If AK has 'Gulaal', VB has 'Haider'... 10 on 10

Less cinematic & more theatrical!

This movie seriously has too much! And too much of everything..

The psychic-eccentric character of Haider in so many ways resembles Prithvi Bana (Gulaal) and has deeper connotation to the character's get-up & dialogues, some which can stay with us for long and make us get deeper into it every time we check it again!

The '3 old men firing snipers' is the best western scene I've seen in Indian Cinema. Sergio Leone feel!

The 'Bismil' sequence: Wow! What an achievement in theatrics in cinema! The best theatrical sequence since ‘Jaane bhi do Yaaro’ I would say! Much more than a song; it is a sequence that gets things out of control and sets the pace of the movie in the second half...

'Aao Na Grave-digging' sequence is yet another beauty & I spurted out laughing crazily for some minutes! 'O Brother! Where Art Thou' feel!

'Haider Stand-up Performance' is bloody good & gets metamorphic!

Emotional turmoil handled in a spectacular way. The confrontation that the characters ‘Haider’, ‘Arshia’ & ‘Ghazala’ face is shown in an epic way… The confrontation ignited by the dominant society for so-called larger good (haha…)

And what if this confrontation is prevalent everywhere in the society around you and there’s a very thin line between being a ‘friend of the society’ or an ‘enemy of the society'? Things get out of proportion and messy and sad and brutal and bloody…

A brutal take on the Kashmir dilemma. I haven't experienced it in a better way...

Super metaphorical mimicry on 'AFSPA' & 'Chutspa'

Music that would just perfectly blend & leave deep impression!

Power-packed performances make this movie an epitome of talent showcase… I guess we get such output when the director doesn’t compromise at all and expects nothing less than perfection in each aspect, in each sense… And he eats, sleeps, drinks, thinks, trips just this movie for a very long time in life… But however he does it, VB delivers something par excellence… Has to be a super ambitious work!

Mile stones in Hindi Cinema:

1. Gulaal & Haider

2. Maqbool

3. Gangs of Wasseypur and so on and so forth

Right at the top for now!

Wow! 

"HER" Movie Review: Super-Sweet

The sweetest movie I have ever seen. In the romantic drama genre, right at the top along with "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"... 

HER looks like the most realized project of Spike Jonze. 'A boy meets computer' movie where the lead character falls in love with an Operating System in the future world.

In a remarkably sweet way, Jonze pulls off this Romantic Drama with such radiance. The movie actually gets you into the feel of the hypothetical relationship between a divorced man & his OS. It might seem superficial in the beginning, but you won't realize and you would have accepted it like something pure & natural...

The endearing voice of Scarlett as Samantha, the OS, creates magic. Samantha is indeed the next most legendary computer character right after HAL-9000 from Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey.  

The only disturbing thing could be the implied thought that occurs about the over-dependency of people on technology. This could very well also be perceived as a satire on anti-sociable aspects of technological dependence. The satire-thought becomes more apparent and prominent as the movie proceeds and unfurls a whole new realm where the virtual world has overpowered the real physical world. His job, his life-partner, colleagues at office, passersby and acquaintances are all devoid of the physicalities of the world.

A few sequences would leave you awestruck and in admiration of the writer/director Spike Jonze. The humor, the pain & the appealing surprises are all super-innovative, intensely thoughtful & authentic. This is a movie which will leave a new perception every time you watch it. I am already twice through and I want more.

A visionary movie in true sense. Go watch it please, such movies come once in a decade. Extraordinary story writing & direction and outstanding acting with some fresh music sets intense tone for the movie.

The movie shall be the top contender for Original Screenplay at the Oscars next month for sure. And Best Movie too? Eh, you never know. But I’m gonna support this considering that sadly Spike Jonze did not get nominated for “Best Director” for such a masterpiece.

"The Wolf of Wall Street" Movie Review

One month of sincere hard work & this is the reward I get. 

Martin Scorsese, you legend, you star, you prodigy! One more year in the movie world that will be remembered by your name forever. He’s just done it again for us. Like he does all the time. Like he has done all these years! Oh, what’s the count of years? IMDb tells me he’s into this since 1959. Whoa! Now that’s what we call a career. And guess what, in all these years the charisma, the magic and the quintessential Scorsese appeal has never died. More than forty freaking years of excellence! After having entertained us for years with his thrilling mobster flicks, he’s now successfully voyaging around different genres lately, Hugo and then this, the autobiography of stock-market pumper & dumper Jordan Belfort.

180 minutes of hypnotism and I was dismayed when it ended. It left me high, super-high! And I’m sure I’ll dwell in this movie high for at least a week and I’ll end up taking a weekend off and revisiting all the Scorsese movies all over again, some for the 4^th-5^th time. You can sense the high by checking the date of my previous post on this blog. This movie high has got me to revive this blog and I feel I could just keep on writing. I feel so high on energy too. Those Leonardo DiCaprio speeches man, whoa whoa whoa!

I actually sat sniggering with joy while everyone else emptied the theatre. I wanted this revelry to continue for a day at least. If you have seen earlier Scorsese movies, you would know how the central character is going to shape up. The tale of an enchanting dreamer whose ambitions squash him after a good stint with money and crime. However, unlike his other gangster crime movies, this is more of a white-collar crime movie.

