We're about to bid farewell to 2008, with war-cries forming background score to the fade-out scene. Luckily, it's a hoax and more of a verbal war that suits the politicians on both sides just right, than a real threat to the nation at large! Thank God for these tiny droplets of mercy!!
2008 - an year of shattered dreams ; hollow promises ; unfulfilled commitments !!
From the global meltdown to terror attacks in Mumbai and other parts of India to the snail paced progress my home state is making in all facets of life, it indeed was a year left with loads to be desired..
Personally, I welcomed 2008 in London and the months thereafter wherein I got to explore Europe and understand the people has been an eye opener and a turning point in my life... starting with the weather - the bone chilling winter was a far cry from the sultry summer I've been thru' all my life - the experience was life changing and has sobered me down to marvel life and the surprises it holds for each one of us with humility!!
Back in India, I never had a dull moment, as social life turns a new leaf as I start appreciating relationships for all its worth !! Each moment of life has become precious to have more (of love and compassion) ; to do more (there's a lot of things I would like to do.. like visit places, take the less travelled route) and to give more (back to the society)...
For me, the highlight of the year was the IFFK at Trivandrum in Dec.. in which I'd a chance to taste the world cinema at its best!!
And with the turn of New Year, I would pick up my backpack once again and take the less trodden path in search of life and it's bountiful!!
The positive thing about life is ; instead of the setbacks 2008 has brought into our lives, we dare to dream and dream to dare... which keeps us all going!
With wishes for a fab 2009 where in all your dreams come true!
Shaji Ramachandran
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Friday, December 5, 2008
Am famined...
Starved is too mild a title for today's topic. Famine-d (though there's no such word!)could capture at least a bit of what I feel right now...
Mumbai terror attack and the aftermath !! Hv been going thru' the network - channels and internet for updates since 26/11.. Media - esp the national English channels has been on top of it ever since, and it's culminated into media vandalism to say the least..
Right now, NDTV is airing a talk show infront of Taj (not again!!) other channels have also been doing this ever since.. Looks like the nation has finally woken up to terrorism... bombings... mass killings... etc., but for the wrong reasons! The elite with loads of money are shaken out of their slumber of false security they felt in five star settings in the midst of luxury and security guards.. They've always been protected by body guards and security gates and thought bombings at least in India happened in railway stations, bus stands and local trains... Now they're shaken out of their sense of security and out there talking nine a hundred about safety and security.. American intelligence report says that if you take stock of bombings and lost lives in the past 4 years around the world, India is in a not so flattering second position next to Iraq. A nation as such is famined!
The sad thing is that our focus has gone all awry... 'beat the politician up' has become the mantra... 'attack pakistan' was another forward doing its rounds by mail... the pseudo patriotism promoted by the network is scary ! the superficial unity showcased by all and sundry is based on hatred towards pakistan, indian muslims, and the minority in general. It stems out of the apolitical mindset of the urban elite. Is it the real India speaking? And the saffronites are out there for shop-looting promoting Hindutva for their political gains.. where're we heading to? Is it to tackle terrorism with fascism?!
The media focus is on Taj and Taj only, when the majority of people who were killed in Mumbai terror attack were at CST and not at Taj.. Is it because those who died at Taj were the urban upper class elite including a Greek multimillionaire, whereas those who lost their precious lives at CST belong to working class and thus deemed as lesser mortals? Sad these channels waste precious airtime bragging about hairline escapes at Tajs & Oberois, when we've lost many an ordinary citizens, some still unidentified at other sites of terror attacks. Sad to see focus being shifted to trivia like (a) slip of the tongue or insensitivity of a home minister and a chief minister and (b) an unwanted member of another chief minister's entourage to terror site, while there's a long and uncomfortable pause or silence about those ordinary citizens and policemen who have sacrificed their very lives for us.. Could you ever call this media vandalism as the true Indian spirit?.. Is it what Indians are thinking?.. Is the country famined of original thought and real patriotism?.. where's the charismatic leadership who could influence a nation? a generation?.. where's that one personality who could change the course of our lives? nation?. I'm starved as the nation is famined...
Shaji Ramachandran
Who's
Mumbai terror attack and the aftermath !! Hv been going thru' the network - channels and internet for updates since 26/11.. Media - esp the national English channels has been on top of it ever since, and it's culminated into media vandalism to say the least..
Right now, NDTV is airing a talk show infront of Taj (not again!!) other channels have also been doing this ever since.. Looks like the nation has finally woken up to terrorism... bombings... mass killings... etc., but for the wrong reasons! The elite with loads of money are shaken out of their slumber of false security they felt in five star settings in the midst of luxury and security guards.. They've always been protected by body guards and security gates and thought bombings at least in India happened in railway stations, bus stands and local trains... Now they're shaken out of their sense of security and out there talking nine a hundred about safety and security.. American intelligence report says that if you take stock of bombings and lost lives in the past 4 years around the world, India is in a not so flattering second position next to Iraq. A nation as such is famined!
