Please keep away from faith!

Development of the country is a must। But the question arises, what all can be paid for development? Can it be done at the cost of the fear of tearing or ripping apart the country? Should the faith of crores and crores be challenged for that?

The recent issue of the Sethusamudram Project and the controversy over the Ramar Bridge and the existence of Ram have been raked up in vain। Each and every citizen of the country feels that the country should be developed, but the cost should not be faith of any community.

It all started with the affidavit of the Central Government and the controversial statement in it that when there is no proof of Lord Ram, then how it can be proved that the Ramar Setu (Adam’s Bridge) was built by Ram and his Sena to conquer Lanka, then headed by Ravana। A day after filing the affidavit and its controversial lines being flashed in the media, the central government smelled problem. Thanks to the UPA Chief, she intervened and the affidavit was withdrawn by the government and the controversial content was deleted.

It was not only the Hindu fundamentalists, but even hardliners from the Muslim Community said that faith can’t be challenged.

The most problematic statements have come from the atheist Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Mr। M.Karunanidhi. He not only challenged the existence of Ram but also went on to say that he was a drunkard. I am not a hardliner, but this statement of his touched me on the wrong note, I was hurt. Even though I have no proof of Ram, but he is the almighty to whom I have been praying since my childhood. So have been many of my friends and acquaintances, who never think on the hard lines, but after all it’s a matter of faith. Mr. Karunanidhi should go back to the days when he first became the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and issued a gazetteer in which there were positive references about Ram. He should listen to the carnatic music, which is mostly based on songs which praise Thyagaraja (Ram). How can he even say so!

It’s high time than the government comes in and intervenes. Thanks Mr. T.R.Balu and Mr. M. Karunanidhi, you are playing with the sentiments of so many people throughout the country just to further strengthen your constituency and for the sake of the multi-crore project. We are already in problem, divided in so many factions, we don’t need another one. Thanks to you. Please keep shut!
NB: To be continued

Shrug it off!!!

Love them or hate them। They are there, and will remain there. Cause they have risked their lives for it. They are the toughest breed of the nation. Sitting in your air-conditioned rooms, it’s very easy to condemn. I admit, they have contributed in spoiling the system, but why don’t you start the cleanliness drive? Why don’t you take the charge and come ahead before criticising them? Cause you don’t have the guts! You simply love to hate.

Yeah, you got it right! I am talking about the politicians of the country। They are the most hated lot of the country, but have you ever thought what it takes them to reach there.

I said this to someone who was blaming the politicians for every problem in the society, from water logging to traffic jams। From poor garbage management to the failed drainage system। Why do we only blame a particular group for everything---from broken roads to scarcity of water! Aren’t we all having some responsibility towards the society, the nation? Actually we shrug it off, by putting the blame on others.

If we are blaming the politicians, why are we leaving aside the bureaucrats? If we blame the bureaucrats, why should we leave the technocrats and so on? Why don’t we put the blame on each and every citizen of the country? Aren’t we all responsible?

The society is like a pyramid, if any brick---on the top or at the bottom---is not its place, the pyramid can’t stand perfectly, if at all it is standing।

On our mistakes, we run away by saying, it was a small one and I didn’t do it intentionally। Oh! I jumped the red light cause I was getting late for my office. I had to bribe Mr. X cause I needed my work to be done urgently. But don’t our small mistakes slowly make it a part of the system. They do, and then ultimately we start blaming the system.

But we should realize that its not only a particular group which makes up for a society, we all are a part of it and we all are responsible for either ways it goes।

Which way are taking our society, when we kill someone just because his vehicle touched ours। We shot at someone just because he was talking a bit aggressively. Indian was once known throughout the world for tolerance, selflessness, brotherhood, camaraderie and leadership. But look what we have made out of our society? Our ancestors in heaven must be feeling bad about it.

They say, it’s never too late to mend. I request all my friends to get up, come ahead for the country. It’s not about big tasks cut out for anyone, even the smallest of the contribution will help a lot. Even not crossing a red light and managing your garbage properly will ultimately result in a better India.

To the news now…

Who is Mika Brzezinski? Even I was unaware of this name till recently. Brzezinski is a TV news anchor and she is working with US cable news channel MSNBC. But the question arises, what is so different about her?
There is something. Which can change the way the news world moves, if she is emulated. Brzezinski shot to fame when she raised a defiant fist in the face of one of the most powerful forces in the modern world: a celebrity. She refused to read a news item on air, which was about Paris Hilton.
For Brzezinski, Hilton and the news item about her release from the jail was not a news, not at least to be on top of the bulletin. It became evident when she moved ahead with other news items saying, “To the news now…”
Hail Brzezinski, at least something can be learnt from her. Is the Indian media listening? Better they listen; otherwise it will be too late to mend.
The Breaking News concept is hard to understand. Although I am a media professional, I am yet to understand what is Breaking News.
Sometimes they say, its Abhishek’s Baarat reaching Aishwarya’s place, sometimes its Mika kissing Rakhi Sawant! But how much are we affected by these.
Standing on the podium at a seminar, one of the most respected Journalists of India commented adversely about another channel and its Breaking News concept. I was a spectator to it with my other friends at the IIMC auditorium. But soon, when it came to his own channel, the content was the same; I was amazed to see it. Then why did he comment, why did he say so?
Is it the market dynamics, or is it the mad race of TRP (Television Rating Points). You would be astonished to know that most of the country is not included while calculating TRP; it’s the metros and some of the other big cities with a small sample of TV viewing houses.
It should be a common concern for the Journalist Fraternity. We should ponder upon, where are we taking our world? Senior Journalist from NDTV, Mr. Ravish Kumar has written very right in his blog about the media world and the launch of a probable “Bhu-Chu” Channel (Read Bhut Chudail Channel). Most of the channels at the prime time are either playing on the concept of Bhut & Chudail or SEX. Recently Aaj Tak recently aired a half an hour repeatedly, which was titled “Aao Sex Khoje”.
Where are we heading, are we finished with the news content or we are out to beat each other. Some people in the family (read the family of journalists) say, we show what people want to. But is it an excuse enough?
We should see it the other way round. People see what we show. If all the channels are showing the same stuff, what is the option left with the viewer. I don’t say that a discussion on Sex is bad, but is it justified that we air lewd videos in the name of discussion on sex?
A very senior journalist said very right during a discussion on Indian Media, while watching the news channel Al Jazeera, we will not be able to reach such heights ever. The Indian media will die before reaching the heights.
Correct me if I am wrong, what is the priority of the newsmen today, it is not the problems of the society, but what they look for are juicy stories with some complimentary visuals.
I am not being judgmental, I just want to know, are we moving in the right direction? It’s just my personal feelings.
Will anyone from among us will try to emulate Mika Brzezinski!!!

