PXylem

"Fuck off" is among one of the words, I suppose, has been pollinated by English movies, and of course by the English education. Well, attributing to its mass usage the English education couldn't be held responsible since this word, so far I haven't found in any of the curriculum textbook.

Again lot of political speculations over young turk Rahul Gandhi's new move. This time his 'Discover India' tour has triggered off debate among political leaders and analysts. He kicked of his four day journey on Friday from the tribal-dominated Nuapada district of Orissa. Such kinds of speculations were made earlier also, when he was appointed as the chairman of the NSUI and the Youth Congress and as a member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC).

Nevertheless, it could be assessed that Rahul is progressing in his political career. He is gradually catching the nerve of being a politician. However, his progress has been contributed by his inherited legacy!

At a time, when UPA government and Left are at loggerheads over Indo-US nuclear deal, Rahul's 'Discover India' tours seems to be just a political stunt of Congress. Rahul is now being posed as an icon for Indian youth by his party. Is he really?

Who can be termed as an icon? One who has a standing of his own, whose individuality created inspirational aura, whose works set certain ideals and principles.

Well, Rahul is charismatic and he could be no less than an icon for youth but at the present situation, however it is explicit somewhere that his charisma is not accessible to everyone beyond his constituency.

It could be said that he is still in a incubator under certain favourable conditions. This has resulted into a wide gaping between him and the common man of India.

He seems to be more of a pampered prince safeguarded by his mentors rather than a well trained and brave soldier of an army.

It is undeniable that present political scenario demands young shoulders to carry the carriage of expectations of the entire nation. Congress has taken initiative in this field.

Congress has offered a platform to the youth and has given them opportunity to participate in active politics. We appreciate its move. But being a grand old party of India, its steps should be genuine rather than tinged with the colour of politics. Rahul has to be his real self rather just a trick of his party to win the election by attracting people.

Word: Pranati Saikia
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Is it possible? Yes. There is no tax if you don't work.

When you grow up many responsibilities come. And among many responsibilities, paying tax to the Income Tax department is one which one has to bear, though it is a different story - whether you love or loathe it! But, you can't shrug it off from the painstaking, gruelling experience.

Last week, my days turned hell, I was literally sent to the gallows of death, yearly perpetrated by the department of IT. For a moment (many days), I thought justice was not done to me. I was made a scapegoat to the irresponsible job done by ........[hope you can understand, I work in a company].

I had to suffer, the suffering that was immeasurable and abstract and can't possibly be veiled with the precision of words. I was helpless, after all I had to pay an exorbitant tax that I was NOT entitled to.

The order to pay x amount of tax came as an decree to me which I can't challenge in many of the High Court or in the single Supreme Court. I was feeling miserable to my state of not being able to challenge the decree.

I was slumbering from inside. I was crying. Asking many questions to myself, introspecting hard - why this has happened to me? Very often I cast doubt on my thinking process. Am I not reacting harshly to this situation which was normal to many? The truth is that every time I went down to my conscious and unconscious level, spicing with all my education and savvy knowledge I got only one answer: I am not entitled to this amount of tax.

No body advocated to my hardship that I was undergoing. I mass messaged to all of my friends, near and dear one, the story of my agony. All got flummoxed listening to my pathetic condition. They had the same answer: I don't have to pay tax.

But their repeated assurances were of no use, since the person who had to advocte my case was a greenhorn, novice, inexperienced to the curvy, complex arithmetic of book keeping, and of that of a company level! I was confirmed from the beginning. The person has only read books and solved those that are asked in exams. She failed to answer those questions that were not asked in the exam. We all know how an Indian student clear exam, it is all about the principle of '3': 3-hour of exams; 3-days before exams; 3-months before exams that all matters. And of course, hit-and-trial method of guessed questions.

Besides all these, something that came as a big surprise was that I was not informed when all the 'wrong' calculations were taking place. The final result was announced to me that I have to be hanged till death only by paying the tax.

In a country like India where millions are below poverty level how one could pay taxes, and I come below poverty level! Keeping aside all these things, if there had been something which angered me to the hilt and jerked my consciousness was the demeanour of the person whose job was to save me from the near-possible death. The reaction that I got from the person whenever I approached [him/ her] to assuage my pain was ditto similar to the DTC bus conductor: unempathetic, unsympathetic, moody,thorny. It was indeed a horrible state for me. The whole bad blood in my body oozed out from my veins and arteries.

Not withstanding, at last with all of my documents - working and not working - I filed a review petition to the higher echelons of power. My situation seems that of a person who has to prove he is an Indian and not a Bangladeshi!

At last I won the case, I am an Indian and not a Bangladeshi, but with a heavy price: an x amount of my earning (a salary of a person) had already been deposited to the IT people that I can't get. Sorry, I will get it after I had smoothened my shoes in the corridors of the IT department that may take from 6-months to 1-year.

I got justice, at last. I heaved a sigh of relief that couldn't be maintained in the accounts' books.

What I learned from this experience is that: 1. Experienced hands do matter. 2. A clever enemy is better than a foolish friend, for you can at least learn from a clever enemy, while a foolish friend harms you while he thinks he’s helping you.”

It is said that films are the mirror of society. Films reflects as well as influence the course of society by interpreting and showcasing the various aspects and complexities of human life. Though it seems to be glamorous and alluring, but film making is an uphill task. It is a creative process, which requires unyielding perseverance, strong commitment and above all adequate funds to meet with the demands of a good script. Excellent theme, superb screenplay and heart rendering music and lyrics make a film not only a box-office hit but also unforgettable.

