Alia lives Gangubai Kathiawadii

 #GangubaiKathiawadi is an out and out Alia Bhatt movie with glimpses of the maestro #SanjayLeelaBhansali . Alia lives the role , she breathes Gangubai , faultless and unflinching. The journey from Ganga to Gangubhai is a bit slow but the face of Alia holds forte as the character unfolds . The persona of Gangubai , from vulnerable to persevering is an inspiration which ends at the Prime Minister’s office . There are some moments where Sanjay Leela Bhansali shows sparks of brilliance - first is in the new car when Alia and her paramour are together in a romantic mood , the internal turmoil in her mind is so beautifully captured . Secondly , Her Azad Maidan speech is the stuff of legends . Thirdly , her wedding proposal scene in which she sacrifices her love for the sanctity of the girl and the pain thereafter is a beautiful sequence .

The music is ordinary. Ajay Devgn as the mafia don and a constant support to Gangubai does justice . 

Irrespective of the commercial success , it’s worth watching Gangubai just for the brilliance of Alia Bhatt . It is a sure shot award winning performance and Sanjay Leela Bhansali does justice to his name .

Baap Ratings

Dr Jawahar Surisetti speaking on #children and their care at the times o...

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Why the Delhi election results fail to shock ?

The #Delhielection results fail to shock and the people of Delhi have shown the way they vote . The voters have chosen to vote with the following thought process about the three options available:

1. Congress lives in the past : The Congress lacks leadership and has no agenda . The leaders including Rahul Gandhi speak reactively on the narrative set by the BJP and AAP . They still live in the shadow of the Gandhis and have lost the faith of the electorate in Delhi . Only somebody like Sheila Dixit , who could take her own decisions or Capt Amarinder Singh of Punjab could revive the Congress fortunes in Delhi . People look at Congress as a party of the past and dwells in the past 
2. BJP lives in the future : The BJP is touted  as a party that is very aggressive and play with emotions which the educated class fails to endorse . Moreover all rantings like “rapes will increase “ in future , or unnecessary use of NRC to polarise , bringing in Yogi and the Ram Mandir of future and the rest have not converted into votes . The same BJP which tainted the Congress on not naming the leader ahead of the Lok Sabha Elections in 2014 and 2019 today does the same in Delhi . So lack of a credible leader and the lack of a local story failed the BJP . Development was never on the agenda and overly anti Kejriwal story has not gone too well . 
3. AAP is the present : AAP kept it simple . For them development , education , health , electricity and water - the issues of the past election remained same and smartly they showcased the progress made . The little number of seats they lost was because they were trapped into the narrative laid by the BJP with Shaheenbagh which they could have remained silent and continued with their development plank . But by and large , AAP stuck to the present performance and is the favourite to win the elections .

The Delhi Elections has once again shown that henceforth local issues will win elections and any thrust of national issues will not hold good in State elections . The BJP will have to rethink its strategy . Narendra Modi remains a successful leader at the centre with no visible alternative but it will not help in winning state elections . The Congress will have to come out of its past and look for a leadership in Delhi and at all state levels and groom them locally like Bhupesh Baghel of Chhattisgarh.

Political Opportunism at its best

Maharashtra is today the hotbed where all parties concerned stand exposed . The BJP was expecting an absolute majority in Maharashtra so thought Shiv Sena was dispensable if the numbers supported them and this was evident in the pronouncements before the results . The numbers didn’t support them and Shiv Sena sensed that this was the time to get back. So they asked for the impossible. They insisted that the CM post , knowing that  BJP was desperate for their support . Devendra Phadnavis would have felt betrayed so resigned from this dirty game but BJP at the centre was still at it . 

Meanwhile, the most distant poles Shiv Sena and Congress with the help of NCP masterminded by Sharad Pawar came together . However reluctant Sonia Gandhi might have been the lure was too attractive to avoid an inconvenient marriage . But the speed of execution was so slow and the hard bargaining among all three parties was so intense that every wanted their piece of flesh in an opportunistic relationship. Shiv Sena stood exposed but unfair demand of CM post and in search of that position they aligned without thinking of the consequences after being exposed in public . This bargaining took time that was unprecedented and President’s Rule was imposed . While intense parlays were on BJP was working overtime to use all their weapons in hand to coax , cajole or blackmail the weak links in the opposition and this was not impossible seeing the opportunistic nature of all concerned . 

Sharad Pawar meeting the Prime Minister at a time when when their  posturing  with Shiv Sena was at its peak . Knowing Sharad Pawar and his abilities and his past acts it became suspicious that probably there were chances of a two timing possible . So the weak links were targeted by BJP central leadership and in a nightlong operation a majority was forged and in an operation from dusk to dawn , the climax was the Governor swearing in Devendra Phadnavis as the CM and Ajit Pawar as the Dy CM . This act showed that BJP too was hungry for power . Finally after the SC intervention and the preponement of the floor test , Devendra Phadnavis and Ajit Pawar has to step down for lack of numbers . 

The moral of the story is that public or voters are the lowest priority for power hungry politicians. In the view of the public, all parties stand exposed. Maharashtra leads the country in political opportunism too. 

