Malik. Also, Naik Amresh Tiwari has already told the court of inquiry that he saw Major SK Sharma, Major AD Kanade, and Major Kapil Malik pouring cold water on Suman after taking off his clothes. But this statement was rejected on grounds that Tiwari’s eyesight was weak and he couldn’t see beyond 10 meters. I don’t know how much truth that carries but I sure hope that Naik is not the only one left with ammo when the enemy surrounds Major SK Sharma and Co. in the battlefield.

It’s outrageous to jump to conclusions, but after three years of courtroom chatter, there’s enough evidence (for the sane bunch) supporting Suman’s claim. The jawan-officer divide has plagued the army for long now. A batman is technically meant for helping out with official clerical and non-clerical work. But some officers, like Major SK Sharma here, have been sipping on too much whiskey and have forgotten that slavery was abolished years back.

I refrain from judging the situation, I leave it to the reader. You may argue that the manner in which this write-up has been framed seems to favor Suman. To this, I quote Voltaire, who once said, "I disagree with what you say, but I shall defend to death your right to say it".

Rebellion and Journalism: Two Sides Of The Same Coin

Every journalist is a rebel and every rebel has a journalist twisting and turning within.

Rebels and journalists are two sides of the same coin. They’re both trying to bring attention towards issues which must not be ignored, but are unfortunately ignored. Every journalist is a rebel and every rebel has a journalist twisting and turning within.

We often view rebels and even journalists with a skeptical lens. The idea is to locate and exploit fallacies in their conduct. But in the long term, their actions are mostly constructive in the context of the social sphere. Come to think of it, raising an issue and discussing it at length is the premise of every rebel and journalists’ conduct. The way they operate might allow you to question them and their ways, but in a nutshell, the very nature of their operations is a synopsis of their intentions.

History has been kind enough to introduce us to several rebels and journalists. From Bhagat Singh to Malcolm X, supremacy leaders fought the war for justice and equality by amalgamating the traits of a journalism and rebellion. The synthesis is a product which puts your perception on a platform with concrete understanding and logic backing it. Journalistic potential can be traced from day one and that has been the case with rebellion as well. You can spot a rebel from miles away and you can sense a journalist from blocks away, at least.

But is there a thin line which separates the two? Is there a veil which hides the USP of rebels from journalists and vice versa? It’s hard to say actually. There’s no David-Goliath going on here. It isn’t all black and white really. The idea is to develop a basic understanding of these two very different yet extremely similar constants of the society. It may have been spoken before but the fact needs to reverberate. Rebels and journalists are two sides of the same darn coin. It doesn’t really matter on which side the coin really lands. Or does it?

Meerut Gang Rape - Thank God She Was a Hindu

Meerut Gang Rape has more implications than you can imagine. But I for one am very happy that the girl was a Hindu. Oh no, I'm not a Muslim. I'm not even a complete Hindu. I'm one of those who are going to take some time before they end up categorizing their Gods.

So now that you have already judged me as per your own naive perceptions, let me insert my opinion on this shameful incident. Some of you have not even educated yourself on this topic yet. After all, your favorite TV 'news' (pun intended)channels failed to air this story. Maybe they missed out on covering just another rape. Or maybe there's more to the Meerut Gang Rape. We'll find out.

But first, let me narrate the incident to you. A girl in the city of Meerut, India, was allegedly kidnapped, beaten, raped, and was even forced to convert. Wait! Let me write that again subtracting the tone of secularism. A Hindu girl in Meerut, India, was kidnapped, beaten, raped, and forced to convert to Islam. How does that sound? If your offerings go into a mosque, I'm sure you'll either stop reading now or you'll start judging/crucifying me. But if your offerings & prayers are delivered to a temple, chances are that you'll continue reading with a gush of anger & aggression. This is what religion does to us. This is what they use against us.

