Zelensky-The Villain in Putin's War

 Zelensky – The Villain in Putin’s War

It’s been more than a fortnight since the weak but brave Ukraine is facing the ire of the stubborn President of Russia.

For the last two weeks, the world is watching the tearful exodus, the beautiful cities being ruined, children being orphaned, unarmed civilians rebuking the invading soldiers and amidst these disheartening scenes, a President appears and appeals to the mightier countries for aid, often in informal outfits. 

The so-called brave President has won the sympathy and favour of the world but he has chosen to pay a hefty price to buy this trivial individual praise. 

Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelensky, the popular comedian and a famous TV face had made an exemplary leap to become the supremo of his country about three years back. 

His country, the second largest in Europe, is at war with its larger neighbour since 2014. No doubt, Zelensky has been an inspirational leader right since the war began. He has invoked patriotism in his countrymen but, heroics sounds good in folklore. When you are the head of a country, every decision you take must pass through multiple rounds of deliberation, discussion, reflection and introspection as it would affect millions of your compatriots. 

Both Russia and Ukraine could have avoided this war. When Zelensky was elected, there were doubts that he is pro-Russia. Maybe the pressure of proving the speculation wrong was too much that Zelensky never tried to improve relations with Big Brother Russia and instead, urged NATO to make it a member ignoring all the past agreements. A step towards peace, and disenchantment from joining NATO while not comprising his country’s interest might have made Zelensky a bigger hero. This war will throw Ukraine half a century back. They pouring financial aid from sympathetic countries might reinstate the concrete but it would not heal the wounds on the soul and mind of Ukrainians. 

Zelensky must realise that a real war is not a TV show where everything is an eyewash. People don’t die. Cities don’t moan and mourn. In a real war, every single bullet leaves an irrecoverable wound somewhere. 

Vladimir Putin has emerged as the cruellest man alive by waging an unprovoked war on Ukraine. He is wrong. Wrong. As claimed, a full-fledged army action on a weaker neighbouring country is arrogance and tyranny. However strong you are, if violence is the only way you know you are not fit to live in this world. 

Putin is not wrong if he opposes Ukraine’s intention and interest in joining NATO. There have been arguments that whether to join an organisation or not is a country’s choice. Fair enough. Then, it is the choice of another country to oppose and prevent it if the association might threaten its sovereignty and safety.

Considering NATO’s objectives and record, Russia cannot be held wrong. If treaties and organisations create a divide amongst the communities and countries, they are worthless. Russia’s cause is no different from the cause that gave birth to NATO. If the economic and strategic powers of the west have a right to put their safety and interests before everything and anything, then the Eastern countries too must be granted discretion. 

Why this world needs military organisations like NATO?

Fact is, the ringmaster has successfully played the game. The war will not resolve the conflict between Russia and Ukraine but will leave them weaker. Trap proved successful. The neighbours have been befooled.

I see Zelensky as the bigger Villain in this war because he allowed himself to be used against Russia while desperately trying to prove the speculations of him being pro-Russia.

No, I am not Putin’s fan. He is behaving the same he is known. 

Views expressed are personal 

#war #Russia #Ukraine #RussiaUkraineWar #zelensky #putin #NATO

YOUR FEE-THEIR SALARY

 

YOUR FEE-THEIR SALARY

               

            The Fee you pay is the salary that runs their household

 

The economic impact of corona pandemic has largely been disruptive and lately, its social and non-medico repercussions have started showing up. India was witnessing a slowdown already and the virus-crisis has magnified the risks to its economy. In the last three months since Covid-19 was declared a pandemic, we have realised that it is far more than a health crisis. Economics is a phenomenon of interdependence. Effect of the pandemic on one stratum of society is bound to spell vulnerability on to the others. The ongoing standoff between parents and schools is one such consequence.

Like the medical fraternity, teachers too didn’t get their share of lockdown-leisure over which we all went gaga. In fact, they had to work even harder. Working from home is not a joke, more so when it befalls upon you suddenly. Online-teaching, from home, in particular, demands special arrangements. You have to spare one room out of two or three people generally have in cities and cut off all sorts of disturbances. You must also have a good internet connection and compatible gadgets. Online teaching is many times more taxing than physical teaching. It demands more discipline and patience on the part of the teachers. They cannot even move away from the camera and have to keep a vigil on the attendees all the time. The most challenging of all is taking and marking the tests. The task must have been more onerous for the lady teachers because normally, they and their kids go to school simultaneously. But, during the lockdown, dealing with spouse and children, neglected for hours, would have been another ordeal they had to deal with.

Their problems didn’t end here. When they asked for their salary after doing their job with sincerity and devotion, their employers showed them their bare hands. Non-receipt of fees was the excuse they laid down. Parents, the other party, complained of being too tied down. They too didn’t receive their emoluments from their employers. Many had lost their jobs. Many had to shut down their businesses. With no income to sustain, expecting such people to pay their children’s school fee is inhumane. One such parent in Chandigarh has written a letter to the Prime Minister seeking permission to sell his kidney for paying school fees. Laughable? No. It’s pathetic.

