Mile Sur..

How do you inspire a nation? How do you instill the sense of pride yet humility in a billion hearts?

We do it with art and music and dance. In our country, there is music in every state, city, street, even every house (one should hear my mom waking me up!) and that becomes the obvious medium..

Back in the 80s, when I was growing up, I was too young to understand anything about the political climate of the nation but from the 9 pm news I remembered it was turmoil. We had a Prime Minister murdered, community hate crimes, formation of many regional political parties. The late 80s was probably one of the most volatile times the nation has seen.

At this time, the Lok Seva Sanchar Parishad inspired a nation’s spirit with Mile Sur Mera Tumhara – written by an accountant and composed by a Marathi Music Director. They created a musical master piece – one message conveyed in 14 languages, rendered by the musical greats of the nation. It started with the power packed voice of Pandit Bhimsen Joshi ji. Then there was Shri Balamurlikrishna ji who sang his piece with the sweetest smile along a beach. I distinctly remember a short wave rising and ending with his notes – perfect timing! And of course there was Lata ji with her pallu in tri-color and an unmatched voice. I learned all the 14 languages by heart even if there was only one line I could really say. I loved the painting that a lonely painter paints on the beach of Goa. There were singers, sportsperson, dancers, painters, actors but most importantly, the general population.

As a child, it had a very deep impact on me. This was my first brush with the diversity of my land. Not a single run of this on TV would be missed. Mom would come out of kitchen to hear it completely and that etched the importance of this work – not just a rare musical feat but a very important one.

Yes, it indeed inspired the nation. It inspired me.

I was waiting to see how the new version looked like. Forget about inspiring, it hardly had any impact on me. It dragged and dragged and dragged – 3 times the length of the original track, yet no where close to what the original did. I liked a few bits of it, the instruments, Bhupendra Hazarika ji and Sonu Nigam doing his bit. But can someone tell me what all those Bollywood stars were doing there? I mean it was not a Filmfare function where every one had to come on stage! We needed youth icons and representatives - not the entire industry! Can some one tell me what was Salman Khan doing in this video? Isn’t he criminally charged with, like, killing a few people and the endangered Chinkara? While, I must admit that his was one of the best shots piece but did the makers not have enough sense to have him put on a shirt while he was around kids? And for heaven’s sake, don’t gesture bite on TV!! Can someone tell Mr. Shahrukh Khan that it is a patriotic album and not one of those stupid romantic movies where he cries, pouts and expects a heroine to run into his outstretched arms? Can someone tell me what was that stupid piece to which Aamir Khan tried his best to bring life to? Lata Mangeshkar ji has been inspiring nation right from the days of Aye Mere Vatan ke logon. I believe she still does that..Did she not deserve a spot here? Haven't the industrialists and entrepreneurs inspired the nation more than the KJos of Indian film industry to find a place in this? And does one really think that Cricket and Hockey will find no representation when showing India and its unity in diversity? Crazy!!

No guys, it is the quality which matters not the quantity. Phir Mile Sur is the display of Indian cinema glamor stars, unlike the original. And that's pretty much about it..

Here's the original one..

Long live Indian Republic!

Good Bye 2009!

I am back to US, people, after a 15 day trip to India. I came, I ate and I went back. These were the general sentiments of my family after my trip back home. While almost everyone was unhappy about the very short trip I made, the chat walas, the mithai walas and the namkeen walas of Bhopal were the unhappiest of the lot the day I was leaving. Nobody cried just like 1.5 years back when I was coming for US except my mom of course. This trip was marked by completely illogical conversations, for example statements like “Anusha you need to lose weight” and “Anusha ek roti aur, thoda chawal aur” uttered in a single meal by the same person (yeah you guessed it right) and heavy doses of what ma ka dil goes through (ma ke dil pe kya beetati hai yeh tum abhi nahi samjhogi etc.). Dad maintained his stoic poise and Sandeep felt I did not get enough things for him given the numerous times he has bailed me out!

I wanted to meet a lot of people, but the ones I met made me realize what a wonderful family I really have. Specially my brothers – Sandeep, Raja Bhaiyya and Prateek – the three pillars I have (I wanted to call them Gandhi ji ke teen, you-know-what, but I thought that would be rude) touched my heart in ways I had least expected. Brothers care in a very very special way and I say this because these three showed it this time numerous times. Bhaiyya log, aap logon ne Rakhi* ki laaj rakh li.