We live in a country inundated with minorities. More than the number of minorities, it is the sickening insecurity which can be seen bubbling over and about. Hindus in India have never felt outnumbered. If they have, they've been quick to change that notion. Even Christians, Jews (handful), Sikhs, and Buddhists have never really felt that pinch of insecurity emanating out of their minority status. But when it comes to Muslims, and I'm not generalizing as most of my dear friends are Muslims, they tend to get carried away quite easily. They forget that injustice & misfortune latches on to you irrespective of your religion, region, caste, sex, race, or ethnicity. If the Indian Hindus really wanted the Muslims out, it would take them less than a month to force them out. But no, that's not India. Friends, that's not us. We've lived in harmony for centuries and have displayed immense courage & co-operation in adapting to changing times and cultures. Why let a few political scumbags run away with our peace?

Now why am I so concerned about the religion of this ill fated girl? How does it matter to me? Or to you for that matter? Yes she's a Hindu. So what? To be very honest, you know the answer yourself.

Now, had this girl been a Muslim, riots would've been unavoidable and unstoppable. Selfish and opportunist political commentary would've been inescapable. An avalanche of global remarks would've been expected. And a wave of hatred against Hinduism was sure to follow. But no, none of that fell in place this time. Why? And how? The answer, unfortunately, lies in the religion of this poor soul. She was a Hindu and thus could not be exploited properly.The government forced itself upon all mediums to let this issue pass. The girl was kidnapped. The girl was raped. She was beaten and then forced to convert to Islam. She was kept in a Madarsa in Muzzafarnagar for five days. But all this fails to impress our lords as her religion does not require media & political bull-whacking. Can anyone explain this behavior? Can anyone disagree with me when I say that the same case would've made headlines for weeks had the victim been a Muslim? No you can't.

A while back, a Shiv Sena MP, fed up with the poor quality of food being served by IRCTC, tried to force feed one of the supervisors. The MP didn't even ask the supervisor about his religion. When the MP came to know that the supervisor was a Muslim and was observing Roza, he immediately apologized. The media did everything it could to garner TRPs. They blew this small incident way out of proportions and even started a debate on secularism and its presence in India. The scene was similar to that of Aamir Khan's 'Peepli Live'. The media acted like a clown and those who could see through the vast veil of bullshitt, laughed their heart out. A couple of days back, Indian railways fined 9 caterers for unhygienic and poor quality of food. A cockroach was found in a meal provided in a Rajdhani. IRCTC was one of the caterers fined. The media let this incident pass unnoticed. Yes, we're all ashamed of the Indian media.

Though I'm really surprised that people are blaming the media for not covering the Meerut Gang Rape. What's wrong with you guys? What do you expect? Do you expect anything at all from today's media houses? They're all profit based entities functioning on the directions of several interested parties. Were you on Mars all this time? Journalism died a slow and painful death in the last decade. Yes, they murdered journalism with smiling faces and fattening bank balances.

If you switch on your TV hoping to watch news, then kindly change the channel and watch a mindless sitcom instead. And if you unfold your daily morning newspaper expecting news stories, hen please fold it back after reading the comic strips. They're all filled with paid opinions. None of them carry news in its truest form. Media is a pet. It has been reduced to a tool. Media today is a medium for selfish endeavors. Again, I'm not generalizing. There are a few journalists who bend their backs and practice the true form of journalism. I know one such journalist and have worked with him. With an experience of more than 30 years, he warned me about the pathetic state of today's media. And I must say, he was spot on with his observations.

Ramblings #01

ANSWER YOURSELF

Why do you wish to spark? Why shall you be touched by the Hand of God? What makes you so special? What separates you from the usual lot? What makes you the most unusual one? What aspires you? What arrives in you and what departs from you? What brings you and what leaves? What is it that glows brighter in you? What floats better? What slips easily and what holds better? What rages better? What blows better? And what exactly runs better? How should you be justified as the chosen one? Why should your life be easy? What should your cup hold? And how different shall the contents be? Why do you hope so much? Why do you expect so much? And why do you embrace disappointment when you refuse to embrace reality and good old luck? Where were you when the Greats were forged? Were you there or were you lost in a climax? Why should we consider you superior? Why should these worldly men bow to you? What makes you and what breaks you? What constitutes you? What limits you? How can we help you attain your divine stature? What shall put you at peace?