However, NO-SCHOOL-NO-FEE campaign by the parents across the country is selfishness and illogical. If a few parents offer a plea that they have no job or no earning, then, their inability, genuine or fabricated it may be, to pay the school fees might encourage more people to come up with the same excuse. The teachers are also employees, and they are paid when their employers are paid. One aspect of this issue is that the teachers also have school-going children. If they do not get their salaries, then they too, would not be able to pay the school fee of their wards.

Parents didn’t get their salaries because they didn’t or couldn’t work because of the lockdown but the teachers have been working during this period and hence, are entitled to their emoluments. They have worked hard, upgraded themselves for the cumbersome task, have spent money from their pocket on internet data. It is disheartening to hear the teachers pleading with the students to pay their fees during the online classes. We owe much more than the salary to the teachers.

You may call it digging up the buried blunders if I say that the only cause of this situation is the unthoughtful privatisation of education. The decision was like setting the timer for the doomsday which is yet to arrive. The government generously allowed privatisation of education and neglected the government schools. Just a few years after it was done, education became a profitable business which also yielded respect and recognition in premium. Today, starting a middle-level private school is as easy as opening a grocery shop.

Why the government should be blamed alone?  Aren’t we all responsible for making the private schools indispensable? Why do we not send our children to government schools? Why is it considered that government schools are only for the children whose parents can’t afford to pay the hefty fees of the private schools? Two main reasons for this situation are allowing too much liberty to the private educational institutions and overlooking of the government educational institutions. On one side we say that education is a fundamental right and on the other, we have private institutions in a country of 70 crore poor people.

The economy of private schools is an open economy and there is no bar on the fee they charge. In addition, they enjoy various subsidies, concessions on tariffs, tax exemptions and provision of getting land at concessional price. With all these benefits, private schools reap handsome profits. They overburden the employees and recruit temporary staff to cut their salary bills. Other than the tuition fee and the transport fee which are legitimate, they levy Pupil Fund, Library Fee, Science Fee, Examination Fee and constantly devise the ways to rob the parents. In addition, they charge an unreasonable amount in the name of Annual Charges and Development Fund. As if their greed was not enough, the government has blessed them with the permission of increasing fee every year. Their cry of inadequate funds due to non-payment of the fee is a cold lie and is a matter of scrutiny. Any private school with an age of ten years or more and having six hundred to eight hundred students must be able to pay its employees for three to six months without receiving any fee. It is just that they do not want to consume the money they have accumulated.

There is no detector to ascertain who is capable of paying the fee despite the economic crisis and who is not. But exempting all the parents from paying a hundred per cent fee would be unfair. It was their decision to admit their wards in a private school and in this time of adversity they cannot shrug off their financial obligation towards these school. How can they show such callous ingratitude towards the teachers whom they have always applauded and boasted of the high standards of their teaching methods?

The parents are liable to pay only the tuition fee for the whole period until the schools do not start functioning. The school administration must also consider that the parents pay the fee for the summer break, autumn break and other vacations every year without asking questions, and they are complaining this time because they are in dire financial straits like everyone. The government must step in if the schools demand other charges too. This pandemic has done the damage, and now, we all have to come together to mend as much as is possible.

Whatever solution the concerned parties arrive at, they must ensure that the teachers are not deprived of their rightful emoluments and no child is forced to leave school because of his parent’s inability to pay the fee. We, as a country, must realise that education is not only the fundamental right but it is a fundamental need. It is also an opportune time for the government to relook its excessively non-restrictive policies towards private institutions.

                       LEADERSHIP

This is not a regular blog post but, my son's views on LEADERSHIP. Recently, my son had applied for a scholarship in which he was asked to write about his views and ways of leading a team.
I am sharing the same writeup by Arnav Sharma here......

Ideally, a leader should be an influencer but that influence must not be forced upon. His followers or his sub-ordinates must choose what about him influences them.

When I lead, I try to lead by example. As a leader, I don’t try to grab the most important task but, readily assign it to someone who, I think, can do it better than anybody in the team.

For instance, when we make a documentary or a short movie, we know it is teamwork and everyone in the team has a specific role to play.  The final product will be as good as our efforts, zeal and degree of passion. Even if it is my idea and I have taken the initiative, I cannot accomplish it alone. I not only depend on their help and support but their devoted Participation.

Professional relationship is just a derivative of personal relationship. To be more productive and continuously raising the bar of performance, we need to create a congenial environment of working that includes the rapport between the professionals.

For sound professional relationship, one must understand the temperament, likes and dislikes, aptitude, attitude towards life and career, ambitions and dreams, and a little idea of the personal life of each one of my associates.

Trust and respect are indispensable for any relationship. We must appreciate and always give positive affirmations to our associates. Even when something doesn’t yield expected results, we must encourage and motivate them for future endeavours without going mad at them.

During the making of one of my short movies, my friend who was playing the lead character didn’t turn up on the shoot-site. We tried to contact him but could not. After a long wait, we had to cancel the shoot. All of us were angry. His called on my number and the first thing he said, swept away my frustration. He said, “I have called you because I know you will understand” His voice enunciated the trust, hope and faith. I couldn’t retort and chose to hear him patiently. He said, “My uncle who lives in Nagpur passed away this morning. We had to leave immediately. We are still in the way.”

