Ahem, I voted today.
Quite a few from my area - Mumbai North Central voted today.
But more than it feeling like a duty, it felt like, I was there, people were there - meeting their past.
Neighbours, old friends, aunts, uncles, play mates, seeing them after 5 - 10 years.
Like a social gathering.
Girls and guys I played with as a kid, parents shifted homes and those memories seem to have faded away. But seeing them, the same faces, telling each other - oh, You've changed; and you're just the same. All of it.
Everyone seemed to have come out of their homes, in unision, senior citizens, kids just turned 18, all walking down the steps after the vote, with a smile - Redemption.
What is it that made so many of us wake up, get out and pay our due? Terror attacks, the Jagoo Re campaign, our own personal awakening?
What ever the reason, waiting in the long line just seemed worth it.
Yes, I voted today.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
NOW'09
On the 18th and 19th of March, 2009, the students of FLAME School of Communication organised a seminar on the most gripping issues facing the world; NOW’09. The essence of NOW is to bring in awareness to the youth of today and to help initiate progressive work to bring about a productive change.
The seminar dealt with four topics namely Saving Planet Earth, Tackling Terror, World Financial Crisis and Media and Society. The two day seminar was graced by well known speakers in the four specific genres with the likes of film makers like Anand Patwardhan, Shekar Dattatri, Sudhir Kapadia, partner E&Y, activists like Ranjit Gadgil, one of the Lead India finalists and Lt. Gen Shekatkar (Retd.), a well known speaker on the Indian defence systems.
The speakers gave an overview along with their opinion about the pressing issues facing us today and ways in which they can be dealt. Mr. Sudhir Kapadia on the impact of the World Financial Crisis on India said, “The downturn will continue till 2011 and this year will be a tough year to make any possible comeback of sorts.” Mr Nandan Chakraborty, research head, ENAM added to this, saying, “India is no more shining but whining in the present government.”
The two day event was a joint student initiative between Symbiosis Institute of Mass Communication and Foundation for Liberal and Management education (FLAME). Student members of AIESEC, an international student organization were also present.
Mr. Shekar Duttari, a wildlife film maker while addressing the students about Saving Planet Earth was of the opinion that the earth does not need to be saved, it has existed for billions of years and it will exist for many more; what really needs saving is Ourselves. On the issue of terrorism, Lt. Gen. Sheketkar said, “terrorists are not born, the situations they are put through makes them so. We must as global citizens be aware of this fact and attack this problem form the base.”
This series of seminars was the first event of its kind in Pune city and FLAME plans to take it up as an annual event to generate awareness and action among the youth.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Delhi 6
I just loved it. It beats me as to why most people I meet, hear, converse with about it seem to refute it.
At a point when a communal war seemed like the definite scene to follow, the film took an unexpected turn by bringing in the Kala Bandar.
Has anyone ever dealt with the issue of communism in a more innovative way? The Kala Bandar in the film is symbolic to not just myths - a very crucial ingredient of any culture but also the solution, culmination to the very arbid communistic issues that crop up.
In the current issue of the magazine Tehelka, Satyendra Das, head priest of Ramjanambhoomi with reference to the Ram temple said, "The demolition of the Babri Masjid has brought misery to Ram Lalla (Ram's Idol). When the Babri Masjid stood it was protected from the sun and rains. Now rain water flows through its temporary roof. When the Babri Masjid stood, Lord Ram was draped in finery. Today it stands like a beggar in rags. The Muslims of Ayodhya stitch clothes and make garlands for our idols. If theses Muslims were evil they could easily slip in a bomb in the firecrackers they supply for our festivals. Vo satya roop mein Ayothyavasi hain."
This quote gives justice to the underlying theme of the film.
I think Mr. rakesh Omprakash Mehra deserves an applause.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Eragon - Brisinger
My favourite quote from the book:
For her, choices were simple, either there was an action she could take to improve the situation in which case she took it, or there was not, and everything else said on the subject was so much meaningless noise.
In any event , she did not worry herself about the future, except where Eregon was converned.
Him, she always worried about.
For her, choices were simple, either there was an action she could take to improve the situation in which case she took it, or there was not, and everything else said on the subject was so much meaningless noise.
In any event , she did not worry herself about the future, except where Eregon was converned.
Him, she always worried about.
Extracts from a book about Mr.JRD Tata
"For a few days after getting the award he(Mr.JRD Tata) kept saying, "I don't deserve it." So I sent him Jack Benny's comment which amused him. Jack Benny had said, " I don't deserve this award, but I've got arthritis and I don't deserve that either."