It’s easier to win, than to lose!

"My will shall shape the future। Whether I fail or succeed shall be no man's doing but my own। I am the force; I can clear any obstacle before me or I can be lost in the maze. My choice; my responsibility; win or lose, only I hold the key to my destiny!"

Are we so fragile? What has happened to our people? Is this the country, which boasts of becoming a super power? Why are we taking only the evils of the west?

With each passing day, New Delhi is facing the threat of a new suicide. If the syndrome continues, it might well become the ‘Suicide Capital’ of the country. According to a study by Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS), Shahdara, out of the total registered citizens of the national capital, 11 percent have suicidal ideation.

The data which came out after a research and survey process by IHBAS, is now being reviewed by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), which will come out with its results within a couple of months.

In most cases of the suicides, it has been found that the reason is psychiatric problem, depression, which according to the medical world is an easily treatable condition. Depression is among the top five disabling causes worldwide.

Take this---Sharad Khurana—who was in his late twenties fell from the Ansal Chambers in Bikaji Cama Place in southwest Delhi on June 29 and died on the spot. It was said that it was a case of suicide. On June 28, an elderly man ended his life by jumping off the district centre in west Delhi's Janakpuri. Janakpuri’s District Centre has become infamous for frequent suicides from its highrises. Amit, a 23-year-old civil services aspirant committed suicide on June 26 by hanging himself in his north Delhi residence On June 23, a woman had committed suicide after jumping off a commercial building in Nehru Place. Another 27-year-old married woman-committed suicide by jumping off Jena Towers in Janakpuri on June 9. Startling statistics!

Why has the city become so? In most of the cases, it has been found and said that the suicides were fallout of depression. Some were failed at career; others were under distress because of family and personal problems.

But is suicide the only cure for depression? No! They say it’s very easy to cure it. Getting out of it is very easy, one of various cures, which has been suggested by the medicos is Yoga! Yes, the Department of Psychiatry, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital has found after research that Yoga is very effective in curing problems like severe depression and schizophrenia.

However, I think a bit differently! Its all in your mind, whether you want to be happy or stay depressed. Someone once said to me, it’s easier to get a job in Delhi, but its tougher to be happy here. I replied, there are numerous reason to be unhappy, but one needs a small reason to smile.

I have also stumbled at many blocks, have stayed alone in this mad mad city, and yet have always kept myself happy. I have taken note of my falls, I have learnt from them, rather than crying over them. And they in turn have made me strong, stronger!

Like they have said: My will shall shape the future. Whether I fail or succeed shall be no man's doing but my own. I am the force; I can clear any obstacle before me or I can be lost in the maze. My choice; my responsibility; win or lose, only I hold the key to my destiny!

BINGO!!! Delhi to have F 1 track

It’s official now!!! India is soon going to get its first F 1 track for the cost of 500 to 600 crores. Then India will become the fifth Asian country to host F 1 racing. Residents of Delhi would witness the high-adrenaline rush race, with the screech and crunch of tyres.

But I am not writing all this to inform you. This information has already been splashed by the news dailies of the city. The reason to raise the issue is to find out whether Delhi is ready for it? Can we emulate countries like China, Japan, Malaysia and Bahrain? Do we have that extra bit with us to give it away for the adrenaline rush of a handful of people? What percentage of India knows what F 1 is?

How long will India and the people at the helms of affair will keep playing copycats? Do any of the above-mentioned countries have Bundelkhand? Nithari? Vidarbha? Gujarat?

Why compare us with China and Japan, when we are unable to provide our people with the basic amenities. I am not going to any remote village. I take New Delhi—the capital of our nation—as the sample. To reach from one end of the city to the other end, we need to travel for hours in the mad traffic, amidst jams and yes you will witness more potholes than anything else on the roads of the capital city. Yet, they have planned for F 1 track.

The capital is unable to provide its residents with drinking water, electricity and fresh air, leave aside any other facility. Yet, the movers and shakers are planning a racing track, which will make our hearts pop out.

Monsoon is yet to arrive in the city, but the sewers are already overflowing and one fails to differentiate between roads and sewers in several areas of the city. Yet, we are planning for an F 1 track.

With the monsoon season nearing, and we being helpless, the government is now planning to import thousands of mosquito-eating frogs to prevent an outbreak of dengue fever! Rather than importing them, shouldn’t the authorities have done their homework in advance? In which age are we living? Yet, we are planning F 1 track.

I am not against any sort of sports or games. I am fully for it. But the question, which arises here, is that of feasibility.

It’s not only the matter of the F 1 track, but it’s a question of what we need, the order, and the preference. We need to set our focus right. We need to introspect on what India is and what India needs. Its high time we get things right.