You can’t always behave with your co-workers weighing their worth for your business. I believe that a diplomat may fail but a humane heart will never in any kind of relationship. 

ARE WE ON THE WAY TO ACCEPTING RAPES LIKE DOWRY-DEATHS?

ARE WE ON THE WAY TO ACCEPTING RAPES LIKE DOWRY-DEATHS?



After the Nirbhaya case on 16 December 2012, we have developed this habit of ranting on social media, holding noisy protests, organising candle marches and hearing our God-like celebrities expressing rage (a few tweets from the greater mortals are the testimonials that the incident was horrendous). Every time the news anchors report the incident, they pretend to be sombre and choose the best words from their vocabulary.
“The moral root of this nation has shaken once more” can attract more ears in comparison to “Another woman raped” which is as plain as a nose on someone’s face. Though this show of concern, mixed with anger starts with great determination and energy but it dies of natural death in a few days without achieving anything. The news of incidents of rapes with greater cruelty and fearlessness keep coming. The culprits of Nirbhaya case are still making merry at Tihar jail while taking a cue from them,  the potential rapists outside the jail have no fear of law. We, now, are a country where more than a hundred thousand rapes happen every year. The Hyderabad rape case is another slap on our shameless faces.
Have we grown habitual of rapes?
We are approaching a stage of acceptance of sexual crimes as we have accepted the dowry-deaths and honour-killing. We, Indians, are losers. We surrender easily. We cannot turn tides-we have never done that. Even in sports, we are infamous for losing from a winning position and not the vice-versa. I hear great-minds-with-meagre-education saying that these rape-cases are the consequences of women empowerment or the short dresses or the women keeping out till late. By saying this they confess that men of this country are beasts who on seeing a helpless woman lose their sanity. They completely ignore the fact that these sick perverts see even the infant-girls as opportunities.
The other day, I was discussing this issue with my young students. I asked how do you think we can stop rapes? “Girls should not be out after six,” one of the boys responded. “If a violent dog has biting-tendency, would you chain the dog or the people around?” I retorted. When he didn’t react, I asked again, “Won’t it work better if we don’t allow men to go out after six?” He smiled and nodded. A girl said that all girls should get self-defence training though she agreed that this too has limitations. However powerful and bold a girl maybe, she can’t overpower four or five men alone. “Girls should not tolerate slightest of nuisance and raise alarm at the very first inkling of someone misbehaving,” another boy came up. Finding a boy hesitant, I threw up a blunt question, “Do you think you can rape a girl?”
His response surprised everyone. “No, sir. It needs courage.” I knew he couldn’t choose the right words. “You mean to say every courageous man should rape? And, would you commit rape if you happen to grow courageous sometimes?” He shook his head voraciously, “My parents will kill me if I ever do such things.” That fear made me feel good. Every parent can instil that fear, if not values, in their sons when he is still young. They can tell their sons that they would not only disown them but would not spare them even if they manage to escape the law. We need to start from the beginning to teach them not to rape when we teach them not to lie, not to steal and not to quarrel.
I think it would be a good idea if teachers talk to their students especially boys starting with middle classes (just when puberty has hit or about to hit) asking their views on rapes. This can serve the dual purpose of sex education and making them understand the difference between ‘Sex with Integrity’ and ‘Sex with criminality’ elaborating the consequences at the same time.
We must think of the ways to make all men understand that rape cannot bring the pleasure they intend to seek like in sports, you will not enjoy if your opponent doesn’t play with the same zeal and spirit as yours. Sex is not the game that can be played and enjoyed without or against the consent of your partner. It is high time that we thrust into the minds of all men that they do not have a birthright to do sex whenever and with whomever they want. Sex is not a privilege and they need to earn it every time. There is no licence for sex other than the consent of their partner. We need more advertisements shouting and warning people against sexual assaults.
Women too, need to be cautious and vigilant. We can’t deny that they have a right to lead their lives in whatever way they want but taking small precautions can save them from the irrecoverable trauma called rape. While roaming in a forest, it is insane to take a beast for granted. They should not trust anyone when it comes to their body. I personally, have no issues with Public Display of Affection other than that it makes the two people involved vulnerable and also put others to risk. Rapists are psychologically ill and, in most cases, they are from a humble background. The tendency to rape is also a privilege-deficiency disorder. These already depressed people feel jealous when they see other men enjoying the proximity of women. They snatch what they can’t get.
I refuse to agree that rapists are sex-deprived or sex-obsessed people. They are sick with an untreatable mental disorder resulted from faulty upbringing. Rapists can’t be reformed. I have researched and found that they are repeat offenders. So, imprisonment is a waste of time and resources. It is like nurturing a threat on a false assumption of keeping it under scrutiny. Such notions soon make us repent when the offender commits another crime as soon as he gets an opportunity. To prevent rapes, we need the most stringent of laws.

NATIONAL WAR MEMORIAL- A SHRINE FOR ALL OF US

                              

NATIONAL WAR MEMORIAL- A SHRINE

“The National War Memorial has been built to commemorate the sacrifice of soldiers who died for the country” -NDTV

BUT, CAN WE REALLY COMMEMORATE A SACRIFICE? CAN WE?

