Tuesday, April 28, 2009

We met...

(jab)...no, it was Jab we met. Either way you look at it. They met, they were chasing different things in that same moment of time. But meeting was just a customary assurance. One had realized faster than the other. Until they both realize the same thing, at the same time, they were on some circuitous path. But in this timeless land, time was just a matter of time for them. Isn't it? And if everything had to happen on time then chance would not get to have its fun.

Such was the theme of movie Jab we met. I was pleasantly surprised by this movie, by its simplicity and Kareena's acting. It was a treat! She, sometimes really does such a remarkable job. I felt the same about her talent as an actress in the movie, Omkara.

I like this song from We met jab, not really, it's Jab we met. Beautiful lyrics, sung by Ustad Rashid Khan rendered with his soothing voice.

Aaoge Jab Tum.mp3



I like this song too from the movie, Tum se hi, sung by Mohit Chauhan of Silk Route fame. That reminds me of another really really wonderful song called humsafar by them. Shoot! Now, I am fully distracted!..:)

Thursday, April 23, 2009

...

I am a little short on time hence a filler (like) post on various quotes that I stumbled on, in past few days. I find them quite powerful or interesting, so sharing it here.

These, I stumbled on while reading through the history of feminist movement:

This is no simple reform. It really is a revolution. Sex and race because they are easy and visible differences have been the primary ways of organizing human beings into superior and inferior groups and into the cheap labour in which this system still depends. We are talking about a society in which there will be no roles other than those chosen or those earned. We are really talking about humanism. ~ Gloria Steinem

We know that we can do what men can do, but we still don't know that men can do what women can do. That's absolutely crucial. We can't go on doing two jobs. ~ Gloria Steinem
( I like this one for her passive humorous tone)

But the problem is that when I go around and speak on campuses, I still don't get young men standing up and saying, 'How can I combine career and family? ~ Gloria Steinem

Isn't that the problem? That women have been swindled for centuries into substituting adornment for love, fashion (as it were) for passion? ~Erica Jong

Many beautiful women have been made happy by their own beauty, but no intelligent woman has ever been made happy by her own intelligence. ~Mignon McLaughlin

If all men are born free, how is it that all women are born slaves? ~Mary Astell

Some of us are becoming the men we wanted to marry. ~Gloria Steinem

*******

And these are plain wise words from a man I truly admire, Barack Obama:

Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. And it will leave you unfulfilled.

It's only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you will realize your true potential.

If we aren't willing to pay a price for our values, then we should ask ourselves whether we truly believe in them at all.

We need to steer clear of this poverty of ambition, where people want to drive fancy cars and wear nice clothes and live in nice apartments but don't want to work hard to accomplish these things. Everyone should try to realize their full potential.

I have seen, the desperation and disorder of the powerless.

Today we are engaged in a deadly global struggle for those who would intimidate, torture, and murder people for exercising the most basic freedoms. If we are to win this struggle and spread those freedoms, we must keep our own moral compass pointed in a true direction.
~ Barack Obama

Tuesday, April 07, 2009

A trial...

...which the world is watching! Trial of a doctor but who happened to be a human rights activist too! Trial that is going on, now for 22 long months. Trial which is not seeing any ray of hope. A trial that does not qualify this doctor to get bail because he is such a serious threat to the nation because he worked for the tribal communities which should never really qualify for basic rights, resources, or health care. Trial in a nation which reserves bails & justice for only stars like Sanjay Dutt and the likes. Trial which likes to ignore the worldwide recognition or the plea from Nobel laureates. A trial that has risen above all this to protect the nation from a threat of its kind from this doctor! Rightfully so!

A trial of its kind which does not want to know that his health is deteriorating!
Sen’s condition is deteriorating. His heart is not doing too well. He is hypertensive and suffering from an untreated prostrate ailment, needing medical care. He has asked the court several times to permit him private care at his own expense. The court will not grant it. Sen said to the judge, “Sir, my condition is deteriorating. I could suffer a heart attack any moment.” The judge was not moved. On the other hand, the police are making every attempt to make things difficult by restricting Sen’s visiting rights. Save family, no one is allowed to meet him. There is no procedure in the jail manual or Prisons Act which allows this. But it is still being done. The might of the state prevails.
Hope the trial wakes up before it's too late to avoid the load of mockery of failed judicial system of a nation which harps for its democracy. Till then people will raise their voice in every possible way!