The Common Man Speaks

What’s there on 23rd March?

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I am sure many of you won’t be knowing the significance of 23rd March or you must have simply forgotten. Seventy-nine years ago (in 1931) on this very day three bravest youngsters named Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru happily accepted death from the hands of the British just to motivate their countrymen to fight for their freedom. This was the biggest and the most extreme sacrifice in Indian history. Sadly, their contribution is hardly remembered today. People like Gandhi, Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel, etc always hog the limelight when it comes to the list of freedom fighters while these three bravehearts hardly get mention.

My heartiest pranaam to the three greats on the 79th anniversary of their shahadat!

Below are some of the rare and real photographs of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru.

News of the hanging of the three martyrs (Picture Courtesy – commons.wikipedia.org)

Bhagat Singh (Picture Courtesy – unp.co.in)

Bhagat Singh during his childhood (Picture Courtesy – unp.co.in)

Bhagat Singh’s mother with a wellwisher (Picture Courtesy – unp.co.in)

Rajguru (Picture Courtesy – india.targetgenx.com)

Sukhdev (Picture Courtesy – india.targetgenx.com)

Bhagat Singh as a student in National College, Lahore (Picture Courtesy – unp.co.in)

Gone With The Bra-Color Exhibition!

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Spreading awareness on an important issue is always laudable. And with the growth of internet, people are coming up with more and more creative ideas to spread awareness on a number of issues. However, the problem arises when you become over-creative. Because over-creativity can give rise to some weird ideas due to which the main concern is thrown out of the window and you end up making fun of an important social message.

I always thought Anurag Kashyap’s No Smoking is an ideal example of how to make a mockery of an important social message until January 8, 2010 arrived. On that bright Friday morning, I was surprised and confused to see a number of my female friends (and their friends) mentioning names of various colors in their social messages in G Chat.

The scene was same in their Facebook statuses as well which puzzled me even more. Finally, few female friends informed me that they are mentioning the color of their bras in order to spread awareness on Breast Cancer on Breast Cancer Day! Goodness Gracious! If I wasn’t in my office, I would have laughed like mad on hearing such a method to create ‘awareness’.

As expected, the motto behind the message was blown because of the weird method. Girls started matching their bra colors. Guys had good fun as they got to know the color of their female friends’ bras. The status messages were buzzing with laughter and color matching.

Amidst this atmosphere of masti, where the hell is your message? When it comes to creating awareness about any disease, one is expected to highlight the causes of the disease or its symptoms or some possible ways to avoid it or the treatment. In this case, it is just AWARENESS OF YOUR BRA-COLOR PREFERENCE! It would have been much wiser and sane to put up some information in your statuses instead of having A COLOR EXHIBITION OF YOUR BRAS AND GIVING A MENTAL GLIMPSE OF YOUR MOST PRIVATE WEAR!

Anyways, let me do the needful. Here’s some awareness on the disease: –

Causes of Breast Cancer: – http://www.emedicinehealth.com/breast_cancer/page2_em.htm#Breast%20Cancer%20Causes

Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment of Breast Cancer: –

http://www.srspharma.com/breast-cancer.htm

Prevention of Breast Cancer: –

http://www.medicinenet.com/breast_cancer_prevention/article.htm

Calculation of risk of getting diagnosed with Breast Cancer: –

http://www.breastcancerprevention.org/raf_source.asp

In a Civilized Society…

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Until now, all my blog posts have been written with an excitement of either narrating a memorable experience; of giving my views on a latest movie, of just criticizing the mindset of certain individuals or of just speaking about movies. But today as I write this new post, I don’t feel any excitement and instead I feel it’s unfortunate that I have to write something on this. I say it’s unfortunate because of a terrible practice, which still continues in our so-called civilized and modern society.

A family which is quite close to mine is forcing me to write this post. Few years back, the daughter-in-law of the family gave birth to twin girls. Although everyone in their family was pleased, or at least they looked like, from inside they weren’t. There was disappointment written all over their hearts and minds. The reason: not getting a boy child.

And recently, the daughter-in-law has become pregnant again. No prizes for guessing why the family wants another child. What happens if she gives birth to a girl again? And above all, the family is not financially well off.

It’s sad to see this obsession with a boy child prevailing even in the 21st century. It’s even sadder to think there are lakhs and lakhs of families continuing such practice regularly. Such mentality not only hampers the already disturbed male-female ratio but also gives fuel to population explosion, which is killing the country since decades.

