Emotional FOOL - Thats ME....!!!

Almost four days..... Almost four days have passed since my last blog post. I took this time, not 'coz I was reluctant or busy or short of ideas and topics to write on. but 'coz i was missing something very very special.

Something which was mine for more than two years. Somthing which was my only companion during some of the toughest times, and some of the most beautiful moments of my life.
Lets not keep people guessing. Lets unfold the suspense. I have sold my cell phone..... Nokia N72.....

It was very painful to part with it.... Believe me.... it was like giving away a part of me. My cell (now not mine....) was something very very important to me.

I sold it on Jan 25th. I could not sleep that night. I was missing it like hell. It took me four whole days to recover from the 'loss'.

I, sometimes, act very kiddish. I know I'm very emotional. But I never knew that I could be so emotional about a non-living thing. May be 'coz I had many memories associated with it. May be 'coz it was my first cell phone.

Anyways, as a friend of mine, Akshay, said, "If old things don't go, how would the new things take their place...."

I, now am falling short of words, and can't explain the state of my mind now.

What ever !!! I'm an 'EMOTIONAL FOOL'..... Okay?

Patriotism

According to the Oxford English Dictionary Patriotism means “the character or passion of a patriot; love of or zealous devotion to one's country.”

Patriotism - it is not just celebrating two holidays every year... not just playing and humming patriotic songs on those two days... Patriotism is not just a word, not just a feeling which pops up when there's a war or a terrorist attack.... it is a feeling which is alive in your minds 24x7....

Today, partiotism is limited to just celebrating two days (which only a few do, others take it as just another holiday). Patriotism is not just showing your anger and emotions when the country is in the time of crisis (like war, terror attack, etc) but it is something that should make you shed the very Indian 'Chalta-hai' attitude.... One should be devoted to the country...

The number of people attending the Independence Day and Republic Day parades is decreasing every year. Most of us like to sit in the comfortable confines of our homes and 'enjoy' the parade on the TV. Most of us take it as just another holiday. The situation is even worse in the cities where these functions have a very little audience (as compared to the population of that city).

This may be because of the security concerns (both the fear of an attack and coz they don't want to be frisked by security personnel). But if there is a zeal within you, these issues do not matter. There must be an 'inner call' to attend such functions and show that you love India.

I do not doubt the patriotism of a common Indian. I do not say that they do not love their country. Its just that they do not show it.

India - a country with a population of more than a billion - should not fall short of audience in its 'National Functions'.

After all, the freedom fighters did not sacrifice for this day. They did not lay down their lives to see the Indians remaining ignorant about their sacrifices.

WAKE UP !!!

And yeah... wishing y'all a very HAPPY REPUBLIC DAY....

VANDE MATARAM

JAI HIND

JAI HO....

This song has recieved the Oscar's nomination for the 'Best Original Song'....
Not only this, the movie 'Slumdog Millionaire' has recieved 10 Oscar nominations in all, including 'Best Film' and 'Best Direction' among others....
Just awesome.......!!!



Song : Jai Ho
Movie : Slumdog Millionaire
Music Director : A R Rehman
Singer(s) : Sukhvinder Singh, Tanvi Shah, Mahalaxmi Iyer
Lyricist : Gulzar

Jai Ho Jai Ho Jai Ho Jai Ho
Aaja Aaja Jind Shamiyane Ke Tale
Aaja Jariwale Nile Aasman Ke Tale
Jai Ho Jai Ho

Aaja Aaja Jind Shamiyane Ke Tale
Aaja Jariwale Nile Aasman Ke Tale
Jai Ho Jai Ho
Jai Ho Jai Ho

Ratti Ratti Sachi Maine Jaan Gavayi Hai
Nach Nach Koylo Pe Raat Bitayi Hai
Akhiyon Ki Neend Maine Phoonko Se Uda Di
Neele Tare Se Maine Ungli Jalayi Hai

Aaja Aaja Jind Shamiyane Ke Tale
Aaja Jariwale Nile Aasman Ke Tale
Jai Ho Jai Ho
Jai Ho Jai Ho

Jai Ho Jai Ho
Jai Ho Jai Ho
Chakh Le Ho Chakh Le Ye Raat Shahad Hai Chakh Le
Rakh Le Haan Dil Hai Dil Aakhri Had Hai Rakh Le
Kala Kala Kajal Tera Koi Kala Jadoo Hai Na

Kala Kala Kajal Tera Koi Kala Jadoo Hai Na
Aaja Aaja Jind Shamiyane Ke Tale
Aaja Jariwale Nile Aasman Ke Tale
Jai Ho Jai Ho
Jai Ho Jai Ho
Jai Ho Jai Ho

Kab Se Ha Kab Se Tu Lab Pe Ruki Hai Keh De
Keh De Ha Keh De Ab Aankh Jhuki Hai.. Keh De

Aisi Aisi Roshan Aankhe Roshan Dono Bhi Hai Hai Kya
Aaja Aaja Jind Shamiyane Ke Tale
Aaja Jariwale Nile Aasman Ke Tale
Jai Ho Jai Ho
Jai Ho Jai Ho

Hope that Slumdog wins Oscars....

