Mr. President – we all love you
Posted On Tuesday, May 29, 2007 at at 20:57 by rk rishikesh sinhaMany names that have been cropping up in the race of President are Union Minister Pranab Mukhejee, Shivraj Patil, Sushil Kumar Shinde and senior Congress leader Karan Singh. Another name which is doing round in the political circle is Vice-President BS Shekhawat’s candidature for the coveted post.
It is not that people of political lineage are only in the fray; there are many illustrious people from different walks of life from bureaucratic to corporate, to scientist, and to actors, whose names are being taken vigorously. But politicians of the land are not backing their names; even if they are backing them their number is miniscule.
Nevertheless, with the mainstream political parties going with the United Progressive Alliance’s (UPA) ultimate decision in this matter, and National Democratic Alliance not coming out clearly on this issue, it is certain that the constituent parties in the government would virtually decide who will be coveted in the constitutional post of President.
Other parties are taking the decision on this matter seriously. In this effort to come to a consensus decision, newly elected Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati and Tamil Nadu Chief Minster M. Karunanidhi had met with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The CPM politbureau has reiterated that the person occupying the post must have a political background and firm secular credential. “The future President must be able to exercise judgment to maintain the balance between the Parliament, executive and judiciary, ” it said in a statement.
Now, when the ground has been laid and rules-to-be-implemented has been worked out; especially those children and youngsters who have met with him and participated in his whirlwind lecture are feeling sorry, that their icon wouldn’t be in the Raisana Hill. He appeared as a teacher, scientist, leader and motivator for them. His coming to the office had indeed sent a positive signal that the Rashtrapati Bhawan is accessible for them.
I remember my friends who have interviewed him saying, “He is so polite, generous and communicating.” It is not that only children and youngsters have been influenced by his charismatic personality. I come to know his impact of his personality on the masses of the people when an old person whom I was interviewing in the midst of the interview took up his book ‘Wings of Fire.’
Well for me it remained as a dream to meet with him. I find and more like me had built up a common chord with him since we all had carried the dream of becoming a scientist. And when we find a scientist is leading the country, it is natural to get inclined.
A party, which plays a role in the present government, expects the incumbent to maintain the balance between the Parliament, executive and judiciary, and not with the people of India.
An Idea from the Idea
Posted On Sunday, April 29, 2007 at at 21:53 by rk rishikesh sinhaWhat would you do to make an urgent call of the fact there is no outgoing facilities in your mobile? And it is very urgent. It is dead night at Delhi and you are outside your home and the door is closed. Will you bang incessantly on the door or call in high pitch to awaken your parents? It is sure you will try both, but after trying hard you don’t get any positive response. Again, what would you do? Imagine! TRY hard.
Of his profession in the hotel industry, my brother had to come at dead night. Usually, someone from our family, task taken by my sister, awakes whole night to receive him. A call from him alerts her that he has come and her work is over by opening the gate. This followed by watching television and browsing the net by him.
But on this very day or say un-fateful night, he came at his usual time; he banged the door and screamed aloud. But he didn’t get any respite from his maiden effort. After waiting for an hour, someone came to help him out. Imagine who would be the one, who appeared in the tiny lanes of Delhi and in the midst of unscrupulous neighbour, and who took him out from the slough of depression of not able to enter at night, so devoid of sleep. The sleep that can log out anyone’s active thinking booting process.
His all attempts failed miserably which was always armed with teeth with a mobile phone and all possible gadgets. But on that day, he was not having the outgoing facility subscribed to Idea mobile service. He called the customer service of the Idea cellular service and narrated his agonized state.
And the sentient customer service personnel responded maturely, emotively with a human touch. Someone receiving your call at 2.00 a.m and in a sweet tone and showing empathy to your concern is really a matter to write and publicized. This only happens in the Mughal kingdom, Delhi and in the customer service of the Idea cellular service personnel who are not refusenik in nature. Quite opposite to the merciless cacophony projected about the Delhi and the pesky, unresponsive so-so customer service.
The customer service personnel called at first to my brother’s mobile and it went unattended. Again he called my brother who was waiting for his call to take another number. This time he gave my sister’s mobile number. My sister who was sleeping dead like a log picked up the phone, so this way the night that seemed to be long and dreary ended this way.
So, next time you wanted to buy any mobile service available in the market, bet on Idea service so that you remain connected every time, everywhere.
Guarding Your Assets: 24/7; 365 Days
Posted On Saturday, April 28, 2007 at at 21:25 by rk rishikesh sinhaThe term ‘security’ is no more confined to the khaki-clad police force or CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) guarding the safety and security of person(s) and his property/assets.
With the humongous growth of business establishments witnessed in the metros and in the towns, now it has acquired a new terminology and significance, becoming the inseparable entity of the frenetic growth in the real estate sector – both commercial and housing segments.
The increasing demand for security and safety of the employees and employers in the so called modern temples of the corporate kingdoms has necessitated the security providing companies Motion Pictures Association of America (MPAA), Motorola and G4S to don an agile, responsive, vigilant service equipped with modern techniques. One could find in India the range of such security firms or companies going from incognito local made to international brands.
There are many intriguing questions which arise in everyone’s mind about these anonymous and global security providers, since the usual looking peon sitting in the office entrance is quite capable of doing their work. What has prompted and driven them to take a bigger pie in the security sector, thus ending up making a parallel growth and business presence similar to the real estate business?
The companies hiring their services have not only helped in meeting the security and safety needs of the employees, systems and infrastructure which are pre-requisite for the smooth functioning of the business, but also their dependence on regular over-stretched state police personnel says Capt. (Hony) Padma Ram Suthar, Security Officer and Administrative Officer, Aptech AG Ltd.
Asking what is the significance and importance of ‘security’ in the corporate world, Suther, who is an ex-army personnel says “security is an all-encompassing concept, whether it is the security of one’s home, company or a nation, its sole objectives remain the same”.
