Ideas are Immortal

Scandals and corruption have become so common these days, that there is little of remorse or guilt in the vandals involved in these embezzlements. A project undertaken and executed in an honest manner, has ironically become a rarity, and seems like an abnormality. Malicious money making has become the only goal riding on the wicked minds of these leeches (this comparison is a disgrace to the leeches I believe!), who easily suck out people’s money, to fill their bottomless greed basket.

With so much corruption in the system, it has almost become impossible to see a single clean project being implemented. Politicians, officials and all the people associated with a project seem to claim stakes in the funds of the project, as if it is their right!

When the legal system is as weak and disoriented as in India, there is not much prevention that can be done, to curb such atrocious actions by these avaricious and selfish syndicate of goons!

There is no point mentioning only the headline making scandals like the BMIC, mining scandals in Karnataka, or the 2G spectrum row, or the shameful Common Wealth Games’ infrastructure mishandling; for, almost every large scale project being undertaken here is either inferior than the supposed quality, or is costlier, or both. The lethargic approach towards projects of such import is another addendum to this perverse saga of fiascoes.

It is a matter of utmost shame, embarrassment and anguish for each and every responsible citizen of India, to have to bear with this amount of open corruption. Adding to this deep anguish is the manipulative media, who change course of the volatile public opinion as required by them, in a manner guided by the culprits themselves (where are the breaking news or exclusive reports  about fresh scandals like 2G/IPL rows now!).
But, nothing can hurt more than the failing legal system, which repeatedly flops in its actions, again succumbing to the influence of power.

Living in such a bleak and grim situation, there is little hope for an individual to fight for his/her rights.

Every individual acts according to his/her relative status in the society. By which, I intend to bring out the integral interdependence between an individual’s actions and the role he/she is performing in the society.

For example, I have had to inculcate certain extra traits in myself, which were demanded of me, because I am perceived to be ‘Me’ in the world. This is not artificiality, but I call it ‘response to external stimulus’. Within my own realms of interaction with the rest of you, I am someone who is a fusion of my personal aspirations and external inspirations. When I respond to the ‘positive’ external influences, it could be attributed of me, as being responsible ( able to respond).

Now, this being the case, each of us are expected to grow with ascending positions we are being placed in the framework of the society. For, not always we are ready to be the ones, who we are expected to be. But, this isn’t the problem, the problem is when we are reluctant and do not grow even after having ascended in the social ladder.

So, let me come to the point: “People need to be more responsible in being responsive, with their ascensions in the social ladder”. As we all, well have a role to play at every level. But, by being less responsible, we could contaminate and even go on to topple the system dependent on us.

For instance, even if I were the President of India, the ideas I profess and preach must be verified to be pragmatic and sensible. For, idealism works well only in literature. While dealing with real people, real solutions to real problems is what is required. I cannot go on to build a palace out of smoke, even though it might be beautiful at that instant!

PS: Recently, in a programme organised by my employing company, former President of India Dr.APJ Abul Kalam happened to give the Chief Guest speech, stressing on the need for more innovation and inventions in India from ‘wider sections’ of people.

I was contemplating some compelling post for today, while I was walking into my room. By the time I could get life running into my laptop, it was, Phufffff and gone!

Not once or twice, and not just about a blog post idea; numerous times, I’ve had to struggle to retrieve many small things from memory. It might be common with people to forget things. But, those of you who know me closely, would also know my syndrome of forgetfulness, when it comes to names, numbers and most trivial of the details like, my keys, books and, off late helmet ! But, nothing can beat my lack of remembrance of voices ! I’ve almost never recognized a voice accurately, even when a well known person is calling from a new number.

These amnesic syndromes seem to accentuate, with the increased consciousness I put towards it. And this doesn’t seem to help me little.

The worst ramification of this syndrome, personally is, when I’m not able to recollect a word for a situation, or when I’m not able to relate to some content I would have piously professed either in my blog / while in conversation!

Although, it is said that a bad memory and a happy attitude keeps you blissful, I don’t seem to enjoy that privilege, for, I never forget certain things. Certain incidents are afresh, even after many years. I can even remember the quality of the ambiance, with the aroma in the air!

It is fun to forget things (sometimes even people:)
Hope I don’t get into some irrecoverable trouble because of this selective amnesia 😉

Ironical depiction of the pompous and hypocritical bourgeoisie lifestyle at its best, in “Le charme discret de la bourgeoisie“; what is called a surreal movie, and is a genius of a mockery at the bourgeois by Luis Buñuel. 

The simple but meticulously manifested instances throughout the movie depcit the artificiality and unnecessary etiquette superficially endorsed by the supposed elite class of the society. The characters portray the caricatures of the products of the system: People who give little value to people, but only to their possessions. 

Lots of instances in the movie remarkably tease the lives of the ones who have endorsed this hypocrisy. Like,

• The inn where they are willing to serve these people the dinner, even while waiting for the undertaker to do away with with their dead manager.
• The priest being recognized only in his attire, without giving heed to his words when dressed different.
• The ever curious gaze of the house maid, who looks 25 but is 52 years old!
• As a trait, their inculcation of adultery. 
• The evasion of the Ambassador from explaining the poor living conditions in his country.
• The priest who kills the one who has just confessed to him! 

