Gobinda (Kabir Bedi) drops to his death from an airplane in Octopussy, which is the most stereotyped movie about India I have ever seen. Bond's helicopter crosses Taj Mahal, lands in Benares and the auto driver takes him to Udaipur. The royal prince, mounted on elephants, hunts tigers in his backyard jungle. And of course, there are snake-charmers & fakirs on nailbeds.
Coming back to Gobinda, who drops to his death from an airplane. What could have been his thoughts like on his way down? Initially, for the first four-five hundred feet, he might have tried to think of a way out. A lake, a river. Any desperate mode to save himself. But what later? When death was inevitable. Would he have prayed for the rest of the journey? He didn't look like that kind of a guy. He might have abused Kamal Khan (his boss) for such a stupid idea like fighting Bond on the top of a plane. But most probably, he would have tried to remember all the pleasurable moments in his life. I think that is what most of us would do. But I don't want to try. Guessing is good enough.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Monday, August 27, 2007
Fat children
"The Chinese government is battling the juvenile bulge by requiring students to exercise or play sports for an hour a day at school."
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-01-08-chinese-obesity_x.htm
I have been saying this for the last ten years. The children are just not exercising. It can always be argued that this story is about China, and not about India. But hand-on-heart, we all know the truth. You can go and visit your nearest park to judge for yourself. Chances are that you would find only two prominent age groups. People above sixty and children below the age of five. The children aged between 5-18 are either off to tuitions, playing video games or romancing teenage girls.
I think children still like physical sports. They are made that way. But something is wrong somewhere. Either there are not enough playgrounds available, or we have become too affluent for "dirty" & dangerous sports. Or maybe it is easier for adults to manage children within the accessible confines of the living room. Or, perhaps, there are just not enough children of the same age to comprise a cricket team. The answer could be anything.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-01-08-chinese-obesity_x.htm
I have been saying this for the last ten years. The children are just not exercising. It can always be argued that this story is about China, and not about India. But hand-on-heart, we all know the truth. You can go and visit your nearest park to judge for yourself. Chances are that you would find only two prominent age groups. People above sixty and children below the age of five. The children aged between 5-18 are either off to tuitions, playing video games or romancing teenage girls.
I think children still like physical sports. They are made that way. But something is wrong somewhere. Either there are not enough playgrounds available, or we have become too affluent for "dirty" & dangerous sports. Or maybe it is easier for adults to manage children within the accessible confines of the living room. Or, perhaps, there are just not enough children of the same age to comprise a cricket team. The answer could be anything.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Pehle uske sign leke aao....
Amitabh Bacchan's interview on NDTV reminded me of the memorable scene in Deewar (1976). Speaking about the farmland controversy surrounding him, Amitabh responded that he has been singled out and there are millions who owned farmland, without being farmers. He said "If you are mocking me if I own farmland, target others who own farm land and do not till the land. Why are they coming after me?" Reminds you of Vijay's acerbic outburst "Pehle uske sign leke aao...".
I would tell Amitabh something similar to what his on-screen mother did. The men who own farmland illegally are not model citizens. Their activities do not give Amitabh the right to be on the wrong side of the law. And on a moral dimension, they do not share Amitabh's burden of being loved and respected by the entire country. It is greatly depressing when over-idolized movie stars and cricketers look to reduce their tax liabilities through murky transactions.
Addendum: A day or two later, Amitabh commented that while he sympathises with Sanjay Dutt, the law of the land has to be respected.
I would tell Amitabh something similar to what his on-screen mother did. The men who own farmland illegally are not model citizens. Their activities do not give Amitabh the right to be on the wrong side of the law. And on a moral dimension, they do not share Amitabh's burden of being loved and respected by the entire country. It is greatly depressing when over-idolized movie stars and cricketers look to reduce their tax liabilities through murky transactions.
Addendum: A day or two later, Amitabh commented that while he sympathises with Sanjay Dutt, the law of the land has to be respected.
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Good question!
There is something about the phrase "good question!" which sends my blood boiling. That's because mostly it is another way of saying "I don't know the answer to that one". Since few people have the guts to say "I don't know", "good question" is here to stay. However, I must admit, it is one of those old tricks that still works. While the questioner is gloating over his success, you can think of a way out. Or, at least you have him on your side. The interviewer is no more the fanged panther after a dosage of "good question" has been administered.
Rarely would you come across people who would combat "good question" with a "Thanks. Will I get a prize for it?". Perhaps a true bred Haryanvi will have the guts to do it, but not ordinary mortals like us.
"Good question" is also used sometimes as a precursor to answering questions that you know like the back of your hand (Just as Miss Worlds know the answer to "If you were reborn, what would you like to be born as?"). Here, "good question" is just another way of saying "Thanks for giving me a chance to appear extremely learned. Let me augment your reputation a bit too".
The truly good question is one that twists a problem such that it is easier to solve it. Lessons can be learnt from the oft-forwarded anecdote where NASA spent millions of dollars on a ball-pen which would work in zero-gravity. A good question like "What do we need a pen for?" would have made things much more easier.
Q: "What do we need a pen for?"
A: "To write notes"
Q: "What else can be used to write notes?"
A: "Chalks, pencils, sketchpens, markers and even PDAs to some extent"
Q: "Whats wrong with these?"
A: "Ummmmm...well, I think pencils would be just fine"
Note: Nevertheless, I must confess, I have a liking for the other variant of "good question":- "it depends". One, because you can always ask back: "Depends on what?". Two, a lot of things in life actually do depend on hundreds of factors. So, you are not lying at least.
Rarely would you come across people who would combat "good question" with a "Thanks. Will I get a prize for it?". Perhaps a true bred Haryanvi will have the guts to do it, but not ordinary mortals like us.
"Good question" is also used sometimes as a precursor to answering questions that you know like the back of your hand (Just as Miss Worlds know the answer to "If you were reborn, what would you like to be born as?"). Here, "good question" is just another way of saying "Thanks for giving me a chance to appear extremely learned. Let me augment your reputation a bit too".
The truly good question is one that twists a problem such that it is easier to solve it. Lessons can be learnt from the oft-forwarded anecdote where NASA spent millions of dollars on a ball-pen which would work in zero-gravity. A good question like "What do we need a pen for?" would have made things much more easier.
Q: "What do we need a pen for?"
A: "To write notes"
Q: "What else can be used to write notes?"
A: "Chalks, pencils, sketchpens, markers and even PDAs to some extent"
Q: "Whats wrong with these?"
A: "Ummmmm...well, I think pencils would be just fine"
Note: Nevertheless, I must confess, I have a liking for the other variant of "good question":- "it depends". One, because you can always ask back: "Depends on what?". Two, a lot of things in life actually do depend on hundreds of factors. So, you are not lying at least.
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