Leonardo DiCaprio shines at his best again. I guess this could be his break for the jinx of not winning an Oscar till now after so many breathtaking performances. In a truly Oscar Winning Performance, he takes you to the highs and lows of the story. Some of the scenes would be etched in your mind forever like the scrawling-like-Skyler scene and when he satirically takes the case of two FBI agents in his yacht.

I read about Belfort before going for the movie and LDC is unbelievably accurate and into the character. Those fiery speeches would get you goosebumps and extremely high on energy. Belfort became a motivational speaker in his latter life and I can say this with conviction that I have not seen speeches written or performed better than this and there are plenty of them to enthrall you. And that last speech he gives, he will take you through extreme emotions and feelings. The tune of trance that he learns from his boss on his first day at the Wall Street takes completely different meaning in the last speech of LDC and you will want to jump with joy & vigor when you see hundreds of people singing the same tune of trance in a unified rhythm. You’d feel like joining them too. A treasure to watch and feel! That was the extreme peak point of the movie for me.

Jonah Hill is fun to watch too. He’s superb with his comic expressions and one-liners. He’s going to stay pretty close in the run for best actor in supporting role and might just win also but then that would be a clean sweep. I would love it though. Jean Dujardin impresses too in his short role and his first encounter with LDC is shown in a very interesting way with exhilarating expressions from them both.

LDC takes the Oscar this time. Daniel Day-Lewis could be the only living person who could compete with this level of acting. He’s not done any movie last year and hence there remains no question for competition.

And I wouldn’t be surprised if Martin Scorsese takes home his 2^nd Oscar. In fact, this movie also deserves Best Film and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Dare miss this movie guys! This might just be one of the best things that happened to you recently. Not even for a moment does this movie miss a beat or allow you to go off-guard. Epic movie-making. Too much to ask in this commercialized world of art but I would love to watch a 24 hour movie from Scorsese someday. 

A Letter to ANNA *Censored*: The man behind an illogical revolution

Dear *CRUSADER* Anna,

In the capacity of an active citizen of India, I ask for and demand your support for the day

when “Fast unto Death” would become a tradition or let’s say a habit. I just heard of a

school kid on Fast somewhere in the US and another person somewhere in Europe. Some

model ‘Wali’ from Delhi is even ready to strip naked for Lokpal. Dear Anna, you’ve planted

the venomous seed. The day is not far when any random person would start “Fast unto

Death” and “Strip until Naked” which is nothing but blackmail... This can be translated in

every possible type of social-nuisance... You have nothing in specific, you resorted to hunger

strike... That Delhi-based-model has nice body and a well maintained shape, she resorts to

nudity... I have a sharp mind (and I don’t mind boasting about it); so yes, if this continues I’d

have to resort to arresting my mind from functioning... My mind would better be on strike

instead of functioning in a nuisances-driven society! And you’ve given birth to this nuisance

that could rise in the society, Mr. Anna! I would not want to be a leader in this society sir. I’ll

explain how.

You might be very good as a person, but I do not support you at all. You made the village of

Ralegan Siddhi fully self sustainable... Very good... Highly Noble... Ideal too... But, if you say

you’re Gandhian, I disagree... Leave aside what you’re fighting for (Arundhati Roy has

described that too Non-Gandhian... http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tpopinion/

article2380789.ece), I’d challenge your means too... When in the village, you

started an anti-drinking campaign with a few of your youth supporters... You requested the

owners of around 30 brewery units in the village to close down the units... Most of them did

so, voluntarily... A few did not and their units were smashed up by the then Anna Team...

‘Generating Fear’ and ‘Resorting to easier ways’, it seems, has been your ideology, then and

now... Now, after making the village liquor-free, which again might be a very good thing

perhaps for the village (though by unlawful means), those who used to still indulge in

drinking from nearby villages, were tied to poles/pillars of the temple and punished by the

medieval punishment of flogging (beating them up with whips), sometimes personally by

you too, soldier Hazare! You justified this act by saying, “Doesn’t a mother administer bitter

medicines to a sick child when she knows that the medicine can cure her child? The child

may not like the medicine, but the mother does it only because she cares for the child.”

Now, what if I don’t want you as my mother, what if I know what I should be doing, what

about my right against exploitation, what about my right to freedom of conscience??? Why

do you forcibly want to be the mother of everyone??? A self-proclaimed mother!

Leave aside all these, let’s consider the fact that you were successfully able to make the

village an ideal and a self-sustainable place, which is again a noble deed. But do we accept

that the means that you used in that particular village can be implemented all across the

nation??? If we beat up every villager of India who drinks, if we resort to such means for

anything at all, will it be fruitful for the country as a whole??? Your thinking, your ideology

and your actions perhaps seem to have a very small scale application. And yes, as you forced

the people in the village, you have now resorted to forcing all the Indians and blackmailing

the government. I’ll explain how.

Now, if someone asks me, what has Anna been doing since 2003? I’d answer, “Fasting.” At

every point in time, when you became helpless, you fasted... Your fasting has also once

resulted in the implementation of Lokpal in Maharashtra since 2005... The Lokpal in

Maharashtra which became synonymous to corruption... Now, do we miss some logic here?

