Gossip

Despite its notoriety, eavesdropping is an important part of life. Without Mantra’s eavesdropping, Ramayana might not have happened, most of the Bollywood films would have lost their story and I would have died of boredom! Do not mistake me; I’m not referring to eavesdropping which involves prying into private conversations but rather overhearing the friendly banter that goes around in most places ranging from local railway platforms to cocktail lounges of five star restaurants. Sure, banter comes differently dressed i.e. in varied accents, languages and voices but it never fails to entertain. A circus clown can entertain as much as a posh opera singer. The type of banter changes according to taste but it is the banter itself that matters.

Perhaps, it is one of the most basic things that unite humanity. It has now become a kind of staple food to the Indian soul. It serves as a medium that satisfies one’s need for information, provides a certain sense of company, kills boredom, occasionally inspires a bystander like me and perhaps even equips one with a certain kind of knowledge that may be of use to him or her later in their life. For example, discussion on a local hero saving some distressed damsel from a fire might find relevance when one is faced with a fire accident.

Gossip, banter’s much loathed twin does not come as well groomed but it tempts more than the former. If the tongue loves banter, it can be said to lust for gossip. Perhaps gossip’s attractiveness comes from the fact that it provides the listener and the teller a foray into the life of a third person and a vicarious sense of adventure that thrills but safeguards them from the dangers of consequences the same way a video game or a novel thriller does.

If not for this kind of a social activity, perhaps, humanity would have missed out on a lot of great literature, quite a number of movies and all those magical creatures like the Lochness monsters that have perhaps sprung from rumors. Sure, gossip has its ill effects and many an uncontrolled tongue has brought wreck upon its owner and many others, but that is just one side of the coin. So I write off this article with the hope that the next time you sit in a train pointlessly listening to some random conversation, maybe your mind will transform it into a wonderful novel, lifesaving information or maybe just a cherished memory! Oh! All that chatting!

1) SHOWING people you care – On ordering a pizza, the shopkeeper grates some cheese on top of the pizza and keeps it in the oven as opposed to the usual habit of just heating the pizza directly in most shops. Though the act might be simple, to keep people informed about it can boost the company’s image!

2) Showing PEOPLE you care – The shopkeeper maintains an amiable face, and politely asks “What else do you want?” instead of smothering the customers into buying more or revealing personal information. Also, the absence of a cold, distant look and not thrusting the pizza into the oven as though it was a pig being sent for slaughter was indeed a refreshing change. It is up to the company to decide the level of intimacy it needs to share with its customers but treading into his/her personal zone or driving the customers away is something it must watch out for!

3) Showing people you CARE – I accidentally drop my pizza and frown at it! I order another one with the thought that it is the shopkeeper’s lucky day. He gives me a sympathetic smile and hands over a new pizza. I’m shocked when he refuses to accept the money for this one! He firmly shakes his head and says, “No ma!! The first pizza fell down!” I stand transfixed as he smiles and moves away! I think the ULTIMATE marketing strategy is to ACTUALLY care and not just pretend to… This simple act by the shopkeeper might have cost him some money but as he will soon discover, it will bring him new customers and the loyalty of the existing ones in the future! The first two types of relationship with your customer might contribute to the company’s growth but the last one will lead to better relationships with customers and create an incontrovertible brand image of the company in the customer’s eyes!

Is there a genetic tuning that enables men to be the smart ones or women to be beautiful ones? Is it the law of yin and yang or is it just a matter of chauvinism, stereotyping and social attributes?  While there are exceptions to the rule, why is it that we do not find too many successful women in the intellectual zone?

Whatever may be the factors, most women have managed to maintain a low profile throughout history! After all, who cares about the lady who feeds the house, works, shops and cleans while there are heroes out there winning a game for the country!
However, the wheel of change seems to have been set in motion.The same lady who takes care of the children has begun to win games, climb mountains, cross the frontiers of space and set a new trend to follow for her counterparts who shrink to the discomfort of their home and hearth!

