just in case feb 2011 final
TRANSCRIPT
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Editors column
t is high time that we learn to appreciate the small things in life which, wepresume to be too insignificant, but which are really worth appreciating.
There are so many things happening around us which may not make us
noticeably happy (coz we are selfish cynics who fail to see the brighter side
f things) but the absence of which will really make us miss them. When
was the last time you appreciated your mom for the tasty food that she
ooks for you every day? The problem here lies in your very nature. You
ake your mom for granted. But, come on people, shes your mom, not a
ook. If you are still not getting my point, think of it this way, what if you
have no one to serve you that simple but tasty food after you come homerom a tiring day at college or work. Now it seems painful, doesnt it? Try
ppreciating her recipes one day. Look at the smile she will throw at you.
Thats the least you can do for that beautiful lady.
t doesnt take anything off your pride or ego to appreciate someone for
what they really deserve. Some may take it for mockery but some will really take it as a compliment & relish it.
Now, the main problem here rests in the hugely inflated egos of the common masses. The main question that
will haunt their minds is Wouldnt it look stupid if I thank my dabba-walla? Many people may take this up to
be a rhetorical question & never rack their brains to actually find an answer. But people, as a matter of fact,
here is an answer; in fact a question Wouldnt it look arrogant if you never thank the man who ensures thatyou get your dabba on time? But, still I know people. They will prefer looking arrogant but never stupid.
As William Arthur rightly says, Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you.
gnore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I may not forget you.
Appreciation can very well be described as a leverage which will not only give an impetus to your work but will
lso help catapult you to success (Now success here is a notional term & it doesnt mean absolute successIt
will help you achieve the small steps of success on your way to glory)
Now, I have also seen many people who are very cynical. Those pessimistic low lives just dont have it in themo appreciate anything. They crib and they criticize. They criticize, but they themselves never step forward to
hange anything that bothers them. All they do is just criticize. Mind you people, such people ultimately dig
heir own graves (not literally but figuratively)
Dontbe a critic always. Learn to appreciate. When you appreciate someone, not only do you yourself feel
happy but you also win appreciation from others and it does really help in the long run.
o, my message to all my readers here is;Appreciate & be appreciated.
Learn to appreciate thingssays Sam Thorat
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When people say thatIlive in the moment Iunderstand the concept and can recognize the value. But I secretly
wonder, How on earth do you really do that?
Yesterday, I spent some time on the beach with a dear friend. We were basking in the final rays of the afternoonsun when the conversation turned to his single status. He shared with me that an old girlfriend, currently
married was potentially about to be single again. Knowing he had a thing for this woman in the past, and a
desire to be in a relationship now, I was all over the potential that they may yet end up together.
Sensing his obvious lack of enthusiasm over my colorfully painted vision of his future, I asked him what is up to
you; to which he replied, I dont live in the past or the future, I live in the moment.
Live in the moment? What the heck does that mean? How do you do that? I replied angrily, with plenty ofexcitement in my voice.
He told me he didnt know how he did it, he just did.
As afternoon faded into evening his response stayed with me. I began wondering why I so automatically move out of
the present and into the future. I put myself in his shoes and imagined how I might deal with the same situation.
I discovered that I leave the present and go into the future to protect myself. If I run all the possible scenarios
through my mind, good or bad, and preparemyself for what might be, I will live happily? Right?
Well, maybe not.
Now, let this be said, Im not saying plannings a bad thing, or dreaming for that matter.But it doesnt escape my notice that a lot of the future projecting I do isnt peaceful.
I realized the supremacy of the present. Focus on something positive or beautiful right here and right now and
breathe it in.
Let yourself fully feel it. Then, be willing to let go of that too and move on to the next moment.
After our refreshing conversation my friend and I walked to the waters edge to experience the sea.
We both gasped when the coolness of the water hit our bare feet. We laughed and looked at each other and both
expressed the joy of being able to share the moment.
Its your lifeimagine the possibilities.
An incident from my lifeshares Rakshit Shah
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Whats inthe index we call it the 10ws
What matters 6
Animal welfareThis column is reserved for
causes; concerning things
which are really important but
are not given the attention
which they deserve by the
common man.
Whats the spirit 12
Mumbai Wall GraffitiThis column enumerates
the spirit of Mumbai city.
The things which we tend
to overlook, but which
give Mumbai that
Bumbaiya feel
Whats happiness 1
Anger Management
This column speaks of
philosophical way to
lifeLive life better.
Whats calling 22
Yeoor Village
This column is dedicated to
travellingWe will be
exploring some soothing &
remote places near the city
which can serve as a verygood weekend escape
Whats the fiesta 27
Kala Ghoda Art festival
This column speaks of festivals &
events happening in town.
Whats around 33
This column has been allotted to
give a brief bulletin of the current
affairs along with our views &
our takes on these issues.
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What say? 36
This column has been reserved for
interactive debates wherein our readers
will be participating & giving their views
on the issues that we select for thedebate.
What rhymes 39
Ill be there for you
This space is reserved for
poetry. There will be a fresh
poem in every issue.There will be poems of different
types & different genres
bringing forth some heavy &
emotive message.
Whats the fable 41
The puppets of statecraft
This space is dedicated to
storytelling. We will be having
different stories of common
people dealing with differenttypes of complexities in life
Whats new 45
This column is reserved for reviews of new
movies & games. We will be reviewing new
releases (not allonly the ones which are worth
reviewing).
We have this unique style of reviewing movies
wherein we believe that its notappropriate to
reveal the story line of the movie in a review. We
will only be reviewing the work of art as awhole
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Now, when it comes to wildlife, it is a common sight for
people living in the villages & mountains, but for city
sleekers its a rare treat. A zoo is a very essential placewhere people get to learn about different species of
animals and the habitat that favors them. Its the only link
between man & wild. People can learn things here and
use them to conserve our wildlife in a better manner. But,the problem here is, we have Cinema Halls, Hookah
parlors & Gaming zones on every other turning, but when
it comes to zoos, we only have the poor & modest Jijamata
Udyan (a.k.a Byculla zoo or Rani Baugh), currently ownedby BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The Zoo
has seen a lot of controversy surrounding its ill-treated
animals. I thought of seeing the truth from my very eyes.
When I went on to purchase tickets to enter the zoo, I was
amazed by the price of the tickets.5 bucks! Why is it that
today people are ready to spend 200 bucks to watch a
masala bollywood flick, but no one cares about our poor
zoo?
Does it mean that a double apple hookah is worth more
than a beautiful sambar? ( a type of deer)
Obviously not, people. We definitely need more zoos in
the city. But, this cannot be done without the cooperatio
of the people. People should start taking active interest izoos.
You can visibly judge the poor condition of the zoo is
owing to the poor maintenance. There is lush greeneryeverywhere, as small lawns have been prepared for the
people to sit, relax and also XXX; but when it comes to th
animal cages, they have not at all been well maintained.Almost all enclosures are unsafe for animals as well as
people; anybody can feed the animals anything easily.
What mattersSpeak up, people
There was a time when India
used to be famous for its dens
forests & rich wildlife. Timeles
classics like Rudyard Kiplings
The Jungle Book have beenset in these forests. But, sadly
today the forests are being
taken over by a concrete jungl
meant to reside civilized
animals, which are far worsethan the wild. The modern day
Mowgli is far too well equippe
with weapons to face todaysSherkhan, who has chickened
out of his very existence.
In these circumstances, all wecan do is try to learn more &
more about our wildlife so tha
we can protect it, nurture it.
We need to educate the young
about our rich wildlife. Now, a
city geeks only exposure to
wildlife is a zoo.
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As I entered the zoo and made my way to the Lions cage, Iwas amazed to see the completely dry water trench in the
cage.
A lioness lay there taking a
short nap just having had her
meal. I browsed through the
cage in search of a Lion but,
wasnt able to find one.
I called one of the care takers& asked him whether they
have a Lion or just a Lioness,
to which he replied, Lion
nahi aahe, ek hota pan toh
mela.(There was a lion, but he died).
Dry water trench inside lions cage
Animals devoid of their natural habitat
Now, isnt that a wonderful picture! But,theressomething amiss, isnt it? What is it?
There is no grass in the deer cage! This is a catastrophe.
How can deer be kept on a barren land without any grass
or vegetation around? A deer is an animal that ishabituated to residing in grass shrubs with plenty of
vegetation to absorb the summer heat. But, here its a
different story altogether.
