Here is a very good documentary that chronologically, pieces up the events that took place those two days. Made by a filmmaker, Dan Reed, for Channel 4 in UK.
http://mobmag.in/seriously/dispatches-terror-in-mumbai/
Watching it you realise, how gullible people, can be exploited to make ruthless killers . You will notice as you go through the documentary that these terrorists are after all, young boys who get charmed by the lush interiors of the hotel. Something as simple as a computer monitor rivets them and at that moment they sound like a school kid who has set his eyes on an xbox for the first time. These 20-something guys are so caught up with their bosses that they need to right down 'filmy' dialogues that their bosses have ordered them to tell the media. You get to understand that these 'commanders' who are shouting out orders at these guys, are prepared to patiently sweet talk or else breath down their necks to ensure that the work is done.
On my last 3-4 visits to Lifestyle shopping mall, i noticed that the rigourous hand bag checks that were there, now has gone cold. Last month I visited Garuda mall and the lady there just took a peep into my bag and let me in. I told her to take a good look, in turn she checked my bag to somewhat satisfy me. She must be too sure that this mall isnt the kind of place that will suit the tastes of a terrorist. Poor thing, she is waiting for one such event to happen perhaps. And for those of us who do go through the entrance without having to be checked are all the more glad that we dont have to waste 2 mins wasting at the entrance.
This is the thing with us Indians. Misery, tragedy is a part of our lives. It does not get us paranoid, though it does temporarily scare us. And in due course of time, our fear fades away. We as citizens, are very laid back about everything thats not right - beauraucracy, population, littering, reservation, terrorism, etc. We can go on and on about it, but dont ask us to do anything about it. Though i am glad that we are not a paranoid nation, I now wonder, whether we were better off being one. Atleast that way we would have done something substancial before another attack. Oh! maybe thats what our terrorist-hosting neighbours are doing... they are trying to wake us up. But despite the best of their efforts, we fail to keep our eyes open for too long.
How many bomb blasts has India suffered in the last 20 years? We holdout candles for the 26th Nov. If we were to take into consideration all those blasts... I think there wouldnt be a day in the year where we wouldnt hold memorial services. India would have to import candles to meet the demand.
JAI HIND ! Its not the exaggerated exclamation of patiotism that we need here. Its a simple dot, a full stop to what stands in the way of our improvement.
JAI HIND .
Monday, November 30, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
A drizzle of goodness
I am sure you have experianced this somewhere sometime in your life... you could be sitting or standing somewhere and suddenly, almost out of no where, you feel a very very tiny droplet of water on your skin. It brings a lil surprise coupled with a smile ... atleast for me.
Just like that, today, the person in me, who had almost lost faith in the existance of something called goodwill, received a sign.
Today morning, I had a person from my automobile service center, come and get my car. So, I had to rely on my least favourite mode of transport - the autorikshaw. I have nothing against the vehicle, in fact I love it and hope that someone would have the guts to remodel the thing and turn it into a commercial vehicle. It's its drivers that get to me.
My home is about 10 km from my office and on days with traffic - it takes me in my car, max 40-45 mins to get to work, else it just takes me 20 min. Now, guess my surprise when the first few autos drivers I had stopped, tell me that they would charge me extra. And for what?!! Listen to this s*&! : "Madam, theres too much of traffic." Well if your thing runs on wheels it doesnt have a choice but to navigate through traffic. What were they expecting empty roads or they better get thier autos to fly - Now I am sure there isnt much traffic up there. As it is, on earth most of them can simulate a drive to hell, and if they were to fly, well I guess, it would guarantee that you get off safely at destination - HELL.
Then I boarded an auto that didn't make any such demand (Hmmm ... thats weird). I told him where I needed to go - just the area and not the specifics. The driver took me through familiar roads but not my regular route. Finally I reached at my office. The meter showed Rs.96. He asked me 'Madam, I did not have a clear picture of where you had to get off exactly. The route I took you thru was longer. Usually how much does it take you to get here?'. I paid him a 100. I told him Rs.75-80. He checks all over for change and then hands me over Rs.15. I told him that he needed to give me Rs.4 and he went on to explain that he took me on a longer route when I could have saved my money. I was happy, humbled, shocked, moved... all at the same time. I gave him back the tenner. Just so that I dont forget who he was - a curly haired, round faced man by the name of Ambrose from some JJR or JJP Layout or something.
Now, that must be a shock to all those of us (esp Bangaloreans) who have to grapple with autodrivers over longer routes, tampered meters, unresonable charges, rides denied for all kinds of reasons. How many 'Ambroses' do you think might be out there? Or does it matter? Is it just enough knowing that there is one, as of now, and there just might be more somewhere?
I felt happy for the reason that he respected my money just as he would his. I was carrying a laptop, clearly looking like someone who earned more than him. But thankfully he did not think that my Rs.96 was any cheaper or valuable than Rs.96 that lies in his pockets.
I have had another nice experiance once before... but Imight share that someday later.
