‘So, Sania decided to walk into the sunset with Shoaib ! Big deal’, I thought as I folded the newspaper, drained my cup of coffee and headed for work.
Big deal. Two of the biggest understated words of the month if not the year. Turns out it was a big deal going by the reactions far and wide.
Pakistan welcomed it, India hated it, Ayesha complicated it, Shehrbano Rehman exploited it for her health ministry, NDTV debated it and Bal Thackeray, well he acted his usual self by condemning it just like he did North India, Sachin Tendulkar and the rest of the world.
Who would have thought a marriage would elicit so much response and emotion. Everyone from socialites to IT professional to panwalla and dhobis had their opinion on this.
A typical conversation with a group of friends went like this :
‘How dare she marry a Pakistani, Any one would have been ok but not a Pakistani’ said a friend who has a thing against our northern neighbor.
Another young male friend wistfully said” I mean couldn’t she find one guy in the whole of India? “
“I think she just used India and our facilities for her gain “roared a kurta clad patriotic friend.
A female friend spitefully said “I think she is overrated, I mean she only looks glamorous, she can’t really play you know?”
When I meekly mentioned she did win a couple of grand slams, I was given a piecing look that said ‘whose side are you on?’
Well, I am on the side that says ‘I DON”T CARE ‘.
Who cares whom she married and where she wants to stay, as long it’s not in my flat.
I think sometimes we appoint ourselves advocates and advisors to public personalities give a dozen advices on what should they ought to do.
I say, let it be, credit them with some freedom to take their own personal decisions.
Let them get on with their life and let’s get along with ours however glamous devoid it is !
It’s simpler that way, aint’t it?
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Social Networking – The New Mantra!
( Wrote this bit for my corporate blog.. Its pretty simple and small)
A few years ago while I was still in business school ,I read an interesting snippet in the Times of India of how a businessman in Mumbai fell into a manhole and was rescued by a young woman. The businessman rushed off without as much as a word of thanks ,much to the surprise and indignation of those around. He later returned and profusely thanked his rescuer and explained the reason for his morning rush was that it was the last day to register for the Tata Yellow pages and he did not want to miss it.
Tata Yellow pages sure had its ‘fan list’ then!
Today, Facebook & Twitter is what Yellow Pages was to the numerous small and big business enterprises across the globe.
Social Networking is the new mantra! And there is no two ways about it.
An increasing number of businesses across industries are awakening to this indisputable fact. In fact, I think it’s safe to say that Social Networking as a business tool is past the initial teething problems and is in the growth stage in the Product Life Cycle.
A few interesting statistics to highlight my point:-
• 50 million non-college attendees use Facebook
• The professional social networking site LinkedIn grew 187% over the past year
• 85% of business owners participating in social media for business are doing so by way of blogging online
• 85% of social media users believe companies should interact with their consumers through social media outlets
• Six out of 10 Americans who use social media interact with companies on social media Web sites
Social Networking has made its presence in every facet of today’s organization. From branding & advertising to recruitment to relationship building, organizations actively use social networking as a strategic tool. In fact, I won’t be too surprised if companies soon start ‘tweeting’ their RFP & RFI. What started as a small internally focused initiative has now blown into a world-wide phenomenon that has changed the way we do business.
Like science-fiction writer William Gibson once said ‘The Future is here‘ Indeed the future of business interaction has arrived. And How!
A few years ago while I was still in business school ,I read an interesting snippet in the Times of India of how a businessman in Mumbai fell into a manhole and was rescued by a young woman. The businessman rushed off without as much as a word of thanks ,much to the surprise and indignation of those around. He later returned and profusely thanked his rescuer and explained the reason for his morning rush was that it was the last day to register for the Tata Yellow pages and he did not want to miss it.
Tata Yellow pages sure had its ‘fan list’ then!
Today, Facebook & Twitter is what Yellow Pages was to the numerous small and big business enterprises across the globe.
Social Networking is the new mantra! And there is no two ways about it.
An increasing number of businesses across industries are awakening to this indisputable fact. In fact, I think it’s safe to say that Social Networking as a business tool is past the initial teething problems and is in the growth stage in the Product Life Cycle.