Gaza Conflict for Dummies - A Crash Course In Gaza Conflict

GAZA CONFLICT FOR DUMMIES

India will not desert its long time ally due to global media bias

(Kindly note that the views/facts expressed in this article may be offensive to a few of you. But you see, we cannot ignore the truth just because you are not ready for it.)

Global media bias has brainwashed a major part of world population into believing that Israel’s counter offensive against the spineless Hamas terrorists is inhumane. To be honest, I’m tired of hearing stupid arguments and ridiculous statements from numerous ignorant fools. It is high time that you dummies were provided with some basic facts surrounding the Gaza situation. Consider this a crash course in Gaza and learn before you dance to the tunes of flashy images and emotional stories funded by interested parties.

1.       Jews have lived in Gaza since ages. Jews have been living in Gaza even before the religion Islam came into existence. Jews have been living in the region peacefully even before the concept of ‘Palestine’ was born. Burn that history textbook and take notes now.

2.       The Palestine people expressed their desire to live alongside Jews but they were threatened and brainwashed by Hamas terrorists who wanted to use religion as an excuse to start a regional war against Israel.

3.       Hamas, the terrorist outfit operating out of Gaza, has been using little children as shields since ages. They attack with children in the front and what’s even more pathetic is the fact that they arm these kids with rockets and sub machine guns.

4.       Hamas cowards have no dog tags on them. Hence, when they die in an Israeli air strike or ground offensive, global media labels it a civilian casualty. These fake civilian casualties are a result of silly mistakes made by journalists in the field. No you fool, I’m not saying that all the civilian casualties are fake. But some of them are.

5.       Israel always warns the local residents before an air strike. The Hamas terrorists are gutless rats who hide in homes of Palestine people and fire from inside. What other options does Israel have? No you won’t answer that. You’ll just upload whacky images and post sentimental statements without even making the effort to delve deeper and reach out for the truth.

6.       Israel is losing its territory to terrorists. India faces the exact same situation in Kashmir. So before you get emotionally carried away, be sane enough to remember that India will also face the same situation one day and then your priorities may land on the wrong side of the border.

7.       The Hamas fire rockets into Israel on a continuous basis. They fired 600 rockets in just three days. But no you never talked about that because your stupid TV news channel never mentioned it. Seriously? Wake up moron!

8.       Hamas use old age homes, schools, synagogues, mosques etc. to attack Israel. Israeli defense forces have to be very careful when they retaliate and they lose priceless soldiers in the process. Did you know that you war mongering fool?

9.       In 2005, Israel evacuated its citizens from Gaza from a safety perspective. The moment the last Israeli soldier left Gaza, the Hamas monkeys started burning synagogues. Does that entail your ‘Palestine’ exclusive human rights? Or maybe burning other religious structures is ok as long as your place of worship stays up!

10.   Israel has been cornered by global media which is a puppet. Terrorist groups have not missed a chance to give this conflict a ‘religious’ face. Even then, Israel has been patient enough to keep that back door open for negotiations.

11.   Israel has been attacked by Arab nations six times. Israel, in its glorious history, has never attacked a single nation.

12.   Hamas is filling public schools and mosques with rockets and arms. They are firing these rockets from these very locations and then they flee. When Israel strikes back, global media retards call it ‘ISRAEL ATTACKS SCHOOLS’ or ‘ISRAEL ATTACKS FOOTBALL GROUND’. Yes, it is very easy to fool you when your source of information is limited and prejudiced.

