Citizens Appeal in National Interest

It left the feel of a fresh breeze - the fact that there is some concern among the citizens about the rehabilitation works still pending to be done in Kashmir was refreshing indeed. And the concern has translated into action, when societies and public personalities have got together to appeal to the Congress Leadership to let the PDP continue in power in Kashmir.

I have tried to elaborate, in my other blog, on why it is important to think beyond politics at this hour. While all signs point towards the 'Power sharing agreement' being honoured, it remains to be seen if better sense would prevail and the Parties would act in the National Interest.

Credits to a passionate film-maker

I wanted to know more about Adoor Gopalakrishnan, who has been awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2004; Rediff had his interview handy. One could easily see his class from his responses to the questions posed. Here is someone who lives just for the sake of life, when commercialism haunts the overwhelming majority of the world. He seems to be relishing every part of what he does.

"I don't think of it as 'only' nine films. Anyway, I don't have to satisfy anyone with numbers; I prefer to work this way." he remarks, of his 9 films over a span of 31 years. And he doesn't seek to belittle the others in the trade. He is optimistic of the future of film-making and is realistic on his prescriptions towards improving the scopes for good movies. Above all, he has a purpose behind his actions. If someone deserved recognition, this man did!

Don't mess with them!

Some people have a knack of creating a mess of their own situations. And I expected this to happen to Mani Shankar Iyer, our Union Petroleum Minister, when he suggested that women offset the hike in petrol prices by cutting down on their saree purchases and movie trips - this remark, when the festive season is just round the corner!

Oh yeah, he did lash out later at the Television channel for beaming an 'abridged' version of his interview - but the fact remains that he did utter those words. Earlier, it was an actress who pushed the women of Tamil Nadu over the brinks with her off-hand remark about virgins - or rather, the lack of them. These days, when someone who's been watching regional channels visualises the women of a particular state, he would dream up of not one but a whole group of them, on the streets, in broad day light, with slippers and broom sticks held high in the air, shouting slogans against some well-known personalities. No, I do not want to be specific as to which state I'm talking of - I wouldn't enjoy watching scenes of my effigy being burnt, in Regional News Channels.

Power Play in Kashmir - Part 2

"Reality sucks" said someone. I'm sure he would not have been in politics, but a mere onlooker of the game. The stage is set for the Transfer of Power in Kashmir next month. "The agreement on sharing of power between the two coalition partners is a gentleman's agreement and it would be kept" says Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Chief Minister of J&K.

I had some hope in my previous post on this issue that the folks in power might ultimately see sense, considering the list of 'Things to do' in Kashmir, on the wake of the tremors. They have proved yet again that wise people never have high hopes on politicians. The Chief Minister is on his way to Delhi to hold meetings on the modalities on power transfer. Yes, he will definitely be strutting on a few corpses on his way out.