A few interesting statistics to highlight my point:-
• 50 million non-college attendees use Facebook
• The professional social networking site LinkedIn grew 187% over the past year
• 85% of business owners participating in social media for business are doing so by way of blogging online
• 85% of social media users believe companies should interact with their consumers through social media outlets
• Six out of 10 Americans who use social media interact with companies on social media Web sites
Social Networking has made its presence in every facet of today’s organization. From branding & advertising to recruitment to relationship building, organizations actively use social networking as a strategic tool. In fact, I won’t be too surprised if companies soon start ‘tweeting’ their RFP & RFI. What started as a small internally focused initiative has now blown into a world-wide phenomenon that has changed the way we do business.
Like science-fiction writer William Gibson once said ‘The Future is here‘ Indeed the future of business interaction has arrived. And How!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
When Rahul got married !
I have been disowned by my close friends! Mercilessly and ruthlessly disowned! And why ? Thou asketh... Well, in a moment of weakness I confessed to have followed the Swayambar of Rahul Mahajan!
Yes, I am ashamed and very ashamed too at the fact that I have religiously watched the Swayambar.
I personally blame Ekta Kapoor for this. I mean, why couldn’t she air more masaledar saas-bahu serials that would have prevented me from watching this self degrading program.
Anyways, it started with curiosity. When, I heard Rahul Mahajan (hereby referred to as RM) was planning a Swayambar, I was sure the applicants list wouldn’t cross 2 which included a certain Monica and Payal. However, the fact that there were a whooping 14,000 applicants made me sit up and take notice.
What boggled me is, why would anyone want to marry Rahul Mahajan in the first place? Weren’t there better ways of suffering and to top it all why do it on TV? I mean if you wanted to make a fool of yourself there were the numerous other ways- joining the MNS included.
Anyways, with such misgivings I started watching the swayambar and I must confess after its initial disappointment (it’s no match to the Rakhi Saawant swayambar) it’s a good evening time pass.
It’s both pathetic as well as hilarious watching these clueless women pretending to be head over heels in love with RM and even still funnier to watch RM trying to make conversation.
Something he never learnt in his entire 34 years of existence. And when he laughs his moronic laughter, you want to record it and use it for your next horror play.
I especially liked the episode of the elimination of one girl called Priyadarshini. I laughed my head off when I watched her exit interview. She glared into the camera with a fury which only a woman scorned can have and declared passionately “Rahul Mahajan, zindigi bhar mein kisi mard se pyar nahi kroongi” My roomie, for the first time probably understood the meaning of ROFL.
Anyways, amid the speculations of whether RM would actually marry someone or leave it at a Swayambar, he finally married the drama queen from Bengal, Dimpy Ganguly and put an evening of our entertainment to end!
Thanks Rahul Mahajan for all the entertainment and hope to see you on Emotional Atyachar soon!
Yes, I am ashamed and very ashamed too at the fact that I have religiously watched the Swayambar.
I personally blame Ekta Kapoor for this. I mean, why couldn’t she air more masaledar saas-bahu serials that would have prevented me from watching this self degrading program.
Anyways, it started with curiosity. When, I heard Rahul Mahajan (hereby referred to as RM) was planning a Swayambar, I was sure the applicants list wouldn’t cross 2 which included a certain Monica and Payal. However, the fact that there were a whooping 14,000 applicants made me sit up and take notice.
What boggled me is, why would anyone want to marry Rahul Mahajan in the first place? Weren’t there better ways of suffering and to top it all why do it on TV? I mean if you wanted to make a fool of yourself there were the numerous other ways- joining the MNS included.
Anyways, with such misgivings I started watching the swayambar and I must confess after its initial disappointment (it’s no match to the Rakhi Saawant swayambar) it’s a good evening time pass.
It’s both pathetic as well as hilarious watching these clueless women pretending to be head over heels in love with RM and even still funnier to watch RM trying to make conversation.
Something he never learnt in his entire 34 years of existence. And when he laughs his moronic laughter, you want to record it and use it for your next horror play.
I especially liked the episode of the elimination of one girl called Priyadarshini. I laughed my head off when I watched her exit interview. She glared into the camera with a fury which only a woman scorned can have and declared passionately “Rahul Mahajan, zindigi bhar mein kisi mard se pyar nahi kroongi” My roomie, for the first time probably understood the meaning of ROFL.