The market of security has been identified and marketed brilliantly by the real estate developers, commercial establishment and retail outlets. They are coming up with installation of access control, smart card, alarm and CCTV systems in their commercial and residential dwellings.
And about the security of industrial and commercial establishment, the director of Creative Security Management (CRM), Col. (retd.) M. S Mathur opines “it is to prevent any untoward loss of life and property with burglar-resistant and surveillance equipment”. He further says that the companies are now becoming more conscious about security than ever before, they are constantly seeking to improve their protection systems.
Even in the retail outlets, currently all the major shopping malls and shopping centers are heavily dependent on a comprehensive security system. With shoplifting becoming a menace - encountered by most of the outlets; retailers are installing CCTV cameras and electronic surveillance systems to detect thefts. Moreover, ordinary citizens are also not far behind in the security hullabaloo, they are concerned about safety of their home and near and dear ones.
In this regards, security agencies provide array of services from manned security to cash processing, cash transportation, cashier services, ATM outsourcing and management, mobile patrol, VIP guards, stationary guards, reception services, alarm response services, and even extending to alarm monitoring, access control, home alarms, CCTV, surveillance, alarm installations and guarding and maintaining fire extinguishers.
All these services, no doubt, come with a price-tag and it varies from company to company and the nature of work they were called for. The Plus Four Security Services charges Rs. 5,950 per month per person for a Security Guard and Rs. 7,950 for a Security Supervisor, including the ESI and EPF. A government mandatory service tax @ 12.24% is charged additionally on the total billing.
The swelling growth in the industry plus the few recent incidents where employees of security services were involved in heinous crime, have not only brought bad name and aroused suspicion, but it has triggered a growing concern about the manner of functioning of these agencies.
“Such incidents are occurring and will be often repeated in near future” says an employee of a leading security company. “Due care and attention must be given to the welfare of the personnel, as they have to work for at least 12 hours or even more continuously in a worst condition” he adds.
And about how to tackle this problem marring the industry, Suthar says maximum number of ex-employees of Army, Air Force, Navy, paramilitary forces and the state police personnel must be drawn into the service. Inclusion of personnel, besides imparting professionalism, Suther says will train the untrained personnel.
In this line to regulate the security services, the Union Government brought out the Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act, 2005. The Act, though not applicable in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, is a rule book that all private agencies must comply with.
But, how many security agencies strictly comply with the Act? One observes the agencies’ personnel and even their management making a mockery of this law. This must be checked by the government stringently.
Haute Malls Come Of Age In Faridabad
Posted On at at 21:01 by rk rishikesh sinhaMalls in Faridabad
Call it vanity, convenience or necessity, shopping malls and multiplexes have become a part of our lifestyle.
Malls and multiplexes are ubiquitous in the modern landscape. Thanks to the unprecedented growth in this segment. They are not simply churning out established brands from food to apparel, electronic goods to everything related to our daily needs; in this attempt they are all trying to be different from others. And to become different from others they are not leaving any stone unturned. They all are coming up with innovative, customer-friendly ways, keeping in mind the un-tested reflexes and the tastes of people.
Without an iota of doubt, pro-customer steps are always appreciated. But there needs to be ‘something’ extra that would attract the masses, before its becomes the talk of the town.
The SRS Mall located at Sector-12 in Faridabad is one such shopping arena that houses a multiplex, offering an absolutely free parking as its USP. Mr. Sushil Jain, Marketing Manager, SRS Entertainment Ltd. Says “The SRS Multiplex is the only multiplex in NCR which provides free-of-cost parking facility for the customers’ vehicles; moreover without charging a penny and validating their vehicles by providing them with parking tickets”.
The parking space in SRS Multiplex could hold over 2000 vehicles and with the free-of- cost tag, it definitely comes as a selling point and a brilliant marketing strategy. Parking hitch in malls is indeed becoming a permanent headache for many and with passing time it is turning into a pathetic and dismal shape – sometimes uncontrollable and dangerous.
Positioned in the heart of the city and spread over a total area of 1,38,000 sq. feet. SRS Multiplex showcases all leading brands for clothing and other essential items, a multiplex broadcasting latest movies, food court to serve the gourmet of your choice and mouth watering cuisines, a spa and a gym to rejuvenate the body and soul, value bazaar for shoppers with all the basic day to day amenities and even a swimming pool and gym to loosen the strained nerves. A well trimmed, well maintained garden is another big crowd puller.
In addition to it, 600 strong-employees SRS Multiplex has in its coffer bag full of excitement and unique experience to offer to the visitors for any age group and of any strata. Its services are open from low-end to high-end customers. There is ‘something for someone’ says Sushil Jain. He convincingly promises “someone dropping at morning; the multiplex has got such a vast and exhaustive pool of resources that he will find himself busy and involved and he will enjoy a lot with the array of activities for the whole day. He will never ever feel weary, unsatisfied and unconvinced”.
Strolling in the three floors of the SRS one would find fun filled activities taking place in full swing, people jostling in the entry and the exit gates, food cafeteria, garden area, in branded shops and in every corner as something undertow is excitedly happening. In weekends, Sushil Jain confirms ‘over 20,000 thousand people visits their mall. And the largest crowd puller are cinema and food cafeteria’.
Mukesh Tejwani, 24, a resident of Faridabad says everyday he spent around 3 to 4 hour with his friends ambling around the garden area and in the well-lit shops. When asked why does he come so regularly, he smilingly says ‘just to chill out, since this place has got everything to make anyone happy’.
Sushil Jain claims SRS Multiplex is the only multiplex in NCR where there is an opulent gardening area. Visitors have the choice to spent time in the ‘green’ garden area or inside the mall. Projecting a perfect combination of going trendy with exhilarating experience and moreover with the green element.
People like Tejwani who are brand obsessive, in SRS could find and explore all international brands like Provoque, Ven Heusen, Allen Solly, John Player, Cotton County, Zodiac and many more. It also houses food giants like Mc Donald, Punjabi Tadka and Dazzel Restrobar.