Numerous other instances in the movie, gloriously ridicule the futility of the bourgeoisie lifestyle and the bourgeois as a whole. Of the other movies I’ve watched by Luis Buñuel, this is the one which makes a uncompromising point to the audience.


And not to forget the story-telling pattern in this 1972 flick: Dream within a dream, and dream within another. These dreams are more congruent to the natural dreams people have, conforming to Sigmund Freud’s theories, unlike the contradictions of the latest mind-flick Inception…

Impeccable is the closest word which can rightfully attribute this encore of lovely weather in Bengaluru. After a hiatus of about four years, as far as I remember, the weather in the past month and still going has been the heavenly haven Bengaluru has been famous for.

The reluctant sun seldom peeping through the ever expanding cover of gray clouds,
The cool air along with the feeble songs of birds enhancing the awesomeness in the ambiance,
The remnant greenery scattered in the city looks lush and exquisite,
Thin sheets of rain,spraying regularly, seem to rinse us in reminiscence of younger days,
Chills of the frigid breeze instigate regular armies of goosebumps, making you aware of your own warmth;

If romance is what’s on your mind, the place is right here;

With such pleasantness all around, while the senses are indulged in this delightful treat, the mind goes voyaging, gliding over the innumerable notions of its imagination seeking company and solitude…
 Savoring this season in Namma Bengaluru…

The power of print media, with it’s far reach and deep impact, in the form of press, books and newspapers needn’t be questioned at all.

Since the times of Gutenberg, print media has been a crucial tool in the making of every epochal event in the History of Mankind. It continues to play an important role till date. But, with the advent of other forms of media the “Mass appeal” of print media has unfortunately, in a substantial manner subsidized and has acquired a new trait to it.

So, whom are we attributing by the term Mass Media in today’s paparazzi prone paranoid society?

We’ll try to answer the above question in a more elaborate manner, with the routine interrogatives:  What? Why? Who?

What?

Mass media, today, collectively comprises of the innumerable means, fluently used to accomplish ‘extensive misappropriation of facts, fabrication of stories, inclusion of cheap gimmicks and not to forget the chatterbox characters’,chewing out stereotype hype for every “Breaking News”, which in most cases is plain gibberish.

The Television with it’s hundreds of News-Entertainment channels, and the Internet have, YES, as the cliché goes: Revolutionized the world!

With such drastic revolution, they put the print media’s existence under threat; And the print media faced with this option to survive, wholeheartedly has endorsed this syndrome and now is now a derivative of today’s plague-like Mass Media.

So, I converge to a definition where Print media, Television and Internet together form the vicious Mass media in today’s world, which the masses are supposed to beware of, instead, the masses have taken them to be the references for their lives.

Now, from a retrospective arrival at today’s ingredients of the Mass media, we can analyze the character of this collective entity.

Why?

We are being fed with major proportions of negativity, anxiety and futility in the form of news and entertainment from the previously described sources of Mass Media.

Why are they doing that?

Because, we seem to like it. Or maybe, they have made us start liking it.
Just like an addiction: You instigate and initiate, it will self sustain. The same is true about media,when it comes to the question as to why it feeds us little of the Good, and most of the Bad and the Ugly. Look at all the unnecessary importance given to the Breaking news, reality shows and the paparazzi updates forever on these.

Who?

If I own lots and lots of  money, and I am an influential person in the society, and if it also happens that I own a print or media channel( like it is in the case of many), I would use it as an implement to facilitate my activities: A secure carapace.

This is what 90% of the media channels are being used for today. Either a bureaucrat or a politician, running one media or print channel, uses it efficiently to strengthen or misguide the position of himself, or of some real close ‘buddies’ of theirs, at the expense of factual truth.

Lack of responsibility and ethics in information dissemination has been the vice in the voice of the today’s glossy media.

As an appropriate conclusion to this post, I recollect Dr. Kalam’s words about the role of media:

“Unless media emphasizes on the positivity in daily life, rather than accentuating negativity, and unless media becomes the voice of the rural, the poor and the downtrodden, today’s media can never be called as “Mass Media”!

Which is the most resilient and contagious parasite?
An Idea: A fully formed idea….
(From the movie Inception)

This would be my first straightforward post about any movie;leaving apart my music review posts. And,let me tell you this ain’t a review of Inception. It is only articulation of the awe I’ve been put through after watching this amusing and enigmatic cinema.

I am obsessed by the notions of mind, thoughts and ideas. If you have been a reader of my blog for sometime, you would not defer. This being the case, it was natural that the teasers of Inception drove me to watch it. And, what I, like any audience witnessed was one of the most ingenious genius mind at work.

As the movie grew deeper and deeper, I was amazed at the amount of background thought which would have gone into it. This might be true for any creative piece of work, but, when someone is unwinding, something this inexplicably unconventional with vivid imagery in front of you, the levels of awe hit the zenith. It wasn’t even the breathtaking visuals, but the concept and the interleaved ideas, that have made me go gaga about Inception.

Christopher Nolan’s pure genius at work here… Will watch it again, recommend you catch it ASAP 🙂