Shekhawat vs Advani?

Bhairon Singh Shekhawat - the former Vice-President of India, former Chief Minister of Rajasthan, former MLA from Bali, Rajasthan (which happens to be my constituency) - enjoys respect of so many people, which only a few politicians enjoy.

Fondly called 'Baabo-sa' (meaning Father or Father-figure in Rajasthani), Shekhawat now wants to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, provided his health allows. And this desire of his has set the whole BJP shivering. Shekhawat, who was a senior leader of the saffron party till 2002, when he won the Vice-Presidential elections as the NDA candidate. After the completion of his tenure as VP, he has not joined the BJP or any other party.

The BJP workers of Rajasthan have raised the slogan "Rajasthan ka ek hi singh.... Bhairon Singh.... Bhairon Singh....". Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, who has been a master of coalition politics in the BJP, has been the CM of Rajasthan thrice with each time managing minor governments successfully. Baabo-sa had settled many disputes at the national level in the NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He was Vajpayee's favourite when it came to settling leaders like Jayalalithaa and Mamata Banerjee in the NDA government. He still remains Vajpayee's close friend.

Being a Vice-President, he was also the speaker of the Rajya Sabha. During that period, he got many friends in the political circles, cutting across party lines.

Bhairon Shingh Shekhawat still enjoys his own place in the hearts of people of Rajasthan. Its an irony that by all these virtues, BJP is denying a ticket to 'the man who has been on a constitutional post'. In BJP President Rajnath Singh's words, Shekhawat has done 'Gangaa Snaan' and he should now not wish to have a bath with well water.

The BJP leaders are suspicious that his move to the Lok Sabha might reopen the leadership issue within the party. One possibility migh be that, in case of a fractured mandate, many parties from the NDA and the 'Third Front' might prefer Shekhawat over Advani.

But the question here arises that why Shekhawat wants to crush the prospects of his one time friend Advani? The reason might be the tussle between him and Vasundhara Raje, who took a long time in finalising the ticket for Jaipur assembly seat to Shekhawat's son-in-law Narpat Singh Rajvi. The war got fierce when Raje called 'senior leaders' demanding LS tickets 'Khandahar' (meaning :: ruins). Shekhawat got back into action by demanding probe into the corruption charges levied against Raje's government. But Shekhawat got 'hurt' when Advani backed Raje despite of his word of caution against her. Now Shekhawat, who brought Vasundhara to Rajasthan, wants her to be out of Rajasthan.

But with Advani looking 'desperate' to become PM (coz this might be his last election.... he's already 82), he might try to resolve the issue and make peace with Shekhawat. With that, things might get back to normal in the BJP.

But a few questions pop up in my mind...

• For how long will we have people who have crossed their 'retirement age' as our leaders? (almost all Prime Ministerial Candidates - Manmohan, Advani, Shekhawat, Sharad Pawar, etc etc etc - all are well above the 'retirement age' which happens to be 58 or 60)
• Will we ever have a 'young' PM?
• Can't we not set a 'retirement age' for our politicans too?

Well, I can see a ray of hope. With 70-year old John McCain being rejected by the US voters and here in our own country, 38-year 'young' Omar Abdullah becoming the CM of Jammu & Kashmir, the trend certainly is changing....

O-BA-MA... O-BA-MA...

(with inputs from friend Chetana)

The next 24 hours will mark a new chapter in the history of the USA, and of course, the world. Barack Hussein Obama will be sweared in as the 44th President of the United States of America, the first African-American (read :: black.... i'm not racist) to hold such a high post.

Obama beat Hillary Clinton (former US President Bill Clinton's wife) for the Democratic Party candidacy. And then he went on to beat veteran Republican leader John McCain by 53% of the popular vote and a wide electoral college margin.

For quite some time, we have been hearing only bad news from the USA - recession, bankruptcy, job cuts, liquidity issues, etc. And this, for a 'change', is a piece of good news, not just because a person from a community which has been exploited for years, is going to be sweared in as the President of that very country, the world's strongest nation; but because he is the man who won the elections by promising a 'Change'.

All preparations have been made for the swearing in front of the White House at Washington DC. Around 3 million people are expected to be wittnessing the ceremony at the venue amidst high-pitched security. Cell phone and internet companies have installed portable towers in anticipation of colossal calling coverage and cell phone picture transmissions. Obama's address is supposed to making the kind of history as President Franklin Rossevelt, John F Kennedy, Abraham Lincoln.

I wish Mr Obama loads of luck in the office.