Siddharth, who sits in a shop selling male garments, is ‘happy’ with SRS image, its interior ambience and crowd-pulling factor. He says his shop gets customers from Faridabad, Delhi and nearby villages.
About the specialty of SRS PVR Cinema, Sushil Jain claims it has the ‘widest screen’ in NCR. SRS Group is also coming up with its more cinemas one in Gurgoan and another in Subham Tower, close to Escort Hospital. Nevertheless, they are planning to arrange outdoor games in the SRS multiplex.
SRS Group is a conglomeration of SRS Group Housing, IT Park, SRS Hotel, SRS Food Court, SRS cinema and Value Bazzar. The Group is going gung-ho in its expansion in their chosen field.
Like any big Group, the SRS Multiplex of its sheer employee strength, area, image and goodwill also faces problems and challenges. According to Sushil Jain it is more or less in the ‘co-ordination’ and the ‘facility’ aspects that they have to improve so to compete with the other malls popping up in their immediate backyard.
Sushil Jain is not complacent when he says ‘there is no competition’ from other malls that are oozing out vigorously in the adjoining areas. He is open to react positively in the changing business environment and in the public’s taste. He is not keeping the cards near his heart as he knows the secret lies in the ‘parking’ and ‘green’ elements attached to the SRS Multiplex that will leverage it for at least 2 to 5 years. The Mall is indeed causing waves in Faridabad, with food court and shops of all kinds offering a plethora of options.
ABHISHEK BACHCHAN WEDDS ASHWARIYA RAI
Posted On Thursday, April 26, 2007 at at 14:25 by rk rishikesh sinhaInnumerable international and national media carried the grand marriage in one breathe. Amitabh, despite being offered as news report appeared was approached by an international television channel to cover the marriage, but he thought to turn down the offer, though best known to him.
The media, particularly the Indian media, which have been continually detailing the life of Bachchan, his wife Jaya Bachchan, son Abhishek Bachchan and now Ashwariya Rai, were unfortunately kept at bay. It seems the Big B wanted his son’s marriage private away from the glare of media.
Television channel were lined up in the gate of Big B reporting live any smattering news pouring out from the house. The BBC carried the marriage news as “Bollywood celebrates star wedding”. Where most of the channels were busy in digging itinerary of their marriage facts, there were other analyzing the financial aspects of the marriage. One came out with the proposition that after the marriage the Bachchan’s family would become the most powerful family in Bollywood.
If media reports are to be believed only 100 people were invited amidst sea of known names in the Big B’s life that spans from fans, to politics, to arts and to bollywood. The Abhishek- Ash marriage, where it got lot of participation added with inquisitiveness from every section of the society, it was marred with a girl’s alleged allegation of Abhshek’s betrayal of marriage promise given to her. The girl, Jhanvi much publicized allegation came as a bolt from the blue for Bachchan’s family.
Besides this, the high profile marriage also got flak from the people of Allahabad, the hometown of Big B. People of Allahabad, who revere him and his family, were disappointed of the fact that their association with the actor was not taken into consideration. The emotional attachment that the people of Allahabad had with the family is understandable.
In a country of billion a marriage can supersede and it was proved in this marriage. General people wants to see and watch their actors on and off the screen, but there are others and there are issues that has to be given due importance. It is really sorry; media was swayed by the marriage of two individuals.
Bishnupriya Manipuri Name Embossed
Posted On Saturday, April 14, 2007 at at 01:27 by rk rishikesh sinha
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
---Robert Frost, “The Road Not Taken”
MILLI SINHA (Centre) NAVIN PRABHAKAR (extreme right)
Call it serendipity or sheer talent to choose the road less traveled by; Maloxmi Sinha has carved a niche of herself in the field of her chosen field, the event management. She is ebullient, confidant and more than that she is not carrying the air of self-vanity and propensity.
Maloxmi aka Milli is an entrepreneur in its true sense. She hasn’t gone to any big B school to learn the basic lessons of business and corporate communication. On the other hand, she learnt in her own way and pace. Her mantra of her success is perhaps of doing the things irrespective of the size, status of the work. So, she has excelled on whatever work she was offered to.
Her mantra seems simple and straight as stick. But at this time when youngster wish to pluck stars in one breathe. Her rise in professional life is meteoritic and exemplary. Success begins not with long jump but with small, small steps. And she has proved the same.
On asking how she has become a true entrepreneur and what prompted her to plunge in the man’s world. Her eyes sparkle and an innocent smile crosses her face. She drags the pointer of the mouse in the computer to a lady where she had earlier worked. She says, “that lady is my guru”.
But to know the tricks of the game takes time and talent, and moreover opportunities must come rolling in one’s life. About this, she says, “there (her previous job and the last) I was recruited as a Tele-caller, but with my astounding results I was shifted to do other work, and there I knew the whole game”.
She continued the job for 10 – 11 months. And she learnt the ins and out of the business from bottom to the top. The primary reason she left the job, unfortunately came from her guru’s meticulous time keeping.
Yes, Success comes with a price tag
Posted On Sunday, April 08, 2007 at at 22:48 by rk rishikesh sinhaTheir story started as usual like we all witness in our lives. But rarely it happens in a usual looking chit-chat in chatrooms and later to incessant phone calls taking the colour of love.
The girl Anamika whom I knew from my graduation days was a shy, wearing heart in her sleeves type of girl. She was smart and intelligent in every aspect. She hardly had any body in her immediate friends circle. She used to shy away specially from boys, may be because of her inherent choosy nature or social/family objections to mingle with the opposite sex. She hardly comes to terms with human creatures, living quietly in her own world with her own thoughts. She always dreamt of becoming a journalist, a reputed journalist. She was inspired by the thoughts of her idol Swami Vivekananda . But... her wings of dreams were tried to cut in every possible manner by her parents and by her immediate relatives. The cruelty and the barbarism she suffered, frankly speaking, I heard only in the films and in the books. She was tortured mentally, physically and her wishes were trampled mercilessly in her own home, by her own people.