While questions will take endless debates and humongous research to be answered with clarity and precision, it is time we celebrate every woman who has made it past all factors, genetic, social, psychological and physical (whether brutal or not) to have mastered survival and made it to where they are today!

Helen Keller

chanel

Aishwarya Rai

This article comes as a tribute to -The women who break conventions, rules and strive to achieve “what is thought to be impossible for a woman!”, the women who set standards for men and women alike, the women the world salutes for their perseverance and tireless attitude, the many millions of women who struggle to manage a home or make a living and above all, the woman in you who makes a choice to face the world as it is, with all its constraints and limitations everyday!

It is also in gratitude to the many men who have helped women regain confidence, inspired them, led them through difficult situations and aided them in conquering the insurmountable!

Indeed, behind every successful man, there is a woman! And as we often forget, behind every successful woman, there is a man!

It is commonplace to find exuberant gifts being given to dates or ones who are “secretly admired”! But how often do we find a real celebration f love? While gifting a date can be adorable, it is also slightly ironic!

We all seek to gift those we’ve met and known for a while but what about all those people who are so much a part of life that they seem to merge with the backdrop on these occasions. The teachers who contributed to a life philosophy, the parents who gulp down words of contempt everyday, the friends who helped you find your date, that sad person who always opens up only to you – are these people not worth a gift, a card or a valentine? For making life the way it is – for good or for bad, in illness or in health, in sorrow or in joy.. Aren’t they our REAL soul mates? The ones who always see us through….

It is the time of the year when graduate school applications cross many a sea and rational judgment! In the hustle to be the most successful seeming applicant, are we just looking at what others seem to want for us or them or are we really looking for what we want? (as the tug of war between the pros and cons continues!)

While many people find it tough to find a place in the placements section, many are willing forego a grand placement for a degree abroad! With so much hype being given to education abroad, one begins to wonder, is it really worth it? Is the grass truly greener on the other side or does it just seem so?

The Hardship

While study abroad might be the dream of many, life abroad as a student could be a nightmare for some! To watch dollars and pounds slip from the jerkin pockets into western cash counters might weigh heavy on minds as well as the Indian pocket what with recession taking its toll and the value of the rupee going down everyday! Living a life amidst a culture that is more “free” while having been conditioned to the Indian ethics and value system (and more importantly being constantly subjected to the Indian parent expectation levels) does indeed seem to be a “gandhian” task to most! Last but as many will vouch, not the least, the monotony of bland western food to the well pampered Indian tongue has made the life of many a well fed Indian, miserable.

The Grass is Indeed Greener

While the patriotic-seeming Indian sentiment spread throughout Bollywood points a finger at Indian students responsible for “brain drain”, it is a well known fact in the student community that many of the top Indian institutions do not provide the infrastructure or the freedom to experiment as much as universities abroad!

The learning culture that offers better mentoring, liberty to explore new academic avenues and a better structured approach are perhaps the perks that draw Indian students to those universities.

While applying to foreign universities is a matter of one’s individual choice, it has to be said that it is not for the weak minded but for the passionate and focused! While running with the rats is certainly not commendable or recommended, if the need to follow one’s dreams takes one there, so be it!

Bon voyage!

While numerous songs, scenes, movies and poetry on a guy’s heartbreak have been let loose on the internet and other forms of media, the other side of the story seems to be in the dark. Agreed that a refusal, rejection or a heartbreak is tough to take but what about the many women who get dumped across the globe, everyday??

While Bollywood supplies movies like Pyaar Ka Punchnaama highlighting the low points of dating  certain women,  down south, movies like Mankatha and Theerada Vilayattu pillai portray the hero as someone who dumps women at his whim or dates them with an ulterior motive!

Of course, the heartbreaks that men suffer across the globe mustn’t be  taken lightly, but the media’s take on relationships raises a subtle question – are we taking the women too lightly?  After all, men are just being social and sad when they booze, but in most parts of the country and somewhere in a dusty corner of our sub-conscious, we do raise an eyebrow at the news of a girl or a woman taken to drinking. Do not get me wrong, I do not in the slightest, suggest or recommend any such practice, but I’m rather awestruck at how many outlets men are allowed (socially) for a heart-break as compared to women who just have a stack of lays and Oreo biscuits. ( But then again, women who are overweight are another breed of eyebrow raisers in the society).

