As the battle neared an end , he called. I was still there. Why hadnt he called earlier? He said he couldnt have handled it. "Would have called 20times". Fear.
As death haunted the city, mobile beeped. sms. "u r a part of me... a part i never to see". why on the night when dangers lurks around me? Distance. Fear.
She called. Screamt. anger... evident even through metallic gadgets. "Why do you have to be there? Why can't others cover the event?" Love. Distance. Fear.
Hundreds dead. Millions shaken. Property worth crores destroyed. I learnt.. they still love me.
Those who will never say it anymore. Those who don't want to. Those who never felt the need to say it.
Those loved by me. Those betrayed by me. Those forgotten by me.
It was a time that brought us together. For an instant. A day. A weekend. Enough for life.
But why?
They thought they might lose me. Fear gripped. Distances didnt matter. Love threatened to overpower.
But wasnt i lost long time back?
Monday, December 22, 2008
Monday, December 1, 2008
Lost in the race for ‘Firsts’ and ‘Exclusives’ is responsible journalism, yet again
Archana and i spent quite a lot of time observing the proceedings outside the terror struck sites in Mumbai last week. One of the most frustrating experiences for us... simply to see the media was handling the situation. Here a few tiny instances... i'll probably pen a few more down soon... my advise to u.. don't blv all that news channels say.
1. On Friday morning we spent five hours stationed outside Nariman House, while a gun battle continued between the National Security Guards and the terrorists. Although we were not far from the building, not much was visible, except for the commandoes on the terrace.
At one point, quite early in the day, we heard gun shots which lasted for a maximum of half a minute. While the firing was on, a Hindi news channel reporter standing next to us called up his bureau and said, “Open fire has begun from both the sides and has been going on for almost five minutes now. Can you hear the gun shots in the background?”
2. Here is another instance. After an unexpected round of fire erupted from within Taj, aimed at the armed personnel and journalists standing outside, everyone was told to move back and lie low. Amidst 20 RAF personnel lying down in combat position, we had an enthusiastic news channel correspondent crawling in a similar position while giving updates on the camera. At least five RAF heads turned around to see what the commotion was all about.
3. Spotted on the open ground outside Taj were other news channel reporters lying in front of their individual cameras, while everyone else around was up and about, including their cameramen.
Rumours on the Street on Why terror struck
With about 55,000 cabs plying everyday in Mumbai, the taxi drivers transport thousands of people everyday. Often, they interact with the passengers on everything from politics to personal life or end up overhearing the conversations amongst passengers themselves. Logical conclusion that they probably know what is going on in people’s minds and what the general sentiment is like.
So Nirmal and I went about, chatting up with several cab drivers just to get a sense of what they have been hearing from the janta regarding the recent terror attack.
Cabbie Ismail Abdul Kader Naik, who transported some 300 people since the terror attack started on Wednesday night, said, “Majority of the passengers believed that the entire operation was carried out to lure the anti terrorist squad (ATS) top brass out in the open and shoot them.”
We were amazed to hear this initially. But more cabbies from different locations and origins echoed this feedback.
“Passengers are telling us that they believe the main target was ATS and security forces. They surely think help came from overseas but the mastermind could have been the opposition party stemming from there unhappiness with Malegaon blasts investigation,” said a 60 year old cab driver.
Reason for why security officials target differ though. Another driver, Ashok Kumar Mishra said that security and intelligence organization have been very tough on underworld and terrorists and so this was their shot at getting back at the former. Taking hostages at Taj and Oberoi was just a ploy while the main idea was to get the top brass out in the open.
Interesting it is to see how these thoughts can catch on. Also very obvious from our interactions was the fact that passengers as well as the cab drivers are very angry with the politicians and local police.
During our interactions, we also found out that many drivers who were not from Mumbai had fled back to their respective villages as terror hit the streets of Mumbai. Just like they had done when anti-north Indian protests had haunted them a couple of months back.
While the world talks about Mumbai becoming a target for global terror, our very own cabbies have a different story to tell of what Mumbai thinks.
(Meant to be printed in DNA newspaper. So i guess they have a cpoyright thingy over this)
So Nirmal and I went about, chatting up with several cab drivers just to get a sense of what they have been hearing from the janta regarding the recent terror attack.
Cabbie Ismail Abdul Kader Naik, who transported some 300 people since the terror attack started on Wednesday night, said, “Majority of the passengers believed that the entire operation was carried out to lure the anti terrorist squad (ATS) top brass out in the open and shoot them.”
We were amazed to hear this initially. But more cabbies from different locations and origins echoed this feedback.
