My home - made Chicken Curry...

The Nation is in OUR Hands

The Lokpal Bill and the proposed improvement of it  - the Jan Lokpal Bill will be a tremendous improvement to our democratic system, provided, come to an understanding that we, the people will have the most powerful weapon in the stance against corruption. I use the word PROVIDED because, it would be in our nature to corrupt and eventually corrupt the very system we strive to improve. The Ombudsmen Bill as it is known in other parts of the world, should be implemented only as a tool to check unethical behaviour of the men and women we elect as our leaders and not use it as a political move to gain power and step over our opponents. I deeply fear for the latter.

Imagine a scenario where we enjoy the rights to accuse our political leader, the Prime Minister for an offence of corruption. That would mean we are desegregating the office of the Prime Minister, and make it an easy prey for other ambitious politicians. And if such circle of events goes on, we would well be on our way to uncertain times.

Personally, I think that the clause in the Jan Lokpal Bill that states such claims should be revised. I believe that certain things should be made sacred for the long term good. Now what can be done and is being done at present is to charge the person in the said office for the offence he committed while he was in term. I think that such implementation is a better and much safer way to go. And if we are not satisfied, then, I think it is that implementation that needs to be strengthen or improved.

Corruption needs to be checked and if it was ever possible – removed. But I do not think we should have to make sacrifices where the end result leads to turmoil.

Media Ethics

Is there such a thing as Media Ethics? Is there a law by which any media personnel should go by? Or is it purely moral of the self? I being in the media field (well starting to) am quite appalled to find that Journalist in the country can sometimes be rude and arrogant.

Take the recent Delhi bomb-blast for that matter.  I was tuning in to a channel where there was a discussion on the lack of security in major hot-spots of the country and how more CCTV would help fight against terrorism. What stood out to me was the anchor’s attitude towards the various government representatives on the show. First she asked a question, a critical one. And yes, it is human nature to defend for oneself when somebody strongly shoots you with such questions. And so, the government representative did. Now, I would expect the anchor to listen to the guest as she assess her faults and how the government was reacting to it, and then if need be, raise more question on the issue. But instead, time and time again, the anchor would interrupt, trying to make her point clear within the discussion, so much so that the guest would plead the anchor to listen for a while until she was done talking.

In my honest opinion, I feel at a time like this, where the country is in mourning because of the tragedy, that everyone should be a comforter for the other. And not create a blaming game. That can come later when there is a thorough investigation. And to hold such talk-shows, almost immediately after the incident was quite surprising for me. The show does not answer questions, nor those it help to console the people. In fact, I believe, it merely heightens the level of chaos in the city.

I turned on the TV to know more about the incident. But then I was held to listen to this unnecessary debate where the anchor was causing havoc among the guest. That was exactly what it should have been – a debate. Where the anchor would be the moderator and not shout “WHY WHY WHY!” any chance she gets.

Yes, the people may have been upset and deeply hurt by the incident. But journalist should be able to keep their emotions in check.

Atleast its not the TV his eyes are glued to...

My nephew Sawmtea...the day he got his new aquarium.

Me and my trusty companion!!

Something that came to mind....

What is your past made up off?? Secrets you want to keep hidden? Mistakes you thought were right at the time, but now you believed you shouldn't have made? Shattered dreams? Lost of your loved ones? So much trauma you had to take-off the rear-view mirror?

Its sad that even after hours of motivational speeches and ''pick yourself up'' pep-talk from friends and families, the past glooms above our heads like a dark-black cloud hanging on Archie Andrews head...but if anyone of you have been in this situation and thought its the end or something like a reccuring ulcer then its time you re-arrange your life, prioritize , work on those aspects your weak in. Take your situtation into consideration and work in a way that will most likely satisfy the statement that anything that doesn't kill you will make you stronger . Its a tough, tough ask but there's no harm in trying. And the journey is worthwhile. Doesn't matter where you end up. As long its productive and progressive(You can't measure success with a scale).

