Books read in 2009

I got 'new funda' about reading. Here it is: Watching, Hearing & Speaking is a natural talent inherited by each man to observe nature. But reading and writing are 'artificial' which humans inculcate to record their observed data and learn from them as case studies. Hence, we remember more from cinema, music and speeches delivered lively to us. Reading books is a tough process because it requires patience to understand answer to our curiosity. But, if not practised both cinema, art and literature will perish with the time of an individual.

I really want adaptation of the essence in the translation of books in different regions to understand their culture. Artificial and imposed culture will never survive, how homogeneous it may appear. Books fill this artificial way of life to inherited one, because they are reflection of society's dreams, emerging trends, ambitions, past and faults. I am enlisting the names of books read by me in 2009 with their background and my feedback. [Ratings are highly personal.]

Yugnayak Vivekanand (3 parts)- Swami Gambhiranand- Hindi- 7/10
Detailed biographic account of Swami Vivekanand and his thoughts.

I dare !- Parmesh Dangwal- English- 8/10
Biography of Kiran bedi and what makes her say, I dare !

Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish- Rashmi Bansal- English- 8/10
Collection of the inspiring tales of 25 entrepreneurs of IIMA with simplicity and wisdom lines.

India After Gandhi- Ramachandra Guha- English- 8.5/10
Very balanced contemporary history of India from 1947 to 1985.

A better India, A better world- N.R. Narayana Murthy- English- 8/10
Speeches delivered by author about his vision, corporates, economics, ethics and India coming through his lifetime experiences.

Everybody loves a good drought- P. Sainath- English- 10+/10
Jouranlism showing detailed daily picture of how people live under usury, drought, health and educational predicaments as a result of government mis-management in the name of development of poorest districts of India.

India Unbound- Gurcharan Das- English- 9.5/10
It is the history of India's economy transformation from Independence to Global information age.

An army free world

Is brutality committed in the name of patriotism more justified than violence committed in the name of parallel ideologies, be it Maoism, Jehad, communalism, or Hindu nationalism? The Army is doing the same atrocities everywhere, be it Afghanistan, Kashmir or Palestine. But what is happening currently in Iraq ia much more than that. Read Letter to Young Muslimis by Tariq Ali & Kissinger's fantasy is Obama's reality by Pankaj Mishra.

Tariq Ali's lecture in an American University on Afghan War --- “Obama’s Afghan-Pak Syndrome"
For me, Patriotism means loving people not land.

नीड़ का निर्माण फिर से

नाशाद रहे नाकाम रहे तक़दीर ही अपनी फूट गई जिस शाख पे हमने हाथ धरा वो शाख वही से टूट गई|

Human nature embedded that every time we need to force the pace of change we may have to invent a crisis. Crisis emerged if not invented. So in the time of change, its turning out to be Black December for me...

1- Not selected in the written examination of IRMA by 2 marks.
2- Working hours per week increased by the company.
3- A big escalation of the team (partner in the crime) [Full frontal effect on Appraisal in March]

Failure in IRMA was shocker for me. Once again, a dream was shattered. The grieving will continue for a few days at least. I will vow never to day dream again. But of course I will, and once the pain recedes, I will be grateful for being here at this moment of life. Never say die..

"If you fail to plan, means you are planning to fail.."

Indian Directors- A Report Card

It is very challenging working under constraint, duality of aspiration and reality of cost. The most important thing is finding your own voice, own independent thinking and creative passion like any other field. The work of auteurs can be identified by distinguish content, an organic quality, capturing the natural light and shade of the city, its raw colours and infinite textures. But, no-one knows the rules of commercial films. Gene Siskel agrees with me: “If admission is being charged, the readers deserve a review.” Hence, I am also producing a list. And still knowing that it is easy to criticize and difficult to produce.

Original inspiration for preparation of this report card was hidden in an article read long back ago. That was a sort of incomplete, hence refining work was done by me. Edited version is much different than original work.

Auteur
Directors- Films

John Abrahm- Agraharathil Kazhuthai, Cheriachante Krurakrithyangal.

Adoor Gopalakrishnan- Anatharam, Swaryamvaram.