Also, with Jan 1 round the corner, I think it is time to retrospect again. This has been an amazing year. As far as I can remember, this has been the greatest year I ever lived. It was marked by amazing experiences at every level. I did things I never thought I would or I could do. In fact, about a lot of things, I amazed myself. I had some of the most meaningful conversations with my best friends. I had some of the most relaxing times with a friend I never thought I would be able to ever spend time with. I had some stunning celebrations this year during Guru Purnima and Diwali. I lost a few things too. Some losses were more devastating than others. Some of them permanently damaged my personality. Some can call that a change that happens to everyone every few years, though I wonder how different change is from deformation. But I would just let them go and not brood over it on this blog too. I have my spare time and Varsha around to think about it! You get the drift, right? But 2009 has been magnificent in every sense of the word. I would love to have a few more years like this one minus the losses of course!

So people, this is going to be the last post this year. And I will take a moment to specially thank you for all the comments you posted this year. Trust me, comments mean a lot to me. All those who have been bribed or blackmailed to read and comment here, I want to tell you that you guys have been doing a great job! Varsha, Amit ji, Shrijeet you guys are great! Even after being bribed and blackmailed so much, you still come, read and comment! Hats off!! And then readers like Megha , RR and Sachin– the only thing I can say and which may make any sense would be thank you for being so kind to me with your regular presence here. Thank you so much! Any silent readers? I would say don't bear it in silence, speak up! All others, like the anonymous dudes who are identified so easily by their usage of certain words (kia, velli etc), well it would help if you guys are more regular in commenting, but umm, err, okay, never mind! I won't be too mean. :-P

So let me wish you all a very happy and prosperous 2010! Let’s have wonderful memories to retrospect in December 2010! :-)

* Rakhi is a holy thread tied by sisters on the wrist of their brothers on the full moon of Shravan. (In times like these when Rakhi can come with a last name like Sawant, I thought I should clarify!)

The month that is..

I have always been residing in the Northern Hemisphere. So it is winter time in this half of the world and my favorite season ever. My dil goes umm umm umm...

For me, the 10 days of winter break were always more precious than the 2 months scorching summer vacations. Incidentally, ice cream which is trademark summer dessert tastes best in winters. One big reason for winters being such a special time was that my mom and dad would take their year end vacations in December last week and it would always such nice family time. The vacations would start with nice Christmas celebrations in school and no exams in January. It also is birthday month for the two best and most special people I know – Ila and Sandeep.

Bhopal can get quite cold. At least it would when I was in school with bright sunshine everywhere. One of the best things about winters is food. All those hot preparations – from sambhar to aloo paratha to methi paratha and what not. Couple that with unlimited doses of tea and it is feast time. After having that garma garam khana and idling for a couple of hours in sun outside, I would tuck myself in the razai and get a couple of hours of sleep. Oh my God! Can there ever be a better relaxation!!

December would be exam time in college. But given the fact I never studied, I could carry on the eat-food-idle-in-the-sun-and-tuck-in-the-bed routine quite well in Indore too. Even though there would be no mom-made food, but heck I was in Indore! A hot plate of garadu or steaming Calcutta roll or the awesome moong daal halwa at Sarafa, followed by a cup of coffee at Buddy’s café was the perfect recipe for perfect winter time with the perfect people in the world.

And then I was in Pune. It never gets that cold in Pune as it would in Bhopal or Indore. But still it is very very special time. A plate of sizzlers at Yana’s followed by chat at Kailash bhaiyya’s thela or paratha at Chaitanya and a cup of coffee at the Wanowrie or MG Road CCD. Or if you are tired eating outside, you could actually go to Shrijeet’s place and aunty would make some real nice sooji ka halwa. You would just eat your way to glory and tuck your self in and have fun.

But food was not the only thing that made winters in Pune special. This is the time for Sawai Gandharva mahotsava. I remember this one time I could not get tickets and I heard the program standing outside. This would be the time when there would be a lot of concerts in Pune. You could go to a Jagjit Singh show or Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma ji’s concert or the one and only Zakir Hussain saab. It was a privilege being in Pune and I cannot tell how much I miss that.

