Racism,Ethnicity,Dicrimination-check the mirror

We all read so much about Indians being beaten up in Australia and Austrialns are being termed as racist. No doubt, I hated it , as an Indian citizen. Some prominent sociologist also termed it as ethnicity and not racial.
Whatever, it is theoretically, but they all are in same family of exploitation, where the attacks are made by a stronger group on a weaker group.
But are we as Indians doesn’t discriminate in day to day life. I was reading on net - zo-lengthe.blogspot.com and learnt some horrifying stories on how the North east people are being exploited and attacked in India. The incident pertains to an incident of molestation of two girls from Manipur, where the landlord molested the two girls along with a group of hooligans in wee hours of night. And, to my surprise, the women in the landlord family also supported it.
Is it not a form of discrimination against people from other states?
I also read another article where there was gender discrimination and that too within the same state. How, the rich North east men are abandoning their wives. Another, incident was, when the migrants from other Hindi speaking states were treated badly in Mizoram.
There are so many, that the incidents cannot be counted, but we as an Indian, that means truly Indian which says "Unity in Diversity" can raise ourselves beyond the race, statehood, gender, caste and creed and money.
Can we be an egalitarian society ourselves before we preach the Australians.
Do we treat the foreigners, the way we want ourselves to be treated. If that, is the case why the foreigners are being raped in Goa, Himachal and Rajasthan.
Its time to look in the mirror and realize ourselves before pointing a finger to others. Remember, when you point a finger, the other four fingers points towards yourselves.
Its justified to protest against the crimes towards Indians, but at the same time we should change ourselves and set an example to others.
I am leaving some pictures taken from net, to keep thinking on the attacks,protest and the harmony we need.
Don’t Kick off Guys, Embrace people!
Amit

Beautiful Sensuous and Mysterious - Istanbul

After a long long time , I am writing a travel diary which I always loved the most. This time, its about Istanbul trip which I made on behalf of my company trip.
Istanbul, a city unique in itself as it lies both in Asia and Europe. I have recently been to this city and got a chance to feel the pulse of Istanbul. Istanbul is a city similar to our Mumbai, economically important with a population of 1.3 million, the highest in Turkey.
Like as usual, my way of writing travel diary is not much about discussing the history or art of city, but more about the life style of people and the thrills the city offers in terms of living there.
The city is beautiful with tulips grown on both sides of the roads; multiple colors and even you can see Istanbul flag made of red Tulips on the road. Needless, to say I felt in love with tulips and I find them one of the most sensuous and mysterious flower. So you can already judge, my first impression about the city- Beautiful, Sensuous and Mysterious.
Istanbul is beautiful with clean roads, flowers, old palaces and mosques, trams running in between the roads, cobbled streets and yeah extremely beautiful ladies. In Istanbul, you will find people coming from eastern parts of Europe, Russia and yes the local people are also there who are extremely beautiful. I don’t remember spotting a lady who was not extremely beautiful right from my hotel reception to the streets. The population is 95% Muslim, but way of living is completely European with people dressing in jeans, shorts, skirts and tops. Also, you will see 95% of people moving on the road smoking. I need to check the data about per capita consumption of cigarettes, in Istanbul, I swear.
In terms of tourist living there , it offers a host of place to stay from star hotels like Hilton, Inter Continental, Moven Pick to shared apartments and small and cheap backpackers hotels.
I was staying in Moven Pick at levente , which is 4 station from the commercial hot spot of the city called Taksim Square. There are good public transport with metro, buses and running going across the city.Its best to travel by metro, as it saves lot of time and money also. A trip from levente to Taksim costs 1.25 Turkish lira( 1 TL = 34 Rs approx) whereas by taxi its costs 15 TL .In night the taxi charges gets 1.5 times more.
A must place to visit in Istanbul is the hamam. Hamam is an Arabic word which means a place for public bath. In Istanbul, you will find good hamas in Taksim areas, where you can rejuvenate yourself after a 7.5 hrs flight from India.Th men and ladies section are different in hamam with big Turkish guys who scrubs your complete body after you get complete sweat out for 15-20 mins on a very hot marble floor. The cleaning is really good and removes the dirt that might have accumulated on your body and you are not aware about it. Hmmm, this seems one of the reason for beautiful and clean skin these Turkish people have.
Food in Turkey is good especially for the Non vegetarians; you can get all the non veg delicacy like Kebab, grilled mutton etc. The sweets are also good especially Baklava, though it uses lot of cheese. You can always find road side cafes where some live Turkish music is being played and can see people playing chess and smoking Hukkas. Hukkas ‘s are very popular in Istanbul which still shows the footprint of Arabic culture in Istanbul.
Turkey seems to have good music and dance variety with folk dances, Belly dance and Pop and Turkish rock. Belly dancer is so common, that you will rarely find an overweight lady in Istanbul. It seems, they keep themselves fit with belly dance.
Belly dance is also something which represents the nightlife of the city. There are many clubs and discos in Taksim and Akserya areas where belly dance shows are played in night. But, many of these night clubs are also pick up joints or a place to rip off the tourist money with many hidden costs. You need to be highly cautious about any stranger or a girl approaching you. They might be employed by clubs and would like to chat with you and may ask you for a drink. The moment you buy her a drink, you fall in the trap. A drink to lady can cost as much as 150 TL or 75 Euro.
I don’t rate the nightlife in Turkey as very high, as most of the place seemed to be shady and filled with pick up ladies and pimps. These are a risky preposition in Turkey , as there have been cases of robbing the tourists.
But yes, the city does look beautiful at night, with glazing lights, many shops and restaurants open till mid night and the sensuous and mysterious aura of the city, which makes you want to explore the city more and more.
Another, salient feature of the city I liked was the roads in the residential areas. They are generally very steep and the way houses are built, it looks good. Istanbul is surrounded by camile hills , which also gives a breathtaking view of the skyline of the city.
The city is also famous for its spice Bazaar and its true also to its reputation. You see variety of spices, dry fruits, fruit tea like apple tea, pomegranate tea, variety of sea foods, fresh cheese and meat and Turkish desserts.
When these shopkeepers see an India, they try to attract them by calling the names of apna bollywood stars like Amitabh bacchan, Salman khan, Kareena kapoor. Yes, the bollywood songs and dance are indeed liked by Turkish people and they find Indian women beautiful especially their big eyes.
I want to end this diary with a revelation made during the trip, that “Amit” is a Turkish name which means very big. Good to know..Ahhahaha!!!