Govindan Aravindan- Chidambaram, Kanchana Seetha, Pokkuveyil

Satyajit Ray- The Apu Triology, Satranj ke Khiladi

Girish Kasaravalli- Ghatashraddha, Thaayi Saheba, Dweepa

Ritwik Ghatak- Megha Daka Tara, Ajantrik, Subarnarekha

Buddadeb Dasgupta- Uttara, Kaalpurrsh

Mirnal Sen- Khandhar, Bhuvan Shome, Ek Din Achanak

Guru Dutt- Pyaasa, Kagez Ke Phool.

Jahnu Barua- Xagoroloi Bohu Door, Halodhia Choraye Baodhan Khai

Kumar Shahani- Kasbha, Maya Darpan, Char Adhyay

Bimal Roy- Do Bigha Zameen, Madhumita, Bandini, Devdas

Mani Kaul- Uski Roti, Drupad, Idiot.

Shyam Benegal- Nishant, Manthan, Bhumika, Ankur

M.S. Sathyu- Garm Hava , Sookha

The Representatives of Quality
Directors- Films

K. Vishwanath- Swayam Krushi , Sagara Sangamam , Swarnakamalam

Rituporno Ghosh- Unishe April, Rain Coat, Choker Bali

Ajoy Kar- Parineeta, Saptapadi

Mira Nair- Salaam Bombay!, Monsoon Wedding

Deepa Mehta- Water, Earth, Fire

Shekhar Kapur Bandit Queen, Masoom

Aparna Sen- 36 Chowringee Lane, Mr& Mrs Iyer, 15 Park Avenue

Sai Paranjape- Sparsh, Katha

Mani Ratnam- Nayakan, Bombay, Dil Se

Prakash Jha- Gangajal, Damul

Vishal Bhardwaj- Omkara, Maqbool

Anurag Kashyp- Black Friday, Paanch

Kamalakara Kameshwara Rao- Gundamma Katha, Panduranga Mahatyam

Sudhir Mishra- Hazaaron Khwaishein Aise, Yeh Woh manzil to nahin

Raj Kapoor- Awaara, Mis 420, Mera Naam Joker, Aag

Hrisikeh Mukherjee- Golmaal, Chhoti Si Baat and Naram Garam

Bharathi Rajaa- Pathinaru Vayathinile, Nizhalgal

Girish Karnad- VamshaVruksha, Tabbaliyu neenade magane

Ram Gopal Verma- Satya, Company, Sarkar, Bhoot

Chetan Anand- Neccha Nagar, Haqeeqat

Basu Chaterjee- Dillagi, Chitchor, Choti Si Baat, Khatta Meetha

Gulzar- Koshish, Mausam, Aandhi, Angoor

Jabbar Patel Simhasan, Samna

V Shantaram- Do Aankhein Barah Haath, Dr. Kotnis ki Amar Kahani

Ketan Mehta- Mirch Masala, Bhavni Bhavai, Maya Memsaab

Mehbooh Khan- Aan, Mother India, Andaz

Raj Khosla- CID, Who Kyun Thi?

M. T. Vasudevan Nair- Nirmalayam, Kadavu, Bandhanam

Singeetham Srinivasa Rao- Pushpak, Apoorva Sahodarargal

Balu Mahendra- Moondram Pirai, Veedu, Sadma

Govind Nihalani- Droh Kaal, Ardh Satya, Aakrosh

T. Hariharan- Pazhassi Raja, Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha

K. Balachander- Rudra Veena, Unnal Mudiyum Thambi

Tapan Sinha- Kabuliwala, Ek Doctor Ki Maut

Kamal Hassan- Virumandi, Hey Ram

Gautom Ghosh- Paar, Dakhal,Yatra

Bharathan- Thevar Magan, Thazhvaram

Jandhyala- Aha Naa Pellanta, Jayammu Nischayammu Raa!

Sathyan Anthikad- Nadodikkattu, Pattana Pravesham

Saeed Akhtar Mirza- Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro,Mohan Joshi Hazir Ho!

Shankar Nag- Nodi Swamy Navirodu Hige, Accident

Shaji N. Karun- Vaanaprastham, Piravi

G.V. Iyer- Bhagwat Geeta, Adi Shankaracharya

Utpalendu Chakrabarty- Chokh

B.V. Karanth- Godhuli, Chomana Dudi

Kalpana Lazmi- Rudaali, Daman

Mainstream Filmmskers
Director- Films

B.R. Chopra- Naya Daur, Kanoon, Nikaah

Satyen Bose- Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, Dosti

Gautham Menon- Kaakha..Kaakha: The Police, Minnale

Dibakar Banerjee- Khosla Ka Ghosla! , Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!