However, amidst these sick minded people, there is a large group of individuals who have committed themselves to stop this anti-female mentality. You can have a look at their efforts and be a part of their campaign. Just follow these links: –

Woman For a Change Website: – http://womenforachangecommunity.ning.com/

Safe World for a Woman Website: – http://www.asafeworldforwomen.org/

Endorse Safe World for Woman Campaign by filling this form: – http://www.asafeworldforwomen.org/endorsement/sw_endorseform.html

Facebook group ‘I Support a Safe World for Women’ – http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=178968270949

Facebook group ‘I Support Woman for a Change’- http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=44510003253

Facebook group ‘FIGHT BACK- Engineering Gender Equality’-http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8800419602

A Thursday

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Why is October 12 so special for me? (No… it’s not my birthday and I am still single)

October 12… sounds like an ordinary date doesn’t it? But for me, it’s worth a thousand smiles. Something happened on this day which I so dearly wanted to happen since my childhood. I am sure many would consider my excitement as over the top but I can’t help. Three years back, I finally saw him in real and spoke with him (not her by any means). And before you start thinking, God knows what, let me come to the point and stop your weird imaginations. It was the day when I met the great Baadshah of Bollywood – Shah Rukh Khan!

I and my classmates, who were completing PG Diploma in Journalism, were sent by our college (K C College of Management Studies) to a talk show on NDTV show where SRK was the guest. I clearly remember how desperate I was to put in my name in the list of those who were interesting in attending the show. Thus began my wait for that Thursday, which finally arrived. After we reached Mehboob Studio for more than an hour, King Khan finally arrived dressed in a shirt and blue jeans. I could hardly believe my eyes and luck.

Pranab Roy, the host, quickly began the show. As Shah Rukh started answering questions on his daily life, we soon came to know how down to earth he is. We were all pleasantly surprised to see the biggest star behaving in the most simplest of manners just like any other common man. The show began to progress and so did King Khan’s friendliness with us. Also we were awestruck by his witty humor.

SPL18091_002

In between he also gave attitude tips in a totally non-preaching manner. It’s after listening to one of his tips that I have started doing every small activity with utmost dedication. SRK had said, “Even if you are just brushing your teeth you should brush it in such a way as if it is the last time you are getting a chance to do so.” Initially I wasn’t sure of this but still gave it a try few days after the show and today I am still enjoying doing every small activity enthusiasm.

Later in the show, selected few got a chance to ask Shah Rukh a question and of course I was one of them. While all were desperately pleading for the mike with all excitement, I just politely signaled Roy for a chance and it paid off. If there was a moment where calmness scored over desperation, this was one!

As I tried asking a question to SRK, I could feel my hand shaking, heartbeat thumping and my breath going irregular. I asked, “Are you looking forward to becoming a director ever?” and he answered humorously, “Yes, maybe after 4-5 years when nobody will give me work.” I won’t explain my reaction after this cameo of a talk with him because I will never be able to do so! And lastly, we broke the rules of the organizers and ran on the stage. Needless to say I was one of them. I can still feel his handshake.

SRK2

The show ended as Shah Rukh Khan danced with few members from the audience. And this time, I, being the worst dancer in the world, was happy sitting in the audience as I had no intentions of making a fool of myself on national television! Thus, the show ended and so did one of the best moments of my life.

When my course ended, majority of my classmates felt the money spent on the fees wasn’t worth. In fact, almost all of them felt that… except me. Those few hours spent inside Mehboob studio never allowed me to feel that way.

Unusual Characters Inside a BEST Bus

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Being a Mumbaikar, one cannot escape regular voyages in our BEST busses. I am no exception and I feel fortunate for it as I just love our red-colored beauties (busses). While travelling all these years, I come across different types of unusual characters. I would like to categorize them and would also like to read their thoughts, of course in a fictitious manner.

BEST BusThe Ever Suspecting Types: Unfortunately I bump into such people regularly. Some co-passengers just stare at me with suspicion. They scan me from head to toe and look at me as if I am carrying explosives. Maybe he took the message ‘Look around for suspicious people’ a bit too seriously.

The Ever Offended Types: While following the rule of getting down from the front door, one has to pass through a line of standing passengers while asking them to excuse. When I ask one to give me way, they give me such an offended expression as if I poked a needle in his or her stomach while saying so!

The Hool Giving Types: There isn’t a single commuter (while travelling standing) who doesn’t hope that a passenger sitting near him gets up to leave. In such situations, I come across these Hool Giving types. These people give all indications a person gives seconds before alighting. They cling on the handle of the seat in front of them and some (females) even put the purse handle on their shoulder, only to get down after 20-30 minutes!

How Dare You Types: Unfortunately I come across many people (males) who sit in a bus seat with legs spread. When I ‘kindly’ ask the person to give some space, he gives such an angry expression as if saying, “How dare you ask the size of my underwear?” BEST Bus3

Hip-Hop Types: Some standees believe a bit too much in the term ‘hands free comfort’. These chaps refuse to hold any pole for their balance. Because of this, the bus movement forces them to dance from one corner of the bus to the other while the fellow standees are forced to be a part of their performance in the form of firm pushes. What a way of fulfilling the dream of pursuing your unfulfilled hobby!

It will be interesting to see whether I find some more types of characters in the future. I won’t mind more offended and suspicious looks or dance pushes or more hools as long as I get something to write another blog post.