And, I decided to close my Facebook world...

Photography...finally it's happening in a major way

Feb 23, 2013

Being able to capture any place in a new or rarely observed manner is a thing which is overwhelming me these days. Be it any place, it turns an unprecedented joy only when I am able to click it in an interesting way. 

Though any word of sincere appreciation proves moral-boosting to attempt more in a creative way, I don't wait for anyone's like or dislike. For me, photography is a turning a medium to feel what appeals to my soul today and forever. Whatever I have always cherished watching, noticing, or appreciating in words or silence, I am trying to capture. 

Photography, which is a great medium to represent anything like any painting or a write up, has just struck my mind perhaps for the best. I feel it's actually expanding my horizon of thinking, feeling and, more importantly, celebrating life in a new way.

Friends and admirers are enabling me to learn more to be able to cater in a better way in next attempt. Thanks to some blogs to online clips, shutterbugs like me are able to learn something without quitting essential chores of life i.e. job. The constraint and regret of not having the best of the equipments other than a digital camera of Nikon now feels blessing in disguise. 

This newly found passion, for last four years, has happened perhaps at the right time in my life. It has given me an alternate activity to shift from occasional reading about countries around the world, as required by my journalistic career, and be happy about learning much more than I can and be known about it too. 

I don't think there can be anything better than being able to enhance one's social and professional image by just pressing a button of an equipment off and on. I click when I can. Beyond the morning or evening, the ideal time for clicking the best shots in the effect of sunlight, I click whenever I feel like doing it. And, frankly saying, I feel it every time these days. 

A Writer's Struggle (My first

By: SANDEEP DATTA(INDIA)

17 Dec 2003 08:52 GMT
(http://www.indymedia.org/nl/2003/12/110210.shtml)
A brief revealation of the insults of an individual who dares to take writing as a career. How every other person behaves discouragingly and demotivate the nice initiative of a future hero.

A Writer’s Struggle Dec.16 , 1.15 a.m. Rarely do we hear of great writers having lived a happy life. Instead they face more bad times than you or me do in our lives. Like any other ordinary gury they dream and give their wish a try.

Like most of us they do have very frustrating times when writing even a single sentence looks an uphill task. They feel frustrated like any one of us. They are not just laughed at but sometimes even face the hootings too.

In such odd times they search for people who do not remind them of their failures. At times the discomfort is too much to bear. But do they stop trying any more ? No way. Rather they take it as a challenge to prove themselves before all. Life does not offer flowers or appreciations of peers to them. It is the insult that they usually recieve.Generally they are left to boost up their pride on their own. No friend, no family member helps.

At times they confront disappointment ,bad-luck and sometimes even rejectionof their talent like no one else does. Everyone hurts and discourages. But do they submit to these obstructions? Perhaps not .

May be they know that to rise higher than others they got to deal with these things wisely and bravely. Living in vulnerable conditions or among most frustrating people does not stop them from working hard. They try with a self-belief of proving thier true potential on the highest platform. They refuse to submit no matter how much tough they are tested by time or luck.

To them everything is not available instead they have to manage in its absense too. They develop themselves in such an adjustable personality which can work without many important things.Any needful object or facilities are not allowed to become an impediment.

For they know that they have to produce results in any condition. People make fun of them when they mistakenly reveal their plans. Their potential is doubted as if it has been exaggeratedly mentioned.

Many names are given to them by hooters to humiliate. Probably not just to insult but to finisth every single motivation nurtring inside their mind. Any claim of quality is treated as a joke. No one raises hand of friendship but even loved ones behave like a foe.

The life is made like a hell by others. The questining gestures of others look like abuses remarked on one’s face. Ignoring any bleak possibility of one’s fortune people behave like enemies.

Perhaps this shattering experience of life makes one a resilient soul. The hidden writer gives a push of creative flash and the power builds up from within. The heart begins trusting the emerging mind-flashes and confidence comes in.

The consistency maintained over the years starts paying off. The destination seems within one’s reach. Despite loosing in early battles the determined mind gets certain to win.