Sure, kudos to all those directors who have portrayed the negativity of  harassment on women but there have been no or very few movies on the heart-break drama that women too have to endure and that hurts them equally!

Maybe the media is biased or maybe I’m just hyperventillating!

Dear TRAI,

I just want to congratulate your absolutely foolproof brilliant plan to stop spam messages!

Who cares about people who are unable to console their friends about a broken dream or breakup because their hundred messages for the day are over and they have only ten paise balance!

Apart from spam messages, you have also efficiently put a stop to all those random forwards we send to those “friends” (…;)) with whom we desperately wanted to start a conversation! But hey, don’t bother about us! You need to block SPAM messages!

You have given us greater excuses to not stay in touch with friends who we rarely talk to but want to often and can’t because of difficulty in balancing our balance! But hey! Congrats! You have successfully demolished one of the main reasons why messaging was so convenient! (And as a friend points out you have shift+delete -d all the possibilities of eligible kadalai over sms )

And Mr. Zuckerberg must be totally happy with you because now, thanks to you, all those desperate “i want to make a conversation” messages are flowing in the form of facebook chat windows! I’m surprised he hasn’t announced his special respect for you yet!

Also, you have outdone all management lessons by teaching us three things – the value of each message, how to be more active on the internet and hating you! My heart goes out to all those poor “class representatives”, and “club presidents” who have to move themselves to an internet lab where many computers don’t work to send those group messages about a class or a meeting getting cancelled and to those students who turn up for the meeting or class because their class rep or presi couldn’t send them those group messages!

And you want to know the reason why I’m writing this letter to you now? I just taught my mother to text because she was getting worried that I was too busy to pick her calls! And bingo, you come along and I anyways, have to pick her calls now (or get her worried) because my hundred messages usually don’t last for more than a couple of hours!

And you see, multiple sim cards don’t work for many of us as we have gazillions of contacts to text, all of whose numbers we are unable to transfer as we have a life to live! And not all of us have dual sim phones! And thanks to you, the sale of multiple sim phones is going to increase!

You have proved that the answer to a problem is not an efficient solution but another huge problem! But hey! Congrats on solving the problem of spam smses most of which we still receive and almost all of which never bothered us anyway! And thanks A LOT!

Regards,

Troubled College-Goers

Steve Jobs may have died but he left behind a legacy, and ideas that have trickled down to various nooks and crannies of the globe in the form of technology and dreams! He shall continue to be at the source of those million messages, calls, tweets and updates people share! In a way, his ideas might lead to many memories, romances, scandals, mishaps and even great ideas! He is at the source of the joy of many young school boys who dream of  being buzz lightyear and those little girls who prance around in cute tinkerbell costumes!

He will live as an inspiration to many who endeavor to change the way the world looks at technology! And he will be at the spirit of a foundation that employs many and serves many more!

(A tribute to the man who created a complete world with an incomplete apple…  A portrait by S R Balaji)

Perhaps,  Steve Jobs’ death is mourned by the world  because his dreams will be lived by humanity…

A comment on the changes read as follows

“using fb is like digging my nose. everytime i do something, its different.
hey mark zuckerberg, are you listening? “DONT CHANGE THE UI ALL THE FUCKIN TIME” (Comment courtesy – sunil chandramouli!)

PRIVACY – Facebook has taken a daring step in redefining privacy! While photo tagging enables friends of everyone who is tagged in a photo to view it, the status updates can be shared with an edited list of friends. Does team Facebook think that swear words can hurt more than inappropriately used pictures? Isn’t the move too self-contradictory?

THE TIMELINE – While the Facebook timeline has been lauded by a few, it has been disapproved of by plenty! People complain that it offers too much transparency of information! Any move you make, any faux passe you make, – TADA! There it is, on your timeline for your world to see unless you take pains to hide it consciously! Does Facebook not understand that the public prefers  transparency of information only when it comes to government policies?