My daughter has appeared for her tenth class exams this year. She was working hard for last three months and when her exams were over on 29^th of March, she urged for an outing. I was curious to visit the National War Memorial myself since the Prime Minister had inaugurated the War Museum.

We did some shopping at Chandni Chowk and had tired ourselves. However, we didn’t bow to our exhausted bodies. I deliberately drove as slow as Delhi traffic could allow so that we could relax and revive in the air-conditioned ambience of our car. We reached the India Gate at 2:45 and after walking about 300 meters reached the entrance of the monument which I think, is the greatest tribute by the government to its armed forces since the independence.

As we reached the canopy after crossing the India Gate, we saw a square 'PARAM YODHA STHAL'. We decided to see it later as we're curious to visit the main structure.

The War memorial has been designed and conceptualised by WeBe Design Lab, Chennai. And, they have done a remarkable job indeed. This would remain the most prestigious and satisfying of all the assignments they would accomplish. They deserve a salute.

As we saw the three words ‘NATIONAL WAR MEMORIAL’ engraved in bold letters on the not-too-high Kota stone wall, a chill ran across our spines though we were sweating profusely.

Spread in 40 acres, National War Memorial draws inspiration from the 'Chakravyuh' formation.  The main structure is in the form of four chakras (concentric circles), which signify the different values of the armed forces. The four chakras have been christened as

1.            The Amar Chakra (Circle of Mortality) comprising of the stone obelisk and the eternal flame.

2.            The Veerta Chakra (Circle of Bravery) is about the six battles our armed forces fought and has been depicted in bronze.

3.            The Tyag Chakra (Circle of Sacrifice) holds the names of battle causalities.

4.            The Rakshak Chakra (Circle of Protection) is the outermost tier comprising of 695 trees symbolising the guarding soldiers.

I will not use the word Martyr because an Army officer friend educated me that a soldier is always a warrior and never a martyr.

The split walled-segments of the spiral contain the names of warriors (10 names in each column) on rectangular brown tablets with golden ink. Saunter across the sixteen walls slowly and read as many as possible out of 25,942 names that you and I might have never heard of but we do owe gratitude to. Read the rank, the service number, the name and imagine the tricolour clad soul of a smiling soldier who obliged death and died to make his life invaluable. Curse yourself if you do not hear him say, “I sacrificed my life for you. Did you deserve it?”

                           

The thoughtful positioning of a smart board where one can search the name of the warrior if he wants to, impressed me. A gentleman tried searching his name. I didn't want to mock his ignorance but did speak to myself, "On this board, no one can search his own name. Dude, only others can search you here."

As we walk down the innermost arena, we reach the nearest to the 15.5-metre-high obelisk at the centre that has an eternal flame at its bottom and four around it. A soldier stands facing it. Watch him for a few minutes and you would know of the metal that makes a soldier. 

                           

The circular coliseum has a roofed path all along its circumference. Another soldier has to stand to prevent the selfie-seeking people from reaching the obelisk- An unnecessary exertion because we Indians are more passionate about self-approbation than our soldiers are for the motherland. Six bronze murals made by the noted sculpture Ram Sutar embellish the walls of coliseum. As we completed the round and reached the pulchritudinous Gurkha soldiers, comparatively shorter and with tilted hats, at the exit of the Circle of Bravery, I stopped, shook hands with them and said, “We’re proud of you.” They reciprocated with the true spirit of soldiers while I felt their palms were made of steel. Seeing my emotional act some passers-by smiled sarcastically and, in all likelihood, might have labelled me as a hypocrite.

                             

 

After walking out of the Veerta Chakra, we found an empty bench and decided to take a short break in order to calm down our complaining limbs. The time-off, however, was not short of action. A group of fifteen, an elderly women, gentlemen, gentlewomen and children had immediately appeared in a quest to entertain us. They shrieked, squeaked, yelled, sang and slanged each other while clicking pictures in hilarious poses. Then, they sat on the tiled margins of the flower beds. A soldier walked up and politely told them not to sit on the flower bed walls. A noble-lady among them protested saying ‘Banaya hi kyun hai agar baith nahin sakte to’ (Why have those been made if we can’t sit on them). She was an aware citizen of a democratic state. The soldier stood quietly, smiling. They do, even before the stone-pelters in Kashmir.

PARAM YODHA STHAL lies adjacent to the main memorial. It is a befitting tribute to the valour of the twenty-one PARAMVIR CHAKRA Awardees. The bronze busts dedicated to the twenty-one bravest men along with the plaques citing the stories of their bravery in both Hindi and English, amidst the lush green lawns and paved pathways is a stunning place. When I walked into the gallantry gallery, the lights had been switched on and made the premises even more beautiful. Heroism has its own aura but the PARAM YODHA STHAL emanates heroism that inspires you to emulate. The mesmerising stories of these extraordinary soldiers reiterate that guns and ammunition are mere toys and their glory lies in the hands which hold them.

