Civil War
Benazir Bhutoo's assassination has confirmed that Pakistan is heading towards a major political crisis and a civil war might soon follow. Now that is really bad news, not just for the people of Pakistan but also for we Indians. I just hope that people of Pakistan awaken at this point and fight against these religious fundamentalists.
The G'NR song "Civil War" comes to my mind when I think about what's happening in Pakistan. It depicts how they are fighting a meaningless war in the name of religion and God.
Look at your young men fighting
Look at your women crying
Look at your young men dying
The way they've always done before
Look at the hate we're breeding
Look at the fear we're feeding
Look at the lives we're leading
The way we've always done before
My hands are tied
The billions shift from side to side
And the wars go on with brainwashed pride
For the love of God and our human rights
And all these things are swept aside
By bloody hands time can't deny
And are washed away by your genocide
And history hides the lies of our civil wars
D'you wear a black armband
When they shot the man
Who said "Peace could last forever"
And in my first memories
They shot Kennedy
I went numb when I learned to see
So I never fell for Vietnam
We got the wall of D.C. to remind us all
That you can't trust freedom
When it's not in your hands
When everybody's fightin'
For their promised land
And I don't need your civil war
It feeds the rich while it buries the poor
Your power hungry sellin' soldiers
In a human grocery store
Ain't that fresh
I don't need your civil war
Look at the shoes your filling
Look at the blood we're spilling
Look at the world we're killing
The way we've always done before
Look in the doubt we've wallowed
Look at the leaders we've followed
Look at the lies we've swallowed
And I don't want to hear no more
My hands are tied
For all I've seen has changed my mind
But still the wars go on as the years go by
With no love of God or human rights'
Cause all these dreams are swept aside
By bloody hands of the hypnotized
Who carry the cross of homicide
And history bears the scars of our civil wars
I don't need your civil war
It feeds the rich while it buries the poor
Your power hungry sellin' soldiers
In a human grocery store
Ain't that fresh
I don't need one more war
What's so civil about the war anyways?
Friday, December 28, 2007
Monday, December 24, 2007
Thursday, December 20, 2007
The Mystery Solved
Though I don't follow Indian classical music to a great extent, there are songs/ragas that I really like. Especially the songs like Piya Bawari, Man tarpat hain, Ek Shahenshah ne etc. However, the song I like the most in this category is "Laaga chunari me daag" from the movie Dil Hi To Hain (1963). But I never understood the meaning of this song. First of all I didn't understand why a man is singing this song as the lyrics would suggest that it is more of a woman centric song.
The only thing that I could imagine was that a woman is singing this song after having gone through a lot of problems in her life. But finally this mystery was solved when Javed Akthar explained the real meaning of this song in the reality TV show "Mission Ustaad", which I watch just because A R Rahman is a judge.
According to him, this is a philosophical song. In the song, "Chunari" is referring to our "Soul". So essentially the song talks about a man who has come to this earth ("Sasural") from the God's abode ("Baabul") and after coming here, due to his greed has committed lots of sins and polluted his soul ("Hogayi maili mori chunariya"). The man is now contemplating how he will face God after going back to him.
It really bowled me over. What a nice way to convey such great thoughts in such simple words! It also made me realise that I didn't listen to the lyrics of the entire song as the last few lines in the song really explain what it is all about.
Here are the lyrics of the song:
Laagaa, Chunarii Me Daag, Chhupaaun Kaise
Laagaa, Chunarii Me Daag
Chunarii Me Daag, Chhupaaun Kaise, Ghar Jaau Kaise
Laagaa, Chunarii Me Daag ...
Ho Gayi Mailii Morii Chunariyaa
Kore Badan Sii Korii Chunariyaa
Aa ... Jaake Baabul Se, Nazaren Milaau Kaise, Ghar Jaaun Kaise
Laagaa, Chunarii Me Daag ...
Bhuul Gayi Sab Bachan Bidaa Ke
Kho Gayi Main Sasuraal Me Aake
Aa ... Jaake Baabul Se, Nazare Milaaun Kaise, Ghar Jaaun Kaise
Laagaa, Chunarii Me Daag ...