Films have always been an integral part of Indian life style. People in India not only watch but they imbibe films, get influenced and moved by the themes. Recently, noted director Ashutosh Gowarikar's latest film 'Jodha Akbar' became controversial issue for a section of society over the name of 'Jodha'. Rajput organisation Kshetriya Mahasabha in Uttar Pradesh protested and alleged that the film maker had distorted history, which hurt their sentiments. It has been banned in Uttar Pradesh, Madhaya Pradesh and various cities of Haryana and Uttarakhand.

Couple of months back, 'Aaja Nachle' was also banned in Haryana and Punjab due to controversial lyrics 'Bazar mein machi hai maramar, bole mochi bhi khud ko sunar' from the title song ' Aaja Nachle'. According to reports, the song had offended people belonging to scheduled castes.

Similarly, in 2000, Hindi films faced banning in the northeastern region of the country. It was alleged that the Hindi films undermine the cultural values of the states.

It is a known fact that films have been censored for one or the other reason. Often these include objectionable scenes, overriding of facts and figures and transgression of established norms in society. 'Kissa Kursi Ka' [1970] and 'Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love' [1996] are two of the movies that would be knowing.

But we cannot deny the truth that Indian psyche is vulnerable and gets hurt every now and then. As the themes of Indian films includes societal situations, social values and burning issues, so the integrity on the part of director is also indispensable. Sensitive issues based on casteism, communalism, customs and culture of a particular region must be dealt with honesty and cautiously so that there must not be any aggression and violation.

But the important thing to note is that Hollywood films are warmly welcomed and vociferously watched by the Indian audiences despite so much objectionable scenes, and alienated story lines. Is it only because of the reason that Indian people don't understand the language of these films? May be.

Nevertheless, the media coverage that these organisation get by stirring up the hornets' nest is another reason that movies are banned. And now, when media is all around peoples' mass reaction to any particular movie has become easy self-triggering.

Written by Pranati Saikia

'Sons of the soil' - yes, it sounds striking, impressive, dramatic enough to stir people's mind, to hit their psyche and make them blind, fanatic and insane. Politicians often organise campaigns, movements under this steering slogan to stimulate the tender patriotic feelings of general masses for their own benefits and profits.

These are the campaigns on which divisive politics strives and sustains itself. Political violence, political killings following divisive politics have many times shaken the very roots of Indian nation and tried to destroy its unity and integrity.

Last month India's cosmopolitan city Mumbai witnessed the cruel form of ‘sons of the soil' campaign. The political violence triggered off when MNS activists had a clash with Samajwati Party supporters, who were present for a rally at Shivaji Park in the Dadar area of Central Mumbai. MNS men afterwards gathered at various places in Dadar and shouted slogans against Biharis and north Indians.

They assaulted taxi drivers, damaged taxis, attacked taxi-men's union office. In other cities in Maharashtra, MNS men targeted temporary migrants, the construction workers and labourers. They harassed them and made them speak Marathi. They also compelled them to leave the state.

This was not the first time when such campaigns, agitations have snatched the livelihood of many, rendered them homeless and create disparity among people of the same country.

Couple of years ago, Assam politics also witnessed the simple scenario. State's hardcore militant group started attacking Hindi speaking people as outsiders.

Emotions relating to one's religion, community, language and caste are delicate one. Politicians have power to construct the nations but they must not use this power to destroy unity among people by manipulating these tender feelings and emotions. We are, and have one nation. We have one 'Indian' culture. No matter we hail from different states, different regions but we all are one race.

MNS leader Raj Thackeray doesn't suffer but the sufferers are those who struggle for their daily survival. MNS has given a bad name to Mumbai, the cosmoplitan city of the country.

The violence caused by his party men has exposed his political immaturity. He tried to reap the political benefits by moving Marathi manas. Nevertheless, the recent violence in Mumbai showed his political opportunistic disposition.

If we keep aside MNS and its reactionary measures, the respective government of Biharis and UPites must do something concrete so that its people get employment in their own state and they don't have to migrate to other states for the search of basic amenities of life - food, shelter and house.

The respective government and its leaders are also responsible for the present mess. They haven't paid attention to the development of the state. They must be questioned by the people and blamed squarely for the present turmoil and victimisation they have been undergoing of no fault of their own. Moreover, pressure must be created on the central government so that such incidents never happen again and again in different parts of India. Moreover, the central government must see there is equitable distribution of wealth, progress and development all over India, and not concentrated to a particular area or state.

Word by Pranati Saikia

‘Ladies Seat’ written on public transportation is visible and, of course readable to almost all of us. The words written on the window panes of the bus is basically meant for those left side seats which are reserved for ladies. These golden words change it colours that is scripts depending upon the state. If you are in the states like Assam, Punjab, or in south India, perhaps in the capital city New Delhi, it has a different script. But, it means the same – that the seats are reserved for ladies, and only for ladies.

Not to mention, we all have occupied these seats and would have remained glued to it till we got our destination. The journey seems much relax, comfortable and of our taste. But there are days when a lady comes forward and you have to leave it. Here rises the problem – though there are men who without saying any word leave their occupied seat, even there are men who refuses to acknowledge the golden letters and occupy it as if they would take the seat to their home.

In the capital city, the same history repeats. Well, you will find the same two types of commuters – ‘yes, ladies seat’ and ‘no, ladies seat’. The seat doesn’t remain a mere seat to sit. It appears something else – a precious entity that can’t be shared nonetheless with a woman.

