Elections in the World's largest democracy

Elections 2009.. thats the big news story these days..everyone has taken to election fever. There are  stories of scrupulous leaders brewing hatred between communities, calls for debates between national prime-ministerial candidates- rejected quite expectedly by the incumbant candidate, money spinnning schemes by all parties of astronomical sums, frenzied campaigning and formation of new collaborations between erstwhile enemies. 

The media is having a field day- in these times od recession- i think it is one of the few industries making profits by the hour. However, the standards of journalism are a real disappointment these days.How in the world can a story be aired as "exclusive" on 10 news channels at the same time?  Why does the media devote maximum coverage to the personalities who least deserve it? For instance, the "varun gandhi" saga (I even loathe to say his name)..the media just cant let go of it!. I wonder why we never get to hear discussions about potential policies/new legislation that the different parties are comtemplating? When is the media ever going to put up one on one debates between party spokespersons on "the real issues"- and there are many to that list- electoral reforms/education/reservation/economic policies..? It is always focussed on " peudosecular vs deplorably communal" debates or "is this or that alliance going to make  or break the election?" kinda debates. Unbelieveable!

While the politicians play their games and the media continues with its poor quality- no issues coverage, there are a few heart rendering stories too. I am particularly impressed by the social activism growing in India these days. The new age Indian middle class seems to have woken from its slumber and is taking up cudgels with their leaders. Be it criticizing lameback policies on political blogs (which i regard as the biggest step that the leaders have taken to get closer to their electorate) or starting mass media programs to encourage people to vote (JAGO RE!).. these guys are the new faces of emerging India!.I was suprised to know that.. out the 44% of Indians who are educated and socially well off.. only a meagre propotion vote!..its the uneducated 60% that makes up the bulk of the  attendence at the ballot (which is the opposite of many developed countries like the US). I sincerely hope that this 40% puts up a better show this time around. 

I am also impressed by the emergence of a new breed of professional indepedent candidates around the country..a sign of frustrated souls out to solve the problems of their cities on thier own.

All in all, elections 2009 promises to be quite a showdown. All the opinion polls/ exit polls/ psephological analysis of the results when played out on TV, will have a billion people glued to their TV sets. About a month or so to go..

From my balcony..

Looks like my good friend has infused me with some poetic spirit..and as i sip my habitual evening coffee.. this is what i can find for inspiration....

From my balcony, I can see,

neem trees gently swaying in the breeze,

black clouds gathering in the skies,

bees and butterflies, as they fly.

A cuckoo "cooes", hidden in the green,

a waddling cow, "mooes" beneath.

Young lads assemble for their evening play,

just as the ladies, group, to gossip for the day,

a vendor strolls by, with his wares,

an uncle parks his car with care,

a jogger comes on his evening run,

noisy toddlers have their fun.

These and more, 

come my way, 

by my balcony,

every other day!

just some of the bustling scences of life,  enacted each day of life...

Onward sister!

Here are a few words penned down by a good friend of mine..

Run ahead, look straight ahead
Feel the breeze stinging your face
All senses programed on the the task ahead...
The thin golden line barely visible.

The sweat dripping down uncomfortably,
Your eyes straining to stay focussed
Your tongue longing for a drop.

You turn around for a seconds glance at the inviting medow.

Keep onward soldier, your prize is awaiting

Just when your lungs almost give way,
The thin golden line begins to materialize

The golden laurel waits patiently as you finally stop to admire!

Hmm...i really like this piece..it says a lot about the kind of circumstances she has been through in life..although the "golden laurel" still eludes her.. she has remained focussed on the task ahead..a lot of us were/are skeptical on her attitude.. but she has never succumbed to "giving up".. i really salute her attitude.. and pray "the golden laurel" is  soon hers forever.

Reality bites!