Korii Chunariyaa Aatmaa Morii
Mail Hai Maayaa Jaal
Woh Duniyaa More Babul Kaa Ghar
Ye Duniyaa Sasuraal
Haan Jaake, Baabul Se, Nazare Milaaun Kaise, Ghar Jaaun Kaise
Laagaa, Chunarii Me Daag ...
Though I don't follow Indian classical music to a great extent, there are songs/ragas that I really like. Especially the songs like Piya Bawari, Man tarpat hain, Ek Shahenshah ne etc. However, the song I like the most in this category is "Laaga chunari me daag" from the movie Dil Hi To Hain (1963). But I never understood the meaning of this song. First of all I didn't understand why a man is singing this song as the lyrics would suggest that it is more of a woman centric song.
The only thing that I could imagine was that a woman is singing this song after having gone through a lot of problems in her life. But finally this mystery was solved when Javed Akthar explained the real meaning of this song in the reality TV show "Mission Ustaad", which I watch just because A R Rahman is a judge.
According to him, this is a philosophical song. In the song, "Chunari" is referring to our "Soul". So essentially the song talks about a man who has come to this earth ("Sasural") from the God's abode ("Baabul") and after coming here, due to his greed has committed lots of sins and polluted his soul ("Hogayi maili mori chunariya"). The man is now contemplating how he will face God after going back to him.
It really bowled me over. What a nice way to convey such great thoughts in such simple words! It also made me realise that I didn't listen to the lyrics of the entire song as the last few lines in the song really explain what it is all about.
Here are the lyrics of the song:
Laagaa, Chunarii Me Daag, Chhupaaun Kaise
Laagaa, Chunarii Me Daag
Chunarii Me Daag, Chhupaaun Kaise, Ghar Jaau Kaise
Laagaa, Chunarii Me Daag ...
Ho Gayi Mailii Morii Chunariyaa
Kore Badan Sii Korii Chunariyaa
Aa ... Jaake Baabul Se, Nazaren Milaau Kaise, Ghar Jaaun Kaise
Laagaa, Chunarii Me Daag ...
Bhuul Gayi Sab Bachan Bidaa Ke
Kho Gayi Main Sasuraal Me Aake
Aa ... Jaake Baabul Se, Nazare Milaaun Kaise, Ghar Jaaun Kaise
Laagaa, Chunarii Me Daag ...
Korii Chunariyaa Aatmaa Morii
Mail Hai Maayaa Jaal
Woh Duniyaa More Babul Kaa Ghar
Ye Duniyaa Sasuraal
Haan Jaake, Baabul Se, Nazare Milaaun Kaise, Ghar Jaaun Kaise
Laagaa, Chunarii Me Daag ...
Monday, November 12, 2007
Ignorance is Bliss
That is the famous phrase taken from Thomas Gray's poem "Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College". It essentially means that not having knowledge of something is a good thing as it means less disturbance to the mind.
I was watching one of my all time favourite movie, "Life is Beautiful", earlier last week (an umpteenth time) and this phrase came to my mind while watching it. The little kid, Roberto Benigni's son in the film, never realises what lies in store in the brutal Nazi concentration camp. For him it is just a game that he and his father have to play in order to win a prize.
On the other hand, if you have discovered something that the rest of the world is still ignorant about, it can spell great trouble for you. Some of the great scientists and philosophers in the past have faced this predicament. Italian scientist Galileo Galilei is a case in point. He created a huge controversy when he proved that the Geocentric model of the universe is incorrect and said that Sun is at the center of the universe (the Heliocentric model). The Catholic church forced him to change his statement and accept the earlier model. He spent the rest of his lifetime in house arrest. Here is a nice poem I found on the net written by Mike Finn, a Physics professor, on Galileo's inquisition:
Once again, the Inquisition questioned me,
Are you quite certainof what you have claimed to see?
I sweated, despite the chill.
Misunderstanding their intent, I replied,
through my lenses, I saw what I saw: spots on the sun;
valleys, mountains, and plains on the moon;
more moons circling Jupiter; the phases of Venus.
Heaven is quite a sight.
