Sunday, December 27, 2009

Silent Kindness: Why is it not rewarded?

Big-Boss3-BigB

The voting has stopped – the results are in – and the winner of the most controversial show of all times has now been declared….and the winner is Vindu Dara Singh!

Big Boss, an indianised concept of a UK based popular reality show called Big Brother, showcased a journey of 13 odd contestants thru 84 odd days, each different from each other, each with fame and popularity, and each with a common thing in mind – the thought of winning the game! As the days passed, and the hopes of bonds becoming stronger rose, the real faces began revealing themselves….and Boy!, were the faces UGLYYYY!

After days of immense laughs and fights, and tonnes of pressure, only 3 made it to the grand finale: The ever big-hearted and a cry baby Vindu Dara Singh, the gracious and generous Poona Dhillon and the guy claiming to be a common man and Mr. India title holder, Parvesh Rana.

The point of this post is not to write about the concept of the show, or to criticise the result – it is not to claim what happened in the house or what should have happened….the only point I want to emphasise on today is the fact that people sometimes act so dumb and blind, that they make the silent so unseen. Yes, my only anger while watching the show today was the eviction of Poonam Dhillon from the show. I mean, why the hell was she evicted before Pravesh from the house? Is the audience so dumb that they are unable to distinguish between the good and the bad? Or are they fools? Are they so entertainment prone that they want to keep only those guys in the house who know how to fight or create a scene? Damn! I have never been so disappointed after watching a show on television!!!!

Never before had I witness a more sophisticated lady than Poonam Dhillon…the lady was calm, composed, sweet, gorgeous, and motherly. She was the only one who forgot about the fights and the tensions building in the house and still cooked for everyone with equal devotion. She knew how to talk, walk, dress….she also made sure that no one was ever disappointed – the Halwa cake she made for Baktiyaar was a living example of that. Then why was she not voted for? Grrr…..to all those people who voted for Pravesh and didn’t see that there was a silent lady in the house who deserved appreciation more than anyone! I agree that she wasn’t loud, or didn’t focus on drama like all others….but is that any reason to be voted out from the show!!!!

Why I am only criticising Pravesh is because the guy had done some serious damage and still received votes is above me! Acting silly, and trying to get sympathy by saying that I have no money or I am a common man isn’t an act of bravery for which he shouldn’t have been rewarded. I know that Vindu had done a lot of bad things too….but at least he was warm hearted and sweet in some ways….but Pravesh!!!! DAMN!

Tonite’s episode showed me why good people are generally left behind and ignored. It showed me how people perceive things and react accordingly. I also got to learn that being generous and kind won’t take you long or do you any good….so I asked myself a question tonight: why shall I continue on the same path? And Poonam herself gave me the answer: I shall continue to do good because it is the write thing to do, and I shall continue to be kind because there are people around who need such kindness. Yes, Poonam Ji taught me a lot during the last 84 days…and I shall miss her very much, now that the show is over. I shall remember the many teachings that have been dawned upon me - the most powerful being the act of SILENT KINDNESS!

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Who Am I?

untitled

Have you ever woken up in the morning and asked yourself the most basic question of all times – Who am I? Have you ever faced a situation when such a question was thought of and you didn’t have any words, whatsoever? To move to the path of self-discovery, this is one question that must be answered, and that too with utmost honesty!

Like all, I was also jinxed by this question every single morning I woke up! I used to wonder what to think of it….let alone answer it. But you can’t really judge yourself the way you judge others, now can you? Because when you think of it, everyone thinks they are the best…and so when judgement calls….we tend to get biased for ourselves. What we also tend to get biased for is God. For when something good happens to us, we get all the praises, and we claim that it was our hard work that this thing happened. But when something doesn’t really work out for us, we tend to blame God for it. I know, there are many who do not believe in God. And in that case, they tend to believe that bad things happened because of their bad luck….which is in a sense nothing but blaming a power above them – and that to me is GOD!

I am not writing all this because I have been able to figure out the answer to the question asked above. No, I am far from that answer. But why I felt like writing was because I witnessed something, and I was moved, and I thought I should share it with every one. Recently I went to this show, where a performance really touched my heart. It wasn’t a dance sequence or someone singing, for it was a mere hand that took me by surprise. If you didn’t understand what I am talking about, just check out the video below, and after you do…think of the question I raise today…Who Am I? Is it really all in my hands?

Statutory Warning: Please turn on your speakers to full volume to maximise the effect before you start the video. Also, you might think that you just hear the music but see nothing in the video, have some patience and then you will too feel the magic! Enjoy :)

Saturday, November 14, 2009

2012: The whole world comes together to witness the whole world fall apart!

2012_1

Since the Mayan Period, we talked about it….
Since the Bible prophesised it, we dreaded it….
Since the year 2000, the whole world heard about it….
The time has finally come….when a single date will unite the entire world!

Welcome to 2012 – a film so epic in nature that calling it as the biggest disaster movie of all times would be an understatement – because it truly is….It Truly Is!

I was one of the few overly-desperate ones who wanted to see the movie on the day of its release, and I did….and I am glad that I did. It’s not that the film has a brilliant story or the best of acting….but the fact that it keeps the audience entertained throughout its runtime makes it magnificent and simply brilliant. The moment the movie began, I was glued to my seat….with there being many a times when my eyes were irritated and watery….because I refused to blink!2009_two_thousand_twelve_wallpaper_002
It had scenes and visuals that can undoubtedly be described as most breath taking shots ever, and by far the most fast moving  ones, having an over the top imaginary and creativity. One is most-definitely awestruck when the gigantism of the movie is witnessed! 