The saddest part of the story is that all this was happening when I was her major part of life. Call it greatness of womanhood; she was sailing in the turbulent water of life but she was caring me by calling me, instructing me about my career and in every possible way a friend could expect to do. On the other hand, she was just another 'friend' for me, a caring and devoted friend. I like her, as she was different from other pesky girls those who were around me in my college days. Boys are really emotionless fools, a buffoon in reading feelings. Their eyes are veiled by maya. And I am the one in the list of fools......Though Anamika doesn't believe so.
Swayam, a virtual anonymous called her, enchanted her, at least for a moment made her forget her 'then present' tumultuous time. His call appeared as a musical note in her life, he was an unseen angel. His voice was lively, compassionate and full of life, creating a magic that would wash away all the sorrows from her life during the period of their conversation. Series of calls amounted to thousands. She enjoyed his jovial disposition. Dreams were shared between them. He offered his helping hand as a good friend to Anamika. He promised never to part ways from her. Mumbai, the city of dreams, like many others was Anamika's dream destination too. Say it the coincidence - Swayam was from Mumbai. He arranged lodging and a job for her in the big city. A friend doing so much for a girl in an unknown city is really praiseworthy, hardly ever seen especially in metros where relatives want to get rid of their relatives at the earliest possible way. He became an anchor in her life. He was her friend, a guardian and her soul mate. Not a single day left in their lives in Mumbai when they weren't in touch with each other. Reliance-to-Reliance free call - came as a big prize. They were in touch 24 X 7. In a big city like Mumbai, brimming with all walks of people, Swayam and Anamika were the two people who were always together. Their love took confirmation even from Anamika's parents. Her parents liked Swayam very much.
Anamika started working in a newspaper. Though she was lowly salaried, she enjoyed each and every moment of her life as Swayam was always there with her. With passing time, their love blossomed acquiring new colour and fragrance.
The nice part of the story is that the dream both have seen in terms of professional achievements took root from Anamika's fetching a job in a reputed television channel. By the time, their association in Mumbai had already elapsed one and a half year. And the bitter part of the story is that Swayam, who was certain to get the job of a graphic designer in a television channel, lost his dream on the way due to great 26/7 floods of Mumbai. His recruitment got cancelled for a institutional mess in the company.
Someone had rightly said "success is sweetest for those who never succeed". No doubt, for Anamika, getting into the citadel of journalism was success and she was on cloud nine, coming as a medium to answer back those who had doubts in her capabilities. But she had to bite the bullet of success when she didn't receive any positive response from Swayam even a small gesture of offering congratulation for getting the dream job.
His blurred, low, unenthusiastic comments on her new venture was killing. The long association of two souls, two-success came to abrupt halt. There were no phone calls concerning about each other. And some, which were made, were dead like stone, carrying stony look and tempo.
Anamika, never in her dreams ever thought that dreams comes with a price tag. Now, friends what will you choose – success, which gives recognition, sense of belongingness, or love, the eternal love. Ponder………..
About me, well friends………..
Nandigram, Singur - the place to refer to
Posted On Sunday, March 25, 2007 at at 01:30 by rk rishikesh sinhaPeople are flummoxed so are the main political parties of the state and the center on the events that were sequentially turning up in the two places. With the involvement of politics and business, all coming with their own version and speaking the same language of growth and progress of the effected people, the whole episode has now become more complex and caricatured.
The West Bengal government so to catch up with the industrial developments that had swayed in the other states, though lately wants to accelerate industrialization in one stroke by clutching big chunk of lands from the farmers and giving it to business houses. Such acquisition by the government in the name of development is not a new affair. In the past and still the trend is followed by the governments to acquire lands for developmental purpose. That we all know.
The question is – in this purchase exercise that was followed in Singur and Nandigram what went wrong and where? Is it government’s initiative to buy lands for the private parties or its adamant stand to defend its policy to develop Special Economic Zones?
Why people in these two regions, though fuelled by the parties like Trinamool Congress, are fighting tooth and nail not to surrender their land?
Why the developmental pill offered by the government does not sway people to swallow? Is it because the antidote of politics prescribed by the Mamta Banerjee to the people is more powerful than the government’s pill?
These two places, no doubt, have added a new page in the so called manufactured development carried out by the government by taking away covertly or overtly lands from the farmers and peasants.
HONEYMOON TRAVELS PVT LTD
Posted On Sunday, March 11, 2007 at at 02:31 by rk rishikesh sinhaThe film - directed, screenplay, story and dialogue - by Reema Kagti is filled with many known and unknown bollywood actors like Diya Mirza, Ranvir Shorey, Abhay Deol, Minissha Lamba, Amisha Patel, Karan Khanna, Shabana Azmi, Boman Irani, Vikram Chatwal, Sandhya Mridul, Kay Kay Menon and Raima Sen, but despite having all these actors in the story, it fails to strum any strings of the moviegoers, whether it was in he front of story build-up, climax, songs, photography, direction and camera. In every parameter, the movie is flop, awry.
One wonders, from the beginning to the end, what the director wants to deliver, what exactly she desired to cater to the audience. So, one finds scattered story plots, which were unnecessary, unwanted and could be edited nonchalantly, leaving no effect on the movie. With all these story pop-ups, simply, it turned out be a torturous treatment - at least for me.
The story ends up autobiographical in nature, of course for personal viewing and for hungry for entertainment cinemagoers. Nowadays people are smart and intelligent, so I am, not swaying with the director’s craftsmanship.
The dimly – lit, air-conditioned multiplex with every comfort was giving out an impression of an inferno, as people are being given punishment for buying high-cost tickets. And I was among those being punished like a hell.
The movie is so convoluted; it turns out to be churlish. I stopped grinding my brain and allowed it to go to sleep, mute mode.
Well, there is mantra, if someone really wants to blithely enjoy the movie, start comparing the actor’s role with their previous roles. You can enjoy, I promise, but to not that extent that you have anticipated.
