It's Sunday!!

Meaning of celebrating a day in our daily life can take a completely different meaning some times by mistake. I learnt this new fact of life today.

I felt how at times it could be disastrous but funny anecdote of life as well.

So many surprises occurring in just an hour’s time on January16 (2010) left me in peels of laughter, as I realized it all happened due to a silly mistake about the exact day, after I mistook Saturday for a Sunday.

As a routine, bosses take their weekly off on Sunday and the workload is relatively less. Hence, I had reason to be cheerful about the day.

Even in the morning by 9 o’clock, my senior colleague Pankaj Chaudhary’s call regarding some problem in a blog, felt a bit surprising. As I was astonished to think after all what made him turn up on this day, as he is also off on Sundays. It must be for increment, I felt, as he woke me up early in the morning (9’o clock)!

Feeling it was Sunday, I left early for office thinking it would allow me to leave for home on time or earlier, if nobody pointed out.

On my way to office, the sight of everything and everyone I usually come across on working days looked a bit like a ‘Surprise of the Day’.

I was perturbed to see so much traffic on roads despite it being a Sunday. I said: “Oh, this traffic has swelled actually beyond limit.” Usually, most of the office-goers’ vehicles are off roads. “So much cars, so many scooters and even Rikshaw-pullers are adding to the traffic snarls on a day like Sunday,” I said it myself.

Well, I arrived in office at 12.30, half-an-hour earlier, thinking the bosses will not be there. And, this was good enough reason to be happy. I was content that in any case I would not have to see the terrifying faces. I looked so cheerful, thinking it was Sunday and not much work would be there.

I climbed up the stairs to the third floor of the office building in a lesuirely mood. I felt so relaxed.

I was surprised to smell the aroma of food coming from canteen into stairs. “The canteen guy must be overworking or been forced to come for half day,” I thought and smiled.

But little did I have any idea that the friends I often find absent on Sundays would be greeting me today. Their full presence in office surprised me, as I kept walking towards my seat while responding with my smile and surprise to the “Hello” or “Good Morning Sandeep Sir”.

But the very first sight of my News Editor, Dixit assigning some task to a colleague in office near my seat, surprised me. How come he is there in office today? , I asked myself. Well, it could be some important work, which must have brought him to office today, I replied to myself.

I was surprised to see so many people being present on this 'Sunday'. I even asked one of my friends on Chatting box how come she was in office today...she didn't realise it .nor did it doubt my absent mindedness.

But I was woken up from my day-dreaming, only after a loving friend emailed for not greeting her as I do everyday, to say Hellooooo it's Saturday Kaurange ...

:)
I was speechless.

Indian Media's expose` or political party's sting on media moghuls ?

A recently circulated email stated how most of the news organisation are being by some particular business group or 'supported' or unoffically controlled by individuals.

Though it could be quite interesting for anyone seeking material to substantiate criticism of media in daily life, I would view it as how much constrained journalists are to bring out shades of truth as long as they serve in any organisation.

Once out of the organisation, even the readers who expect so much from them may not find even a little worth in reading such journalists' write up.

And, on practical side, one can never deny the fact that every organisation needs finance to run its show and for that it has to bear the influence of outside forces just like any other business organisation.

Even if such a 'revealation' or information is publicised by private platforms like blogs or emails, the general public should appreciate that at least something is coming out for the betterment of society off an on!

Otherwise, everyone is entitled to have its own view. I cannot obstruct someone's freedom to speech and expression as is available to the media persons as a fundamental right under Indian constituion.

Who owns the media in india ?
The Email stated advising --A VERY INTERESTING ARTICLE...ONE MUST READ--headlined "Who owns the media in India ?" stated:

Recent Gujarat election have witnessed unaccountable money
paid to media persons of both, print and electronic by Saudi
Arabia to discredit Modi and the Hindutva forces, which
Media did very faithfully without success.

There are several major publishing groups in India , the
most prominent among them being the Times of India Group,
the Indian Express Group, the Hindustan Times Group, The
Hindu group, the Anandabazar Patrika Group, the Eenadu
Group, the Malayalam Manorama Group, the Mathrubhumi group,
the Sahara group, the Bhaskar group, and the Dainik Jagran
group.

Let us see the ownership of different media agencies.