13.   All you hear is how Israel is killing innocents. Do you know that not even a single rocket is specifically aimed at targeting citizens? Israel does not believe in guerilla warfare. It is the Hamas who don’t have the balls to face Israel on the battle field in a real battle.

14.   Israel has opened medical centers with up to date surgery equipment in and around Gaza. They’re also dropping food packages for the Palestine. They offer food, shelter, and treatment to the Palestine people who have nowhere to go. The Hamas try and attack these locations too. C’mon guys seriously? The Hamas are cutting out aid and relentlessly aiming for a complete burn down. How can you not see this? Even the blind have feelings.

I hope all these facts will help you understand the Gaza situation better. It’s not about Jews, it’s not about Muslims, and it’s not even about that strip of land. It’s about a country fighting for its sovereignty. It’s about a nation uniting for a cause. It’s about ending the wrath of radical Islamists who are not even true to their own religion. It’s about finishing an unfinished business. These terrorists have knocked on all our doors and taken dear ones from all of us. Isn’t it only fair that we put an end to this disease altogether? Support Israel and pray for the Palestine people who are suffering because their leaders are a bunch of selfish and wretched creatures.

Pakistan's War On Terror - A War Pak Can't Afford

The world’s largest democracy and Pakistan’s favorite neighbor India gets its new leadership and Karachi airports are stung by a gruesome terrorist attack.  Many wish to draw a comparison. Some wave it off as sheer co-incidence.  Others are not interested in ‘conspiracy’ theories.  I, on the other hand, choose to remain silent.

The Karachi airport attacks left 36 dead including 10 terrorists. All these men of ‘faith’ were wearing suicide vests clearly telling us that they never really feared death. They were bred in an environment where death was an expected and very much welcome guest. Every time a clash between us and them takes place, they get the media coverage. It doesn’t really matter if it’s about them blowing up a building or about us air bombing their forever ‘remote’ locations. They still make their presence felt.

Pakistan was born with fear and has lived with fear. Fear never left Pakistan and Pakistan always feared the past, the present and even the future. A failed state struggling to come to terms with its huge population, poor international relations and radical groups, Pakistan has always been making ends meet to be labelled as a democracy.

Recently, Pakistan’s fist-fighting with the terrorist outfit Tehrik-e-Taliban escalated into a bloody affair. Terrorists launched an attack at the Karachi Airport leaving 26 dead. The ten terrorists were also gunned down. It is reported that two terrorists blew themselves up using their suicide vest. Now, all eyes were on Pakistan.

Pakistan followed with a ruthless air-strike in North Waziristan shelling almost 100 militants. The attacks were carried out early in the morning. The mastermind of the Karachi airport attack was also killed in the attacks. Pakistan sent a strong and quick reply to its enemies.

I admire the enthusiasm with which Pakistan has gone ‘public’ about their intolerance towards religious terrorist outfits. For the first time, Pakistan has taken an open stand against terrorism. This is a positive sign. When we take the Modi-Shareef meeting into consideration, this form of retaliation is just what India expects from Pakistan. Once the two nations combine forces against terrorist groups ailing the Indian sub-continent, the world will recognize a new allied power.

But how practical is Pakistan’s war against terrorism? By the time the war ends, Pakistan will be reduced to dust. Whatever development has taken place will be undone. The economy will wither away. The beautiful cities of Islamabad and Karachi will be in shambles thanks to the acute guerrilla attacks. Pakistan will not be able to recover. And portions of the resistance will always survive and hide away in pockets. They will come back and cause damage to the state. Pakistan will hardly ever win such a war. It would be careless and illogical to say that we’ll see a terror free Pakistan in a few years. An estimate of the degree of collateral damage will always act as a deterrent for a full scale war against terror.

Delhi International Jazz Festival, A Rehab For One & All

Delhi International Jazz Festival was held at Nehru Park, Chanakyapuri, from 28th-30th March.