About Raima Sen, she has been successful to steel the thunder from the other actors. Hers role was meaty, touching every corner of a newly wed boudi (only for me). The movie has very well depicted about the culture vulture Bengalis, their only-god-knows inhibition and reservation, free of cost advisable nature, their critical bend of mind enquiring about everything under the sun and the fishy character layered with secrecy. For Bengalis, any trivial looking thing or incident is a classified top-secret. Hey! I am not a prejudice; these are all dried barren facts.
And Abhay Deol’s role, those who have seen his debut film Sochha Na Tha, where he makes a full circle to fall in love with a girl with whom he later marry, this movie has stretched his post-marriage image. Buck up Abhay…come out from the image of playing such roles which are pathetically interwoven in and around marriage saga. Make some good attempts.
In Honeymon……he plays the role of a latent, deceptive superhero, though entertaining, it fails to cow the audience.
Winding up the story, Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd is story about 6 married couples cavorting and revealing in their honeymoon period. Beware of gays while you are engrossed in watching the movie. After all, the story is also about gay people.
SPARE TIME FOR WOMEN
Posted On Friday, March 09, 2007 at at 03:23 by rk rishikesh sinha
The International Women’s Day on March 8 passed as usual, without much hype and hoopla, and fanfare as we all witness in and around us on ‘V’ (Valentines) Day. For million of women, urban or rural, besides being the basis of a family, strength of the community and the essence of the future, must have been grappling for a secured sphere in the men’s world of hegemonic tendencies and machismo.
What we all have seen on this very day – a full page advertisement with close – up photographs of political leaders coming in the last page basking schemes, laws and legislation for the protection of women and major policy initiatives undertaken by the government.
Can’t the concerned ministry could carry out a front full page advertisement as we all see in the consecutive days in our so called national dailies. The truth is: government could do, perhaps much better execute, but sorry it is again the XY chromosomes factor dominating the XX chromosomes.
If there have been a genuine concern, the X, Y, Z ministries, companies, forum or organization could have for a sake run a hour- long programme in television and on print. But we all end up seeing full page advertisement of companies in print and in the television.
The open secret is that like V Day craze with potential market orientation, the women’s day doesn’t come even near to it. A particular day’s success and failure is coherently directly related to market. And the thumb rule is that forces of market always rule, so are the media. Something that we all must accept or acquiesce. As we all know, governments are synonymous to problem; if there is no problem, there would be no government, they are intertwined and interchangeable.
Coming to media which is considered as the fourth pillar of democracy, as far as my experience goes is not much better place for them. In television, where the pace of work is staggeringly fast, it is a common feature people falling over their colleagues. But the question is ‘how’ people fall over other, say to a lady colleague.
The whole nation awakes and sleep with the chubby angel faced news anchor. But how many of us know while being smilingly delivering the news, the mental agony the news anchor is undergoing. She is being rebuked, insulted by her immediate senior, and it goes uninterruptedly when we all are glued to the live news. That’s the beauty and strength of women, despite juggling between the two worlds – visible and invisible as in tv, she excels.
Here is an incident which really jerked and jolted me, and I still feel pity of myself. It was my first stint in my professional career in tv. I was struggling hard coming in terms with the tv scriptwriting and with the related peripherals involved. With the responsibility of putting live news on air, virtually on a single day I was made a man from a novice, greenhorn student, who has just taken birth from the mass communication classes of the university.
Hardly one month had elapsed from the day of my joining, what I saw, I still fail to forget. The senior video editor was callously rebuking, threatening and insulting the lady librarian, who was in responsibility of the thousand of cassettes, in front of all junior and senior people, as he has found out a soft target to show his male machismo of power and ‘tv’ ego. For a moment, I thought, someone will come forward. But no body stepped in. From haywire a thought crossed my mind that was surely in the capacity of myself being a man, I can request him to lower down his loud and shriek voice. But, the very thought remained a mere thought, devoid of action. The very next day, she left the job and nobody cared to inquire about her. She lost in the pace of work schedule.
Just ponder on this real story. How many of such similar incidents takes place in our working environment, they are hardly reported. Just think for an moment the mental agony she would have suffered. Think, but also act.
BISHNUPRIYA MANIPURI KNOT
Posted On Wednesday, March 07, 2007 at at 03:53 by rk rishikesh sinhaHardly, it has ever happened that a simple looking marriage go for occupying ones brain’s space. But, there exist such marriages where we go uninvited like unsolicited spam into the marriage inbox, and the memories powered by real time instances remains crept in our mind. So, this was the marriage which I will ever hate to forget.
Now, the question arises – how could I dare to go like the spam in the marriage inbox. Simple, I am a Bishnupriya Manipuri, a certificate in itself to peek into and trespass any social or private congregation. And a marriage comes as the most haunted or hunted place.
Usually, I dislike and abstain myself from attending birthday parties, marriages or any event where known or unknown people assimilate. I hate, as much, if possible I will not go to my own marriage.
The repeated, compulsive persuasion by my friend Biswadeep took me to the marriage venue. The persuasion honeyed by ‘the first marriage in Delhi by BM community’ indeed helps me to melt. For a moment, my inner self which always crow about to go down to history; almost enthused me to witness such historically important (read red latter day) event. Thus ending up in the list of faceless, countless visitors, who had emptied their rubbery stomach much early.
The marriage which ran till 2 o’clock, I was constantly thinking – if I were the great writers like RK Narayan or JB Priestley- I could have been able to pen down the comical plot developed in the venue.
It was possibly the first BM marriage (as per the record in my life time I have attended 3 BM marriages and 5 non BM marriages) solemnized at the temple in the space starved city, Delhi; after array of legal formalities and the blessings of a non – BM Brahmin were completed.
I feel pity for the Brahmin institutionalizing the marriage in the eyes of GOD. Just think – what would he be thinking about us? Phas Gaya (trapped)!? Unaware of the language, customs, and our genetic gene, which we all do carry, in his style of ritual was busy in completing the on-hand work. Sorry, Shastriji. You fail to come to our standard Brahmin living in our decrepit village.