NDTV: A very popular TV news media is funded by Gospels of
Charity in Spain Supports Communism. Recently it has
developed a soft corner towards Pakistan because Pakistan
President has allowed only this channel to be aired in
Pakistan .

Indian CEO Prannoy Roy is co-brother of Prakash
Karat, General Secretary of the Communist party of India. His wife and Brinda Karat are sisters.

India Today which used to be the only national weekly which supported BJP is now bought by NDTV!! Since then the tone has changed drastically and turned into Hindu bashing.

CNN-IBN: This is 100 percent funded by Southern Baptist
Church with its branches in all over the world with HQ in
US.. The Church annually allocates $800 million for
promotion of its channel. Its Indian head is Rajdeep
Sardesai and his wife Sagarika Ghosh.


Times group list:
Times Of India, Mid-Day, Nav-Bharth Times, Stardust,
Femina, Vijay Times, Vijaya Karnataka, Times now (24- hour news channel) and many more...

Times Group is owned by Bennet & Coleman. 'World
Christian Council¢ does 80 percent of the Funding, and an
Englishman and an Italian equally share balance 20 percent. The Italian Robertio Mindo is a close relative of Sonia Gandhi.


Star TV: It is run by an Australian, who is supported by
St. Peters Pontifical Church Melbourne.


Hindustan Times: Owned by Birla Group, but hands have
changed since Shobana Bhartiya took over. Presently it is
working in Collaboration with Times Group.

The Hindu: English daily, started over 125 years has been
recently taken over by Joshua Society, Berne , Switzerland .. N. Ram's wife is a Swiss national.

Indian Express: Divided into two groups. The Indian Express and new Indian Express (southern edition) ACTS Christian Ministries have major stake in the Indian Express and latter is still with the Indian counterpart.

Eeenadu: Still to date controlled by an Indian named Ramoji Rao.

Ramoji Rao is connected with film industry and owns a huge studio in Andhra Pradesh.

Andhra Jyothi: The Muslim party of Hyderabad known as MIM along with a Congress Minister has purchased this Telugu daily very recently.


The Statesman: It is controlled by Communist Party of
India.

Kairali TV: It is controlled by Communist party of India
(Marxist)

Mathrubhoomi: Leaders of Muslim League and Communist leaders have major investment.

Asian Age and Deccan Chronicle: Is owned by a Saudi Arabian Company with its chief Editor M.J. Akbar.

Gujarat riots that took place in 2002 where
Hindus were also burnt alive, Rajdeep Sardesai and Bharkha Dutt working for NDTV at that time got around 5 Million Dollars from Saudi Arabia to cover only Muslim victims, which they did very faithfully. Not a single Hindu family was interviewed or shown on TV whose near and dear ones had been burnt alive, it is reported.


Tarun Tejpal of tehelka.com: Tehelkacom regularly gets blank cheques from Arab countries to target BJP and Hindus only, it is said.

The ownership explains the control of media in India by
foreigners. The result is obvious.

PONDER OVER THIS. NOW YOU KNOW WHY EVERY ONE IS AGAINST TRUTH, HOW VERY SAD.

Please pass this on to as many as possible. Let them know
who feeds them with biased news and information- yet call
themselves secular," the email concluded.

Surely, it would interest a lot of media critics take cudgles against their favourite punching bag. But still one tends to put a question to them: "What if tomorrow there is NO MEDIA?"
-- RegardsChaudhary Sandeep Datta

My eight-day holiday

Getting a holiday has been as difficult for me as it could be for an increment in the news organisation I work for. But that's part and parcel of a journalistic life, I believe.

It is quite difficult to explain what actually I did during all these holidays. Still, I wish to so that at least I could understand much before I could explain.

First day, Dec.28, 2009
As I had spent the previous day in much excitement, I wanted to perform or rather live every moment of my each day as per my solid plan. I wanted to make most of it.

I am not a nice man for all.

For a long time I haven't written for this personal platform. The office stress or personal life prevented it. But two topics have been pushing me from inside to enunciated what's coming in my mind and rather remains there. I want the world to know it.

Main hi Hindu, Main hi Musalmaan...Main hi Sikh, Isai

Role of household women in brinng up children by sacrificing their professional careers

Aug.9,2002

Why Do I want to Pursue Journalism?

Dreams do get realized sometime in life. Perhaps, this is what happened in my case too. To name any single reason ,as “main”,would be lessening others importance.But this dilemma ,in no way, affect the shape of my real objective for joining journalism.