There have been instances where a man occupying the seat doesn’t leave it after being requested by a lady. And the person redirects the same request to another person who is occupying the ladies seat. A heated debate takes place. Depending upon the profile of the lady the momentum of the fight is determined. If the lady is a convent educated, a flurry of English sentences could be heard. The quarrel turns comical when the man’s English conversation is not to the mark of the lady. The scene is vociferously watched and enjoyed to the hilt. The same scene I witnessed yesterday on my way from Duala Kuan to Naraina. Imagine, the highly volatile male ego the lady would have pricked. At last the man who would be below 25 blurted out, “Ma’am muje angrezi nahin ati…ap hi hame sikha do”. At last he ended up the sentences by “bas …bas…ho gayi”. The man true to his ego didn’t leave the seat.

One more incident which I found very funny and which left me with a thought, took place while I was coming from Dwarka. I was legally occupying the seat – a seat ahead of the conductor’s seat and there was person sitting opposite to mine. After few stoppages, a married couple with a toddler boarded the bus and the bus was fully packed. The husband requested the person to leave the seat. The answer that the person gave was very childish. He retorted back his request by saying that he is unwell. I don’t think that a real man could have answered this. He was a pigeon-hearted man.

“I am proud, I am a Bihari!” Have you ever heard this sentence? Not to mention, you have heard…at Mariana Trench, terrorism infested state Jammu and Kashmir, Capital city Delhi, Commercial city Mumbai, even in the thick jungles of Assam, or in permit driven state Arunachal Pradesh [visitors have to take permit to enter the state]…

You name it, and you will find people who utter this sentence.

Unfortunately, this sentence comes out as a reaction to defend oneself from ignominy that usually builds up when two elements adds: first there is a Bihari and, second there is in air - a topic on Bihar, its politics, people and personalities.

Uhhhh!!! No body on earth utters this sentence than Bihari people do. Interestingly, we all love our soil we belong to. But, the momentum they build on by saying “I am proud, I am a Bihari!” seem childish. It is something like a child caught red handed while stealing stuff and defensively blurts out: I told you, I haven’t done it. That’s it.

It is ironical that wherever in any part of India parochialism is given fan, they are the first people coming to the target. In Jammu and Kashmir, they are being gunned down by the terrorists and in Assam and Maharashtra, they are in the receiving end.

It shouldn’t happen since we are all brethren of the great country India. We all have our unique culture, customs, language, traits and we must pay respect as much we give to ours.

Again, on an average we all pay respect to other persons’ genetic and political make-up. We are inquisitive to other person’s caste, religion and the state he belongs to. And there are many myths, proverb and funny stuff lingering in and around any state and caste.

The word “Bihari” means a lot. Anyone being called a Bihari is being taken with disdainful, scornful, inhuman note. It is still a mystery why Biharis doesn’t like being called a Bihari.

There is no point reacting to any such comments if it is made. It must be taken with a bit of humour. And if possible, maintain the golden rule: Silence.

It’s been almost two months, I have been towing between Delhi and Gurgaon. And, so far the journey has been bag full of experiences. Not to forget, people take, and I am not an exception to the rule: The reward of suffering is experience.

Well, the experience has been the mixture of success and failure affair. How? Obviously, getting at office at time all the way traveling over 40 km and changing couple of vehicles, and again following the same route back home does matter a lot. And for this I pat myself.

Amazingly, I have been most of the time much before the official time, becoming the first person to open the door and turning on lights. Seeing myself taking this honour – opening the door – I feel as I have won a war and waiting to be decorated with some medal!

Nonetheless, the present 10 am to 6 pm job, besides giving the opportunity to becoming “master of none”, has reaffirmed by belief that there is no rule of success. Again, how? Since two months I have been searching, researching the perfect travel itinerary so that I can easily get to office and again back home without any hit and trial attempt. But, it’s been an utter failure.

If I have been a failure, it is the failure of the respective governments of Delhi and Haryana!! Don’t get jerked, how my failure, becomes the failure of the laws of land. Remember, the hype and hoopla that was accorded to the jaywalking. People were fined to improve their walking etiquettes. Etiquettes go haywire in different crossings of National Highway 8 and Ring Road.

People including me take the risk of crossings the roads at Naraina, Duala Kuan, Rajiv Chowk (Haryana) and Khandsa village (Haryana). Since I started jaywalking on these crossings, no policeman has ever fined me. God forbids! People’s motion in these crossings recalls me of Brownian motion: the random motion of small particles suspended in a gas or liquid. It is pure Physics!

People coming from the opposite direction in their attempt to cross the road very often collide face-to-face. Likewise, I have been caught in the Brownian motion with other human-particles!

Not to mention, in the route of my motion comes the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway trajectory. The opening of the Delhi-Gurgaon and its subsequent traffic jam has been in news. Where the opening of the expressway has escaped poor souls like me from the erratic, bumper to bumper traffic at Subroto Park, which had been a daily affair; but its opening has created another lethal, inescapable traffic snarl at the toll gate.

Every time when I cross this toll gate, it makes me feel that it is a dam where gush of vehicles are abruptly stopped, and later allowed in much controlled manner. The scene of vehicles gushing out is fabulous, impressive. Sometimes, I feel getting down from the bus/ cab and have a run. Really! I do feel to have my feet on this stretch.

I remember in the initial days of its opening, the heavy traffic of the vehicles at the gate made the way for free-passage after finding that they [DS Constrution] can’t pay-out receipt of each vehicles using their stretch. So far, this has been an “experience” for DS Construction for “suffering” a major loss of their income.

And another aspect of my journey is that the stretch from Rajiv Chowk to this newly inaugurated fly-over at Subroto Park is full of fly-overs. Sometimes, I do feel I am taking a ride on a roller-coaster. As soon as the first fly-over ends, next starts with different surroundings.

So, my traveling is full of surprises which can’t be “suffering” experiences at all. At the end, today I followed a different route; I did not go to Naraina, to save myself from another traffic jam. I went to Karol Bagh and came to my home. I followed this first time – in my two-months to and fro motion between Delhi and Gurgoan and to my surprise I reached home quite early and the journey less tiring.

