Story of Deficits

          ‘Kashmir is on the edge’ – that was how most of the media chose to describe the situation there.

            No one knows the number of times Kashmir occupied that ‘unenviable’ position since 1948; or the precious lives we have sacrificed; or the whopping resources we have expended and committed; or the mental turmoil of the numerous Pandits driven out of their homeland, properties and livelihood.  For over 60 years, India has been bleeding.  Nowhere in the world, would any nation have sacrificed this much to bring about normalcy in a part of its own territory.

            This Government as well as its predecessors have excelled each other in offering wasted dialogues, pampering economic packages, and inane confidence boosters.

            The problem has always been that of a ‘deficit’ – deficit of imagination, conviction, determination! 

            When are we going to wake up?

Facing the Music

A R Rahman who took six months and Rs 5,00,00,000 to compose a theme song for the Commonwealth Games is said to have ‘tweaked’ his original version.

Some say, he has made the song more peppy by adding instrumental music.  Some others say the song has a sharp beat now, fewer words and more music.  And the ‘enlightened’ ones say, ‘Rahman has added more layers to the song giving it a folk touch’! 

‘Oh Yaaro, Ye India Bula Liya’ was first composed, sung and recorded by Rahman on 11 September.  Expectations were that it would ‘outshine’ the FIFA World Cup theme song ‘Waka waka’.  But Rahman failed to impress.  Although he was reported to have initially turned down suggestions to review it, in the face of mounting criticisms, he seems to have yielded.

In this ‘Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush’ game, there was one streak of silver lining:  Suresh Kalmadi, the ‘optimist’ of late, reposing faith in Rahman!

Beauty & the Brain

        The other day I was watching a beauty pageant on TV.

        It was ‘fun’ to take in those teasing attires, swaying hips, and dewy-eyed bellybuttons!  The question-answer session was even more hilarious!  Many of the contestants parodied mouthful of impressive sentences, little knowing its meaning or relevance.  Here are two examples from a pageant of the past that I remember:

       Judge: ‘Can you tell us what is your best feature?’

       Contestant:  ‘There is one that I have at home.  It’s of the majestic Rice Terraces. I believe that tourism can be uplifted by our nation by means of having a good feature.  I believe that tourism is the key to the future, second to the children of the world who are our future which is why we have to lead the way for them.  Thank you’!

       Here is another one:

       Judge: ‘What is your stand on pre-marital sex?’

       Contestant: ‘Ladies and Gentlemen, I am grateful to the honourable judge for asking me an intelligent question.  I do not stand, I kneel down and pray all the time. Thank you’!