THE SO CALLED UPDATES – Though the right hand side bottom corner of the FB home page keeps moving with much fury, pretty much like our sheila in her item number,  it feels like a social networking DEJA VU to several mashable and huffington post fans ( remeber their “most popular” coulmns on one side?). However to apply that concept so well into facebook must be given some credit!

With the stakes being risk of exposure and intrusion in user privacy,

Is Facebook

a) really trying to save its neck, or

b) Claiming supreme authority over the world’s e-privacy? or

c) Just trying to make it cosy for the users and failing badly?

One movie to watch out for this year will be The Adventures of Tintin – The Secret of the Unicorn. This movie combines the stories of three books in the Tintin comic series – The Crab with the Golden Claws, The Secret of the Unicorn and Red Rackham’s Treasure.

Why it promises to be a good watch:

-          Viewers will get to see the first meeting between Tintin and Captain Haddock

-          The movie brings together big names in the Hollywood industry like Daniel Craig, Steven Spielberg, Jamie bell, Andy Serkis, Paramount Pictures and Columbia   Pictures.

-          Unusually, the movie is a combination of three books which could result in the movie being fast paced and having good content that keeps the viewers hooked.

-          The trailer promises the viewers a great deal of on screen adventure on various terrains.

What could spoil the fun:

-          If the movie does not elicit the world’s attention as much as the comics did, what started as an epic venture could result in a lowly box office flop.

-          Since the movie combines 3 books, (Like Spiderman three,) if the movie entangles the viewers into too many details, sub-plots or just too many characters that they would pay to forget, it may not do well for the makers of the movie.

-          One major question that remains to be answered is “will the world enjoy Spielberg’s Tintin in 3D after having seen Herge’s Tintin as a character in a comic?”

Be it what may, are you all set to exclaim “billions of blue blistering barnacles!!” this December?

This makes one think, are we ready for a virtual revolutuion? The MSS research website states “The Internet creates the greatest network of intelligent computing power the world has ever seen – the combined brainpower of all humanity. Traditionally power was concentrated in the hands of the few and wielded for personal benefit. The Internet discounts the power of wealth, reputation, prestige, expert knowledge and long experience…..The Internet enhances the value of the human being and increases the productivity of all social resources.”

THE POWER OF SOCIAL NETWORKING – Social networking is here to stay. Rather than whine about the ill effects and misuse of such sites, its time we began streamlining its power to certain that require high speed communication, vast audience, and a failproof method that allows information transfer without hindrance or influence from people who yield power.

SOCIAL NETWORKING AS AN AID – During the recent Mumbai blasts, India witnessed the phenomenal power of twitter and its ability to cause a difference. Tweets were being sent and received by people in need and people who were ready to help thanks to a lot of people all around the world whose tweets acted as carriers of information. This way, twitter effectively put to use HUMAN RESOURCES throughout the world who were NOWHERE NEAR THE AFFECTED AREAS to cause faster rescues & ease tensions and in a way, elevating the power of humanity.

ARE WE READY FOR AN E-REVOLUTION?

Though we have been putting the internet to good use, it remains to be seen if India is ready for such a revolution since there are many who still don’t seem to “have gotten the hang of internet”. So what do you think?

To all those people who are still hanging on to facebook and twitter swearing their loyalty, I have just one question “Remember ORKUT?”

If you are still not convinced read on, if you are I strongly recommend you to read on…

 I guess the makers of google+ are more than aware of the power of facebook and twitter and they have gone out of their way to market and publicise Google+! Here are some of the stratergies they’ve used:

Google +1 : Thought of and underestimated as an equivalent to a like, this tool is far more powerful! Google is playing its strengths hard. ONE THING THAT GOOGLE HAS and FACEBOOK DOES NOT –link to the most successful search engine! If you give a +1 to a link or article, when your friends search google logged into their account, the article is given preference in the search results display!