“Passengers are telling us that they believe the main target was ATS and security forces. They surely think help came from overseas but the mastermind could have been the opposition party stemming from there unhappiness with Malegaon blasts investigation,” said a 60 year old cab driver.
Reason for why security officials target differ though. Another driver, Ashok Kumar Mishra said that security and intelligence organization have been very tough on underworld and terrorists and so this was their shot at getting back at the former. Taking hostages at Taj and Oberoi was just a ploy while the main idea was to get the top brass out in the open.
Interesting it is to see how these thoughts can catch on. Also very obvious from our interactions was the fact that passengers as well as the cab drivers are very angry with the politicians and local police.
During our interactions, we also found out that many drivers who were not from Mumbai had fled back to their respective villages as terror hit the streets of Mumbai. Just like they had done when anti-north Indian protests had haunted them a couple of months back.
While the world talks about Mumbai becoming a target for global terror, our very own cabbies have a different story to tell of what Mumbai thinks.
(Meant to be printed in DNA newspaper. So i guess they have a cpoyright thingy over this)
Can Mumbaites differentiate between a bollywood movie shooting and a terror attack?
What happens when we all get carried away with the whole idea of ‘Spirit of Mumbai’? Is there a possibility that our zeal to bounce back after any sort of tragedy and craving for masala in life could backfire? And create a nuisance for an on-going rescue operation?
On Friday morning, as National Security Guards began the final assault at Nariman House to flush out six terrorists, spectators assembled all around to watch the action live. The loud gun shots every now and then wouldn’t have held these curious onlookers back. Several RAF soldiers spent the day pleading them to move back.
“People don’t realize the gravity of the situation. If a terrorist gets out on the street right now, we will have to chase him and open fire. Others might get hurt in the process. But this nobody understands,” said an RAF soldier stationed near Nariman House.
Two Hundred meters away from the building, straight in the line of sight, were at least 100 people standing, observing the proceedings of operation Black Tornado. At one point, when they moved too close to danger zone, police began to send them back. The movement caused panic in the crowd, with people in the back running around and shouting.
This is apart from the crowd on the terraces and windows of nearby buildings. Reports had already come of a family being shot as they came out on their balcony to check out the gun battle. Yet, the sleep deprived people of Colaba sat on their windows, eating poha for breakfast and hearing gunshots in the background. Is that a desperate measure to bring back some sort of normalcy in life or is it just hunger for thrills?
Lets flashback to the previous evening. At 7.30pm, Marine Drive is a crowded place- tourists, walkers, young couples and much more. It wasn’t any different on Thursday evening. Life went on as usual despite the fact that a few hundred meters down the road bombs were going off and bullets were flying around at Trident Hotel.
Apparently the fight between the security personnel and terrorists, in one of the most horrendous terror attacks that Mumbai has seen, acted as an added attraction for city people.
Bipin Kanani, a businessman said, “My wife and I were getting bored at home. So we decided to go ahead with our daily walk on Marine Drive. (Pauses to peek as a grenade goes off 300 meters away and then continues nonchalantly) What is there to feel scared about? There are people all around.”
A similar sentiment is echoed by the parents of two year old Zubina Susnerwala, who had taken their kid out for a walk. DNA saw families strolling about, ladies walking dogs and children running around.
Sandy and Kim, researchers from Australia, who were amazed to see the casual environment at Marine Drive, said it made them feel comfortable. “I would be scared if there were snipers on the roofs, choppers hovering and people locked in their own homes,” said Sandy.
Sometimes, if such rescue operations get out of hand, bystanders end up getting injured and even losing their lives. Is it all worth it? What justifies taking the attention of security forces from rescuing hostages and catching the terrorists into dealing with crowds full of children, old people and women when clearly the choice can be avoided? One wonders.
(Eyewitness accounts from the time Archana n I spent at Taj, Oberoi and Nariman House covering the 3 day rescue operations. This probably belongs to DNA even though it wasnt printed in the main edition and was only put up on the website dnaindia.com )
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Why loving us is not easy for most men!
Before you begin to court any of my family members, i suggest you take a look at this-
Last week a cute guy cooked yum french toasts for five 'just woke up from a nice slumber' women. While the women lazed around on the floor of their living room, a man was sweating it out in the kitchen beating eggs and grating cheese. What makes this even more interesting is-
1. It was at the house of the lazy devils.
2. Some of us were tired from working all day while the chef was on a pseudo vacation.
This is luxury. And it is not such a rare sight as it sounds. We've had quite a few 'homely?' men cooking sumptuous breakfasts and late lunches for us. Probably more number of times than we have been in that kitchen. Lemon/Darjeeling tea, black coffee, cold pizza and maggi is what rules our kitchen otherwise. But they’ve all fazed out after a while.