Maharashtra has witnessed the most cruel corruption cases, within the government, within

the civil society and everywhere, since then! What is the Lokpal committee doing there? If it

is so corrupt, why don’t we put them under the purview of a Sr. Lokpal Committee, anticorrution-activist-Hazare??

Introduction of Lokpal would merely be a game of shifting powers and nothing more than

that; let’s understand, metamorphic Hazare. Currently, PM, CJI and CBI are highly powerful

in their own respective terms. After the bill is passed as you want it to, Lokpals would in a

way control the activities of PM, CJI and the CBI too.

The real farce is the demand of bringing the PM under the purview of Lokpal Committee.

This would mean that the one who is elected by the people will have to succumb to the

power of a parallel vortex, the Lokpal Committee, whose members are either selfnominated

or government-nominated. Why is everyone missing this particular fact?? Does

this movement make sense at all?? This would ruin the democracy and might make the

parliament a joke. And they say that you are synonymous to rural development! Doesn’t

that translate to the development of India too??

Now, the Lokpal bill had been accepted in the first phase of your farce... The Lokpal

committee consisting of 5 govt. nominees and 5 civil society members met for the first time.

This development had in a way brought you in power as a member of the Lokpal committee.

You had yourself accepted the duty to serve the nation by being at the topmost level of

governance... Now from this position, sorry but you can not back out, you cannot abstain

from the duties that you yourself accepted... But you did... The 10 member committee could

never come to consensus 'cos of the rigid attitude of the civic society representatives...

Pranab Mukherjee, being the chairman of the committee, he carried his duty by writing a

letter to all the CMs of states, opposition leaders and people who represent people,

regarding the differences the committee had over your demand of including the PM & CJI

under the purview of Lokpal... I'm not supporting Pranab Mukherjee, but yes, he did his

part! In a democracy, obviously decisions should not be taken only on the basis of the rigid

attitude of 5 people! Those 5 people who foolishly are talking about ruining democracy

without even realizing it.

On 28 July 2011 the union cabinet approved a draft of the Lokpal Bill, which keeps the Prime

Minister, judiciary and lower bureaucracy out of the ambit of the proposed corruption

ombudsman Lokpal. Now, Anna definitely is not beyond the Parliament, right??

Now if we come to consider the people who form the Cabinet, why do we miss the fact that

the Cabinet Secretary is a Civil Servant too... As a matter of convention the senior most civil

servant is appointed as a Cabinet Secretary... The Cabinet Secretary is the head of all the

civil services under the constitution. Thus, he is the head of all the All India services

including the Indian Police Service(IPS), Indian Administrative Service(IAS), Indian Foreign

Service (IFS), Indian Revenue Service(IRS) and the Indian Forest Service(IFS). Let’s also not

forget that the Cabinet also consists of non-political leaders like Nandan Nilekani (Aadhar,

UID) and Montek Singh Ahluwalia (Planning Commission). Come on, let’s not overrule the

Cabinet too...

You wanted that they pass the bill, they did... Now its upto you to convince the Parliament,

if at all you can... The Parliament is the sole decision making body in India in such cases... If

you want to be more powerful than the Parliament, I'm sorry to say Anna, but you seem to

be driving the country towards worthless efforts! Should we allow any random ANNAs of

the country to be more powerful than the Parliament?? On one side, you want the PM

under you and on the other side, you want the Parliament to work the way you want it to...

Waah Anna...

If after accepting the duty, the only work you do is ABSTAIN from the duties, I can never

trust you for my life to do some serious work at top level... I'd trust Manmohan Singh and

his corrupt government over you! Atleast they have experienced and they know how

leadership dynamics work when you're running a whole country...

Let’s face it... The problem is ours, not the PM’s... Let’s put ourselves under the purview of

our own inner Lokpal and eradicate corruption from the roots, from the system. Let’s pledge

and practice cleanliness instead of forcing it... Anna, it’s high time you realize the fact that

Lokpal is just a way to eradicate corruption from people in power and not from the system...

Lokpal is a way towards removing corrupt people from their post and not towards a

corruption free system... If Lokpal finds one minister corrupt, he’d be removed and

someone else would take his place... Now what’s the guarantee of his not being corrupt??

You can destroy corrupt people but can you destroy corruption from its base?? This positive

destruction is possible only by educating people and not by abstaining or bringing a Lokpal

committee... Think beyond, Sir Anna...

Let’s face it... It’s the problem of democracy if it has not evolved enough to represent

people... The system needs a change or the democracy needs an evolution...

India should ve definitely arisen, but not for you Anna, not through your sympathy-gaining

show, not for the stupid demand of your Team; which I guess is damn powerful in PR and

promotional activities. 8 years of work experience it is, after all. I happened to read your Jail

story Anna and I was ashamed of you misleading the country. If you say corruption has to be

eradicated, you should also understand that ‘charity begins at home.’

What kind of protest is this where you reach with your whole event management and PR

team who set up the venue for you? What kind of premises do you follow if you yourself

disobey the laws? Don’t we eradicate corruption by obeying and adhering to the laws?