The pen starts producing great expressions with unbelievable smoothness. First the individual himself or herself get surprised then the rest of the world gets amazed. And when, on some fine day, any big reward is bestowed by the lord’s blessing then this same world applauds.

On that occasion this applause is the admission of the world who ones ‘s doubted this hopless soul. And all this becomes possible because of that resilience that a writer shows in all phases of his or her struggle-filled life. Dec.16 2.35 a.m

Beware! Click Yourself With Care

By Sandeep Datta

If cellphones have changed the world so have the social networking sites like Facebook or Orkut. The photo album options on these sites, in particular, appear to have literally enabled us to open a small window of our life for others to have a glimpse or 'envy'. But HOW some of our photographs reach porn sites?

The other day one of my computer professional friends shared a highly useful and important secret with me. Though many of you may not be as ignorant as I was, still it may prove useful checking whether we or our friends take any precaution or just carelessly click and post on sites or feel they are 'safe' in our laptops.

Though I initially felt mentioning about all this in some article 'fursat se' or, at leisure but could not resist sharing and informing one and all at the earliest. The objective is to aware all those who habitually click family photographs at home and at times post almost everything or something of their personal lives too online.

With some extra care, we can surely lead a safe life without turning a laughing stock among our friends or foes in the web world. So here is what my friend told me ...

He mentioned about a common blunder that most of us, especially school or college students or honeymooners do. They click they personal moments as a 'private treasure of a lifetime', but end up losing all that due to carelessness or sheer stupidity.

No wonder such individuals get trapped into the hands of blackmailers, hackers, or most importantly serve as fresh fodder for pornographic sites due to their stolen photos. But there are certain precautions, all of us must take by remembering a few points.

"Whatever you click or save in computer never gets erased or deleted permanently. Whenever the chip of your cellphone or hard disk of computer gets either sold, repaired or left in the custody of any stranger, most of the times it is copied."

"There are  many softwares available in market and used by many individuals (mechanics or engineers or hackers) to steal whatever you EVER clicked and stored even if you feel you have already deleted that using 'Shift + Delete' keys."

"The best option is not to click, record or save anything which you never want being used on pornographic sites involving you or any of your loved one," he suggested.

 Unsurprisingly, many of us don't think twice before clicking ourselves even in private moments. The internet world is full of such private but stolen pics.

He said there are many softwares that can recover the 'deleted' pics. I have requested him to inform me about a few such softwares so that the general public, including schoolchildren and married couples, could be alarmed properly. I am awaiting that info. but felt sharing with all.

The information shared is on the basis of tips shared by that computer professional friend who revived 600 pics that were considered deleted and forgotten since that official camera was purchased.

If you have any doubt, one can find or check for such softwares' existence on the internet any day. After all it just takes, one googling attempt to start livign wisely and see how most of us are doing the hara-kiri with our 'darling' camera. Keep clicking, but with utmost care!

A Gang-rape Which Shook The Indian Soul

By Sandeep Datta

A pall of gloom and anger overwhelmed the Indians as they learned about the gang-rape of a 23-year-old woman in south Delhi by six beasts on Dec 23, 2012.

The barbaric attack on the woman who was all set to marry in two months along with her fiance shocked the country while stirring the Indians' soul. People turned anguished over the administrative and executive system that exist in the name of Delhi government and Delhi police.

People have many unanswered questions from this system and their chosen leaders who enjoy life in high security while making a mockery of common man's life. The citizens want to know if their daughters, sisters or even mothers are living in a country or jungle where any group of beasts could pounce on any weak creature.

Regardless of tall claims of beefing up security measures or introducing 'stringent' punishments, people are now compelled to think if their lives or security has any meaning at all to 'their' leaders or not? For all know, tomorrow it could be their own daughter or sister meeting the same fate as this woman from Uttar Pradesh met. 

People are shocked at the extent of barbarism of six individuals who went mad to satisfy their sexual desire and  assaulted the physio-therapy student and her fiance in a moving bus on a chilling night.