This is the new age I am talking about. It has begun to gather momentum and my generation will be the one accelerating it (I’ve dozen more examples of this). This is the time for young women to carry a smart phone in one hand and a cocktail in another, talk business and poetry with same elegance, make a mark in office every single day and throw a party every single night, die for their family and friends, and show the middle finger to anyone who tries to mess with them. It makes one wonder if ‘Sex and City- Delhi/Mumbai’ version can be better than the original.
This generation will remain an outcaste, a minority because of the millions who still are simply happy making meals for their husbands and bearing children. The latter ones are those spoiling this intolerant society of ours.
Does our community dream the same? Sure, it plays a part. But definitely not ready to give up on our free will, individualism, professionalism, parents and our own friends. And so, to all the men who have tried to love us, cook for us, wait for us, take care of drunken us... Sorry guys, but there are five women who love, understand, support and take care of each other and are damn comfortable with each other’s vices…so unless you stop trying to change us, I suggest you get a life and find someone else to massage your chauvinist egos. Cheers!!!
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Just A Muse
I wish everything could be discarded saying "Oh! That was a just a muse!"
I wish everything would go away once its time was done
I wish everything could be summarised as niyat to dil ki hamesha hi sahi thi, dil ke irada bhi samjho nek tha... fitrat awara to kya kare bechara, uska ho jaye dil jisko dekhta?
I wish threads didnt have to break.... and then i wish threads werent used to tie down
I wish life would be constant high.... and then i wish nothing would intoxicate me
I wish i could love... and then i wish i could define love
These are all general musings. And now, i wasn't going to talk about some guy who was just a muse (there aren't any worth that either!)
Randomness peaks when mind is avoiding a certain clarity in actions... (i would know, my entire family of girls are born random!!).
I wish everything would go away once its time was done
I wish everything could be summarised as niyat to dil ki hamesha hi sahi thi, dil ke irada bhi samjho nek tha... fitrat awara to kya kare bechara, uska ho jaye dil jisko dekhta?
I wish threads didnt have to break.... and then i wish threads werent used to tie down
I wish life would be constant high.... and then i wish nothing would intoxicate me
I wish i could love... and then i wish i could define love
These are all general musings. And now, i wasn't going to talk about some guy who was just a muse (there aren't any worth that either!)
Randomness peaks when mind is avoiding a certain clarity in actions... (i would know, my entire family of girls are born random!!).
Thursday, August 7, 2008
A Walk in the Rains
One fine evening, i was headed home after a hectic day at work. It was raining heavily... no.. wait a minute, it was .......pouring!!!
So there i was... walking by myself.... right outside one of the busiest places on this earth- Andheri Station- at my own pace, listening to radio, with a flowery print umbrella trying its best to save me from the lashin water drops, a partially wet paper bag carrying my staple snack- Chicken Mc Grill (with cheese) -.. and coke..... jumping across the puddles... listening to Dil hai Chota Sa... bouncing down the crowded street to my home, happy.. 'just like dat'.... thinking that this is the perfect end to my day... nothing could ruin my life where my boss and colleagues loved me, roomies were like a family and i had music to define my life and its moments. (family and friends not to get offended, plz..... ur role goes without saying :D)
But i was wrong. Cause right then came along a giant 'khadoos lal dabba' and splashed all the muck in the world on probably the only truly happy soul on S V Road!! . Snapped me right out of my dreamworld! I had to dive to save myself from the most dangeous things on our roads- an autorickshaw!!
And you won't believe me..... that was exactly the same instant that Dil Hai Chota Sa stopped playing... n the lady with the seductive voice started yapping about life and solitude and missing links ..... DAMN!!!!
need i go on?
So there i was... walking by myself.... right outside one of the busiest places on this earth- Andheri Station- at my own pace, listening to radio, with a flowery print umbrella trying its best to save me from the lashin water drops, a partially wet paper bag carrying my staple snack- Chicken Mc Grill (with cheese) -.. and coke..... jumping across the puddles... listening to Dil hai Chota Sa... bouncing down the crowded street to my home, happy.. 'just like dat'.... thinking that this is the perfect end to my day... nothing could ruin my life where my boss and colleagues loved me, roomies were like a family and i had music to define my life and its moments. (family and friends not to get offended, plz..... ur role goes without saying :D)
But i was wrong. Cause right then came along a giant 'khadoos lal dabba' and splashed all the muck in the world on probably the only truly happy soul on S V Road!! . Snapped me right out of my dreamworld! I had to dive to save myself from the most dangeous things on our roads- an autorickshaw!!