Do tell, if you have a car, if possible a SUV, Mercedes is “OK” to save me from Delhi’s government assurance – to have a control on the wheels on the roads.

NEW DELHI,INDIA

The debate continues for ages, which is the better city to live in? Is it the political capital or the commercial capital of India? Is it Delhi or Mumbai? Both the cities provide refuge to millions of job seekers who come from different parts of India. Two metros have two different lifestyles, two different cultures. One is cosmopolitan, one is traditional. However, it's upto the individual perception that speaks for the city one is dwelling in.

Come to Delhi, the capital city of India, you will be greeted by 50 plus impressive flyovers. If it still doesn't astound you, get a round of Old Delhi, the true colour of Delhi, with monuments and lanes devoted to special cuisine, will definitely enchant you, while Mumbai's infrastructure is terrible. Stay one year or so, you will truly become a Delhiite known for its Dilliwala style – not paying bus fare, lawlessness, foul mouth…the list is long, what you don't find in Mumbai.

Mumbai -- the first impression it gives: the names of the places – that don't grimace your face, thanks to Bollywood movies and entertainment industry that we have been watching while growing up. You see people religiously maintaining a queue in bus stands which can't be seen in Delhi. Moreover, you feel that there is no "entropy" in day-to-day life activities. Life goes on lying on the windy beaches. Not to forget – a ride in interlink train comes as the testing time for you, to test your endurance and patience.

There are several other comparisons. While Delhi is too cold and too hot, Mumbai is neither cold, nor too hot. While Delhi is totally unsafe for women, Mumbai is believed to be a safe abode of the weaker sex if we neglect few infamous incidents. There are endless topics to be compared such as the terrible traffic of Mumbai, unsafe roads of Delhi or Continuous power supply of Mumbai , power and water crisis of Delhi. Debate will be on, on and on.

But at the end, both the cities are marvelous and lively in their own respect. Both the cities have their own plus and minus. Choosing the city – Delhi or Mumbai lies on what is your perspective towards life, it truly defines you.

Since its inception the Delhi Metro has become the iconic symbol of the national capital of India. You come to Delhi and you haven’t taken the ride of Delhi metro, than your journey is worthless and incomplete, even if you have watched and clicked for memory photographs of the most sought after tourist destination. Delhi metro is a must, a must destination for anyone. It is a modern day technological marvel, bisecting New Delhi and Old Delhi.

But how marvelous is Delhi metro can be witnessed if one takes a ride at pick hour time -in morning, evening or in festival time. Not only will you get astounded, astonished by the efficiency of the Delhi Metro but you will see true colour of Delhi wala. Delhi walas are well renowned for many known and unknown reasons. For some, Delhi walas are the rudest metropolitan people compared to the people of Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. Again for some, especially for police, the Delhi walas are the most undisciplined people in India. For them traffic rules are there to be broken again and again. Traffic in Delhi is erratic, unpredictable even for those who are born and brought up here.

These were some unexplained perception about Delhi and Delhi walas. Coming to the Delhi Metro scenario, this is one place where one could see CEOs and the cobblers sharing the same institution, irrespective of their economic and social status.

In the peak time the Delhi Metro runs full with seats occupied, commuters symmetrically standing and some occupying the floor of the Metro in the seating position. They give the impression as if they are traveling for many days and their destination is far away. They seemed relax, content, comfortable without any affect of maya of sansarikta. Great!

While there are other commuters sharing the interlinked cabins, seeing them closely give the impression as if they are heading for a war. Eyes vigilant, body attentive, hands in motion, anxiously waiting for the order to open, so that an attack could be carried out. As soon as the doors open at a station, the cool interiors of the Metro within no moment turns violent as people standing at the station tries to get into the Metro. The nicest thing of the situation is that everything goes without any verbal altercation and hard feelings. The armies at the station and others inside the Metro, who are in the eyeball-to-eyeball contact remain silent at the battle front.

Well, if you are thinking to go click spree in the Delhi Metro Station, signboards read photography is banned, but I have seen people freely clicking inside the premises of the Delhi Metro.

What could I say about the place; after all it is Delhi where laws take shape from person to person.

Who said while in pain you don't enjoy! It is not true. At least for me I thoroughly enjoy the grueling, painful travel that I undertake daily, 6 days of a week to get to my office. The bone-breaking journey has unraveled many inhibitions, fear that was ingrained deep in me.I mean it has made me a good person. The travel has broken many myths about the place Gurgoan, even broken some unestablished myths about myself that was in my head. It is truly a new avatar at my end.

I laugh on myself like a child when I am successful to get to office before time. The journey that I took as ordeal in the initial days, now after one month I am enjoying it to the fullest, every day is a new day for me. I have discovered the true dichotomy that exists in Delhi in general, and Gurgoan in particular.

In Delhi, where getting into a place is easy, thanks to Metro and fleet of government and privately owned buses. In its neighboring mini Delhi, Gurgoan synonymous of India's growth in real estate and IT, the situation is drastic. Traveling from Delhi to Gurgaon and vice versa, it needs proper planning and execution with a tinge of savvy knowledge that can be learnt only when you are physically present.

And witnessing the dynamics of the commuters on this route is really a fun. How do they attack any cab or car plying on the Delhi-Gurgoan road, National Highway 8? The attraction between commuters and cabs is similar to attraction and repulsion effect between iron and magnet. Though there is no theory that describes the commuters and cabs.

As soon as a cab halts, commuters, all office goers literally attack the driver with a volley of questions - Duala Kuan jayegi, Saket jayegi, Wazirpur jayegi....? And those who gets the cab going to their destination, getting into the cab comes as a struggling moment, since one has to compete with his fellow passengers.