And finally, pray....a lot. Because prayer alone is incomplete when there is so much you have to do. Also, deferment could cause you to re-lapse. Try and enjoy the journey, take in the sights and kept an optimistic mind. Remember the glass is always full to the true optimist.

Remembering Mom

(This was on my previous blog. Dated 22nd October,2008...with a little editing. There was suppose to be a Part 2, but it never came to completion)

Remembering Mom is a celebration of my mother’s life. I hope that people who have lost their loved and dear ones can relate to this and may find that in the course of time, it is well, and though many things have changed, their lives and memories should always be cherished.

It took a lot of time for this one. It’s something on a very deep and personal note so just bear with me. It was hard to write such a thing, especially with all the graphics and images that came back. I saw my mother for just eighteen years, but the memory remains. And all the times we had had been great. Though the years have eroded so many, those special moments can never be lost. 2005 was a tragic year for our family. We had to say our goodbyes to a loving mother, a great wife to her husband and a great friend to many.

I still remember, when I was in my 3rd Standard, fiddling around my dad’s typewriter. One letter at a time, I would manage to type out a whole paragraph. It would take quite a while as you can imagine. Then I started to write poems, a short story or anything that came to mind. One day my mom saw one of the poems. I still remember - “Stars” was the title I gave to it. She read it and must have liked it - she went to the headmistress of a school that I was in at the time and showed it to her. Later that evening, my mom told me about it. Then she handed me back a corrected copy of the poem - with red ink. She said it was a nice poem but I needed to improve on it. Then, she kept it safely. I still read it every chance I get.

My mom loved flowers. The entire house looked like a botanical garden with all the different varieties of plants and flowers around. A greenhouse at the front and at the back terraces of plants, flowers that when they blossomed it had many people in awe. Every morning before brunch she would be tending to her precious flowers. And my dad would tell her to stop or else they would be late for work. But she always took her own sweet time. And I was sure that every morning before I leave for school, I could always find her in the garden, tending her precious flowers. She always looked happy being with them.

Christmas’s has always been fun. Before we bought those plastic Christmas trees, my mom would pick one of her best evergreen and set it out in the living room. Then, she and I would start to decorate it. Bells here, Santa there, stars, here, stockings there-it was all so fun. Then we’d finish it off with a rather big Santa, sitting on the very top of the tree. But I wasn’t done yet. I’d take some cotton wool, spread it out on the base, so that it would look like snow and pose my collection of GI Joe’s there. Even the Cobra’s and the GI’s didn’t fight during Christmas time. Quick Kick, Scrap Iron, Flint, Baroness all enjoyed our lovely tree, sitting casually, enjoying the holidays. Sometimes she would stay up half the night making wreaths and other decors and hang them nicely at different places of the house. Then later she’d be receiving orders from people who wanted to buy wreaths she was making. I wasn’t much help though; all I was interested in was her glue gun.

I’ll never forget the night when mom played Santa. She took this huge sack and filled it up with old clothes of my brothers and me. Then we distributed it to the less fortunate in our neighborhood.
And oh yea, the Christmas I caught “Santa”. I saw mom hiding a stash of goodies and a GI Joe which I had really wanted. She tried to explain that it wasn’t for me, and that Santa would bring my gifts as usual. No mom. I already know that there is no Santa.

But then, as I entered teenage hood, I started to spend less and less time with my mom and dad. Friends became more important then home and I was starting to become a little rebellious, but not too far I guess. No major harm done. We all go through the rebellious years right? Then straight after finishing 10th, I left home for boarding school. Since then I’ve been home for, maybe, just over two months a year. It’s been five years I’ve been living outside my sweet little home town.

After Intermediate got over, I was lucky enough to join an Engg College. Meet some really great friends there. Mom and dad saw my brother, a friend of his and me off at the train station. A moment here, I always hate goodbyes. Not the short ones, but when you know you’re not going to see them for a long time. As the train pulled out I saw both my parents frantically waving goodbyes, then they started to appear smaller and smaller and then I lost them in the crowd. Little did I know that that would be the last time I saw my mom “un-bed-stricken”. Because the next time I saw her, we had to help her just so she could turn to her side.