Live-in CHILD

Supreme Court will change the Indian social landscape. Steven and Stephen illustrated in their book Freakonomics, Michigan (or some other state) has less number of crimes because of the legalization of abortion for teenagers in 1970s (due to which there were less number of orphans). Our politicians will keep mud slinging on each other, over women reservations, dalits, temples, mosques, elephants, parks, names to be dedicated, without trying to look at the social fabric and taking the nation away from its old parochial systems.

Picture: (Maybe John and Bipasha are the icons of live-in relationship)

Supreme Court was loud and clear in the case of actress Khushboo. Article 21 of Constitution gives Right to Life, Fundamental Right. Two adults can stay together under one roof without any (registered) relationship, as they wish to. The Court’s lambasted the system for taking complaints against the actress, for her remarks on pre-marital relationship. We are not talking about morality or principles. It’s an individual’s choice, whether to marry or live-in. “Lord Krishna and Radha lived together”, the Court stated.

The Law needs to incorporate these changes and perhaps move a step forward towards registration of live-in relationships. Long live-in relationships as good as marriage was ruled in another ruling. Of course, this path was taken when the relationship lead to reproduction. But now, the case of reproduction has taken us to the next level. Why is it that a man and a woman require a stamp to prove their relationship? Perhaps for the following.

A man is denying his alleged relationship with his live-in partner with whom after living for years together and a baby, he denies any role in reproduction of the baby. What is the fault of the little angel for the choices, two individuals make in their life? Or perhaps realizes he was born by mistake. The female wants compensation from her man for the upkeep of the child. I hope Supreme Court will more likely rule in the lady’s favour.

Shouldn’t such men be ostracized from the society?

Women have choices under such circumstances. Whether to dump the man or accept him?

What Priety Zinta portrayed in movie, Kya Kehna in early 2000 is seeking society’s acceptance and demands not be banished but to be appreciated.

In my teens, after watching movie, I repeated the movie promotions to everybody, “kya app sochte hai, priya (Priety’s protagonist in the movie) ne jo kiya, woh theek kiya” (You believe what Priyadid was right). Most of the people wore an astonished expression. And then would smile/laugh at the stupid question of the youngster. But the question is there and we should have an answer for the question, whether we get or do not get into such kind of situation?

When our economy is growing, our society should also grow, to result in overall Development of the Nation.

The answer, do watch the movie?

As for the case, asking and taking the compensation is the most important aspect. Whether or not to use the money is the woman’s choice.

I am living my dream

How many of us get to say, “I am living my dream” in our lifetime. Sachin Tendulkar quoted in one of his recent numerous press meets, after hitting the score of 200 in an ODI. This IPL season is further adding to his already impeccable and unachievable records. There are hardly any records left in international Cricket which he has not scaled, when it comes to batting. Nobody talks about his 150 odd wickets, which are not a mean achievement. There are hardly any bowlers in our current Indian cricket team with 150 wickets under their cap (may be Bhajji or Zaheer).

“I wanted to play cricket whole-heartedly for the country. I am living my dream and have played with two-three generations. I wanted to be a special member of the team and I have done it,” Sachin.

Its no mean achievement to scale the heights which Tendulkar has reached. ICC has announced World Cricket Day as the day when Sachin Tendulkar was born. This is one thing, I wish to achieve in my lifetime, some road, gully, nukkad, street, award to be named after my name. I hope, I wish, I am able to. Every road, street, gully, nukkad, nullah is named after some person or perhaps the characteristic of the place. But most of them are named after the dead, Sachin has achieved it, when he is alive and kicking.

Now he is waiting for his triple century in Test cricket or perhaps may hit 100 in 20-20 even, looking at his current form. The best part of Sachin and the irony of his profession, as you grow old, gain experience, you ability to deliver starts declining after a particular stage. But he is perpetually in growth stage. A decade in International cricket means you have lived your lifetime. But this man, he has already crossed two.

In the past two months, he has been compared to every possible conceivable cricketing great or legend in the world history. But comparisons are frivolous, every era has its own heroes with its own style and achievements. Earlier they were fiery bowlers like Marshall, Walsh, Ambrose, who were always looking for prey. Now, cricket is more of a batsman’s game with little meat for bowlers. No harm to Sachin, Sachin would have been exceptional under other circumstances too.