As I moved ahead I came across an enclosure labeled as
Elephant. It was a huge enclosure and I started strainin
my eyes to find the majestic elephant. To my surprise, it
wasnt visible anywhere. Now, an elephant isnt as small
as to be not visible with the bare eyes.
Finally my eyes fell on a small brick cage in the centre of
the huge enclosure. To my surprise, the majestic beast
had been cramped inside that cage and was barely able t
make any movement (see picture below). The sight ofsuch a majestic beasts helplessness really upset me. But
Alas!!! ; We are just the spectators.
Again, I found the natural habitat of an elephant
completely absent. There had been a fair attempt to
maintain the enclosure as was evident by the plenty of
grass. Elephants like to bath in mud & water. There was
huge water trench in the middle of the enclosure but
sadly, it was empty.
Note: In the past, two
elephants were gifted to
Japan by this zoo.
As I moved ahead, I came
across an Emu cage.Now, here, about 5-6 of t
birds had been cramped
a small cage. Now, the
specialty of the national b
(picture below) of Austr
is, it likes to stretch its le
and run for miles. It runsa speed of up to 45 km/h
But, here the enclosure w
too small for them to run at even half the speed.
Next was the Crocodile enclosure.
There was a swamp with a bit of earth in the middle whe
the two crocodiles lay lazily trying to digest their meal.
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But the swamp was all dried up with barely a foot of water.
The water was too stagnant and not cleaned from ages. I
hope the zoo authorities know about the fact that a
crocodile is an amphibious reptile (considering they
understand the meaning of those last two words). It needs
more water to survive. It cant even submerge itself
properly into the shallow swap. We also found couple of
gutkha pouches thrown into the water.
Less than a foot deep water inside crocodile enclosure
Lastly, another sight that infuriated me was the monkeycage. There were only three monkeys in the cage.
The monkey cage was a huge enclosure but did not have
anything for the monkeys to swing on (refer picture
below). There were no trees or branches inside the cage.
Obviously, it is difficult to have actual huge trees inside
the cage, but they could have placed some artificial
poles, branches, ropes or anything for the monkeys to
swing and play on.
A lone monkey sits in a corner with a look of misery
As I was done with most of the cages, I sat down on one
of the benches in the park, to have some rest. As I was
sitting on one of the benches and reviewing the
photographs that I had clicked along, I suddenly noticed
a couple sitting on a bench beside me. Immersed in their
blossoming romance, it hardly mattered to them that
they were being watched by so many other people
nearby.
Other thing that is disturbing to see inside the zoo is theinteraction of people with the animals. They shout, clap,
and whistle scaring the shit out of the animals. The distin
sounds confuse and scare them.
People shouting at the monkeys
If there is anything to marvel at in Mumbai's
Byculla zoo, it is human behavior.
I still havent understood our countrys
unusual influence towards public display of
affection. Such cheap Romeos & Juliets have
already messed up beaches, forts, gardens &
such other public places, but now a zoo?
Such behavior of the public destroys the verypurpose of a zoo. This is not a honeymoonsuite fellows, this is a zoo. Wait, the show
isnt over yet
Fully grown people bang at the glass and
concrete boxes that detain cobras and throw
pebbles at the bear through the rusted bars
of its cage. In another cell at the other side of
the park children wait eagerly for the lone
hyena to come out of its dark corner and grab
the raw meat rotting on the ground.
Parents who do not want to see themdisappointed, call out to the hyena trying toprovoke it out of inaction. They want the
animals to do tricks. They want a circus.
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Where is our National Animal & Bird?
I was immensely pissed to see the animals kept in such a
bad shape. But, my frustration reached its epitome when
I realized that pretty much the only zoo in the city
doesnt have our national animal & our national bird.
The zoo didnt have even a single peacock, the most
beautiful bird! Our National animal, the tiger is by far
the most beautiful cat ever found. It is pretty much on
the verge of extinction. There are just about 1400 tigersleft in the country (now, even thats an old statistic) and
all we can do is just join groups on Facebook which say
Save the TigerNow how is that going to help in any
way? In fact on a more serious note, how is even my
writing this going to help in any way? It isnt going to
help unless me and you people collectively decide to
promote the cause. We intend to publish this cause in
our magazine once we are done with the legal
formalities and then we intend to start a campaign and a
fund which will be contributed to NGOs who will put
forth a helping hand. If we start a fund which can be
contributed to the maintenance of the zoos and thewelfare of the animals in there, we will be in a positionto ask for transparency in the management of our funds
and it will definitely help to restore the beauty of the
zoo.
Well, a thought, but just in case
We always hear of king hearted people adopting
orphans. The rich animal lover kinds usually adopt dogs.Some of the rich spend exorbitant prices to get the best
breed of some dog. Now, this may seem a bit impractical
but why cant they adopt tigers and other endangered
wild species. They can definitely adopt such wild
animals by funding all their maintenance expenses in
the zoo. Adoption here neednt mean keeping the animal
at your home. If you can spend such a large booty in
pampering your dogs and cats, you can definitely spend
that amount in providing basic needs to our endangered
species. That definitely will be more appreciative and no
doubt, thankful.I dont think our people and especially our governmentis so open minded as to implement such changes at this
very moment, but this set up can definitely be given a
thought.Other shocking facts
Recent death of animals at zoo, or
should I say, the negligence on the par
of authorities
In 2010
A seven-year-old female hippopotamus namedJassi died on 8th Dec due to lung failure.
Bittu Sahgal, editor ofSanctuary Asia magazine
said, The unfortunate hippo was large and so h
death did not escape our attention. No one
knows how many smaller animals die at Jijama
Udyan. The zoo is one of the worst-run in the
world. It should have long ago been convertedinto a nature interpretation centre and botanic
garden.
Shiva, a 30-year-old rhinoceros, died after hefailed to find a mate in the zoo.
Laxmi, a 20-year-old leopard also died in the zo
And hence, the zoo lost its only leopard.
In 2009
Shakti, 5 year old hippopotamus died on April
24. Anuradha Sawhney, chief functionary, PeTAsaid, "Shakti was too young to die. The BMC isn
giving details, as it is scared of receiving flakfrom the people because of its careless attitude
towards animals.
The Zoo has no lion, no tiger, and no leopard
the three big and famous members of the cat
family. And they still call it a zoo!
There was only one hyena
No water found in python cages
Water level in pound was low; ducklings were not able to swim
People were banging the glass cases of the snake enclosures and literally teasing snakes.
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The big promise, but unfortunately, its still a promise
The makeover plan The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) on March 2008 had approved Rs. 433 crore Byculla zo
makeover plan. And the plan contained: The new Veermata Jijabai Prani Sangrahalaya, better known as Rani
Baug, will house more than 90 animal species from three continents - Asia, Africa and Australia - in its 53-ac
premises. The master plan, drawn up by Bangkok-based HKS Designers & Consultants International Co Ltd a
US-based landscape designers Portico Group, proposes to replicate the animals' natural habitats. On the line
of international zoos, the new zoo will also have a 3-D theatre, a theme park, night safaris, animal rides, carpark, gift shop and restaurants among other facilities. The makeover proposes to house 273 mammals of 43
species, 183 birds of 24 species and 96 reptiles and amphibians of 26 species with an open zoo concept
enabling people to watch animals from passageways.
Just imagine, people. Its been almost 4 years and I cannotsee a single penny utilized in any way.
People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) had appealed to the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) to close
down the zoo in Byculla area, as a tourist attraction, as the authorities have failed to maintain it properly.In 2005, PETA had filed a case against the Mumbai Zoo for failing to provide even the most basic care for its
animals
There has been no proper implementation of the High Court's order. It has been four years and still there is n
improvement," Sawhney said, PETA chief functionary
Up in the airstill waiting
Times of India in its issue on June 19, 2009 reported Mumbai zoo will don new look by 2012
Hindustan times in its issue on March 09, 2010 reported Byculla zoo begins makeover
The Rs 433-crore makeover is stuck at the permission stage as the heritage committee is not happy with the
current plan.
Moving the animals the most precise & only solution
A very recentorderfrom the central zoo authority, directing the transfer of these elephants to a wild life
sanctuary or a tiger reserve, has ensured that these animals will find more breathing space. The Borivali
National Park on the outskirts of Mumbai would be a perfect place to begin. I am sure tiger conservation
efforts could also use the cash. In any case, we learn more about animals if we can observe them in their
natural environments.
