will this xenophobia ever go away

While the shiv sena might have been outsmarted and outmanouvered by Rahul Gandhi's latest train antics, something tells me that we havent heard or seen the last byte in this tale.

With the regional parties increasingly finding themselves squeezed for space in the political spectrum and given their lack of vision and understanding of a broader world view, it is and it would be so much easier for them, even in the future, to opt for basic-grass root division or strategies and ideas that can get them clutter breaking appeal and traction with the deprived populace they seek to cultivate and seek support from.

We have seen evidence of this in Karnataka, in Gujrat, in UP and now in Mumbai. I am certain this is neither the last city nor is Shiv sena the last political party pushing this agenda. In UP it was caste, in Karnataka it was culture, in mumbai it is language and in some other city it could be something else. At its heart is the economic disparity that political parties choose to exploit. And this disparity is not about to disappear away in a hurry. After all, it will always be easy for the sons of the soil from the economically weaker sections to buy the logic that people from other states have come and taken away what should have belonged to them and that they should be opposed. The political class would be only too happy to stoke the fires.

The prospect for people like us who have genuinely believed in "I am an Indian and the whole country is for us" and who work away from their state or city of birth could indeed be scary. Imagine being driven away from the city you live in purely because of your caste or language or something as inconsequential that you normally do not bother about. How does one fight when powerful politicians , goondas etc - or the state itself turns against you - irrespective of what one has achieved or where one has been paying one's taxes?

Would love to believe that consistent and continuous growth in -education and economy -the two elixirs that can ameliorate this mess, will help resolve the situation over the course of the next few years. But what if - the polity remains as infirm and weak spined as it is today?

Does the solution lie in being a son of one's own soil after all? does one look for a job elsewhere and start investing in the city of ones birth?
Maybe i am being too myopic and pessimistic and i hope that i truly am. and that the reality is much better than this.

3 cheers for all idiots

WOW. if 3 idiots doesnt touch hearts with its humour and wit it will surely touch lives with its intelligence. This has to be India's finest in a long long time - perhaps since Lagaan way back in 2001. This is as fabulous as movies are meant to be without relying on frame enhancing technology or trick photography. Its EQ is as high as its IQ. Kudos!

Mere paas Paa hai..

Saw Paa yesterday and liked it for reasons completely different from what are being espoused across disparate media.

The movie breaks away from the cliched in several ways. Right from the credits roll out to the way the characters are conceived and portrayed. Credits being read out as opposed to flashing past was novel. So were the way the characters were defined and etched. Very rooted, very strong and very credible. Another departure from the tried and tested was the lighting - or rather the inter-play of light n shade through almost three quarters of all sequences in the film. This chiaroscuro was infact very reminicsent of Guru dutt and earlier RK films. A big newness was the refreshing and unaffected maner in which kids talked of their relationship with their parents. Precouscious - maybe but melodramatic - no way. And most definitely enjoyable ! The dialogue throughout and specifically in the scenes with the kids was witty. And last but not the least - despite their individual spark and brilliance, the chemistry between Amitabh and Abhishek was that of two competent performers. Nothing radically significant really. A huge thumbs up for Vidya Balan though. She was genuinely good. Despite its underlying pathos, the film was neither preachy nor weepy or senti. And it worked. It was surely, one happy world worth walking through !!

The ultimate weapon

So much has happened over the past 3 months - in the public space. and yet not a single word from me only highlights my complete lack of motivation to pick up the threads and tie them in as well as the fuzziness in my own head..

Sachin completing 20 yrs in international cricket - would have loved to believe - is akin to me completing 18 in my work life - just that the bugles in my backyard are more muted and celebrations absent! after all unlike him, i havent helped India gain recognition or prominence nor have i got TV ratings to soar or got a nation into collective frenzy.

Amitabh doing an Auro with the gay abandon of a pre-adoloscent 12 yr old reminds you that even when age has taken its toll and all good things seem to be waning- true class does manage to rise like the proverbial phoenix.

Rahul Gandhi emerging as the most unlikely hero - i remember running him down in one of my earlier posts - has surprised me perhaps much more than most things would. Now, as i overcome the cliched idea of heroes, i have come to appreciate his bashfulness, his demeanour and importantly the clear articulation of his simple thoughts and the stances he takes on most issues- i stand converted!

about 3 weeks ago - as i watched Ratan Tata inaugurate a charity in the memory of those who were killed in the 26/11 carnage, couldnt help but notice his tear filled eyes and the shiver in his voice. This wasnt a choreographed act and seemed to stem from genuine concern for the families of those impacted. Here was a corporate citizen promising to take care of the families of his ex employees like they would have, had they been alive. To me, if this isnt benevolence, nothing is! And if true role models still exist- here is one guy, God must aim to replicate.

Ever wondered, whats common to all these guys? Though its too pre-mature to club or force-fit Rahul Gandhi into the same league, the one stand out trait between all of them seems to be extreme humility and respect for others before self apart from single minded pursuit of perfection in their chosen areas.

Now only if Mayawati, Ambani, the "Khans" and more recently Tiger and others of his ilk could absorb this, just as comfortably!

Book, who me?

Over the last few days, a strange thought has overtaken my mind.
Its about penning my own book! the thought is as inspiring as it is scary.
Unfortunately i havent been able to get it out if mind. The topics there. The knowledge, skill, perseverence and single mindedness ?- well i dont know. will figure out soon.

Filtered vision

Wonder why everyone that one interacts with wears blinkers at most times. Every word that is uttered, every move made is critically viewed and evaluated for what it could be conveying or camoflauging rather than what it simply is.

Possible reasons?

Guess it has to do with perception of risk to self or to ones business; simple mistrust of others other than self borne out of past memories especially when one actually got hoodwinked and at a deeper level the desire to prevail always - to prove that one can do no wrong, that one is right while others are trying to be smart.

The world could be so much simpler to deal with if we could just let go and allow unbridled freeflow of thought and feeling to dominate our interactions - even with business colleagues.

It would ensure faster decision making, better bonhomie and a feeling of mutual respect, making even small accomplishments seem nice.

And yes, there could actually be a smart alec lurking somewhere trying to hoodwink. But 9 times out of 10, the universe would take care of it.

Good guys win too!

Fedex showed that neither age nor a surfeit of titles has diminished his hunger for more. His fire still rages as vigorously as ever and is the stuff inspirations are made of. Kudos to him for rightfully and gracefully scaling the peak!

The greatness of this wimbeldon duel was that though Federrer deservingly won his 15th SLAM, Roddick never lost! He played like a true and possessed champion himself.

Just a couple of years ago, when Aggassi-Sampras ruled, i used to be a die hard fan of Sampras. Had never thought that some one, so much like him, would actually overtake him so soon.

The one striking similarity between both Federrer and Sampras is their earnestness and the intensity that they demonstrate on the tennis court. It isnt just their job. It is their attitude, their on-court behaviour, their healthy respect for their opponents and their lack of starry tantrums or boorish behaviour - the kind McEnroe or Aggasi were known for, that stands out time and again. Though a little more flamboyance would have made for good TV viewing, it is the lack of it that makes both these guys stand so tall.

Every time i see them both, my belief that Good guys win too, stands re-enforced!