The lantern is finally put out

The recent election is a vindication of the principle of Democracy. The people came out in hordes and voted out the scourge of the country. Laloo Prasad Yadav (Please check out this link!!!) shall no longer hold the Oval Office of Bihar, much to the relief of the intelligentia of out land, and the chagrin of the impoverished illiterate.This resounding victory of the Chakra over the Lantern brings with it not just loads of expectations, but also a great deal of responsibility.

It is really sad that a province richer in minerals than most of the rest has degraded into a cesspit, and that too in a matter of a decade and a half. This is not to say that Bihar was much better off than what it is now before the onset of the Laloo era, but it was definitely better. The irony of ironies is the absence of power in a land where the political party in power was symbolised by the lantern. Yet, as Bihar looks anxiously into the future, hoping for a better government, it must realize that it itself is to blame for apathetic condition. Caste based politics marred by dismal literacy levels has been the bane, and add to this parochial mindsets, the perfect recipe of misgovernance is complete.

So whats my hope for Bihar? Well, the victory of the NDA is in itself a cause of celebration for me. My generation, in general, is a supporter of the NDA, and this is something to look forward to. That they got drubbed in Maharashtra on the same day, and the current revolt by Uma Bharati has put in a spanner in the works is a totally different matter. Coming back to Bihar, Nitish Kumar seems to be capable enough to lead the land, but will that alone be enough to drag out the state? He will need time, and this one term shall not suffice. 55 years of rule by a specious party (Congress included) takes time to weed out. But, if he truly wishes to improve the state, he will have to rise above the petty issues of caste and religion. He will have to stress on the basic amenities to the people like electricity, he will have to improve literacy right from the grassrootts, bring back the providence. If he shall degrade into going back into the mire of caste based politics, especially with a majority with him, it shall not go down well with me, and the country with the second highest level of dissatisfaction levels with the government shall have one more citizen being disillusioned with the government. The government will have to provide jobs, how it does it is something is would love to see. The migration of Biharis from their homeland is a cause of serious worry for our country. I am not a big fan of the "Mee Mumbaikar" campaign, but there is something that is right in it. Mumbai cant handle this huge influx of people. And last but not the least, Mr. Kumar will have to take a long hard look at the agri sector in Bihar; it is after all, the major revenue generator.

But heres wishing Mr. Kumar all the very best. Use your five years well Sir, and you shall have 5 more to book your profits.

PS1: All politicians are corrupt.
PS2: The "communal" parties shall be back. Beware Congress.

I have lost my CAT

The day I waiting for with bated breath arrived, and elapsed, and I still have not come to terms with it. I guess when you build up expectations, and your mind is not yet ready to receive the results of them, this is what happens.

I slogged for the CAT; period. No other description can aptly put it. I was the proponent of a "theory" that its only hardwork that counts and nothing else; as long as you have put your best foot forward, everything else pales into insignificance. But when I come to think of it, after all that hard work, as I hang by a string on the cliff of life on a prayer that I would get a call from atleast one IIM, I realize that its not all about hard work. Its about smart work, its about selective work, its about being smart enough to choose what is really your aptitude, not to mention a whole load of other fields. It was my conscious decision not to give the GRE, a decision that I hopefully shall not live to regret. Of ending my tryst with technical field is something I am sure about, but staying in India is not something I truly wish for. And yet I realize that seems to be the only recourse. I have dabbled with the idea of giving all this up and becoming a teacher, a profession that is very close to my heart, but the lack of money is the biggest deterrent that I can face.

All in all, life is uncertain for me now. Am unsure as to what I shall do post my stint in an unknown college somewhere on the outskirts of a developing city. I guess CAPGEMINI is going to be lucky after all, they are going to be blessed with a miracle worker; someone who shall work miracles if at all the miracle that he works takes place. Speaking of CAPGEMINI, I can hear my engineering books screaming out to me to get them cleaned. Poor fellas, have been lying in a corner of my room for the past 3 months, and are alomst doubled in size thanks to dust layers on them.

So I bid adieu, to the lonely reader of this rant. Thanks for stopping by.

Swades

I finally saw Swades today, and I must admit, it would easily find a way into favorites. Truly a classy movie, atleast according to the standards set by bollywood for itself in the recent past.

I was wondering what actually makes it a good movie. I mean Shahrukh the star helps, but he is not the one who's carrying the movie on his shoulders. The script is pretty much bollywood fare too. I think what really stands out is Ashutosh Gowariker's direction. In my honest opinion, its simply sublime. The way he is able to capture the essence of rural India, the depiction of the conflict within the NRI's head and the subplot of the romance is nonpareil. Gayatri Joshi is brilliant. She simply oozes sensuality; potraying the Indian woman of today in complete measure. She's never overshadowed by Shah Rukh in scenes with him, and that in itself is quite an achievement. I remember, Shah Rukh in Amitabh in Mohabbattein- SRK looked miniscule on the screen in front of a behemoth of a Amitabh- a situation that should have occurred here as well but didn't. Her character has been perfectly etched to complement the character of the protagonist- who could be no other than Shah Rukh. Its really sad that she has gotten married and put paid to any hopes of a bollywood career. I really wish she would be back, and break the norm of not having a married actress in Bollywood.



Even the scene of the lighting of the bulb- I think the whole scene would have paled into insignificance if it had not been for the old, blind lady receiving power first. That smile she gives is indeed haunting. A classic illustration of the myriad pieces that encompass the humongous jigsaw puzzle that India so truly is. This was one movie in which I truly enjoyed the happy ending. It should have been this way.

Ashutosh Gowariker deserves his awards in totality. Awesome movie. Simply put.