औरंगजेब के परिवार की ईद

औरंगजेब के परिवार की ईद

(यह भारतीय सशस्त्र बलों और पुलिस के सभी शहीदों को समर्पित एक काल्पनिक कहानी  है)

डॉ। जवाहर सुरिसेट्टी की एक कहानी (www.drjawaharsurisetti.com)

वो दिन ईद-अल-अधा था और मैं आतंकवादी हमलों और पथराव की घटनाओं के कारण इस दौरे को छोड़ने के अनुरोध के बीच कश्मीर की यात्रा पर एक पर्यटक था। मैं खुशी-खुशी बातचीत करते हुए अपने दोस्तों के साथ चरार-ए-शरीफ की ओर जा रहा था, तभी मैंने देखा कि एक छोटा लड़का सड़क के किनारे बैठा है और बिलख बिलख कर  रो रहा है। एक मनोवैज्ञानिक के रूप में, मुझे इस रोने के कारण जानने में दिलचस्पी थी। एक ओर, अपने माता-पिता के साथ चिपके हुए बच्चे फुदकते हुए चरार की ओर बढ़ रहे । श्रद्धांजलि अर्पित करने भीड़ अपना रास्ता दरगाह की ओर बना रही थी ।चरार ए शरीफ़ इस्लाम  के पवित्र स्थानों में से एक है लेकिन सभी धर्मों   के लोग इस पर मत्था टेकते हैं । कश्मीर में तनाव की परवाह किए बगैर यह उल्लास रास्तों पर दिखाई दे रहा था। यह उत्सव का समय था। लेकिन इस उत्सव के दिन में, रोने वाला छोटा बालक थोडा अटपटा लग रहा था।

मैंने अपने दोस्तों को आगे बढ़ने के लिए कहा मैं पीछे रुक गया और छोटे लड़के की ओर बढा । मैं उस चबूतरा पर बच्चे के पास जाकर बैठ गया। मैं तब तक शांत रहा जब तक बच्चे को मेरी उपस्थिति का एहसास नहीं हुआ। मैंने उसकी पीठ पर हाथ रखा। उसने धीरे-धीरे आँसूओं से भरी अपनी आँखें उठाईं ।आँसू नीचे की ओर लुढ़के रहे थे और उसके गीले गालों पर सुनहरी धूप चमक रही थी। यहां तक ​​कि उसके आंसू भी दिव्य लग रहे थे। मासूम चेहरे पर आशा की नज़र थी क्योंकि उसने मुझे समझने की कोशिश की और उसमें उम्मीद जाग उठा था। मैंने पूछा, "क्या हुआ, रो क्यों रहे हो?"

लड़का लगभग 5-6 साल का था। उसने अपनी नाक से नीचे गिरते हुए आँसुओं को चाटा और कहा, "सभी बच्चे अपने माता-पिता के साथ ईद का आनंद ले रहे हैं और मैं अकेला हूँ।"

"आपके माता-पिता के साथ क्या हुआ, वे कहाँ हैं?" मैंने पूछा ।

"मेरे पिता एक हवलदार थे और एक आतंकवादी हमले के दौरान उन्हें गोली मार दी गई थी।"

"और तुम्हारी माँ?"

"वह अन्य लोगों के घरों में बर्तन और कपड़े धो रही हैं ।आज ईद होने के कारण उनके पास और भी काम हैं, इसलिए वह मेरे साथ नहीं है।" छोटे लड़के ने समझाया।

अब तक वह मेरी उपस्थिति से सहज हो गया था।

मैंने पूछा, "तुम क्या करते अगर  तुम्हारे पिता साथ होते ?”

लड़के की आँखें अतीत की यादों में चमक  उठीं, उसने कहा, "मेरे पिता का हाथ पकड़ कर इस सड़क पर चलता ।”

मैंने उठकर अपना हाथ उसकी ओर बढ़ाया। उसने झटपट पकड़ लिया और उठ गया। उसके हाथों की कोमलता मनमोहक थी। दूसरे हाथ से मैंने उसके आँसू पोंछे। वो मुस्कुराया । जैसे ही हम दरगाह की ओर बढ़े, वह मुस्कुरा रहा था मगर आँसू उसके गालों को सहला रहे थे। मुझे  समय समझ आया कि भारतीय सशस्त्र बलों और पुलिस के शहीदों के परिवारों पर क्या बीतती होगी और उन्हें अपने प्रियजनों के नुकसान को पूरा करने  के लिए मुहम्मद, राम, गुरु नानक या क्राइस्ट के हाथ की जरूरत है। कश्मीर की यह यात्रा हरे भरे पहाड़ों, झीलों और कश्मीर की सुंदरता के मामले में अप्रासंगिक थी। यह यात्रा एक छोटे लड़के के नरम और छोटे हाथों के माध्यम से आत्म-साक्षात्कार की यात्रा थी जो युद्ध की योनि को सहन कर रहा था। यह भारत नाम की जो अवधारणा है , जहां वर्दीधारी बल कश्मीर में घुसपैठियों और आतंकवादियों से लड़ने के लिए सभी कोनों पर भगवान की भूमिका निभाते हैं और केरल में बाढ़ से प्रभावित निर्दोष लोगों की जान बचाते हैं। जय हिन्द।

Kashmir - a part of New India

Kashmir - a part of New India 

Dr Jawahar Surisetti

Today is historic in many senses . The strategic decision to delete Article 370 and subsequently 35A is one of the most brave steps taken by any Centre since independence. It lays to rest the many technical snags and perceptions about Kashmir and it being an integral part of India . It also gives Pakistan the unholy nexus with China due to illegal access to the region and both acting in tandem as a pressure group . 