God’s creation is grander than we can possibly imagine.
Would anyone here care to see for himself?
Use the telescope lying before you on the table.
Their response was solemn and sure.
This Council will not be lectured
on that of which
we are already certain.
Let us speak plainly:
You are disturbing the people.
The truth will be what we say it is to be,
neither one word more nor one word less.
Defeated at last,
blinded by age,
broken in spirit,
I consented to their demands.
Your will be done, but, nevertheless,
Earth turns round the sun still,
no matter what you choose to believe,
or what I am forced to confess.
That is the famous phrase taken from Thomas Gray's poem "Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College". It essentially means that not having knowledge of something is a good thing as it means less disturbance to the mind.
I was watching one of my all time favourite movie, "Life is Beautiful", earlier last week (an umpteenth time) and this phrase came to my mind while watching it. The little kid, Roberto Benigni's son in the film, never realises what lies in store in the brutal Nazi concentration camp. For him it is just a game that he and his father have to play in order to win a prize.
On the other hand, if you have discovered something that the rest of the world is still ignorant about, it can spell great trouble for you. Some of the great scientists and philosophers in the past have faced this predicament. Italian scientist Galileo Galilei is a case in point. He created a huge controversy when he proved that the Geocentric model of the universe is incorrect and said that Sun is at the center of the universe (the Heliocentric model). The Catholic church forced him to change his statement and accept the earlier model. He spent the rest of his lifetime in house arrest. Here is a nice poem I found on the net written by Mike Finn, a Physics professor, on Galileo's inquisition:
Once again, the Inquisition questioned me,
Are you quite certainof what you have claimed to see?
I sweated, despite the chill.
Misunderstanding their intent, I replied,
through my lenses, I saw what I saw: spots on the sun;
valleys, mountains, and plains on the moon;
more moons circling Jupiter; the phases of Venus.
Heaven is quite a sight.
God’s creation is grander than we can possibly imagine.
Would anyone here care to see for himself?
Use the telescope lying before you on the table.
Their response was solemn and sure.
This Council will not be lectured
on that of which
we are already certain.
Let us speak plainly:
You are disturbing the people.
The truth will be what we say it is to be,
neither one word more nor one word less.
Defeated at last,
blinded by age,
broken in spirit,
I consented to their demands.
Your will be done, but, nevertheless,
Earth turns round the sun still,
no matter what you choose to believe,
or what I am forced to confess.
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Youth Vs. Politics
In the last few weeks, we have witnessed some ridiculously humorous political situation in Karnataka. The way the different political parties have been playing Musical chair for the Chief Minister's post, I can't help but feel ashamed to be a mute and helpless spectator. Though it is funny to listen/watch our political leaders play mud slinging games with each other, it makes me put my head down in shame and disgust.
Politics is one area that is beyond my comprehension and I havent' tried to understand it much either. And I am sure I am not the only one in this "I-care-a-damn-about-politics" category.
The question is why does the younger generation hate politics while for our earlier generation politics seem to be a favourite dining table discussion topic. The reason is simple: Our generation has never been given the opportunity or the guidance to understand the meaning of politics.
Whenever I think of politics, few things come to my mind:
- Old men with grey hair
- White kurta and pyjama
- Big talks/promises
- Corruption
- Coalition governments
- Horse trading
- Parliament fights
- Terrible English
- Threats to pull out support
- Laloo Prasad Yadav and HD Deve Gowda
None of these would really motivate anybody to join politics or atleast be interested in it. So is that what Politics is all about? Is it as bad as we imagine it?
Just as a timepass excercise I did a Wikipedia search on Politics and here is what I found:
Politics is the process by which groups of people make decisions. Although the term is generally applied to behavior within civil governments, politics is observed in all human group interactions, including corporate, academic, and religious institutions.
Politics consists of "social relations involving authority or power" and refers to the regulation of a political unit, and to the methods and tactics used to formulate and apply policy.
Political science (also political studies) is the study of political behavior and examines the acquisition and application of power. Related areas of study include political philosophy, which seeks a rationale for politics and an ethic of public behavior, and public administration, which examines the practices of governance.
