Reflections

Madhur Bhandarkar’s latest directorial, ‘Fashion’, primarily focuses on revealing the dark side of the fashion industry about which many youngsters aspiring to be a part of are unaware. The attempt was really appreciable as it is an eye-opener to the ignorant lot who believe that the industry is only glitz and glamour. Besides the many harsh realities showcased in the movie about this industry, it has been instrumental in displaying the adulteration of ethics in other professions. I was totally repulsed watching one particular scene in the film where the media (television and print) crosses its ethical limits to tarnish the reputation of a young model who happened to be involved in an unfortunate accident while walking the ramp in a show. Character assassination is a very common term when it concerns today’s media. Be it Aarushi Talwar or this ill-fated model. Besides this, some so-called “news” channels have simply lost track of what they ought to cover. A couple of months back it was

This is a must watch video for everyone... Truly inspiring one... The lyrics say it all, I don't need more words to express the theme... "Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

This is a different sort of a post from me today. I am very nostalgic today as I listen to my malayalam playlist. After traversing half the globe, and just after 2 months of my stay here, I have begun to miss my mother-tongue. I miss my home-town in general. I miss Malayalam.... I miss the divine atmosphere of the temples.... I miss the reverberating moments during the deeparadhanas .... I miss the smell of wet earth... I miss the sight of greenery like how its in Kerala... I miss the sight of towering coconut trees... I miss the sight of the language in the shop boards and compound walls.... I miss the feel of the humid air rather than the conditioned air here... I miss the chaos on the streets... I miss the sight of backwaters... I feel overwhelmed with so much of emotions and love for the language as the melody of the music fills my heart. But as I express these melancholic feelings... I am also filled with ignominy towards the nonchalant people of a common mother-tongue about their

This is in response to the views of those citizens (politicians included) who are debating about the building of Ram Temple or Mosque in Ayodhya ... No temple or mosque needs to be built to prove the existence of God or the religion. We have so many more issues to be addressed as a nation such as poverty,unemployment, under-nourised children, destitute masses, etc . Instead of thinking about these tasks we need to tackle as responsible citizens, why are we wasting time discussing about a temple or a mosque. A truly concerned and patriotic Indian would rather think of building a charitable institution for the homeless, poor, orphans. It could be a community hospital, an orphanage or a school for the children from economically backward families. Its a plea to the citizens ( politicians included) of India - "Our country needs help, in this difficult phase, do not let it bleed in the name of religion. Instead prove that the foundation on which our constitution is built is strong and t

This is for vegetarians, to feel content about being so. And for the non-vegetarians to re-think what they are doing. I couldn't even watch more than 2:30 mins of this video. So, please, its a caution for all those who will be watching it. I do not like to showcase violence ,but sometimes it becomes an inevitable tool to spread awareness for a good and a higher cause. Its simply human psychology to see or hear the negative of something to refrain from doing it rather than hearing all the positive and get inspired. This is the video link: http://www.chooseveg.com/animal-cruelty.asp?gclid=COiR3c3P6pUCFRKLxwodLGxReg When I chose to become a vegetarian, (firstly, out of requirements for Vedic chanting and then followed by my own personal, inner call , I hadn't seen any such videos to provoke me) there were a few people who appreciated my move and some who told me I am going to lack on a nutritious diet. Well, I made it a point to include enough of pulses and broccoli and high nutri

You know the biggest problem caused in any society, be it Indian or western, is the reckless nature of the woman-folk there. If a woman knows her limits(not in the negative sense), as in to upkeep her self-respect and dignity, half the problems faced today would be solved. She is the life-giver, the mother, if she does not know what her true role is, she actually destructs the generation and the coming generations too. Today, in most of the movies, bollywood, most actress are semi-clad, in most ads which market men's products like shaving cream or razor etc a woman has to be shown as some sort of "attracted to clean-shaven men or those who use Axe perfume" kind of role! Its ridiculous, there was a time in India, where character actors like Shabana Azmi, played great roles in movies, wearing saris, and projecting roles where the woman was the lead character in the movie. And today, actresses like Mallika Sherawat and likes feel that their flesh is their worth and the audie

"Your identity as i know is like this, Name: Rashid, Religion: Humanity..." . These were the words of ' Indira ' a character from the acclaimed Malayalam novelist M.T Vasudevan Nair 's screenplay ' Panchagni '. So very significant is this one line that comes towards the end of the movie...The world would have been so much better off if everyone recognized every other man around him with such kind of an identity. We are so entwined with all our multiple identities; that of caste, religion, language, race, color, sex, etc .. that we overlook the one common factor that binds us, that of being in the same species!! We are all human beings first... the "greatest" of all of God's creations as we claim to be. We all fail to stay united no matter how many ever lessons life teaches us. It is at times of natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tsunamis,that one forgets the numerous identities he has and rushes forward to extend his he

As I read ‘Like the Flowing River’, by Paulo Coelho, I came across this chapter where he talks of his acquaintance’s experience with handling questions children have in their minds. Questions that often go unasked and if asked… unanswered by the more “learned and experienced” adults. The following are some questions mentioned: § What does God mean? § Where do we go after we die? § Why are we all born if we have to die in the end? § Why are there poor and ill people? § Why did God create mosquitoes and flies? § Who named different colours? § Why isn’t our guardian angel beside us when we are sad? § Who invented war and happiness? § If God is in heaven, and my mother is there too because she died, then how come He is alive? It melts my heart to read these questions and to think about the numerous little doubts in the curious minds of the young. Their innocence is as lucid as the glistening of pebbles in a shallow brook by a streak of sunlight, but their curiosity that very obscure. It re

It was one of those fine days last summer when I had this longing. A desire which had come up not long ago...but was truly a deep one within me... My parents agreed to fulfill my wish and took me where I wanted to. A nearby orphanage where there were lots of little tots having an entirely different life from that of mine. I always knew they might get food, shelter, and clothing may be a little education but one thing for which they would always yearn for is love. An affectionate hand patting them, encouraging words elevating their souls… someone to look up to an the end of the day and feel tranquil that there is someone waiting for me, someone who wants me, someone who treasures me. I was eager to go in and meet all the kids there. Some of the little ones, cheerful, not understanding what life hasn’t given them and not knowing the pleasures of the world beyond those walls. Their eyes … a vast ocean of innocence. Concealing God knows how many hopes and dreams for a lonesome life that ha

Somebody’s got to think out of the box… Somebody’s got to ponder over things that everyone does not… Somebody’s got to talk of the rhythm of silence… There is nothing right or wrong about any poem, about any form of expression. Its just a reflection of the thought-flow in the brook of one’s mind… It’s just the way the colors spurt across the canvass of one’s mind… And the thoughts that flow cannot be right or wrong. No one is to be blamed.. no one can be blamed. It is all the way everyone is designed. Just the way you and I are… It’s His mighty creation to make the people the way they are… Some are like you…who can’t grow out of conventionality… Some, like me…surrounded by the barriers of conventionality and yet yearns to think beyond it… and mentally… A maverick… Some like her… who has crossed all borders, all frontiers of conformism…who has drank the wine of unconventionality… and who expresses herself as a Maverick … in the true sense of its word… She can’t be blamed… she must not b