And about those called or uncalled guest plus children, the climate and the sama that they unconsciously built-up was more funny and at the same time amusing in nature। One could have find in the air streams of languages, English, Hindi, Assamese, BM, Meitai, Bengali and what not. The conundrum was such that it made me thinks twice, even thrice before I uttered a word and fell in conversation with a person opposite to me.
And without the mentioning of girls, the mere description of marriage does not hold water. The marriage seems absolutely insipid and dull. They were really looking damn beautiful, charming, attractive deaf and dumb girls.
Coming to boys, though I interacted with every bachelor except two or three (I have forgotten their names) they were indeed smitten by love bugs especially towards those wearing saree and salwar kameez. Believe me, boys kept their liked/loved secret as girls keep and protect their feelings. The secret was close to their heart.
Now, attending the marriage seems a complete reverie for me. It was full of fun finding myself in the same breed of people. Well. MAY GOD BLESS THE COUPLE. Anyway, the dinner was hot and tasty, the last word as one could expect from an uncalled visitor.
Holi Hai!
Posted On Monday, March 05, 2007 at at 00:13 by rk rishikesh sinha
In this festival, one comes out from his or her imposed shell. One starts smiling on strangers and on neighbours, to whom you have hardly cared due to scarcity of time or with your indomitable ego.
The mere feeling – how it is played and how it starts rolling, gives us a true and sweet aspect of the festival, Holi. The festival makes one person to take a step and the collective steps of many, colours everyone’s life. It is not the simple colour you smear on others that excites us, but the ‘collectiveness’ in one purpose that accelerate us.
Holi is also the only day to impose yourself on others. You use every ruse; use every weapon available in your armoury to attack on others. It may be your bare hand, basket full of water, pichkaris or balloons filled with water, which comes as a weapon of mass destruction.
This weapon keeps on changing with the place, the locality and the lane where it is played. Places where space is abundant and surface is plain, pichkaris and bare hands are the best options. Participation in such virtual war zone reminds me of my days in Guwahati (Assam) and Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir). Whereas other weapons like pichkaris and balloon filled with water, first time I experienced it in Delhi.
In the space starved city like Delhi where buildings are glued to each another, attacking with balloons is very easy and efficient war technique. The zone appears as a theatre of guerilla warfare, you don’t know the position of the attackers. At the end of the day, it is full of full of fun and excitement. It seems, the opposite building starts talking in the language of colours, otherwise the same building give us the stubborn impression.
So, haven’t you ever felt while playing Holi the whole day, you have transpired your feelings and give them an open invitation that you are human and not an alien living in a far place that is light years away. Happy Holi! Just you think over it.
Nishabd
Posted On Sunday, March 04, 2007 at at 02:15 by rk rishikesh sinha
The mere thought that a man of 60 could fall in love, indeed shocks us, as we usually do not accept or see in our society. The role played by Jiah Khan is challenging and thought provoking. Our natural reaction to the movie’s concept is covert, layered with self-doubts. An older person could fall in love with a girl much below his age. The practice is rampant in India, and there is nothing wrong to react erratically. It is a fact that we all must accept. We are giving a reserved reaction since pre-marriage love is unknown to us. On the other hand, we all have seen post-marriage love irrespective of the age. A movie is a movie and it has to be taken in that spirit.
On the question of Amitabh Bachchan playing the role, the answer lies with him. Bachchan himself said in his one of the interview: “gone are the days when the responsibility of running a movie actually was with him, but now it is on khans brother – Salman, Shahrukh and Aamir.” He said “the transition period has come in Indian cinema, new stories, new plots are being discovered. It’s a challenge and at the same time an opportunity for an actor to play as possible diverse and different role.” And for Bachchan, the time and age is at his side.
Ramu’s Nishabd actually breaks the Yash Chopra’s style of film making. In his film, one could see beautiful, breath-taking scenery with hero and heroines dancing around trees, making the audience unaware of the little things what normally a person do, like from does he get money. On the other hand, Ramu’s movies make oneself grounded to the real world.
Before Nishabd’s story is forgotten in the flurry of hindi movies. It would be wise decision to watch it and appreciate Jiah Khan and Bachchn’s new avatar. Love is possible.
Congress fail is BJP win
Posted On Saturday, March 03, 2007 at at 21:57 by rk rishikesh sinha
The picture that is coming out from the three states is that in Uttarakhand BJP leader and former Union Minister, B.C. Khanduri has been appointed as Chief Minister; in Punjab, the doyen of Indian politics, Prakash Singh Badal will hold the key of the government; in Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh will play his second innings in this north eastern state.
In the assembly results of the three states, the combined alliance of the Akalis and BJP, of the 117 legislative assemblies in Punjab, it garnered 48 and 19 seats while Congress got 44 seats. Election held in 71 assembly seats of Uttarakhand, BJP acquired 34 seats, 1 seat short to make clear cut majority government. In this newly built state, Congress end up with 21 seats. While in Manipur, Congress limps back to power with 30 seats, 1 seat short to make government.
CONGRESS DEBACLE IN PUNJAB
After the debacle of the Amarinder Singh’s Congress in the state, party heavy weights, despite showing development in the last 12 months, cites shooting prices of essential items, anti incumbency factor and rampant infighting, are reasons that had costs them dear .
Moreover, missing cohesion between Amarinder Singh and his deputy Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, some relate as the reason for the slip in the assembly election. The abrasive method followed by Amarinder to punish opponents by opening cases is also considered another reason which alienated voters against him.
CONGRESS DEBACLE IN UTTARAKHAND
Animosity between former CM ND Tiwari and state party chief Harish Rawat over the chief ministerial berth sank the boat of the party in the state. Tiwari’s refuses to campaign demanding post CM plans for him is one more major reason for the party’s sinking. Lal Bhatti culture along with ever-increasing prices of the essential items added fuel to the voter’s disenchantment, making them going against congress.