Enhancements:  A fellow tweeter once remarked (or should I say twemarked?) “yes, #fb is just enhanced version of #orkut but #twitter is not for every other person : )” Though I’m completely in agreement with the latter part of the tweet, I have to vehemently agree with him on the first part! Google plus has perhaps taken an inspiration along similar lines and given users what facebook offers and more (read circles, privacy and google+1)!

Merging and Improvising:  While offering sharing and “+1’’ing like facebook, perhaps the Google+ circles were inspired from twitter – the idea behind followers and following!

Shifting friend circles: While already existing facebook social networking friends groups might have been a hurdle for Google+, facebook kind of unknowingly handed out the solution to Google a long time ago – the facebook friend exporter! Googlers can just export their friends list to Google and start Google+ing! Elegant huh? Not so much for facebook though!

Creating artificial demand: While all other strategies are visible in plain view, this one lurks in the shadows. As the entries into google+ has been limited to an “invites only” circle of people, there is a hype about getting invites and with the invites not getting sent to a few (among who are some of my unfortunate friends) the suspense is building and with all the above features i doubt if there will be disappointment!

WHY THE <BEEP> should i shift to Google+? : If you are still asking this question,  Nick O’Neil offers a simple but effective answer in http://www.allfacebook.com/the-one-google-plus-feature-facebook-should-fear-2011-06  – “Google already has more users than Facebook, over one billion. They aren’t going to suddenly leave Facebook in droves, they’re just going to spend more time on all the sites in Google’s network. That big notifications box in the top right of all Google sites is the reason why!”

Google has played its cards well indeed and perhaps, struck gold! Who is to say!

And if you still don’t agree, i’ve got just two words – “dream on!” J

The movie starts with Magneto’s childhood (during World War 2) and how he began to know his power. Then the shifts to a scene where Charles (X’avier) and Raven (later known as mystique) meet for the first time…

Director –Mathhew Vaughn

The Cast – James McAvoy, Micheal Fassbender,

Loose ends tied – The Movie solves many mysteries that have haunted the viewers of the X men series like “how did Charles and Magneto get to know each other?’ “How did the mystique-magneto relationship begin?” “Why does Magneto hate humans?” “Where did Magneto get his helmet from?” “How did Beast get his appearance” and many more.

The Pluses – From the beginning to the end, the graphics, emotions and the mixed reactions to “mutanthood” have been beautifully utilized and portrayed. Though viewers do not get to see Storm (played by Hale Berry in the other movies), Scott (Cyclops) and Jean Grey joining the team, they do get to see a long array of mutants from diverse backgrounds with different mutant powers including Hank (beast) and Alex Summers ( Scott’s brother)! Perhaps the most intriguing mutant of all is Emma Frost ( a beautiful telepath like Xavier with additional powers) who, unfortunately for the X men, happens to gang with the Villains.

Also, Eric/Magneto steals the show gaining everyone’s sympathy(because of a truly treacherous past) and a powerful and charming attitude.

The Minus – Although Micheal Fassbender plays Magneto so poignantly and fittingly that it exceeds expectations, James McAvoy is nowhere near him in his performance as Professor X or Charles Xavier. Perhaps, more power or a better haircut would’ve helped soothe the disappointment his fans had face because of this let down.

Epic Moment – What appealed to me as the extreme epic moment was the scene in which Charles and Magneto enter a bar where, wait for it… Wolverine / Logan (Hugh Jackman, for those very few people who are still unaware) is sipping beer! Though the come with the intention of recruiting him, Charles pulls Eric(magneto) back after reading Logan’s mind!

Apart from the many pluses this movie has an excellent fast paced plot, well knit screenplay and effective portrayal of super powers without exaggeration are the key features that have made this movie successful.

With teenage mutants, interesting twists and intriguing stories (inter-woven effectively) this X men movie perhaps surpasses all others! Definitely worth a watch and a must watch for all mutant maniacs!

While most of us stumble with the long lines of words in dictionaries (both hard copies and their virtual twins) to enrich our “vocab” or to comprehend what the other “smart guy” is saying, here are some definitions that one infers by reading between the lines

Irony is – animal planet airing a hugo boss cosmetics add!