So, dont lose faith over human nature. Its human nature to go against the definition of 'nature'... its in us humans to constantly bring up surprises.
Just like that, today, the person in me, who had almost lost faith in the existance of something called goodwill, received a sign.
Today morning, I had a person from my automobile service center, come and get my car. So, I had to rely on my least favourite mode of transport - the autorikshaw. I have nothing against the vehicle, in fact I love it and hope that someone would have the guts to remodel the thing and turn it into a commercial vehicle. It's its drivers that get to me.
My home is about 10 km from my office and on days with traffic - it takes me in my car, max 40-45 mins to get to work, else it just takes me 20 min. Now, guess my surprise when the first few autos drivers I had stopped, tell me that they would charge me extra. And for what?!! Listen to this s*&! : "Madam, theres too much of traffic." Well if your thing runs on wheels it doesnt have a choice but to navigate through traffic. What were they expecting empty roads or they better get thier autos to fly - Now I am sure there isnt much traffic up there. As it is, on earth most of them can simulate a drive to hell, and if they were to fly, well I guess, it would guarantee that you get off safely at destination - HELL.
Then I boarded an auto that didn't make any such demand (Hmmm ... thats weird). I told him where I needed to go - just the area and not the specifics. The driver took me through familiar roads but not my regular route. Finally I reached at my office. The meter showed Rs.96. He asked me 'Madam, I did not have a clear picture of where you had to get off exactly. The route I took you thru was longer. Usually how much does it take you to get here?'. I paid him a 100. I told him Rs.75-80. He checks all over for change and then hands me over Rs.15. I told him that he needed to give me Rs.4 and he went on to explain that he took me on a longer route when I could have saved my money. I was happy, humbled, shocked, moved... all at the same time. I gave him back the tenner. Just so that I dont forget who he was - a curly haired, round faced man by the name of Ambrose from some JJR or JJP Layout or something.
Now, that must be a shock to all those of us (esp Bangaloreans) who have to grapple with autodrivers over longer routes, tampered meters, unresonable charges, rides denied for all kinds of reasons. How many 'Ambroses' do you think might be out there? Or does it matter? Is it just enough knowing that there is one, as of now, and there just might be more somewhere?
I felt happy for the reason that he respected my money just as he would his. I was carrying a laptop, clearly looking like someone who earned more than him. But thankfully he did not think that my Rs.96 was any cheaper or valuable than Rs.96 that lies in his pockets.
I have had another nice experiance once before... but Imight share that someday later.
So, dont lose faith over human nature. Its human nature to go against the definition of 'nature'... its in us humans to constantly bring up surprises.
NOTE: The picture is a cartoon drawn by the author of this blog http://iyermatter.wordpress.com/. I loved the image so much, I just had to use it.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Make Nita's Reel World Rich
Here are some movies that I want to collect. The ones in green- I have them. Share your list too.
Here is mine:
Duck Season/Temporada de patos : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temporada_de_patos
Whats eating Gilbert Grape http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What's_Eating_Gilbert_Grape
The Shipping News : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shipping_News_(film)
Anne of the Thousand Days http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_of_the_Thousand_Days
Sex, Lies and Obession http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/sex_lies_and_obsession/
The River Runs through it http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_River_Runs_Through_It_(film)
Lions for Lambs http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lions_for_Lambs
Quiz Show http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quiz_Show
The Milagro Beanfield War http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Milagro_Beanfield_War
Ordinary People http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ordinary_People
The bridge too far http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Bridge_Too_Far_(1977_film)
A Civil Action http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Civil_Action
The Moghuls http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0405163/
Interview with the Vampire http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interview_with_the_Vampire_(film)
Donnie Brasco http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donnie_Brasco_(film)
The devil's advocate http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Devil's_Advocate_(film)
The Crying Game http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Crying_Game
Sweet Home Alabama http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweet_Home_Alabama_(film)
The Usual Suspects http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Usual_Suspects
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
I just want you to be happy LYRICS
I came across this by chance today. Thought it is something that many of us feel when we see a close friend or a family clamp up in pain. I know a lot of people have felt this way looking at me at times. I haven’t yet heard the song. But the lyrics sure is good. Simple and straight forward – just what goes on in the mind of someone who cares about you. -NEETS
I just want you to be happy
I might not be the one to make you though
It hurts so much to see you down
I just want you to feel better
I just want you to be happy
I might not be the right one, who knows
It hurts so much to see you decay
I just want you to find the way out
I just want you to be happy
You might not feel like talking to me
But it hurts so much to hear the silence
I'd rather hear you scream from your soul
You never tell me what the pain is for
You let your heart be stuck in the fall
You don't have to share
Just come out of a cage
Then the sun will banish your fears
I just want you to be happy
I might not be the one to make you though
It hurts so much just to be around you
When you are too hard on yourself
I just want you to know (x3)
that it's okay to be happy in the fall
I just want you to be
I just want you to feel
I just want you to be
I just want you to be happy
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