Winters in Dallas are not bad either! For one it is much colder here. Nothing compared to the rest of America. But it is cold for Indians from Bhopal, Indore and Pune. One of the best things I like is the warm jackets and coats that I can wear here. The fact that it also helps hiding all the fat you get after eating all that food is purely incidental.

I am visiting India this winter. It is going to be a very short trip, but still I am looking forward to it. Nice mom made food, some birthday celebrations, meeting all those wonderful people back there would be so nice..

The small snow flakes you see here are a small dedication to the month of December!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…

Random blabbing

Mera Birthday hai, Travel again, packing still not done. Eat food. Should I buy DSLR? American football is awesome! Still Cricket is the only sport I am ever going to follow. Mera birthday hai. Cooked food and yet not in jail for homicide! I think I should buy DSLR. Cakes. My biggest achievement this year – I cut 3 cakes. I love Dhoni. Work. Maybe I should not buy DSLR. When will I go back to India? Iowa is beautiful. Sometimes I think I should settle down in mid-west. Missing Varsha. Priyanka di, Nidhi, Nupoor, Deepshikha, me – all born between 25th October and 30th October – Gods must be crazy! Or maybe I should just buy DSLR. Work. Deployment on the night of birthday. Worked on the day of birthday (supposed to take the day off). Sapan and his awesome playlist. Orkut testimonials! Thanks Vishu! Facebook. Sach Is life! Art of Living. Eat food. Forget DSLR! India calling. Missing family. TV – Picture tube died. Aaoge jab tum O Sajna. Cook food. DSLRs are expensive. No surprises this birthday! Contended. Got a smart shirt for birthday. I look ekdum dhaain sporting it! Still sleeping on the couch. Rearranging furniture. Facebook. Mindjolt games. Solitaire. Day light Saving. Deployment. Work. DSLR is worth every penny. Cricket. Missing Sandeep. Reading novel. Work. Photographs. Painting. Looking forward to winters. Social Interview on Facebook. Ordered DSLR!

I wanted to write about all these things. All these thoughts came to my mind almost at the same time. Imagine living being me. Okay don’t, I am not that cruel. So this is all we have for a post this post, people, because I am feeling lazy.

I know you can deal with it!

Diwali time

Howdy people! It has been a while since I wrote something. Good new is my nightmares have gone and I am back to dreamless nights. Not sure what changed but I am not complaining.J

This is a little late, but I hope you all had a bombastic Diwali. Diwali is such a special time. I mean, even being in this far off land where nothing is as it would be at Ma-Papa’s place, this time of the year brings out the grandiosity of existence. It is the most spectacular time of the year for me. It is not just about the sweets and the nice food and all the hard work for prepping the house. Just the whole extravaganza that goes with it makes it the larger than life occasion that it is.

Meri life sahi hai yaar. This year was a very special Diwali. Infact, it was one of the best ever! I have this great friend who has been my friend since 6^th grade. And after all these years I came to know what a wonderful cook she is. She invited about 25 people for lunch and the menu was nothing less than a restaurant menu. From shahi paneer to palak paneer to dal makhni, the main course was fingerlickicious. Infact, I noticed that I don’t have any fingers left in my right hand now! I licked and licked ‘em all! And the desserts were even more special – gulab jamun, kheer, aate ka halwa. All home made! And you should have seen the patience with which she went about cooking. I have had the luck of knowing some real amazing cooks. Ila just made that list longer! My friends are such an inspiration.

Click here to view these pictures larger

And as usual I didn’t want to come back. The week after that was hectic, yet, I went down the memory lane – not just this Diwali but all those I remembered from the past. Some were good, some were ok and some were nasty. But, Diwali was something when ma-papa slogged like anything. I think it is time for my generation to take over. No one could have done it better than you Ila! You just rock!J

I am back to living life. You all, take care people.

I have a dream

You know what is the most difficult task I had as a kid? Ma-papa ka naam roshan karna. It is not an easy task, especially when you hail from a middle class family in India. And ma-papa na naam roshan karna by default means to do well in studies. Think like Einstien, work like an IT engineer and get ranks like Puloma and Ila etc, no pressure otherwise! We all have to go through it. When it was my turn, I was more like a tubelight with black ends and with a major starter problem. I barely managed to make their names barely visible, forget doing the roshan thing.

