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Showing posts from September, 2008

Vroom … Vroom …Vroom …under Flood Lights in Singapore

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From my office at the 21st floor of Suntec Tower in Singapore, it looked like a pearl necklace strewn over a beautiful black velvet blanket. It was not an imagery from the top of the skyscraper but the reality down below of the first night racing of Formula 1 cars in Singapore. The necklace was a string of 1600 white lights - four times brighter than used in soccer - fitted on the aluminum truss that run parallel to the either side of the circuit spanning 5.06-kilometer track that encircled the down town of Singapore over few sharp bends and a run over a bridge without causing any sign of penumbra. Things started fitting into the playing arena as the D-day approached. It began with the relaying of street tops, putting up the facilities, arrival of equipments, fitting of night-lights. We walked through the streets adjoining old parliament house. Final touches were being given to search lights, alternating red and yellow plastic bucket seats and the safety barricades. As the DHL char

Sanjana and ' Bedroom at Arles'

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W hen I saw my niece, Sanjana's painting; I felt a lot of similarity with ‘Bedroom of Arles’ by Van Gogh. Her choice of bright and vibrant colors and portrayal of room in sharp and pointed form have strong semblance. Sanjana's painting was selected from her school for auction to help raise funds for scholarships. Her painting was sold for $175.00. Bedroom of Arles was painting of Van Gogh’s bedroom and the way he described it to his brother Theo: I simply reproduces my bedroom; but colour must be abundant in this part, its simplification adding a rank of grandee to the style applied to the objects, getting to suggest a certain rest or dream. Well, I have thought that on watching the composition we stop thinking and imagining. I have painted the walls pale violet. The ground with checked material. The wooden bed and the chairs, yellow like fresh butter; the sheet and the pillows, lemon light green. The bedspread, scarlet coloured. The window, green. The washbasin, orangey;

India and the Corruption

India has a reason to rejoice !!! It is still way ahead of Pakistan and half the world is still down the ladder. India Ranks no 85 (though slipped from no 72 of last year but that’s okay!!) while Pakistan is at 134 , China at 72, Israel at 33. Newspapers in Singapore proudly pronounced the retaining of their country rank at No 4 just below New Zealand, Sweden. Denmark stood out at No 1. The above number is not the ranking based on quality of live or GDP. This is an index of corruption. CPI stands for Corruption Perception Index (Not communist party of India). Law defines CORRUPTION as ‘An act done with intent to give some advantage inconsistent with official duty and the rights of others. It includes bribery, but is more comprehensive; because an act may be corruptly done, though the advantage to be derived from it is not offered by another’. Wow… exhaustive definition indeed. CPI used the same definition and focused solely on public servants. India must be unfortunate to have taken th

Akshta in July+ August+ September 08

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One never grows old...........

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Y’day, September 15 was a national holiday in Japan to honor the elderly with 'Respect-for-the-Aged' Day. It’s noble idea to express the obeisance to long-time contributors to our society, celebrate their longevity and pray for their health . Bodybuilder Ray Moon, who will turn 80 this year is living illustration how the respect for the elders can be won. He has turned 80 but instead of giving up on his health after being crippled by polio, undergoing a open heart surgery and fitted with pacemaker , he chose to march to Gym and become a champion bodybuilder -- the oldest in Australia and perhaps in the world.

Amitabh Bachchan - A man of many talents

Dear Mr Amitabh, I wonder which are of your many avatars you have donned are more alluring? As an actor with brilliant histrionic skills or as a presenter with deep bass voice quality or as a human being with your intrinsic ingrained modesty and humility or as a blogger with your effortless narration of articulating your innermost thoughts and impressions to various stimuli that affect you ? I must say that I am overwhelmed by your writings on your blog. Do you write all this yourself – with spell check, grammar etc? How do you get time to do that and even to respond to the comments of your avid readers? Alternatively, do you narrate your thoughts to your editorial blog team who structure it in the form of ghostwriter? This does not seem possible. Those who have seen you interacting in the media realize that your writings on the blog are genuine mirror reflection of your thoughts and expressions. Perhaps you are seeking to reach your roots, to your rich legacy that you have inherited f

Ahmad Faraz to Nida Fazli

Almost 10-12 years ago, on the eve of India/ Pakistan independence day, ZEE TV had organized a show by inviting people from both the countries. Participants comprised of Poets, Journalists, Politicians and General people. The program started in very cordial atmosphere but ended with utter confusion and chaos. Spirited individuals bitten by jingoistic national spirit started trading charges against each other. Amidst all that din, there was this poet from Pakistan who captivated me with his lines of अब के बिछडे हैं तो शायद कभी ख्वाबों में मिले, जिस तरह सूखे हुए फूलकिताबों में (After this separation, we may meet only in our dreams, like wilted flowers within the pages of a book). He was realistic to identify himself with Pakistan yet felt strongly about his Indian connection. I didn't read much about Ahmed Faraz except seeing him occasionally in the media। The news of his death made me read some of his poetry but it also led to another poet who made huge impact on me with his simpl

Akshta and Dadi

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For Akshta, she was Dadi, her house next door was Dadi and everything in that house was Dadi. Last week, Dadi left Akshta as sudden as she came into her life . But during that short span of few months, Dadi instilled a definite impression of her deep unflinching devotion to the God and the spirituality. Dadi must be pleased that Akshta took to the chanting of "Hare Rama Hare Krishna" as naturally as she did for Dadi's specially made sweet dishes .