Where do we belong?

We've all heard about the site 'Ask.fm' where people anonymously ask each other questions, be it about their personal life or just for fun. I recently joined this site just to see what kind of questions people ask and how people react to such questions. But one answer really infuriated me.
A person was asked to describe his country (India) in 3 words. He replied saying 'Cricket. Rape. Corruption'. Now I understand the frustration a normal Indian faces everyday regarding the growing cases of rape and corruption. But why insult your own country on a public forum knowing fully well that the person sending the question might just be from a different country? Is this the picture we want to give others about India? We should be proud to be Indians and should talk highly of our country. This brings me to my next point.
I hear a number of Indians, specially students, criticizing the country and saying that they want to leave it. It bothers me that educated Indians themselves have no will to help develop their own country. India cannot grow until the people want to make it grow. Unfortunately, people, including me, have been influenced too much by the western culture. We see America and all we want is to live in a country as 'classy' and developed as America. Why don't we think even once that if we leave, how will our country flourish? It is the people who form a country, not the government and not the old politicians. I am not implying that all of us should join politics and run the country. But the least we can do is lead it to the path of development in the best possible way we know.
Charity begins at home. Our home is India and we are Indians. Running away from this fact won't change it.

The Greatest Love Of All..

                            

About two years back, my sister and I found a female stray dog in a market close to our house. Very common looking, she had something very special about her. The love and affection she showed everybody around her, even though she had never met them, was extraordinary.  Whenever we went to that market, she would come running to us. Not for food, she didn't care about the food, but just to be with us. If we tried to leave, she would run ahead and try and block our way. She never expected any food or anything from us, only love. We named her Chi Chi (got the name from Friends, the dog Ross and Monica loved in their childhood) and she always came running to us when we used to call her.
But after those few months when we used to meet her at least once a week, we never met her for like a year. Yes, it was selfish on our part because we used to visit that market quite often and used to leave without meeting her. Then after one whole year, we found her again in a different place. She recognized us. With the same name. Though now she looked weak, very weak, with an injured leg. But our love for her or her love for us did not decrease even a bit. Even now, we try and meet her as much as possible. We feed her and then walk around the market while she walks by our side.
This is what I call 'unconditional' love. The love dogs show to humans is the best love ever. Why can't humans be more like dogs? Infact, when you're actually abusing a person by calling them a dog, if I were in their place, I would take it as a compliment. Probably the best compliment ever received.

Flop Show

28th October, 2011 was supposed to be an epic day for the people of Gurgaon and Delhi.
The long awaited day had finally come when thousands of fans came together on one ground to see their favourite band perform. There was only one name on everybody's lips - Metallica, and they wouldn't stop no matter what.
I reached the concert grounds at around 3 pm and saw a huge crowd of people waiting in front of the gates.   Most of them had reached in the morning  hoping to be the first ones to enter when the gates opened. This was actually expected as most fans had been waiting for this day for years. Stamping, shouting and after an hour of being pushed and crushed, we finally entered the concert ground. Excitement could be seen on everybody's faces. Screaming and chanting Metallica's name, they rushed towards the stage. It was around 4:30 and there was no sign of the band. Still, with no complains,  everybody eagerly waited. After another hour of waiting and being told to 'move one step backwards' people started getting a bit agitated. The organizers somehow seemed to show no interest when questioned and told us that the band was at an interview and would be arriving in no time. Another hour and a half passed by and all we could do is sit and wait until they finally told us the truth.
The barricades in front of the stage had been broken and we told that due to these 'technical difficulties' the concert had been postponed to the next day. The crowd replied to that announcement with a number of abuses and started breaking the sound system which was placed in the middle of the ground. Many climbed on to the stage, broke the equipment and almost set fire to the stage. People started rushing out of the ground out of fear and anger.
On reaching home we switched on the news and we were told that the concert was cancelled.
An evening which was supposed to leave the crowd wanting more and more left everyone with a rage that has still not subsided.
Nobody knew what actually happened that day and it still lies as a mystery.


I know that writing this post after two and a half months makes no sense, but somethings need to be let out. Better late than never.

One year complete, and it just gets better...

Cannot be more proud to be the daughter of such an amazing person. Joygopal Podder, a prolific writer and a fund-raising Director in a well-known NGO, has achieved a lot in the past year. His passion for writing had been there since childhood which could be seen as short stories in magazines and newspapers. But, only once he reached the age of 50 did he finally decide to take his passion to another level.
It was his 50th birthday when his first book 'Deceivers' was accepted by publishers and it's been a year since it got released in the market. Once he started, there was no end. A year later, there are six of his books out in stores and the seventh one on its way. 'Superstar' is yet to be released but the already published ones include- Deceivers, The Inheritance, The Landlord's Secret and other short stories (a book for children), High Alert, Millennium City and Truth is stranger than fiction (non-fiction).
With the aim of becoming a best seller fiction writer, he is currently writing his eleventh book. The pace at which he writes cannot be seen in many authors and thus, he wishes to target the 'Fastest writer's' title in The Limca Book of World Records. His books are mainly thriller based leaving the readers wanting more.
A person who loves to read, for him his books are a must read. And even for those who do not find much interest in reading, trust me, after you read my father's books, you will want more.