                                        

The place has been lavishly adorned with beautiful flowers, fountains and meticulously installed lights for appeasement of the eyes. You would always come across people who walk into the War Memorial with ignorance or ingratitude that incapacitate them to understand the purpose and sentiments behind this sacred monument. No, it’s not the patriot or nationalist in me but, if soldiers have to stand to check our conduct at a monument constructed to pay homage to our soldiers; I am compelled to write so. Please don’t go there to trouble them. Spare them at this place.

 For some of us, ‘The War Memorial’ is a picnic spot.

The departure from India Gate brought me yet another joy. We stopped to buy roasted corn. A teenage girl and an adolescent boy were assisting the middle-age hawker. When I was about to walk ahead after paying them and requesting for another coat of lemon and salt, the boy said, “Aap kya sena ya police mein hain, sir.”

(Sir, are you from army or police?)

Before replying him, I looked at my wife and kids, smiling smugly. They were as amused as I was.

“Nhin bhai. Kash aisa hota. Lekin aapne aisa bolkar dil khush kar diya” I patted his back and walked off with inflated chest.

(I wish I was. But, brother, saying so, you’ve made my day)

We returned home humbled yet happy and contended. I urge everyone to visit NATIONAL WAR MEMORIAL with your family. I promise you won’t regret. And guys, there is no ticket.

                                                  

#NationalWarMemorial #ArmedForces #War #Soldiers #IndianArmy #IndianAirForce #IndianNavy #IndiaGate #Delhi #Tourists  

WAR IS AN EXPENSIVE BARGAIN TO ELIMINATE A CHEAP ENEMY

WAR IS AN EXPENSIVE BARGAIN TO ELIMINATE A CHEAP ENEMY

Last fifteen days were like an action movie on a patriotic theme. So much happened from 14 Feb, the unfortunate day when an insane terror group carried out the barbaric suicidal attack on CRPF Jawans until the eagerly awaited 1 Mar when an Indian Air Force pilot in the captivity of Pakistan will be released. Like every Indian, I too, am anxiously waiting for the moment when Wing Commander Abhinandan will walk across the Wagah Border. 

Right after the Pulwama attack, the humanity seemed to have divided into two segments: The Warmongers and the We-Are-Against-The-War brigade. 

The last fortnight has seen so much of action in form of incidental jingoism and spirited opinions: Instinctive, reflexive, borrowed, mature and immature,

Political and apolitical, Religious and non-religious.

The modernised fourth pillar of democracy, the Media has been the worst contributor in aggravating the situation. 

The herd of menopausal, retired and now unemployed defence personnel, giving useless analysis on television and throwing out the secrets of armed forces like alms to all and sundry just to brag. The residual spirit of soldier in these so-called defence experts does not mind being ridiculed and insulted when they are interrupted by the rude anchors. Often, they are so pumped up that one grows curious to have a glimpse of their service record and what significant they had done when they donned the uniform. 

India's plight is terrorism sponsored by Pakistan. However, our belligerent neighbour always remains in constant denial of it. I am not against war if it is the only possible way to demolish the infrastructure of terrorism in Pakistan but the fact is, we already have had fought four. Did the things change? 

Over the time, our economy, our army, and our stature as a country have grown to an enviable height for our neighbours. We are strong enough to eradicate the roots of terrorism without a war. If we are a country with 70% literacy rate, we must reflect it. We are not like the nations which enter into war with just any country that refuses them favours. We have earned that reputation of being humble despite being powerful. 

Pakistan is near doom surmounting debt and almost no foreign reserves. A country with 80% population below poverty line and a terrible literacy rate resorting to unfair means is digging their own grave.  

A country is an abstract noun defined by geography and demography and is given life by the people inhabit therein. Pakistan as a country hates India as a country and vice-versa and the onus of this hatred lies on the script writers of the division to create Pakistan. Neither can we change history nor we can reverse the division. If you don't believe me check the social media where people from both sides spit venom forgetting that on these social platforms, they are not individuals but, they represent their country.

The locals who caught the Indian Air Force Wing Commander exhibited the same hatred by beating him and by shooting on his leg. Wing Commander's batmen might be better of those rustic Pakistani villagers. Also, the same villagers lynched their own pilot who later succumbed to the injuries caused by them. Hatred couldn’t identify their own warrior. That's what illiteracy and religious fanaticism can do. As is the current state of the two countries, those locals represent Pakistan and the Wing Commander represents India. 

I heard someone saying that we should thank them for not killing our pilot and only injured him.

Yes indeed. But, their intention behind keeping him alive was to torture him brutally to satisfy their hatred.

Terrorism is an idea, a doctrine, a disease which cannot be killed by escalation even if you intend to wipe off the entire population.

Khalistani terrorism in Punjab and LTTE of Sri Lanka are the two examples that have been eliminated by sheer determination. We should immediately change our policy of appeasement and partiality towards Kashmir. The controversial article 370 and article 35 A must have been abolished soon after the exodus of Kahmiri Pundits who were in majority in Kashmir. We need to act sternly against JkLF as we are determined to act against the terror groups on the other side of LOC. The support of our own people is a must more than anything. 

