A couple of my friends are in the middle of (messy) break-ups. Seeing their condition I feel glad that I am not in any of that kind of relationship. I wonder, how can a person be in love and don't know the simple basic (and irritating) stuff about the other guy. Makes me think what they seem to claim love is indeed love.
I read this short story somewhere and it was not credited. Have told it to many friends and most of them have loved it. Increase in the frequency of broken-hearts around me has reminded me of the story and would like to share here. As, I don't have the original story, which I read, I am putting my own imagination to the basic narration that I remember.
There was this guy from a village. His parents had died when he was unable to understand what death was. His grandmother raised him. He turned out to be good at studies. He completed his school and went to a city for attending college. As it often happens, he fell in love with one of his class-mates. And again, as it mostly happens, the girl rejected him. The guy was broken hearted. He did not speak with anyone. He even stopped going to college. He felt dejected. His friends were worried about him. They tried to cheer him up. Taking him to movies, introducing to other girls. But he remained sad. Smile seemed to have ceased to exist for him. His friends thought that perhaps if he moves away from college for a while, it may help. So they pursue him to go to his village and stay with his grand mother for a while.
Well in the village his grand-mother was happy to see him, but started to worry about him seeing him so sad. She asked him many times what was wrong, but he said nothing. Time passed, and one day, suddenly the guy asks his grandmother, 'nani, how much time does it take to forget about the First love', and the grandmother replies, 'beta, how would I know, I am just 70'.
Monday 22 November 2010
Barkha Dutt and Twitter
I have created an account on Twitter, just to follow the Barkha Dutt controversy, as apparently, there seems no other way to get information on the subject. Could not find anything on regular news sites that I follow. Seems, that the media has decided to go stand by their rotten apples. My impression of NDTV has taken a big set-back. Now wonder, whom should I turn to to get a fair coverage of what is happening.
I have often thought that people who are in position to mould the opinion of millions have a social responsibility irrespective of their profession. But, I have seen atlest some journalists, who have used their power of Pen, to threaten the system and get an unfair advantage. However, I thought that this rot was restricted to the lower portion of the journalist, and the elites were all Mr./Mrs. Clean. But this controversy has made me think again. Although Ms. Dutt, keeps saying that what she did was just sourcing information, the words used on tapes and tone seem to indicate that there was more than just sourcing. But, lets forget what she was actually doing. I am more disappointed at how the media has avoided to even report it. If it was some politician who was caught on tape, there would have been demands for his resignation from the same people, but now that one of THEM is caught, they don't even feel the need to report it. Apparently, it seems NEWS (north, east, west and south) media, takes it for granted that it is not responsible to report what lies within.
I have often thought that people who are in position to mould the opinion of millions have a social responsibility irrespective of their profession. But, I have seen atlest some journalists, who have used their power of Pen, to threaten the system and get an unfair advantage. However, I thought that this rot was restricted to the lower portion of the journalist, and the elites were all Mr./Mrs. Clean. But this controversy has made me think again. Although Ms. Dutt, keeps saying that what she did was just sourcing information, the words used on tapes and tone seem to indicate that there was more than just sourcing. But, lets forget what she was actually doing. I am more disappointed at how the media has avoided to even report it. If it was some politician who was caught on tape, there would have been demands for his resignation from the same people, but now that one of THEM is caught, they don't even feel the need to report it. Apparently, it seems NEWS (north, east, west and south) media, takes it for granted that it is not responsible to report what lies within.
I also wonder, how appropriate it is to give the power to mould the opinion of millions into the hands of these few (corrupt or otherwise) people.
Monday 15 November 2010
Thinking: can't live with you, can't live without you
I have been told many a times by my father that I think too much. Put too much of mental effort on every problem. According to him, I am so much afraid of being deceived, that I am not enjoying life per se.
Recently. I have been thinking (haha) that he is right. Like someone said in response to define poison, that excess of anything is poison, I feel right now, too much of thinking is injurious to one's health.
Recently. I have been thinking (haha) that he is right. Like someone said in response to define poison, that excess of anything is poison, I feel right now, too much of thinking is injurious to one's health.
Sunday 14 November 2010
Mr. Advice
My advising gloves were on today. There is this friend of mine, whom I first met on internet and today in person. She is facing a problem with her breakup and I gave some advise and lend an ear for more than hour and got a compliment that perhaps I should seriously take up counselling as a profession :). Made me happy. Especially since my online career counselling thinks that I am no good, except for being a librarian or lab technician (which apparently I am).
Home sweet home...
Just realized that I would do anything to live at 221B Baker Street, London (alas, there is no such place) or at 21 Rajnisen road,Calcutta. The former is the address of Mr. Sherlock Holmes, while the later is the address of Pradosh Mitra aka Feluda. Both are the famous fictional detectives, whom I adore. Then there is Poirot and Byomkesh, but nothing matches Feluda and Holmes.