And all this love-hate, success-failure takes place with me on the road of Delhi Gurgoan road. When I am successful, I treat myself with a chilled champagne. It is a moment of success, I celebrate it by taking omlette or boiled eggs with my friend Kushal.

Here is the plan that I undertake very often while going to office. For getting at time in office, I leave home exactly at 8 am and take a bus to Naraina, Ring Road from Inder Puri.

The real journey starts from here. The mode of vehicle determines, how I will reach Gurgoan, the two-third journey to my office. I prefer cab since it takes less time and it is comfortable compared to the bus journey where getting a seat is a distant dream.

As soon as I get down from the bus here in Naraina. My eyes start scanning all the cabs plying on the road automatically, without any external stimuli. God knows which cab turns out to be the one I was searching for!

Most of the time I am successful to get a cab. Drivers had a gaga time earning extra money from us, I came to know, as much as we are dependent on them, they are equally dependent on us. The drivers of the cabs and the commuters like me are both hawk-eyed in the fulfillment of their requirements. They get money and I get a pleasant ride. The ecosystem is built, and it runs smoothly.

The journey from Naraina to IFFCO chowk, Gurgoan cost Rs 15. Traffic is erratic and unpredictable. One can see fleet of bikes in this chill environment of Delhi, swirling here and there in the road struggling to get a space. The scene is beautiful , all happening on the road. Not an inch is left vacant on the road.

While at Toll Gate, which is presently not running. All speeding vehicles gives the impression of the volume of water gushing out from the tunnels of the dam. And seeing ourselves part of this gushing vehicles effect, it is altogether a memorable moment.

And after a pleasant ride which takes more than 45 minutes, I get down at IFFCO Chowk. From there I head towards my next journey which takes place in a rickety auto rickshaw. The auto rickshaw visible here in Gurgoan, I suppose must be shown in the Discovery Channel or Travel TV. I really mean it. An auto rickshaw accommodates 15 people! And it goes to 20 people if situation demands!!

Using the same mode of travel I go to Rajiv Chowk, and there to the place of job. This ritual, which has become part of my life since one month has vanished the fear, the traveling fear about Gurgoan. Now, the thought that Delhi is inaccessible after 4pm doesn't haunt me, doesn't disturb me. I look cool and relax at 8 pm, here, deep inside in Gurgoan, Haryana where offices work 24x7, 365 days of a year.

I suppose in this one month's to-and-fro journey I might have shared with you the same seat in cab or have bitterly struggled with you!

NEW DELHI,INDIA

Indian Idol III: Amit Paul shares a common thread with Qazi of Fame Gurukul and Debojit of Sa Re Ga Ma. Explore what is the bottomline amongst them.

Amit Paul:

The Shillong lad has made the people of the hilly terrain to swell with proud. Watching the public response in the Indian Idol III towards him was amazing and exemplary. The hilly state known by Khasi and Jaintia communities going berserk against a Bengali lad is something which is hardly seen.

If there is something which is bringing the populace of Meghalaya to one stage is their affinity which they all share; and Amit Paul has did the same with the universal language of music. He has brought the picture of Shillong in the national television and in the world arena. It is a remarkable and to – be – noticed step, how a young boy made his name in the national musical show, but also given a name to the state he belongs to.

His effort will definitely infuse life to the young boys and girls of the state. They will come down to the plain and will be exploring the possibilities available here. And they will be successful since they do have musical culture. They love music, and they enjoy it. It is in their life. Chief Minister of the state Zoramthanga bestowing upon him the ambassador of peace of the state is noteworthy.

It is supposed Amit Paul is the first person who with his first shot in the musical arena was given this prestigious nomenclature ever given by a state to their budding singers. It is a different story that Amit Paul got eliminated earlier, but with the wild card entry he again came into the musical extravaganza.

And since then he is rocking the stage with his mellifluous voice. Those who are closely watching the television show will be knowing how his song Pehla…Nasha…Pehla ….Pyar …He… from the movie Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander and Nasha …Ye ….Pyar ..Ka..Nasha ..He… from the movie Mann mesmerized the whole television viewers, and the judges.

In the past couple of years, in the frenzy SMS musical shows, many talented singers were thrown into the top position and they have won the game, thanks to the regional tone and tenor (read tag) they carry. They become the symbol of the state and people do everything to make them win the race. The whole machinery of young blood is poured upon them.

Debojit Saha:

In this regard, Debojit Saha who represented Assam from the region Silchar in the Sa Re Ga Ma musical show is a classic example. He won the title with the support of the state. The volume of the votes that he garnered overshadowed his rival. Not to mention the bad mouth of the judges helped him winning the show. Regional media captured the news giving the people of the state to get united in the musical maha sangram.

Qazi Tauqeer:

There is Qazi Tauqeer of Kashmir who participated in the Fame Gurukul and won the title. With the help of the regional affinity and of his charismatic personality he swayed the whole nation and ultimately won the game. He was catapulted within days as a young hero representing trouble torn Kashmir. He never passed the musical test but thanks to his fans following he was never shown the exit door.

Now the clock is back on Amit Paul. Looking at the mass response of this lad it seems he is going to be the next Indian Idol III; coronation of the title will be in the namesake only. But not to forget his competitor, Prashant Tamang, a Nepali of Darjeeling is in the grand finale. He also carries the trans-regional-national affinity of Nepalis. He never came to the danger zone, the exit door.

Fans of the two titans will definitely fight tooth and nail to make their idol win the game. It will be a close fight. Both have the mass of volume of fans heavy. And they will do everything in the sake of sake of region/ state and the cultural affinity.