Every other person, appealed in the press for Bharat Ratna Award for Sachin Tendulkar. Whether he gets the award or not, he is truly the Bharat Ratna. But most of all, a man who is living his dream.

Sweet Nothingness of Life

Last Sunday, when I visited home, my father and one of his old friend were happy and content with the life they have led. I always believe, we should be seeking contentment and not happiness, happiness is one of the emotion that we feel from a range of emotions across different stages and periods of our life. If you run after happiness, you will never get it; in fact, it will keep running away from you. Happiness or being happy lies in the moment. Thinking ahead, will I able to achieve the same level of gratification from my life when I grow old like my father. I am doubtful. Our lifestyle gives us barely the time for ourselves. Boss, office, clients, colleagues and if something is left, cellphone eats that time and a little time for that special person (girlfriend, wife, whosoever).

Coming back, our parents don’t approve of the express life their children are leading. But then they can only complain? As my father says, “I always tried to teach you good values and the education you wanted. Now it’s your choice, how you make the best use of them?” I am extremely thankful to my father for all the beautiful things and experiences (even distasteful experiences were necessary (like to know the sweetness, we must understand bitter first) for the process of growing up). Majorly, he didn’t force me to become doctor. Like living in a Govt. colony amongst doctors, every person is obsessed with their children becoming doctors. At the same time, I’d say, my father may not feel proud for his son, especially for the fact when I have broken almost all the values that he had taught. Somehow or the other, I have always landed up in the soup of things and experienced all the legal, not so legal and illegal things in my life, which any sane person may not testify.

No I don’t want to thank my mum or my dad. We cannot thank our parents, which is too selfish from our end. Instead we should nurture our relationship further with our parents by caring and try to love them back as much as they did when we were tiny tots.

Flamboyance at its BEST

Vijay Mallya is known for his flamboyance and style. If you have got money, you gotta enjoy life and flaunt it, exploit people. So true, I am completely gasped by this man and his style and would never condemn any of the practices that he follows. So much so, Vijay Mallya is the generalized term of flamboyance and style, for the way he lives and parties. Many can only aspire to live that kind of lifestyle.

If you feel and think, Vijay Mallya is, think for a moment again and the other name which comes is Mayawati. MAYAWATI……!!!!!!! #$%%^&*@? ?????
Yes, our very own Behanji, didi and mata for many homeless, destitute, lower class people of Uttar Pradesh. OK, well not in the same manner. Or some may say, the parallel drawn is not too interesting. We are talking about flamboyance.

Mayawati surely gives Mr. Vijay Mallya, a huge competition for turning his position in flamboyance. She is extremely flamboyant and classy when it comes to honoring dates of her party (Elephant, Bahujan Samaj Party) and the dead people of her party and herself. Mayawati’s birthday, her party’s founding, winning, losing day (God knows which all days are celebrated), Kanshi Ram’s birthday, death day, AMbedkar’s birthday or whichever way she feels.

Every time, the Opposition raises hue and cry over her flamboyance, which they say is unacceptable. Because she celebrates on public money. Everybody can splurge with his/her money, but to do it in style with the State exchequer is the highlighting factor of Mayawati.

Better part is not the celebrations, but the unveiling of new standing monuments of Elephants, Ambedkar, Kanshi Ram, Mayawati. Mayawati’s birth date is celebrated as Swabhimaan (Self-respect) diwas for the sake of all oppressed classes. How much self respect they have achieved ever since Mayawati has been in power? Or better I’d say the Oppressed are still the Opressed under the Oppressed. Oppressed has no relation to the economic status but to the tag they carry of their DALIT caste.

The whole State machinery is moved back and forth for her celebrations. We have heard it all, the statues of Ambedkar, Maya and Elephants, the parks for them, ladoos (which consume enough raw material to feed the entire India for a day), PWD officials working overtime, stage, Mughal-e-Azam sets, her penchant for diamonds, Developmental money coming in trunks, 25,000, 50,000 or 1,00,000 odd people celebrating for the occasion.