And you won't believe me..... that was exactly the same instant that Dil Hai Chota Sa stopped playing... n the lady with the seductive voice started yapping about life and solitude and missing links ..... DAMN!!!!
need i go on?
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Men that We've Known
Think about this.... at some or the other point in life... you, like me, may have shared a few moments of your life with a Man
who was too ambitious for existence of his own happiness.... so obviously no one else can figure in
who was self obsessed... even if that was a little less than his obsession for you
who was simply a male chauvinist pig
who was still stuck on a childhood sweetheart
who always came along at the wrong times
who was an egotist (also very cute)..... and Man! He redefined that word....
Perfectly capable of honestly, whole heartedly loving a woman.... and being commited to her...
And going overboard proving this , one step short of snatching the stars from the sky for you, and make perfectly entertaining fools out of themselves.
huh! i just read what i've written above n i realised that i've got to clarify something here- THESE ARE ALL DIFFERENT TYPES THAT I JUST MENTIONED. i wasnt specifically criticising one man (not that that would be difficult to find)
My point is that its not always about the fact that they dont know.... WHAT WOMEN WANT!
Caution: This blog has not been written by a feminist.
who was too ambitious for existence of his own happiness.... so obviously no one else can figure in
who was self obsessed... even if that was a little less than his obsession for you
who was simply a male chauvinist pig
who was still stuck on a childhood sweetheart
who always came along at the wrong times
who was an egotist (also very cute)..... and Man! He redefined that word....
Perfectly capable of honestly, whole heartedly loving a woman.... and being commited to her...
And going overboard proving this , one step short of snatching the stars from the sky for you, and make perfectly entertaining fools out of themselves.
huh! i just read what i've written above n i realised that i've got to clarify something here- THESE ARE ALL DIFFERENT TYPES THAT I JUST MENTIONED. i wasnt specifically criticising one man (not that that would be difficult to find)
My point is that its not always about the fact that they dont know.... WHAT WOMEN WANT!
Caution: This blog has not been written by a feminist.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Podcast from the Past
I found my shuffle after a year.
Hadnt used it in a looong time.
I turned it on.
Put on the headphones.
And it felt different....
The music began.
I felt different....
That puzzled me.
Something to do with the man who used it last.
The song list-part his part mine.
part what was our's.....
Brough a smile to my face.
Memories never felt closer.
travelled back in time not just to remember moments
but to feel them.....
each song a different journey
time machine flying me to places
back in present now
what am i doing?
listening to songs in languages i don't understand
don't want to say more
within the confines of those headphones is our world
still.....
Hadnt used it in a looong time.
I turned it on.
Put on the headphones.
And it felt different....
The music began.
I felt different....
That puzzled me.
Something to do with the man who used it last.
The song list-part his part mine.
part what was our's.....
Brough a smile to my face.
Memories never felt closer.
travelled back in time not just to remember moments
but to feel them.....
each song a different journey
time machine flying me to places
back in present now
what am i doing?
listening to songs in languages i don't understand
don't want to say more
within the confines of those headphones is our world
still.....
Monday, June 30, 2008
Its sometimes saddening to grow up...
Back in college i was crazy about Abhishek Bachchan.. somewhere around the time Dhoom, Dus, Zameen, B&B and a few others released. I never missed his movies, sat in the front row, (yeah, girls in Pune do that) and god knows how many movies my roomies and Anant have suffered even though they hated him ...just for me. Infact, Ant and Aparna went around the theatres, telling the managers that their six year old niece loved AB Baby and it was her b'day and thats how i got four Junior AB huge posters in ma hostel room.
So...hope that gives you an idea about how much i liked him. And if still not sure about how crazy my family can get regarding the Stars, read this- my mom and her sisters went on a fast when Big B was critically injured during Coolie.
So..... I am a journalist now..... A SENIOR BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT. i now get kicked about meeting Kishore Biyani, Kumaramangalam, Yash Birla, Anand Mahindra and the likes.... Have also come across the whoz who of Bollywood. And today.... i saw him. My heartthrob of college days (which aint so long ago). Heart skipped a beat... but thats it. I went about doing my thing, asking my questions to the Company people (He was there as the brand ambassador), acting all serious and responsible... yet noticing his mannerisms.. his smile.. the naughty expressions...
But still... am a little sad. I should have been the old me... who would have got excited at all of this... done something wild and stupid...n thn told the whole damn family about my adventure.... And made 'the day i met abhishek bachchan' a memorable day. i aint 'starry eyed' anymore but i wish... i wish i was..... coz its nice to be a child sometimes.... and be lost in that world of innocence. Wat say?
So...hope that gives you an idea about how much i liked him. And if still not sure about how crazy my family can get regarding the Stars, read this- my mom and her sisters went on a fast when Big B was critically injured during Coolie.