Related stories of Amit Paul [1,2,3, 4]

NEW DELHI,INDIA

Cyber-bullying, phishing and spamming have been proliferating; you may want to discontinue usage of some of the services that portals like Google/Yahoo provide; in such cases, you had better deactivate the services rather than staying away from them.

CYBER-BULLYING, phishing, and spamming have become the order of the day in the
internet world. Often, you avail yourself of services from Google / Yahoo. Some of the services you avail yourself of have to do with the voyeuristic streak in you and hence may have to be periodically deleted or deactivated or cancelled.

At the forefront of all services is the e-mail or the electronic mail, an introductory service that everybody availed of before entering the everywhere-anywhere world of cyber age. You may seek deletion or deactivation or cancellation of a service because you no longer like the service or the password you use to access the said service may have slipped into public domain or you may have be-come a victim of unsolicited bulk e-mail (spamming).

Many of us are inclined to believe that the best way possible to shield ourselves from such menaces is by simply staying away from (i.e. by not accessing) the account. By doing so, you are not doing any good to yourself. Anyone with your username and password will not only have a free run with your personal information and contacts but may also be involved in sending malicious mail using your identity; he / she may undertake data mining to collect email addresses; he / she may send unauthorised mail via open, third-party servers; he / she may upload, distribute or disseminate unlawful, defamatory, abusive, fraudulent, obscene, or otherwise objectionable content.

Not to mention the terrorists organizations which are prowling feverishly in the internet may get hold of your Email id and use it for their nefarious plans. It may be possible. So, before it is too late and you repent it is better to delete/ deactivate or cancel your Email account or any other services which you think has been compromised.

You must remember that the Email id is your property and you owe to it, and in this regard you are solely responsible for any content that you have created, transmitted or displayed while using the services; consequently you are liable of your actions by doing so.

You have your name in the Google/ Yahoo products. You must know how to delete/ deactivate or cancel your name and the online identity since not knowing the procedure would be like you know how to start a motorbike and you are able to ride it but you don’t know how to stop it. If this is the case you could be able to imagine what would happen to you after you started riding.

Here is the procedure to delete Google Mail service:

Click Settings at the top of any Gmail page.
Open the Accounts tab.
Click Google Account settings.
Click Edit next to My services on the right side.
Click Delete Gmail Service.
Once you close your Gmail account, you can’t reactivate it, and you won’t be able to retrieve any messages.

Here is the procedure to delete Yahoo Mail service:

Click My Account at the top of your Mail page, beneath your ID.
To make it sure it’s you, you have to again provide your password.
In the first section of the page that opens, click Manage My Premium Services.
In the “Service” column, locate “Yahoo! Mail Plus”. Along the same line, in the column on the far right – “Action” –click View Service Details.
Now, above the “Service Summary” box, in the upper-right area of the page, click Cancel Service.

Here’s what happens when you cancel Yahoo Mail service:

Service is terminated immediately upon cancellation request, and a pro-rated re-fund for the unused portion of the service is issued upon cancellation.

Your Yahoo! Mail account reverts to the free Mail storage size and other free features. If you cancel your Mail Plus, your account turns into a free Yahoo! Mail account that you can continue to use…minus the Mail Plus features. If you’re trying to delete your Yahoo! ID and/or Yahoo! Mail account, check out the Account Deletion page.

Steps to be taken on the subscribers and the telecomm operators part

NEW DELHI,INDIA

So far I have lost three mobile phones; one good thing about this is that I didn’t find any of them coming in my hand again. Well, one more thing that I have discovered - all have been stolen from my custody.

No doubt I have lost many things from sweetheart to honey money, to old-and-gold friends. But I have found them someway or the other way in one corner or the other in my life. The sorry part of the story is that I did not encounter these gadgets which had been occupying once one part of my life.

Every time I lost my mobile phone I keep on thinking a call would come saying – is this your mobile phone? Please collect it from me. It has never happened, and perhaps would ever occur.

I have seen stolen money being recovered, the product of one’s life educational marksheets being given to the owner. But I have never seen or heard a mobile phone being recovered. Why one lost mobile phone doesn’t surface back? Where it goes after parting from the owner?

It is not that all my mobile phones were high-end gadgets from Nokia 9**** series smartphones or Nseries multimedia computer series. They were simple gadgets with simple functionalities. The Finnish mobile giant describes those sets in the ultrabasic series. I have lost two sets of Nokia 1110 and one set of 1600 model.

These twos models are not more than Rs 2000. It is very surprising whoever has got fell in love with it and did not care to call me up. He didn’t even care this may be the gadget of a poor man soul, one’s last breathe.

This time when I lost my Nokia 1600 on that un-fateful day I was about to get a call for an interview. The organization was fantabulous and was eagerly waiting for the call. But God has his own plan. I lost my mobile and the interview call, so my dream job. Is he (the proud owners of my lost mobiles) listening?

A Serious Issue

The problem of mobile phone theft is not going to just go away. Mobile phones have been identified by the police as CRAVED (Concealable, Removable, Available, Valuable, Enjoyable, Disposable) items that are highly attractive to thieves and this will be exacerbated as phones become more sophisticated and start to offer users advanced functionality, such as the ability to pay for goods and services directly through the handset.

So, how one could tackle the ever increasing mobile-theft menace?

The best, the most successful trick that can be applied is by remaining vigilant. Nazar hati aur durgantna gati. Someone is constantly prying on your mobile to get hold of it. If possible avoid overcrowded bus or mass commuting vehicles. Your constant companion that is the mobile set may go to other hand. Chances are more.

Keep your mobile phone in the front buttoned pocket of your shirt or in the deep inner pocket of your trouser.