Shockingly, one of the rapists who was most brutal in inserting even an iron rod to make the helpless woman's misery terrible, can today escape maximum punishment under the law under which he is 'a juvenile'.   

It these six individuals could cross all limits of savageness while beating, raping, inserting rod and taking turns to rape the woman, why cannot the judiciary act as per its discretion and make it an exemplary case of punishmen? People wish to know.

The incident has evoked a strong public angst against the existing law and order system. Even after 20 days the anguish is still there and visible not just on Jantar Mantar but in every household.

Almost every other day more news of gang rapes are filling crime pages of dailies. From elderly to kids, who is not getting raped. Surely, individuals are daring to rape because they have no fear.

When the youth hit streets to seek justice and question the state of governance, they were treated like rioters or enemies of  the country. Can there be anything more shameful?    

On the very first day of the protest while it was very difficult to reach offices or leave quilts at home due to chill outside, about four thousand college and school students gathered at Vijay Chowk, near Rashtrapati Bhavan. They wanted to express their long-suppressed anger over the prevailing conditions in Delhi. 

It was heartening to watch how police acted on justice seekers despite extreme cold. They went berserk in the name of controlling the largely student crowd at India Gate and Vijay Chowk. 

Forceful water cannons to baton-charging were used to silence the youngsters and discourage them from letting the issue become a national protest. It would be naive to suggest or believe that the police' callousness could have taken place without a go-ahead from the top man, responsible to ensure no revolutionary movement in the country.

The government knew an escalation of public outrage over the fate of rapists could have a ripple effect on the upcoming elections, particularly 2013 Delhi Assembly elections and the parliamentary polls due in 2014.

Various political leaders, fancying their chances of turning masses' leaders, were shooed off by youngsters-dominated crowd during its peak while the poor rape victim was struggling on ventilator for life.  

The Indian Supreme Court is yet to take Suo Motto cognigance of police brutality to quell a growing crowd of protesters and its accountability for failing to prevent a gang-rape on road. But the attitude of a group of people in not extending even a piece of cloth on the naked and brutally beaten couple when they were found thrown on a road has also been equally shameful.  

Though the victim woman could not last long despite a determined effort to survive and seek justice, her struggle to live and courage to record her statement twice before officials have shaken the countrymen's soul. 

The future of our country -- the youth -- have raised a strong voice on India's Rajpath. They seek clarity on citizens' security not just in the capital but also in every nook and corner of the country be it Haryana, U.P. Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Goa or any part of the North East states, the country's sisters, daughters and children need safe place to exist. They cannot be left fend for themselves in a jungle full of such hungry beasts. 

While people are expected to rethink their "who cares" psyche, if they expect any help tomorrow from others, citizens wish to know what exemplary punishment the Congress-led government can ensure that such a heinous crime is not repeated anywhere. 

Youngsters and parents have questioned the deaf and dumb system in the national capital of a democratic country. They have sought explanation from Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar, Lt. Governor Tejendra Khanna and also Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and lastly the father of three girls, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. 

They wish to know what these individuals will feel and expect from the system if tomorrow their school or college-going daughter, or working or household wife or even a little granddaughter is subjected to the harrowing experience of gang rape?. 

Even today not just the protesters, but parents and children in every household want a strong system to punish such barbarian criminals at the earliest. Some want death, some want not so easy death but chemical castration, or anything equally brutal. There are millions of voices, but the government wants to play safe.

Had their been some equally brutal system of punishment against such crimes like it exists in Saudi Arabia, no individual could dare even touch a woman at any time of the day. 

Hence, the people now want to know the extent of justice today's politicians and police system intend to ensure against such criminals, adult or so called juvenile before the Janta Janardan, the general public, begins deciding things on its own from next time onward.  