Mom-dad never complained. They had accepted their fate and were pretty OK with it. My teachers never knew my name except when the question was who did the last prank on poor XYZ or who stole that stupid test tube from the Chemistry lab. Padhai maine ki nahi kabhi, I always had something better to do. Sleeping, eating, recording music tapes and just about general time passing were always way more important. The most important thing in this whole situation is that, never for a day I had any guilt of not studying. I used to see the helpless expressions on my parents face whenever any exam result would come and I would have just a prayer for them.

But I guess things do catch up. Lately, I have been getting this recurrent dream where I am failing an examination. More specifically, it is a Hindi exam which somehow is very critical. A point to be noted here is that I studied Hindi only till 8^th standard and it had no bearing on my career except the fact that I did worse in the subject I chose instead. When I dream that dream, I know that if I do not clear it, something real bad would happen, I just don’t seem to remember what. I would remember that I am way past 8^th standard and I should not really be writing that exam, but I still have to take it. It is getting more vivid and I have even started sweating now, in the dream of course! And then I get up suddenly and then remind myself where I am and what I actually do in the weekdays and that this Hindi exam really is not for real and that I have actually completed my academic education and I don’t have to go back to school. And then I check the time and it always is quarter to 5. Spooky, I say!

Later in the day I find the whole thing very funny. Out of sheer curiosity, I did some research on what this dream might actually mean. Some suggest that I might be having a very low self esteem. LOL, not at all! I don’t have esteem; I have absolute pride in what I am! With all humility and modesty, I know I am the best – super duper bumper best. People around me agree that I am the best in what I do. And you know what I do. Others suggest that I might have a lot of pending work at work which is causing me all worked up in my dreams. But this is nothing new. I always have pending work. I mean that is how I work – aaj kare so kaal kar, kaal kare so parso, itni jaldi kya hai bhaiya jab jeena hai barso. This is my work motto. Nothing has changed at my work place or my relations. I am lagging behind everything – business as usual. Some also suggested that I might be having very high expectations from myself. Really? The biggest expectation I have from myself is to get up at 8:30 AM. Is that too much? Am I being too harsh on myself? :P

So I am curious to know what might be causing this dream. If you know me, any pointers to my situation are welcome. If you don’t know me, then too you can comment on my situation because, you know, I love comments!

Sri Krishna (SRK) Mahima

I thought, I had seen it all on the internet. I mean, I have been a voracious reader in the past. I have been (and still am) an edacious youtuber who watched everything from String Theory (given my scientific bent, I still do not have a clue about it) to watching magic tricks to learning how to moon walk (yeah even with my dancing skills) and whistling with fingers (I still cannot do it) to songs like ischool ke tame pe aana gori dem pe. I will even confess that out of curiosity I watched things which I should not have really watched (but at least I now know what I should not watch). I maintain a couple of blogs myself and after that I am convinced that all kinds of trash is allowed on the internet. Sab chalta hai.

So even though the internet is such a huge source of information, entertainment and crap, in a certain way I thought I have seen all kinds of things there are to see. Sometimes, I do get bored of internet too. But every once a while, I come across something which blows my mind off. This is a gem that I came across on Great Bong's blog. Great Bong is a wonderful writer. His blog is one of the most popular blogs on the internet. And that is why he is on my blogroll. But what suddenly caught my attention was the comments section on one of the old posts I happened to read. This comment was by a certain Mr. Rajib (I bet that is not his real name) who is a big Shahrukh Khan fan. And at the same time, he is a big devotee of Lord Krishna. And has found a way of relating his love for the King of Bollywood with the King of the Universe. I am posting just one comment. Do read all the logic he has presented here in the comments section.

Here it goes..