Legally, you had to sign a bail when you were bailed. You did not. You even disobeyed the

Indian Police (Now do not miss the fact that you’re the same person who’s asking the

LEADER of the country to obey to some stupid bench, not elected by the public!) by setting

up your camp illegally (by corrupt means) at the venue you desired and then you got

arrested. Now, can we locate the conspiracy towards getting into Jail? And a further

conspiracy of being in the jail overnight and gaining people’s support by not signing the bail.

You were even provided a 5 star treatment in the jail, specially demanded by you and your

followers. How could have you and your PR team achieve your goals without that

treatment? PR strategy: “Be in the jail and gain more support by gaining people’s

sympathy!” The route taken through sympathy for getting something done is the route I

despise the most, philosopher Hazare!

You also seem to be a fan of Neuro Linguistic Programming technique. You don’t fail in

conditioning the human psyche by the repeated use of a few typical words throughout your

speeches and throughout your campaign... Your campaign associates you with Gandhi...

With a huge backdrop of Gandhi, you’re effectively relating your baseless fight with the

Independence struggle, which rarely makes any sense. But Anna, the transmigration of the

soul too has to happen if you want to be Gandhi. I loathe everyone who has to compare you

with Gandhi. The other day you said in your speech, “Those who think I support RSS and BJP

should be sent to the mental hospital!” Wow... Definitely you’re Gandhian, dude Anna...

We’re not deaf... The grandson of Gandhi too has rightly discredited your movement...

Phrases like “Freedom Struggle”, “Inquilaab Zindabad”, etc. are a very strong part of your PR

Campaign... I marvel at the proficiency with which you’ve concealed the whole game and

termed it an Anti-Corruption movement, the adeptness with which you’ve used and

marketed the “C” (Corruption) word towards arising public sentiments. Don’t we know that

this is not the way corruption would end, strategist Hazare?

And yes, we do not forget the contribution of “THE GREAT INDIAN MEDIA” in your

“FREEDOM STRUGGLE!” I’m sure the media strategy must also have crossed the minds of

your campaign managers. If this be a freedom struggle, let me be damned for being a slave!

Corruption essentially is at two levels if you may agree Anna sir. One very small level which

is practiced by bribing a policemen or by paying for education that you don’t deserve. Lokpal

can never control this level of corruption, only we ourselves can... For the second and the

higher level of corruption, we have an established system of law... And if this system does

not function properly as of now, we need some refinements to be done within the system;

we don’t need to build a whole new system altogether which would monitor the existing

system! If a bulb fades, we don’t sit on strike demanding for a new bulb which can monitor

if the existing bulb works efficiently or not. We either repair the existing bulb or bring a new

one. So simple it is, brother Anna...

I had a good laugh on reading a complaint from Mr. Bhushan (your teammate) who wailed

about the government not being ready to overrule the parliament. On a serious note, Mr.

Anna, is our Parliament a joke which can be overruled anytime you want? Is it so weak that

it can be amended for any Anna of the country? Wouldn’t it really become a joke if it is bent

even once? Do you realize Anna that it’s the people of India who have shaped the

parliament and if required, public has the power to bulldoze the whole parliament, even the

PM??? Let the public be arisen to exercise that power, Sire Anna. The Public power. Don’t

misuse it. Don’t fool the public by your quest-to-power fight! The Public power is enough if

utilized. Why can’t everyone understand that it’s a mere game of transferring power...

You’re plainly saying, “you had the power, now give us the power”... I’ll explain how!

After your bill, those 10 non-elected, non-representative-of-public members will also have

the power. And yes, till you are a part of it, I’d keep doubting its credibility. For all you have

learnt in the septuagenarian part of your life is to Fast, to blackmail... To abstain... For you

possess the willpower to abstain anytime and anywhere if the decision does not go your

way! Being an egotist is fine crusader Hazare but you should be open to thoughts and

ideas...

To laugh out loud, I even visited your official website where you have a tagline too.. haha..

an example of damn good product packaging... Keep it up! Let’s suppose it’s being managed

by a fan; but when it is my official website, I’d never allow anyone to sing out loud about

me! Straight forward, NO! If I m a crusader of the country, let my work speak, let wiki boast

of my achievements. But Anna, you believe in direct marketing perhaps. That is the reason

you have kept your website to sing out loud about you and make you a global celebrity. Btw,

your tagline is catchy man, “A man behind the RTI revolution.” LOL.. Your website describes

you as a crusader, a social activist, a social reformer, synonymous to rural development, a

revolutionary, a tenacious soldier and what not. In fact, all the adjectives that I’ve used in

this letter have been derived from your OFFICIAL website itself... haha... Anyway personally,

my life would not be worth living merely on self-proclaimed titles and adjectives!!! I heard

you once survived a war where everyone with you died. But the website does not even

mention that you were a driver in the army and that you were driving a truck when you

escaped death. The martyrs fought while you were driving a truck. A driver would obviously

escape, the fighters won’t! Anyway, this might be a personal perspective, but what bad is it

to mention in your website about your being a driver in the army alongwith mentioning

‘tenacious soldier’?? And why such lowly loud mouthed publicity??

Also let’s consider the fact that it has nowadays become too damn easy to appeal the nation

or the youth in specific. Organize a candle march and everyone would come together,

organize a groundless slut walk and thousands of people will come to support. You highly

capitalized on this fact, Anna. And specially with the damn strong campaign that you and

your team has pulled across.