                                           शब्दों  की  महत्वता  और  टूटते  रिश्ते

दिसंबर 30, 2012

ये शब्दों  की  दुनिया है।  शब्दों  की  गरिमा  को  समझना कितना ज़रूरी हो चला है। पर वहीँ जो लोग इस बात को अभी तक नहीं समझ पाए , उनको उनके शब्दों की चुभन और असर का एहसास करा पाना कितना मुश्किल सा है।

हमारे रिश्ते शब्दों से ही तो बनते और बिगड़ते हैं। पर कितने लोग अभी तक समझ पाए हैं। फिर भी व्यंग भरी भाषा का प्रयोंग नहीं छोड़ते। वैसे ही अब सच्चे रिश्ते नहीं बन पते, जो बने हों उनकों हमारे चुभने वाले शब्द ज्यादा साँसे लेने नहीं देते। घृणा, व्यंग, आलोचना, ये सब रिश्तों की बर्बादी का कारण बनते चले जाते हैं और हम ज़रा सा कभी सोचते भी नहीं। आखिर क्यों?

रिश्ते नाते बहुत मुश्किल से बनते हैं क्या हम उन्हें यूँ ही ख़त्म करते जायेंगे?

काश लोग कुछ भी बोलने से पहले सोचते और अपने प्रियजनों से सोच समझकर वार्तालाप करते। दिक्कत तब होती है जब लोग लोग पहले तो कुछ भी कह जाते हैं और बाद में बिना गलती की गहराई का एहसास किये माफ़ी मांगना शुरू कर देते हैं।

माफ़ी तब मांगी जाती है जब वो दिल से शर्मिंदगी को व्यक्त करती हुई लग रही हो तभी वो माफ़ी सही मायने में क्षमा योग्य होती है।  

Baruah the great!

By Sandeep Datta

It was Baruah's farewell today. The event was being planned for last 20 days. Should it be turned a big thing or small one was the main subject for Foreign Desk all these days.

The main thing which was consistently taking away the joy of organising a good send-off was Baruah's behaviour with everyone since getting into one-month notice-period of resignation. He turned sarcastic, extremely lazy and more pain in the arse for his team, including the boss, more than he had always been. 

When the day arrived, I, who was perhaps closest to him, had lost any interest in him. He was back in his typical self -- selfish, insensitive and insulting to anyone and everyone around him. It felt disappointing to see a person completing his over five years in IANS having failed to learn the value of peers.

On the final moment, when it was his turn to deliver the farewell speech following euologies by his immediate boss Dr. Rahul and M.R. Narayanswamy, Baruah opted to do what was least expected of him. 

He thanked MR and all others in the office except his Rahul or his colleagues. When pointed out, 'in lighter vein', that he forgot even Rahul in his word of thanks, he said: "Main to bhool he gaya"!

His last question on the last working day with me was: "Why people don't like to share the information they have about any development happening around and known to them? Even after staying together for whole day one of my close friends, who has enjoyed Daru from me at times and had a very good time having fun together, didn't bother telling me that Assam's chief minister was arriving in Delhi. Why did he do so Sandeep?" 

 I told Baruah, who is all set to join as 'Bureau Chief' till the right person is found for the post in the Seven Sisters, an Assam-based daily,: "Brother, In media or life...good and trustful relations are nurtured on the basis of sincerity with others and not with over smartness.We have to show a sincere attitude to others to evoke an equally favourable or helping response later. And, always remember Media is a small industry what goes around that comes around."  

Maybe he couldn't get the moral of the story. 

Awake, awake, awake for a better tomorrow

Awake, awake, awake for a better tomorrow

By Sandeep Datta 

Will government do anything about growing incidents of groping in buses, trains and crowded places and even by rickshawalas, thelewalas, and so called innocent looking but harami Gareeb Aadmi on roads and markets, and schoolteachers, sharabis, bus conductors? 

Will authorities also think over the repercussions of romeos being ignored while taking schoolgirls into parks, cinemas, and other freakout places 'for fun' in the name of freedom? 