Rajib Roy

September 13, 2006 at 3:36 pm

EXPLORE THE UNKNOWN IN KNOWN

SHAHRUKH IS LORD KRISHNA IN DISGUISE

Its about almost 16 years ago when I first saw him I don’t know why a wave passed through my body suddenly I don’t know where from in a second it was in my mind this boy is no one but Lord Krishna, the first thing that strike me was his looks and the way he was talking never seen in anyone taking like this. He has is so different than other human beings (male or female), I have seen so much full of life in his eyes, a amazing brightness in those eyes and his overall looks. Whatever he was saying, it was like the boy was oozing wave of energy from him, at that time he was not a star but I was definite that very soon he is going to emerge as someone very big and soon my predictions came true as very fast he emerged as the box office king of the word’s biggest film industry Bollywood. The boy has such level of magnetic attraction that hasn’t been seen in anyone before, attraction that could dissolve anyone. I was getting more certain that the beauty he possesses couldn’t be anyone’s but lords own. Before that I was a strong follower of lord Krishna.

My belief was so much strong that it forced me to find out why I am feeling such and who is he. It was the year1993/94, but at that time I didn’t have proper evidences to prove that. Moreover, if that time I am going to tell anyone, everybody will misread me and think it’s just a another case of infatuation that every youngster feels with the glamorous stars and when he is SHAH RUKH KHAN so chances were even higher but I was desperate to seek the reality. Day by day I observed him closely, read books, read articles whatever source available I just started to grab from everywhere possible to know him. That’s not the end there was also problems because I have to do it in the two ways first to know about SHAH RUKH and second to know about LORD KRISHNA and his incarnations vastly and than have to relate SRK with LORD KRISHNA and after long search I was able to find few evidences that I have collected which I can present and now here I am with those links. It’s not about claiming or forcing others to believe but its all my raw faith in the word ‘Sachee dil se dhundo to bhagbaan bhi mil jayenge’ what someone has told me. Yea I don’t have the ability to explore God but yes at least I can share my feeling at least and that what makes me to write this article, hope u all will like this.

Demonstrating SHAH RUKH is no one but LORD KRISHNA:

Demonstrating SHAH RUKH is no one but LORD KRISHNA:

1. Born in Delhi, both Krishna &Ram took birth in north India, which is near Delhi.

2. Took birth in a Muslim family more over an Aryan high born Pathan but married to a Hindu girl just to show God has no boundaries according to religion. All these are men made customs. Even Lord Narayana appeared as a Muslim fakir, when he appeared as Satya-Narayana. Also Krishna-avatar Shyama Baba was also Muslim. So we can assume that there might be some unknown reason that he has took birth in a Muslim family.

3. He reached to top in a very unconventional way from TV star to a top most movie star facing all the adverse situations, just to show any body can do any thing all that needs is pure hard work and dedication. Sacrificed his parents because many persons in the world are parentless and to show if dedication and commitment is there whatever the situation any goal is reachable.

4. Lord Krishna used to keep peacock feather in his crown that’s as peacock is related to lord Krishna. Shah Rukh has linked his name with MAYUR and famously known as Shah Rukh Mayur Khan.

5. Lord Brahma (symbol of fire) resides in the naval lotus of Lord Vishnu that’s why SHAH RUKH smokes in order to keep Brahma or fire in his body. Also in the purans it has been written that the last incarnation will hold a fire substance in his body.

6. Reason behind an actor?

a. It is written in purans that he reincarnates himself again and again in different forms that are appropriate corresponding to the time he is taking birth. This time being an actor is one of the best options in terms of popularity or to influence people.

b. Films are the mirror of real life .So, in this modern age its easier for him to inspire people as an actor it is also the best way to hide or utilize his divine beauty. Amazingly he started acting in his childhood by doing Ramleela.

c. When he came has RAM many expressed to marry RAM or even when wanted to be companion and Lord said he will to fulfill their desires in his future incarnations so when he came as Krishna they became as GOPIs and by an Actor he now as is it impossible that some of his costars are may be GOPIS who also has incarnated to accompany him as well.

7. The word SRK can be used as the short name of both SHREE KRISHNA as well as SHAH RUKH.

8. If Shah Rukh is God his name must have some meaning. Yes the word ‘SHAH RUKH’ means prince-like face but the word “SHAH” also means Master or Emperor, and “RUKH” means way or direction, jointly or the word “SHAH RUKH” means ‘MASTER OF ALL DIRECTIONS’ and should I have to tell, master of all direction is God or lord Krishna himself. As being Rukhmini’s (Wife of Lord Krishna) master or husband also his name is such.