This time, it was above it all, I was surprised to look at the elegant and beautiful shape of flowers of her garland, which when opened can wrap the whole of Uttar Pradesh or the money spent on garland can help in constructing 100 elephants (on the conservative side). You look carefully and the garland has been made from 1000 Rupee Notes. Clearly hats off to Mayawati, in the times, when people are thinking about making love to save condom costs and the Govt. is preaching austerity (of course Govt. and Mayawati are in Opposition), but who cares.

Who preaches and who listens? As a famous researcher once said, “God exists, you arrive in UP/Bihar and you realize, yes certainly God does exist”.
As for our didi, she is guided by the Constitution of India, written by Ambedkar,
to the people,
for the people and
by the people.

F1 - do watch - IPL

“Manoranjan Ka Baap” is back in town! The carnival of cricket begins today. So get ready to drench in streams of fours and sixes for next 44 days. Such grand openings are generally observed for World Cup’s (any sport) but not on annual events. Akon, UB 40, Lionel Richie, Deepika Padukone will be performing for the event. No event ever (be it any other sport, politics, green earth, rape, murder, Bollywood, even other forms of cricket – ODI, Test Cricket) in India has been showered with such publicity or broadcasted across such wide range of medium.

Everybody knows that cricket’s most popular event is as much about entertainment and marketing as the sport itself, if not more. The eight IPL team captains will take an oath to respect their opponents, their teams and their umpires and sign a globe made of recyclable material to demonstrate their commitment to reduce the tournament's carbon footprint as a part of IPL’s association with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). UN will also cover IPL. And there will be brands, more than a hundred, fighting for consumer’s attention through different media, from television to the Internet to even live streaming in multiplexes.

Official IPL broadcaster SET Max is expected to take away more than 30% of the total TV ad spends in March and April when advertisers are estimated to spend around Rs 1,600 crore. SET Max will be laughing its way to the bank with all their costs and expenditure for the entire year will be recovered in 44 days, beginning March 12^th till April 25^th 2010.

“The kind of innovation in branding and sponsorship deals that have taken place this season has almost doubled the brand equity of IPL,” says Indranil Das Blah, former vice-president, Globosport India. The Google deal for live streaming of matches on YouTube, Indiagames as IPL gaming partner, Karbonn Mobiles' association as official mobile phone & title sponsor for parties post matches, ‘IPL Nights’ on MTV, special IPL shows on Colors and merchandising deal with Swiss watchmaker Bandelier are a few examples of the new branding initiatives.

In addition all the franchises are jumping in with their merchandise, t-shirts, caps, bandanas, head bands, bracelets, cricket merchandise, logos, broaches, chains, lockets and what not. The clubs are being built and soon there will be restaurant’s and pubs from franchise owners. In Europe, the organizers ran the promotional campaign. Don’t buy things manufactured during the season. They are all faulty as everybody is busy watching football. The same level of phenomena, will perhaps be witnessed. Bollywood celebrities are generally without work in IPL season and will be seen waving flags for different franchises. There are hardly any movie releases during the season. I guess, there’ll be more Bollywood celebrities than players on the venue. This time, even multiplexes will be showcasing matches, who would presume a movie.

Yes, it’s a bonanza for cricket lovers. Vijay Mallya is the happiest, the consumption of beer shoots during the IPL season. All said and done, I’d say skip the IPL match on Sunday and do watch the Bahrain GP, one of the challenging races in F1 circuit since past 15 years. Perhaps till next year or may be a year after that, F1 remains one of the costliest sports on this planet.

There have been rare or none occasions in the past when there were four teams neck to neck fighting for the title. With each posing the equal risk to the other. Closing 90’s and opening 2000’s, all the walls were painted with red colour by one name, “Michael Schumacher”. Even if somebody did succeed in posing some challenge to Schumi (as Michael is dotingly referred to), there would be a race between two.

Now after renouncing his world, Michael Schumacher is back after three year long hiatus on racing circuit under Mercedes with silver dress shedding his trademark red colour of Ferrari. Ferrari is pitching Massa and Alonso (thought to be best F1 driver these days), who had posed some serious challenge to Schumacher in his recent races. Hamilton is the man to watch from McLaren and the dashing duo of Red Bulls will be vouching for the title.