The "TajMahal" visit

Finally got to see The "Tajmahal" landmark of love, the white beauty , one of the wonders of the world.
everything was great, except the pic u would see , in which its written, pls dont keep your shoes here , and that is like showered by shoes and chappals..
we as citijens also need to get awake , then only blaming politicians and administration, that hindustan mein aisa hota hai..
one interesting thing - heard from a guide that Shajahan wanted to build a black Tajmahal just at the other post of Yamuna as landmark of grief, but was not built, because of some engineering constraints. dont know its true or not..
amit

Liive Mumbai Live Mumbai

Mumbai has never been so live shown on TV across the world as it was during the 26th November battle. Yes, a battle between a handful of merciless fiyadeen and people of Mumbai.
And the Mumbaikars defeated not only the terrorists, but the Indian politicians as well. Politicians like Shivraj Patil our ex- home minister who spends time in changing clothes more often than caring about our motherland security, R R Patil who still believes that Mumbai attack was a small incident in the big city, Vilas Rao Deshmukh who seems to be making career into movies after politics and our very beloved Raj Thakrey , the Marathi Manush , who go on beating unarmed poor Biharis and Bhaiyaas on the streets of Mumbai. So Mr. Raj, where were you, when the incident happened. Why you didn’t thrashed the terrorist out of Mumbai. I hope, they are much bigger threat than poor North Indians, sorry Indians who come to Mumbai in search of Roti, Kapda and Jhopdi.
Its high time our politician friends get over the regions and boundaries and care about the country and its people.
Mumbai is back on track, with the same spirit but still the pain is left. They are angry for the first time. The aam aadmi, fillam wallahs , rich business mans have shed their religious lineage and are together fighting for Mumbai right, to let Mumbai live and not be live on the TV, the way it was.
There are some lines I have written on Mumbai Strive for their rights-

Let Bombay be like it was,
When peace was there and not pieces on street,
When everyone living there was a Bombaiyaa,
and not Manush, Bihari or Bhaiyaa.
Let Bombay be like it was,
When love was there,
and hatred miles away,
when people loved their life,
and not dying in trains or streets,
when netas looked it as a city,
and not a political battlefield.
Let Bombay Live and not be
Live on TV as on 26th Nov.
Jai Hind !