Do you see that you have in a way motivated people throughout your life? Towards not

drinking (by smashing them by whips), towards stripping (which the Indian culture regards

the worst thing to do), towards fasting (which you can term as abstention or blackmailing in

this case!), towards fighting for a cause (to mock the parliament and overrule it anytime you

want). Well, anyway there has to be some positives or say by-products of this whole hoopla.

One good by-product can be the realization that has come to the politicians that public

won’t tolerate their misconduct or corrupt practices. Another positive motivation is the one

that you’ve provided to people like me, towards writing this about you, addressing you! But

probably that’s that!

I humbly request you, as a citizen of India, to leave your obstinate ways and buckle up for

the national challenge ahead. Lokpal is not a bad thing if the government version is passed...

Your adamant attitude is in fact as bad as your version of Lokpal is! Be happy that Lokpal has

been passed and start utilizing it towards the country’s upliftment instead of cribbing about

the PM not being under it.

Interpreting the same in Narayan Murthy’s words, Indian governance system is already

weak with a two-pronged power sharing approach... There is one party head and one

government head...

Now, don’t we see that if the Lokpal can question even the PM and the CJI, this would bring

across a third dimension to power... I take it in this way: “Sabke paas power hogi but kisike

paas power nai hogi... Not even the ultimate leader of the country... He’ll always be a weak

leader who’d be a puppet of the Lokpal Committee... The country would be devoid of

dynamic leaders in power... That’d be sad!!!”

In this current situation, the government can only request you not to put a gun on its head...

If at all you realize that your movement is more than this!

Lastly, everyone knows that one-leader system is accepted all across the world. A group

discussion can seldom be meaningful if it is not guided by one person. A company cannot

function if it does not have a leader. Take an example of a company where I’m holding some

stake; if I would think the way you think, I’d put a Lokpal bench on the leader of the

company. If this is the only way out, as our very own Anna suggests, he has to be the

greatest leader ever born on Earth. LORD ANNA. Why can’t we simply understand, the PM

cannot be under the purview of any goddamn thing if we claim him to be the leader of the

country... Why to pass such a bill which would eradicate the concept of leadership from the

politics of the country? The country needs dynamic leaders and not watch dogs who will do

nothing except monitoring each and every step of an already-established and chosen-bypublic

leader! If we simply can’t trust anyone as a leader, let’s bring PM under the purview

of Lokpal and live in a country where leaders are not respected... where leaders are not

empowered... where leaders symbolize weakness... Weak Leader... Isn’t it an oxymoron??

And I see this as a probable outcome of your whole act... Poor future political leaders of

India! Neither would they be nurtured nor would anyone want to become a political leader

in India! If you be a political leader, people would automatically start being cynical,

suspicious and contemptuous about you! Isn’t this the repetition of the same old chain,

Anna? Leaders would be perhaps better off outside politics!

Sorry Anna, I cannot let this happen to my country!

Sincerely Annoyed,

Hardeep H Pathak

Happy Joy of Giving Week

Hon'ble Minister of Road Transport and Highways & the President of IMT, Mr. Kamal Nath, remarked once, ‘We no longer discuss the future of India. We say: “The future is India”.’

Positive change has been a long time coming for India, but today, I believe, because of the way India has responded to the Joy of Giving Week; because of the manner it has succeeded in appealing the hearts of Indians; because of the style in which it has imbibed the seeds of GIVING into the brains of Indians and because of the fashion in which it has made us run towards a style statement of GIVING; change has come to India.

And Mr. Sivaraman, CEO of Philips India, in a lecture that I attended today, commented, "If we have our brain, heart and legs all working together in sync, nothing can impede our run towards our dream."

The Joy of Giving Week has attested our belief in the nation.

The nation which rewards all its citizens.

The nation which worships the faith of the anonymous good doers.

The nation which witnesses a congregation of corporates, colleges, schools, NGOs, celebrities, media houses, etc. unitedly contributing towards acts of GIVING.

The nation which provides dignity and self-worth to all the deserving individuals.

The nation which provides an opportunity to Raghu- a handicapped, poor guy with a colossal determination of doing something for the society- to become a national icon.

The nation which provides a chance to Rahul- a slum kid with enormous talent- to study in a top school and to sit next to Ex-President Dr. Abdul Kalam.

The nation which incessantly provides ignition to the young minds.

The nation whose citizens get jitters when they see some injustice.

The nation whose young brigade is screeching and squealing to fly.

The nation which becomes one while GIVING.

The Joy of Giving Week has showcased the solidarity of the Indians. These seeds of oneness would be ripened and Indians would rise as one people.

I congratulate each and every individual who proactively stood up and took part in the Joy of Giving Week. You have not only got counted, you’ve grabbed the opportunities, seized the challenges and squeezed them- HARD- by their necks...!!!

And I know you didn't do this for yourself and I know you didn't do it for a few smiles. You did it because you understand the vastness of the task that lies ahead. For as we celebrate the festival of GIVING, we are now confident enough to face any challenges and stand out victorious.

We can now be confident about India growing and gleaming with the virtue of GIVING imbibed into all the citizens; with the positive vibes seen and felt in the air during such festivals.