K.S. Ravikumar- Panchatanthiram, Thenali

Kundan Shah- Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa

Bala (I-) Naan Kadavul, Pithamagan

Rajkumar- Hirani Munnabhai series

Rakeysh Om Mehra- Rang De Basanti, Delhi 6

Madur Bandarkar- Traffic Signal, Chandini Bar, Page 3

Mahesh Bhatt- Arth, Janam, Naam

Ramesh Sippy- Sholay, Shakit, Buniyaad

Prakash Mehra- Zanjeer, Lawarris

Yash Chopra- Waqt, Lamhe, Deewar

Priyadarshan- Kilukkam, Kaalapaani, Kanchivaram

Farhan Akhtar- Dil Chaatha Hai, Don, Lakshya

S.P. Muthuraman- Enakkul Oruvan, Aarilirindhu Aruvathu Varai

Kodanda Rami Reddy A.- Abhilasha , Khaidi

Vijay Anand- Gudie, Jhonny Mera Naam, Teesri Manzil

Siddique Lal- In Harihar Nagar, Ramji Rao Speaking

Fazil- Manichithrathazhu, Poovizhi Vasalile

Rajkumar Santoshi- Andaz Apna Apna, Ghayal

Manoj Kumar- Shor, Roti Kapda Aur Makan, Upkaar

Sibi Malayil- Bharatham, Kireedam

Ashoutoush Gowarikar- Laagan, Swades, Jodha Akbar

Sanjay Leela Bhansali- Devdas, Black, Khamoshi: The musical

Sriram Raghavan- Johnny Gaddaar, Ek Hasina Thi

Shimit Amin- Ab tak Chappan, Chak De India

Sandip Ray- Goopy Bagha Phire Elo , Bombaiyer Bombete

Santhana Bharathi- Mahanadi, Guna

Santosh Sivan- Theeviravaathi: The Terrorist, Halo

I.V. Sasi- Devasuram, Kanamarayathu

Pan Nalin- Samsara, Kaal

A. Bhimsingh- Pasamalar, Naya Din Nai Raat

Kamal Amrohi- Pakeezah, Razia Sultan

Nitin Bose- Gunga Jumna

Anant Mane- Pori Jara Japun

Jayaraaj- Kaliyattam, Shantam

Sreenivasan- Vadakkunokkiyantram, Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala

Rajat Kapoor- Mithya, Raghu Romeo

Vidhu Vinod Chopra- Khamosh, Parinda

Ramu Kariat- Chemmeen, Neelakkuyil

J P Dutta- Border, Ghulami

N. Chandra- Ankush, Pratighaat

Shakti Samanta- Aradhana, Kati Patang

K. Asif- Mughale Azaam

Emerging Names
Directors- Films

Vasanth- Aasai

Nagesh Kukunoor- Dor, Iqbal

Umesh Vinayak Kulkarni- Valu

Sandeep Sawant- Shwaas

Chandra Prakash Dwivedi- Pinjar

Farah Khan- Main Hoon Na, Om Shanti Om

Blessy- Kaazhcha, Thanmathra

Anubhav Sinha- Tum Bin, Dus

Pradep Sarkar- Parineeta

Navdeep Singh- Manorma Six feet under

K. Selvaraghavan- Kadhal Konden

Nishikant Kamat- Mumabi Meri Jaan, Evano Oruvan

Ameer Sultan- Raam, Paruthi Veeran

Radha Mohan- Mozhi

Onir- My Brother... Nikhil, Sorry Bhai!