We are doing fine and let us not mar the wheel of progress by indulging into a war. War should never be the first option and for a powerful country, it ought not to be the only way out. That’s what being powerful should mean. The surgical strike in 2016  and the recently executed air strike corroborates that we can eliminate terrorists without harming the civil establishments.

·       The views expressed are personal.

Ten Immortal Hindi Film Songs Featured on a Piano

TEN IMMORTAL HINDI FILM SONGS FEATURED ON A PIANO 

 Songs and Music are the soul of Hindi cinema. Many people go to watch films just because of their songs. Thanks to the  fondness for  songs and music in Hindi films, the lyricist,  the music director and the choreographer are the integral parts of a film. 

Some of the classic movies were made in the golden era of Hindi cinema. Every thing about these movies was mesmerising and all songs in these movies played a pivotal role in their success. 

It seems,  picturising songs on Piano was a rage in that period. Piano is the king of all musical instruments. It is so majestic  that it adds to the grandeur of the room  it is placed in and gives a different aura and dynamics to the person sitting on it. Elegant and classy, Piano has the widest range among the musical instruments. Hindi cinema should feel proud for filming some of its most popular and immortal songs with the actor playing a piano.

1.  "Chalo ek baar phir se ajnabi ban jayen hum dono..."

GUMRAAH (1963)

Lyrics by Sahir Ludhiyanavi, Composed by Ravi, sung by Mahendra Kapoor and featured on Sunil Dutt. This is one song I have heard more number of times than the days I have lived for, sometimes ten to fifteen times on the trot. It seems, the great Sahir sahib has poured out his heart and the silky voice of Mahendra Kapoor and Ravi's music have well complimented. My all time favourite.

तआर्रुफ़ रोग हो जाये तो उसको भूलना बेहतर ..

ताल्लुक़ बोझ बन जाये तो उसको तोड़ना अच्छा ...

वो अफसाना जिसे अंजाम तक लाना ना हो मुमकिन,

उसे एक खूबसूरत मोड़ देकर छोड़ना अच्छा...

Beautiful lines...

         2. "Dost dost na rahaa, pyaar pyaar na rahaa..."

                                         SANGAM (1964)

Shailendra's lyrics, Mukesh's voice, Shankar-Jaikishan's music and enacted by the maestro Raj Kapoor.
See the pain in his eyes, truly posing a betrayed lover and friend. The guilt in the eyes of Rajendra Kumar and Vyjantimala. Nobody seems to be acting in this song. Magnificent.





गले लगीं सहम सहम, भरे गले से बोलतीं 
वो तुम न थीं तो कौन था...तुम ही तो थीं...
सफर के वक़्त में, पलक पे मोतियों को तोलतीं

वो तुम न थीं तो कौन था, तुम ही तो थीं....

        


         3. "Pyaar deewaana hota hai...mastaana hota hai..."

                                        KATI PATANG (1970)

Anand Bakshi's metaphorical lyrics, R.D. Burman's composition, voiced by Kishore Kumar and featured on the unforgettable Rajesh Khanna, every person in love must have hummed or listened to this heart-touching song. Khanna's trademark winks and jerk of neck as he plays the piano looks real but, the lyrics steal the show. 


सुनो किसी शायर ने ये कहा बहुत खूब,
मना करे दुनिया लेकिन मेरे मेहबूब,
वो छलक जाता है जो पैमाना होता है,

हर ख़ुशी से हर गम से बेगाना होता है....

              4. "Tera jaana dil ke armaano ka lut jaana...."

                                         ANARI (1959)

Again, Shailendra's lyrics, Shakar-Jaikishan's music, Lata Mangeshkar's magical voice and Nutan shouldering the responsibility to bring it to life... Every word hits you hard. Breathtaking beauty of Nutan mesmerises you and the Lata Mangeshkar's melody touches you deep. Lovely song to listen to...Lovely song to watch too.



तेरा गम तेरी ख़ुशी
मेरा गम मेरी ख़ुशी 
तुमसे ही थी ज़िन्दगी 
हँस कर हमने  था कहा
जीवन भर का साथ है,
ये कल ही की बात है...

                5. "Koi sone ke dil wala, koi chanwaladi ke dil ..."

                                                       MAYA (1961)

Lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri, composed by Salil Chaudhary, sung by the unmatched Mohammad Rafi and picturised on the ace macho man of Bollywood, The Dev Anand... Brilliant song from a brilliant movie.



क्या जानिये कहाँ से आती है कानों में सदा

है दीवाने, गम तेरा सब से जुदा

             6. "Dheere dheere machal, ae dil-e-beqaraar..."

                                                         ANUPAMA (1966)


Kaifi Azmi's unparalleled poetry, Hemant Kumar's music and Lata Mangeshkar's voice... Despite that the song is not filmed on the lead character, it has become immortal...


उसके दामन की खुशबु हवाओं में है...

उसके क़दमों की आहट फिज़ाओं में है... 

Salute to both of you.. Kaifi sahib and Hemant da...

                      6. "kisi patthar ki moorat se...."

                                           HUMRAAZ (1967)

This pair of Sunil Dutt and Mahendra Kapoor was magical..
Sahir sahib's lyrics and Ravi's music only magnifies it....