Will TV serial makers and filmmakers reduce commodification of women and girl children? Will parents turn serious about their kids' complaints about notorious school cab drivers and servants and misuse of internet by kids at home? Would anyone of us come forward, even to inform police, for a helpless girl the next time ........I don't think so....do you??? 

We need to change our outlook. We can surely transform others' way of thinking, not by lip service at home or workplace but by our actions in daily life. The government will never act until the public forces it to do so. The authorities will never change their approach in understanding and taking our complaints seriously, until we make them do so in a determined way. Are we ready? Let's make a beginning first in our heart, then soul and finally Action.

So, You Wish to Make Fun of Team Anna Hazare?

Another chapter of Anna Hazare, a former TRUCK DRIVER with the Indian army but one of the top social activists of India, concluded Friday evening (Aug.3, 2012). 


There have been questions, interpretations, criticism, and drawing room laughter as well. Though the larger question involving corruption, its practices, possible solutions and even the best approach to address them all remains debatable, the more important question -- who really holds the integrity to question a corrupt system under the most corrupt political dispention in the Indian history -- seems to have drawn more attention.

Team Anna's members have been verbally attacked and questioned for their integrity, especially due to their approach to address the corruption issue in different voices and hues. Courtesy scathing attacks by various political leaders, mainly the Congress spokespersons, the Team Anna has been encircled with many questions and allegations.

True, t

he Team Anna should explain every allegation in a proper way, it is also a time for the questioning minds and mouths to explain whether they have the eligibility along with the guts to fight out the system for the voiceless?

I wish to know how many of us have ever dared to question a corrupt councillor, MLA, or state minister, leave alone the Central government or the prime minister? How many of us have the clean record to qualify every questioning individual? Did we never act biased towards anyone known to us? Did we never cheat in daily life? Did we never try to present facts about ourselves or candidacy in a little exaggerated way? Did we never blink an eye to rules or regulations?

Have we not come across a biased or corrupt person, journalist, speaker, parent or guardian, employer or employee, civilian or Armyman in our life or even in ourselves? When was the last time we dared to boldly put it for questioning it by public? How many times have we dared to bare it all before the public before seeking cooperation from them for a social cause or just issue? How many of us can declare: "I have an COMPLETELY unquestionable character, conduct and history".

If not, please declare it in open and explain why you have not taken the initiative to come out in open and question a corrupt system so far? Why you have been evading your social responsibility and discouraging yourself from making the loudest noise for the most ordinary people of India? What is better -- making comments while watching TV debates or reading newspapers in drawing rooms or private events or actually doing something even a little close to what Team Anna had attempted to do in all these months? : Sandeep Datta

Queen Victoria's last love with Indian on Channel 4

While Britain is set to celebrate the Queen Elizabeth's 60 years on the throne, the same celebration for her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria was nearly derailed by her scandalous relation with an Indian servant just over a century ago.

Queen Victoria had turned so infatuated with tall, handsome Muslim Abdul Karim that senior royal advisers plotted to have her declared insane just days before her Jubilee unless she halted a controversial plan to knight him, The Sun reported Monday.

Britain's Channel 4 is all set to telecast a documentary on Queen Victoria's Last Love, Wednesday 9 p.m, highlighting how she once turned so infatuated with tall, handsome Muslim Abdul Karim that senior royal advisers plotted to have her declared insane just days before her Jubilee unless she halted a controversial plan to knight him, The Sun reported Monday.

The 24-year-old waiter had begun serving the Queen's table in 1887 after being sent to London as a "gift" from the Indian outpost of her empire. He soon began bewitching her with romantic tales of mysterious India besides cooking delicious curries for her.

But royal biographer Jane Ridley believes Abdul's striking looks also helped to draw in the Queen.

In 1901, when she finally died, the protection Abdul had enjoyed came to a sudden end. He was later exiled to India.

The 24-year-old waiter had begun serving the Queen's table in 1887 after being sent to London as a "gift" from the Indian outpost of her empire. He soon began bewitching her with romantic tales of mysterious India besides cooking delicious curries for her.