Redundancy is when you say “The Indian Government is corrupt!”

Oxymoron is what ignorant friend exclaims as “Ah! Rebecca Black’s excellent vocabulary!”

Desire is what happens when you are in a Maruti 800 and you see your neighbor riding a Ferrari

Serendipity is what happened when Abhishek found Ash while searching for his career…

Termination is what happen to orkut when after Facebook happened.

Irrelevant is what India’s economic policies are to the hike in petrol prices.

Stupidity is what happened when Obama tried to sound smart.

Disappointment is what happens when you expect Kristen Stewart to act.

Hypothetical situation is when Aamir Khan performs in a film festival, KKR wins the IPL and the ndian political system becoming completely honest!

I remember the first time I fell in love… It was my birthday, my brother gifted me a harry potter book and once I started ruffling through the pages I knew, this had to be it! Ever had similar experiences? I’m sure many of you would have!

Remember the times when Hogwarts became everyone’s dream school and eleven year olds began dreaming of getting owls, the time when the words “Tom Marvolo Riddle” rearranged themselves magically (actually, thanks to computer graphics) into “I am Voldemort” and shivers went down the spine? It was pure joy to watch frogs made of chocolate prancing about the train, the moment blue flames erupt when Hermione says “laganum inflamory”, the golden snitch’s feathers ruffling and the diagon alley opening up from a brick wall which we watched with as much bewilderment as eleven year old Harry!

Soon, the magic of the HP films faded what with their “paper and ink twins” completed their ventures into various bookstores across the globe… Now, with the last HP movie releasing on July 15^th, expectations are high and the trailers and promos promise a good watch!

Here are some things Harry Potter fans will look out for in the movie (for those of you who haven’t read the books, warning – there are spoilers ahead!):

The Ultimate Defeat of the Dark lord – Obviously, the most expected scene of all, this one might make or break the impression the movie creates on the viewers.

Harry’s kids – Most fans are eager to see how “the kids parting to Hogwarts” is depicted and it is hoped that the entire last chapter of the book will be depicted in the scene perhaps with innovation!

Snape’s Flashback – Curious fans are also looking out for the flashback that explains Snape’s inexplicable behaviour throughout the series!

Riding the dragon – Another scene to look out for is probably the part where the HP trio head out on the back of a dragon!

The Ron-Hermione kiss – This is perhaps another much awaited scene because of the tensions portrayed between Hermione and Ron in all the other movies!

Other news related to the much awaited movie:

The fight between Harry and Draco seems to be a major highlight of the movie with the room burning down in the end!

Reportedly, Goyle and not Crabbe falls to his death in the room of requirement unlike the book. (this was because the guy who plays Goyle is currently in jail)

Makers of the movie claim that Snape’s death has been portrayed in an extremely romantic way and shown well, contradictory to the book where he dies in shrieking shack!

Bangalore or Bengaluru garden city turned Mall Empire of south India has more to its credit – the bmtc bus service!

After months of pushing my way through crowded buses and cocking my head away from screams and shouts in the MTC bus services in Chennai, the bengaluru bus service felt like  a breath of fresh air!

Lady conductor – This was the first time I had spotted a lady conductor in a public service bus in reality and it amazed me! To me, this was an indication of lesser threat to women in the bengalurian society.

Board inside the bus and announcements– Though not all buses in Bengaluru have LED boards inside buses, this was again a first find for me. These boards enable passengers to see what the next stop is and lessen the confusion created due to wrong directions by fellow passengers. Also, announcements about the next stop are made very clearly (unlike in MTC buses) for the benefit of the passengers who are unable to see or read the LED board.

Hospitality – Despite the board and announcement, I miraculously manage to get down in the wrong stop and I’m clueless about what to do next. Based on the kind instruction of a guy standing nearby, I board another bus. It turns out that I have boarded the bus in the wrong direction. The conductor smiles and chuckles mildly when I tell him the stop I need to get down in. He gives me a ticket for the next stop and gives me proper directions to take the next bus in the opposite directions and details about the route.

