All The Best, "Barfi"!

It is really so thrilling to know about "Barfi" getting nominated for Oscar. 

While it is always great to find an Indian movie to Oscar nomination, what made Barfi's Oscar nomination so thrilling for me is the movie's close connection with two places that I am so obsessed with - a.) Darjeeling (in the North Bengal region, i.e. the picturesque region that was once the home for my family), and b.) Calcutta/Kolkata, the magnificent city where I grew up. 

All the best, Barfi!

NB - However, I am aware of the controversy that "Barfi" has imitated a number of scenes from a Charlie Chaplin movie. Well, I am not aware of to what extent the imitation has been made. But it is certainly not appreciable if the movie owes the acclaim it is enjoying to the scenes that it has imitated from other movie/movies. 

Hiking The Diesel Price - A Laudable Step

Congrats to the Central Govt for showing the courage to hike the diesel price and curb the subsidy on LPG. These are two crucial decisions that were long overdue. 

It is very stupid to expect that the Govt will indefinitely put on hold a hike in diesel price when the international price of the commodity is on the rise. India has to import a huge quantity of oil from the international market, and the Govt is understandably bound to hike the diesel price if the international scenario forces any such decision. 


And as far as curbing the LPG subsidy is concerned, we should have the common sense to realize that subsidy is not an ideal way to keep price under control. Rather it is Counter Productive. Imposition of subsidy on a commodity might give us a temporary relief, but it is not sustainable and is bound to be withdrawn at one point of time. And significantly, more time is taken to withdraw the subsidy, more painful is the post-withdrawal impact. So it is always better to withdraw the subsidy at the earliest (if at all it needs to be imposed in the first place), right? I suppose we should have the maturity to opt for long term gain rather than momentary relief.

I know some of my friends will not like my view. Well, I have due respect for their opinions, but at the same time I am confident about my view.

Interview with KV Gautam, author of Love in Crazy Times

Love in Crazy Times, the debut novel by author KV Gautam been much talked about in the literary circles. The book discusses various issues youth face these days. 

KV Gautam is an independent filmmaker, cartoonist and entrepreneur based in New Delhi. He has worked as a cartoonist for leading newspapers like the Hindustan Times and the Dainik Jagran, and has illustrated more than 50 books.

KV Gautam is currently writing script of his first Hindi feature film Hum Honge Kaamyaab, a satire on corruption and society. He will also direct the film.

KV Gautam spoke to us about his debut novel, his life and his next book. 

Tell us something about your background?

I started my career as a political cartoonist for national newspapers. Later I got interested in entrepreneurship. Currently I run a media company in Delhi. I have future plans to make features films too. 

What inspired you to write Love in Crazy Times?

When I see young people I feel they are faced with many issues, whether it’s their love life or their career. Young people are more than often forced by parents to choose a different career or a different life partner from what they want.  This situation makes me think. I decided to tell a story which mirrors what the young Indians are going through.  

Some critics say you wrote the book for the young readers who have no taste for literary works?

Frankly speaking, I write for my young readers, not for winning some literary awards. I want to write in easy and engaging language so that people find it both interesting and easy to read. I don’ want people to have a dictionary to read the book.  I don’t have any literary pretentions. I had a story and I just wanted to recite it to my readers.

What are the issues Indian youth face these days?

Indian youth is going through a transitional phase. They are stuck between traditional Indian culture and the fast changing times.  Mostly, they are looking for a good career and the freedom to choose a life partner. Parents also find it difficult to cope with the changing times in the fast changing nation. 

So, what will be your next book?

I am currently writing a screenplay for a Hindi film Hum Honge Kaamyaab. It will be a comedy film about corruption. I intend to direct the film as well. 

I do intend to write another book after this. It most likely will be a non-fiction, some self-help or inspirational material.