Reality shows.. they are all over TV..and they can become quite a addiction. It took me a while to get a hang for these shows (im always a late starter- be it fashion/techno etc). But of late, outside of the news channels (which in a way are 24 X 7 reality dramas), i've become addicted to them. Be it, the fifth season running MTV Roadies or the ever popular Amazing Race..they make the best watch on TV.You get so involved in the going-ons. The sillier they get.. the more we love them. Of course we snigger at the rules, roll our eyes over the cat-fights, ridicule the quality of some tasks..but in the end.. the show goes on..and the channel is never changed. These guys have learnt the formula for successful TV entertainment. Its much better watching the guy-next-door contestant flex muscle or the average Indian women have their verbal duels (like the many that are played out on the streets everyday) than watch over-dressed, powdered soap queens get melodramatic. And of course, you wonder if all this is in a way a "staged" show, but who cares as long as the idiot box has managed to shell out its weekly dose of "masala" and "masti", giving you a much needed time out from your routine.

An Ode to Coffee

Coffee..its simply irresistable..this tan coloured,slurpy beverage is a need in my life everyday. I prefer to have a piping hot "tumbler" of coffee in the mid afternoon.. after waking up from my power nap (read: siesta)..and i love to have it "south Indian "style..served in a standard sized stainless steel tumbler with a small steel bowl beneath it. My favorite thing about coffee is to watch the froth biuld up as i tranfer it from tumbler to bowl and back. I read somewhere, in order to get maximum froth on your coffee, one must first mix only a little milk into a glass with coffee powder and sugar and stir this vigourously and then only pour the remaining milk/boiling water. It works. Its amazing what100 ml of caffiene can do for you. I dont know if it all in the mind. But it really works..instantly all your fatigue wears off..you feel invigorated with new energy to make a fresh start(especially useful if you have spent your entire morning fruitlessly and want to make amends at mid-noon). I have my coffee slowly (like a seasoned wine taster)..taking in all the smell and flavour..its almost a disappointment when i reach the bottom!.But i keep a strict 1 glass a day policy.. and must wait for the next day afternoon for another period of romance with my favourite drink.

Be more Persuasive

Have you ever had a conversation with someone when you start off saying something and after the course of the conversation land up agreeing to the complete opposite?! Well this is one of my biggest weakness. 

Its not that the other person is being malaciously manipulative.Its just that, i give so much leverage, (so much for being polite), that i often hesitate to say something that might upset the other person. Its a big disadvantage. I think i should talk first and talk more.. maybe that will help. But sometimes we just run into "walled" personalities, who don't want to hear anything to the contary of their opinion, that it becomes difficult to convince them of anything. There are others who selectively choose what is convenient for them, and ignore the rest. These two personalities are the hardest to combat. They are invariably pessimsitic  and moan at every hurdle.

Here's something i read about handling these kinda people..and being more persuasive at a conversation..

• First do the work of defining what you really want your audience to know. Otherwise you will simply get lost in your words and either give up or come out the other end not knowing what it is you were trying to say.
  
• eliminate what is of no importance. Why? Because just as you don't want your key ideas to get lost in details, you certainly don't want them to get lost in elements that have no business being there in the first place.
  
• Say what needs to said in minimum number of words.
• People will listen to you better if you show them what they gain by listening to you.
• Display logic and give presise information..it will immediately get the attention of others.

Great gift ideas for men

I was recently reading a women's magazine who had done a men's (!) special for the forthnight. It made interesting reading. For a change instead of appealling pictures of beauty products & women's dressing, it featured watches/shirts & boxer shorts(!). Well that got me thinking.. everytime we talk of male accessories/gifts for men.. all we can think of is the usual shirt/trouser/belt/wallet/watch/deo ideas..which is pathetic for our men folk. Hence i embarked on a mission to find innovative yet affordable alternatives.. this is what i came up with...

1. a massage session at the local spa
2. a male recipe book with easy-to-do dishes
3. a backpack for all his camping trips
4. an all terrain bicycle if he likes cycling, a golf kit if he's into golf 
5. a bartender's set to mix his drinks
6. trendy glares..like the new polaroid ones
7. a year's subsciption to his favourite gadget magazine
8. an all expense paid package to some adventurous little-heard-of destination..treetop living/scuba diving.. the works
9. tickets to his favourite game/concert
10. merchandise of his fav team he supports (if he doesnt have it already)