I also notice that he addresses the elderly women “buaa ji” and the other ladies as “madam” much contrary to the sometimes rude or appaling tamil words used by conductors in Chennai.

Frequency of buses – I get down in the next stop and I hardly have to wait for five minutes when the next bus to my place stops.

Though many Bangloreans and non – Bangloreans might tell you (as they told me) that this is not always the case with the BMTC buses there, I can safely say that a three day use of the BMTC buses gave me more relief and less stress than any of the MTC buses on any day in over a year!

Indian media has been buzzing with activity for the last couple of week as bureaucrats and politicians have been facing the brunt of the judicial knife. While MP Kanimozhi’s arrest has claimed maximum media attention due to her blood relations with the former TN chief minister Mr. Karunanidhi, there are plenty of others like Rajaratnam, Raja, Kalmadi and many more who have been accussed of plundering the nation’s wealth. And thanks to the new power media Wikileaks, a long forgotten statement by Dayanidhimaran has come to the fore. (“When people get into power, they lose concentration and start focusing on making money.”)  And wikipedia has an entire article on corruption in India.

Mobile forwards, facebook updates, catchphrases mocking these people are on the loose.. All that aside, what makes these high profile people of “national reputation”  tangle in the web of corruption charges and notoriety? Wikitoday looks at some probable reasons -

The advantage of power – The most obvious reason is that in a country like ours, people in power stand to gain the most be it due to mass support or the fear they inspire..

The rich get richer – Another advantage is that these bureaucrats and politicians have enough money to throw in order to gain much more…. (much in tune with the adage that says throw a small fish to catch a bigger one)

Illiteracy and ignorance – About 60 percent of the Indian population lives in rural areas, in most of which, there is very little awareness about the curse of corruption haunting the country..

Brainwash – This applies more to politicians who capture the mass’ attention with their mellifluous speeches covering up the cacophony they create in administration and finance

Fear – The masses hardly raise their voice against any form of corruption due to fear of assault or thereat from the more powerful.

It is to eradicate such causes that constitutional provisions like the right to information act and the Jan Lok Pal bill must be enacted/ enforced..

Do you agree or disagree? Want to cite more reasons? Feel free to comment..

The country is coming down with cricket fever.. It just gets worse every year.. While cynics curse away this new trend, the cricket savvy just get more hooked! It is indeed astonishing to know how easily everyone can relate to it and get addicted! Here is a look at how cricket can be much like a day at work.

Remember when you went to the boss’ office nervous about asking him for a raise? That was your APPROACH!

When your boss saw you approach – BACKLIFT

When you were denied the raise, got more work and promised to work in the weekend – his HATRICK

Only when you come out you realize you were manipulated and subjected to a GOOGLY

The time when you saw that beautiful co-worker – STUMPED

That idea you randomly shot out in nervousness and got lauded for it – SIX

That idea of yours that just missed the brain range of your boss – WIDE

The guy who wins the day with his mind-blowing ideas – CHINAMAN

That (much hated) guy who always gets the raise, charms the ladies and gets out early? – the ALL ROUNDER

When your boss spotted you checking the match highlights or crickinfo at work – CAUGHT BEHIND

That tiny mistake that cost you your job? Well, that was the BAIL!

Company shuts down – ALL OUT

But even cricket uses the same word for this one. When you were kicked because of someone else’s mistake – FIRED!

Do you relate to some more terms this way? Comment and share your thoughts…

Train

It is holiday season in India and the people are giving the Indian Railways a busy time! Though trains are just a medium to reach the destination, it is amazing to

know the kind of entertainment one gets in these vehicles.. The other passengers in the train contribute majorly to this. The human behaviour in these confined spaces

are perhaps indicators of the frozen developmental stage in every human being from ape to the civilised man..

Hog – A hog can be defined simply as someone who tries to reap more benefits from the miserly amount he has spent to travel in the rattling array of steel boxes. For example, he will occupy his seat as well as yours, thus, travelling in 2 seats or he might attack the “most sought” place i.e the area near the door of the compartment. He doesn’t move unless he is specifically asked to by impatient passengers waiting to get down or maybe wrenched away from the door.