But royal biographer Jane Ridley believes Abdul's striking looks also helped to draw in the Queen.

Abdul was elevated from waiter to Queen's personal teacher, or "Munshi". After he began to teach her a few words in Hindi, the pair grew ever closer.

She had been starved of affection since the death of her beloved husband Albert in 1861, and Abdul Karim's great-grandson, Javed Mahmood, says it is not hard to see why she fell for his great-grandad.

By 1894, Abdul was elevated to the position of Her Majesty's Indian Secretary - making him an official member of the inner circle.

Abdul's class troubled the Queen's advisers who were also scandalised by his race.

But the more the royal household attacked Abdul, the more the Queen defended him.

Investigators sent to India by the royal household found Abdul's father was a pharmacist who worked in Agra jail, where Abdul himself had worked as a mere clerk.

The revelation only served to push the Queen closer to Abdul. She turned even more intimate with him. When he became ill she would spend long periods in his bedchamber, fluffing his pillows and stroking his hand.

In 1897, with just weeks to go until Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, the Queen announced she planned to knight Abdul.

The Viceroy of India joined forces with the prime minister to oppose the move. In response, Victoria threatened to pull out of the Jubilee celebrations.

With the biggest event that the British monarchy had ever seen under threat, the Queen's eldest son, Bertie - later Edward VII - stepped in.

Victoria had to admit defeat and Abdul did not get his knighthood.

But Abdul was constantly by her side for the Jubilee celebrations. For the remaining four years of Victoria's life, she was inseparable from her beloved servant.

In 1901, when she finally died, the protection Abdul had enjoyed came to a sudden end. He was later exiled to India.

Should marriage give a toss to old relations

By Sandeep Datta

It's human to love being related to nice people, especially, the ones who are also helpful. No wonder that's why we seek good people in our lifetime to share, for care, to feel accompanied and appreciated for just the way we are. Simply saying , we always like the ones who love us.

Though it takes years to come across such people, it takes momentary stupidness to lose them forever. It is so because many of us stop bothering to maintain relations with the same ease and tolerance after marriage. Many of us start befooling or using even good friends for mediocre purposes.

We forget when we connect with people, we get bound to some obligations too, irrespective of our marital status.

The kind of value we give to our friendly bondings in the days to come after marriage influences a lot, especially, our well-being and development in career and social life.

We all know relations revolve around hope, courtesies and responsibilities. But, in reality, the two important rather crucial factors are --sense of care for others and honesty.

Do we ever think why do the factors that matter in maintaining a relationship change after marriage?

At times, it appears the definition of our earlier relations has to be redefined and understood. The kind of acts, words or behaviour that may have been considered acceptable previously seem to be understood for their new meaning, impression and consequence with the same good friends.

We may have not hesitated being silly or obnoxious at times earlier with close friends. But after marriage such acts can have serious and long lasting impact. The same relations need to be reviewed from a far more sensitive perception than they used to be. The same people we may have known for years start observing us or vice-versa more sensitively and, frankly saying it, narrow-mindedly.

Not many of us realise but a good thing in old relations is that they take a new meaning and significance. The expectations and outlook to be in touch with each other changes. The turn the windows of ultimate hope, motivation and joy at times.

But call it the awkwardness or strangeness in relations, due to mean expectations, opportunistic telephone calls and over smartness to get maximum out of each other that we face long-cherished and unforgettable relations' gradual death.

Sadly, we realise what we lost and how much treasured people we simply let vanish from our lives, only after losing them forever. It takes years to understand what we lost were our hard-earned relations and individuals who existed when there wasn't the present ones.

Forgiving or ignoring each other's occasional over smart behaviour suddenly turns an impossible task. The reason being that many of us start living with a misunderstanding that now we have 'A Permanent Alternative'.

Unsurprisingly, sooner or later we realise what we lost so suddenly being impatient was something we should have actually valued and treasured the most. For marrying someone or having one's little family doesn't mean that we may never require the ones who were our confidantes; always standing by our side and, most importantly, who always sincerely cared for us.