When the music stops, the crowd begins to make noise. This is both the noise of appreciation as well as anticipation. Appreciation for the liberating avalanche of melodies and anticipation regarding the next jazz wizard who will weave magic and dispense it into this intoxicating night. The crowd has gathered for an experience which their nine to five suffocating lives can't offer. It's a series of musical orgasms what they're aiming for. They are all hungry for Jazz and liberation from this regressive life that is pulling us all down. Life is slow poison after all. Music is the remedy which elongates the struggle and caresses our injured souls for the battle ahead. It is strange how both Jazz and a new life can be served to you on one stage.

Life is about finding a spot and finding yourself...

It is not just a gathering of marijuana fans or booze devotees. Most observers would prefer to skip this part in fact. But why should I? I'll write what happened and not what you wish would have happened. Delhi International Jazz Festival was all about realism. There were no curtains at the Delhi International Jazz Festival. There was no veiling of any sort. I treated it as a rehab. Yes, a rehab. But aren't rehabs supposed to be for social outcasts? Drug addicts and people with a drinking problem? No, rehabs are not just for drug addicts. People addicted with the same, boring, monotonous and fruitless life, also need a rehab. These rehabs help you enunciate life in a positive and somewhat funny manner. Accept it, we all need to laugh on ourselves every once in a while. After all, the joke really is on you mate.

The society that exists is the one we should have a face-off with. This is the trend after all. This is what the people want. We try to conceal and present a rosy picture. It is indeed a rosy picture but not the one we try to present. The social norms can go fu*k themselves. Forgive me for the use of socially unacceptable words but then... that's what I'm aiming for.

When we discuss personalities, penetration is nigh impossible today. It is so hard to reach deep inside a person's mind or heart. Even those who know each other actually pretend to know each other. It would be insanity to accept that some grass can help you reach out. But then, what have you achieved with all the sanity up and until now? Nothing. Stop fooling yourself. Delhi International Jazz Festival was all about being genuine. Anyone with any sort of dubiousness would struggle to survive here at the Delhi International Jazz Festival.

The music at Delhi International Jazz Festival is a beast. It'll either attack you from the front and take you down for a ride or else it'll sneak up from behind and catch you by surprise. The beast embraces everyone. The beast does not differentiate. The beast is your outlet. The beast is your kick for the night. Delhi International Jazz Festival flaunts a beast which none can. The live performances will help you feel a heartbeat you have only heard of. The music will bring out the groove in you. You might even start dancing and not get conscious. Everybody is tripping out here. The atmosphere is filled with herbal rejuvenation to say the least. Life is not about lemons and lemonades here. Life at the Delhi International Jazz Festival is about finding a spot and finding yourself.

Impact of social media, what they won't tell you!

By Rohit Joshi

Social media can be compared to a deafening silence. The libertine use of the oxymoron is aimed at understanding the positive as well as negative aspects of social media on youth. It is very strange that the same activities can have two very different outcomes on us. The two forces run in opposite directions leaving the user carefree and basically clueless. How? Let’s delve into the mechanism.

Are you consuming or are you getting consumed...

The word social cements the positivity that comes with online interactions. Even those who remain on the sidelines in the social sphere tend to come out and surprise us all. The most introverts of people are at times the most active members on Facebook and other social media platforms. Denied an opportunity in the real world, their thoughts explode on the virtual platform. Hence it would seem that social media is really helping the youth by providing them an outlet. But how good and effective is this outlet? After all, nobody is on house arrest and sooner or later we have to face the material world which is very different… at least for some of us. It is not so welcoming.

So you take your social media glory to the real world and find it difficult to fit in. The words you use, the manner in which you present yourself and the ideas you wish to project all step on a banana peel and you slip. Why? In my opinion, it is because the way in which we socialize on social media platforms is actually a veil. We are not really interacting. It might be business, it might be personal… but it is not the truest form of communication.