There is an astonishing variety of plant life here evident immediately at its entrance. Various birds and even
bats and butterflies are naturally drawn to the trees. But environmentalists fear that plans to revamp the zoo
will happen at the expense of this immense plant life.
This can be avoided if Rani Baugh, which at present feels like a well-gardened penal complex, is converted in
the beautiful park it has the potential to be.
Furthermore, it would cost the animals less anguish and the government less money (for a surprise) tomaintain Rani Baugh as a park. No one can deny that Mumbai could use more open green spaces. Well, mayb
just in case
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Elephants-to-be-banished-from-all-zoos/articleshow/5221159.cmshttp://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Elephants-to-be-banished-from-all-zoos/articleshow/5221159.cmshttp://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Elephants-to-be-banished-from-all-zoos/articleshow/5221159.cmshttp://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Elephants-to-be-banished-from-all-zoos/articleshow/5221159.cms -
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Learn something from the Mysore Zoo (a.k.a Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Garden)
Youre greeted by the sight of giraffes just as you enter A white tiger relaxing in its sprawling green area
Polo, Indias only gorilla in captivity at Mysore Zoo Enormous & friendly enclosures for elephants.
A lion playing with his cub Zebra, a rare sight in India, and especially in a Zoo
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Mumbai Graffiti and its background
In this issue we decided to cover the Mumbai Graffiti.
Now, graffiti in Mumbai has been an old culture. Traditiona
what started off as young college rebels technique ofportraying their impatient thoughts, later on assumed reall
artistic forms
Often, graffiti was made on the walls portraying the faces ofGods & Goddesses to urge people who defecate on the publi
walls to do otherwise.
But, today the graffiti in Mumbai portrays the vivid imagina
of the painters who paint their messages on the walls in an
artistic manner.
As we were going through our previous
issue, we found something amiss. Something
just didnt seem correct. Something was
definitely missing. After thinking days on
end, we realized that we didnt have a full
fledged column which would display the
Spirit of Mumbai City despite of this being amagazine targeted at Mumbais readers.
Whats next? We started spending long
hours doing research on stuff that we wouldlike to show you people, which you people
often overlook but which give Mumbai that
Bumbaiya feel
Whats the s iritLets explore the other side of Mumbai!
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Where can you find it in Mumbai?Well, this wall graffiti is an essence of central Mumbai and
slowly spreading further to the suburbs. You can find
ads & loads of graffiti on the walls opposite Charni Road
Marine lines railway stations along the Maharashi Karve
oad. Most of the graffiti here aims at spreading the
essage of peace among cross cultures with messages
ke, Drop beats, not bombs
s we further move towards the heart of the city, we comecross another wall filled with such graffiti atLower Parel,
ulsi Pipe Road. This wall is directly opposite the Phoenix
ills Compound. The graffiti here has a much fresh appeal
it with a great variety of messages.
he masterpiece that an artist creates with the subtlertistic strokes from his brush of imagination on a rough
all canvas is amazing.
here is no better way of letting out your talent to the
ntire world.
A graffiti conveying the message of peace
Save the Mumbai Graffiti
With the attitude of the youth of today I certainly see suc
wonderful attempts of making our city beautiful, going
waste. All that people care for today, are the extremely fi
sea fronts or the drastically over crowded shopping mall
Who cares to look at the creative art portrayed on those
walls when just 100 meters away you can treat your eye
with an art created by God (am referring to bird watchin
Grow up people.
Mumbai has been ranked as the filthiest city among metr
in India. Whats more, iteven falls below cities likeAurangabad & Kanpur. Now, this graffiti on the walls
definitely helps to improve the mannerisms of people aspeople choose to avoid such walls to defecate or spit.
A graffiti discouraging people to defecate at public places.
It even says you can pee at phoenix (best part)
Our corporation spends huge sums of tax payers
money under the name of beautification of our ci
which I certainly see going down the drain. A city
doesnt get beautiful by erecting statues of iconic
leaders & marble fountains in the centre of cross
roads. True beauty of our city lies in natural, pure
and serene things like these. A few years back I
remember how filthy that wall at Tulsi Pipe Roadused to be. One could never think of using that
footpath; that bad was the stench. But, today thatfilthy wall has given way for something so creativ
& artistic, that it surprises me sometimes, Is this
really the same wall!!!
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s a culture
s more than a wall painting. Its a culture. We need toreserve it. It should be encouraged more by people
king more active interest and visiting such places
earing the graffiti. Come on people, the one at Lowerarel is just across the street from High Street Phoenix.
ou can definitely pay a visit there for 15-20 minutes, if
ot more. Also, this art needs to be encouraged and it has
spread. Especially, to the parks & sea fronts which areonsistently bearing the brunt of our bad mannered
opulation.
A casual one (or maybe I didnt think
deep enough)
Bring the change, after all,yeh hai Mumbai meri jaan
Imagine in a few years majority of the walls in the city
bearing different types of graffiti. WooDefinitely outdoo
people like me will relish the visual treat. City sleekers ar
more tuned to staying indoors not concerned of what is
happening around them but there still are some people le
who like to roam, explore, live the spirit.
So, come on people if you really feel you got it within youstep forward and contact such institutions like The WallProject. Others like me can always observe, relish & learn
But, the most important thing is, keep the spirit alive.
A graffiti encouraging people to get outside their air-
conditioned homes & live the life of an explorer
The Wall Project
The Wall Projectis one such body
which encourages this type of
graffiti. They have collaborated
with Rachna Sansad College,
Allianz Franchise and such other
institutions in search of fresh,
budding talent.To get more details of this
initiative you may follow the
below address:
http://www.thewallproject.com/
Take inspiration from ChennaiA couple of months back I was touring Chennai for some official work. Its
a quiet & cultured city; Mumbaikars just dont feel comfortable though, its
far too cultured for them. But, something really connected with me at that
juncture and gave me a warm feeling. Most of the walls in the main city of
Chennai are painted with different forms of graffiti. So wide is the varietyand so widely spread out they are that if you want to make a detailed
study, you will have to plan a four day stay at least. Naturally, owing to the
graffiti, the walls are extremely clean and you do not get to see random
spits & poops here & there. Another thing that I noticed out there was the
walls bearing the graffiti were very well maintained, with the algae & straysprouts being cleaned periodically, something thats noticeably missing
out here.
http://www.thewallproject.com/http://www.thewallproject.com/ -
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ere are some select photos of interesting graffiti
found along the way
Thats really spiritually awakening
A dreamers image
Llklklkl Hahahathis one is hilariousdiscourages jilted lovers
from scribbling their flop stories on the walls.
Environmental awareness
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A brief window into the spirit of Mumbai
A glimpse of the continuous war between the common man and the system
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You must have come across a situation where your facebecomes red, and your shoulders slightly rise upwards.
The nostrils burn and the eyebrows lean down towards
your eyes. Well, this is the default facial expression or
hould I say the body language, while expressing your
nger. And theres a sudden impulse to pick up anything
in most cases, the cellphone) and throw with a strong
potency towards any direction.What did just happen? You think the end achieved
hrough such action was worth? The problem is yet the
ame; it hasnt diminished by seeing your ways to dealwith anger. Instead, now you regret throwing yourellphone. Understand this folks you are not the only
ne with a problem. I reckon we probably all have anger
problems. Heck it, we are going to be greeted by problems
s long as we live in this world. And I believe a life without
problems is like a computer without an operating system.
You may think of yourself as not an angry person but
doesnt your blood pour out when your boss fails to give
you the recognition for the overtime and hard work?
Dont you get frustrated while being stuck in the traffic
am on your way to office while you keep banging the
horn continuously to let outyour frustration? Dont youget frustrated when the person you trusted the most has
tarted betraying you and the only thing you can think of
s revenge. Even when the dabba-walla is little late in
delivering the lunch, we are always ready with words of
nger without knowing the fact that it was the train that
was late and not the dabba-walla. Frustration is a sign of
nger.
t seems we are always on the edge of getting angry.
Anger is like volcano; like lava that has already been
created in our mind and is eagerly waiting for eruption
may still not be sure with other emotions, but anger is
unfortunately becoming part of our lives. I mean there
hasnt been a single day where anger is not there to se
us, to greet us. Something wrong happens and all of a
sudden the lava inside you pops out.
