Saturday, August 13, 2011

Dedication to Corruption

It is indeed irony of fate that the movement that started for an stringent Anti-Corruption Law resulted in a law that swung the whole meaning of the entire movement.  It is really disheartening that the Law that was supposed to curb the practice of corruption, turned to such a point that the whistle blowers will think twice to spill the beans. It is really disheartening that the government lead by one of the most learned politician in the world has given a blind eye to the clause where the alleged corrupt politician / officer / bureaucrat can sue the whistle blower in case the allegations can't be proved.

I mean rather than ensuring that the Law provides for the Witness Protection Program, the Law makers have ensured that the Law would ensure that the Whistle Blower gets min 2 years of imprisonment and / or some amount of fine to be the whistle blower.  I guess this is a new form of Witness Protection Program the Law makers have formulated.  Interesting isn't it, outside the Jail, the person would anyways be threatened for life, but yeah pay the rental for the Prison Cell and you would be taken care of for the perios of your imprisonment.  Wonderful, I guess this should be applauded!!!!

What do we require if the Law makers provision for such cases where the Whistle Blower rather than protected is exposed?  I guess this is another form of method to curb those who expose corruption.  This way I am sure the cases of corruption that come to the front would certainly be curbed and yeah the Government would be at ease to show the decline in the % of Corruption cases.  Yeah certainly why not, less reported incidents would statistically mean less corruption.  So what is the real case of Corruption would be like the Shadow at the time of Dusk.

Today, our government has strongly reacted to the remark by US. But the stone thrown at us by US is something that our government has itself distributed across to the other governments and now that stone when is coming back to us, they are shouting Foul Play.  Isn't it the foul play that they started and when they are being shown the mirror they are getting scared and feeling hurt??

It is high time that we as Indians unite and show our collective strength to support the cause as raised by Shri Anna Hazare.  He at the age of 74 is not fighting for himself or his family.  He is fighting for us and he is fighting for the coming generations, for our country's bright future.

I might not be headed to join Shri Anna Hazare in Delhi, but I am surely going to fast the day he fasts and I am going to dedicate that day for the Anti-Corruption Movement.  I would also request the readers to forward this post to their friends and friends of friend with a request to join the movement.

One more request, please take a vow not to Pay bribes in your day to day life, lets also ensure that if we support the movement, we do not cross over to the other side and nullify our own efforts!!!

Its time to show our Solidarity and Unity...

Monday, August 8, 2011

Downgrading of US Credit Rating and Indian Stock Market

It was certainly a Breaking news World over when Standards and Poor (S&P) downgraded the Credit Rating of US from AAA to AA+. First ever since 1917, but yes that's a hard fact.  US economy is seeing a downward trend for all the reasons of Lack of Adequate Governance Mechanism and for the reason that can be well expressed as  - 

"In an economy if a few people make a few work for few who think its there birth right to not work, it kicks the downturn.  But, if the people who work think that when they work, the benefits pass on to the others who either make them work or don't work and then they stop working, the economy would certainly take a good plunge to hit the dirt."

Now, its an interesting factor to see  an economy crumple and equally interesting is to see the effect on the other economies, specifically the growing economies.  India being one of those where it is certain to see the negative impact, but it would be equally interesting in case of India to see the way the Indian economy would cash in the opportunity.  

Wait there before you make an opinion that I might be talking absurd and weird please mark my words that the Indian Economy is one of the most strong economy to glide through the worst economic crisis that might hit the world.  It is an economy which is one of the most self reliant economies. Though it might get hit by the patch of downturn world over, but it certainly has the ability to re-bounce from the slack and hit the pace again.  

The Indian Stock Market would also react negative for the plunge in stock Markets world over and there would be a selling pressure in the market.  But the investors should NOT PANIC at the selling Pressure from the Institutional Investors or the FIIs.  The selling pressure certainly would create a void, but that void would be temporary and as the Indian Economy would re-bounce, the markets would look upwards....just a matter of few weeks. From where I see the Market, it would not be say another 4 weeks that the market would see an upward swing.

I am going to be holding on to my portfolio with a tight grip on the stocks I own and would suggest the same to the friends and family.  It is certainly an acid test, where we are not supposed to panic and give in to the selling pressure.  Its rather time to Hold and Wait......