Our behavior goes through ups and downs and there are some of us who plan to live in the virtual world. They are comfortably numb in their own sphere. This sort of an approach is not feasible in the real world.

The real world demands an above average set of non-verbal communication skills. We do cement our real interests, real thoughts, real ideas and very much genuine observations on social media platforms but we fail to defend or justify the same in the real word. The wind of change finally blows the card castle we created on the internet and we feel targeted.

Social Media is evolving and the process will go on for a long time. There is so much we can juice out in terms of knowledge, exposure and information. But we must not forget that thin line of realism which separates the virtual world from the one where we have to actually survive.

It is hard to say whether social media is a boon or a bane. Mostly because of the approach that youngsters adopt. While most would opt to draw out constructive criticism from others on a social media platform, there are others who take it the wrong way and go deeper into a shell none can penetrate. Most would use social media while others might get consumed by it. As it is with everything new and trending, you can either go all out without thinking or you can draw a balance sheet of your personality and understand what kind of an impact is social media having on you.

Bollywood murdering cinema, killing it softly!

Recently I read a movie review written by Kaushik Kashyap for Gundey. To be very honest, these are movies with a warning hidden in their name. If you have a zero tolerance level for silly mistakes, unrealistic plots and chintzy melodrama, you better maintain a safe distance. One cannot sideline the role of their unimpressive and ridiculous (in a sad way) television trailers with the so called ‘peppy’ numbers which only worsen the situation.

Mince no words when you speak the truth...

"A no-brainer from beginning to end, the film is packed with clichés as old as commercial Bollywood cinema goes. Ali Abbas Zafar gives no reason why anything in the film happens"

This is how Kashyap begins when reviewing Gundey. You have to give it to him for clearly outlining the quality and feel of the movie. Had it been the first time that such a movie was to be reviewed, Kushik would have used more words. He surely would’ve tried to justify such strong words. But an aware and reasonable reader, hoping for a magical improvement in Indian cinema, is already aware of the state in which cinema in Bollywood is trying to survive. Commercial aspect of cinema has always been around. But that did not discourage dedicated filmmakers from making good quality films. Issues were taken up, problems were addressed, iconoclasts were aggressive and yet elegant when going after silly social norms. How did we forget the real motive of cinema? When did we get here?

Today, making such movies is not much different from preparing a burger at McDonald’s. If you find this comparison offensive, then it’s about time you actually sat down and checked the quality of content in Indian cinema today. There is a fixed formula which promises billions at the box office level. It’s the same ingredients with the faces changed. Now most would argue that there is reason that these movies are on a roll. It’s because this is what the public wants. I find that outrageous. Are we going to deny true cinema to the audiences just because they are ignorant? Isn’t it our duty to introduce them and make them watch and get used to real cinema? Yes, we might as well have to force it down their throats because this madness needs to end.

You can compare any unsuccessful movie from Hollywood with a major box office hit in Bollywood and you’ll find that Hollywood still manages to impress. And no my dear pseudo-nationalists, it’s not because we like everything that is Western. Before you throw that cap on my head, let me tell you that I still drive on the left and despite of promising to be a good citizen I do end up throwing garbage on the road most of the time. I’m still an Indian curry beneath all that Western garnishing.

Why do we Indians lose all our sensibility when a complete moron, converted into a brand name, comes out with a movie where he’s throwing SUVs at people and fighting 100 bad guys with a cycle or something? The degree of madness and stupidity is so high that you can imagine almost anything and even then Bollywood will manage to surprise you. They will always beat you when it comes to being unrealistic and displaying a unique form of anserine behavior.

We need more Kaushik Kashyaps who will mince no words when it comes to fast food cinema which is a rave in this country. A perfect review for the kind of cinema that we are being served. Such reviews will always save your time, energy and money. I thank Tehelka for all the genuine reviews that they come up with.