The sad thing is that our focus has gone all awry... 'beat the politician up' has become the mantra... 'attack pakistan' was another forward doing its rounds by mail... the pseudo patriotism promoted by the network is scary ! the superficial unity showcased by all and sundry is based on hatred towards pakistan, indian muslims, and the minority in general. It stems out of the apolitical mindset of the urban elite. Is it the real India speaking? And the saffronites are out there for shop-looting promoting Hindutva for their political gains.. where're we heading to? Is it to tackle terrorism with fascism?!
The media focus is on Taj and Taj only, when the majority of people who were killed in Mumbai terror attack were at CST and not at Taj.. Is it because those who died at Taj were the urban upper class elite including a Greek multimillionaire, whereas those who lost their precious lives at CST belong to working class and thus deemed as lesser mortals? Sad these channels waste precious airtime bragging about hairline escapes at Tajs & Oberois, when we've lost many an ordinary citizens, some still unidentified at other sites of terror attacks. Sad to see focus being shifted to trivia like (a) slip of the tongue or insensitivity of a home minister and a chief minister and (b) an unwanted member of another chief minister's entourage to terror site, while there's a long and uncomfortable pause or silence about those ordinary citizens and policemen who have sacrificed their very lives for us.. Could you ever call this media vandalism as the true Indian spirit?.. Is it what Indians are thinking?.. Is the country famined of original thought and real patriotism?.. where's the charismatic leadership who could influence a nation? a generation?.. where's that one personality who could change the course of our lives? nation?. I'm starved as the nation is famined...
Shaji Ramachandran
Who's
Sunday, November 16, 2008
AMSTARVED3...
Just finished reading the compulsive confessor's novel ; 'you are here'.. So.. she's trying to take me thru' the maze called her life ; with a labyrinth of a map which says 'you're here' and leave you all by yourself to try figure out where you actually are..
It's a coffee table book, makes good reading.. gets a sneak preview on how changed the Gen-x is ; with their changed set of aspirations ; with their care free outlook and attitude ; and changed values..
Meenakshi did try to keep the old world charm by sketching the characters (mainly her friends) who are homely ; who falls in love (!) and happy to get married and settle down.. ; but even that effort falls flat on its face with a pathetic thud!
Her blogs makes more interesting reading… any day !!
At the end of the day ; what was there in it for me? Yeah… I did get to know some Gen-x jargons, which I could very well flaunt to my young friends in an effort to look hep..
Am starved to read a story which would haunt me and refuse to leave...
Now am into Adiga’s White Tiger - hoping the experience would be different ; shall revert sooner…
Shaaji Ramachandran
It's a coffee table book, makes good reading.. gets a sneak preview on how changed the Gen-x is ; with their changed set of aspirations ; with their care free outlook and attitude ; and changed values..
Meenakshi did try to keep the old world charm by sketching the characters (mainly her friends) who are homely ; who falls in love (!) and happy to get married and settle down.. ; but even that effort falls flat on its face with a pathetic thud!
Her blogs makes more interesting reading… any day !!
At the end of the day ; what was there in it for me? Yeah… I did get to know some Gen-x jargons, which I could very well flaunt to my young friends in an effort to look hep..
Am starved to read a story which would haunt me and refuse to leave...
Now am into Adiga’s White Tiger - hoping the experience would be different ; shall revert sooner…
Shaaji Ramachandran
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
I'm starved.....2
So guys.. am back after two days in exile.. Hv been to a movie last night. a tamil movie.. 'Subramaniapuram' Wouldn't dare call it a great film.., but it's a beautiful one in terms of originality in concept.. presentation and histrionics... It transverse beyond the medium of film and excels in storytelling... they've adapted the style of telling a story of a village. I felt the movie conveys the pain of betrayers... not one, but many.. the lady love betrays her man, man betrays his friend, a group of people betrays an other.. and it continues...
In Kerala, malayalees are celebrating Onam.. This too is a reminder of a betrayal.. .. and it continues... like in our epics... like in our history... like in our current times.. the betrayal continues...
Shaji Ramachandran
In Kerala, malayalees are celebrating Onam.. This too is a reminder of a betrayal.. .. and it continues... like in our epics... like in our history... like in our current times.. the betrayal continues...
Shaji Ramachandran
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Am starved...
Today happens to be my B'day.. And it's late evening now and i haven't eaten so far... the power supply to my flat has gone off in the morning and they've not restored it yet.. but today India has cleared the NSG proliferation treaty.. the Delhi is celebrating this 'achievement' as they call it. In Orissa, thousands of commoners are slaughtered in communal riots.. In Bihar, deluge has washed away thousands of lives and livelyhood. Am starved!
The Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the US President George Bush are having a telephonic conversation congratulating each other on the great achievement... while in Singur, hundreds of farmers have lost their farming land and are on the verge of committing suicide.. In Kerala, Chengara, the land deprived tribals consider ending their lives. No one is congratulating anybodyhere.Am starved
shajiRamachandran
The Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the US President George Bush are having a telephonic conversation congratulating each other on the great achievement... while in Singur, hundreds of farmers have lost their farming land and are on the verge of committing suicide.. In Kerala, Chengara, the land deprived tribals consider ending their lives. No one is congratulating anybodyhere.Am starved
shajiRamachandran
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