Vaastav - in reality

An old Bollywood movie, Vaastav (reality) was playing in one of the TV movie channels - as a young boy, it had etched an indelible impression of being a rebel against the atrocities of the society. The film seems to be appropriate to even this day, what with all the atrocities that are beamed by 24/7 news channels and the Internet!

It seems the spirit to fight against the unethical and the illegal fades away with time, with newer challenges and problems appearing each new day. Is today's youth being forced to pick up the cudgels again against the oppressing people? The movement against the corrupt, the mafias, etc., should live on, even if the founders and / or leaders fade away. The tragedy is when the movement itself fades away, even when the people-who-matter live on without the same old spirit, which made them give birth to the very movement!

And so Vaastav becomes relevant even this day, and will continue to be so for many more years!

Strive to thrive

The other day, Deccan Herald (Bangalore, 03 Apr 2012) published a photograph of a physically challenged boy writing his SSLC (10th Standard) Board examination with his foot! The caption went unread, but the picture explained the feeling in a thousand words!

Tenth standard examination is a vital point in one's academic career - it directs you to where you deserve to go, depending on how you have fared in it. What with Karnataka's paper leak-marred Pre-University Course (12th) exam that was scheduled in March, but went on till first week April, 2012, the 10th Board exams in the state has been uneventful till now, despite rumour-mongers having had a field day during the course!

The picture just didn't escape notice, as it was found to be utterly motivating! The student from a lesser-virtue economic standing, or so it seemed from the picture, didn't look like giving up! It is understood that visually-challenged students writing the exam are put in a separate room, who are helped by junior students as scribes - the room would look like a mass-KBC set, with the juniors whispering options for multiple-choice questions! And how many students blessed with all the physical abilities does one see who just don't buck up, vis-a-vis the ones who don't just give up!

These pictures and thoughts don't just up the morale of only students, but, if one can read the perseverance of these folks, inspiration can be drawn from all, across economic and career strata, without doubt. Alright, these students are blessed with lesser physical abilities, but are blessed with a stronger virtue - WILL. To strive to thrive.

Go on, boy! Win the world - you have just shown you can!

Yahoo! again!!

Yaa...hoo...! is how a hit Hindi song of the bygone era, enacted by the indefatigable late Shammi Kapoor, and sung by another of that clan, the late Mohd. Rafi, composed by the very talented duo Shankar-Jaikishan, goes.

Either the song was a hit because of its intrinsic value - all actors involved, or by two individuals exclusively - Shammi and Rafi. It has lived several decades, and still enjoyed by numerous Bollywood song lovers.

The other Yahoo! that's not keeping well is our own, new-gen, one-time IT behemoth, Yahoo! It is hoped that Yahoo! isn't taken to the ICU, and that it regains its lost glory, it's become imperative to understand what ails the company, and how did it come to this point.

The CEO Scott Thompson's email address to its employees only shows the sad story of bucking up the once-invigorated flock, the words "we can do this" and "we will do this" actually posing as a threat to the readers rather than soothing. The folks at Yahoo! would help the web world if they are soothed by the words.

Wasn't it a feel-young, look-young company, with oodles confidence, spirit that flowed to the user as well? Is it being slow in the race that afflicted Yahoo!, that others sped ahead of it by way of pro-active change, who read the ever-aspiring users' minds correctly? Or is it some road-map gone awry on the way?

It was sad, too, to read about the layoff of 2000 employees. Those guys, also the old folks who moved on in the past, were also part of the team that made Yahoo! successful, feel-young and look-young. Without them, Yahoo! inside wouldn't be the same anymore. And those that are there must not feel the heat to give their best.

The Internet world isn't small enough to not accommodate new players - only, the ones that are there should also change. Did Yahoo! lose because of its non-presence in the social networking space? Or is social networking not correctly understood by the company? It did have a very popular email solution, an IM platform, which didn't seem to go forward as the times changed. The world has moved on from being email-savvy to social networking, and it is bound to change allegiance to other concepts that may change the way how we communicate with the world outside. Yahoo! doesn't just need pep-talking, but also hep-talking!

The Internet edifice needs more than two pillars, to first stand, and more to grow up strong and reach the sky. Yahoo! has to reinforce itself as a pillar, and once again be part of the growing, strong edifice called the Internet World!

Is Sachin Bharat's Ratna?

A debate is brewing if Sachin Tendulkar is a deserving candidate for India's top-most civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna (Jewel of India). A "fan" of his would vouch for it, but entertaining the Indian citizens by his sheer, doubtless cricketing talent, isn't making of a deserving candidate for the top honour. A jewel doesn't come so easily, does it?

A hundred "hundreds" is a feat none could attempt, equalling or surpassing is a distant dream. Or even contributing to the game for over two decades isn't something that happens even occasionally. His perseverance, determination are attributes that all could imbibe and use to better lives. Youth, professionals, et al could take a few leaves off his mammoth book to learn how to do things better, not get bogged down by pitfalls, criticisms, etc. No wonder he is adored by boys and girls, and also men and women!

The day after he scores a huge, scintillating hundred, springs seem to appear in everyone's shoes, and just that. It stops at dissecting his "performance" at offices, schools and canteens and pubs. A few of such events are remembered even today, and, at best, a "feel good" whizzes up the swine. There is no evidence of anything that enhances the value of the nation across parameters or indices - social or economic. Sensex, GDP, employment - nothing has changed drastically over a period of time just by that "feel good" whiz!

He has only made his "fans" die for him. The innumerable people who have made India to die for should not be forgotten. And there are countless of them out there, not necessarily in the comfort of luxury, in pursuit of making India a better place, which they might not experience, in the first place!

At least, for Sachin, NOW is not the time. Let not the euphoria influence the people who matter to take a call in haste. Unfortunately, for India and Indian cricket, the "people who matter" might also comprise cricket administrators of the country, who also might lend a voice to the euphoria! May good sense prevail.

What with KFA?

Kingfisher Airlines seems to be in a hurry to wind up operations, what with the daily upheavals that are being showcased, both by the management and the managers! Or is it the advisors behind both parties that are driving them to the wrong end of the tunnel?

The developments lead one to wonder if it is all real, for Mallya is not one to admit defeat, and it does not look like he has reached the end of the road, nevertheless, being heading towards the wrong end of the tunnel! Aren't there enough by-passes for him?

No, flamboyance is not the culprit. Other businesses of his have been and still are as or more flamboyant in their outlook. Yet, there seems to be something seriously wrong with KFA. The King of Happy Times still remains the King; only the Times are not as Happy as they are made out to be!

It is certain that the tables would turn, and King would again smile (where has Mallya's smile vanished? We see a grim-faced him in TV and pics all over, of late). Welcome back! Long live the King!!