Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Corruption eradication should be bottom up and not top down




Right now, India is reeling from an overdose of corruption/anti-corruption drives. I do not understand how or why people always tend to judge things and black and white. Whether Lokpal or Jan-lokpal bill is good or bad is a totally grey question.

Personally, my thoughts are that the version of Anna Hazare etcs Jan Lokpal is too aggressive. Corruption is a big problem but not the biggest problem for India. So, Lokpal should NOT be the most powerful person in the country. But Anna's bill suggests something different.

The other thing is what people mean by Corruption. Dictionary.com says it is perversion of integrity or dishonest proceedings. So anything dishonest is corruption. And so, unlike popular belief, watching pirated movies, downloading songs illegally, photocopying books, acquiring illegal version of Windows, MS Office, MATLAB and other such s/w are all acts of corruption. I have specifically mentioned these 3 points because I believe that most of the facebook and twitter noise is created by the people who have done these in the past and not even feel guilty about it. When I talk to them, they say, "Oh that is nothing, look at the politicians. They are collecting crores."

It is never the question of crores. I bet if all the social media noisemakers give 100$ per corruption they did (not even say for every movie watched but like 100 for all pirated movies watched, 100 for all s/w download, 100 for photocopying pages of books, 100 for music, 100 for the Indian Driving license you got, 100 for using the Indian Motorbike license to decrease your 4 wheeler license in US etc.) and donate that money to the government, it will be much bigger amount than even what A Raja has got.

Secondly, why is there corruption in the society? Well, Indians in general have a mindset that if a thing is available for cheap, why spend and more often than not it crosses the moral boundaries. Now, how to eradicate this mindset? Education, education and education. How education? Population Control, Poverty Control etc etc. So you see, how corruption is not the biggest problem in the country? And even if it is, the right way of correcting it is a bottom up approach and not a top down.

People might argue that catching the big people have a quick and bigger impact and will deter small time corrupts but that is not true. And again, implicit in that argument is the word quick which is the root cause of all corruption (getting things done QUICKLY.)

Continuing on the same example, BIG time money laundering will be caught anyways. You really don't need a Lokpal for that. A Raja and Kalmadi were caught without a Lokpal.

So in conclusion, yes probably we need a revolution/uprising to curb corruption, but that revolution should be a self realization rather than a blame game. I think this is what true Gandhianism is.

Image Courtesy: Audiovisit.com

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Views on Skins (The UK TV Series)

Time flies fast, and really fast. I remember reading about a controversial show called Skins not so long ago and wanted to watch it too? Why? Just because of the controversial aspect. And it felt like yesterday that I had read this news. Suddenly, some 2-3 weeks back, I see that the series is available on Netflix. Old (rather not so old, because it felt like yesterday) memories rekindled and I wanted to give it a shot. And "bollocks", what do I see? The series is already 5 seasons old and 3 are on Netflix.

Anyhow, I start watching the show and I continued. And I finished the entire series in 3 weeks. Now, initially I thought it is just the way TV series are made, that it is very difficult to not follow. But then, I could not follow the hugely popular "Lost" though they always ended the episode in such a shape that you had to watch the next. I did not even continue Naruto, though I really want to revisit that series.

What all did I like about the series? Well first of all the fact that it is British and their funny accent. Secondly, the characters are all very fresh and good looking for most part and have more variety in terms of clothes and style than boring courtroom/detective series. As for the story line, it is pretty good and the way they arrange the episodes is awesome. Each series has a bunch of interesting characters and they dedicate one episode to one such character. But this is not done at the cost of compromising and deviating from the main story line. The subtlety in which they highlight one person but still let the main story continue is a first time for me and I liked it immensely.

As for the drug, smoke and sex content, yes, it does feel unrealistic but certainly not boring or obnoxious enough to stop seeing it.

My suggestion, go on, try the pilot episode.

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Deathly Hallows 2, Why o Why

The last Potter movie. The excitement was electric. The buzz was just right and there I headed out for the midnight show of the movie which I believed will be the greatest movie of all time. It was a back to back show of 7-1 and 7-2 and people had queued up 5-6 hours in advance. Everyone dressed in their witch and wizard finery with Snape and Umbridge being the rare ones.