Now that doesn't sound that bad. But unfortunately in our country politics is not that way and neither is it perceived that way. I wonder why can't we have a leader like Nicolas Sarkozy, the current French President, who within a short stint as the National leader has brought about so many policy changes. Just contrast that with our leaders. The Golden Quadrilateral project has been going on for eternity now.
But the whole point is that this angst can't be directed just at our politicians. I feel we all are equally responsible for this state of affairs. So what do we do? That's what I don't know.
Like our politicians, I believe even our minds are corrupted. We all dream the American dream, want to go abroad, make loads of moolah, buy a plush apartment, drive a fast car and blah blah blah. In this pursuit of our materialistic pleasures, our patriotism just takes a backseat. It only comes to the fore either when we watch a Rang De Basanti or witness something like the current political situation in Karnataka. Another reason is that many of us don't know what can we do in our capacity to improve the things around us.
Well, I am yet to be a perfect citizen myself. Atleast, I have realised that I am not one and I am making an attempt to become one.
In the last few weeks, we have witnessed some ridiculously humorous political situation in Karnataka. The way the different political parties have been playing Musical chair for the Chief Minister's post, I can't help but feel ashamed to be a mute and helpless spectator. Though it is funny to listen/watch our political leaders play mud slinging games with each other, it makes me put my head down in shame and disgust.
Politics is one area that is beyond my comprehension and I havent' tried to understand it much either. And I am sure I am not the only one in this "I-care-a-damn-about-politics" category.
The question is why does the younger generation hate politics while for our earlier generation politics seem to be a favourite dining table discussion topic. The reason is simple: Our generation has never been given the opportunity or the guidance to understand the meaning of politics.
Whenever I think of politics, few things come to my mind:
- Old men with grey hair
- White kurta and pyjama
- Big talks/promises
- Corruption
- Coalition governments
- Horse trading
- Parliament fights
- Terrible English
- Threats to pull out support
- Laloo Prasad Yadav and HD Deve Gowda
None of these would really motivate anybody to join politics or atleast be interested in it. So is that what Politics is all about? Is it as bad as we imagine it?
Just as a timepass excercise I did a Wikipedia search on Politics and here is what I found:
Politics is the process by which groups of people make decisions. Although the term is generally applied to behavior within civil governments, politics is observed in all human group interactions, including corporate, academic, and religious institutions.
Politics consists of "social relations involving authority or power" and refers to the regulation of a political unit, and to the methods and tactics used to formulate and apply policy.
Political science (also political studies) is the study of political behavior and examines the acquisition and application of power. Related areas of study include political philosophy, which seeks a rationale for politics and an ethic of public behavior, and public administration, which examines the practices of governance.
Now that doesn't sound that bad. But unfortunately in our country politics is not that way and neither is it perceived that way. I wonder why can't we have a leader like Nicolas Sarkozy, the current French President, who within a short stint as the National leader has brought about so many policy changes. Just contrast that with our leaders. The Golden Quadrilateral project has been going on for eternity now.
But the whole point is that this angst can't be directed just at our politicians. I feel we all are equally responsible for this state of affairs. So what do we do? That's what I don't know.
Like our politicians, I believe even our minds are corrupted. We all dream the American dream, want to go abroad, make loads of moolah, buy a plush apartment, drive a fast car and blah blah blah. In this pursuit of our materialistic pleasures, our patriotism just takes a backseat. It only comes to the fore either when we watch a Rang De Basanti or witness something like the current political situation in Karnataka. Another reason is that many of us don't know what can we do in our capacity to improve the things around us.
Well, I am yet to be a perfect citizen myself. Atleast, I have realised that I am not one and I am making an attempt to become one.
Saturday, November 03, 2007
Freedom
Taking things for granted is one of the worst qualities of we human beings. Freedom, is one such thing. I was earlier today reading a book on Indian history and was once again amazed by the passion with which people fought to achieve freedom aka Independence.
After more than 60 years of achieveing that "Freedom", what does it really mean to us? Do we really understand what Freedom is? Or is that just a good enough reason to get a National holiday?
