“Storm the Banks”, “Hang the Bankers”, “Claim the city back”… I hear these slogans being shouted while on my way to work. As a banker who works in the city (London), I had a potential threat to my life for the past two days – a threat of not just booed while walking down the streets, but a threat of a violent attack by the angry mob.
The world has not seen anything positive in the recent past. People have lost jobs, companies have fallen like deck of cards, poor have become poorer and rich have lost their wealth, the backbone of any financial system – the banks have collapsed, Governments are busy in bail-outs as a result increasing inflation and deteriorating the value of their currency. The economy which was thriving on a bubble suddenly decided to burst. We wonder why it happened and when it would end.
As a student who transitioned into an employee in this critical phase with lots of other class fellows, the diving economy has hit me hard. I felt the heat of the downturn as a job-seeker and I continue to feel the heat as an employee thriving to retain it. In the past six months, I have seen some very bright international students go back to their home countries after giving up the fight to secure themselves a job in the city. They could have been assets to this economy, but in the long run I must say. I can understand that, in the short run, this government has to create jobs for its own people, has to ensure that it can provide jobs to the 2 millions rendered jobless as a result of this crisis.
The G-20 Summit held in London on 1st and 2nd April was a platform for thousands like me to show their anguish to people who can make a difference by their collective effort. The 20 biggest economies of the world came down to a negotiating table, keeping aside their personal animosity, to discuss a collective plan which can help save the system from any further damage. The idea was clear - we all are in a mess so let’s all dirty our hands and clean it up.
How successful the summit has been, only time will tell. But yes, I can confidently say that it is a significant step in the right direction. We need more such collaborative action plans. We have globalised ourselves so much that no more is a problem at one corner of the world not going to have some impact on other parts. For example, since decades India has been crying to have a collaborative action on terrorism but nobody paid any heed until they themselves faced it. Now the world is united in its effort to curb terrorism.
We need such combined action plans for every other problem we see in any other country which could have even slightest of impact globally. The poverty in Africa should be a matter of concern to the entire world, coz if we can address it then we only end up increasing markets for our goods, we end up boosting our own economy. I am in favour of having a motive even in social work. At least it gives some people some reason to do some good to the society.
Friday, April 03, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Introducing Beatboxing
I render my apologies for being away for so long without any communication. I had actually not planned that I will not write. It's just that sometimes you don’t do much in life which is worth writing. But surely this weekend I experienced something which is as much worth writing as it is worth knowing. Here I introduce beatboxing to the uninitiated.
As defined by the World Beatboxing Community, beatboxing is the art of producing drum beats, rhythm, and musical sounds using one's mouth, lips, tongue, voice, nasal passage and throat. As per me, I think it is the coolest form of music one can hear. Without using any musical instruments a beatboxer creates different musical sounds. Enthralling - isn’t it?
The concert that I saw at Queen Elizabeth Hall of Southbank Centre, London was called “Music Through Unconventional Means”. The world-renowned beatboxer Shlomo collaborated with Gauri Sharma Tripathi, an exponent in Indian classical dance form of Kathak. Having learnt Kathak as a kid, I always wondered if the way I was taught Kathak is the only way Kathak can be. But seeing this performance of Gauri Sharma changed my opinion. She concentrated on sounds more than bols (or words); she concentrated more on the rhythms in the movements than choreography. I realised one can experiment with everything as long as one is honest in the experimentation.
I quite liked the idea of merging beatboxing with Kathak. Both forms of producing music are based on rhythms.
The collaboration did not end here. Shlomo brought on-stage an acclaimed British Tamil musician Susheela Raman. Even though she sang in Tamil, of which I understood not a single word, but who needs words when the whole ambience is taken over by the might of music. The sounds were reaching the ears with emotions that meant so much; one was free to interpret it the way one wanted. Music is a language in its own right.
