Palghar takes us back into time

I am not much of a social commentator, i do have my own opinions but i would not say that they are informed and backed by concrete evidence and research. And yet it is valid because i would like to vouch myself to be a keen observer with a sane mind, for that is all it takes to understand the case with the two women at Palghar who were wrongfully taken into custody and booked under a heinous offence.

That they were taken into custody was a heinous offence in its own right should be a matter of shame - but not debate. There is no debate that two, otherwise law abiding citizens, were taken into custody was a gross injustice and absolutely asinine. What is worse is that there is fear in the minds of the people to speak against authority.

The woman who posted her personal opinion on a social networking site probably did not realise that her action would lead to national debate, that wasn't her intention. She was sharing an opinion with her friends, and in that this was not social activism or to instigate change. Yet the Sena felt it was, they were angry, they were sullen - this was the ultimate affront to their authority and a slap across their face and tarnished the memory of their great leader.

We don't see it as an affront, we don't see it as being harmful or inciting anger. But there was anger, helplessness and depression in the Sainiks, they needed an outlet and all of it was misdirected at this woman and her friends and relatives. I do not appreciate their actions, i do not like that they forced the local police authorities to charge them, i understand the plight of the police, but i cannot forgive them for it. All of this is moot though there is a larger picture.

Whether she thought of it or not, the woman had a voice, she had felt safe enough to exercise her right to free speech and speak about the bandh on Facebook. Do you remember how many times we have hushed our voices or told someone to shut up when they mention anything about the Sena. This is exactly that, you can do what you like because you do not have a problem with violence and believe that you can stop all dissension - Sena gave a decisive blow to free opinion on Facebook and hence free opinion online. We sit in our ivory towers of Metropolitan India and are safe in the absolute diversity which allows us the safety in our anonymity but spare a thought about the 1000 Palghars of our Country. The youth that reside there, their right to free speech and opinion.

Yes the case has been revoked, yes there has been disciplinary action against the Police but those youth, they will have to find their voice again. All over again.



Digital giveth and Digital taketh away - c'est la vie

Life's happy surprises

Can you surprise yourself?

The ability to surprise ones'self is perhaps the most happy feeling. When you see yourself do something which you had not believed possible. It could be as simple as smiling in the morning, when you are clearly not a morning person, allowing yourself to be calm through a crisis, making a decision and sticking through it.

We have to nurture the ability to truly surprise ourselves. Without it we do not have much to live for. A life of monotony is like a scripted television show with cliches and probable plot. There has to be some unnecessary drama which would make us change who we are, or at the very least shake us out of our routine.

My friends have previously complained that my blogs are very obtuse and never really speak what i am trying to say. To them i say, i cannot give away parts of my life which are very personal to me. Parts which are at the very core of me. My hopes, my prayers, my fears and my desires.

Though i feel very much like talking about it, since i cannot control who reads this blog, i cannot have the world read.

My current surprise is that i can clearly say that my recent trip to Goa gave me a perspective, and i really surprised myself. I was a different person or rather i became a different person.

Go out there, surprise yourself let the waves of happiness crash on your shore.

Dabangg Hue Hum

The honest truth is that at heart we are all completely crass. As i write that i am a bit hesitant and would reduce the gamut to only me. I am a true ghaati at heart - the very core of my being rests this hoot calling, tapori dancing, abuse spewing, paan chewing Ghaati. The pleasure of dancing to Tapori drums also known as dhol (though i seriously feel that it is not the right word) is unparalleled. Nothing can actually give me the same joy as a Remo's flute song can.

For all these reasons and more Arbaaz Khan's Dabangg appeals to me. From the very moment that i learnt of the movie i knew that i would love it. It was Salman Khan at his unpretentious best. The most genuine of movies as you can get. If Dabangg was a guy - he would be the dude at a party that stuck out like a sore thumb, yet would be most comfortable and the whole crowd would gravitate towards him. That dude is Salman Khan....

There are no promises of being an intelligent movie, of being an artfully made masterpiece that would blow our mind, one with a social message or even sensitive to a certain section. This movie just doesn't care....and in that it is very genuine. The movie goes so far as to say - i have no plot - i am Dabangg- i am going to have some mindless fight scenes and you are going to enjoy it. There are some scenes with romance - UP style - and you as a woman will not object to it. I am a corrupt police official, i want to be successful, but i am also a nice guy so....love me...or don't i give a fuck!

But you love the protagonist, not because he is Salman Khan, but because that is why you have gone to the movie, to love him. You are not there to judge him, you are not there to critique him, you are there to chill out with the dude. You don't care what he does, or how he does it, if it makes sense or is completely ludicrous - you like the dude....before the movie starts.