Amit

Cheering the Cheerleaders at IPL

I got a chance to watch two IPL matched at Mohali, first on 23rd may and the second one on 28th may, thanks to my company and my Boss. The matches were good with Kings XI Punjab being the winning side and some good sixes and fours. However, there is something in IPL T20, which sets it apart. The S Quotient. S or Stars have been a critical factor in the success of the IPL Bonanza or product. I remember the matches I watched in stadium. Though, being an ardent cricket believer, I liked watching Preity Zinta and the sexy and sleek cheerleaders equally or may be more than Yuvraj Singh or Shane Warne. And, truly speaking that was the sentiment in the stadium. I know many people , who were not in stadium wont agree to me , but the TV camera were not showing the crazy spectators who were watching Preity more than the cricket. It was like the chant of “ Preeto – Match jeeto” and continuous. Thankfully, Preity obliged the spectators with her waving, dancing and yeah some flying kisses.
Yeah, so coming back again to IPL beauties minus Preity, Katrina were the white cheerleaders. I got a chance to watch CL’s of Rajasthan Royals, Kings XI and Deccan chargers. My favorites were the Rajasthan Royals. Not just because of their short skirts, but because of being more appealing to the public. The CL’s of Kings XI and Deccan chargers used to face towards the ground whereas CL’s of Rajasthan Royals used to face towards the public and also dance some 15-20 seconds longer than other CL’s.
Its like a better reach to customer and more customer friendly attitude.
Well, though Cheerleaders have been talk of town, media and the ministers, but still cricket rules and has not been overshadowed. People, who criticize IPL, should watch in future and mark my opinion like many for its success. People, want to see entertainment, and this is what IPL is “Manoranjan ka Baap”.
I am posting some pics taken from my websites....Waiting for some test matches now..

Khalid Mahmood – A Flop film director and a senseless film critic

I have been long resisting to write against this completely biased film journalist, critic and director, but the recent comment on Amitabh Bacchan in context of the movie Bhootnath made me blast this fake and a black spot on the media.
I don’t know why , Hindustan Times is still keeping him as the movie critic. Hindustan Times will be always second to Times of India, if they continue to print bias reviews than try to be sincere in the reviews.
Well, for guys who don’t know Khalid Mahmood, I am sure many would not be knowing this flop director. He made Fiza Tehzeeb and Silsilay, all are flop movies. And , he wrote in his review, that the Youth Icon, Star of the Millennium, biggest SuperStar Indian movies has ever produced, the most humble and punctual actor Amitabh Bacchan , popularly known as Big B , to go and learn acting from Pune Film Institute. Pity , Khalid, first learn your basics, then comment on others. Well, I cant stop you in passing useless remarks , because India is a democracy and I accept rights of useless film critics like you.
Well , friends some comments I got about Khalid Mahmood from rediff.com .

by Kuldeep Sharma on Nov 22, 2007 06:50 AM

Script writer, Director and Film Critic Khalid Mohammad%u2019s Write up titled %u2018What a dard-e-Manoj%u2019 (HT, Nov. 17) was in bad taste. I have been reading his reviews and columns for a long time, and each time I get more and more convinced that he certainly has been lobbying for a particular group of people in Bollywood. His reviews smack of personal bias, and his English makes a pathetic reading. For instance, his review of Ram Gopal Verma ke Sholay was as bad in taste as the joke on Manoj Kumar in OSO.He claims to be hiding some secrets of Manoj Kumar in his belly. Some one else may claim the same about him too. He has no right to degrade the legendary actor simply because he makes a living by getting bytes from the current actors and is on their mercy all the time to fill his columns. I liked his script in Zubeida, and appreciated his work in his films Fiza and Tehzeeb. But he has not being showing the same maturity in his columns. I would urge him to respect others in the industry like Manoj Kumar and Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