I believe, the day is not far when we would celebrate all the festivals in India by experiencing the JOY OF GIVING. And as we know, India is a land of festivals. Then each day would be a JOY OF GIVING DAY, each week a JOY OF GIVING WEEK, each month a JOY OF GIVING MONTH and each year a JOY OF GIVING YEAR.

“History, they say, is a bad motorist. You can rarely see it turn a page.”

Now, that rare moment has arrived when we all have to synergize our efforts and witness India turning a page of its history. Let’s create a roadmap for India towards this historical moment.

India shall no more be poised then. India would no more speak in a tiny little voice at the back of the head; India would no more look down at the bottom of the ravine and India would no more hesitate.

There would just be one India, looking up at the sky and roaring- “It’s time to fly.”

IIM-A Interview experience

Blazer clad ultra formal dress up; short hair and beard-less face, wow my mom couldn’t have expected more from me..!! I remember how she wished to put a black tikka on my face as I left home. But the nicely made hairstyle was molested by the hot wind and I reached IIM-A with a middle parting.

I entered the KLMDC hall in IIM-A at 9:15 am to find around 20-25 candidates waiting in the lounge. KLMDC had randomly arranged chairs, a registration desk at one end and a refreshment counter at the other. I just knew one of the candidates, Rishabh from IIT-Kharagpur whom I’d met the previous night in the campus. Even he had applied only for Public Systems Group (PSG). I directly went to him and made friends with 2 more guys sitting besides him. As soon as the registration process was done, they announced the names of PSG candidates who were soon to be interviewed. There were 19 in all and I was the first in the list. As the hint already given, I was directly sent in as the first interviewee. I wasn’t even given the time to think whether this was a fair game to send me right in. Yes, I was restricted from getting a gist of the interview unlike all the other candidates, but on the positive note I didn’t have to sit and keep wondering. Even before I could have got Goosebumps I was in the interview room.

3 panelists were sitting in front of me, P1, P2 and P3. P1 had a same right hand fracture as me and was middle aged, P2 deserved the central position respecting his age and P3 was a young but very stern looking man.

P1: Hi, same pinch. Whatsup with your hand? (I was so much expecting this to be the 1^st question.)

Me: Sir, I broke the thumb while playing cricket.

P1: Oh, so you’re an IPL material and again we’re similar, I too like cricket. Anyway, tell us something about you. (I hadn’t prepared a mugged up answer to this question like everyone but I knew that I would do pretty good talking spontaneously about all the things that I was or I am into.)

Me: I’m Hardeep Pathak, born and brought up in Ahmedabad itself. Schooling…. College……. Plastic Engineering…… AIESEC…… Japan……. YUVA Unstoppable…… JOYFEST……. College Unstoppable…….. Dramatics……. Public Speaking, Panel Discussions……. Elaborated on all these topics; and guess I took around 3-4 minutes for this answer itself. Guess I got an edge on mentioning the following points:

• IIM-A was a part of JOYFEST.
• Had shared the Dias with Prof. Ankur Sarin in one of the panel discussions about Loksabha elections. And fortunately, P3 was already aware about the fact, don’t know how. (Later that day I got to know that Ankur sir is the chairman of PSG.)
• Intense involvement in public systems throughout last four years alongwith good academic record.

P1: Alright 1 more from my side. As you’re interested in cricket, you surely would be following IPL.

Me: Yes sir. (Damn, I’d got excited.)

P1: So, can you discuss the financial model of IPL? (Shit man, I wanted to tell right away, ‘Sir, I aint from a financial background.’) What do you think interests one to be a part of something like IPL?

Me: (Ignoring the 1^st half of the question) Sir, it’s mainly Money, Glamour and Platform due to which one wishes to be a part of it.

P1: (unconvinced look) When you say money, a player merely gets 2-3 crores; and that’s nothing compared to the franchisee rates of few hundred million dollars. So, how do you think they’re interested cos of money?

Me: Sir, lack of any similar platform where in the players can showcase their talent makes it more popular. It serves as a ladder to climb up to the national and international level.

(I was relaxed as the topic was diverted from the FINANCIAL MODEL. But guess P1 read my mind.)

P1: Alright so what’s there for the owners then? How do they make money? Why do they spend so much in buying teams?

Me: Sir, it’s a very simple investment for them. They make money primarily in two ways:

1. By direct sponsorships &
2. There’s a system by which half the revenue generated by selling tickets in a home match of a team goes to the franchisee owner.

(P1 looked ignorant about my second point. But nodded in appreciation I guess. P2 was serene and P3 was a disturbing element as he constantly moved pages in some files here and there.)

P1: Ok. So there’s nothing except these two things for the owners?

Me: Sir, these are the two major.

P1: Don’t you know they make money by selling goodies and merchandise?

Me: Oh well, it skipped out of my mind sir. Ya, they do earn by this and in fact Shilpa Shetty has also started a restro cum bar in Mumbai as a promotion and revenue model for Rajasthan Royals.

(P1 signaled that’s-it-from-his-side gesture to the other 2 panelists; took my file and started going through it.)

P3: Alright so why do you wish to do FPM?

Me: Sir, basically I wish to do FPM only in Public Systems and that is the reason that I’ve applied only for one group exclusively. As I told, I’ve been quite active in the public sector since the last four years and whatever I’ve done is purely based upon my knowledge and perspective towards it. By pursuing FPM, I guess I can refine my crude skills and more importantly this will provide me with a platform through which I can get a broader perspective of the issues. And also I’ve always been a solution oriented person; so FPM in PSG is for me a solution to the issues prevalent in the society.

