61 Years - Building a more powerful India

What a memorable gift on India's 61st Independence Day! We are proud. India is Proud and we as Indians are Proud.

Date: 11 August 2008:
Place: Beijing, China

There could not have been a better for India on her 61st birthday. The first ever Olympic Gold in any individual event, since 1896, by ace shooter Abhinav Bindra in the Men's 10m Air Rifle.

For him it will never get old listening to Indian national anthem with a gold medal round his neck on the world's biggest stage, where everyone stood after 28 years when Indian hockey team claimed gold in 1980 Moscow Olympics.

It was a medal for Abhinav; it was redemption for India.

Never again will anyone be able to point a smug, sardonic finger and say: "No Indian is good enough to win an individual Olympic gold."

It was memorable and “chuk de India “ then also for the Indian men’s field hockey team winning eleven medals in twelve Olympiads between 1928 and 1980, including six successive gold medals from 1928–1956.

No matter what we or the world thinks about India, we all and should be proud that India is on move.

Twelfth largest economy in the world, at market exchange rates.
Second fastest growing economy in the world.
The third largest standing army in the world.
Fourth largest air force in the world.
Fourth largest in purchasing power.
Fifth largest navy in the world.
Ninth 9th in the world in terms of nuclear capacity.

We are “Chuck De” in every field and still we don’t make noise.

I salute India on her 61st Independence India. I salute every one making her a proud nation.

Interpretation cannot be the reality of life.

In our daily life, we all come across various people, varied situations and come to our own conclusions, form our own opinions and judgements. Even me at times, I won’t deny. We see things and perceive them, as our reflexes are instant and involuntary.

How we perceive and come to a particular conclusion is our interpretation placing our logic, if not we try to make it logical as per our convenience and state of mind.

However once interpretation cannot be the reality of life.

Everyday our mailbox is loaded with many messages. One such mail forwarded by one of my friends touched my life a lot and am sure those who have read this would have felt the same.

I will like to share this short train journey crowded with people from different walks of life, everyone having their own interpretations of the situation.

Near the window, sat an old man with his 30 year old son. As the train moves by, the son is overwhelmed with joy as he was thrilled by the scenery outside..

"See dad, the scenery of green trees moving away is so beautiful"

This behaviour from a thirty year old son made the other people feel strange about him. Every one started murmuring something or other about this son.

"This guy seems to be a Crack.." A newly married Anup whispered to his wife.

Suddenly it started raining... Rain drops fell on the travellers through the open window. The Thirty year old son, filled with joy “see dad, how beautiful the rain is .."

Anup's wife got irritated with the rain drops spoiling her new suit.

Anup "Can't you see its raining, you old man, if your son is not feeling well get him soon to a mental asylum. , and don’t disturb public henceforth"

The old man hesitated first and then in a low tone replied "We are on the way back from hospital, my son got discharged today morning, he was a blind by birth, last week only he got his vision, these rain and nature are new to his eyes.. Please forgive us for the inconvenience caused..."

The things we see may be right from our perspective until we know the truth. But when we know the truth our reaction to that will hurt even us. So try to understand the problem better before taking a harsh action.

This implies to media as well where many reporters have changed their job profiles being Judgemental (sensational I should say) forgetting reporting is stating facts and not giving options.

If reporters’ start giving opinions then what are editorials for?

Creativity

We all have to think about what we “Want” and what we “Need”

Imagination is the beginning of creation. We imagine what we desire, we will what we imagine and at last we create what we will.

”This is a mental process involving the generation of new ideas or concepts, and putting them in shape.

It may look simple, yet is quite complex. Creativity can be associated with both behavioural and social psychology, philosophy and there are no set standards to measure it.

It is how we look at it and how we all perceive. Natural Creations can’t be changed and there is a perfect harmony. It is we who change this harmony by trying to fix them.

Here again we all look at them with our own perception. The same moon looks good when we feel good but when it is full it pulls up the greatest tides.

Children, Television & Advertising

The third commercial of Ramayana. This time a melodious song from a child.

E Ganpat chal daru la.
E Ganpat chal daru la.
Are Sada thoda kam soda thoda pani mila.
Are Sada thoda kam soda thoda pani mila.
Thoda tere liye bacha thoda de na.

Literal translation in English means:

Ganpat get me a drink. Ganpat get me a drink. With little soda, simple soda get me a drink. Some for you and some for me, get me a drink.

Television advertising has been an established form of advertising and it reaches children too. In some countries there are laws which say

“A commercial with advertising that is broadcast during commercial breaks on the television must not have the purpose of attracting the attention of children under 12 years of age.”

It is ironic or rather unfortunate that here children are in lead roles.

In India also there are certain codes of ethics for commercial broadcasting, issued by the advertising council of India, specially when it involves children.

Indecent, vulgar, suggestive, repulsive or offensive themes or treatment has to be avoided in all advertisement.

I believe media should not make it such a melodrama, and the same thing can be put forward in a better way.

Why blame only the media, we all are responsible, specially parents who encourage their children. Don't they realise, the damage they are causing to their children, and if they do understand and realise this, they have no right to pass on this to the teachers and society.

We all have to think, seriously before it is late.