As Osho says, you really understand the meaning of "Freedom" when you realise that it is not "Freedom from". Rather it is "Freedom to". When we achieved independence on that historic night, the real reason to celebrate was not that we achieved "freedom from" the British. Infact, the reason was that we achieved the "freedom to" build our country based on the way we wanted it.
When you look around and see the political situation in Pakistan or Iraq, you realise how lucky you are to have that freedom to do what you want. To live in a land where you can voice your opinion and be heard. To have that freedom to choose a career that you are passionate about. We probably don't realise its relevance on a day-to-day basis. But ask somebody who craves to have that freedom and you will know how blessed you are.
There are so many songs which talk about freedom and the fight for it. There is one song that is my favourite. It is a song called "Free" by Lighthouse Family. Whenever I listen to this song, I feel like a citizen of this earth where there are no boundaries, no religion, no caste, no bias whatsoever. Where I would crave to build a world free of wars and hatred. It makes me dream and pray for a world where love rules and everything else takes a backseat. Here are the lyrics:
I wish I knew how it would feel to be free
I wish I could break all the chains holding me
I wish I could say all the things that I should say
Say 'em loud say 'em clear
For the whole wide world to hear
I wish I could share
All the love that's in my heart
Remove all the bars that keep us apart
And I wish you could know how it feels to be me
Then you'd see and agree that every man should be free
I wish I could be like a bird in the sky
How sweet it would be if I found I could fly
Well I'd soar to the sun and look down at the sea
And I'd sing cos I know how it feels to be free
I wish I knew how it would feel to be free
I wish I could break all the chains holding me
And I wish I could say all the things that I wanna say
Say 'em loud say 'em clear
For the whole wide world to hear
One love one blood
One life you've got to do what you should
One life with each other
Sisters, brothers
One love but we're not the same
We got to carry each other
I wish I knew how it would feel to be free
I wish I knew how it would feel to be free.....
Taking things for granted is one of the worst qualities of we human beings. Freedom, is one such thing. I was earlier today reading a book on Indian history and was once again amazed by the passion with which people fought to achieve freedom aka Independence.
After more than 60 years of achieveing that "Freedom", what does it really mean to us? Do we really understand what Freedom is? Or is that just a good enough reason to get a National holiday?
As Osho says, you really understand the meaning of "Freedom" when you realise that it is not "Freedom from". Rather it is "Freedom to". When we achieved independence on that historic night, the real reason to celebrate was not that we achieved "freedom from" the British. Infact, the reason was that we achieved the "freedom to" build our country based on the way we wanted it.
When you look around and see the political situation in Pakistan or Iraq, you realise how lucky you are to have that freedom to do what you want. To live in a land where you can voice your opinion and be heard. To have that freedom to choose a career that you are passionate about. We probably don't realise its relevance on a day-to-day basis. But ask somebody who craves to have that freedom and you will know how blessed you are.
There are so many songs which talk about freedom and the fight for it. There is one song that is my favourite. It is a song called "Free" by Lighthouse Family. Whenever I listen to this song, I feel like a citizen of this earth where there are no boundaries, no religion, no caste, no bias whatsoever. Where I would crave to build a world free of wars and hatred. It makes me dream and pray for a world where love rules and everything else takes a backseat. Here are the lyrics:
I wish I knew how it would feel to be free
I wish I could break all the chains holding me
I wish I could say all the things that I should say
Say 'em loud say 'em clear
For the whole wide world to hear
I wish I could share
All the love that's in my heart
Remove all the bars that keep us apart
And I wish you could know how it feels to be me
Then you'd see and agree that every man should be free
I wish I could be like a bird in the sky
How sweet it would be if I found I could fly
Well I'd soar to the sun and look down at the sea
And I'd sing cos I know how it feels to be free
I wish I knew how it would feel to be free
I wish I could break all the chains holding me
And I wish I could say all the things that I wanna say
Say 'em loud say 'em clear
For the whole wide world to hear
One love one blood
One life you've got to do what you should
One life with each other
Sisters, brothers
One love but we're not the same
We got to carry each other
I wish I knew how it would feel to be free
I wish I knew how it would feel to be free.....