After you buy a mobile set record the unique 15 or 17 digit code IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) and keep it in a place where you place your all e-passwords of banks etc. This digit can be seen in the box your mobile comes. Or it can be retrieved by dialing the following sequence of numbers into the handset: *#06#. If you have a Sony Ericsson mobile phone, you can retrieve the IMEI by pressing the following key sequence: right,*, left, left,*, left, *, left.

This digit code is used to identify an individual mobile station to a GSM or UMTS network. The IMEI number facilitates an important function; it easily identifies a mobile phone being used on a GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) network.

The IMEI is a useful tool to stop a phone that is stolen from accessing a network and being used. Mobile phone owners that have their phones stolen can contact their mobile network provider and ask them to ban or shut off a phone using its IMEI number. With an IMEI number, the phone can be banned from the network quickly and easily. It is important to note that swapping a SIM card will not stop a phone from being banned.

Note: An IMEI device is only used to identify the device and does not usually relate to a specific individual or organization.

Note: However, it is possible to change an IMEI with special tools and there are certain mobile networks that do not automatically blacklist handsets. Current statistics state that about 10 % of current IMEI's in use today are not unique or have been reprogrammed (hacked).

Other safety tips are

Avoid using your phone in the street
Keep your phone out of sight
Use PIN codes to lock your phone
Turn off the ringer
Don't walk and txt

What can be done?

There is no magic wand either on the part of mobile phone owners or telecom operators to root out the problem.

With the IMEI, the crux thing is that it can be reprogrammed, it does not disable the handset from being usable. All it does is stop calls being made on the network that barred it. The handset itself is completely usable and does not lose its functionality.

Text bombing methods can be used as it has been done in Amsterdam.

Making phone theft unattractive by encouraging the use of cheap phones e.g Botswana.

Offer mobile phone security solution, which monitors phone proximity to owner and alarms on any phone security breach.

Curtailing the ready market of stolen phones.

NEW DELHI,INDIA

The Death of a teeneger has again pumped oxygen to the Orkut fire

THE GENIE OF the Orkut is back. This time with the untimely murder of a teeneger by his own "Orkut" friends. It is not the first time the social networking site has been dragged into the limelight. Few months back, thanks to Shiv Sena’s call to ban the Google’s social networking site it was in the news. At that time the Shiv Sena alleged that certain ‘communities’ have been using this common platform (Orkut) for insulting the party Supremo Bal Thackeray and Maratha idol, Shivaji.

The present hullaballoo has redirected us to think the way present day netizens behave themselves in the virtual world where every thing is virtual but seems real.Though this time the attack is not calling for banning it but it has, perhaps, stirred the hornet’s nest of many present day technological innovation that have their own inherent ‘curse’ and ‘bane’ shades.

Orkut, which has million of users in Brazil, accounting 55.50 per cent of the total users, followed by the USA and the India, its association with controversies and myths is not new. And that is quite contrast to its intend of becoming an embodiment of the freedom, many of us cherish, and a leading platform for public debates among communities worldwide on important social and developmental topics.

What is Orkut: The bane?

To be an Orkuttian means you are in constant touch with your friends or with a community through visible scraps or through personalized messages. They post their profile– personal, professional and educational—with hobbies and with an array of other elements on Orkut. Moreover, it is a place where one can search for past friends or make new friends of one’s liking. In simple terms, Orkut works as an interface between you and the world around you in a more personalized and safe way.

Stories are abundant how with the help of Orkut a friend has found his long forgotten school friend. For the Brazilian readers, this information is probably old news, how with the help of Google’s forum Orkut, a family reunited after 72 years of separation.

This story of 72 years of separation of a family exemplifies how when social networks like Orkut reach a critical mass in any region of the world, they can often be used to reunite lost friends and relatives.

Well, Orkut is not all about lost and found saga. Now, when online petitions and networking sites have been mobilizing public opinion on various issues like Jessica Lall case to reservations in educational institutions, finding a community or a poll supporting the President A.P.J Abdul Kalam for his second inning may not come as a surprise for many.

What is Orkut: The curse?

The worst is Orkut’s success has made it a popular vehicle for child pornographers, pedophiles, racists and anti-Semitic groups. In Brazil it was found that around 5,000 people were using the Internet, principally Orkut, to distribute the images of explicit sex with children.

Militants, anti-social elements and their sympathizers, too, are thriving on Orkut. Many communities on Orkut can be seen praising bin Laden, al-Qaeda or Jihad (holy war). Do not get astonished by the fan following of the under-world don Dawood Ibrahim, as there are 1502 members in the fan following list.

The banned United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), the largest insurgent outfit in the north eastern region, is reportedly using the networking site for targeting the tech-savvy new generation and the people living outside the state, including NRIs to draw their attention and extend its reach. Not to mention about other northeastern terrorist organisation demanding sovereignty, one would find communities or their sympathizers on the site.

What is Orkut: The rumour?

So, that was all about Orkut’s dark and bright side of the site. But, there are many things that are between dark and bright. And it is all about rumours related to Orkut. One of the rumours is about Orkut Buyukkokten, the architect of the Orkut. The rumor comes from the assumption that Orkut gets $12 every time someone registers on Orkut, $10 every time you add a friend, $200 every time you upload a photo and a crisp $1 every time you logout of Orkut.

Secondly, if you do not send out a scrap, Orkut will delete your account. Another myth is that Google is going to charge people for using Orkut.

These are few of the rumours that besides giving bad name to the site, present a poor picture of the site to its users.

Conclusion

With all the weaknesses and strengths, Orkut carries and the fact that this discussion is not going to be the last, we can expect that the said technology would allow better from the good people than bad from the bad people. The real issue is how we counter these messages of hate and radicalism and the way present day netizens cunduct themselves in the world of instant connectivity.