While Article  370 gave a unique power to Kashmir as a state but with the current status with Kashmir set to be a Union Territory along with Ladakh , the many differentiations that made Kashmir a haven for intruders and secessionists and stone pelters will cease . Many politicians and political parties funded from across the border operated from India and promoted secessionist activities only to earn money and not for the people of Kashmir . Those clandestine politicians and dealings will be in trouble and not the people of Kashmir . The heaven that it is , Kashmir deserves much more . The children of Kashmir go to study in other parts of India because of the unsafe conditions. However much the army would try and help the people the secessionists would not allow the local Kashmiri to live in peace because they were hired to do so . 

The efforts of the government of India would be to uplift the people of Kashmir and Ladakh and give the opportunities that they missed throughout these years . Those efforts have to be manifold in the first decade . There will be troublemakers still doing the rounds and making efforts to disturb the peace of India . There has to be a readiness to do the best possible for this region , so much so that the people of Kashmir should repent this not having happened long ago . There will be many legal representations in the Supreme Court challenging these Presidential ordinances and they will take their own course . The Centre definitely needs a pat in the back for taking this step towards a permanent solution to the Kashmir issue . All previous governments knew all the way that Article 370 could be deleted from the Constitution but with the consent of the Assembly of the state . Since the state is now under Presidential rule , it has become easier for the Centre. But this is where the legal eagles will hit . So a strong defence to fight these legalities on one side and a strong will to do good for the state will convince people of Kashmir that their future lies in New India 

Living mindfully

Overtime, I have realised that I am  taking far more from the universe than I will ever be able to give back.
*The constant exercise of differentiating between needs and desire has been an eye opener.*
Endeavour is to live responsibly, endeavour is to live with conscience.

For eg:

*1. Do I really need the water that is being poured in my glass at the restaurant?*
Will that water not go down the drain (literally) when I leave my table? Am I being fair to those who are walking miles for drinking water and yet what they get is hardly safe enough to consume?
*2. Do I really need to wrap that gift by buying ‘free’ gift wrapping paper?*
Because that shiny/ non-biodegradable paper is going to be trashed (literally) once the gift is opened?
*3. Do I really need to buy gifts when I am not sure if they will be used and needed by the receiver because I want to look good?*
Isn’t it wiser to buy fruits or dry-fruits with the same amount of money and with almost certainty that they will be consumed?
*4. What do I do when I am at buffet?*
Do I listen to my stomach or do I fill my plate with everything available (either because its free or because I have paid for it all)?
*5. What do I do when the guy at Subway (the foodchain) offers me two forks and four tissue papers when I am going to be eating alone?*
Do I return one fork and three tissue papers (or all four, if I carry my own hanky) to him or I just walk away from the counter and throw away unused forks and tissue papers?
*6. Just because something is ‘bio-degradable’, should I use it?*
Can I even avoid a paper bag or a cloth bag because a tree was chopped to make that paper and earth was subjected to atrocities to create the piece of cloth? Can I ‘reduce’ my consumption even before thinking of ‘reuse’ or ‘recycle’?
*7. What happens when I go to eat Thaali*
There are so many things I know I might not eat (for eg katori of Dahi or that Bengali mithai) .. Do I return it immediately so that it can be offered to someone else or do I let it sit on my plate and leave it untouched only to be thrown away later?
*8. Do I really need that cotton Kurti because it looks cool?*
The fashion industry is far more evil than what meets our eye. From what it does to the environment while growing cotton and jute to how it treats humans to how it treats textiles and garment waste is mind-bogglingly dirty.
*9. Do I really need that extra pair of shoes because I don’t have 'that' particular shade of orange?*
Do I take into account that once processed, footwear is almost impossible to degenerate on face of the earth (including leather)?
*10. Do I need to cook elaborate meals when guests visit me?*
Can I cook just enough so that everybody including myself can have a great time and no food is wasted (or we don’t continue to eat same food for next three days well after it has lost all its nutrients)
*11. Do I need to buy things just because they are in sale and they are cheaper?*
Do I need to buy them because there is ‘return policy’? I was reading a case study on how big retail conglomerates dump returned goods in the ocean and its unbelievable how our oceans are constantly being subjected to waste created because of our greed.
*12. Am I respectful when I am visiting a tourist destination?*
Do I take rules such as ‘keep silence’ ‘do not litter’ seriously enough? Do I allow the place to consume me or my overbearing presence consumes the place?

I have been asking these and such questions for a couple of years now.

What else can I ask?
*How else can I live mindfully?*