KV Gautam’s debut novel Love in Crazy Times released

Love in Crazy Times, the debut novel by author KV Gautam has been released by Diamond Books. KV Gautam is a Delhi based independent filmmaker, cartoonist and entrepreneur. 

Love in Crazy Times is a gripping tale of search for love and freedom, braving heart-breaks, evil bosses and family pressure. The book is a racy and pacey story that has elements of romance, humour, emotions, drama and a bit of social message.

Informing more about the book, KV Gautam says, “The protagonist of the story, Amit is a daring middle class guy who chases both love and dream of starting his own business. He is faced with the hypocritical Indian society and the corrupt business class on his path. His victory is not easy and comes after a long trail of personal and professional setbacks.”

“The story also shows how India, after the economic liberalization, is offering immense opportunities as well as challenges to young people. It’s also about the cultural gap between a small town and a metro, and how parents find it difficult to adjust in a fast changing nation. I have dedicated the book to the legendary cartoonist RK Laxman, my childhood hero, ” adds KV Gautam.

Gautam has now started to write script of his first Hindi feature film Hum Honge Kaamyaab, a satire on corruption. He will also direct the film. He also runs Delnex Media, a company that runs web portals Fundoofun.com, Convixer.com and Tiffly.com.

The story of Love in Crazy Times, narrated in the first person by Amit, is set in Delhi from the period of 2005 to 2011. The story follows life of Amit, a small town boy armed with optimism and confidence, who comes to Delhi in search of a job. The story also narrates personal and professional struggles of his friends Suraj and Shantanu, who came to Delhi from Lucknow and Kolkata respectively.

KV Gautam feels that the youth are reading new stories written by new writers and it is the best time to write a book in India.

Raksha Bandhan - The Beautiful Festival That India Is So Lucky To Have

India is really so lucky to have a beautiful festival like "Raksha Bandhan", the festival that highlights the invaluable beauty and sanctity of brother-sister relationship.

The relationship between a brother and his dear sister is one of a very special kind, just like the one that exists between a mother and her child. It is a relationship that is based on unconditional love and affection, along with a beautiful bonding that knows no end. It is heavenly and divine. 

I pray to the Almighty that nothing can sour the sweet relationship that exists between a brother and his sister, anywhere in the world. I also thank the Almighty for blessing me with some of the best sisters in the world, whose love, affection and support have been the source of such a great strength in my life.

The Bodo-Muslim Clash In Assam – Another Outcome Of Inter Communal/Sectarian Animosity

What we experienced in Assam's Kokrajhar and Chirang districts is really so painful and embarrassing for all of us. So sad that even the 21st Century India is witnessing riots and sectarian clashes, which dent our pride of being an emerging economy to a great extent.

However, the real issue is not the denting of our international image (though that is undoubtedly a crucial issue). What is more painful is the fact that while we have been successful in touching economic achievements and technological expertise, we have failed to cure a serious grass root level ailment – inter communal/sectarian animosity. And as a nation that claims itself to be progressive and modern, it is a great failure for us.

The riot has brought under scanner the effectives of Bodoland Territorial Council, with many people including Bodos highlighting how and why the Council has failed to achieve the objective for which it was formed.

It is indeed very important to analyze Bodoland Territorial Council, identify the loopholes and address the same. However, what is also important is to identify the factors due to which we are failing to wipe out inter-communal/sectarian animosity, and then wipe out those factors from the root. Otherwise such unfortunate incidents will continue to take place, no matter whatever steps are taken on the par of the government.

In this context I will like to highlight one thing. Some people have raised this point that the clash was a result of illegal migration from Bangladesh, which has resulted in a huge number of Bangladeshi Muslims in the Bodoland Territorial Areas District. Well, illegal migration from Bangladesh is certainly a serious problem. However, it must be noted that Bodos have expressed their displeasure over the presence of a number of non-Bodos in that area, without showing any specific grievance on the presence of alleged illegal migrants from Bangladesh. It means that they are averse to the presence of all non-Bodos, irrespective of the fact whether they are illegal migrants from Bangladesh or from India (in fact Assam) itself.