The psyche, instead of mere reason, is the deep urge;to know and to understand things, happening everywhere.To witness them for expressing ,later on, with the intensity of hard core truth. Yes,this is the briefest possible answer to state my real purpose of pursuing journalism.
Personally,it would be an answer those questioning eyes that underestimate the potential of a middle class lad who wants to learn. I want to give a befitting reply to those who laugh it aside whenever the eagerness of a government school kid is “argued/discussed”.

But, professionally want to utilize my talent by becoming a voice of those who generally stay unheard by anyone. My wish is to raise the suppressed and sidelined issues that affect the common men.

Innumerable complaining voices turn mute but the people in “authority”, take a sound sleep.Why ? Isn’t it something absurd. May be these intentionally ignored voices inspire me to work for them. The forgetful “minds” need to be convincingly remembered that they are always accountable to the common man, not to forget them.

To me, Journalism is the appropriate platform to awake “our”Politicians to take notice of what pains the distressed souls.It is a medium to speak about, how it feels when the powerless is overpowered/crushed by the powerful? And, for me, similar things like these, remain unexpressed ,adequately, till date.So, I want to touch them,realistically.

I believe, only a journalist can deliver the real message of sufferers. For,if a journalist didn’t , then who would?

Innocent people can not be let betrayed by a few rogue minds. There has to be a check. Let there be no puppet show allowed to continue uninterrupted? If a journalist didn’t help, then perhaps,no one in this world would.

If the “official liberty” to buzz the danger alarm is not utilized even by a journalist ,then, whom to look forward to? Let there be a feel of being protected among the feeble souls, this is what I what I want to give.

I feel, it’s a responsibility of the “educated ones” to point out the social concerns. If it ‘s not their task ,then, I don’t expect it from any destitute or uneducated, too.Without thinking about others’ willingness, at least, am eager to do this important job.

The corrupt must be realized the might of an unbiased pen. At least some professions have to take care of the public concerns and see they remain unaffected by anyone.If this would not be a purpose of a journalist then whose? What this entire “knowledge”meant for?, if it doesn’t scare the dishonest that his conduct is being scrutinized by someone. Therefore, to make a purposeful use of my existence I wish to contribute a bit by pursuing no other profession but Journalism.


Personal Background
Attitude is all that matters in one’s life. This is what the life has taught me .And, without any doubt , I followed it like a lesson learnt by heart. Born in a middle class Brahmin family. I went through all that what others feel uncomfortable in.

The shortest boy of every queue and the thinnest one among all the sportsmen of the school. Inexplicable is all that what one suffers when even family proves ignorant to appreciate the child for encouragement.

The youngest one of the five ,one brother and three sisters and the last one,me. ,I learnt what outside world taught me through inflicting injuries.

But, thanks to the sports that taught me the most important lesson of life, “It’s one’s attitude that determines one’s success but not others opinion”.

While winning many events, mentioned like Badminton, Kabbaddi, Kho,Martial Arts at johnal
and state levels I developed the killer attitude of ‘making things possible’.But, despite getting admitted in a prestigious college(Ramjas College) by defeating 29 state and national level players I had to quit. The compelling reason, parents’ disliking for sports.

My first failure, in twelfth grade of school, transformed me completely. Making me too much serious about studies instead of sports.Surely, this was the U turn of my life.
.But,voices were raised to the extent of depriving me of further studies. Fortunately, by the next year, I proved them wrong ,securing first division. Anyhow, the enraged family had to cool down a bit..

During graduation, despite trying hard I didn’t make any fascinating impression. Therefore, by restricting my unimpressive studies, it was suggested, to put me in our small family business. But, despite bowing in front of family’s order I continued studying along with it through public library books.Three long years I cherished the fifty paise membership and studied a lot on human behavior.This is the study which actually inspired me to join journalism.

At last, I was allowed studying but on my own expense. Friends kept lending me money for my fees. And, I managed to afford because of their timely helps. But,for almost half a dozen diplomas that I did, I had to pay back by my little pocket money.

But,very hard is to mention the reasons for which I was not financed by my own family for pursuing studies. May be their ignorance, towards the professional training’s importance or the envy of my own elder brother, is the reason. I can’t say ,or perhaps, don’t want to. That’s why, despite making top thrice in notable insititutes , I never revealed it to my family,till date.The reason I can’t explain.