P3: Alright so what do you wish to do in Public Systems?

Me: Sir, I primarily wish to pursue my research in the education sector and to narrow it down ‘in primary education’ and specifically for ‘rural India’, as this is the issue close to my heart and requires more attention as of now. I’m also interested in ‘waste management’ as I’m from Plastic Technology background.

P3: Ok. Why waste management? (I wondered why he didn’t pick up ‘education sector.’)

Me: Sir, when I was in Japan, I studied the waste disposal and management process there. It was highly organized; everywhere they have separate bins for plastics, dry waste and wet waste. As almost all the plastics nowadays are recyclable, they recycle those plastics and that is the reason Japan is one of the best countries in terms of Plastic Technology. Just look at the impact if such a system is implemented all across India. Also sir, the waste of one production unit can be useful in some another. These kinds of technique prevalent in countries like Japan need to be implemented in India. There is no such fully organized waste disposal or management system in India as of now.

(P1 looked impressed and P2 had started peeping into my file; P3 was as always expressionless. Guess I faired quite well in the waste management answer but P3 still managed to catch me)

P3: You’re sure that there is no such organized waste management system in India?

Me: Yes sir. Not a single one completely organized.

P3: So what do we do of our household waste?

Me: We dump them in a bin; the municipality takes it to the Suez farms and is then taken care off there but not in an organized manner. Very rarely in rural India also they follow vermicomposting.

P3: And what types of wastes are there in houses?

Me: Dry waste, wet waste and plastic wastes primarily.

P3: And what happen to the newspapers then?

Me: Oh, sorry sir. I missed out on that. Ya, that’s the only well organized waste management system in India.

P3: You want to research on Waste Management and you’re not aware about the only organized waste management system in India?

(Was he expecting an answer to this too? I just showed remorseful expressions but guess he wanted me to speak and be sorry for that; so he spoke nothing even after my expressions.)

Me: Sorry sir, it skipped out of my mind. And broadly only plastic waste management is what I had in my mind and I primarily wish to work towards it.

P3: Alright can you name any company in Gujarat working towards waste management or treatment?

Me: Yes sir, there’s one company; I don’t remember its name but I know about the processes they follow, CETP and FETP.

(P2 intervened at the right time or I would have been tormented by P3. Though I was fairing quite well in the ‘waste management’ issue but he was keeping away from my topics of authentic interest. I wanted to reiterate that I was interested only in Plastics waste management and not in what we do of newspapers and the companies indulged in it.)

P2: Alright why research?

(Kya sir, ab jaake ye question aaya?)

Me: Sir, I come from a background of teachers. Since last two ages, my family has been associated with teaching. So, it has been instilled within me right from my childhood that education is the primary tool through which one can empower not only oneself but also lots of other people. And as we all know sir, a researcher is an academician after all. Also, I’ve always been proactive in all the areas of life. If I feel something about an issue, I never sit back but take a lead towards solving it. And as I mentioned also, I can get concrete solutions of major issues by doing research about them.

P1: (jumped in before I complete) Hardeep, as per what we know about you till now, you’re a man of action. (He spoke some words in Sanskrit which I could not make out. For a second I was scared but he translated them.) For research, you need to be an introvert kind of person who can sit back, abstain from action and just do research. What do you think about it?

Me: Sir, according to me research can be done in two ways:

1. Going out, meeting new people, networking, interacting with them all and getting their perspective about things that interest you and
2. Sitting online, searching in Google about those issues.

It is after these that you put your thinking tank ON and start addressing the issue on your own. And this is what I’ve been doing so far. And the first way in which we network with people is an action right? So, I feel that action and research should go hand in hand. Research without action would be futile. In all the policies that government makes in India, there is always a gap in implementation because the decision making and the implementing bodies are not in synch. So, if I do research and not implement it, it does not solve the purpose. Also, I know sir, for the coming five years, I’ll be concerned only with research and I’m completely ready to do so as it will only augment and show proper direction to my life mission.

P1: That was impressive. (Gesturing as if he has passed the Right To Question to P2)

P2: You’ve shown interest in ‘education sector’ as well as ‘waste management.’ But I hope you know that you can pursue your research only in one field.

Me: Yes sir. These are both my areas of interest. But given an opportunity, I would like to carry out a thesis on education sector as that issue is more close to my heart.

P2: So Hardeep, in what sense you want to be involved in the education sector?

Me: Sir, I’ve been involved in rural education and teaching basic subjects to slum kids. And I wish to carry it forward as I think primary education needs to be focused upon for reducing the drop put ratio; and that too primarily in the rural segment. And I also feel that the whole municipality school system has been a failure.

(P2 nodding in anticipation and P3 going through my file. P1 somehow always looked positive about me. Don’t know if the two common things- plaster and cricket had gained some sympathy for me. J)

P2: How are the challenges of rural India different from urban India in terms of municipality school education?