To add to the excitement, the change in rules forbid the fuel refilling for pole position holders. To add to the persistence, patience, technique, knowledge, understanding, cool head, the restraint of resources has been brought in this race. The diversity of their experience, of their age groups adds to the adrenaline rush. Alonso and Hamilton have worked as teamed together in their earlier races. But now the roles, the sides, the conditions have changed. Lets see who holds the forte on 14^th of March 2010. Do hold your seatbelts and drop your bats?

Reserved for whom?

A lot is being said and written about women, women who fought terrorists, who escaped domestic violence, who saved a toddler, who are businesswoman, making style statement, powerful woman. The idea of secular, republic and democratic India is taking shape for the first time since independence. Irrespective of sex, caste, creed, religion. We are yet to start baby steps in the other three, but firstly the sex seems to be gaining some importance. Especially after all the ballyhoo on 33% reservation for women, when we are preaching equality, the Women’s Reservation Bill on International Woman’s Day.

I know it is difficult for any man to understand what it takes to be a woman. Does it solve our issues or helps in abstaining our responsibilities by dedicating and celebrating one day in the name of woman? Pillars, symbols, parades, day’s definitely help in some way or the other. Though every day is woman’s day. A woman commands and must get respect in her home, workplaces and wherever she decides to go. The day is not far when men will be struggling for their rights.

Now getting back to the whole drama of getting the Woman’s Reservation Bill across the river. Putting things into ink and accepting it in spirit is a different ball game altogether. But then it should not be the reason for not inking in future. The whole script which ran during the process has taught many lessons.

Women from all parties joined hands after their feat on 9^th March 2010. The whole fracas is not for women’s reservation. But the battle is the build up for the War. Guess, we could comprehend, and hope it is for the better. In India, when Parliamentarians lock their horns, it is never over an issue, it is for something which serves their own/personal (can be read as party or staying in power) larger interests (read as of no use to so

ciety).

Ten/twenty years down the line, I hope I may not be running for getting my children a fake certificate under some privileged (read reserved like SC/ST. OBC, minority) category because over a period of time, we would realize there are hardly any seats left for general category. I may carry fear revealing my GENERAL category status.

But still, the optimistic will say, the structure of Reservations is changing and may undergo a complete overhaul in the coming decade. But it is here to stay. Yes, we have to not only live but die with it. All the politicians can fight for is percentage and not for abolishment of five years scheme from Nehru and Gandhi.

The perpetrators carrying the flame of under privileged categories are concerned that woman’s reservation will skew the proportion of Reservation of Dalits, OBCs. It is indeed a nice thought. Woman’s reservation will definitely eat the share from Dalits, OBCs and they hope to preserve the loss from Dalits to female Dalits. The point Yadav’s (Sharad – Lalu - Mulayam) made and over which they ransacked the Chair of Rajya Sabha (aka Vice President of India). 2-4% members aggressive gesture stalled the proceedings of the House. But the good part was the consensus of the House to 85 – 90%, fifteen years after the idea of Women’s Reservation was first raised in the Legislature. The Reserved Category is already addressing the needs/problems of SC, STs, OBCs (the most important and the biggest), Muslims, other minorities, freedom fighter, sports, North-East region, Jammu & Kashmir Category, Armed Forces, Border Forces, Underprivileged (destitutes, lost limbs), etc. etc. Of course, all of them are not found in all the reservations but yes then for different examinations, nominations, elections, selections, all such kinds of reservations are taken into consideration. However, the woman’s reservation only talks about this in legislature; Lok Sabha, State Assemblies, district bodies, local and civic bodies and Panchayats.

The Woman’s reservation is commitment from a foreign lady towards the Indian people. Congress did prove its mantle and they are capable of handling and making tough decisions, which previously they lacked and were always blackmailed by its political allies. This time, they said, Yes, we will talk about numbers but first the issue. The issue or the numbers, whichever comes first, the second loses the importance by the time, its turn comes.

But the way Yadav’s are suggesting the Bill to be drafted and desgined, it will become extremely difficult to segregate, allocate seats, issues. But may bring clarity at the same time.