A lot of people would want to draw parallels with this kind of a movie and Rajani movies. It is possible that we have that perception, but we have to fight it big time. Here is why:

1. A Rajani is a God - what he does on screen is true, and he and only he can do it - the crowd watches in awe.....

1. B Salman is a Dude - what he does is obviously not possible, him and only him will we watch doing it - the crowd watches in OHHHHHHHHHH (full chutiyapatti)

2.A Rajani is an idol - people want to be like him - want to follow his moves and be HIM

2. B Salman is our hero - we look up to him but know that we can't do what he does and we will not try and insult him

3. A Rajani = Revered

3. B Salman = Loved

I spent 80 bucks watching this movie in Aurora Kings Circle Matunga. The movie was worth the money 4 times over - at the least. The most fun i have had in a movie theater in a long time. The whole atmosphere was electric, we had the mindset of ejoying the movie and we were not dissappointed. If the critics want to do a good job of critiquing this movie, they will have to shred it to pieces, because from a Critical stand point it is SHIT. But it is our Shit - we LOOOUVE IT.

Dabangg Hain....pichure Dabangg....hamein aur chahiye...aur....bahut aur.

Peace OUT

She is just not that into you!

*Regret*

It is the worst possession to have. And we keep collecting more and more of it as we get older. I hear people speak about the regrets that they have at the very ripe of their life. I hear them feeling dismayed by the amount of baggage that they are carrying around with them.

That trip that they should have gone on.

That movie they should have seen in the theater.

That dream they should have followed through.

That girl they should have asked out.

Justifications galore will fall out of our pores to ensure that we convince ourselves that we ultimately did the right thing. That we made the right decision. We didn't miss the bus, we intentionally chose to walk.

My personal opinion on the matter is that it is better to have given it your best shot to make sure that you do not have to look back in regret. Why should you second guess yourself for anything that was perfectly in your control? Why should you make excuses for yourself simply because you were just too chicken?

Ultimately it comes down to the one thing - Courage!

*Courage*

The coxcy, the balls the JIGAR to take that leap of faith in the hope of success. In the hope of happiness, for the joy of achievement. Courage is all that you ever need, to take those risks in life. To gamble for happiness. As in business, higher the risk the higher the reward.

"But she is just not that into you dude!"

Those are very hard words to hear, especially coming out of the mouths of your closest friends. The same people who want to see you as happy as you can be. The same people whose responsibility it would be to fix the broken pieces that make up - you. Their unbiased opinion counts for a lot, their investment in your happiness makes them the wisdom voice guiding you all the time.

*Dilemma*

A conundrum - to take this good advice or go into the thing head first. Previous experiences tell us that what friends say are wise words, yet our mission to not carry any additional baggage always makes us want to take that shot. So what is it that you should do?

*Full Circle*

This brings us full circle back to the moot point. Shouldn't we take the plunge anyway?

Why should we let this deter us from our path of complete disclosure and confident attempt?

*Reckless Abandon*

Fortes fortuna adiuvat - fortune favours the bold. And so we all should go to it - be reckless - be free - be without inhibition - without doubt - without fear

A moment

A love

A thought

A dream aloud

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note to my confidants

I think if this what i am about to do, does not pay off - you will always put me back together.

Linger

Her magnificent gaze was like rain on parched sand
i was frozen , second was slower than the hour hand
ecstasy had left me motionless, i couldn't move a finger
her power enchanting and fascinating, all it took was a linger

Beacons of light her eyes shone bright, guiding my heart home
The gesture of her hand, left me a delighted man, i let out a little moan,
her porcelain skin sparkled in the rain, as tiny droplets wrapped her in an embrace,
beautiful effervescence, wondrous gaite was complemented by her remarkable grace,

If i was in love before, this was my personal rapture
my heart like a babe in the jungle, ready and waiting for capture,
She turned away and the spell was broken, i could feel and think once again,
but now i can't wait to be bound once more, i wait in writhing pain

For another

another linger

CK

If only

If only i knew what made you tick,
What made you laugh like nothing else in this world
If only i knew what you looked for in your mate,
What you longed for in the hours of the late
If only.......

If only there was a song i could sing to you,
That would make you swoon and fall in my arms
If only you could see the love in my eyes,
The devotion i have for you
If only.......

If only you could get to know me for who i am,
And not for who i seem to be
If only you could give me a chance
if only.....if only

In Conversation with the Universe

00:31
It was a sleepless hot summer night, one of those tasteless moments where you have to lie in the middle of your bed to maximize the chances of the cool air of the ceiling fan hitting you, and even with that you are trying to wrestle with your pillow to induce some sleep.
Yet sleep was far away, its tardy self, I would have to have a stiff word with it I had thought to myself. My mind had drifted to what Puneet was saying.
22:15
“See CK, you cannot really tell me that you will not marry!”
“Why? What is wrong with that?”
“In our society, and up bringing we cannot really get into a live-in relationship, it just will not work for us.”
“I meant living single Puneet!”
“Why? Don’t you think you will find a woman you want to share the rest of your life with?”
“No, considering the track record I do not think so”
“You have to keep your mind open to all possibilities my friend”

KEEP SELF OPEN TO OPPORTUNITIES

“And besides, you can always get your mother to arrange something for you.”
“I have made it clear to my mother that I would not let her do something like that. Arranged marriages are not for me, I do not want to be married to someone I do not love. And even if I get married, a scary thought, I want to know if it is worth it.”
“You have to work to make it worth your while dude.”