One of his line of thoughts:
The fact that you would like to write a book on me means that you think I represent something more than I think I do. I am always comparing myself with others in India or abroad or anywhere else, but I have no real concept. I don't believe what is said in the newspapers about me and I don't believe the sort of complements I get, our country is very good at paying complements, you get them all the time."
Another one about God:
But if all my life, almost a hundred years now, I have thought of him as too busy looking after the world, how can he have the time to look after a useless person like me?"
I say...Humility Personified!
The author's quote some where in the end of the book, when Mr.JRD was alive seems just perfect-
"When someone we love dies, a part of us dies with them, perhaps when he dies a part of him will live within us."
One of his line of thoughts:
The fact that you would like to write a book on me means that you think I represent something more than I think I do. I am always comparing myself with others in India or abroad or anywhere else, but I have no real concept. I don't believe what is said in the newspapers about me and I don't believe the sort of complements I get, our country is very good at paying complements, you get them all the time."
Another one about God:
But if all my life, almost a hundred years now, I have thought of him as too busy looking after the world, how can he have the time to look after a useless person like me?"
I say...Humility Personified!
The author's quote some where in the end of the book, when Mr.JRD was alive seems just perfect-
"When someone we love dies, a part of us dies with them, perhaps when he dies a part of him will live within us."
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Beautiful Editorials
I just loved Bachi Karkaria's editorial yesterday with 'Shoes as the central theme'. The amazing dexterity with which she connected Fashion, the global meltdown,Raju's(Satyam) claim to fame - 300 something number of shoes.
Jug Suriya's editorial, 'Goochie Ya'
Jug Suriya's editorial, 'Goochie Ya'
Friday, February 6, 2009
Awards et all
This is about a conversation I recently had with a Sales executive from Radio Mirchi. He was attempting to grill us (Two students, present there to promote our college FLAME and approach the big P (placements) issue.
Among the various questions, he asked us to mention any of our favourite ads. Without hesitation I said, "The Jaago Re" ads and campaign. Either that din't ring a bell or just was not to his liking that he brushed it aside and asked me for others. He wanted us to get at the award winning Airtel ads which he eventually, exasperatedly mentioned since it din't come from the horse's mouth.
It was a surprise and almost a disappointment to him that we, students din't find it important enough to mention or simply that - it was not top of the mind recall for us. The point here is - whats more important - an ad/marketing strategy that wins awards or one that actually inspires people to do something.
Both, I agree, attract attention. But when we talk about top of the mind recall, isn't it something that stays back in the individual's mind, may be the mind of the masses and once that's converted into either increase in sales of that particular product or in the case of the Voting campaign, young people actually registering themselves to vote in big numbers?
(All this however came to my mind a little too late, then I just din't know how to counter him, nerves I guess)
Like in the case of the film Slumdog Millionaire, yes, it has achieved international acclaim, won awards, but if we go by its performance at the Box Office, the facts are quite clear.
Any other ads that I could think of? The new Cadbury Bournville ads, very different even though they do not generate mass appeal or much appeal at all. British, an international apeal considering the packaging is much like Lindt. Everything with regards Bournville has been cleaverly executed keeping the international appeal in mind I think. How? Compare all the previous cadbury ads till date? Domestic. Completely Indianised. But the treatment given to Bournville is indeed very different. Why? Doesn't my argument make sense?
Among the various questions, he asked us to mention any of our favourite ads. Without hesitation I said, "The Jaago Re" ads and campaign. Either that din't ring a bell or just was not to his liking that he brushed it aside and asked me for others. He wanted us to get at the award winning Airtel ads which he eventually, exasperatedly mentioned since it din't come from the horse's mouth.
It was a surprise and almost a disappointment to him that we, students din't find it important enough to mention or simply that - it was not top of the mind recall for us. The point here is - whats more important - an ad/marketing strategy that wins awards or one that actually inspires people to do something.
Both, I agree, attract attention. But when we talk about top of the mind recall, isn't it something that stays back in the individual's mind, may be the mind of the masses and once that's converted into either increase in sales of that particular product or in the case of the Voting campaign, young people actually registering themselves to vote in big numbers?
(All this however came to my mind a little too late, then I just din't know how to counter him, nerves I guess)
Like in the case of the film Slumdog Millionaire, yes, it has achieved international acclaim, won awards, but if we go by its performance at the Box Office, the facts are quite clear.
Any other ads that I could think of? The new Cadbury Bournville ads, very different even though they do not generate mass appeal or much appeal at all. British, an international apeal considering the packaging is much like Lindt. Everything with regards Bournville has been cleaverly executed keeping the international appeal in mind I think. How? Compare all the previous cadbury ads till date? Domestic. Completely Indianised. But the treatment given to Bournville is indeed very different. Why? Doesn't my argument make sense?
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