I experienced enchanting music full of creative imagination. Attending such concerts gives an opportunity to listen to very good music, to experience the magic created due to synergies of different music forms, to appreciate the extent of man’s creative imagination and to wonder about the capabilities of human faculties.
As defined by the World Beatboxing Community, beatboxing is the art of producing drum beats, rhythm, and musical sounds using one's mouth, lips, tongue, voice, nasal passage and throat. As per me, I think it is the coolest form of music one can hear. Without using any musical instruments a beatboxer creates different musical sounds. Enthralling - isn’t it?
The concert that I saw at Queen Elizabeth Hall of Southbank Centre, London was called “Music Through Unconventional Means”. The world-renowned beatboxer Shlomo collaborated with Gauri Sharma Tripathi, an exponent in Indian classical dance form of Kathak. Having learnt Kathak as a kid, I always wondered if the way I was taught Kathak is the only way Kathak can be. But seeing this performance of Gauri Sharma changed my opinion. She concentrated on sounds more than bols (or words); she concentrated more on the rhythms in the movements than choreography. I realised one can experiment with everything as long as one is honest in the experimentation.
I quite liked the idea of merging beatboxing with Kathak. Both forms of producing music are based on rhythms.
The collaboration did not end here. Shlomo brought on-stage an acclaimed British Tamil musician Susheela Raman. Even though she sang in Tamil, of which I understood not a single word, but who needs words when the whole ambience is taken over by the might of music. The sounds were reaching the ears with emotions that meant so much; one was free to interpret it the way one wanted. Music is a language in its own right.
I experienced enchanting music full of creative imagination. Attending such concerts gives an opportunity to listen to very good music, to experience the magic created due to synergies of different music forms, to appreciate the extent of man’s creative imagination and to wonder about the capabilities of human faculties.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
I am a woman
Let me raise my head with pride,
For I have worked hard to reach here –
Let me walk straight and unveiled,
For I have lots to show and share.
Why should I be mocked at?
For my lips are coloured –
Why should I be taken lightly?
For my skirt is flared.
I can do all the work that you do,
But I can do much more –
Should you not be embarrassed?
For being such a reckless bore.
I am a creation of a woman I admire,
You too had to be created,
What then is the attitude for?
When you too had to be initiated!!
P.S Dedicated to a woman I know...
For I have worked hard to reach here –
Let me walk straight and unveiled,
For I have lots to show and share.
Why should I be mocked at?
For my lips are coloured –
Why should I be taken lightly?
For my skirt is flared.
I can do all the work that you do,
But I can do much more –
Should you not be embarrassed?
For being such a reckless bore.
I am a creation of a woman I admire,
You too had to be created,
What then is the attitude for?
When you too had to be initiated!!
P.S Dedicated to a woman I know...
Thursday, March 05, 2009
Emergency service exercise
I was watching BBC the other day and found out about the concept of emergency service exercise. The report talked about a simulation of a hypothetical scenario in which multiple locations in the United Kingdom face a terrorist attack. The exercise was to develop and practice ways and processes to be used to come out of such a situation. The report said that it took 2 days for the officials to simulate such a scenario and now it would take another 24 hours for the on-field officials to finish off the operation successfully.
The report left me a little bewildered and happy at the same. Bewildered to imagine that a simulated act can in anyway match the gravity of a real occurrence and happy to see that atleast we are not sitting hand in hand doing nothing in order to prepare ourselves for such a dastardly act.
Recently the terrorists attacks in Pakistan on the Sri Lankan Cricket team deserves the worst of condemnation. Having grown up watching Sri Lankan cricketers like Sanath Jayasuriya and Chaminda Vaas, I felt very sorry to hear the news. I fail to understand what is the message that these terrorists are trying to convey? I fail to understand how can youngsters like me (most of whom are intelligent, smart and opinionated) get disoriented and lost by people who clearly are spreading violence, panic, terror, anxiety and distrust all in the name of God?