Rajnesh Domalpalli- Vanaja

Anurag Basu- Life in Metro, Murder

Sekhar Kammula- Godavari, Happy Days

Kabir Khan- Kabul Express

Chandrasekhar Yeleti- Aithe, Anukokunda Oka Roju

Nikhil Advani- Kal Ho na ho

Tom George- Lessons

Vishnuvardhan- Pattiyal, Arindhum Ariyamalum

Shyamaprasad- Akale, Ore Kadal

Cheran- Thavamai Thavamiruntu, Autograph

Rajiv Anchal- Guru

Shoojit Sircar- Yaahan

Roshan Andrews- Udayananu Tharam, Notebook

Tanuja Chandra- Sur: The Melody of Life

Renjith- Nandanam, Kayyoppu

Aditya Chopra- DDLJ

Manish Jha- Matrabhhomi

Bhaskar- Bommarillu,Parugu

Priyanandanan- Pulijanmam

Omitted Names: Subhash Ghai, S. Shankar, Rakesh Roshan, Sanjay Gupta, Manmohan Desai, Kunal Kholi, Karan Johar, Anil Sharma, Sooraj Barjatiya etc are not there in this list. Opinions are completely mine and I suggest to all people who read the blog or post to send a feedback and suggestion so that we can really improve and create a certain discourse over the works and standing of “Directors” in Indian Cinema.

Articles on Cyberworld:

1- A fourth of India turning into desert: ISRO study : No less than a fourth of India’s geographical area, or 81 million hectares, is undergoing a process of desertification

2- Communism Lite - Kerala : Story of Communist party in Kerala covered by Karl E. Meyer and Shareen Brysac, for the Pulitzer Center.

3- Doctors without Borders--- An Indian story of not-so-young Indian doctors who left behind their flourishing career in medicine as well as the lure of huge bucks to go and work in rural India.

4- Johann Hari reports The dark side of Dubai and Dubai: A morally bankrupt dictatorship built by slave labour ; Dubai was meant to be a Middle-Eastern Shangri-La, a glittering monument to Arab enterprise and western capitalism. But as hard times arrive in the city state that rose from the desert sands, an uglier story is emerging.

5- Born for others : True accounts of persons dedicated for good of Society covered by By DeCruz Pulikottil & Kanhaiah Bhelari.

This story beats everything I’ve ever read/heard about friendship……

Horror gripped the heart of a World War-I soldier, as he saw his lifelong friend fall in battle. The soldier asked his Captain if he could go out to bring his fallen associate back.

“You can go,” said the Captain, “but don’t think it will be worth it.Your friend is probably dead and you may throw your life away.”

The Captain ’s words didn’t matter, and the soldier went anyway. Miraculously, he managed to reach his friend, hoisted him onto his shoulder and brought him back to their company’s trench.

The officer checked the wounded soldier, then looked kindly at his friend. "I told you it wouldn’t be worth it,” he said. “Your friend is dead and you are mortally wounded.”

“It was worth it, Sir,” said the soldier.

“What do you mean by worth it?” responded the Captain.”Your friend is dead.”

“Yes Sir,” the soldier answered, “but it was worth it because when I got to him, he was still alive and I had the satisfaction of hearing him say…….

” Man…I knew you would come ! ”

Cinema - To each his own view

Reading Material on Cinema:
Cinephila in India: A search for love and identity : Explore the identity and divisions among Cinema lovers in India. To make India a better place for cinema, there is now a need for professional cinephiles performing responsibilities like film programmer, film critics & film teachers ;

Legend of Gurudutt : The most complete and original stalwart of black and white era.

Sudhir Mishra Interview : Let us know about a director of quality cinema.

Farcical script by M S Sathyu :Unwilling to evolve out of its crude, star-dominated phase, the Kannada film industry is resorting to the language of chauvinism comments M S Sathyu

This is a blog post for those who "see Films", not "watch movies".

The Cinema:
People are not valued in this bollywood industry. Ritwik Ghatak made 7 films that nobody saw. When he died, people started calling him a great filmmaker. Here in India, they wait for a person to die, and helm him in the label of great. This country lives in the shadows of past and never attempt to break the shackles of orthodox tradition. Gurudutt's epic 'Pyaasa' is the true depiction of this cynicism.

Good cinema comes from creating magic moments. The ability to create magic on screen is what separates the great directors from the hacks and DVD xerox machines. A movie maker, on his/her first film, comes with a lot of excitement, openness and willingness to learn ad explore. It is the way bollywood handles this that makes it a dream debut for him/her. But over the time, all the enthusiasm is wasted in fighting a system without any praise or awards.