Sunday, September 02, 2007
A nice movie
The week gone by has been a really hectic one. On Friday evening, I decided that during the weekends I will simply laze around and relax at home. A colleague of mine had given me the DVD of Die Hard 4.0, so I decided to watch it yesterday morning. The movie boasts of some excellent stunts, visual effects and some good dialogues. But to be honest, I expected a lot more from the film, considering all the hype and good reviews I had heard from my friends. All in all, it was an OK movie, good enough to sit and watch on a Saturday morning.
In the afternoon, I switched on the TV and while browsing through the channels, I hit on Zee Studio and the starting titles of a movie were rolling on. It said "Life of David Gale" starring Kevin Spacey, Kate Winslett and Laura Linney. I had never heard of this movie before but since I am a big fan of Kevin Spacey and Kate Winslett, I decided to watch it for a while and see if it is any good. I ended up watching the whole movie and was pleasantly surprised. It is really a very nice movie, a very good political thriller.
Kevin Spacey is without a doubt one of the best actors in Hollywood and this movie further proves that point. He really takes the movie to a different level with his acting prowess. Kate Winseltt looks as pretty as ever and she is one actresss who acts as well as she looks.
If you want to watch a good political thriller with some really good acting, I guess this is one movie to watch. Definitely not among my favourites, but a really good movie nevertheless.
The week gone by has been a really hectic one. On Friday evening, I decided that during the weekends I will simply laze around and relax at home. A colleague of mine had given me the DVD of Die Hard 4.0, so I decided to watch it yesterday morning. The movie boasts of some excellent stunts, visual effects and some good dialogues. But to be honest, I expected a lot more from the film, considering all the hype and good reviews I had heard from my friends. All in all, it was an OK movie, good enough to sit and watch on a Saturday morning.
In the afternoon, I switched on the TV and while browsing through the channels, I hit on Zee Studio and the starting titles of a movie were rolling on. It said "Life of David Gale" starring Kevin Spacey, Kate Winslett and Laura Linney. I had never heard of this movie before but since I am a big fan of Kevin Spacey and Kate Winslett, I decided to watch it for a while and see if it is any good. I ended up watching the whole movie and was pleasantly surprised. It is really a very nice movie, a very good political thriller.
Kevin Spacey is without a doubt one of the best actors in Hollywood and this movie further proves that point. He really takes the movie to a different level with his acting prowess. Kate Winseltt looks as pretty as ever and she is one actresss who acts as well as she looks.
If you want to watch a good political thriller with some really good acting, I guess this is one movie to watch. Definitely not among my favourites, but a really good movie nevertheless.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Next Prez: The next big soap opera
From the past few days, newspapers and TV news channels have been hysterically covering the news of who is going to be our next President. This seems to be a sequel to the equally excruciating cricket coach saga. I fail to understand what is all this hue and cry about?
To be honest, do we really care who is going to be our next President? Will that bring any change in our lives? After all President of India is nothing more than a wax figure at Madam Tussauds. How does it matter whether he/she has the right qualifications or not when we know for sure that the Prez's job profile requires nothing more than cutting ribbons, attending high profile parties, visiting different countries as a goodwill ambassador.
In a country like ours where we vote criminals and uneducated village bumpkins to power and make them ministers, handing them the power to carve the future of our nation, I don't think it hardly matters who our President will be.
Mr. Kalam, you might be one of the most brilliant men in this country but as long as I and my fellow countryman keep voting for people like Lalu, you are nothing more than a showpiece. I guess you can contribute much more to our country by probably becoming a scientific advisor or something.
In short, bring on the Patils, the Shekhawats or the Mukherjees. We just don't care, damn it !!
From the past few days, newspapers and TV news channels have been hysterically covering the news of who is going to be our next President. This seems to be a sequel to the equally excruciating cricket coach saga. I fail to understand what is all this hue and cry about?
To be honest, do we really care who is going to be our next President? Will that bring any change in our lives? After all President of India is nothing more than a wax figure at Madam Tussauds. How does it matter whether he/she has the right qualifications or not when we know for sure that the Prez's job profile requires nothing more than cutting ribbons, attending high profile parties, visiting different countries as a goodwill ambassador.