And yes, steps should immediately be taken to address whatever gaps and deficiencies that exist in the Bodoland Territorial Council. The government has to be very serious in eliminating every drop of grievance from the minds of our Bodo brothers and sisters, so that they never have this feeling that Bodoland Territorial Council is just a showpiece without any ability to deliver. After all it is known to everybody that if the government fails to address the grievances of our Bodo friends, then it will give a huge scope to Bodo insurgents to enhance their so-called struggle for a separate Bodo state.

May I suggest something? Is it possible to make a law wherein no non-Bodo will be permitted anymore to buy a land or house in the Bodoland Territorial Areas District? I am not suggesting that the government should ask all those non-Bodos to leave who have already bought lands and/or houses in that area. I am only suggesting that no more non-Bodo should be permitted to buy land or home in that area. Personally I feel that permitting non-Bodos to buy properties in that area is severely diluting  the effectiveness of Bodoland Territorial Council. 

English Language – The Global Lingua Franca

The English language is undoubtedly one of the most precious possessions of the modern human society. It is the English language that helps to create and strengthen a feeling of unity and oneness among the various communities and nations across the world, by facilitating international communication and interaction. It is this language that ensures that a man from China in Asia can communicate and interact with a person from Burkina Faso in Africa, or a gentleman from Argentina in South America can chat with a guy from Germany in Europe. 

It is this language that helps develop and preserve global unity, understanding and co-operation, in every field ranging from trade & commerce to science & technology.

Hats off to this spectacular Global Lingua Franca!

“White Lies” – The Simple Yet Captivating Short Film That Touches Your Mind

Was lucky to come across other day Mr. Rajarshi Mukherjee, a law student by occupation, and a short film maker by passion (for the clueless - a short film is one with a duration that does not exceed 45 minutes).

It was a new experience to know about short film, a specific genre of movie, and a really enjoyable experience to watch "White Lies", a nice short film directed by Rajarshi himself. In fact, I watched the movie on his laptop, sitting beside him (that was also a new experience, i.e. to watch a film siting beside the director of that film). 

I really loved the movie - the story, the script, the narration style, and the acting (incidentally, none of the actors is a professional). It is undoubtedly one of the best movies that I have seen in my life. And while I loved everybody's work, I will like to offer a special note of congratulations to Arinjay and Sukanya. Especially Arinjay has done a marvelous job. 

The story is about a young Kolkata lady named Isha discovering her husband Subodh to be secretly spending time with a female colleague, which is followed by a husband-wife spat. Emotionally upset, Isha decides to leave her husband for good, and comes out on the road. While loitering on the road with a disturbed mind, she is lightly hit by a car being driven by a young college professor named Amit. Amit takes Isha to his home for few hours, so that she can take some rest and get OK. Though initially a bit uncomfortable, Isha gradually opens up, and tells Amit about her spat with Subodh and the reason for the spat, and her decision to divorce her husband.

Amit calmly listens to her. Then he tells her about how he himself had cheated on his wife, and how she forgave him and gave him an opportunity to start it anew.  He tries to convince Isha that Subodh deserves another opportunity. Isha is so touched that she changes her mind, and goes back to Subodh, who was already repentant and was eagerly waiting for her return.

Well, there is something more in store for the audience even after this happy ending. After Isha goes back to Subodh, the audience finds that Amit is still a bachelor. He never married, and there is no question of cheating on his wife in the first place. He actually cooked up the story to make Isha changer her heart. It was this twist that I personally liked the most.

I have fallen in love with this "short film" category of movies, and will look forward to more such movies. And all the best to Rajarshi for all his future projects.

The Charm Of Being In A Government Job

Working for the government has a charm of its own, which can be felt only by the concerned people. A person working in the corporate sector may enjoy a heavy pay package and a glossy lifestyle, but he can never access the feeling of satisfaction and fulfillment enjoyed by a person working in a responsible government position.