So..... I am a journalist now..... A SENIOR BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT. i now get kicked about meeting Kishore Biyani, Kumaramangalam, Yash Birla, Anand Mahindra and the likes.... Have also come across the whoz who of Bollywood. And today.... i saw him. My heartthrob of college days (which aint so long ago). Heart skipped a beat... but thats it. I went about doing my thing, asking my questions to the Company people (He was there as the brand ambassador), acting all serious and responsible... yet noticing his mannerisms.. his smile.. the naughty expressions...
But still... am a little sad. I should have been the old me... who would have got excited at all of this... done something wild and stupid...n thn told the whole damn family about my adventure.... And made 'the day i met abhishek bachchan' a memorable day. i aint 'starry eyed' anymore but i wish... i wish i was..... coz its nice to be a child sometimes.... and be lost in that world of innocence. Wat say?
Delitalia- From an Ignorant's point of view
Backgrounder: I live with four frenz. The fifth one is in Delhi, d only one away. She visits The Family whenever finances.. and bosses allow. This time before she landed in Mumbai, she already knew where we would go lunching (yes, madam actually believed we would let her leave for Pune after spending half a day with us!! Audacious!!)
'Delitalia!' she announced. And we wondered how she knew about the latest new place in which forever seemed to be booked.
"Research" she told the ignorant lot. So thats how we landed at thenewly renovated previously called '11Echoes' bang opposite Juhu Beach... now known as Delitalia. Classy(and glassy, which is good cause you get to enjoy the road and the beach view).. a little too Sophisticated... u'll always find few known, if i may say Page 3, faces around... also get to hear Opera Music (atleast thats what it sounds like) . Not really place for three loud 'excited about life' journalists and a 'where am i stuck' engineer. Yet we managed.
We struggled with the pronunciations... and (ehem.... prices), we finally ordered a nice appetiser and a round of Sangrias and Martinis. Yummmm
The pizza is aviodable. The Pastas average. But yeah, the ambience and the drinks sure work their charm. Plus, company always matters.
So if you have lots of money to burn and want to go to a nice peaceful place... if you have a taste for classical western music.. and don't know your Italian food too well.... You might as well book a table there tonight!
Else, join us at Firangi Paani.......
'Delitalia!' she announced. And we wondered how she knew about the latest new place in which forever seemed to be booked.
"Research" she told the ignorant lot. So thats how we landed at thenewly renovated previously called '11Echoes' bang opposite Juhu Beach... now known as Delitalia. Classy(and glassy, which is good cause you get to enjoy the road and the beach view).. a little too Sophisticated... u'll always find few known, if i may say Page 3, faces around... also get to hear Opera Music (atleast thats what it sounds like) . Not really place for three loud 'excited about life' journalists and a 'where am i stuck' engineer. Yet we managed.
We struggled with the pronunciations... and (ehem.... prices), we finally ordered a nice appetiser and a round of Sangrias and Martinis. Yummmm
The pizza is aviodable. The Pastas average. But yeah, the ambience and the drinks sure work their charm. Plus, company always matters.
So if you have lots of money to burn and want to go to a nice peaceful place... if you have a taste for classical western music.. and don't know your Italian food too well.... You might as well book a table there tonight!
Else, join us at Firangi Paani.......
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
losing the human touch?
When i got out of my home today.. i was super late. Overslept.. cursed the alarm..got ready in a rush. was still munching on the last bits of my breakfast wen i reached downstairs.. only to find no ricks around. well, cudnt get more late... so started walking... no ricks on the road either.... not even on S V ROAD!! no traffic jams at all.... didnt have to jump left right to save myself from autorickshaws speeding in from random directions....didnt have to run a few steps.. stop all of a sudden... wriggle between two ricks.. damn!! dats was a boring walk to Andheri Stn!! Was still sweating.. skin felt burnt...n already worrying about how will i reach hyatt for my meeting in the eve.
but wait a min... dat wasnt the point to this blog.....
sorry for deviating..... i do talk too much
the ricks are on a three day strike to rebel against electronic meters being made compulsory. why? i dont know. seems like govt decided without asking them. logic says also coz they are difficult to maintain. dont think they cant be tampered with thoug. whatever be the case... a three day long strike.. some 14lakh three wheelers off the road... for just this one thing? paise ka chakkar babu bhaiya...
interesting to see such sentiments of revolting.. making their voice heard didnt come along a couple of months bck when their cabbie buddies were being beaten up... when their cabs were damaged and windshields broken. No emotions came about then to stand up, talk and go on a strike. so wat if the guy next to me is injured.... and his cab not in a state to run anymore. i need to earn my daily bread, right?? ofcourse.... i've issues with an electronic meter which is yet to prove how harmful it can be to my life.