The only thing maestros have pursued in their lives is film making. But now young directors don't go to waste their time pursuing people to watch maestro like John Abhraham, Kumar Sahini, M. S. Sathyu or Mani Kaul. FTII emerged as major talent supplier in the actors but failed to make its presence noticed in mainstream. All current generation of film makers have grown up watching more world cinema than regional cinema (Indian). But on their side, films are powerful medium expression, so it is very easy to loose your own identity and uniqueness. Kurosawa's, Godard's, Majidi's, Hitchock’s and Kubrick’s of this world can easily overshadow their own voice. Hence, the originality should not be suppressed in making films for growth of Indianness in our films. We need to feel films and at the same time not to loose our style of storytelling.

There are mainly two type of film viewers in India. One who wants entertainment and another who demands for reality. Until, People reject B grade commercial movies in favor of cinema with sensibilities, nothing is going to be change. Commercial Hindi cinema still remains the opium for the masses. We don't take our cinema seriously. Ultimately, what's great about any film is that it should connects and engage to the audience with keeping focus on original content. Easy said than done !!!

There was a wayward fashion in which youth were treated in Bollywood films, where every college student aside from the hero/heroine are party-going idiots or jittery nerds! The trend of depiction of youth or realism is so dead-on and realistic in films like DCH, Wake Up Sid or Mumbai Mere Jaan. There is a change and, the characters talk like how they're supposed to talk, and nothing seems unrealistic about their personality.

The audience wanted something else than typo but they had no option previously. Today, fresh blood is coming into film making. For 40 years, all these stupid filmmakers were saying that we should give the audience what they want, which is a lie. Either Sensible filmmakers were kept at periphery or pushed towards parallel cinema. People love good cinema as per given the diverse choice. Previously, producers jumped into film making due to love of quick money, not cinema. Today independent cinema is supported by cinephile who are watching and becoming part of change with world cinema. Anurag Kashyap put it eloquently "There is cinematic progress as well. One has to be clear that it is relative. In a country like India, a 4 or a 5 is a development, since our cinema is a 3. We cannot think of being at 7 or 8 straightaway. The process of change would be gradual." [Cited]
Upton Sinclair said a great line, truly held on producers of mindless bollywood films : "It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends upon his not understanding it!"

My Cinema:
There is not the single one but many' movie changed my life and turned into passion. Thanks to the pre Cable TV days, I was able to access the regional cinema in childhood on DD. Then, engineering college days opened doors of the heaven. I met with the guys who were equally proactive about good cinema irrespective of language barrier. I stumbled across lots of unknown films from world over and I was awestruck by the stories and characters. I never imagined films to be so meaningful medium of expressions, expressions of thoughts and emotions. Thank you LAN sharing, DC++ and torrents. American, Iranian, Italian, French, Japanese and each tiny nation was giving its own share unique cinematic experience to the world audience. Entertainment is as necessary as anything else but a whole nation is dying to see cute dimples, macho hero, evil villain, plastic emotions and artificial adayen only. That was unexplainable to me. I was ashamed that why film industry making 800 movies can't produce or even encourage genuine film makers.

Then, I read history of our cinema. A subject so critical yet missing in our academic syllabus. 'Winds from the east' was major revelation to understand cinema. And, my big brother helped me lot in understanding this medium. It’s just so refreshing when famous people turn out to be intelligent and really engage in a conversation. And Nitesh was one of them, otherwise too often it’s just rote PR fluff. Passion for cinema & Indian Auteur are full of people who are passionate and know about cinema.

I came across the films which moved me and provided deep insight. During a short span of time, they made me feel, overwhelm, think, travel in time, amaze and wonder. Cinema is thought as ugly thing to work but good thing to watch for entertainment in Indian society. This hypocrisy was understood by me and all mental blockages were opened. Actually watching films is opens your mind. It is just not the time pass but learning for lifetime. We see how filmmakers have expressed their emotions through visual medium and it is not important to watch films, but feel it. It is difficult to feel things because you need to surrender to feel and fall in love with it. I watch characters growing and becoming part of me with each sharing of cinematic moment with film. Long back ago, I’m all of them and they are all me set against that picturesque landscape of fleeting transcendence. Good Cinema is not which gives you what you desire, It tells you how to desire.