Me: Sir, there is a vast difference in the concerns. Concern like distance matter for rural India but not that much for urban. A city has lots of municipality schools but a village has only one generally. Also, rural India being too much traditional, parent counseling is far more important than in urban India. Following traditions, in rural India still girls are not allowed to be educated. Again the economic aspects affect the urban India more than the rural India.

(P2 and P1 were nodding at almost all the statements. And I guess P2 just needed a hint of clarity. So, as soon as he got an intimation of the same from my answer, he intervened and stopped me.)

P2: Alright Hardeep, well that’s it. (Signaling the other two panelists.) We wish you good luck. Thank you.

Me: Thank you sir.

As I reached the waiting room, all the fellow PSG candidates gathered around me and made me burst out my experience. All but two (including me) had master degrees and few of them had an incredible work experience though most of them did not have it in a related field. And by interacting with a few I could directly make out that they weren’t at all clear what they wanted to do in PSG and looked like were there just out of their desperateness of making it to IIM-A. As I shared my clarity with the fellow candidates, they were so impressed and almost everyone showed so much confidence in me. And many of them said “1 seat toh booked hai iske liye.” I was fortunate to be the maximum voted candidate amongst the candidates who would definitely make it. I became more confident and started getting more positive vibes after the way fellow candidates felt about me. Just hope that the panelists felt exactly the same way. AMEN

I JUST SMIRKED WITHIN

I JUST SMIRKED WITHIN

The journey of the year 2009 started with a low. I had faced a defeat in something that I had whole-heartedly craved for; AIESEC President Elections. It wasn’t a good feeling to leave AIESEC as it had been everything to me in 2008. I started getting more and more involved elsewhere, especially in YUVA; which opportunely gave a fresh denotation to the year 2009..

The big episodes of the year 2009 made me give the best rating to the year; when added with other smaller events which also silently made me smirk within. A hearty thanks to all the individuals associated with these episodes of my life and making the year so special for me. Some personal bits and pieces, some relationships and some failures taught me some of the best lessons of life. In the special year, my birthday also happened to be the most special one for me. I also initiated my blog in the same year which has constantly provided me with a special way of expressing myself. As I like to term 2009 as the best year of my life till now; I have tried to suffice this statement by citing the following major events of 2009.

JOYFEST gave me a whole new prospect. Coordinating with 35 colleges across Gujarat made it a challenging task. The triumph was distinguished when the top 3 colleges nationally happened to be from Gujarat and it was declared the best region nationally, with me as the best regional coordinator. This was the first major event where I established myself nationally. But more importantly, the event saw an unprecedented enthusiasm amongst all the college students, for social issues. In Gujarat, the event impacted around 1500 underprivileged kids collecting a fund of lakhs of Rupees for their upliftment. At the end of it all, I just smirked within when I had for all intents and purposes, set a yardstick for myself. I could see myself setting new yardsticks every other time.

JOYFEST in LDCE made me brave. If you’re able to successfully organize a major event in LDCE, it is something that you should be proud about. Coordination with the eerie college faculties, money-eaters, college muggers, youth politicians, etc. aint a piece of cake. Turning the tables, the historical event with a social intent was held in the college for the first time; impacting around a hundred kids; collecting a fund of around 90,000 INR and most importantly, winning the best JOYFEST event award nationally. At the end of it all, I just smirked within when I had for all intents and purposes, glorified the name of the college nationally; and delivered what I always wanted to achieve in my college life.

YUVA UNSTOPPABLE stimulated the leader within me. Different positions like Project Leader, Pass It On head, College Team Head, PR Head, Core Team member, Conference Manager, etc. gave me an overall perspective of a leadership position. More importantly, I got addicted to Visamo Kids and Sparsh. I just smirked within when I had for all intents and purposes, penned down an article on leadership. I just smirk within every time I happen to be in Visamo or Sparsh.

SMOKE NEVER DIES showcased the lighter side of me. Acting in a short film was always going to be tough for a newbie like me; and so I admit that more than acting, execution and script made it special. It has to be termed special after having won the best short film awards at MSU & IIT-Roorkee. A few of my friends actually left (or atleast tried leaving) smoking and some of them became more aggressive smoke-haters. Lots of wishes and appreciations were received after the Ahmedabad Mirror article. I just smirked within when I had for all intents and purposes, endeavored a completely new genre and succeeded too. Yes, I am always up for anything new and challenging.

COLLEGE UNSTOPPABLE (CU) shall provide me with a constant JOYFEST feel, a platform to achieve all that I’ve planned. JOYFEST had sown the seeds of CU, which got ripened into a nascent fruit-bearing plant; sharing the fruits in 4 cities as of now with plans to be converted into a full-size tree very soon. I just smirked within when I had for all intents and purposes, founded the idea of CU. In the near future, post my engineering degree, I could see myself pursuing with what I love to do.

THE LOKSABHA ELECTIONS changed my whole perspective towards politics, public system and governance. During the few panel discussions that I was a part of, inadvertently I got so much politically aligned that from my talks, some of my friends confided that the day was not far when I shall be entering this game. I just smirked within when I had for all intents and purposes, demystified this future game to myself. I could see myself ten years down the line.

“When you have your long term goal engraved in your heart and mind, your short term activities shall be planned in a way that leads you to the ultimate vision.” – Hardeep Pathak

I JUST SMIRK WITHIN AS I RECALL THE YEAR 2009…