Friday, August 5, 2011

The Missing Link

I have been a traveler for almost 8 years in a row....Business Traveler would rather be the right expression for me.  I have always enjoyed traveling as it had been a Business trips where I used to find time for my favorite Hobby - Photography.  I know most of you would think I would say writing, but writing is my favorite Activity and not an Hobby.  Flare for writing comes to me natural and unlike Photography, writing is way too effortless for me.  For Photography tests my Patience a lot, specifically when I want that Perfect Capture.  I have had many instances during my Business Travel Weekends that I have been waiting for a specific target to be in a specific posture and well at times I got it or at other i didn't.  Yeah that's what the Nature and Wildlife Photography is all about.  It requires time and it requires patience, something that I certainly can't squeeze in my routine day-to-day transactions.  Writing is something that I can and I do squeeze in my day-to-day routine without disturbing my work schedule.

Anyways, coming back to the point of my traveling experiences that I had till date. All my travels except the current one have been awesome and I have had good sweet memories of each of the trips.  Somehow, this time around, I am not actually enjoying the travel that I have undertaken.  I am not with myself this time and I am not even looking at using my spare time (that I anyways have scarcity of) to something constructive or to engage in Photography either.  I guess this time I am totally lost and am out of my thoughts as well as creativity.  My colleagues who know me tell me that even my Wit has given space to the serious and monotonous looks on my face.

I am no sure why but this time around I have become more robotic to leave for client office in the morning and then heading back to Hotel in the evening. I am shocked that the charm of returning to Hotel and then leaving for some driving and photography has worn out.  It is not that I have saturated with the amount of driving or photography I have done.  I have not as when I take on the wheels, I certainly drive towards newer areas and get newer set of photographs through my camera.  I am not even thinking of doing that this time, strange for me though.

I have been quite a lot perplexed on what is the Missing Link this time around that is pushing me back towards home and that is holding me away from my regular self....I am missing something bigtime that I want to be home sooner


Thursday, August 4, 2011

कुछ शायराना अंदाज़ - ३

हसीन  साथ हो और गर शायरी कि बात हो तो रात कुछ इस कदर गुजरती है -

उनके शब्द------
इरादों की कोई सीमा नहीं होती...
इश्क़ की कोई तहजीब नहीं होती...
बस हम कदम बन के चले संग कोई...
तो कोई मंजिल कठिन नहीं होती...


 
हमारा  जवाब.....
तहजीब न हो गर इश्क की तो उसे वासना कहते हैं
इरादों कि गर सीमा ना हो तो इंसान को सरफिरा कहते हैं
तदबीर कुछ ऐसी है जहाँ के बाशिंदों की
क्या कहूँ कुछ दर्द उभर आता है सीने में
 
कठिन मंजीलें नहीं राहे मंजिल हुआ करती है
कि राह से बढ़कर कठिन राहे तन्हाई हुआ करती है
हम कदम हम राह बहुत मिल जाएंगे जहाँ में
हमसफ़र कम राहगुजर बहुत मिल जाएंगे इस जहाँ में


उनका  ख्याल.....
हर्फ़-ऐ-अश्क ग़र हम रोज़ लिखा करते...
तो अब तक पैमाना-ऐ-ग़ज़ल बन गई होती...
काश आपके आगोश में होता कुछ ऐसा नशा...
के जुस्तजू हमारी हकीकत बन गई होती...
आशिक़-ऐ-दिल की जुबां से ग़र अर्ज़ किया करते...
ख्वाबों की ताबीर ख़ुद-ब-ख़ुद हो गई होती...

हमारा ख्याल......
ग़ज़लों का पैमाना तो हम बहुत पी चुके
साकी के हाथों जाम बहुत पी चुके
आज बैठे हैं हम अश्कों का जाम पीते
गर इन्हें तेरे होंठ पीते तो क्या पीते
आगोश में मेरे जो तेरी जुल्फें रुक गयीं हैं
उनकी जुबानी अरज करते तो क्या करते
आलम-ऐ-हकीकत कुछ इस कदर है कातिल
कि आशिके-ऐ-दिल कि मय्यत सजी है

रिश्तों  पर उनकी सोच....
कुछ रिश्तों की गहराईयों को हम समझ न पाए हैं...
इस कदर डूबे की कभी उबर ही नहीं पाए हैं…
चाहत तो बहुत कुछ कहने की थी...
क्या कहें इस कोशिश में ऐसे खोए...
ना ही डूब पाए ना उबर ही पाए

रिश्तों  पर कुछ हमारी सोच.....
रिश्तों से गहरी तो सोच है तुम्हारी
कि रिश्तों कि डोर से बंधी उम्र है तुम्हारी
लरजते कांपते लबों पर थिरके जो शब्द
अश्कों की माला में पीरो दिए तुमने
मझधार में खड़े हो कर ऐ साहिल
गिला क्यूँ करते हो किनारे की दूरी का

कुछ शायराना अंदाज़ - २

कुछ नायाब शायराना गुफ्तगू यूँ हुई, कि हम उसे आपसे दूर रख ना सके.....