Life as we know it...

I have never felt so close to music as I'm feeling now. Going to a place you didn't like much after many years can actually change your opinion about that place. Its just been two classes but i already feel...well...fresh. A new start, I've finally taken courage to join vocal lessons. My dream had always been to sing in front of a number of people, except for school. I feel that I'm a step closer to what i want.
Still scared and nervous, I wonder whether I can ever fulfill my dream. I've seen so many people perform, sing amazingly well, it makes me think if I'm even a little close to them. But wow! I want to be up there! I don't want to be scared.
Life gives you a lot to think about. Now, you may wish to follow your heart or let life go on its course. I've learnt that the only way to get what you need is to follow your heart. Don't take life lightly, it won't spare you. Do what you want to, ignore the people who try to stop you. I did and I'm pretty happy. I let myself go and there's not even one day that i regret it.
So, back to where i was, I've done what I had to, I faced my fear. All that is left is to overcome my fear.
Give your dream sometime and it won't let you down. All you need to do is follow your heart. You have one and only one life, live it to the fullest. Don't let your fears bring you down.

Lights, Camera….Cut!

Movies. One of my many passions. I somehow find it surprising how something can keep you stuck to a chair for two hours. I’ve always wondered what happens behind the cameras, a director shouting, cameramen focusing their cameras on the film stars and still not getting it right, spot boys running all over the place with no idea what they have to do, it’s exciting to know what all there is to a film. The chaos is unimaginative, but the result of the film is most definitely enduring (or at least should be).

A film has so many takes; still, some weird directors can never get them right. Yes, I blame it on the director and not on the actors. Till the time the actors are not told what to do, the film is never expected to be good. A filmmaker plays the most important role, he is the one who ultimately gets critically acclaimed, and so, he is the one who has to do full justice to his film and to his work.

Now let’s leave the poor director and talk about something else. Nowadays, a new trend has come under my notice. Hollywood has started taking over Bollywood. All actors seem to enjoy working in American films rather than working in their own country, well, I don’t blame them. Most films in India are now becoming trash. Actors get better opportunities in Hollywood and they choose to use their talent there.  I wonder how many Indian films have won Oscars, for that matter, even been nominated for Oscars.

Back to my favourite topic of discussion, Music. It plays a very important role in the film industries. Some expressions can be expressed through music in outstanding ways. But, that does not mean that songs are added after every 5 minutes. That’s the most annoying part. This is one of the reasons I prefer Hollywood films over Bollywood.

One movie I wish for everyone to see, The King’s Speech. A remarkable film, with outstanding work done by the director and the lead actor Colin Firth. He deserved the Oscar and so did the film. This is what movies should be like. Even if not that serious, but the amount of effort put in it is something we wish to see in Bollywood films too.

Before going, I just want to add one thing. I did not mean to criticize Bollywood, many Indian films have been amazing too, but directors and actors need to come up with better ideas. A few films cannot make up for all the other disastrous films made by other filmmakers.

So, hats off to those legendary films which have made us laugh and cry. We wish to see many such more in the near future.

Beyond Boundaries

I was an introvert. A girl afraid to show her real self. Would people like me? That was not my fear. Would I be able to live up to what I wanted to be? THAT was my fear. I always loved music. Singing was my passion. A passion nobody knew about.

Till now people knew me only because of my sister. To tell you the truth, she was actually my inspiration. One of the best singers the school had seen, my sister was very famous in her time. Everybody used to compare me to her, especially my teachers. But I didn’t get angry or anything. I instead used it as a motivation.

The beginning of ninth was pretty normal. But then a few months later there was a competition. Band Competition. I had to sing. This was my chance. So I went. I went to my teacher. They heard me. I was in.

I couldn’t have done any better. That was the best choice I ever made. My teacher actually loved me. She actually said that I sounded like my sister. That was the best compliment for me.

From then on, my life changed. People began to know me. I had gained confidence. I was no longer afraid and was definitely no longer an introvert. I could sing.

All this just taught me one thing. Till the time you have confidence in yourself, nothing is impossible. You just have to wait for that one opportunity and when it comes, grab it. Life will give you chances, you just have to know when they come. Being scared will not help. Don’t give a damn what the world thinks, do what you like to do and do it for yourself. People will love you for that.

So all my fellow mates out there, be free, be confident, and don’t let life scare you. I did and I got nothing out of it.