In the corporate sector you only work for a particular organization and its owner, always remaining confined to directly or indirectly working for the enhancement of that organization’s business profit. You might enjoy a high salary and other attractive perks, but you end up working only for a particular individual (the owner of the organization) or a particular family (if it is a family business).

In the government job you get the opportunity to serve the common people, either directly or indirectly, which offers you a great deal of satisfaction and pleasure. At the end of the day you can go to the bed with a happy mind that you have done today something valuable for an ordinary person. Once you fall in love with such a work, you will never enjoy the dry and insipid work that only entails profit/loss/market share, etc. of a corporate house.

Moreover, in the private sector you often have to report to a boss (a CEO, an MD, a Manager, etc.)  who has been there only because he is related to the owner family, though actually he does not have the required competence to be in that position.

But in the government job your boss will always be a government servant himself, who has been there by his own caliber. Yes, sometimes his appointment to that position might be questionable and even controversial, but at least no body can say that he has been there only because of his family connection.

I have not tried to make a comparison between government and corporate jobs. Both types of jobs have their own share of attractions and pitfalls, and both offer room for talented people to display their competence.

I have only tried to highlight some points which make me love the government sector. That’s all. I have also had exposure to the corporate sector, and have enjoyed my stint with it as well.

Walking – An Easy But Effective Exercise

While I have had exposure to, and regularly practice, many forms of exercises ranging from Yoga to free hand exercises, I have always had a special feeling and weakness for walking.

I feel many will agree with me that it is really a very easy but effective exercise. Unlike many other forms of physical exercises, walking can be started and practiced by almost every person irrespective of body fitness level and age. In the cases of Yoga and free hand exercises, you will find it very difficult in the beginning if you do not have at least a certain level of body fitness. It is only after regular practice for at least some weeks that you will start feeling comfortable with the exercise. But in case of walking, you can “customize” it in terms of your fitness level, such as 10 minutes walk, 30 minutes walk, brisk walk, walking at a moderate speed, etc. And slowly but gradually you can enhance your “walking routine”, with an increase in your fitness and endurance level.

This explains why even lazy people usually do not shy away from walking.

Another good thing about walking is that you do not need to keep a specific time of your day free for it (like keeping the early morning free for Yoga). Rather, walking can be easily “inserted” in our normal routine, like having a walk with your colleague for some time while going back to home from office.

Moreover, walking is an exercise which can be done while “socializing”. For example, you can have a walk with your friends, chatting and gossiping. It will be just like having a nice time with your friends, with the touch of a fitness exercise.

And just think of the benefits you can have in return of a regular walk. You can elude so many problems, such as blood pressure, diabetes and heart problem. And it is not only the question of eluding health problems, but curing them as well. I have found many people to be able to “shed off” their health problems (such as high blood pressure) courtesy regular walk. And I have come across at least a couple of aged people who are very fit for their age, not because of any lofty fitness regime but simply because they have remained serious about their “walking regime”.

I have been in love with walking since my childhood. I love to walk whenever I get the opportunity, and I always enjoy it whether I am in a picturesque hill town, a captivating sea beach or on a crowded pavement lying along a New Delhi street. I do Yoga. I do free hand exercises. And I enjoy all of them. But for me walking is like that sweet little daughter, who always enjoys the special affection of his Dad which her elder brothers can never “snatch” from her.

The Shockingly Surprising Experience At Noida Police Station

Today (20th March 2012) I had to visit a police station in Noida (U.P.). While I have nothing against the police personnel whom I had to interact with, what I found shockingly surprising was how every official work in a Noida police station is conducted in Hindi, with absolutely no option for English (even if a work entails a visitor who is not conversant in Hindi).