Unfortunately, I lost my father because of heart-attack this year, in the month of June,but my passion remained intact. Making my circumstances worst, my friends too have been transferred now and the life has become difficult.

Things have been going a bit tough for me but my strong attitude have answered fittingly to each of the challenge in my struggle to study.

Let see how my first scholarship exam favours me to continue!

My Meal....

As I have forced my mother not to move in early morning or in the evening from the bed as a precaution against the chill outside, I have to arrange for my meals from the market. Every morning, I have to first brood over for long to decide what should I eat. As, I have to think in terms of time consumption in buying from the market, bringing home and should also not affect the stomach.

The options being quite limited to Kachori or Chola Kulcha or Bhatura or the bread-butter has made me to have a cup of tea and Ras or biscuit in the morning. The reason being that either I can have my breakfast or read newspapers, a must to work in office as an informed person.

I start off for the office at 12.30 p.m and often the hurry is to just reach and gobble up anything available in the canteen. Unfortunately, it is 3.00 or 4.00 p.m. by the time I am free to search for lunch. The lunch items are over by 2.00 p.m. in the office canteen. Hence, I move out in search of something or rather anything to eat. Often, the choices is Chowmein, Momos, or Chole Kulche. Believe me, they are too spicey to be had everday.

The evening option is Chai, Bread Pakora and Samosa or Matthi.

The dinner is something that disturbs in fact disappoints me the most. I leave office by 10.00 or 10.15 and reach around 11 or later at home. By that time the little Dhabas or shops are closed or about to close. I have to manage with bacha-khucha. So it depends purely on my Kismat.

Yesterday was Sunday. It's a day I always waited to have Rajma Chawal, my favourite dish of the week and the Pudina Chattani prepared by my Mumma. But I couldn't have it yesterday. My Mumma noticed the following morning that I slept after having just Maggie at night. She said: Mainu Sharam Aayi Ki Tenu o sab Chowmein jaya kha ke sona paya raati (It felt shameful to notice that you had to eat that Chowmein type food at night). I said it wasn't exactly like that. It was just I had too much in lunch in office so to balance it, I took light food by 'choice'. I couldn't successfully befool her. After all she knows me more than myself...being my mother.

But....I accept this situation with a smile......for her sake. No regrets. Just smile.

Just Smile

With the competitive life ovewhelming everyone's mind everyday, people are increasingly tending to forget to smile. It sounds interesting to see even if people, at least in cities, are willing to attend laughing groups on morning walks, they don't bother to smile in everyday life.

A smile doesn't cost anything but it pays handsome returns. I tried it many a times, after passing my days without even bothering to smile even when just a smile could have made a lot of difference to my vibes for others.

Interacting with junior colleagues or children playing in ground adjoining my house, or even while just passing by a group of neighbours or youngsters junior to my age. I believe a smile could have made others to smile and joyfully return a heartiest smile in brotherliness or just with respect. But I failed to do so. It was disappointment, perhaps much more than that after I realised recently what a smile could have done to my days I spent without it and looked 'serious' or cruel.

Be it family, workplace or public place,

My mother

I am worried about my mother these days. Recently, I observed depleting condition of my aging mother, when she complained of feeling a little discomfort while speaking last week (in Oct., 2009). Her left side of the lips looked slightly pressed. It frieghtened me, as I immediately took her to our family physician fearing paralysis. He gave some medicine to prevent any such attack.

As I told my brother after returning from the doctor, he consulted the problem again with him over phone. By that time I was away for my evening freaking out with Rajesh, my childhood friend, just like we usually do on my weekly off. My brother called me to return immediately as he wanted to discuss something. Tu Arya hai ke nain…..he said in Punjabi meaning whether I was returning home immediately or not? It was summoning me to return to discuss some crucial matter. I was surprised. He used such words after many years. He would use such a tone only while he wanted me to study or face the consequence at night. But this time I was perturbed to think why he would have called me at that time. If there was actually some serious problem, many such questions passed my mind in a short span of time.

I reached home and he said that he consulted Mumma’s condition with the doctor who advised to see Neurologist by the following morning. I agreed it was intelligent of us if we could urgent see the neurologist if the case is related to him. Both of us feared early stage of paralysis.