Dr. Strangelove
Dr. Strangelove
Based on a book, red aleart, the movie is one of the best that I have watched. Have hearad a lot about Stanley Kubrick, but this is the first time that I have watched one of this movie. To be frank, when I read about the movie, was not much impressed due to it's 'strange' title: Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
This is one of the 'dark comedies' which I watched during the dark one and half month. The entire film is full of sarcasm, but one of the dialogue, which stood out for me most was when USpresident says, 'gentlemen you can't fight in here, this is the war room'. The direction is awesome. But most desirably, the script treatment is one of the best. One of the most memorable scence for me was when the pilot, Mr. Kong, dropping hydrogen bomb on Russia is unable to open the back of plane for dropping the bomb due to system failure. He manually does it. And while the bomb is dropped, he is sticking on to it, as it is being dropped, his face joyus with euphoria. He is happy that he is sacrificing his life for the country. Only if he knew the full context, he would not have been happy. Made me think, only if fools were not ignorant of their foolishness, many disasters would have been avoided. But again, if fools were not ignorant of their foolishness, may be they would not have been fools (except atleast for Duryodhan, whose one quote I seem to have read somewhere, which meant, 'its not that I am not aware that I am not doing the right things, its just that it is not able to do the right thing' or something to that effect).
After watching movie, when I read that Peter Sellers played three roles in the movie, I was really surprised.
One more quote from the movie: Mr. President, we must not allow a mineshaft gap!
The internet
Writing a post after a long long time. Have been not in the best of moods. Have started working AGAIN, after a period of nearly two months of near hibernation. Was unhappy with life, was missing friends, so went into a self imposed, self-protective cocoon. During this time, I have had much to do, but did nothing. Did not write up the thesis, did not went out to travel, did not read much, did not cook anything good, did not do anything fruitful, except watching a high dosage of movies and doing some thinking. Watched around 3-4 movies a day (or watched some series). Must have watched more than 100 movies during this period.
It was during this 'dark period' that I realized the part Internet has played in what I am today. I remember my pre-college days in India. Living in a small city in Gujarat, where people often do not consider art as one of the justifiable profession, I used to go to library and browse the books for hours, listen to my father about what books he liked, try to read news paper reviews to find something worth reading. Also, there were times when I wanted to read a book badly (To kill a mocking bird comes to mind instantly), but could not find it there.
Then comes the early college years. I was kind of black sheep amongst my friends. None of my friends, except one liked reading. Even the one who liked was not a die-hard reader. I was many times made fun of for reading a novel on the day before exam (and this thing got leaked to the girls hostel too...). But all this time, I had to struggle to find out something which I would like. I was like a frog in the well...desperate to look beyond the confines of the well, but hampared by the boundries.
It was then that I discovered internet power beyond regular mails. Tried to google best books of all time, read reviews and thus took a big leap that took me out of the well. Later, I used the same power of internet for movies and music. Found some friends on orkut, who shared my interests. Could discuss books with many. Get their opinions and recommendations. The world made sense now.
I am sure, I am not the only one. I am sure, internet has enlighten many who were seeking the light. It has made me come in contact with movies like Pather Panchali, Witness for the prosecution, The bicycle theives, Casablance, Guess who is coming for dinner; introduced me to fur elise, deepened my love for Yanni. Made my life witty with sitcoms like Frasier and Friends. Introduced me to the world of Manto.
I feel it would be apt if I hereby modify the quote from Casablanca, 'Here's looking at you, Internet'. And I wonder, what all the beautiful things are out there, about whom, I even don't know.
It was during this 'dark period' that I realized the part Internet has played in what I am today. I remember my pre-college days in India. Living in a small city in Gujarat, where people often do not consider art as one of the justifiable profession, I used to go to library and browse the books for hours, listen to my father about what books he liked, try to read news paper reviews to find something worth reading. Also, there were times when I wanted to read a book badly (To kill a mocking bird comes to mind instantly), but could not find it there.
Then comes the early college years. I was kind of black sheep amongst my friends. None of my friends, except one liked reading. Even the one who liked was not a die-hard reader. I was many times made fun of for reading a novel on the day before exam (and this thing got leaked to the girls hostel too...). But all this time, I had to struggle to find out something which I would like. I was like a frog in the well...desperate to look beyond the confines of the well, but hampared by the boundries.
It was then that I discovered internet power beyond regular mails. Tried to google best books of all time, read reviews and thus took a big leap that took me out of the well. Later, I used the same power of internet for movies and music. Found some friends on orkut, who shared my interests. Could discuss books with many. Get their opinions and recommendations. The world made sense now.
I am sure, I am not the only one. I am sure, internet has enlighten many who were seeking the light. It has made me come in contact with movies like Pather Panchali, Witness for the prosecution, The bicycle theives, Casablance, Guess who is coming for dinner; introduced me to fur elise, deepened my love for Yanni. Made my life witty with sitcoms like Frasier and Friends. Introduced me to the world of Manto.
I feel it would be apt if I hereby modify the quote from Casablanca, 'Here's looking at you, Internet'. And I wonder, what all the beautiful things are out there, about whom, I even don't know.
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