In a country like ours where we vote criminals and uneducated village bumpkins to power and make them ministers, handing them the power to carve the future of our nation, I don't think it hardly matters who our President will be.
Mr. Kalam, you might be one of the most brilliant men in this country but as long as I and my fellow countryman keep voting for people like Lalu, you are nothing more than a showpiece. I guess you can contribute much more to our country by probably becoming a scientific advisor or something.
In short, bring on the Patils, the Shekhawats or the Mukherjees. We just don't care, damn it !!
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
The Pursuit of Happiness
A couple of weeks back I watched "The Pursuit of Happiness". I had heard very good reviews about the movie and considering that Will Smith was nominated for the Oscars in the Best Actor category, I was really looking forward to watching it. After having watched it, I must definitely admit that it's one helluva movie. It is definitely one of the most inspiring and touching movies I have seen. The movie teaches tenacity and determination in the face of adversity.
This is a real story of Chris Gardner (played by Will Smith). Chris was a struggling salesman of unwanted and overpriced medical bone density scanners, while his wife wallowed in misery over having to work double shift to support the family including a young son. Chris, seeing that his medical sales career was not going anywhere asked two very pivotal question to a passerby in a Porsche, what do you do and how can he do it. These two questions changed his life and set in motion his pursuit of Happiness.
Desperate to gain financial happiness for his son and himself Chris takes a chance and applies for a stockbroker internship where one in twenty has a chance of a lucrative full time career. But this chance does come with a price. The opportunity does not come with a salary as he trains for the position. Chris is forced to get serious about his medical bone density business and make it work while he studies for his brokers exams. Because of his pursuit of this dream and the downfall of the medical sales business, Chris’s wife leaves him and he eventually becomes homeless. But he never loses his dream. He fights every step of the way with a single minded resolve to achieve what he believed in.
The movie boasts of some brilliant acting and dialogues. Will Smith is brilliant in his portrayal of Chris Gardner. He definitely deserved an Oscar (but then I am not sure how good Forrest Whitaker was in 'The last king of Scotland'). In my opinion, it is a must-watch.
A couple of weeks back I watched "The Pursuit of Happiness". I had heard very good reviews about the movie and considering that Will Smith was nominated for the Oscars in the Best Actor category, I was really looking forward to watching it. After having watched it, I must definitely admit that it's one helluva movie. It is definitely one of the most inspiring and touching movies I have seen. The movie teaches tenacity and determination in the face of adversity.
This is a real story of Chris Gardner (played by Will Smith). Chris was a struggling salesman of unwanted and overpriced medical bone density scanners, while his wife wallowed in misery over having to work double shift to support the family including a young son. Chris, seeing that his medical sales career was not going anywhere asked two very pivotal question to a passerby in a Porsche, what do you do and how can he do it. These two questions changed his life and set in motion his pursuit of Happiness.
Desperate to gain financial happiness for his son and himself Chris takes a chance and applies for a stockbroker internship where one in twenty has a chance of a lucrative full time career. But this chance does come with a price. The opportunity does not come with a salary as he trains for the position. Chris is forced to get serious about his medical bone density business and make it work while he studies for his brokers exams. Because of his pursuit of this dream and the downfall of the medical sales business, Chris’s wife leaves him and he eventually becomes homeless. But he never loses his dream. He fights every step of the way with a single minded resolve to achieve what he believed in.
The movie boasts of some brilliant acting and dialogues. Will Smith is brilliant in his portrayal of Chris Gardner. He definitely deserved an Oscar (but then I am not sure how good Forrest Whitaker was in 'The last king of Scotland'). In my opinion, it is a must-watch.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Pehla Nasha
After a really long time, today I listened to "Pehla Nasha" from the movie "Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander". What a song!!! I must have heard this song more than a thousand times, but still it has the same effect on me.
It probably is the best Jatin-Lalit composition till-date with some excellent lyrics (Majrooh Sultanpuri). This song along with 'Papa Kehte hain' (QSQT) must rank among my all time favourites.