YOU HAVE TO MAKE IT WORTH YOUR WHILE

00:33
I woke up, got out of bed and walked towards the fridge. The summer had really started penetrating our sanity, as our brains were starting to melt into mush. The cool air blasting out of the fridge was very welcoming, I always find myself lingering at the fridge in the summer, surveying its ware as if I was looking at it for the first time. A big piece of watermelon, a half bar of MarsTM and some Alphonso Mangoes®. Food was not a good option I thought, I did not want to have a bout of acidity and bring out the green monster (a chronic nightmare). I settled for a bottle of water and closed the fridge. As I turned around, sipping some water from the bottle, I saw a figure wearing a silken robe and Gucci shades. The water went down my windpipe, and I was gasping for air, trying to Heimlich myself.
She opened her mouth and I knew I was having one of my better nightmares, her elegant tone was heavenly.
“Do not be alarmed, my name is Hielal, I have come to speak to you”
“Sort of obvious no? You are standing in my kitchen, alone, with me in my shorts in the middle of the night, if you are here for anything else I would be quite shocked, and disappointed to say the least”
“Ha Ha Ha, are you done?”
“No, wait I think I have one more…no I am done”
“Good, do you think we can sit down to have a chat then?”
“Why not, would you like some Alphonso Mangoes®?”
“I have tried it before, it wasn’t for me, I think it is highly overrated”
She seemed to have similar tastes as me, I liked this woman, her being imaginary or celestial notwithstanding.
“So CK, what troubles you? What keeps you up late at night, surveying the fridge for tidbits? Are you eating your frustration and deep angst?”
Was this celestial therapy? I asked myself, then I thought might as well ask her.
“Is this celestial therapy?”
“No dear, this is me Hielal, better known as the Universe, talking to you”
“This is cosmic then, not celestial?”
“Err…ok, whatever puts your mind at ease.”
“Tough luck, nothing is going to put my mind at ease, not when a cosmic being, the all pervading, omnipotent being is present in my hall on my sofa. Don’t you think being calm is out of the picture?”
“Sometimes my tone does the trick.”
“Maybe so, but I go deeper than that, and the deeper I go it is scaring me even more.”
“I hold all the answers.”
“Duh…I think that came with the job description. Do me a favor don’t state the obvious, that way we can get through this a lot faster.”
“You are going to die at 58, there, are you happy now ?, I gave you something you weren’t expecting.”
“How do I die? Is it painful?”
“I don’t want to state the obvious. And no, I can’t tell you how you die, that is against my code.”
“The cosmic code I am sure. All right, more pertinent question – Why are you here today?”
“You ask many questions to yourself, about your future. How successful you will be? How happy you will be? How many places you will go? How your family will be?”
“Doesn’t everybody?”
“Sure everybody does. But I am here to address one question that you keep nagging me about.”
And we both said it in unison
“Will you/I ever find the woman of your dreams?”
“Tough question”
“Important question, so I thought, I might as well come down and have a bit of a chat with you. Ck, you are a stupid, dumb, lame, loser who is waiting for me to do everything for you.”
Now those were fighting terms, but she was too cosmic to fight. So I listened, in anger, with a look of protest in my eyes, but I listened.
“Wipe that look of your face, you buffoon. What haven’t you got? A marvelous family, a splendid life, some of the best friends, a good job, great colleagues, your life has basically been a jolly ride, but you are just stuck on the one thing – Love.”
“Am I being selfish?”
“Not selfish, but moronic yes. The reason I haven’t been able to give you what you want, is that you are not ready for it. You have to love yourself before someone can love you. Otherwise, I will put two lives in jeopardy. You blame me for not finding the right one, I found two really great ones. And you drove them away with your incessant self loathing. If you hate yourself so much, why do you want others to think differently?”
I was about to say something here, but good sense prevailed.
“Can you love yourself? Can you be more open to life? Can you be grateful for what I have given you?”
“YES, YES oh a thousand times yes. But when will I find the girl?”
“I don’t know. Close your mouth, nothing is preordained, I have to manage everything in real time.”
“But you said I would die at 58.”
“That was bullshit to keep you on your toes. But now that I have said it I can manage it that way.”
“Hmmm, all right, so what you are saying is, be cool – be money”
“Swingers??? You are going to quote Swingers right now?”
“Good movie!”
“Excellent movie, but you cannot quote it here. You have to be open to life, and yours truly will make things happen. I do not want another black mark on my appraisal, you have to really shape things up all right.”
“Appraisal? Are you answerable to God?”
“Well, you have to meet Her, She is not really my superior, it is a flat organization you see. Enough of that, I have to go. Don’t let me down.”
“One last thing, will I ever be able to find eternal happiness?”
“Hahahahaha, I will let you know,i am working towards the same thing. Kiddo it’s the journey, not the destination. Cheerio”
00:42
I woke up in a sweaty mess, the fan had stopped, I was writhing in the wet bed. I sat up in my bed to gather my thoughts. It was a dream, pretty wild dream. It gave me some perspective, an idea, something to keep handy when I get absolutely nervous and anxious.
I took a sip of water from the bottle, and then went back to sleep. As I closed my eyes, I realized, that bottle had to have come from the kitchen.