Till date, I am known as yayaver to people on cyberworld. My passion for cinema inspires me to the next level: create it. Even if I could not create it, then I will promote it.

Steps leading to the No. 1 ranking

Steps leading to the No. 1 ranking

Harsha Bhogle: The rise of cricket, the rise of India

Something about Indian economy

There is huge learning resource by PBS here in this weblink. PBS is sharing with us the interview, profiles, essay and debates of great economists, leaders and entrepreneurs of recent 100 years. Commanding Heights. Few of them are 3,4 years old but are worth reading Interviews :Dr. Manmohan Singh , P. Chidambaram and NarayanMurthy.

Featuring India's Honourable Minister of Human Resource Development Shri Kapil Sibal on MIT.


This video is part of the B&K Securities MIT India Forum with featured speaker: Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman of the Indian Planning Commission.


Crash Lecture on Indian Economy 1947- 2010:

Post 1947, Institutional capacities were created. The social institutions and the legal framework for a market economy were put in place. A system of higher education was developed. Entrepreneurial talents and managerial capabilities were fostered. Science and technology was accorded a priority. The capital goods sector was established. Much of this did not exist in colonial India. They all were started from the scratch with weightage given to huge public sector investment.

Then reform is several sectors were stopped completely. The social sector,i.e. Healthcare and primary education was given very low priority in developmental growth. Our independent India was against anything foreign. Its march to self dependency hindered free flow of information and capital flow in the development of nation. But protective economy was the need of those moment. There was need to move ahead and Dr. Manmohan singh predicted it long back in his days at England. Now its time to swing back to socialist reign to capitalsitic nature.

Indian Bureaucracy:

We've all heard, "It's not what you know, it's who you know.

British invented bureaucracy for India, the Indians perfected it. They built a perfect system of such complexity that nobody could penetrate it,nobody could defeat it. It is immensely elaborate and best brain of India working it. Today, RTI is slowly uncovering the hidden veils and making it more transparent. Still accountability part is far from the dream. The Right to Information Act can be regarded as an aberration in view of the government's longstanding penchant for secrecy, which is a colonial-era legacy. IT sector and bollywood succeed because government did not make it as a national priority. It was just investment of smart people in these respective fields. BCCI working very well unlike other sports bodies. Private Sector has mobilized the youths and enable them to be risk taking.

Bureaucracy liked things to be frozen. That showed their power. Hence, you will find government offices to be always either ruled by the books or moulded in favour of corrupt and powerful. As the social, economic or political events become dynamic, the wheel of power shifts to other person. Hence, the static rule of bureaucracy disappear.

LC Corner

An adapted post about Limbdi Corner @IT BHU written by Pablo (Source) :-

If you are coming to IT for the first 1 time and you venture along the hostel 1 road, at a certain intersection one is bound to notice a mass congregated in front of a small squarish building. And because that intersection leads to the girls hostel is not the chief reason why people tend to gather at that point. It's because that small squarish building is ITBHU's answer to any ridiculously overpriced fast food chain. That structure is Limbdi Corner, the chief hang-out spot for any ITian who cares to leave the confines of the hostel rooms and take a breath of fresh air. Located at one corner of the Rajputana football field, and surrounded by trees that drape their leaves providing a rather picturesque shade, it provides the perfect break while coming back from classes during the evening, and sometimes proves to be a better alternative than spending time in the classes, there are many who start from their hostels firmly determined to attend classes, but many decide to stay back and spend quality time at LC. There are always two kettles of tea boiling over the coal fire, a small one for ispeshul chai and a large kettle for regular chai. And the short and broad glasses getting filled, emptied, cleaned and filled again. Then of course there are the trademark servings of samosas and kachoris served in leaves with their own taste that is quite unique with LC.

The ultimate rendezvous point for any ITian, a random selection of text messages from cellphones is bound to reveal messages like 'I am at LC, where are you?' or 'Come ASAP to LC' or 'LC @ 5 PM' or words to the same effect. For us LC is the place to meet, mostly due to the sweet allure of the tea at LC.