I watched the movie twice, one was the midnight show and the other one next day at IMax 3D. OK, so I believe that Potter movies are beyond comparison and you should rather compare individual characters, the changes in plot from the book etc.

Considering all that, I really liked the changes made from the book. Most of them were pretty apt, making the story much more grander than it was. I am sure it had Rowling's full approval too. Ron, Hermione and Neville together hunting for Nagini, the house where Snape was murdered (did not look like Shrieking shack, but a great place nonetheless) and of course the untold Ron and Hermione's destroying the Horcrux.

There were lot of good things but it was as if they had been half-hearted efforts. If they really planned to make the movie 3-D, the roller coaster ride to Gringotts vault could have been a real one. I didn't even feel a thing. They were all safe shots and felt like 3D was an afterthought and a software post processing.

Same with Killing Nagini, just one hot and Nagini becomes digital and disappears into cyberspace? What about Voldemort killing? He looked like as soon as Nagini is dead, he is gone too. Which is not the case, he was still powerful enough to take more people. The evilness of Voldemort was lost and he felt more like a small villain you kill in 1st part of a movie franchise than the last person itself.

The biggest problem with the movie is that it could have been so much more, and I don't thin budget was a concern. It had the potential of being the best movie of all times instead it was not even the best Potter movie.

However, I still wish that the movie keeps breaking all the records. At the very least, no transformer or twilight should ever touch it's records.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Slightly desi boston tour guide

With almost 3.5 years here, I have become a tour guide to many of my friends and relatives in Boston. I have tour packages ready for 1/2 day to one week vacation plans ready for anyone who wants to come to visit my place.

The "have to be there" places I have taken to people are very obvious: Harvard, MIT, Quincy Market, Long Wharf, Holocaust memorial, Boston Commons, Prudential Tower, duck tour etc. However, here are a few of my personal favorites, some which may take a slightly more time:

1) Here is an easy one to fit in the schedule, right next to Boston Commons, there is Boston Public gardens and in there in the public garden is the "Make way for the Ducklings" statues in the north east corner. Nothing extraordinary, but just the idea that a statue of a duck and it's kids finding a permanent place gives me hope, that the world is still a simple place to live.

2) Another easy one: The sky walk at Prudential. It is $11 well spent. You bring someone, who wants to see Boston but has only 1 day? Take them to skywalk and show them the whole of Boston in just 45 minutes. It is totally worth it and crowd free too.

3) This one is not really my real favorite but saves you from lot of hassle from the friends who come to visit Boston and want to see some cool things. It is the Sam Adam's brewery. And of course you get to sample free beer. If you had a history overdose along the freedom trail a day before, and friends are complaining that the city is so old, this might be a good idea.

4) Whale watch: You watch it once or twice but it is a must watch for any guest. I thing to do is, if they are in a group of greater than or equal to two, just leave them for the whale watch. It is surely exciting for the first time and oh yes, the nap on the way back. It is simply amazing. Believe me, you have seen the whale, seen the wonderful Boston Harbor islands, there is nothing to look forward to, in the next 1.5 hours. You cannot even unnecessarily refresh that facebook app on your smart phone as there's no network here, so, sit back, relax and let the breeze blow onto your face and before you know, you are in the dreamland. Once you land, you are as fresh as ever, for the next activity.


5) The beaver tail statepark: Most of the desi kids take their mom and dad to the "Newport Mansions". Next time you go there, call me, I can do a better job than those automated tour guide radios they give you. But please don't go back after seeing the mansion and the ocean drive. The beavertail state park is just 15-20 minutes away across the bridge. An awesome lighthouse at the end of the land with water splashing on rocks from all 3 sides. Go at twilight hours and you will love it. Round off the day with some nightlife in Providence if you wish.

6) Moving closer to home, Natick, m office is a good watch too. Ofcourse, I need to get permissions from the security and once granted, welcome to my office buildings and the construction that is happening while I tell you interesting stories about what the huge mound of excavated soil looks like and what we did in Feb 09, while you gaze at the huge monitors the friendly kitchen area.

7) For all the desi's, I highly recommend the Ashland Hindu Temple, the biggest temple in new England. Much smaller than the famous ones in Pittsburgh, Houston or Chicago, this is still a pleasant watch and believe me, you will see more south Indians here than even in Bangalore.