हमने लिखा -
दिल को सम्हाल के रखना इस कदर
कि टूटे ना वो हमारी इस कलम पर
शीशा नहीं है ना है वो खिलौना
अरे तेरा दिल है नहीं मिटटी का घरौंदा


 उन्होंने कहा - 
बेहाली का आपकी सबब क्या है... 
यह हम नहीं जानते... 
गौर सिर्फ़ इतना करना की ... 
कहीं कोई बेख़याली ना हो जाए  

हमने उनसे इल्तजा की - 
बेहाली बेखयाली बने तो क्या गम है
बेसब्र बेध्यानी बने तो क्या गम है
समझ तू इतना लीजे ये कातिल
कि तेरी बेरुखी मेरी बेहयाई न बन जाए

कुछ शायराना अंदाज़

एक  हसीन दोस्त कि कुछ नायाब पेशकश कुछ इस क़द्र थी -

दर्द क्या होता है बताएँगे किसी रोज़,
कमाल की एक ग़ज़ल सुनायेंगे किसी रोज़,
उड़ने दो इन परिंदों को आज़ाद फिज़ाओ में,
हमारे हुए तो लौट के आएंगे किसी रोज़....
-------------------------------------------------------------------
उसपर हमारी कलम से निकले शब्द कुछ इस क़द्र हैं -


सिर्फ आपकी चंद पंक्तियों ने कुछ ऐसा वार किया,
कि दिल से आह ना निकली कलम ने शब्द बिखेर दिए

दर्द का गर अहसास ऐसा है तो उसे छुपाते क्यूँ हो
अपने गम को अपनी मुस्कराहट से दबाते क्यूँ हो
गर नगमें इतने ग़मगीन हैं तो गुनगुनाते क्यूँ हो
ऐ हसीन, खुदा से इतने नाराज़ हो तो इबादत करते क्यूँ हो
परिंदों को फिजाओं में गर उड़ाते देखने का शौक है
तो ऐ बंदे उन्हें अपना बना पिंजरे में कैद करते क्यों हो

कभी किसी कि आह कि आग से ना खेलना कातिल
कि आग से ना जले तो क्या आह तुम्हे ले डूबेगी

Selfish Vixens

Can the Society accept that girls can be really selfish to play around with the feelings of guys?  I would be skeptical if I were not the witness to few cases.  The level of the selfishness of the females involved in this cases was at such a height that I was shocked.  One of them somewhat similar to what was portrayed in the Movie Aitraaz (starring Akshay Kumar, Kareena Karpoor and Priyanka Chopra) and then there were few cases that could be well related to the Movie Pyaar Ka Panchnama.

I know the readers might think that why this guy is writing on this aspect when from ages guys have been Using girls for their purposes, be it family matters or Male ego or any other reason.  But what I am trying to highlight in this post is the way the girls have started Using guys who show a slight tender and care towards them.  I am certainly not opining on what is right or wrong.....be it a guy using a girls for his purpose or a girl using a guy for her purpose, its certainly a sign of materialistic and opportunistic society, not the regular society that we would love to be part of. 

So, The first case that I hinted about rocked my senses like anything.  The female was exploiting the situation to her benefit even though she is married to someone in a respectable job.  She was indulged in Extra-Marital relationship with this guy incidentally he also is married.  The female went to the limits of blackmailing the guy, strange ain't it??  I could not even understand the motive behind the behavior or the female involved, I mean she threatening the guy about committing suicide and all that stuff, for what?? Now this is something that I have not heard of even if a guy would have threatened a girl...

The other cases were more so common these days. I guess it has become a routine for me to talk to or chat with these guys who need a helping hand to come out of their shattered state of mind after realizing that the girl with whom they had been going around for ages was involved in just a time-pass.  Well my standard question to them is - "Do you think she is hanging around because you ask her out? or because she wants to hang around with you?"  the answers are not that important to share here, but yeah they really are more or less similar.