materialistic world. emotions buried under heaps of money concrete. 20 years we waste in studyin to get a job... 40 years we shall work day n night.. always aiming for another appraisal, a better job offer... more savings for that home, that car.....
thats life. that how i shall live it. happily. successfully. but once in a while... i shall let the human in me get a say.. wat about you?
but wait a min... dat wasnt the point to this blog.....
sorry for deviating..... i do talk too much
the ricks are on a three day strike to rebel against electronic meters being made compulsory. why? i dont know. seems like govt decided without asking them. logic says also coz they are difficult to maintain. dont think they cant be tampered with thoug. whatever be the case... a three day long strike.. some 14lakh three wheelers off the road... for just this one thing? paise ka chakkar babu bhaiya...
interesting to see such sentiments of revolting.. making their voice heard didnt come along a couple of months bck when their cabbie buddies were being beaten up... when their cabs were damaged and windshields broken. No emotions came about then to stand up, talk and go on a strike. so wat if the guy next to me is injured.... and his cab not in a state to run anymore. i need to earn my daily bread, right?? ofcourse.... i've issues with an electronic meter which is yet to prove how harmful it can be to my life.
materialistic world. emotions buried under heaps of money concrete. 20 years we waste in studyin to get a job... 40 years we shall work day n night.. always aiming for another appraisal, a better job offer... more savings for that home, that car.....
thats life. that how i shall live it. happily. successfully. but once in a while... i shall let the human in me get a say.. wat about you?
Friday, April 18, 2008
We Were Had!!
people say that am not passionate about many things inlife. True. It is difficult to stir up emotions, passion... the fire within me for things......... but the whole world also knows that journalism, activism, social responsibility (without having to scream rights for women) does something to me. Anything related to the fourth estate does effect me.. even more so now when i am finally a part of it. As a person, i find it difficult not to defend my loved ones, my frens, my job and so on. even if wrong, i can't take other people saying that. funny. stupid. me.
Today i break this trend. i am here to abuse my own media world. The industry which gives me zest to live on... work harder... and job satisfaction has got me frustrated for a change. n mind u, its something that has just begun to happen ever so often.
we all know about celebrities' and socialites' hunger for limelight. their publicity stunts are famous world over. what i never really thot about is why would media fall for these stunts and makes these fictious stuff sound like earth shattering news.
A reputed journo decides to take rumours of a couple splitting up on front page.
A multinational giant, which has more than 30% market share in any category that it is present in, resorts to a cheap publicity stunt. Why?
A happily married couple leads people into believing that they were heading for a divorce when they were secretly plannig of renewing their vows. Why?
I cannot imagine feeling more led down.. agitated.. vulnerable to tricks of MNCs and Celebrities as i did last week. I am not even a part of the entertainment media. was not even aware of how the news created a buzz thru out the day in the media. but i did catch on faster than entertainment journos (here is wen i feel like degrading them by saying PAGE 3 REPORTERS) that it was all a lie.. that the story was planted... that two people along with one of the biggest creative agencies in the country had fooled the media ... that they were laughing abt it... smirks all around ... gloated egos enjoying the success of their event and plot....
and media... ah! my beloved 'trash' community people were still climbing over each other, fighting, shoving and nudging to get bytes from those who had just fooled them.
True, the reporter nailed the husband n wife the next day in his story. but was dat anough. was there really any damage done? except that event got the desired publicity. stupid. stupid. stupid. and then the readers are told YOU WERE HAD! like, really? Readers don't freaking care!! they dont care if saif n kareena appeared tog again.. what they did inside the make-up van... if sanju n manyata are legally married or not... if ash is missing her father-in-law while she is overseas celebrating her anniv...like one of the recent columns in ma paper said... all this is supposed to be the side dish... not the main course!!!
Today i break this trend. i am here to abuse my own media world. The industry which gives me zest to live on... work harder... and job satisfaction has got me frustrated for a change. n mind u, its something that has just begun to happen ever so often.
we all know about celebrities' and socialites' hunger for limelight. their publicity stunts are famous world over. what i never really thot about is why would media fall for these stunts and makes these fictious stuff sound like earth shattering news.
A reputed journo decides to take rumours of a couple splitting up on front page.
A multinational giant, which has more than 30% market share in any category that it is present in, resorts to a cheap publicity stunt. Why?
A happily married couple leads people into believing that they were heading for a divorce when they were secretly plannig of renewing their vows. Why?