After a really long time, today I listened to "Pehla Nasha" from the movie "Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander". What a song!!! I must have heard this song more than a thousand times, but still it has the same effect on me.
It probably is the best Jatin-Lalit composition till-date with some excellent lyrics (Majrooh Sultanpuri). This song along with 'Papa Kehte hain' (QSQT) must rank among my all time favourites.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Ayn ke Funde
Without a doubt, Ayn Rand ranks as one of my favourite authors. Though I don't completely agree with her theroy of objectivism, it has neverthless been one of the most inspiring pieces of literature. I truly believe in her philosophy that man must exist for his own sake, neither sacrificing himself to others nor sacrificing others to himself. The pursuit of his own rational self-interest and of his own happiness is the highest moral purpose of his life. Below are some of my favourite Ayn Rand quotes:
- The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me.
- To say 'I love you' one must first be able to say the 'I'.
- A creative man is motivated by the desire to achieve, not by the desire to beat others.
- I swear, by my life and my love of it, that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine.
- "Mediocrity" doesn't mean average intelligence, it means an average intelligence that resents and envies its betters.
- I don't build in order to have clients. I have clients in order to build. (Howard Roark in "The Fountainhead")
- When 'the common good' of a society is regarded as something apart from and superior to the individual good of its members, it means that the good of 'some' men takes precedence over the good of others, with those others consigned to the status of sacrificial animals.
- I am interested in politics for only one reason -- to reach a day when I would not have to be interested in politics. I want to secure a society in which I would be free to pursue my own concerns and goals, knowing that the government would not interfere to wreck them, knowing that my life, my work, my future were not at the mercy of the state.
Without a doubt, Ayn Rand ranks as one of my favourite authors. Though I don't completely agree with her theroy of objectivism, it has neverthless been one of the most inspiring pieces of literature. I truly believe in her philosophy that man must exist for his own sake, neither sacrificing himself to others nor sacrificing others to himself. The pursuit of his own rational self-interest and of his own happiness is the highest moral purpose of his life. Below are some of my favourite Ayn Rand quotes:
- The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me.
- To say 'I love you' one must first be able to say the 'I'.
- A creative man is motivated by the desire to achieve, not by the desire to beat others.
- I swear, by my life and my love of it, that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine.
- "Mediocrity" doesn't mean average intelligence, it means an average intelligence that resents and envies its betters.
- I don't build in order to have clients. I have clients in order to build. (Howard Roark in "The Fountainhead")
- When 'the common good' of a society is regarded as something apart from and superior to the individual good of its members, it means that the good of 'some' men takes precedence over the good of others, with those others consigned to the status of sacrificial animals.
- I am interested in politics for only one reason -- to reach a day when I would not have to be interested in politics. I want to secure a society in which I would be free to pursue my own concerns and goals, knowing that the government would not interfere to wreck them, knowing that my life, my work, my future were not at the mercy of the state.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Main aur meri tanhayi
Well, I never thought that I will one day blog on something like loneliness. I never thought that I will ever feel lonely, considering that I am mostly with my loved ones. But now with all my friends busy in their own lives after their wedding/engagement, I am suddenly struck with the feeling of loneliness. Solitude, though is not as bad as I thought. In a way, it helps you reconnect with yourself. It gives me the space and time to be able to do a lot of self-talking and analysing. Here I am, living by myself, with myself, and for myself for the first time in my life. I'm sure it won't be for a long time, nor do I want it to be. But I am truly enjoying looking at the world through my very own independent eyes, and hearing with my own ears.
Well, I never thought that I will one day blog on something like loneliness. I never thought that I will ever feel lonely, considering that I am mostly with my loved ones. But now with all my friends busy in their own lives after their wedding/engagement, I am suddenly struck with the feeling of loneliness. Solitude, though is not as bad as I thought. In a way, it helps you reconnect with yourself. It gives me the space and time to be able to do a lot of self-talking and analysing. Here I am, living by myself, with myself, and for myself for the first time in my life. I'm sure it won't be for a long time, nor do I want it to be. But I am truly enjoying looking at the world through my very own independent eyes, and hearing with my own ears.
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