Can anyone bring back the Bollywood which was once fueled by brilliant minds like Dada Saheb Phalke, Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak and others? We have some genuineness and dedication still living through Nagesh Kukunoor, Mira Nair, Deepa Mehta and Anurag Kashyap who all toil hard to ensure that cinema keeps breathing in this circus called Bollywood. Also, there are a few short filmmakers who have contributed to the secret movement of uplifting the quality of cinema. But do they receive the kind of attention and awe that they deserve? Hardly so as Indian audiences have gotten used to an alien version of cinema which aims at killing and replacing cinema forever.

More than skin revealing outfits and controversial publicity stunts, cinema is a form of mass communication. It exists so that a huge number can be addressed on issues which actually matter and on experiences which actually count. How far we are from Fort Cinema is unknown because we haven’t located us yet. We have the compass (a consensus and an ability to change) but nobody is willing to locate us. One really hopes for some sort of a renaissance period for Indian cinema. Meanwhile, Phalke must be dying to be reborn as a film director so that he can get behind one of his archaic cameras and still manage to win a National Award or even an Oscar with an apolitical jury reviewing the legend's work.

Why India needs more Telanganas...

I might be dropping a bomb when I tell you that Telangana was already a free princely state before a rigid and inhumane police action forced Hyderabad's integration with Andhra Pradesh in 1948. Without considering society, culture, linguistics and the outlook of the local population, the Union government zipped the two regions into one state. This hasty and miscalculated decision has come back to haunt the same government, more or less the same that is
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Telangana Movement dates back to 1969

While most would argue that the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) is a puppet of the Indian National Congress, such debates and/or accusations are feckless. The more important observation is that how such new states can help the country.

Why would division help? More importantly, how would division help? Let's start with capital cities and understand this. Any capital city of a state in India is comparatively more developed and efficiently functioning than any other city in the same state. We can start with Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh, move to Patna in Bihar and arrive at Ranchi in Jharkhand. These states may be the most troubled ones but the capital cities offer a rosy picture. So do other important cities in these states. How this works is no rocket science.

Formation of a new state calls for division of power. A new Chief Minister and a new capital city is just the beginning of the change. Now this newly formed government has resources of its own. These are resources which they had to share with others before the partition. Now the state and its leaders can focus on an inclusive growth.

Although most political leaders call for a division only to give a literal impetus to the demands of the local population, division of states is crucial for India's development. We need more states. The size of these states can go on decreasing. In a layman's term, you have to understand that if India is somehow divided into 50 states, you have yourself 50 new capital cities which have to look good. The governments will do anything to make them look good. Then the focus will shift to not so prominent cities and then they'll be developed.

It is like a chain reaction. For decades, leaders have been in power and have failed to create a chain reaction. The trickle down effect is way too slow. With new states, the effect will get some much needed momentum.

But the road is difficult and more than anything else, the proprietors of such a controversial but innovative proposal, will have to address the sentiments of the people and the cheap politics of the opposition. A regressive shade will continue to linger.

Instead of digging in search for a political element behind every proposal and/or demand for a separate state, we must inquire into the benefits related to such a segregation. The folklore that demands for states will turn into demands for separate countries is not only ridiculous but one that we've heard before. When India was gifted Independence due to World War 2 and a severe Economic depression, most world leaders had placed bets on how long this complicated Union would survives. More than six decades later, the successors of those world leaders are looking towards India for almost everything.

We cannot discard the ongoing proposition of dividing Uttar Pradesh. Although yes Mayawati and her BSP members know little about the greater advantage that comes with the formation of a new state. They only see it as an opportunity to garner votes before every election. Such is the state of politics in India.

Yes we will be inviting the formation of new regional parties as well. But the entire move is worth the risk. Coalition governments are the main reason politics in India is as complex and dramatic as a circus. But we've only reached here after some considerable amount of thinking and some impulsive actions.

To wind it up, I personally believe that more states will do more good to this troubled country. We need everything fresh and new, be it states, leaders, ideas, dreams or even promises.