I cannot imagine feeling more led down.. agitated.. vulnerable to tricks of MNCs and Celebrities as i did last week. I am not even a part of the entertainment media. was not even aware of how the news created a buzz thru out the day in the media. but i did catch on faster than entertainment journos (here is wen i feel like degrading them by saying PAGE 3 REPORTERS) that it was all a lie.. that the story was planted... that two people along with one of the biggest creative agencies in the country had fooled the media ... that they were laughing abt it... smirks all around ... gloated egos enjoying the success of their event and plot....
and media... ah! my beloved 'trash' community people were still climbing over each other, fighting, shoving and nudging to get bytes from those who had just fooled them.
True, the reporter nailed the husband n wife the next day in his story. but was dat anough. was there really any damage done? except that event got the desired publicity. stupid. stupid. stupid. and then the readers are told YOU WERE HAD! like, really? Readers don't freaking care!! they dont care if saif n kareena appeared tog again.. what they did inside the make-up van... if sanju n manyata are legally married or not... if ash is missing her father-in-law while she is overseas celebrating her anniv...like one of the recent columns in ma paper said... all this is supposed to be the side dish... not the main course!!!
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Thank You Linkin Park
There's something inside me that pulls beneath the surface
Consuming…confusing
This lack of self-control I fear is never ending...Controlling…
Discomfort, endlessly has pulled itself upon me...Distracting…reacting
Against my will I stand beside my own reflection
It's haunting how I can't seem... to find myself again
My walls are closing in
What do I do to ignore them behind me?
Do I follow my instincts blindly?
Do I hide my pride from these bad dreams?And give in to sad thoughts that are maddening?
Do I sit here and try to stand it?Or do I try to catch them red-handed?
Do I trust some and get fooled by phoniness,
Or do I trust nobody and live in loneliness?
Because I can't hold on when I'm stretched so thin
I make the right moves but I'm lost within
I put on my daily facade but thenI just end up getting hurt again
By myself
I wanna heal... I wanna feel..
what I thought was never real
I wanna let go of the pain I’ve held so long
Erase all the pain till it’s goneI wanna heal,
And I’ve got nothing to sayI can’t believe I didn’t fall right down on my face
I was confused... Looking everywhere only to find
That it’s not the way I had imagined it all in my mind
So what am I
What do I have but negativity ’Cause I can’t justify the way, everyone is looking at me
Nothing to loseNothing to gain... hollow and alone
And the fault is my own, and the fault is my own
I will never know myself until I do this on my own
And I will never feel anything else, until my wounds are healed
I will never be anything till I break away from me
I will break away, I'll find myself today
Consuming…confusing
This lack of self-control I fear is never ending...Controlling…
Discomfort, endlessly has pulled itself upon me...Distracting…reacting
Against my will I stand beside my own reflection
It's haunting how I can't seem... to find myself again
My walls are closing in
What do I do to ignore them behind me?
Do I follow my instincts blindly?
Do I hide my pride from these bad dreams?And give in to sad thoughts that are maddening?
Do I sit here and try to stand it?Or do I try to catch them red-handed?
Do I trust some and get fooled by phoniness,
Or do I trust nobody and live in loneliness?
Because I can't hold on when I'm stretched so thin
I make the right moves but I'm lost within
I put on my daily facade but thenI just end up getting hurt again
By myself
I wanna heal... I wanna feel..
what I thought was never real
I wanna let go of the pain I’ve held so long
Erase all the pain till it’s goneI wanna heal,
And I’ve got nothing to sayI can’t believe I didn’t fall right down on my face
I was confused... Looking everywhere only to find
That it’s not the way I had imagined it all in my mind
So what am I
What do I have but negativity ’Cause I can’t justify the way, everyone is looking at me
Nothing to loseNothing to gain... hollow and alone
And the fault is my own, and the fault is my own
I will never know myself until I do this on my own
And I will never feel anything else, until my wounds are healed
I will never be anything till I break away from me
I will break away, I'll find myself today
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Whats your New Year Resolution??
2008 is here people!! For me it means a new beginning. It’s a nice time to let bygones be bygones and cherish the coming times with the intention of making more beautiful memories… blah blla bla! Oh n yes, making new year resolutions- making a resolution and then trying to beat your previous records of how long the resolution lasts. A day, 2 days, a week or more? How many resolutions have you achieved in totality? Me haven’t even bothered to….but its just fun to come up with one.
While New Year celebrations began as back as 4000 BC, for a long time, NY celebs were in spring time…. For obvious reasons. Most of our religions still follow that. It is said that 1st Jan doesn’t really have any astronomical or agricultural significance. (Google Rocks!!) For some people NY signifies Christ's Circumcision! (and that’s what we celebrate??) I didn’t have too much time or patience to research on this and beside whateva be the case …. Religious or not, scientific or not, for all of us today, its just an excuse to celebrate life and make a new beginning.