Here is a likely scenario. Imagine a vehicle hit by anoth
vehicle. Now no one is really sure whose fault it is (or
even if one is, he wont accept) buteither the drivers othe car owners will start thrashing each other. And
hundreds of people will gather around just to witness
accident-turning-into-street fight sight (who saysMumbai is a busy city!). And after 2-3 rounds of fightin
eventually both will get tired and resume the day by
getting in to the same damaged car. Now even if the
thrashing part might have overcome the frustration the car anyway stands damaged or broken. Then what
was the point of doing the Sunny Deol thing! Instead,
would have been better if one of them had accepted hi
fault or both of them had arrived at an honest solutionwhile refraining from the physical assault path. But as
said, anger is waiting to come out; it just takes a little p
and there you go. Come on people, we all have days wh
things dont turn out to be the way we want, eventuallwaking up the angry young man within us. But when
things can be worked out by practicing compassion, w
to adopt the anger path! Or else its better to keep youaggression with yourself rather than distribute it. I
understand that its difficult to control or change the
situation when being angry but at least we can control
reaction to that situation in dealing with anger.
Hold that temper
How often we get angry on the smallest ofthings, sometimes to the extent where it ruins
everything and you later realize the scenario
you just created is helpless & its impossible to
find a way out and gain back the last few
seconds or minutes.
Whats ha inessgive your life a new meaning
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Practically speaking, we are always greeted with different
motions in our everyday lives; emotions which affect our
purposes and decisions. I am proposing something
different here. Rather than giving importance to the
decisions, we need to take control of our emotions first.
Because, it is the emotion at the very moment, which will
ffect our decision and not vice versa. Some emotions can
make us avoid something or some can force us to reach
or it. When we are happy and excited (the feel good
motions) we tend to feel stress free and the vibes we
btain are positive. But what it is about anger? Why thehell is it so difficult to control? How do we deal with it?
suggest that at the time when you are angry, it is
mperative to understand the situation as well as the
haracter. Understand that anger is just another emotion.
When things go awry, dontjust transport yourself into a
tate of violence, instead, remain calm and learn to takeontrol of your mind, because it is the mind that will start
reating images of resentment and youll end up doing
omething or saying something which you will always
egret. As Ambrose Bierce said, Speak when you arengry and you will make the best speech you will ever
egret.Now I come to the situation part. Do you really think
urning your face into red and throwing an electronic
device can help you find the way out? What are you trying
o prove by removing the frustration onto a thing that
wont attack back! In fact, it shows that you are helpless
nd have already accepted defeat with yourself. Rather
han avoiding the situation, learn to deal with it. Take the
nger in and gulp it down. Agreed, you may not be able to
hange the situation, but you can control or train yourmind to respond to things or problems in a systematic and
ensitive way by implementing some constructive
echniques (Ill come to this later on). But first, let me tell
you my experience:
The other night I was having an off day. I had a deadline
o complete my office work which I failed to meet. Now
bviously this didnt sound good to my boss. Now the
words I received in response didnt sound good to me too.
And all of a sudden the anger inside me started
ssembling. I had a feeling of frustration that was
nduring inside me that I couldnt seem to control.Thoughts of throwing all the documents and papers right
n my bosss face crossed my mind. I even threw the said
ffice file in disgust. I dont know what was happening tome? Slowly, the anger started to spread like virus. It was
ffecting my interactions with family and friends. I
ealized I was no good to anyone. After some time,
plashing some water hard on my face a couple of times, I
tared at the mirror. I realized it had not been me for the
ast few hours; it was the anger inside me. If I had
ontrolled that anger by remaining calm, I could have
ome up with a solution to my problem, and also my
interaction with family and friends would have remain
unaffected. But the wild animal within me spoiled
everything.
Were human, we get angry sometimes. The important
thing however, is knowing that you need to take a
moment to control your mind and remain calm, before
you turn in to a wild animal and end up doing things
which you may regret later.
Read the following if youre aggressive in nature
The above story very rightly tells us the consequences
drawbacks of being angry on loved and closed ones.However big the problem may be, never allow your mi
empower you. Sometimes were caught up with so mathings happening in our mind that we are not able to
control it and our desired acts ruins everything, as the
say, anger is one letter short of danger.
A man came out of his home to admire his new truck
To his puzzlement, his 3 year-old son was happily
hammering dents into the shiny paint. The man ran t
his son, knocked him away, and hammered the littleboy's hands into a pulp as punishment.
When the father calmed down, he rushed his son to
the hospital.
Although the doctor tried desperately to save the
crushed bones, he finally had to amputate the fingers
from both the boy's hands. When the boy woke up
from the surgery and saw his bandaged stubs, heinnocently said, "Daddy, I'm sorry about your truck."
Then he asked, "but when are my fingers going to
grow back?" The father went home and committed
suicide.
Think about the story the next time you see someone
spill milk at a dinner table or hear a baby cry. Thinkfirst before you lose your patience and become angry
with someone you love.
Trucks can be repaired. Broken bones and hurt
feelings often cannot. Too often we fail to recognizethe difference between the person and the
performance. People make mistakes. We are allowed
to make mistakes. But the actions we take while in a
rage will haunt us forever. Pause and ponder. Think
before you act. Be patient.
Source: Sikhphilosophy network
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Constructive wayshow to deal with anger
Understanding anger:
The first step is to understand that youre angry or
rustrated, and why. Dont just get into a state where yourmind gives up; where it creates negative emotions into
you. The problem here is; if you fail to understand the
ituation, you wont get the whole picture. And without
ven thinking of anything, the mind will start acting on its
ways to accomplish its desire. Ask yourself, does it mattero me if I get angry? What will I benefit from it? The
ituation is anyway going to remain the same. Only what
will change is your outlook towards the situation. And
nce youve realized the didnt matter and no benefit
actor, thats the stage where youve understood anger,
precisely, understood yourself to deal with anger.
Pause & Ponder:
Wait, wait, why so hasty, friend?
Shall leave you with a catastrophic end
Before getting into the act of picking up anything and
mashing anything just to satisfy your frustration, pause
yourself for a moment and think. What good are you doing
o yourself by getting involved in such an act? Throwing
hings in anger is what your subconscious mind tells you.
t shows you cannot control yourself. Rather close your
yes and start breathing deeply. The breathing process
will comfort your mind and will enable you to think more
learly. I know it sounds little awkward (as if youre
meditating) but it is one of the best ways to deal with
rustration. Breathing deeply will lighten you from the
heavy burden and provide you a better approach to the
problem youre facing.
Walk yourself to a quiet place:
ts my best way to deal with anger.
f youre holding onto the anger sensation throughout the
day, its better to go somewhere alone, may be to a beach
r garden or anywhere. Park yourself wherever you feel
omfortable and then ponder over your problem. As weird
s it may sound but a quiet ambience has its effects. For
me, nature has always been the best remedy.
Talking it out:
All of us have this urge of sharing our emotions with closenes. You happy about something, you share. You sad
bout something, you share. The next time youre
rustrated, talk it out with your close buddies. Not only
will they provide you with honest solutions but sharing it
will lighten you form that heavy kilos of your problemwhich is making you angry.
Go and play some sport:
This one is more acceptable to men than women. Spor
I say, is a stress-buster. Remove your anger on to a gam
rather than keeping it within yourself. At least for the t
youre into that game, I assure you that youll be free fr
your problem and forget about your anger. A sport ste
your bad mood and introduces its own excitement.
Scream out loudly:
If you arentcomfortable with any of the above ways arather wish to keep the anger with yourself, then this i
the best and quickest remedy. I know it wont help to
change the situation but at least youve removed yourfrustration for the time being.
Walk yourself to a quiet place. It will comfyou and lighten your anger.
Remove your frustration by shouting
loudly rather than throwing away thin
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Think before you act. Look back at the last time when you
angry. Did any good come out of it? Understand the root
cause and then ask yourself: What will I gain from it? Onc
you realize that youre only affecting yourself while the
situation remaining unaffected, you have taken control ov
yourself, and thats the most important thing. Remember
time when a traffic police officer caught you while breaki
the signal and you somehow settled the issue with him bytalking kindly and controlling your anger for the moment
Because you knew removing your anger at that moment w
lead you to trouble. So the next time when you get angry
(may be, just in case), you know what to do.