Anyways, amid the speculations of whether RM would actually marry someone or leave it at a Swayambar, he finally married the drama queen from Bengal, Dimpy Ganguly and put an evening of our entertainment to end!
Thanks Rahul Mahajan for all the entertainment and hope to see you on Emotional Atyachar soon!
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Angry Kya ?!
‘There’s been a bomb blast in Koregaon Park’ informed my flat mate as soon as I reached home after a day of gallivanting with friends on February 13th.
After a moment of shocked disbelief, I frantically called my sister and a few friends to make sure they were okay. After quelling my fears, I sat down to watch the news on CNN-IBN. Watched the mangled bodies being ambulanced away, heard the groans of the injured, observed the damage, listened to the news reporters give an update and wondered …
Wondered... Not the usual question on everybody’s mind- “what do these terrorists get out of murdering innocent people?” No, I had long passed that one. What I wondered was, why is that after ensuring the safety of our dear ones ,a bomb blast invariably becomes a news item to be discussed at the lunch table the next day at work and then later archived as a ‘Oh yes, I know about that incident’?
The 9 people who died in the blast were loved and cherished by someone. We look at them as some foreigners who died in a faraway land, but there were some people halfway across the world that were waiting for their return anxiously.
I believe, we are as much to blame about such incidents as those brain-washed violence loving terrorists.
In my MBA course, we had a subject called ‘Business Ethics’ taught by a very old but very flamboyant professor. During one class he remarked, ‘there is too much anger in the world.’ And I begged to differ. I believe there is too less righteous anger in the world and that’s the reason we have to deal with such problems. What we have instead is half-baked, self–centered, selfish disapproval that passes off as anger.
I’d like to think it was Mahatma Gandhi’s righteous anger that made him resent the unfair treatment meted out to Indians in South Africa. It was Mandela’s righteous anger that made him protest against apartheid. Martin Luther king was angry enough to dream about a world where people will not be judged by their color but by their character.
And one thing I am sure of - when Righteous Anger rises, it purges out evil...bomb blasts included... Time to get a little angry... ? !
Thursday, February 4, 2010
The Road Less Travelled….( My Yours Truly Theater workshop experience)
Wrote this bit for my theater workshop testimony ..Since my blog was not updated since ages decided to break the silence with this one... Yours Truly theater is a great place to be .... check out the link to know more (http://www.yourstruly-theatre.com/)
How do you answer the audition question, ‘What’s the most unconventional thing you have done?’
I scan my brain and wonder if ‘sleep walking through my weekly review meetings ‘made a suitable answer, then realized they meant unconventional not regular.
Finally I mumble,’ I am in a choir’
I get a few blank looks (accompanied by some furious thinking behind that blank look that said ‘Huh? ‘)
Surprisingly I made it through .I should have known better….
YT is all about being unconventional!
So, whether it’s a dignified IT professional depicting a cow dung or a bank employee exploring the evolution of a bird or an engineering student acting as a jewel thief (no, not the Dev Anand variety- Just FYI, film references are frowned upon here. This is pure unadulterated THEATER), there is eccentricity in everything.
I have always wondered, what’s it about theater performers that makes them different from the zillion other actors we see on TV or the silver screen. At YT, I found my answer in a single word ‘Passion’.
It’s great to see people with undiluted passion for acting combined with a desire to do something different.
At YT, I learnt it’s not about ability but availability and humility, which is a great way for any workshop to function. So, even if I were the worst actor on stage, (A poll across the batch might just confirm my claims), I still had folks telling me I did great.
It’s about having fun, about quelling your embarrassment of looking silly and most importantly about unlocking yourself. It’s about getting back to that place where making funny noises and faces was still cool.
It’s about being yourself!
When great ideas, great people and unparalleled passion cross roads – something’s bound to happen!
And like Robert Frost my favorite poet one said I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference!
How do you answer the audition question, ‘What’s the most unconventional thing you have done?’
I scan my brain and wonder if ‘sleep walking through my weekly review meetings ‘made a suitable answer, then realized they meant unconventional not regular.
Finally I mumble,’ I am in a choir’
I get a few blank looks (accompanied by some furious thinking behind that blank look that said ‘Huh? ‘)
Surprisingly I made it through .I should have known better….