The ongoing economic turmoil should be enough for us to understand that we have already created a lot of mess around in the world, let's now start the process of resurrection. Let's get together to remove the insecurity we have created in our lives - insecurity of whether I will have a job tomorrow, whether I will be able to pay for my house tomorrow, whether I will have my life tomorrow!
The report left me a little bewildered and happy at the same. Bewildered to imagine that a simulated act can in anyway match the gravity of a real occurrence and happy to see that atleast we are not sitting hand in hand doing nothing in order to prepare ourselves for such a dastardly act.
Recently the terrorists attacks in Pakistan on the Sri Lankan Cricket team deserves the worst of condemnation. Having grown up watching Sri Lankan cricketers like Sanath Jayasuriya and Chaminda Vaas, I felt very sorry to hear the news. I fail to understand what is the message that these terrorists are trying to convey? I fail to understand how can youngsters like me (most of whom are intelligent, smart and opinionated) get disoriented and lost by people who clearly are spreading violence, panic, terror, anxiety and distrust all in the name of God?
The ongoing economic turmoil should be enough for us to understand that we have already created a lot of mess around in the world, let's now start the process of resurrection. Let's get together to remove the insecurity we have created in our lives - insecurity of whether I will have a job tomorrow, whether I will be able to pay for my house tomorrow, whether I will have my life tomorrow!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Bollywood Award Functions
Since a child I have always had a fascination for Hindi Cinema. Due to time constraints, educational priorities and the fact that we had no cable connection in our house (which in India means having access to only Government regulated channel called Doordarshan) I got to watch very few of them. But now that I am at a point in life when watching a movie relaxes me the most, I am fulfilling my childhood wish of watching lots of Hindi movies.
Just as watching a movie is crucial for me, so is commenting on it which may be either a criticism or a compliment. I find a nice way to tally the comments I made throughout the year with the distinguished minds in Hindi Cinema is by watching the Award functions (another reason being to check out the actors, their hairstyles/costumes/makeup).
Yesterday night when I was watching the Star Screen Awards for year 2008 held in early 2009, I was so put off since the start with the presentation of the ceremony. None of the actors (male/female) were dressed up to the occasion (except for a handful). Probably because the Academy Awards held in Hollywood (Oscars) have set my standards a bit too high. Or may be coz I know that Indian actors can look so handsome/beautiful if they want to but I wonder why they come to award functions so casually dressed. Either they do not care or there are too many award functions to care. People may not have watched their movies, but they do take a note of them in the award functions.
Do I also need to add to it that the show host was absolutely distasteful? To make people laugh, he stooped down to levels one can only imagine (or probably not). He made me wonder throughout as to why I dint find any of his poor jokes funny (as audiences seemingly were enjoying them). I was in doubt since the start thinking that probably I have lost my sense of humour. Sajid Khan and sister Farah Khan were the hosts. Together with the distasteful jokes (about effiminate males and gayism), they were also passing comments on the speeches made by the recipients. For a short speech I heard comments like “For a writer like you it's surprising that you do not have way with words” and for longer speeches I heard “Your speech was just a bit shorter than your movie”. Wonder if we can use the pretext of entertaining audiences by hurting those who work hard throughout the year to achieve these awards so that they can thank those who made it possible for them?
Towards the end director Ashutosh Gowarikar (whose movie “Jodha Akbar” won many accolades including best director) had the courage to voice against it. Sajid Khan replied saying that “It is a TV show [and so we got to make fun so that audiences laugh and TRP rises]”. I disagree. It’s is not a TV show. Why does not Sajid Khan host a TV show in which he pulls people’s legs and makes distasteful jokes so that the TRPs tick northwards? This is an award function, something seen by people all over the world, something which represents Indian cinema, something which gives a chance to the fans to see their actors dancing without cuts, something for which film makers (cast and crew) work hard throughout the year to be recognised at the end. I am sorry but Sajid and Farah this is totally unacceptable!