One such recent case that came to me was of this particular guy who was in love with a girl who was his schoolmate and they had been a company that people would always envy.  But this day when he proposed her, she told him that she already loves someone. The guy took it in his stride and they still were a good company to each other.  Suddenly the behavior of the girl changed towards the guy making the guy feel she loves him.  When he asked her the question, she told him to wait for sometime.  Then one fateful day the girl tells the guy that she doesn't love him but as they had been a good company for this long, she was trying to get away with the betrayal she was served in her affair by the other guy.  She confessed to him that she sought his support and she was playing with his feeling to get away with own problems.  The guy was shocked, though didn't react in front of the girl but once back home, he tried committing suicide by cutting his wrist.  He was rushed to the hospital and he survived.  I came to know of this case from him friends when I asked them the reason of his extreme step after donating my blood to save his life. I suggested to them that if the girl tries to get near him, they need to show her the door and ensure that she never gets to meet him.

There is the third sort of case which is comic as well as tragic. This case is about this female who thought her love life was ruined because of this particular guy who was her boyfriend's friend.  She felt that this guy is being spoil sport and because of him, she and her boyfriend are not able to spend quality time together.  Strangely she dumped her boyfriend and married this guy to revenge him.  And she made his life miserable by all means she could.  The guy thought, with time she would get over with her violent ways, but nothing positive came out of it. He patiently waited for ten years with no physical relation between them, yes they used to live under the same roof as legally wedded husband and wife, but they had separate bedrooms.  And one fine day he find out that she still has relations with her ex boyfriend and they still are seeing each other.  Yeah the another case of extra marital affair of a female. The guy simply packs his bags and leaves the house with a note for the female that if she wishes he is ready to give her the divorce and transfer the house on her name with some monthly maintenance.  The female was shocked with the treatment and she committed suicide leaving a note of apology to the guy she was married to.

I mean these incidents and many more that I can recount give me a real shock to believe in or trust any female around.
And then they say - Men are dogs.....what would say after reading the cases above??? What are Women turning out to be then????

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

From Acquaintence to Love

Before I start about the stuff that is hinted in the title of this post, let me make it pretty clear to those who believe in Love at First Sight, this is not the post that might please you as I Don't believe in Love at First Sight.  For me that is purely Infatuation or Lust as it goes by the Physical Appearance or similar stuff that catches your sight and pleases your eyes first.

Coming back to the point, Love claimed is a phenomenon that in my opinion matures with time and comes to an age with time.  For the perspective I look at and understand Love, it starts from mutual acquaintance to mutual admiration to mutual liking and then one reaches the stage that we call Love.

It is pretty interesting to observe how few of us cover the journey of being acquainted to being a couple in short span of time and there are others who take more time and do it at a slower pace.  I for that matter believe in the slower pace of getting acquainted, then getting to know the likes and dislikes, interests & hobbies and other qualities that my counterpart would have. Well, certainly in today's fast paced lifestyle people like me are more often known as Laggards and I simply laugh at that.  Why?? Well simply because the people calling the slow paced a laggard tend to forget that slow and steady wins the race.

For the fast paced cases of love I have often seen that even after proclaiming to be in love, there are many differences between them and they more often waste time in sorting out those issues than spending quality time with each other and complimenting the deficiencies in each other.  The slow paced or the so called laggards ensure that when they are understanding the person before proclaiming their love, they do understand the deficiencies in the person's nature / behavior / capabilities etc and then ensure that they would love to support person they love in the areas where he / she would need their help / assistance....

So if I actually look at the three types of Lovers -
  1. Those who believe in Love at First Sight
  2. Those who are Fast at Proclaiming
  3. Those who are Slow Paced or Laggards 
I derive an opinion that Love at First Sight changes with the change in Sight :)), Fast Paced Switch out of their relations equally fast and then they rue about the misdemeanor by their EX and the slow paced or the Laggards relish the company complimenting each other and even if they have to depart from each other, they do not rue.  They simply take it in their stride and move on with life, certainly remembering the moments relished in the glory of past.  However, I have certainly witnessed cases of Pre-nuptial departure in the first two cases that actually Go Sour, I have not witnessed a single  case where the Pre-nuptial departure would have ever gone sour.  I have actually witnessed the cases where the people from third case as mentioned above are friends rather family friends even after their marriages... and that has kept their respective marriage bond strong......