Watch this film (AngerManagement) starring
Adam Sandler & Jack
Nicholson to enjoy the
humor surrounding ang
management therapy.
What Buddha said:
An angry person is ugly & sleeps poorly. Gaining a profit, he turns it into a loss, having done
damage with word & deed. A person overwhelmed with anger destroys his wealth.
Maddened with anger, he destroys his status. Relatives, friends, & colleagues avoid him.
Anger brings loss. Anger inflames the mind. He doesn't realize that his danger is born from
within. An angry person doesn't know his own benefit. An angry person doesn't see the
Dharma. A man conquered by anger is in a mass of darkness. He takes pleasure in baddeeds as if they were good, but later, when his anger is gone, he suffers as if burned with
fire. He is spoiled, blotted out, like fire enveloped in smoke. When anger spreads, when a
man becomes angry, he has no shame, no fear of evil, is not respectful in speech. For a
person overcome with anger, nothing gives light.
Religious perspective
In Catholicism:Anger in Catholicism is counted as one of the
seven deadly sins
In Hinduism:
InHinduism, anger is equated with sorrow as
a form of unrequited desire. The objects ofanger are perceived as a hindrance to the
gratification of the desires of the angry
person.Alternatively if one thinks one is
superior, the result is grief. Anger is
considered to be packed with more evilpower than desire. In the Bhagavad Gita
Krishna regards greed, anger, and lust assigns of ignorance which lead to perpetual
bondage
In Islam:The Qur'an, the central religious textofIslam,
attributes anger to prophets and believersand Muhammad's enemies.
A proximate saying of Prophet Muhammad
instructs that a judge should not pass a
judgment between any two parties when he is
in a state of anger.
Source: Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dharma_%28Buddhism%29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhagavad_Gitahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krishnahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_texthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_texthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krishnahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhagavad_Gitahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dharma_%28Buddhism%29 -
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What they said
For every minute you are angry, you lose sixty seconds of happinessAnonymous.
He who angers you conquers youElizabeth Kenny.
When you are offended at any man's fault, turn to yourself and study your own failings. Then you will forget
your anger Epictetus.
If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow. A Chinese proverb.
Anger, if not restrained, is frequently more hurtful to us than the injury that provokes it Seneca
The best answer to anger is silence.Anonymous.
Anger dwells only in the bosom of fools.Albert Einstein.
When anger rises, think of the consequencesConfucius.
Well, even they said soha-ha-ha
Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at
omeone else; you are the one who gets burned.Buddha
Never strike your wife even with a flower. Hindu proverb.
You should make a woman angry if you wish her to love. Publilius Syrus.
In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people angry and been widely regarded as
bad move. Douglas Adams.
Resentment is like taking a poison and waiting for the other person to die. Malachy McCourt.
http://thinkexist.com/quotation/when_you_are_offended_at_any_man-s_fault-turn_to/205425.htmlhttp://thinkexist.com/quotation/when_you_are_offended_at_any_man-s_fault-turn_to/205425.htmlhttp://thinkexist.com/quotation/if_you_are_patient_in_one_moment_of_anger-you/7550.htmlhttp://thinkexist.com/quotation/if_you_are_patient_in_one_moment_of_anger-you/7550.htmlhttp://thinkexist.com/quotation/anger-if_not_restrained-is_frequently_more/167369.htmlhttp://thinkexist.com/quotation/anger-if_not_restrained-is_frequently_more/167369.htmlhttp://thinkexist.com/quotation/the_best_answer_to_answer_to_anger_is_silence/7362.htmlhttp://thinkexist.com/quotation/the_best_answer_to_answer_to_anger_is_silence/7362.htmlhttp://thinkexist.com/quotation/anger_dwells_only_in_the_bosom_of_fools/221427.htmlhttp://thinkexist.com/quotation/anger_dwells_only_in_the_bosom_of_fools/221427.htmlhttp://thinkexist.com/quotation/when_anger_rises-think_of_the/181251.htmlhttp://thinkexist.com/quotation/when_anger_rises-think_of_the/181251.htmlhttp://thinkexist.com/quotation/holding_on_to_anger_is_like_grasping_a_hot_coal/12958.htmlhttp://thinkexist.com/quotation/holding_on_to_anger_is_like_grasping_a_hot_coal/12958.htmlhttp://thinkexist.com/quotation/holding_on_to_anger_is_like_grasping_a_hot_coal/12958.htmlhttp://thinkexist.com/quotation/holding_on_to_anger_is_like_grasping_a_hot_coal/12958.htmlhttp://thinkexist.com/quotation/holding_on_to_anger_is_like_grasping_a_hot_coal/12958.htmlhttp://thinkexist.com/quotation/when_anger_rises-think_of_the/181251.htmlhttp://thinkexist.com/quotation/anger_dwells_only_in_the_bosom_of_fools/221427.htmlhttp://thinkexist.com/quotation/the_best_answer_to_answer_to_anger_is_silence/7362.htmlhttp://thinkexist.com/quotation/anger-if_not_restrained-is_frequently_more/167369.htmlhttp://thinkexist.com/quotation/if_you_are_patient_in_one_moment_of_anger-you/7550.htmlhttp://thinkexist.com/quotation/when_you_are_offended_at_any_man-s_fault-turn_to/205425.htmlhttp://thinkexist.com/quotation/when_you_are_offended_at_any_man-s_fault-turn_to/205425.html -
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22 Just In Case
Well, Yeoor Hills are a couple of hills in the Yeoor
village located at Thane. The village is located in th
interiors of the Thane district and hosts a couple o
scenic landscapes. The Yeoor village also has anentrance to the Sanjay Gandhi National Park fromback side. The national park entirely as such is a h
jungle but the rear entrance from the village is a c
& serene spot and can be termed as an adventurer
paradise.
Whats calling
Lets add some memories to your life
Have you ever given a thought to exploring natural &
serene places on weekends? Busted!!! Your favorite pass
time is flipping through the channels on the idiot box or
shopping for useless things or maybe more of window
shopping when it comes to the fairer sex.Well, its not much of your mistake though. There are very
few places near the city which can serve as good weekend
getaways. But, speaking of within the city, there are none!
At least thats what I felt till a couple of days back when I
was searching for a nice weekend getaway to spend some
time outdoor exploring nature on the No TV Day, it being aSaturday. It was around this time that I came across this
place named Yeoor hills, pretty much within the city limits.
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The journey
aturday morning, we, a group of five friends and
olleagues were all ready and geared up to confront the
and of adventure that lay ahead. We began our journey
t about 7.00 a.m. We purposely wanted to keep this trip
low budget affair since it may not be possible for some
f our young readers to spend too lavishly on weekend
getaways. Our main goal here was to gather a minimum
equired amount of resources & relish the adventure
Dense foliage
As we reached the place, (details of modes of transport &
ocation mentioned ahead) we decided to trek our way
hrough the picturesque landscape in search of some nice
pictures which I could probably think of framing or
putting in the magazine. Now, the bus that leads you hereakes aghatwhich leads to the Yeoor village. Now, it is
dvised for nature lovers to get down at the stop
mmediately after theghat. There are a couple of hills &
ll of them are not located at one point. They are at some
distance from each other but taking a stroll across the
distance is much better than waiting for the bus which
urns up in an hour.
We got off as soon as the bus stopped after the ghat. The
village was about a mile from that point. We started
descending the ghat on foot, about halfway to inspect the
cenic beauty. It was about 10.30 am by the time we weredone exploring the hill. We were tired and it was time to
reshen up with some nice chai. There were no shops in
he vicinity, so we decided to make our way to the Yeoor
village.
On the way to the village, much of the land bordering theoad is private property, but there are some gaps and
paces in between which are not yet sold and give a nice
view of the valley.
As we made our way to the bazaar in the village, we
came across an Airforce Station (Restricted Area) on t
lower slopes of the Kannheri Hills.
There were someAdivasi locals in the area carrying
branches of wood to the Airforce station. We asked a
chap for some directions and asked him about the pla
to be seen in the vicinity.
The village bazaar as such is a small place and there is
much around to explore. Usually small town bazaars a
pretty interesting, but this one doesnt have anything
special apart from a few basic shops & tea stalls. By n
it was 11.00 am and the tea was a nice mental kick forto carry on all day long. The tea they make on those
stoves has a very peculiar taste to itthat rusty feel.