Based on an ancient Mayan myth that the world will collapse on 21.12.2012, the story revolves around a failed novelist turned limo driver, who has a lead and knows that the disastrous day is near, and sets out to protect his family. The government, on the other hand, is preparing for the dooms day as well….but it  isn’t focussing on 6 billion people….it does so in hiding, not revealing why there occurs so many earthquakes each day. What follows is a long series of breathtaking and never before seen visuals of destruction and disaster that will make you think – what if it is all true!

2012-poster The film leaves no stone unturned to take you to the world in 2012 when everything would come to an end, and only unity and humanity would help survive ‘The Judgement Day’.
What’s more interesting is the fact that people are rushing to the cinemas to watch this movie….so rightly put: The whole world is getting together to witness the world fall apart, and Like John Cusack says in the film, “Its home wherever we all are together”, it’s not long when people will start believing in togetherness and humanity – and it is only then that this world will become a better place to live!

As for the movie: I say catch it, or you’ll regret it for the rest of your life….for 2012 is near, now isn’t it?

Monday, October 19, 2009

Endless Desires….

endless desires

This morning after I woke up, I looked around my room with an half-opened eye that wanted to shut itself, but couldn’t - only because I had the control! I looked around my room, seeing all the stuff that I owned, and thought “I need more!” This thought wasn’t a mood swing or a sudden urge to getlgstorm26 something more than I could afford, but had come because my mind has been focused on a certain something I very recently started strongly desiring – A Blackberry Storm2! 

 

For almost 2 years, I have been using a phone which was created for one greater purpose – making calls! But with technology crossing all the borders, I said to myself, “How can I be so left behind?”, and thus started the search for a cool cell phone – a phone that could define me, or so I thought! Anyway, after months of searching and checking with my available budget time and again, I came down to two choices – the ever so popular Apple IPhone, and the newly launched, highly controversial Blackberry Storm.  iphone_storm

Both the phones had similar features, yet it was a difficult choice to make! It’s not that I could afford any of these phones, No! They didn’t fall in my price range, not atleast while sitting here in India. But their US price tags were something that helped me keep my spirits high! I was definitely not gonna pay twice as much in India, if there existed a possibility of getting them at a half price had I been in the United States. Nevertheless, I kept trying, and God showed His existence, and on July 2nd, 2009, I was a proud owner of a brand new Blackberry Storm – which came at the price I had hoped for! It sure was a happy day for me – but that feeling didn’t last long, because the very next day Blackberry announced that they were working on a next gen Storm – to be called Storm2 – and thus, new desires were born!

Last night, when RIM officially announced the Blackberry Storm2, I started desiring again. I so wanted this phone now! Its not like there is a huge difference in the two phones – I mean they look practically the same, with a teeny tiny refinement here and there. lgstorm215But I still desire the phone.  And this morning, when I woke up with that half-opened eye that so wanted to shut itself, I asked myself – why do I desire something even when I had a device better than any of the people I know or work with? And then it struck me – I wished to be at a level where people could envy me for everything I owned – and horror ran down my spine!

I never wanted people to envy me for the things I own – of course I want them to envy me, but for the wonderful work I do - for the things I say – for the way I smile! And now, after I am fully awake and have taken a bath, my eyes have lost the desire to shut themselves (for the time being, though!), and I am thinking – May be it is time for me to do the same and be happy for what I have. Things do get better every time they are upgraded, but they are things after all – why loose my sleep worrying about how to get them when I can wait in patience and grab them at the chance I get?

Yes, Desires are endless, but the way I see them now, the ones that truly make a difference are the ones that really count! :)

*Image sources: www.crackberry.com

Sunday, March 22, 2009

I See People - and I See Life..!

It is 02:36 AM by my system clock, and I sit at the Bangalore International Airport right this instant....I sit here waiting for the time when my flight will take me back home....I sit her waiting, and I see people here - waiting with me....

With all the time I have to kill....I look around on who is coming, and who's leaving....I see different people walk past me....all going to different places....but one thing is for sure....they all have one thing in common - they have a dream - a dream for which they are going to a distant land - in hopes to fulfil that dream, and finally come back home - with pride in their souls - and love in their hearts!

I see people who have come to drop their loved ones at the gate of the airport, and I see that they have a worry on their face....a fear....a sadness - that feeling of going far from the one's they love. I see people sticking to the glass walls, bidding goodbyes to their loved ones - tears rolling down they face. This made me wonder....why does one have to go away from the people they love to fulfil their dream? Why can't one stay with the ones they love and make their life better - isn't that a dream in itself?

I see this lady, holding a year old child in her hand, wiping tears off her eyes, waving to her husband. I also see this man, on the other side of the glass wall, gesturing, that he has to go or else he will miss his flight....but doesn't want to go....He wants to stay....how do I know? That's because he too is in tears!!!! Seeing them makes me wonder yet again....is the dream which makes you leave the people you love a dream worth living?

I see people who're sleepy, I see people who're tired. I see people rushing because they are late, I also see people getting restless. But amongst all these people, I also see people who are laughing, people who are cheerful...excited - and I see their passion flowing! And I now wonder again - even if it hurts going away from the people we love, one has to do the job at hand - So why not do it in Joy? Why worry of screwing up? What is the worst that could happen? Why wonder what the others might think? Like what Randy Pauch said in his "last lecture" - It doesn't matter how the cards are dealt, what is important is the fact how you play the hand!

So here's a deal....Lets do what ever is assigned to us in life - and lets do it with full passion and sincerity. Lets do it so well, that the people around us learn from it. Lets make a better future....and Lets start it right NOW!