Uff! How I deviate…. Back to NY resolutions… lose weight, quit smoking/drinking, bond with family, (in one case I heard this lady say her resolution was to not to fight so much with her mom-in-law… needless to say the decision didn’t last long!)…, eating healthy, earn some X amount of money n so on. Apparently, in the times of Babylon, (do u feel like singing d Boney M song now? I do) the most popular resolution was to return borrowed farm equipment!
But its crazy, the kind of enthu this tradition generates. There are thousand of sites online, giving you NY resolution tips and even how to sustain your pledges (this is where I got bored of using the word ‘Resolution’ n so used the thesaurus in MS Word. Some journo I am!!). One such page says- 1. Make it specific. 2. Don’t Over reach. 3. Plan Ahead. 4. Make it official. Well, who the hell doesn’t know that???
Another example is my office HR team who sent out a mail saying-
“I will do the treadmill half an hour every morning, cant believe how much I have piled on this New Year’s Eve!!!”
“I will smoke only 2 cigarettes in a day, but I must say, I have contributed to the tobacco industry unconditionally over the past years”
Been there, Done that???
Are you one of those, who enthusiastically make a new year’s resolution on the 1st of Jan every year, and conveniently slips under the cover, when it’s actually time to implement it???
Fret Not!!! Help’s on its way!!!
We, at Human Resources Junction, have created a pit stop, for all you enthusiastic resolution makers. Just make one new year resolution, which could be anything that you wish to achieve in the near future. Post that resolution to us. If your resolution falls in our bucket of effort, we will fill it to the brim.
There will be a review period of 3 months for any change initiated through the resolution drive. The review period shall end on 1st April 2008
I like the spirit….
Anyways, let me know what your resolutions are people…. Or if you have any interesting stories from previous years about the same. Hope to make this one interactive!
Lemme start- Live Life! And say F#*K Ya to whoever comes in the way of my Happiness! (too general but at least am not over reaching and I am making it official right here.) N if you have any suggestions for me.. well… Keep them to yourselves. Bah Hambug!!
While New Year celebrations began as back as 4000 BC, for a long time, NY celebs were in spring time…. For obvious reasons. Most of our religions still follow that. It is said that 1st Jan doesn’t really have any astronomical or agricultural significance. (Google Rocks!!) For some people NY signifies Christ's Circumcision! (and that’s what we celebrate??) I didn’t have too much time or patience to research on this and beside whateva be the case …. Religious or not, scientific or not, for all of us today, its just an excuse to celebrate life and make a new beginning.
Uff! How I deviate…. Back to NY resolutions… lose weight, quit smoking/drinking, bond with family, (in one case I heard this lady say her resolution was to not to fight so much with her mom-in-law… needless to say the decision didn’t last long!)…, eating healthy, earn some X amount of money n so on. Apparently, in the times of Babylon, (do u feel like singing d Boney M song now? I do) the most popular resolution was to return borrowed farm equipment!
But its crazy, the kind of enthu this tradition generates. There are thousand of sites online, giving you NY resolution tips and even how to sustain your pledges (this is where I got bored of using the word ‘Resolution’ n so used the thesaurus in MS Word. Some journo I am!!). One such page says- 1. Make it specific. 2. Don’t Over reach. 3. Plan Ahead. 4. Make it official. Well, who the hell doesn’t know that???
Another example is my office HR team who sent out a mail saying-
“I will do the treadmill half an hour every morning, cant believe how much I have piled on this New Year’s Eve!!!”
“I will smoke only 2 cigarettes in a day, but I must say, I have contributed to the tobacco industry unconditionally over the past years”
Been there, Done that???
Are you one of those, who enthusiastically make a new year’s resolution on the 1st of Jan every year, and conveniently slips under the cover, when it’s actually time to implement it???
Fret Not!!! Help’s on its way!!!
We, at Human Resources Junction, have created a pit stop, for all you enthusiastic resolution makers. Just make one new year resolution, which could be anything that you wish to achieve in the near future. Post that resolution to us. If your resolution falls in our bucket of effort, we will fill it to the brim.
There will be a review period of 3 months for any change initiated through the resolution drive. The review period shall end on 1st April 2008
I like the spirit….
Anyways, let me know what your resolutions are people…. Or if you have any interesting stories from previous years about the same. Hope to make this one interactive!
Lemme start- Live Life! And say F#*K Ya to whoever comes in the way of my Happiness! (too general but at least am not over reaching and I am making it official right here.) N if you have any suggestions for me.. well… Keep them to yourselves. Bah Hambug!!
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