Sorry!!!!!! I didn't find for Rediffmail.com

NEW DELHI,INDIA

YeeeEEEEHHHHHHHH! AAAAAAoooooooooiiiiiiii! OOOOOOOOiiiiiiiii!!!!



NEW DELHI,INDIA

This is for what yesteryear Mithun Chakraborty is revered. The hero of early 80’s I have seen growing up.

The first bollywood filmy hero who captured my imagination and pushed me to the extreme level to become a fan; the word ‘fan’ wouldn’t be the perfect word to describe; the relationship that I found in him is something which I still don’t find with any other person from bollywood or Hollywood.

He was my idol at my tender age when black and white television was a luxury. And the only mode of entertainment was the musical programme Chitrahaar telecasted by Doordarshan on Wednesday at 8.00 PM. The place of watching Chitrahaar absolutely was not my house; it was our neighbour’s house drawing room. At that particular time, I remember, neighbours’ room doesn’t remain their own; it becomes a common entertainment room of houses located in the periphery of the owner.

You might be thinking what the relationship the present day Mithun Da had with Chitrahaar. There is a relationship since the primary motive and the factor that used to jubilate all tinny-winny sitting watching vociferously all the old songs that were telecasted is concerned; there, only one (one was enough) song of Mithun Da was sufficient to quench our thirst to watch the whole 30 minute programme.

Any hit and miss of Mithun’s song on Wednesday was very much depended upon how do you come out from the house.

At that age of wearing half-pant, lack of analysis of mind with receptive bent accepted anything, directly or indirectly related on Mithun. Whether it was related to his song, car or movie.

I remember my friend, who was senior to me told me once, when I asked him to describe how is the car of Amitabh Bachchan and Mithun Chakrabarty that his car is as white as milk one cannot see in day while Amitabh Bachchan’s car is as black one cannot see in night. And I believed on his version and I still continue to believe on it.

My first official movie of Mithun Chakrabarty was ‘Wanted’. It was ‘official’ since my father took all of us to watch the movie, and it was the last and final movie officially seen.

And its hang is still there in my mind – Mithun with a gun revolving in a circle opposite Amjad Khan.

If I keep on writing on Mithun, it is sure the space wouldn’t be enough.



YeeeEEEEHHHHHHHH! AAAAAAoooooooooiiiiiiii! OOOOOOOOiiiiiiiii!!!!

What is the status of Bishnupriya Manipuri in the world of Internet? What it’s standing in the yahoo and in the google search engine? How many people click, typing Bishnupriya Manipuri in the internet. Well, these were some few questions, definitely, would be lurking in everyone’s mind. So, is the case with me?

Are we dead in the eyes of netizens? Are we visible for the whole world? Let us travel down the line in the murky lanes of internet and find out the real status of our community.

Type Bishnupriya Manipuri in the world’s biggest search engine Google – results 23,600 in 0.09 seconds. The first website - http://www.bishnupriya-manipuri.org/ - is static and only God knows what has been written and it is full of boxes. Would you pay a visit to the website. The answer would be big NO.

Now come to the second website - http://manipuri.freeservers.com/ - it is much better than the first one. I suppose Google Page Ranking tool went wrong this time since this website is full of contents and useful informations on the language movement and how to learn the Bishnupriya Manipuri language. A good website in itself.



Coming to the third, it is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishnupriya_Manipuri_language in the world famous online encyclopedia wikipedia.org, indeed is a prize catch. It is matter of prestige that our community name has been added to this site. And who ever has written is a man to be honoured for taking the painstaking and incisive work.

Next http://manipuri.htmlplanet.com/ is a more descriptive website mentioning about songs, drama, novels, essays and research work. A must visit website.

Next comes the pouri http://www.pouri.org/. Do not expect much from this website. It was updated on 08 December 2005. A no, no website.

http://mahasabha.org/ - an official website of the Nikhil Bishnupriya Manipuri Mahasabha is the one that could personalize anybody and it makes the first impression favourable with its front page depictingthe familiar names Dr. Debandra Kr. Sinha, Gopinath Sinha, Hem Chandra Sinha , Uday Sinha, Rajendra Kr. Sinha, Krishna Ballab Sinha, Sundar Mukherjee and address Bhakatpur, Silchar.

Despite the alluring looks of the website, if one expects while clicking the news tab, one would get news, forget it there is no news being the official website and being situated at the heart of our community. The Orkut version of Bishnupriya Manipuri is far better active than this one.

These were few of the names of the websites that probably command respect or disrespect. And how much these websites ventilates the community to the other world. It is not far away from everyone’s guess.

Has it been ever possible that one invokes the Google Alert tool and one's mail box not flooded with related materials from the sources - news, blogs, web and group - on a keyword, pouring out from any part of the world? But it happens with the Bishnupriya Manipuri. Try it. Google fails to crawl any items with the word Bishnupriya Manipuri. Your mail inbox will be blank.

Well my inquisitive to know how many people are really typing Bishnupriya manipuri I ran the google trends but it failed to come up with any result it showed – the term Bishnupriya manipuri do not have enough search volume to show graphs. So here it failed to colligate any information on it.

Not believing on the google tool I tried the same in a yahoo tool it failed again. Next I took refuge in another google tool to know so far how many have since the internet came into existence typed Bishnupriya manipuri. It came out with the figure 25000.

So we came out with the two figures first the 23,600 – the total search result available in the google search and the 25000 – the total number of search done by people typing in the internet browsers.
Winding up the whole issue – we all Bishnupriya Manipuri must be active and must contribute in this ever-changing world of internet before we are being wiped out by others, not to mentions the enemies we have.