CONGRESS IN MANIPUR
The stability factor of the Secular Progressive Front (SPF) of Okram Ibobi Singh, remaining in power uninterrupted, led voters to swing towards the alliance between the congress and the CPI .The pre-poll arithmetic of the Federal Party of Manipur merging with the Revolutionary Peoples party to form MPP failed to encash the regional tone over the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act.
CONCLUSION
The poll results means a lot for the political bigwigs: congress will not able to play freely over the President’s post; left parties are likely to get more assertive and ask for policy ‘correction’; congress will loose the maneuvering space in the government, above all BJP definitely got a new lease of political life and momentum. At the end of the day, congress has to introspect within, and ponder over the reasons, before it is too late.
The juggling figures of Union Budget 2007-08
Posted On Friday, March 02, 2007 at at 00:48 by rk rishikesh sinha
- There Finance Minister P Chidambaram ignites the Union Budget for 2007-08, here it catches fire in the news room, irrespective of the fact what they are taking it seriously may not be fully or partially comprehended by the general public.
Caught by the infamous bug inflation and the recent setback it had faced in the Punjab and Uttaranchal legislative elections, for the Finance Minister surely it was not an easy walk.
The budget primarily outlayed hike in the agriculture (Rs 8558), health (Rs 14,363) and education (Rs 28674) sectors. Defence got Rs 96,000 allocation in its kitty. Again, it is all about nerve wrecking figures. Just take this budget as the budget allocation as we all see and witness in our homes.
Here is the glance of the Union Budget 2007-08
PERSONAL AND SERVICE TAX RATES remain the same.
INCOME TAX EXEMPTION THRESHOLD increased by Rs 10,000 for all assesses, giving a relief of Rs 1000.
EXEMPTIVE LIMIT on banking cash transaction tax for individuals, Hindu undivided families raised families raised from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000.
SENIOR CITIZENS - Exemption raised from Rs 185,000 to Rs 195,000, giving a relief of Rs 2,000 in income tax.
- Deduction in medical insurance premium under section 80D raised to Rs 20,000.
Senior citizens who are house owners can get monthly income mortgage.
THE CORPORATE WORLD
Corporate tax rate remaining same
Surcharge on income tax on all firms and companies with a taxable income of Rs 1 crore or less to be removed.
DIVIDEND DISTRIBUTION TAX RATE raised from 12.5 % to 15% and to 25% on dividend paid by many-market mutual funds liquid mutual funds.
In addition to all these addition and subtraction, an allocation of Rs 500 crore for the Commonwealth Games 2010 to be held in Delhi was earmarked. Commonwealth Youth Games to be held in Pune next year got mentioned in the budget with Rs 50 crore earmarked for it.
The budget as usual doesn’t come in sync with people’s expectation, it is understandable one possibly cannot keep everybody happy. For some, like Kumar Mangalam Birla, N Nilekani, Mukesh Ambani and Pawan Munjal, no doubts, the budget paints a rosy picture. But for Sitaram Yechury whose party is a component of the central government and Yashwant Sinha, former FM, the budget has failed to come to the expectation of aam aadmi.
The bottomline of the whole exercise is that market and the people would not even remember it in a few days.
Jade Goody a Winner, Shilpa a Loser
Posted On Thursday, March 01, 2007 at at 15:35 by rk rishikesh sinha
No doubt, here in Delhi, media have highlighted their visit extensively. But this time it has been insipid, the tone and tenor that it had showed earlier is bit missing and it is different. The print media has abstained itself writing editorials and electronic media not running hour-long programme.
If we keep aside Johansson, Goody participation in the Big Brother show’s brouhaha where bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty also participated, and which had irked Indians for her racial remark made on her. Goody’s visit especially in India does carry meaning and substance. As per the newspaper report, her visit is private and not sponsored by anyone. She has kept herself away from bytes and quotes.
With the ambush-media campaign hardly there is any person who can’t narrate the whole episode which had circumscribed around Big Brother, Shilpa Shetty and Goody’s racial remarks.
Goody’s India visit throws open another aspect of her innate personality that we all have missed. Despite being voted out from the programme and facing ire from her own country which had almost axed her career. She cane to India notwithstanding to the fact that she might again have to undergo public scrutiny and turmoil.
The visit has unlocked her compassionate and receptive nature of her individuality. She has put forth the moral integrity and the boldness to face nasty questions. It is not as simple as it seems. For a moment, imagine if Shilpa Shetty would have been Jade Goody’s place. Can you expect the same steps as it is being followed by Jade? The answer would possibly be somewhere else.
She uttered all those disturbing words at the fit of anger against Shilpa. The circumstances that were prevailing in the room triggered her. This truth is as simple as it is. On the other hand, Shilpa sailing on the wave of racial discrimination not only have won the prize but saved her dying career.
Now, when she has came to India and busy in visiting deprived children, it was reported that the local residents of the school where she went, started rebuking her by raising derogatory slogans. To their belligerent ‘hai, hai’, she responded with a zestful ‘hi!’
We shouldn’t forget that Goody came as a visitor. And it is in our culture to perceive a visitor as a God. The utter reactions of the public demystify the thought we feel proud of. Can’t we consider and tag it ‘racial’.
Undoubtedly, she failed in the race of winning the game but she has been a winner, the ultimate winner in the game of heart. Har ke jitne wale ko baazigar kehte hein.
The ultimate respite - maps
Posted On Wednesday, February 28, 2007 at at 02:02 by rk rishikesh sinha
Usually, we have seen domestic and international tourist carrying maps in their hand. But, there is another breed of people, presently, which in the search of jobs, attending an interview, visiting their friends or relatives lands in a new place.
With the kismat (fate) written somewhere else, many youngsters head towards the metros like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore and Chennai for studies or jobs. You might have noticed, generally these travelers flocking towards cities do not carry map of the destined city and even do not bother paying attention to the trouble-free tools.
