What is happening to the people?
Notice how I speak from a third person's point of view, not considering myself as a part of the collective 'people', implying that these 'people' are not 'people in general' but a 'certain type of people' that quite simply get on my nerves!
Let me give you an example, recently Kumar Ketkar, the editor of a marathi newspaper, 'Loksatta', criticized the Maharashtra government for planning to build a 100 crore or so rupees worth statue of Shivaji Maharaj. In the editorial, he mentioned how that money can be put to much better use and how "political leaders use the name of Shivaji Maharaj to further their greed, symbolism and political prowess"
Now, not only was he exercising his right to opinion and the expression of said opinion, but also doing it within the limits of the law. So, what do the 'people' do? Well, they bombard his home with stones and rocks and attempt to set it on fire. And are they caught? Of course not!
I guess I'll just have to count my blessings and be thankful that atleast the rest of the media has the courage to bring these events to our ears. I say courage because, the media is constantly under attack for simply bringing the hypocricy and intolerency of various parties to light. I'm just glad that most of it is still undetered.
While I'm on the topic, let me address something that was all over the news a few months ago.
Amitabh Bacchhan talks of building a girl's school in the U.P. and is criticized for not being loyal to his "karma bhumi" (where he earns his living) but only doing good for the state to which he belongs.
Firstly, why must we be Maharashtrians or UPites, or Keralites, etc? Can we not call ourselves Indians and be grateful to any and every individual who does any good for the country, regardless in what state, city or square foot?
Secondly, these critical individuals are probably the same ones who complain of our indian minds studying here, working abroad and consequently benefitting other countries.
Doesn't the same rule apply here??
Shouldn't we be encouraging their loyalty to their "karma bhumi" and preventing them from doing any good for India, just as they tried to prevent Amitabh Bacchhan from doing any good for UP?
An example of the hypocricy I mentioned earlier.
I was watching 'Blood Diamond' yesterday. It is one of my favourite movies and not one to be taken lightly.
Well there's a scene where Leonardo Dicaprio's and Jennifer connelly's characters are having a conversation. He's a smuggler and she's a writer.
Maddy: Is it possible that you don't care how many people die because of the deals you do?
Danny: Look, people here kill each other as a way of life, its always been like that.
Maddy: So you can just watch it and go about your day?
Danny: (sarcastically) Maybe we should all just write about it then?
And that hit me, thats exactly what I'm doing, isn't it?
But then again, what they say is a contradictory subjective discussion on a topic that, when looked at objectively, actually forms middle ground.
Yes 'Action speaks louder than words' and writing about your problems doesn't solve it. But, you can't deny that it helps and they do say that 'A pen is mightier than a sword'
So, from now on I'm going to atleast write about my problems, just untill i have the strength, power and courage to take action to solve them.
Notice how I speak from a third person's point of view, not considering myself as a part of the collective 'people', implying that these 'people' are not 'people in general' but a 'certain type of people' that quite simply get on my nerves!
Let me give you an example, recently Kumar Ketkar, the editor of a marathi newspaper, 'Loksatta', criticized the Maharashtra government for planning to build a 100 crore or so rupees worth statue of Shivaji Maharaj. In the editorial, he mentioned how that money can be put to much better use and how "political leaders use the name of Shivaji Maharaj to further their greed, symbolism and political prowess"
Now, not only was he exercising his right to opinion and the expression of said opinion, but also doing it within the limits of the law. So, what do the 'people' do? Well, they bombard his home with stones and rocks and attempt to set it on fire. And are they caught? Of course not!
I guess I'll just have to count my blessings and be thankful that atleast the rest of the media has the courage to bring these events to our ears. I say courage because, the media is constantly under attack for simply bringing the hypocricy and intolerency of various parties to light. I'm just glad that most of it is still undetered.
While I'm on the topic, let me address something that was all over the news a few months ago.
Amitabh Bacchhan talks of building a girl's school in the U.P. and is criticized for not being loyal to his "karma bhumi" (where he earns his living) but only doing good for the state to which he belongs.
Firstly, why must we be Maharashtrians or UPites, or Keralites, etc? Can we not call ourselves Indians and be grateful to any and every individual who does any good for the country, regardless in what state, city or square foot?
Secondly, these critical individuals are probably the same ones who complain of our indian minds studying here, working abroad and consequently benefitting other countries.
Doesn't the same rule apply here??
Shouldn't we be encouraging their loyalty to their "karma bhumi" and preventing them from doing any good for India, just as they tried to prevent Amitabh Bacchhan from doing any good for UP?
An example of the hypocricy I mentioned earlier.
I was watching 'Blood Diamond' yesterday. It is one of my favourite movies and not one to be taken lightly.
Well there's a scene where Leonardo Dicaprio's and Jennifer connelly's characters are having a conversation. He's a smuggler and she's a writer.
Maddy: Is it possible that you don't care how many people die because of the deals you do?Danny: Look, people here kill each other as a way of life, its always been like that.
Maddy: So you can just watch it and go about your day?
Danny: (sarcastically) Maybe we should all just write about it then?
And that hit me, thats exactly what I'm doing, isn't it?
But then again, what they say is a contradictory subjective discussion on a topic that, when looked at objectively, actually forms middle ground.
Yes 'Action speaks louder than words' and writing about your problems doesn't solve it. But, you can't deny that it helps and they do say that 'A pen is mightier than a sword'
So, from now on I'm going to atleast write about my problems, just untill i have the strength, power and courage to take action to solve them.
