We Need Educated Leaders

Let’s stop criticizing our politicians who do not even deserve a bit of attention. We have more important things to do. It’s high time we all focus our energies on what can be done to better the situation we are in.

I feel my country needs educated leaders. We do have intelligent and honest people in our country, who are capable of leading the nation well. Barkha Dutt is a prominent example. We need personalities like Rajdeep Sardesai, Vikram Chandra, Prannoy Roy, Shobha De to take the stride in their hands. Our present politicians can be handed over with the camera and mikes. The media and politicians of our country need to switch places. The media seems to know everything wrong that the politicians are doing, and they do have intelligent people in their team, so why not assign the task to someone who is atleast capable of trying. I understand that many such people might not be willing to give up their present work, but even if a few of them are ready to step forward, I am sure they will have huge support from the public.

Nobody in Delhi really wanted to vote this time. We all know that no party deserves it. We all voted just for the heck of it! Till when can this go on?

Vibrations connecting us?

Since the past few days, I have been thinking about how vibrations travel across through your mind and convey messages to people sitting far from you. I have noticed that sometimes staying quiet can express much more than talking about it all the time. But how does this happen? How does a person sitting far from you and not in contact with you get to know what has been going on in your mind? What is it that connects us? Is it ‘vibrations’ only or am I using some wrong term?

I have been wondering whether these 'vibrations' that I call are something I just feel or think to be present or they actually exist. Any thoughts?

Old movies on the big screen again?

I was watching Pakeezah on TV. I really liked it, however the print was not too great. I was thinking why don't they put all such blockbusters on the big screen once again. I would definitely go and watch a few of them. Imagine movies like Anand, Chupke Chupke and Mughal-e-Azam playing on the halls once again. I am sure the young crowds would go and watch too.

Now that we have mutliplexes, why not think of some new ideas? If there are five auditoriums in a cineplex, why not dedicate one of them to old movies. What say people?

Bloggoholism

Blogging is not a very new concept any longer, but I am pretty new to it. Over the last two days, I have realized that it is an amazing creativity outlet for those who like to express. It’s also great to read other people’s blogs and study varied opinions on different topics.

It should not become an addiction though. Like right now, I notice myself blogging about blogging. But honestly, I am just loving this 'bloggoholism' right now.

Is Cricket becoming a business?

Frankly, I do not really understand these talks about bidding, and how much the different cricketers will be paid. Moreover, I do not wish to understand. It undermines the sporting spirit in me.

I quote a news item from the Times of India dated February 21, 2008.

“Dhoni will get Rs 37.5 lakh for one T20 match – over 10 times what he gets for every Test he plays. Looked at it another way, a Delhi University professor would earn a total of Rs 2.2 crore over a career of about 35 years. Dhoni will make thrice that amount for a fortnight of a match play.”

Though I completely disagree with comparing different professions, I do feel that the issue here is whether the hard work is worth the awards these cricketers get. It’s all about being fair to every person who works hard. At the same time, if we start scrutinizing this topic, then why only Cricket? Why not Bollywood? How much do the soldiers get paid, who fight at the border? And, what about the corruption in Politics? And for that matter, the common man is working hard too. There is no end!

I really hope that the sport of Cricket remains a sport, and does not turn into a business. Something our country is passionate about and is talented in, should not be turned into a money minting proposition.

Jodhaa Akbar

I think Ashutosh Gowariker has done a fantastic job. The way the olden times, the wars, the kings, the queens have been portrayed, it does set you thinking. It puts forth a question in your mind, ‘Is this the way people used to live in the olden times?’ I specially liked the war scenes, kings fighting with swords, elephants killing people. Not that I like people getting hurt, but maybe this is what happened during wars. Though the jewelry and costumes of the characters were very beautiful, still I feel that’s quite a secondary thing. But yes, to those it appeals, why not get entertained.

Jodhaa Akbar being surrounded by controversies, in my opinion is controversial itself. Nobody would deliberately want to distort historical facts. Even if Jodhaa was not Akbar’s wife, will just a change in the names of the characters bring peace to this issue? Moreover, there are hundreds of versions of this tale. This movie was just one of the versions. I completely understand the sentiments of the Rajputs, but why not look at what is good about a film that is meant for sheer entertainment, rather than hunting for issues to fight about. Isn’t there already enough to worry about?