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Done with the tea, we made our way to the Sanjay Gandhi
National Park (from the back side). The back side entry is
bout two miles from the village and you may ask for a
andmark named Last Stop if you get stuck. Some part of
his national park falls within Yeoor, so we decided to
xplore the woods.
The national park from the front entry (Borivali) is a
rowded place as many people come there and access it
rom the front entrance but the back entrance form the
Yeoor side is deserted, calm and serene. Though from
what we found out, the place gets risky once the sun
tarts setting. So, it is advisable to go to this place in thefternoon.
There is a kachha path made up of stones which leads
you deeper & deeper into the woods. The forest here is
dense and you actually wont feel that you are within the
ity limits. This is a perfect place if you love trekking and
you are a nature enthusiast. There are two hills on this
ide of the jungle which we trekked for some distance.
adly the maps on our cell phones stopped working
beyond a certain point owing to low connectivity and
hence we decided to turn back. This place is so dense &
emote that you need to have a cellphone with a GPS
racker and you need to follow the kachha path. Failingny of these, you will end up spending the rest of your
ife, circling the woods trying to find a way out. Also, itsnot ideal for groups of just 2 or 3 people to come here
without any food or water. This place should be explored
nly in larger groups of 5 people and above. You need to
be well equipped with water, food & first aid before
ntering the woods.
We met a few people on the way and they instructed u
to a point where there is a waterfall. We went thereonly to be disappointed. Owing to the heat the waterf
has lost its vigor and its barely like a small stream or
rivulet. Though, some people told us that the place wa
a great attraction during the monsoon.
By now, it was almost 2pm and our stomach started
making its presence felt. Also, we had exhausted most
of our water resources and so tired, exhausted and
hungry, we made our way out of the national park and
back to the Yeoor village.Now, there are very few restaurants or eateries in the
village. After a long search, we found a dhaba named
Shamiyana, in the village. The signboard prominently
displays the name and its difficult to miss it.
We went inside to hog & freshen up for the rest of the
journey.
As we went through the menu,
trying to decide suitable food
to fulfill our appetite whilst not
making us lazy, I came acrossanother section in the menu,
specially reserved for
hookahs!!!
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Now, this was like an icing on the cake. A nice peach mint
hookah would be a great way to relax and unwind after
having walked miles on end.
The hookah was classy and soothing. But, sadly I may not
be able to use any of these adjectives for the food since it
was pretty disappointing. It lacked taste and a particular
quality that we expected. But, this being the only choice,
we dug in.
By the time we were done, it was about 3pm. Our next
destination was the foothills of Kannheri. Now, these
Kannheri hills are extremely beautiful but they have anAirforce station on the top and so most of it is a restricted
rea. Despite of this, we didnt lose heart and made thebest of what was available.
The foothills of Kannheri are beautiful with dense forest
& lush greenery around. Also, it is a nice trekking slope
or Amateur trekkers. We saw groups of people sitting
under the trees and enjoying booze. No wonder such
ecluded places are written off as encouraging anti-social
lements. Come on people, you can booze in some dhaba;
his is not a bloody place to booze!!!
One of the goons drunk beyond his senses even offered
us a drink.
You are not going to put our photos in newspaper na?ne of the fools asked.
You see, nowadays media people are doing so many
ting operations that I feel scared, added another one.
We camped at a point in the hills and played cards for
ome time. We began with our return journey by about
4.30pm, since the hills get risky during the evening.
nakes, leopards & other wildlife.
We caught the bus from the Yeoor village bus stop
which took us straight to the Thane station.
How do you get thereAs I mentioned earlier, I wanted to keep this trip a low
budget affair since some of our young readers are not
a position to spend too lavishly on weekend getaways
So, we used the public means of transport; and guess
what, we got done in 40 bucks per head including the
return fare.Directions to get there:
Board a train from the Central line of Mumbai Suburb
Railway heading towards Thane. Get down at the Tha
station on the Western side. There you will come acros
fly over cum sky walk which sports a bus stop in the
middle. Take the TMT Bus No. 11 labeled as Yeoor villaPurchase a ticket for Yeoor village & get down
immediately after you climb the ghat. For the Sanjay
Gandhi National Park back side entrance ask for a
landmark named Last Stop. For the Kannheri hills as
for a landmark named Golden Swan Country Club.
The light distortion through the leaves caught my eye
Fellows before you leave for a trip here; youneed to understand that this is no amusement
park or beach. Its a forest. You need to be wellgeared with lots of water, some food & first aid.
Carry a cellphone having GPS facility; it is a
must. Also, plan the trip with a group of a
minimum of five members. If you are wellprepared it will be a nice trekking adventure
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Pictures speak louder than words
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27 Just In Case
We decided to visit the festival on the very first day. Now, the venue for thisfestival is the Kala Ghoda area in South Mumbai. You can reach there by
boarding a Churchgate bound local train from the Western line or by boardin
CST bound local train from the Central/Harbor line. The venue is at a distanc
about two miles from these stations. Later, you may board a cab or walk it up
(closer from CST).
As we made our way to the Rampart row street we came across the finest &choicest forms of art on display. Now, none of us being experts in that partic
field, we were not in a position to actually comment on the quality or
technicalities of the art forms; but nonetheless, we decided to open our lens
capture the beautiful creations on our tape. Some of the art forms displayed
the street were very beautiful, artistic & simple giving out simple messages.
at the same time, there were few which were as difficult to interpret and
understand, making you wonder what exactly was going through the mind o
the artist while creating it. Thankfully for people like me who are a bit ignorabout this field, placards have been placed near the art explaining the details
interpretations of the art form.
Whats the fiesta
the Mumbai (m ) wa of celebratin
The months of January &
February were jam packedwith festivals. But, we
wanted to give our readers,
something which is fresh &
currently taking place.Subsequently, we decided to
cover The Kala Ghoda festivalin this months issue.
The Kala Ghoda festival is an
art festival held in the South
Mumbai area of Kala Ghoda.
Its an annual festival & isheld for about 8-10 days in
January or February. The
festival was first held in 1999
& since then it has been a
huge success among the art
lovers. Huge crowds young &old alike (including
foreigners) turn up for thisevent which is one of the
largest art festivals in the
financial capital. The KalaGhoda area plays host to a
couple of art institutions like
the Jahangir Art Gallery & the
Bombay Natural History
Society. This festival is held
on the Rampart Row Street.
The festival includes Art in
the form of fine art,literature, street display of
art, etc.
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The Bollywood cowwas a cow shaped statue with vibra
& colorful faces of Bollywood stars on it. Though it ma
me wonder, why Lord Hanumans face in between the
glam sham? Did you notice?
As the sun started setting and the twilight became more
pparent, the lights and decoration on these art forms
were turned on, making them look even more vibrant and
ffective, just like the Kala Ghoda to your right.
As we moved on from one art form to another, trying tonterpret the artists mind set, we came across differentrt forms carrying real worthy messages & promoting
mportant causes. Just like the save the tigers initiative
pic to your right).
The round ball (pic to your left) created from bambooscane symbolizes our mother earth, and the junk filled
inside, represents the increasing hazardous plastic was
that is damaging the ecology and destroying our mothe
earth.
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An interactive art form wherein you can poke the replica o
common man, bandaged and suffocating, slept over an MRI
bed; to let out your resentment and feel better.
The placard explaining the art form had a very nice short
poem attached to itIll poke you because its fun,
Ill poke you till you are numb,
Ill poke you to make you fit into my beliefs,
And poke and poke till you are just like me
Ill poke you
Thats a replica of the famous chocolate boy super hero
Spiderman. The replica doesnt at all look extraordinaryill you actually notice the fine details of the structure &
keenly observe what its actually made up of.The entire thing has been made up of mechanized motor
parts. Spares of motors have been meticulously arranged
nd bound together to bring to existence the superhero.