Just as watching a movie is crucial for me, so is commenting on it which may be either a criticism or a compliment. I find a nice way to tally the comments I made throughout the year with the distinguished minds in Hindi Cinema is by watching the Award functions (another reason being to check out the actors, their hairstyles/costumes/makeup).
Yesterday night when I was watching the Star Screen Awards for year 2008 held in early 2009, I was so put off since the start with the presentation of the ceremony. None of the actors (male/female) were dressed up to the occasion (except for a handful). Probably because the Academy Awards held in Hollywood (Oscars) have set my standards a bit too high. Or may be coz I know that Indian actors can look so handsome/beautiful if they want to but I wonder why they come to award functions so casually dressed. Either they do not care or there are too many award functions to care. People may not have watched their movies, but they do take a note of them in the award functions.
Do I also need to add to it that the show host was absolutely distasteful? To make people laugh, he stooped down to levels one can only imagine (or probably not). He made me wonder throughout as to why I dint find any of his poor jokes funny (as audiences seemingly were enjoying them). I was in doubt since the start thinking that probably I have lost my sense of humour. Sajid Khan and sister Farah Khan were the hosts. Together with the distasteful jokes (about effiminate males and gayism), they were also passing comments on the speeches made by the recipients. For a short speech I heard comments like “For a writer like you it's surprising that you do not have way with words” and for longer speeches I heard “Your speech was just a bit shorter than your movie”. Wonder if we can use the pretext of entertaining audiences by hurting those who work hard throughout the year to achieve these awards so that they can thank those who made it possible for them?
Towards the end director Ashutosh Gowarikar (whose movie “Jodha Akbar” won many accolades including best director) had the courage to voice against it. Sajid Khan replied saying that “It is a TV show [and so we got to make fun so that audiences laugh and TRP rises]”. I disagree. It’s is not a TV show. Why does not Sajid Khan host a TV show in which he pulls people’s legs and makes distasteful jokes so that the TRPs tick northwards? This is an award function, something seen by people all over the world, something which represents Indian cinema, something which gives a chance to the fans to see their actors dancing without cuts, something for which film makers (cast and crew) work hard throughout the year to be recognised at the end. I am sorry but Sajid and Farah this is totally unacceptable!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Tagged
Thank you Renu for tagging me to write on the above picture.
The picture above is a similar picture (in essence) that I came across last year (of my friend with her boyfriend walking hand in hand in Russia). I was so moved by the picture that I requested her to give me a copy of it on which I always wanted to write a blogpost (I have her permission to publish it on my blog). Thanks to the tag now, it will now be finally written after almost a year.
I wonder what did I find so fascinating about this picture that I so badly wanted to keep it with me and to write on it? I feel that the pictures above can be looked at for hours giving rise to myriad thoughts.
I find shaking hands very special. I know it might sound American/English style of greeting somebody, and I do think ‘Namaste’ (Indian style of greeting with folded palms in front of the chest) has its own charm, but definitely a handshake is a little more personal (while a kiss on the cheek gets far more intimate and I tend to shun it). Holding hands while walking makes so much of sense. It constantly ensures that you are aware of the presence of the person walking beside you and don't have wandering thoughts about anybody/anything else.
Holding hand means a promise, a promise not to leave it again, a promise to hold in sickness and health, a promise to be a shield in times of trouble. Walking hand in hand means walking together the tumultuous journey of life; it means a pledge to understand and undertake the ups and downs of life together.
I might have exaggerated it a bit, but then I am sure these pictures do remind us of somebody. Somebody with whom either we have walked hand in hand or would have wanted to walk hand in hand. In both the scenarios I think we have been a winner as we have proved to ourselves the level of commitment that we are willing to take, the promises that we are willing to keep. In both the scenarios we prove to ourselves that we are lucky to have come across somebody worthy of that. And if not, then we rather need to go on a search of the self!