YT is all about being unconventional!
So, whether it’s a dignified IT professional depicting a cow dung or a bank employee exploring the evolution of a bird or an engineering student acting as a jewel thief (no, not the Dev Anand variety- Just FYI, film references are frowned upon here. This is pure unadulterated THEATER), there is eccentricity in everything.
I have always wondered, what’s it about theater performers that makes them different from the zillion other actors we see on TV or the silver screen. At YT, I found my answer in a single word ‘Passion’.
It’s great to see people with undiluted passion for acting combined with a desire to do something different.
At YT, I learnt it’s not about ability but availability and humility, which is a great way for any workshop to function. So, even if I were the worst actor on stage, (A poll across the batch might just confirm my claims), I still had folks telling me I did great.
It’s about having fun, about quelling your embarrassment of looking silly and most importantly about unlocking yourself. It’s about getting back to that place where making funny noises and faces was still cool.
It’s about being yourself!
When great ideas, great people and unparalleled passion cross roads – something’s bound to happen!
And like Robert Frost my favorite poet one said I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
My Christmas Miracle
Last Sunday I experienced a miracle! Yeah you heard it right...A miracle... I call it my Christmas Miracle and what was that miracle thou asketh me... Well, I met a great auto fella who was extremely good unlike the rest of his malevolent tribe!
Those who travel regularly by auto will understand the point I am trying to make. It easier to find rain in Rajasthan than a good auto person whose aim in life is not to con you out of your hard earned money (I am hoping my boss will agree to the latter part).
Anyways, last Saturday the impossible happened. I finally managed to meet a good one.
It so happened, I was invited to a Barbeque party on Sunday evening and by a stroke of bad fortune, I managed to lose my cell phone on Saturday at a Christmas Concert. Which effectively meant I could not contact half of the people I know, as I am terrible at remembering phone numbers?
Thankfully, I had the address and my friend’s number scribbled in my pocket notepad. I hailed the auto person who agreed to take me to HSR. But after going in circles for 30 mins, we still couldn’t find the place. He suggested I call my friend, but I told him I didn’t have a mobile. Then he did something unbelievable, He took out his own cell phone and offered it to me to make the call. After my friend instructed him drop me at a place known to him, he dropped me with an apology for his inability to take me to the right place.
I was still standing in stunned acceptance of the whole thing, when my friend came and whisked me off to the party place. The whole evening, passed in pleasant recollection of the whole experience.
Isn’t it great...? This Christmas thing!?
Monday, December 21, 2009
My Christmas Wish List
Christmas is round the corner! It's a time to give and receive!
While I was attending my nth Christmas party, a wish list gradually started forming in my mind cluttered with choir practices, shopping lists, Christmas programs and the works. I Know, I know, I am too old for the traditional stocking, but hey there is a child in every one of us so keeping in line with that splendid thought… Santa, here’s my very simple list for Christmas…
- My childhood/baby pictures (I don’t have a single one :( )
- To hear my little sister’s laughter on Christmas morn (This is one of those years when I am not joining family for Christmas, *Sigh*)
- The Hugo Boss ‘Deep Red’ perfume (That I know may not be a very simple wish item , but I am hoping my generous brother gets one for me when he visits India this year.. after all that’s what elder brothers are for right ;>)
- A chance to grab a backpack and travel across the world meeting new people, listening and recalling their stories.
- My green hooded sweater, I lost in a greenroom while I was hosting an event a few years ago.
- The 7 cellphones I lost! (I know some of you must be rolling with laugher on this one, but hey it’s a wish list)
- One good meal cooked by my mom made of Varan-Bhat, baingan ka bharta and bhendi chi bhaaji
- A chance to meet Rahul Gandhi (We shared the same room space at the IISC young professionals conference, but sadly he was and is still unaware of my existence, sob sob)
- A good tailor! (The last good one I had moved across the town! Why does this happen to Me!)
- My collection of trophies I won in my college days, which lies neglected somewhere at my sister’s friends place in Belgaum ( I would love to have a look at them and relive those amazing moments)
- My own private library with loads and loads of books! (I am actually drooling right now)
- And last but not least some TIME for myself which I can spend in that library !
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