The statue looks nice and rusty, and has a metallic and
obust feel to it
Now, this was another similar type of a statue, this time
rather having a steering wheel in the place of a head. We
now thats symbolic for a brain as per my interpretation
Your brain does actually act like a steering helping you t
determine the direction in which you flow (figuratively)
As we moved along the street, there were some superb a
forms that grabbed my attention and made their way on
my cameras lens
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The haphazards of noise pollution on the common man
That one symbolizes a rat race to the ultimate perish (my interpretation)
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This was a superb art form which really won my heart. The placa
displayed beside the art had a precise explanation helping you to
understand the artists point of view. In a card game, the Kings &
the Queens are the celebrities who steal all the limelight. The Jok
is a poor loner who is neutral but nonetheless powerful enough t
help save the game for the person who holds him. Now, this joker is related to the common man who is never in the
limelight, but is the most important & powerful card in the card
game called lifeThe Kings & Queens are the politicians that hechoosesHe is the ultimate power
The art leaves you with a question, as to who you really want to b
the powerful yet uncertain King or the common but nonetheless
powerful Joker?
Camouflage Harvest
Now, this one did look as if based on an interesting
oncept with the placard stating that it depicts the
ommon working man caught in between religion &
politics, but I was not rather able to interpret
nything from this one (blame it on my poor art)
The festival also includes the art of literature. There
re several workshops organized in the nearby
ahangir Gallery & the BNHS. We attended the
nteractive Story-telling Workshop. This work shop
irst had some famous story writers brief us about
he art of story writing. After that the audiences
were encouraged to participate in interactive
discussions carried out in the workshop. Another
workshop we attended was based on the art of
poetry writing, Catching a Poem.
There were also a lot of literature based workshops
or children basically to discard the fear of poetry &
ther forms of literature quite naturally present
mongst children.
n the middle of the crescent shaped street anmphitheatre has been set up to host several cultural
hows & dance performances which take place after
hort time intervals of fifteen minutes starting from
6pm right up to 9pm.
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On the street, there are some stalls bearing artists who
prepare their art spontaneously. There are sketch artists,
who prepare actual sketches of peoples faces. There are
omic sketch artists as well. There is this one stall where,
potter prepares pots for you on the spot & even you may
end you hand, if you wish toAmazing experience
eally
As we moved on, we came across this huge dinner table set
up covered with a white cloth on which you may scribble
your own message.
Our messagea moment for yourself; to relive,to cherish
The whole experience as such was a fantastic one. I
wish to see and attend more such art festivals which
re not hardcore art fests but which even the common
man like me can enjoy.
The festival overall is a nice experience and a must
visit for art lovers and all youngsters for that matter;ts within the city andyou donteven need to pay any
ntry fee.
The festival goes on till 13th February. You
may get a complete schedule of events by
following the below web addresses.
www.kalaghoda.timesofindia.indiatimes.com
www.kalaghodaassociation.com
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Reshuffling Renovating the same old furniture
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday, January 19, 2010 reshuffled some of the ministers from
their post by dropping few of them and adding more. Prime Minister also announced that he would have
another reshuffle after the budget (likely on 28th February). The makeover is partial, even half-hearted withministers shifted from one portfolio to another. Those shown the yellow cards will be handed the red card
if they continue sitting on their hands, said an official. Yet, the reshuffle throws up more questions than
answers, eventually leaving many people dissatisfied.
The new MANMOHAN ARMY Know your ministers (a.k.a villains)
Jaipal Reddy, 69 Minister for Petroleum & Natural gas.
I say:Its a different story that this will lead to a further rise in petrol prices, and eventually it did.Kapil Sibal, 62 Retains communications & IT and Human Resources Development as cabinet minister.
I say: Did I just hear retained as communications & IT minister? And still we see no progress in the 2G spectrum scamapart from CBI nailing A Raja recently. But then A Raja is just a face, behind him many politicians and corporate
tycoons are involved. Well, lets just leave the issue to the minister himself.
Sharad Pawar, 70Retains cabinet rank as agriculture minister.
I say: Now hes the big player. Hes also the president of the ICC. I still wonder why him? But as an agriculture
minister, why did he fail to prevent the prices from going through the roof? More and more farmers are finding
agriculture a loss-making venture. Though our foodgrain production has gone up, the onion price rise fiasco proves
once again that we need to reform our agriculture sector. But who the hell cares for my opinion. Lets just leave the
issue to the minister himself.
Salman Khursheed, 57 Elevated to water resources & minority affairs ministry.
Praful Patel, 53 Cabinet rank for heavy industries & public enterprises. Previously minister of civil aviation
Vilasrao Deshmukh, 65 Gets ministry of rural development & panchayati raj.
I say: In spite of his name figuring in Adarsh housing society scam, he still gets a ministry! Again I still wonder why?CP Joshi, 60 Gets ministry of road transport & highways.
I say: And Im still paying the toll to the more than 20 year old Vashi Bridge.
Kamal Nath, 64 Gets ministry of urban development.
I say: Keep dreaming. Shanghai is anyway 100 years ahead of Mumbai.
Murli Deora, 74 Gets ministry of corporate affairs.
SK Sahay, 59 Gets ministry for tourism.
Ajay Maken, 47 Gets ministry for youth affairs & sports.
I say: Aaahhhfinally a 50 under minister.
How these ministers will perform in the boards after the budget session is anybodys guess. It has become
increasingly clear that the government and the party are in a self-destructive mode. It is also difficult to believe thatanother reshuffle may actually take place in the life of this government, given its track record of indecision.
So, the glass may be half full, but its still half empty. And I always wonder why?
Whats aroundan outlook of the current affairs
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The Oil Mafia makes its presence felt
The month of Jan 2011 saw a shocking expose of the deadly oil Mafia in the country. The existence of an Oil
Mafia was always known but their existence had always been under the wraps. However, a shocking event i
Jan 2011 brought to light the illegal crimes committed by these oil hoarders.
Oil mafia unveiled
Additional Collector of Malegaon, Yashwant Sonawane was brutally murdered on 25th January 2011 by the oil mafia.
He was allegedly burnt alive at Manmad near Nasik when he tried to alert government officials about oil thefts which
were being carried out regularly by the Oil Mafia. He even had taped video evidence of the oil thefts taking place whicwere later procured by the police.
How it happened
Sonawne was on his way to Nandgaon for some meeting when he spotted some trucks parked suspiciously near the o
depots of HPCL & BPCL. Sonawne didnt have any police cover at this time & he didnt bother to inform the policeeither. He directly went ahead to inspect the trucks when some of the notorious smugglers headed by Popat Shinde
attacked him & set him ablaze. During this incident, Yashwant Soanwne allegedly held on to Popat Shinde who also go
burnt & later succumbed to the burn injuries at the Malegaon Civil Hospital. Yashwant Sonawne was declared dead on
admission.
Death of democracy
This can very well be seen as death of democracy. There are stories of Sonawnes alleged link ups with the Oil mafia in
the past but so far no substantial evidence has been procured. But, nonetheless murdering a high level government
official with such ease, its definitely a mockery of our democracy. The worst part of the story is, still the investigation
havent reached to the level of the actual goons involved. Arresting & prosecuting henchmen is not in any way going thelp in this case. This is a far too serious crime with the oil prices soaring to an all time high & the oil mafia keen on
hoarding maximum oil to further inflate the prices & adulterate the quality.
Repercussions of the fire
The fire that was set up to burn alive Yashwant Sonawne may have killed him but now the fire is definitely going to
spread further & burn the Oil Mafia too. Within a week of this ghastly incident, the government carried out more than
200 raids within the state of Maharashtra to check the illegal hoarding & adulteration of oil by the Oil Mafia. This
incident has had serious repercussions on small time oil related businesses.
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A political satire (inspired by Manas Chakravarty, Loose Cannon)
Mr. Singh, will you please look into the matter?
The prime minister watched wearily as the Opposition continued with the uproar in the House (Parliament
His eyebrows leaning towards his eyes while his face as usual showing the calm expression.
Where is she (Sonia Gandhi)? he wonders.
Hey MS, I m right here, next to you, the table to your left, she (Sonia Gandhi) signals him.
Aaahhhfor a moment it occurred to me that I was lost, his eyes spoke the expression. But now, his eyeswere cold and hard as the opposition was not stopping. He shouted, Enough is enough.
Why are they shouting so much? asked Kapil Sibal
Theyre still demanding JPC (Joint Parliamentary Probe) into 2G scam. said the PM.
But now that A Raja is in his hometown, whats the matter with the opposition? asked Kapil Sibal.
Hometown? You mean the Jail? PM sounded curious.
No, I mean Chennai, replied Sibal.
Anyway, theyre the opposition party, even if theres no matter, they will still shout. said PM.
Onion prices are finally stable, said the party spokesperson.
Then I must congratulate Mr. Pawar for this, PM said.