The reason not carrying city maps could be cited from the fact that people were earlier more localized in their respective area. They had a limited area. They end-up their life at the most in a 50 kilometer radius.
And now with the supply (tier II cities) and demand (in metros) factor burgeoning with the distance and with easily accessible transport system, getting into a city has become more or less trouble-free affair. But, trouble starts popping up when you physically lands in the area. You start asking array of questions despite knowing the fact that the person to whom you are asking may, possibly, be a naïve like you.
As India being an advice-free country, fortunately asking a question is generously welcomed. And somehow, ultimately without any trouble you get to your place or house of accommodation safely and securely.
Another daunting task starts when the very next day you have to go to another place within the city say for attending an interview. You come to a bus stop and you find most of the co-passengers are like you and perhaps uncooperative. You start accusing your fate and become perplexed with the mere thought to attend the interview on time.
At this moment, a city map comes handy and it leases a new life to your shattered confidence. The city map can reprieve you from such confusing and tumultuous time. Just looking at the map, you could come to know the next possible place which is nearer to your venue of interview. Moreover, after running a cursory glance on the map the question you will be asking would be knowledgeable and not vague. You will start seeing your travel three dimensionally.
In addition to it, by doing so – reading the map, you will not only be clear about those places whose names are repetitive and confusing like Ambedkar Nagar in Delhi, but you will be saving yourself from falling prey to these names. In Delhi, there are three names by the name Ambedkar Nagar.
Having a map becomes more enriching and exciting when after you wind up your interview, you come out and see on the map; Shiddhi Vinayak temple is nearer from the venue of the interview say in Worli Seaface. You pay your obeisance and you succeed, definitely the credit goes to the map from where you referred and located the temple.
A case in point, if one finds himself at Maligaon in Assam, visit Kamakhaya Temple, it is nearer; at Cannaught Place in Delhi, visit the tourist places like India Gate, Palika Bazaar and Jantar Mantar. You will never regret.
So, next time you travel, don’t forget to carry a map neatly mentioning about hotels, hospitals, cinema halls, roads, police station and information centre.
Will Brain Drain continue from North East?
Posted On Tuesday, February 27, 2007 at at 18:03 by rk rishikesh sinha
The history of human civilization is splurged with exodus of people settling in known or unknown land. Earlier it was in the search to stretch kingdom and in the colonialism days it was pure business driving it. It was in this period that people in mass settled in alien nations driven by the lure of higher income or employment. Countries like Fizi, Trinidard and Tobago, where people of Indian origin make sizeable population, are amongst few countries which witnessed emigration in hordes.
In the early 70’s and 80’s people from India went to countries like USA and Canada for higher studies and later settled there. And now, they represent Indian values and culture and does PR service for India as was evident in the Indo- US nuke deal.
Economics and mathematics of the emigrated people to foreign nations or within countries generate soothing results but at the same time it evokes disturbing trends. The money that emigrated people send to their parents makes up state exchequer soar. In opposite to it, some say and perhaps it is that they nourish the host nations with the expertise that they acquired in their homeland, in return not getting anything financially or with their expertise. Simply, the question arose more questions then it answers.
That was all about brain drain crossing international borders. Now, let me come to brain drain from North East. Again, the issue opens up a Pandora box.
First, the word ‘brain drain’ cannot be related to North East in general and Assam in particular since constitutionally this region is still a part of India. Using the word, it seems, would be inappropriate and illogical. OK, let us not go deep and creep into the word’s etymologically and its usage to the North East.
Before one answer the intriguing question whether brain drain will continue from the North East, it is necessary to answer many questions. At first, why people migrate to cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and Bangalore – the newly found destination amongst students and professional? Why national media, print or television doesn’t report exclusively on North East? But we find special city edition and exclusive channels for these metro cities.
About the present mess, we can say and I believe you will agree with me with the fact that North East doesn’t come under the radar of development which had swayed these metro cities and even to the tier – II cities like Jaipur, Faislabad, Noida, Gurgaon, Ghaziabad and Karnal. Mind-blowing development generating employment drove in hordes highly qualified jobless professional to head towards these cities.
Employment is the key factor and driving force, people like me many more to take, leaving behind comfort zones in home. No doubt, I started my professional career from Guwahati but after leaving it, I became the one more person everyday flipping the second page of The Assam Tribune so to find a job, it doesn’t matter whether I was eligible or not.
Now coming to here in Delhi, whenever my phone rings I expect a call to appear for an interview thus opening up an opportunity for me to get my foot in the interviewee table. I am bombarded with offers and interviews and so is the story with every guy coming from Assam or North East. Don’t you think coming here has given me an opportunity not to waste my youth in the search for jobs.
Besides employability, the newly acquired home gives you to work in avenues like internet, real estate, construction, PR, hotel and Below The Line Marketing (BTL) companies, which are unknown in the North East. The add-on facilities which one get working in these companies are that the work culture and the technology on which they work is latest and of highest standards.
Our experienced hand in such sectors will help in near future when such businesses come to North East. A case in point, most of the people working in studios in Guwahati had taken training in Mumbai or Delhi. These people have undoubtedly come to their native place when such avenues came up in Guwahati.
This was all about employment. Another benefit taking place under the shadow of brain drain is that it helps to expand and propagate culture, language and mitigate myths about Assam or North East. It truly works as a PR service taken by the state. The people project our enriched culture by becoming ambassadors. And for this simple looking fact we know countries or states cough up crores of rupees building cultural centres.
And about media not valuing north east, it is because the region is not a secondary or primary market for them. They do not get a penny by running an operation in the area.
To make the long story short, we people from north east must sail in the wave of globalization especially now when market is bullish and new definition are being coined, and every time it is being redefined. So become the brain and drain into the pinnacle of success.
Brain drain will continue to take place unless and until the region maintains the equilibrium in the scale of development in regards to employment generation with the rest of the region. We must beset an example like Punjabis and English has been doing- conquer.