9. In spite of being God himself toils very hard ‘KARMA IS DHARMA’.

10. Color black symbolizes mixture of every color or every color of life, it is also symbolic to lord Krishna, and Shah Rukh’s favorite color is black.

11. Shah Rukh’s wife Gauri, Gauri is the other name Narayani or Durga, no surprise Narayana and Narayani can be together. Lord Vishnu rides on GORUR. So GORUR=GOURI, sounds similar doesn’t it.

12. Produced unconventional films like “Phir bhi….”(To show what happening to our country now a days, how moral value of life has decreased) and made ”Ashoka the great” (Lord Buddha was 9th incarnation of lord Krishna and it was Ashoka who published Buddhism so SRK has repaid the dept by producing “Ashoka’ the film also has a message to the world that peace is greater than violence. It is said that the last incarnation of lord Krishna (Kalki Avatar) should ride on a white horse Devadutta, ironically in the film Ashoka Shah Rukh rode on a white horse.

12. Talibani’s has destroyed the Buddha statue in Bamiyaam Pradesh. Afghanistan thinking of God is frail, unaware of the might of God. Now see how the supreme has showed them the lesion, Talibans has been removed by America from there land. First they linked with World Trade Center bombing and then back action USA did the reverse act by throwing them from their own land and thus God has taken revenge indirectly through America by remove them from their soil. Incidentally Buddha is the 9th incarnation of Vishnu and Shah Rukh was also eyewitness of 11th September.

13. I suspect his friend Karan Johar knows the truth. NAR and NARAYAN always reside together, RAM had Laxman, Krishna had Arjun likewise SHAH RUKH has KARAN, got it!! Remember (KKHH, K3G) he’s compared Shah Rukh with Lord Krishna in all his films Remember those scenes of “Kuch Kuch” where RANI MUKERJI is singing” OM JAI JAGADISH HARE” in front of Shah Rukh in the college campus ironically indicating it is Shah Rukh who is JAGADISH or Lord Krishna, another time when SRK is going to meet his daughter background “RAGHUPATI RAGHAV RAJA RAM” was being played.

a. In K3G remember in the last part Hritikh & Kareena went to SRK to meet in front of the statue of Krishna and Hritikh said that (in the film it was JAYA BACHCHAN) mother always sees misses him sees in the idol of Sri Krishna after Shah Rukh has left home.

b. Remember the song “Krishna kare Raas Radha k Saang.” from Devdaas, Remember the film “Hum Tumhare hai Sanam” where Shah Rukh’s name is Gopal Krishna. Films like GUDDU, TRIMURTI, ONE TWO KA FOUR, PARDESH, somewhere again in the film again compared with Krishna. There are uncountable occasions where Shah Rukh has been compared with lord Krishna if I start explaining there won’t be enough space left here so cutting it short. No other Star is being so desperately compared with Lord Krishna like Shah Rukh, Are all these co-incidents? This is all because somehow the wave is there which comes in the mind of the directors that they somehow takes the name of Lord Krishna when Shah Rukh is around without properly knowing the reason, but in the dept there is the other story.

14. Even the wall color of his mansion MANNAT and in Mathura where birthplace is located is same.

15. Every 2500 years his major incarnation happens 7500 years ago he came as RAM, 5000 years ago as Krishna, 2500 years ago as Buddha and now as SHAH RUKH KHAN.

16. RAM was King, so as Krishna so how can its possible he will not be termed as KING KHAN.

17. The word ‘K’ identifies Lord KRISHNA, K or KANSHA, KANIYA, k for his enemy KOURAB, also as Khurukshetra, Kaliya Nag, Kunti, Kaanhaa, so many as well ‘K’ as usual links with SHAH RUKH as his famous dialog KKKKiran, his best co-star KAJOL, friend KARAN JOHAR, with all his ‘K-titled films’, and KING KHAN also of K ha ha. God is fun as well. Its needs not the logic but the believe to know GOD. My last part is most important so wait still I am sending the next one, God bless u all, Om Hari.

18. Lastly in his latest films ‘MAI HOON NA’, ‘SWADESH’, and ‘PEHLI’ the characters he played are RAM, MOHAN and KISHAAN, want more. Hare Krishna.

No offences to anyone. But well I am speechless! Internet rocks!!

Tujhme rab dikhta hai, yaara main kya karun..