हर इक बेजां तकल्लुफ से बगावत का इरादा है...

Sahir Ludhiyanvi was so gifted...

               7. "Jeewan ke din chotey sahi..."

                                                      BADE DILWALA (1983)

I fell for this song hearing the starting piano beats...


Penned by the great Majrooh Sultanopuri, sung by Kishore Kumar, composed by  R.D. Burman...

This is truly an inspiring song and the effortless act of Rishi Kapoor..see that swag, the pain, the pretension and the hesitation of an impostor  ...well, you'll understand it if you've seen the movie.

ये ज़िंदगी दर्द भी है, ये ज़िंदगी है दवा भी
दिल तोड़ना ही न जाना, जाने ये दिल जोड़ना भी
इस ज़िंदगी का शुक्रिया, सदके मैं ऊपर वाले

                            8. "Ye kaun aaya roshan ho gayi..."

                                                SAATHI (1968)

   Majrooh sahib's lyrics, Lata Mangeshkar's voice, Music by Naushad...

   The words will sweeten your ears, music will pacify your soul and the voice will soothe your heart.
What a beautiful song!

See the poetry in these lines...

आहट पे हल्की हल्की , छाती धड़के पायल की...
 हर गोरी से नाम उसका ये लहरें पूछें आँचल की... 
चुपके चुपके राधा कोई पूछे अपने श्याम से...

take a bow, Majrooh Sahib...

                   

                 9. "Aaj ki raat mere dil ki salaami le le..."

                                         RAM AUR SHYAM (1967)

My father was a big fan of Mohammad Rafi. He used to say that the biggest quality of Rafi was that he tried to match his voice with the actor. Isn't it true? 
See how Dilip Kumar enacts this song on Piano.
Lyrics by Shakeel Badayuni and composed by Naushad, this is an epic song from an epic movie.


मैंने चाहा कि बता दूँ मैं हकीकत अपनी... तूने लेकिन न मेरा राज़-इ-मोहब्बत समझा मेरी उलझन मेरे हालात यहाँ तक पहुँचे तेरी आँखों ने मेरे प्यार को नफरत समझा अपनी तेरी राह से बेगाना चला जायेगा....

Just wonderful!

    

                         
                       10. "Chehre pe khushi cha jaati hai..."

                                                 WAQT (1965)

   Penned by Sahi Ludhiyanvi, composed by Ravi Shankar, Sung by Asha Bhonsle and picturised on the quintessential beauty Sadhna. A happy moment song. Unforgettable.


जब तुम मुझे अपना कहते हो,

अपने पे गरूर आ जाता है...

It was difficult to pick just ten songs. Being a poet by heart, I've picked these on the basis of poetry and meaningfulness. 



#Bollywood #HindiCinema #Piano #Music #HindiSongs #GoldenEra

SARAHAH... An Extravagant Indulgence

                                                

                                           SARAHAH...


                                                  An Extravagant Indulgence

 


So, Sarahah is the latest buzz on the internet. It's just another messaging app but with a conspicuous and curious difference. Sarahah enables a person known to you to convey his opinion of you without disclosing his identity. They may praise you or pick you apart.

Sounds interesting.

Sarahah means 'honesty'.

Now, anybody can be honest with a liberty of being anonymous. The sender enjoys the privilege and receiver staggers into dilemma.
Our brain is biased towards praise. We, humans, have the tendency to embrace the nameless and faceless praise but do we value an unacknowledged criticism which otherwise too (when it has a face) is often difficult to swallow.
 We appreciate anonymity  if it is benevolent. In that case too, the burden of gratitude keeps the more humane mortals anxious to discover the identity of the angel. I doubt if there are many takers of Malevolent anonymity.
We are seeing numerous Sarahah messages that people share on Facebook, twitter and Instagram. All sorts of rants- the  sugarcoated compliments, the wrinkled reprobation kept under the watch for some time, the shy confessions suddenly been stripped, amorous inclinations have found words. 

Nothing wrong actually.

Nothing wrong if you read the scripture in the Sarahah-square and let it go. But, is it that simple. Appeasing or disturbing, these short texts would keep hovering on the edge of our consciousness and give our brains a needless occupation. However hard we may try to discard and forget it, we would scrutinize the list of our acquaintances and keep guessing. Is it really worth our time?
So, Sarahah is going to be a strong reason for someone smiling to himself or in an unusually bad mood.
Sarahah will definitely go down well with people who are emotionally sound. However, it will be devastating for sensitive people.
Sarahah will make narcissists blush more. Certainly. But, think twice if you have a fragile heart.

UPBRINGING- ROLE OF PARENTS

       UPBRINGING- ROLE OF PARENTS


Raising children is an art. It's an experiment in which success is imperative. No child is born bad or good. They are like a formless lump of clay and upbringing gives them shape.

As parents we want our children to grow into successful people, rich and reach a level higher than what we managed to touch. Nothing wrong in that but, often, we take away their childhood from them and burden their minds with our experiences, our definition, and inferences of life, our methods to grab success and our notions of society. We want them to borrow our shoes and follow our trails. The world we live in deem success and affluence as synonyms. Wanting our children to grow successful we create a sanctum for money in their unripe minds.