We reached Teerth Ram Shah hospital at Rajpur Road, 10 minutes from our locality. My father, who died of cardiac arrest at 83, used to get treatment for his all ills at this hospital and it looked reasonable of us to visit a tried and tested and relatively trustable and affordable hospital.

We met the Neurologist and he advised some tests including the MRI for brain scanning. And, it felt scary when wheil leaving he said actually the vessles of her mind were skewing. It was alarming for both of us. We put up a smiling face and lied to mother saying he just suggested some tests as we didn't have any single medical record or history of hers. She agreed. But on reaching home, after an hour or two she asked me: "Sach bol, doctor ne kya kaha hai". I modified my version and said he said he wasn't able to suggest any medicine or point out the problem till we have a report with us. I couldn't befool her.

In response to a comment I recieved by a friend.....

It’s not just about my approach. A positive criticism by anyone of Dilli looks praiseworthy. But it certainly hurts deep enough and looks objectionable to see consistent criticism from those who have aggravated problems majorly, whose own family or friends or b/f or g/fs create nuisance in this city buses, roads, colleges or offices and still they do bad mouth about Dilli ?


There is no one in Delhi till date who may have criticized the presence of people who believe Dilli is their own national capital and they belong to it. The condemnation is of those disgusting people who arrive in the city and still speak ill of it every time without ever feeling and accepting thank God they have Delhi to take shelter under.


Delhi is paying a heavy price for being a Union Territory. Every State has reservation for its natives to maintain and respect the first right on anything the place offers or possess. But what about Dilli wallas’ right to reservation? Still, criticism. The employment is generated by Dilli wallas and given to people from all States and of all religions, still criticize such people?


The tolerant behaviour of Dilli is becoming a joke as there is an increasing number of people who talk about Dilli as if they are talking to some place in Pakistan or America. Their words, unlike yours or many other sincere and balanced mind people from any part of the country, never seem like they are saying it out of concern. For those words 99 % of the time are said in humiliation of people here and the place.


Delhi has it own culture, lifestyle and whatever it is left with. And, that given no such (critiques) to blurt out anything about it. The day is not far when Raj Thackeray type people will find their proxy here. Even individuals like me who have always supported all as our own people beyond regionalism, may turn the ugly Thackerays. Then who will be responsible for generating such hatred in local people’s minds?


If one cannot improve anything or first himself after arriving at a non-native place as a guest, one should not go so much critical as if his or her words start looking or feeling to the natives as of some enemy existing in their place. The decency and tolerance is still being shown to students and so many other from other states could end any day due to such an loud mouthed approach.


The north-east girls, who dress half revealing and in suggestive manner and many of them even have HATRED for HINDI, deserve what they suffer. I wish to know the place in India where flashing one's undergarments or stripes is viewed as a decent conduct. I want to see that State where indulging in drugs is a welcome. I want to visit that place where you can live and condemn its people without getting hurt.

But at the same time the sweet talking, nice and inclusive approach minded people from north-east are always a welcome in Dilli. They project any incident happening with them as Taretting NORTH EAST. Can they deny no incident takes place with them in the own backyard? Can they deny they will never be looted or eve-teased or passed lewd remarks by their own natives in the north east. They have disgusting differences in the own particular state and divided into Jaatis and lower and upper castes leave aside the North East region and still they dare talk about a place like Dilli. They come here running for livelihood as there is militancy, there are blasts, there is looting, kidnapping, rapes, burning of houses and hunger. If in such a condition a place gives you peace and livelihood, should any civilized person critisise it? They lampoon themselves with what they do on roads and in public places while traveling by crowded buses, with their half naked bodies despite coming from rural and remotest parts of the country.


I just wanna ask such people in Dillli , why make such a hue and cry and generalize Dilli wallas or the place itself when similar incidents or worse inicidents can take place at any place including the native place? Why talk about Delhi only? Why not think before one speaks or decides to enter Dilli? Why not they leave Dilli? And, why not they should be thrown out of Dilli who have such a prejudiced and unwanted critical approach? Is it the decency of a guest?


Who doesn’t welcome a good guest and hate the bad guest?


Yes, the culture is different here but who will change, the place or the visitors?

The Visitors in Dilli


(I have chosen to remove this write up because of my deep association and respect for my loving friends from across India, especially Bihar and North East, and due to their affection, which has always influenced me to their respective culture and upbringing in totality. Feb.10,2010)