I'm amused and disgusted all at once. But a little more amused. I usually can't tolerate slapstick Hindi comedy, but I just had to get this weird urge out of the way. To be honest, I really didn't have this kind of movie in mind when I wrote that, but I guess I've been wearing my Punjabi genes a bit often these days. I was so into it today that I even started digging the music. Seriously, listen to it.

Heck, try calling me!

P.S. - My namesake was fun too :D

BARTINDER! LOL =D

Dear Prime Minister,

Congratulations on being elected the Prime Minister of India for another term. This is a comprehensive victory for yourself and your party.

I have mixed emotions as I write this. I am happy that India can (deservedly) look forward to a stable leadership with an honest man at its helm. Having said that, with all due respect Sir, I'd like you to know that I have no expectations from you or your government. No expectations, only HOPE. Unfortunately, that is all that the people of this country can do today - hope. As I have realized in the past so many years, to expect is to be foolish.

When you were appointed Prime Minister at the end of the previous General Elections, at the time, I was proud that this country has a noble, simple, intelligent and honest leader. Quite obviously, that created expectations. As the whole world has seen over the past 5 years, that hasn't counted for too much. I still do not have any faith in the Indian political and governance system. I have still not seen any reduction in problems that the common man has been facing. I have still not seen the development that this country was promised and quite rightly deserves.

But somehow, somewhere deep inside, I believe in the power of goodness. And I believe you are a man of very good intentions. I hope this election result does not give rise to complacency and
over-confidence - on your part or on the part of anyone in your administration. I hope to see a renewed enthusiasm in yourself as well as your team. An enthusiasm to finally set things right. Everything that you personally wished to do for the country in the past 5 years, this is your opportunity to do all of those things.

I believe that I speak not just for myself, but for a large majority of urban, middle-class Indians. I believe that a large portion of the public does not fully trust the new incoming government. They have voted only for what they believe is the lesser evil. But they all have HOPE. Their trust needs to be earned. Failure to earn this trust, Mr. Prime Minister, will lead to greater disillusionment amongst the people of this land. Their hope will turn to unrealized and impossible dreams. And they do not deserve that.

Mr. Prime Minister, I cannot expect you to read this. But I can certainly hope. Even if you do read this, I cannot ‘expect’ you to take anything from it. I can only hope. There's only so much that a
youth in his mid-twenties can say to a man as senior and respected as yourself. You have the right to dismiss this letter as childish, idealistic and condescending. But then, isn't that what democracy is all about?

The proverbial ball, dear Prime Minister, is now in your court. I wish you the very best.

Sincerely,

Aviraj Singh Saluja

When the future's architectured
By a carnival of idiots on show
You'd better lie low

p.s. - Violet Hill has nothing to do with politics or India. These are just random lines from the song that somehow made some sense to me.

A couple of days back, I finally managed to catch the (10) Oscar-nominated 'piece of art', Slumdog Millionaire. Yeah, right. The moment I finished watching it, I knew I wanted to write about it. But as always, I was too lazy (and sleepy) to bother.

Then today, I happened to revisit this blog post that my friend had rather eloquently written, and I read, long back, but had totally forgotten about 'it. Today I see what he was talking about. And seriously, he's said exactly everything I wanted to say about Slumdog Millionaire.

"Well, there's nothing to it really. Very simply, it hasn't touched Indian audiences to that degree because we're quite accustomed to watching 'uplifting' and inarguably illogical tales (a slumboy from Mumbai who speaks in chaste English with a Brit accent?) that Bollywood keeps churning out as it endeavors towards its mindless target of producing 200-300 mindless movies every year. While Slumdog may have enough in it to instill 'hope' in Americans, for a people that has to tackle corruption, abysmal governance, politics of hatred, and unbridled competition with a billion of its own kind on a daily basis - not to mention a terrorist attack thrown into this cesspool every month or so - Slumdog can't make the grade for 'uplifting' entertainment."

Read it here: http://blog.avirup.com/2009/02/much-has-been-made-of-rather-lukewarm.html. It's way better written than I could ever write.

ref: http://twitter.com/aviraj/statuses/859460122

On a slightly related note, I just happened to pass by twitterholic.com today and noticed that I'm the 119th most followed twitterer in Mumbai. I'm surprised it's that high, considering I quit actively twittering back in September. In fact, since then, my followers have increased by almost 20 (that's a 50% increase). And the highest ranked person I know on that list is my friend Maneesh (@itravin) who's at #55. Considering that he quit Twitter right about the time I did, I think that reflects on Twitter's lack of popularity in Mumbai, or rather India as a whole.

Then again, I don't care much about Twitter really. I've used it in the past only for personal updates, not professional, and to that effect I think it's quite a pointless time hog. My account is alive only to drive a little traffic to my blog :)

Thanks to Tony, I just came across this song that I absolutely loved when I was in school. So much so, that my brother and I had even memorized the lyrics of this Tamil (?) original! The Hindi version didn't come close. Man, this took me back a good 10-odd years.

Enjoy this masterpiece by India's Michael Jackson. It's way cool! :)

Penned by my dad.

As I saw bullets fly
It pierced my heart and made me cry
As lives were being wasted in front of me
I thought, what is happening to my country

As enemy entered from the bay
Intelligence agencies exposed their decay
As bullets and bombs became order of the day
It was too late to sit up and pray

As politicians sat back and watched the fun
Innocent people were on the run
Dodging bullets fired at them
Trying to get away from the mayhem

Some were lucky, some were not
With bare hands how could they have fought
A child escaped but parents shot
As they could not escape the terrorist's plot

As houses and hotels went up in flames
Those who burnt had claim to fame
They were achievers in the modern world
But were stopped in their steps for no fault of theirs

Those who were shot at CST
Were ordinary people like you and me
But who cared if we lived or died
Who cared if we got burnt or fried
 
I detest these politicians and bureaucrats
Who nibble at the system like wild rats
And do what they are known to do best
Keep filling their pockets and their chests

Why are we ruled by these imbeciles
Why are we fooled by these slimy eels
Who stick to their seats and pass the blame
For they are used to this and have no shame

Out with them Oh countrymen
Throw them out before they strengthen their den
Throw them so, so very far
That they are never able to return again

God bless my country and my countrymen. Let us wake up and change the course of our destiny. Remember, if we don't, we will have only ourselves to blame. Tomorrow never comes, so, let us do it today.

 

-Kanwarjit Singh

That's all I can say. That's all that I want to say.

These stupid attacks on Mumbai have given me a hundred more reasons to hate India. I can't wait to get out of this land of shit. I am proud of the forces fighting for our cause, I mourn and deeply feel for any and everyone who is directly affected by the goings on of the last 24 hours. I'm just sick and tired of having to see a day like this every couple of months now. And that I can only blame on the people who lead the country. I hate is the way this country is led and managed. Yes, a majority of our citizens are to blame too, and maybe even myself in part, but it's the leaders who give us a direction to follow. And right now it's all utter bullshit.

I do not support Manmohan Singh. I don't think the country will be any better off under L. K. Advani. I only support peace. And anyone who can give us that.

I am sorry for this outburst. I'm a little out of my head. Call me a hypocrite, but I do care for the land that I come from.