Of course, the reason is that we care for them and love them but, the love and care get adulterated by our fear. We don't want them to suffer and struggle. We don't want them to commit mistakes. We don't want them to stumble or fall and end up making them weak. We doubt whether they can get up after falling down, whether they have the mental strength to cope up with failures. We aspire that our children must succeed in the first attempt because neither we can afford nor life will give them the second chance. We forget that pressure turns coal into a diamond.

It's good that we want to give them everything but the worse is, we want them to be satisfied with what we put in their platter, often without caring to know their wants, likes, and dislikes.
The reason, I think is our own insecurity. We don't want life to repeat to them what it did to us and here, by doing this we present life as a problem and enslave them to acknowledge and accept our uncalled for and unwarranted help to solve that problem. We spoil the fun that solving a riddle gives and living a mystery brings. We make our children handicap. More inconveniences we have had in our lives, the more cautious we are in bringing up our kids. I am not talking about pampering and making the child like a hand-reared lamb. It's his right and our duty as parents. We ought to love our creations.

Many times, I read that we should teach our children to be happy.  I wonder, what if the child finds happiness in troubling, beating or killing others.
I say we should tell our children that the most important thing is that they are kind. And, this telling must be indirect. Showing it to them lest we shall sound as preachers. We can be kind ourselves and indulge in the acts of kindness and be a model for them.

I am a mathematics teacher for twenty-four years now. My son wanted to drop maths and take Computer science in lieu of it. Though reluctant, I didn't make a fuss about it and allowed him to go ahead with his own choice. He is happy and pursuing Mass communication now.

Instead of deciding what they should do, we should make them confident of choosing what they want and be determined to carry out everything they take up.
We should appreciate their efforts and not the performance.

Most of the parents become the support for their babies and treat them as 'babies'  until late. They claim that it is their love. I, as a father, is no exception. However, I feel parents should act as a guide showing both sides of the coin and let the child decide which way he wants to tread along.

My mother used to keep some money in the God's altar. I, a five-year kid, once stole five rupees from the God's kitty. When my mother inquired, I expressed my ignorance. She found the coins in the pocket of my knickers.
My father came as a guest teacher in the primary school I went to on his off days. Next time, he purposely came to my class. While teaching Subtraction he asked a question which went like this, 'Mother kept eleven rupees in the God's altar. Gaurav stole five rupees. How much money was left with the God?'
All my mates looked at me. I was in tears. I thought my father was a cruel man. Still, I don't know if he was right in doing so but, I never stole after that.

Encourage the children to play sports. One parameter of good upbringing is how a person behaves after winning or losing. This defines his conduct in dealing with people more successful and less successful than him. Where others stand in life must not make us feel superior or inferior.

At the basic level, parents should only watch the behaviour of their children.
Gratitude is the best attitude. Children must practice to be gratuitous towards everything and everyone.
Studies show that people who are in the habit of expressing gratitude are more helpful, generous, compassionate, and forgiving—and they’re also happier and healthier.

We must expand their circle of concern. A person's concern for his family and friends is no big deal. Challenge is to make them think about the people outside the circle. That includes the concern for the community - the neighbours, the hawkers, the shopkeepers, the house helpers and everybody they come across. This challenge can easily be achieved by teaching them to build relationships and value the relationships they build.

Again, preaching will not do. Parents themselves, must be role models for their children. Children watch how their parents deal with the relatives, neighbours and friends. Be generous and tolerant with relatives. Be polite and helpful to neighbours. Visit and invite your friends often. When the children will know that you are still connected with your school friends, that will certainly inspire them.

Don't protect your child like a shield, walk behind him like a shadow.
Never appreciate them when they tell you about the vices of their friends, classmates, teachers or anybody. Instead, ask them what virtues does he see in that person. In all likelihood, he would deny any. Don't give up and ask him to find out. Follow up. Tell him that you would like to meet those people.

I was about ten and went out to play cricket with other boys. Once a month, my father would call some of the boys and talk to them. He would ask how they were doing in their studies. What did their fathers do? Where did they live?  Did they abuse? I thought the practice was weird as the boys teased me.

As parents, we should not shy away from pointing out the mistakes of our kids, behavioural or otherwise. If not us, someone else will and if the child is not in a habit of hearing bad things, he is going to suffer and this would leave him miserable later or sooner. I have seen people blindly favouring their kids. This is the biggest blunder people do. We should inculcate the habit of accepting follies in our children. They are bound to make mistakes in life and the world would not be on their side every time. Staring down their shortcomings can put them on the path to lasting happiness else they will suffer in one way or another. 
If he is right, stand with him come what may. If not, scold him and make him realize. 

One of the nicest things I have read about parenting is from Hrithik Roshan. He says in an interview that he loves his sons, not because he is their father but because he likes the persons that they are and he wants them to love the person that he is and not only because he is their father.
How true!

We all, as parents, must try to become the people whom our children can like. 

I as a father would like my children to grow up into fearless, cheerful, compassionate, kind and never-feel-insecure individuals and I am glad my upbringing is going in the right direction so far.