8) One of my personal favorites, the Hopkinton State Park, the most accessible state park by car, so that your walk distance is minimized. Good for boating and Kayaking in summer but even in Winter, you can have the fun of walking on a frozen lake and a stroll on the dam with white expanse on both sides enough to blind you.

9) Your visit to Natick is unfinished if you haven't had the Sushi buffet at Miandos. Experimental veggies can have a good time as there are atleast 5 different veggie sushies (more than anywhere else) but you will still feel neglected because 5 consist of 5% of the available items. It is here that you understand what Sushi really is. There are more stylish Sushi places around Boston area but this place is UNLIMITED and definitely 10000000000000 times better than mall Sushi.

Raju guide signing off. Shabakhair

Saturday, February 05, 2011

Two distinct categories in Bengali literature


Disclaimer: Yes, though everyone knows that opinions expressed in a blog is of ones own, but I reiterate it here owning to my potential limited exposure on the topic. As I think it is worth a discussion, hence putting it here.

My liking for poetry is very limited and except the classic ones, really find it hard to concentrate. So, let's ignore that. And ignore non-fiction too.

What I have observed is that in Bengali fiction, there are two very distinct kinds: Kishore and Bayaska (or Teens and Adult). It might be a good idea to have this distinction but I have some apprehensions about these two disjoint sets.

The Kishore or Teen books are generally the adventure kinds and the immensely popular Feluda series falls into this category. But I always wonder, why is there not a single hint of any woman in these stories. I mean, with such a able hero, having a heroine is so much desired/natural. Same with the Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay kishore upanyases. Always about kids or man. There is never any love interest in any of his books. The Pandob Goyendas, Shontu and Kakababu, none have any trace of romance in them. Is this intenntional? Is the Indian mindset of romance being a taboo really the reason for this? Is this a marketing decision? It is surprising because as little kids you hear stories about a prince and princess falling in love and prince killing some demon to rescue the princess. Is one supposed to be immune to soft feelings as they grow from kids to teens?

Look at the English ones of the same kinds: Harry Potter, Hardy Boys, Twilight or even Asterix comics all have a love interest in them. It is not that you have to be vulgar as soon as a woman comes into picture.IN all the books above, romance is very sweet and cute. None of the above have even the tiniest bit of vulgarity in them.

There are exceptions. For example Famous Five, Tintin etc hardly have any romantic interests. In Bengali, only one author stands out: Shorodindu Mukhopadhdhyay (better known as the creator of Byomkesh Bakshi for rest of the world). The Byomkesh series is divided into 2 parts, the first one is pretty non adult but it still has Byomkesh getting married to his love. Part two is more adult in nature but yeah, it needs to be, because so many interesting murder mysteries can be made out of weird relationships. Shorodindu also has a teen series called Sadashib, about a young recruit in Chatrapati Shivaji's army. That is perhaps the sweetest love story I have ever read. The author has a bunch of other historic fictions which also have some romance. But apart from that I really dont see many crossing the line. Of course, I have not read "Rabindranath Tagore" as yet. But even if he maintains the balance, 2 out of 100s is still considered exception.

Coming to the adult part, it is more disturbing. By the time you are 17-18 in India, you really grow out of the Feludas and Byomkesh Bakshis but (call me old fashioned for it) you are still not ready for adultery. The so called grown up books in Bengali all not only have frequent and elaborate descriptions of sexual beauty but they also are in most cases about adultery. Compare this with the Jeffrey Archer, Ludlum , Sheldon, Grisham,Michael Crichton etc. Many romantic moments but romance/relationships is not the primary thing. Basically I think kids from 17 to say 25 really do not care about relationships and they grow out of Feluda kind of adventure too. But in Bengali it is just not it. Adult books are always about complicated relationships. I wonder if Bengali literature is loosing it's market/charm for this.

Sometimes I think, it is probably the general tendency of Bengalis and it is ME who is out of the place. People like the same "complicated relationships" themed movies of Rituparno Ghosh. Bengali movies have always been about subtle changes in relationships in probably some bigger context like WW2, India's freedom struggle, naxal movemennt etc. I long for an epic drama which creates an era of it's own. It should not take shelter of some real world incident but create a new world, like Harry Potter.

Any recommendations?