Also, please find the comments by Big B himself wriiten in his blog-
And Khalid Mohammed who reviews the film for Hindustan Times of date, who instead of reviewing writes a personal letter to me through a public document, who wishes that I go and learn how to act from the Pune Film Institute, who laments at the only dialogue he heard in the entire film, my oft repeated ‘Haiiiiiiii’, who as director made three of the most colossal bombs in the history of Indian Cinema and who now tries to educate others in the craft, who credits the cast of the film as AB,AB AB, disrespecting the other eminent star presence, who allegedly as Editor of Filmfare, coerced the talent of his directed films to work for him in lieu of the alleged consideration of an Award, titles his diatribe -
‘TO BOO OR NOT TO BOO’
Well KHALIDA ! And this is not a gender error, but a call you respond to lovingly, when Jaya addresses you, as you spread yourself across our dining table in Jalsa, sipping our, in your own words, ‘exclusive and expensive wine’, this is what I have to say to you -
‘BOO’ !!!Another review on Khalid Mahmood , I found on Net on his film Silsilay , by Dr. Mandar on http://www.cinemasangeet.com/cinema/articles/?a=309
Khalid Mahmood spent years as a newspaperman- a film- critic criticizing film-makers, picking up deficiencies and finding faults with practically every film. Then he switched career and became a film-industrywalla himself. His scripts for Mammo, Zubaida and Sardari Begum were good but his own directorial ventures like Fiza and Tehzeeb haven’t really been that good. With Silsilay, he adds another lukewarm and in a way, meaningless film to his own directorial repertoire.
Khalid Mahmood, hope you learn the lesson and maintain the integrity of being from media , to at least a decent extent, if not completely.

U Me Aur Hum - Falling in Love Everyday

After a long time I saw a good positive movie, and now I regret not watching Tare Zameen Par. Last time, I had a watched a positive movie was BLACK, and it was accidentally, but no doubt I loved that movie.
What do we mean by a positive movie? A movie which can inspire you, can help the society to develop and be more mature, and at the same time not a boring documentary.
Just to give a short brief on the movie, for all those who haven’t seen the movie –
Ajay is a doctor who is enjoying holidays on cruise with his 4 frens, two of them are married couple who are a mismatch couple fighting with each other. The two other frens are Boyfriend and Girlfriend looking for making a life together. Ajay is single, but no more when he finds Kajol, one of the waitresses in the cruise and falls in love with her.
He tries to woo her, fails initially, but makes his day one day. The two get married, enjoying every day of their marital bliss, till suddenly a strange incidence happen.
He discovers that Kajol is behaving strangely, forgetting things, because she is suffering with a rare, but a tough disease called Alzheimer’s.
Meanwhile, his married couple friends get separated, though they all still form a circle of common friends and are seen hanging together.
Ajay who tries to manage the things, suddenly finds him helpless and gets Kajol admitted to a hospital, so that she can be take care of. Things turn really hard for Ajay, thinking about her every moment, and missing her. The situation can become so tough for a family whose one of their member is suffering from Alzheimer is shown in a much matured way.
One fine day, he realizes that he should take a strong step, and bring back Kajol home and take care of her himself, rather than leaving her. Seeing, this decisions his married frens who were separated feel the importance of living together and get united again.
But, what will Ajay do, because Kajol has forgotten Ajay. Its simple, Ajay manages to win heart of Kajol every few days, by telling her their old stories and in turn he gets some bonus days, when Kajol remembers him for few days. Hence, the film is about falling in love with your loved ones everyday.
Whether, someone is well, unwell, suffering with a rare disease, the strength lies in not running away from it, but facing it bravely and winning over it. I am sure movies, like this, tare Zameen par and black is going to help in changing the society.
Some take on Ajay devgan’s direction – I think he has done a fairly good job, though not excellent. The first half of the movie is light, with some double meaning lines as well and decent comedy. The second half highlight is Kajol’s power packed performance. No doubt, she is still the best actress around. The movie seems to drag a little in the end , but when you leave your seat finally, the positive energy created by the film keeps you upbeat. Guys watch it, it will help the society.