There is this shade right across the road of LC, which perhaps was earlier used as a bus stop or for some similar purpose, however it is now the designated domain of LC squatters who use their lung power for shouting out orders of tea and for the ubiquitous laughter. It is quite a coveted for whatever group of four or more who wish to sit around and while away their time at LC. LC is the place where over steaming glasses of tea and endless servings of samosa and kachoris friends are made, relationships cemented, people meet, students revel in the present, alumni's rejoice the past and freshers stop worrying about the future. LC is the place where hearts meet, whole events are decided and convened, impromptu meetings take place, a hundred songs get written, a thousand theatrics are performed, where a few hearts get broken. A lot happens over tea, at LC.

#Photo is taken from google image.

Friends: Stand By Me

What legacy I will leave after my death. That question bother me. I can give power, wealth and ego but not my friends. I am feeling that I will die in few years. Just an intuition. I want to express my feeling about my friends in cinematic way as a last note from the film 'Stand by Me'.

Stand By Me is a story of how one event can unexpectedly change lives. It seems to be a story about friends and how important they are, but this possible theme is clearly dispelled in a line from the narration spoken at the end of the film :–

`As time went on, we saw less and less of Teddy and Vern, until eventually they became just two more faces in the halls. It happens sometimes, friends come in and out of your life like busboys at a restaurant.'

Instead, this time less film is about learning from a life changing experience and actually making changes or modifying your life in some way because of it. I am blessed with really good friends who accepted me as I was and cared for me. This post is dedicated to all of mine friends especially intimate ones : Vishu, Sanju, VVS, Chaudhary, Golu, AGP, chammo, kunal, hathi, chandan, and bond. This song is for my friends whom I will never let down:-

Creativity -Search for meaning

People who achieve great success in any discipline - science, business, education, the arts, etc. are always creative. It makes sense to define the creative part of any intellectual endeavor as 'looking for patterns and relationships or trying to create them. I think it does suggest that the definition of "idea" as "a new combination of existing elements" is indeed true. The first is conscious, periodic and primarily externally motivated. The second is unconscious, ongoing and primarily internally motivated.

Truly creative people create not because they want to, but because they have to. They are in a constant state of wondering why, asking what if, and looking for meaning. When meaning isn't apparent, they have to find a way to create it. Creators are meaning makers. They’re in an ongoing (and perhaps neurotic) pursuit of existential stasis.

The search for meaning is inherently emotionally and psychologically volatile. That may be why creative masters as an archetype are moody, insecure and depressed. In fact, as Eric Maisel points out in his intriguing book "The Van Gogh Blues," it's a cliché that creativity and depression go hand-in-hand. But clichés are the children of truth. Maisel writes: "... creators are not necessarily afflicted with some biological disease or psychological disorder that causes them to experience depression at the alarming rates we see. They experience depression simply because they are caught up in a struggle to make life seem meaningful to them. People for whom meaning is no problem are less likely to experience depression. But for creators, losses of meaning and doubts about life's meaningfulness are persistent problems - even the root causes of their depression... Creators have trouble maintaining meaning. Creating is one of the ways they endeavor to maintain meaning. In the act of creation, they lay a veneer of meaning over meaninglessness and sometimes produce work that helps others maintain meaning. ... Not creating is depressing because [creators are] not making meaning when [they are] not creating."

Thanks to Nimmy for providing weblink. Click here for Source of the article.

Thought of the day: Be yourself, be natural. It is far easier than pretending to be someone else.

What does social democracy mean?

It means a way of life which recognizes liberty, equality and fraternity as the principles of life. These principles of liberty, equality and fraternity are not to be treated as separate items in a trinity. They form a union of trinity in the sense that to divorce one from the other is to defeat the very purpose of democracy. Liberty cannot be divorced from equality, equality cannot be divorced from liberty. Nor can liberty and equality be divorced from fraternity. Without equality, liberty would produce the supremacy of the few over the many. Equality without liberty would kill individual initiative. Without fraternity, liberty would produce the supremacy of the few over the many.

The constitution drafted under the chairmanship of Dr. Ambedkar allows equality, liberity, fraternity and justice to every Indian citizen but the law enforcing agencies are in the hands of the elite class. Some part of the Indian bureaucracy and English speaking media is possibly made up of RNIs (Resident Non-Indians), whose children and future, they have ’secured’ in the West – much like the indifferent westener. And this may be the one quality, that possibly is the one thing, that the RNIs and foreigners share – indifference to the fate of the country.