To give a broad idea about the whole structure, currently out of 543 seats in Lok Sabha, 181 will be allocated for women. Out of this 181, 37.5% will go to SC/ST, OBCs woman candidates, 9.5% for Muslim woman candidates, 4% for some other type of woman candidates and hopefully 50% of it will be preserved for general category woman candidates. Quota within quota?

Until then, we can continuously shout the slogan with Mamta-di (Chief and Railway Minister) and Trinamool Congress members, were seen singing the famous song -- "We shall overcome some day".

Road to Shaadi

When I was a kid, everybody asked me, “what do you want to become in life?” I’d reply flashing my teeth, “papa”. Like every child, whose role models are his parents, I was way too flattered and excited at the authority my father commanded at home and in his professional life. Now 20 years hence -

Turning 25, 26 or 27 or perhaps 28, 29, 30, for those who are left out, is a vulnerable stage of your life, every single person you meet asks the same question, “SHAADI”. I sheepishly smile and question, “kiski”. The other person laughs and replies, “aapki”. I really enjoy such conversations wherein we turn the sides of the tables. Luckily I have a genuine excuse to evade such sorry queries, my elder brother is yet to get married, and I still have some time on my side. Why can’t we begin our conversations, with are you enjoying your life, your job, or are you trying to do something else in life? After marriage, the practical transition of question will be, “kids”, we do discuss and we do talk about it with our friends, relatives, colleagues, but I feel certain awkwardness about the same. Why can’t we let the other do, what he/she wants in life and when he/she wants? We need not force everybody through the same organic process of human existence. Actually, when everybody questions the same thing about your life, you are compelled, forced and pushed to the corner?

Now getting back to the whole Shaadi affair, our generation is sitting at crossroads and stuck between the older and the next generation of societal rules, rules which are broken but not shattered and rules which are yet in conception stage. Either we should be forced to marry with the boy/girl of our parents’ choice (like our parents did) or be allowed to decide the path of life on our own, wherein we hope to find somebody with whom we can share our life. Shaadi should be sharing our lives and not spending our lives. Don’t you feel, spending sounds burdensome?

While talking about the shaadi affair? If somebody says YES, I am in the process, then the next question, “How many?” Most of my friends have run through a dozen proposals. If the friend is a female, then it is two dozen or closer. Perhaps for the betterment of the society, men are facing more rejections these days than women.

To find a suitable person, those who feel, that yes we are in love and ready to respect and accept the responsibility of marriage, things are pretty easier for them, even convincing parents, if they are dead against the fact? This was hard part for Mr. Bhagat, but that is history.

Our parents are searching for a girl, who is educated (masters even if the son is matriculate), good looking (fair in complexion), knows cooking (dal, roti), wears jeans (rarely) and Indian wear with élan, and we are looking somebody who is smart (does not mean to be fair), intelligent (education helps but not the pre-requisite), working (maybe a diploma in fashion designing) or maybe wear a skirt, at times. Expectation mismatch from one person, how do we expect so much from a female? Ask the guy and his family, what are you willing to bring on the table.

If they are seeking a groom, he should be well educated (bachelors means highly educated), earning well (legal or illegal means), good looking (which is defined by his earnings), with strong values (no drinking or smoking) and the girl expects better educated than her, decent earning (respectable), handsome (this is controversial), good values (social drinking is fine). Again the definitions for the same person go for a toss.

The best part is parents’ like to seek their children’s consent for the same. It’s difficult to find the parents’ and children’s on the same plank or rather almost seems impossible to bring on the same plank. So that is why, things start working/moving after crossing the minimum number of 12/24 or whatever.

Here comes the harder part, young, single, independent, have been through flings, strings, affairs or maybe heart breaks, it is the same for both sexes. We all have been through our share, every person whom we meet adds to us as a human being, as a person. As we move ahead, we keep on adding the items to the ‘YES’ and ‘NO’ list for our marriage/life partner. Particularly in case of women, they have a very clear list of “NOT’s”. The hard part is always along the way, we fall in and out of love and then hunt for the same love, which is the recipe for disaster and the whole range of invariable human emotions that comes with this process of finding the right person.

I’d still say, enjoy the process with the hope, we are destined for the best.

Till then, “IN THE PROCESS” status may help.