Despite being not very fluent in Hindi, I was forced to communicate with the officers in that language, as I was flatly told that I was not permitted to speak in English as "Noida comes in UP". Despite telling the officers that I cannot read Hindi, I was made to read a document written in that language, which I had to read with the help of an officer. Finally I had to write and submit a statement, and the officers told me that they could not permit me to write it in English, as they would then need somebody to translate it into Hindi (are those police personnel even unable to read English?) Ultimately I again had to take the help of a policeman who prepared my statement on the basis of what I said.

Do the Noida police people have any idea how terribly inconvenient the situation is for people with no or little command of Hindi? Even if it is OK to have verbal communication in Hindi, isn't it too much to expect a person from a non-Hindi speaking region to be able to read a document in Hindi, and then prepare his own statement in that language as well?

I just have one dream. One UP police officer needs to visit a Calcutta police station for some reason, and he is forced to read and write documents there in Bengali, while being told that neither English nor Hindi is permitted, as "Calcutta comes in West Bengal".

Cancer Drug Priced Rs. 284,428 Is Now Available At Rs. 8880

Congrats to the Indian Patent Office for granting Compulsory License to Indian pharma company Natco, wherein the latter can now sell a generic version of anti-Cancer drug Nexavar, patented by German pharma major Bayer.

The most notable thing is that Natco will be selling the drug at a price which is very much within the reach of common people (Rs. 8880), in a stark contrast to the price of Nexavar sold by Bayer (Rs. 284,428 ) which is miles beyond the reach of ordinary people.

It is undoubtedly a historic step taken by India for the benefit of its citizens, and deserves warm applause from each and every Indian.

Contrary to what many people may feel, this step taken by India is 100 per cent valid, as it is backed by Trade- related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement of World Trade Organization.

India Decides To Support UNSC’s Syria Resolution

India has finally decided to support United Nation Security Council’s resolution on Syria, after dillydallying over the issue for quite some time.

I personally feel it is a wise decision, in terms of diplomatic strategy as well as humanity. First, it is important for India to get its voice heard in an international issue, as it will help it further strengthen its status as a power to reckon with. Secondly, there is the question of humanity and ethical responsibility, which compels India to do something to address the Syrian bloodshed that is continuing without any sign of end.

It is not that through this act India will become a party to an act of any forced regime change. Nothing in the language of the resolution talks about any endorsement of regime change. It is only focused, at least apparently, on restraining the ongoing violence and facilitation of a negotiated settlement.

India has deep respect and appreciation for the sovereignty of every nation of this world, and no force can force our country to deviate from that principle. However, we cannot afford to overlook the government sponsored massacre of innocents in Syria in the name of crushing rebellion. The Bashar al-Assad government has every right to be strict with any form of mobocracy that is destabilizing that country. However, the world has the right to intervene if it finds the situation is getting increasingly scary with every passing day. In fact, it might even turn into a favourable development for Assad, by ushering in peace and stability that will enable him to focus on the development of his country.

Let’s hope that our Syrian friends soon find themselves in a peaceful Syria, and then work together to make their motherland as glorious as Mount Hermon.

Photography – My New Passion

Of late I have been “captured” by a new passion – the passion of “capturing moments”. In plain speak, Photography.

It is not that my interest in photography is something completely new. Rather I always have had interest in it, since my childhood. Like many of you, I have always found it to be a thrilling idea to permanently capture various moments of my life, and also various incidents, etc. that I find to take place around me. However, till the other day this interest was “just an interest”. But now with every passing day I find it to be increasingly turning into a strong passion, which may even be called madness. Now I always keep thinking of “capturing” something in my cell phone camera, whether it is gorgeous high rise that I come across while driving through the street, or when I find my colleague buttering his sandwich during the lunch break at office. In fact, sometimes I take a snap of something while questioning myself whether it at all worths being photographed. Guess sometimes I “click” only for the sake of it, as I am actually in love with the “act of clicking”.

Anyways, I must admit that I am enjoying this new hobby like anything. At least as of now.