(Sharad Pawar seemed expressionless)
Hey Pawar, where were you lost? PM asked.Oh Sir, I was figuring about the sponsorship and telecasting deal for the upcoming World Cup, replied Paw
Oh yeahfax me the time table later, but didnt you hear, onion prices are finally stable. Good job, Pawar.
Why thank me? Pawar questioned.
Youre the agriculture minister. Thats your department, right? PM asked
But didnt they tell you thats my side business. Ive have a much bigger liabilityoh sorry, responsibility
now, Pawar said.But are the ICCs board of members happy with your performance, PM asked.
Sir, I dont know about that, but they are happy of the BCCI funding them.
Ye achi baat nahi hai,a sound came from nowhere.
Oh teri PM jumped in excitement.What happened, are you alright? enquired, Pranab.
Ya, I am fine. Its just that sometimes I feel Atalji is somewhere near, PM said.
So Pranab, hows the budget preparation going on? PM asked.
In full-swing, sir. Ive renamed the Budget 2010 folder with the budget 2011, Pranab answered.
Very Goodand what about the black money account holders issue? Are you following up with Switzerland
bank officials or the government? PM asked.
At the stroke ofour midnight hour, when Switzerland is having lunch, well have a tryst with destiny, Pran
said with a tough look on his face.
HurrayChalo Delhi, then, PM said in excitement.
Sir, we are already in Delhi, Pranab corrected him.
Oh terisorry, I was drawn in to the 1947 days, PM said.
(In between the session, the PMs phone rang)
Sir, the oil prices are going up, well have to increase the subsidy.
HmmmIll look into the matter, PM said.
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The views we got were a few but very well explained and well
justified.
Here, Mitika Mavaniis of the opinion that the answer to thedebatable question depends upon the situation.
Honestly speaking, views aboutbeing ignorant or not depend
upon what it really is.She explains, Giving our attention to that which makes us feel
bad, such as the false media, is not doing any good and will not
help anyone!! In fact, giving our attention to the bad will only
continue the problems and create more bad to look at, just asgiving our attention to that which makes us feel good, living in
harmony, will improve our physiological and emotional health
and will help produce more good to look at in the world.She went as far as to highlight & show acceptance to our editor
Rakshits quote-Life is more than just living for ourselves.
What say?Lets look at your point of view
When it came to the debate section, we
were really in a fix. We really didnt
know what type of topic would interestyou & drive you to put your views.
Last months debate topic was pretty
much of a common issue & an easy one
to debate. But, we wanted something
more influential, something which
characterizes the basic things within an
individual. We wanted people to reflect
their personalities while debating & so
we zeroed in on this issue
A couple of months ago when the hearing for
the Ayodhya case was underway, I was just
going through one of the newspapers when I h
across an article wherein a news reporter aske
a guy in his late teens, "Tomorrow probably thcourt is going to give its final verdict. What are
your expectations? What concerns you?"
The answer was out of the world...
"Ayodhya? Who cares...I don't even know wha
the case exactly is...What concerns me is, if
there is any commotion tomorrow owing to th
verdict, I won't be able to reach my class test o
time...As for expectations, I care not aboutAyodhya...I want to see a 10/10 on my answer
sheet."Now, this answer really left me dumbstruck fo
a moment.
My initial reaction was,
'How can the youth of today be so damn
irresponsible as to be so indifferent about such
basic general knowledge? Shouldn't they be
aware of what is going on in their country?
Shouldn't they have a point of view?'
But, as I was thinking about it, another thoughcrept into my mind...
'Isn't it good that all that the youth care abouttoday are their own personal lives...Isn't it goo
that they do not care to educate themselves
about such controversies involving religion?Isn't it true that somewhere at the back of the
mind a person who has up to date knowledge
about such things subconsciously starts
forming an opinion or bias?'
What say people?
Ignorance is bad or Ignorance is bliss?
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A similar view was expressed by
Mohammed Dahodwala, who believes that,
Ignorance is bad as well as bliss.......
Ignorance concerning religious outbursts is bliss
Ignorance concerning politicalviews and opinions is bad...He believes that its not possible to draw the attention of
youth to important news coz they are too caught up in the
very competition for survival
Ii feel people today have no time to think beyond theircareers...all they want is to earn money...& Idont see any
harm in that...in todays cut throat competition people need
to be fierce in their respective careers....everyone wants to
be on the top...with so much of corruption a single person
cannot bring justice...the whole country needs to stand
up...but none wants to take the initiative...people are just
waiting for the things to happen on their own.....
There was another interesting take on this issue, a one by
Paunil Shah,
IGNORANCE IS BAD....how can u just ignore the problems or issues concerning
our country just because you have other worries orproblems in life...!
He meticulously segregates the problems & says that we
dont have a right to criticize the people running the
country for us, if we ourselves are not aware of what is
going on around us
ACCEPTED...that we can never handle issues which are
highly complicated and need high experience and courage
to deal with...ACCEPTED...!!! that we have so many other chores to finish
and so many other situations and problems to tackle on
daily basis...but of course we can keep a track of the current affairs...we
can have a view about it...be it wrong or right...
and COME ON...!!! without knowing the current affairs or
conditions and issues which our country is facing we can
never criticize our country or the people who are running it
AND become part of the decision taken by them...and nor
can we call ourselves the part of our country because by
ignoring such issues we indirectly switch off our connection
with the outside world...the real world...
Though we can never have a minute by minute track of
everything due to our busy schedule...but we can certainly
take some time out...to gain knowledge about currentaffairs through various media available...and can at least
conclude an opinion....
it never makes anybody
right/wrong...pessimists/optimistic...racists/secular to
confide an opinion about anything....
SO I WOULD DEFINITELY SAY.... IGNORANCE IS BAD....
Going by the comments there was a majority who was
the opinion thatIgnorance is bad. But, I was waiting for
someone who would contradict this point of view & giv
reasonable explanation to support their take
My expectation was first fulfilled by Debanjan Saha. H
has a very sarcastic take on the issue
Are we really ignorant or are we just so cramped up wit
work that we just dont give a damn....!Yes, Ayodhya is the birth place of Lord Ram, but does he
invite me to his birthday party...not in my lifetime, howevthe price rise issue does affect me, the verdict does affect
my future coz if I miss a train or bus thanks to our moral
police, they wont have the face, guts (or any part of the
body for that matter) to take responsibility of it!
So, unless Lord Ram is inviting me to his birthday party oone of our politicians are doing a hanuman Sanjeevani a
for the poor people dying on the roads coz of a traffic jam
(caused by our representatives nonetheless) I really don
care...!!!What he says here, is that there are still people who can
differentiate between right or wrong & then the questi
of ignorance becomes irrelevant
The history is dead let it RIP if ignorance be the tool tha
doing it, so be it
coz there r always the smart people out there who know
identify the right from the wrong and they will do what i
needed
what u both have put up Sam & Rakshit is what has com
across our past president APJ ABDUL KALAM years
ago...We are a country of a billion but think with the min
of only thousands....
MY take as long as peace prevails so be it!
Anisha Raju toohas an interesting take on the issue,wherein she believes that sometimes ignorance helps y
to be stronger
Ignorance many a times is bliss! Knowing too much ofanything may prove disadvantageous.....now for example
a little child happens to crawl up to a lion...The child
doesnt realize that the lion could kill him and eat him
up...he would not face any tension/stress whatsoever. On
the contrary had any of us been in that position we woul
have peed in the pants. For me ignorance mainly reduces
momentary tension, anxiety and stress. My above examp
may not entirely justify what I am trying to say but the
bottom line remains the same. I would rather choose not
be informed about the happenings around us... All I can
hear is rape cases, abductions, terrorist activities, global
warming, violent killings and corruption. Reading up on
this doesnt pacify me in any way. I would ideally not like
be informed about all the anti-social elements (which is
course not 100% possible but yeah to an extent) andthink that I am living in an ideal world and have tempor
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peace of mind instead of worrying 24x7. Today 80% of all
illnesses are caused as a result of mental stress and worry.
So why not have a blissful state of mind however short the
time period may be And I totally agree with Sam on his
point that ignorance towards religion, race, and creed does
wellto mankind.
Now, thats a valid point of debate & really stands out.
Ignorance towards religion is a really good thing. If we
are to follow religious aspects keenly, we certainly tendto form a bias unknowingly
Another view that rea