Parasites – These are perhaps the most irritating kind of people in suburban trains… By rule, they always come in groups and attack the seats by making the other passengers “move a litteeel” and eat up their space! Though they come in late, they almost ALWAYS get seats. They are the Gundaas among “civilised” people!

The Optimist – He (/she – but let us use he for the sake of convenience) is the gentleman who believes that there is always a way! He believes that even if you weigh 200 pounds, you can always “squeeze” into the tiny place that he offers at his great discomfort.. He believes that the eternally late train will reach on time and that the railway meals will taste like “saravana bhavan masaal dosa”.. While, he is sweet, he can also be a pain if heeded to beyond limit!

The Gentleman/ lady – Ideal passenger to travel with! Pleasant, smiling, knows his/her limits, talks occasionally and makes you feel comfortable!

The Zombie man – He NEVER talks to you.. Keeps staring into space or keeps lolling in his sleep. While he is better than a parasite or a hog, he might tend to cause discomfort due to his lolling head or drooling mouth!

The flirt – Rare among the feminine, these characters appear sweet initially but they may try to socialise to the extreme in hopes of matrimony  or “comeetmint” and spoil your journey!

The Chatterbox -  His/her tongue rules over your time! He/She can cause ailments ranging from migranes to damage of ear drums!

 The Dream boy/ girl – Though much has been talked about meeting these people on the train (movies adding to the hype), they seem to be extinct to most passengers (much like the yeti)! As far as my opinion goes they perhaps exist only in virtual reality! Your chances of meeting a zombie man or a hog is waaaay higher than a dream girl!

So next time you go on a train watch out for these characters. Who knows, there may be a story (or comic strip) waiting for you in there!

It is the day of RESULTS!!! With exams barely over for most college students, they have another result to anticipate other than the ones concerning exams… Sure, some years back, they seemed mostly unaffected by the terms “ruling party”, “Chief Minister” etc… In fact, even now, words like “I Pod”, “IPL” , “Christopher Nolan” create a greater stir among them. However, the Facebook status messages like “Mummy returns” ( refering to Jayalalitha’s return to power in TN), “We are in for a change” and the various youth forums revolting against corruption and inefficiencies in the current politicsl system, indicate that they too are worried about election results and the change of government! Here are some reasons why -

Power cuts!! – Colleges like NIT Trichy are subject to a daily dose of a THREE HOUR powercut during the hot summer months.. Students hope that the change of government will put a stop to this, especially after rumors of five hour powercuts!!!

Growing Awareness – The three G scam, Anna Hazare’s campaign etc have created a greater awareness among the youth about corruption.. Many colleges have conducted rallies against corruption and have shown positive response towards eradicating mishaps happening around the country.. The student community also believes that it is time a single set of parties stopped exercising its monopoly over the governance of the country..

Right to Vote –  Since most college-goers get their right to vote during this time, they learn more about the current political scenario. The awareness of exercising one’s right to vote is spreading and perhaps, it has had the maximum effect on this community.

Water – Unfortunately, the nature of the ruling government also determines the nature and quantityof water available to the public. The student community begins to experience the brunt of this phenomenon when they begin living in hostels away from home where they have to manage all their daily needs themselves.

Price rise – Though the effect of this may not be realised very much, there is a definite effect of price rise on the student community. Beginning with onion prices till petrol prices, the college goers have to shell out more on a daily basis now. This is perhaps another aspect that infuriates them..

Movies – The Indian movies nowadays seem to focus more on the various political systems in India and their functioning. Movies like the tamil comedy 23aam pulikesi, bollywood Rajneethi, recent Jeeva starer Ko etc have perhaps been playing a role in increasing awareness.

Whatever may be the reason, this rising trend among the students to participate more in the ruling of the country is indeed a positive one.  This trend also echoes an optimistic note that says ”perhaps, we will indeed free our country of corruption and pave way for greater justice!’