Archive for June 2016
Curious case of a Victim Mindset
I got an email from my Boss today. There was a story about a guy who started fixing the problem, before even trying to understand if there was a problem at all. I could totally relate to the story as I myself have been the culprit a number of times.
That got me thinking why it is so. Why do people think there is a problem, when faced with simple situations in life? Why don’t they believe that it is a general situation which might not even require a fix? Why they tend to put in a fix altogether unrelated to the problem at hand.
There are a multiple of reasons I could think of. First and foremost is the victim mindset of the society we live in. We constantly feel people are conspiring against us. With such a mindset, comes paranoia. When a red paint stain, is feared to be blood. When a butcher with a knife is misunderstood a killer. So on and so forth. We should take a step back and gain confidence in ourselves. Make ourselves believe that we are not so unique a personality that everyone will conspire against us.
Next is the rush that we are in. The fast moving modern life has made our mind numb. We don’t stop to think, to dig deep into a situation. In IT world, Google has become our co-conspirator. Most of the times, we are in a rush to finish the job at end, catch a cab and go home and start the cycle all over again the next day. We end up Googling an Error Log snippet, copy the first link we get and email to the team. Most of us don’t even try and read through it completely. The modern life rush and the rat race has rid us of our most important treasure, thinking.
With the victim mindset and maddening rush, we feel we are always being picked upon and end up fixing the wrong problem, if at all. What is important here is to catch a breath. Take a break. Relax. Give yourself space to think. Time management and job prioritization is what will help you the most to handle our life situations in a better way. Decide on what you want to achieve; How much work-life balance you need to have and make effort accordingly.
In reply to Karan Johar
Karan Johar, I read your heart wrenching post as how bad you are trolled on twitter and the rough life you have to lead due to this. I am saddened by the harshness that people meet out to you. I mean you are son to a rich father, yourself super rich, director, actor, judge of TV shows. But still these very bad people on twitter treat you with such bad words. I am appalled.
I can’t bear in much longer. I am breaking down in tears, listening to your pain. You suffered enough when the ‘freedom of speech’ was obstructed when Udta Punjab got cuts. So much so that you went on your knees, at least that’s what your post said. You didn’t feel the same when MSG was banned, is a different matter altogether. What is your fault if you and your Bollywood circle wished MSG to be banned? It was not a good film after all.
And now twitter. My God! How can people do this to you. Such suffering. Social media where a lots of profiles are fake. How can such fake people say bad things about YOU. Leave aside the fact that most of the celebrities are trolled similarly; mostly rich and successful. Modi is trolled, Shahrukh is trolled. Such has social media evolved. But how can they do this to you?
I share your pain Sir. Maybe the coolness of your Air Conditioner. Maybe the comfort of your SUV. Maybe the huge walls of your house are not able to comfort you. I suggest, lets you and me lynch these bast***s who say such bad things about you. Don’t they know how rich and successful you are?
And thanks to you Sir. Your pain and therapist interventions swayed my mind off the fake problems like farmer suicide, inflation, shortage of water, heat, dust, poverty, hunger, disease, dowry, rapes, molestation, female infanticide. My total concentration is on you First World Problem now. How a rich guy with multiple houses, who spend a lot of time abroad, is a Bollywood’s go to personality. How can you be trolled? How much more you have to suffer. Already 100% clean water supply is too much for you to bear. You have to bear, not facing the heat and dust. You have to bear not sleeping hungry at night. Hell you have to bear not travelling in local train like animals. How much pain. I again break down writing this. Hope you see my tears Sir.
And thanks to great NDTV, which listed your blog post on the front page of their News website. Without their endeavor, I might not have come to know of your pain. Thanks Great NDTV. Some might accuse you of some scratch the back thing. But NDTV, they would be so wrong. Please you don’t feel hurt like Karan by comments of such pathetic losers. You are great NDTV. Please do share such pain and first world problems of other millionaires. What if we live in India, we have every right to listen to First World Problems.
And Karan Sir, again, don’t feel bad. I am here to listen to you. I am here to console you. I feel your pain Sir. Please let your therapist know that there are people like me who adore you. And hell, you even have to bear visiting a therapist. When 90% don’t even have to bear visiting a doctor, ever. People would say that it is coz they are poor. But don’t let them fool you. These bad people make excuses to not bear the pain of visiting a doctor.
So much pain I feel from you. I might go numb of shock.
एक सौ सोलह चाँद की रातें
पागलपन सी करती बातें,
आँखें तेरी जैसे झिलमिल,
एक सौ सोलह चाँद की रातें,
एक ये तेरे काँधे का तिल।
पल दो पल की थी मुलाकातें,
उतने में ले गयी मेरा दिल,
एक सौ सोलह चाँद की रातें,
एक ये तेरे काँधे का तिल।
गुस्सा जो तू हो जाती है,
होता मन मेरा तिलमिल,
एक सौ सोलह चाँद की रातें,
एक ये तेरे काँधे का तिल।
दूरी तुझसे बहुत है चुभती,
मरता हूँ मैं जैसे तिलतिल,
एक सौ सोलह चाँद की रातें,
एक ये तेरे काँधे का तिल।
होती तुझसे २-४ जो बातें,
हँस देता मैं एकदम खिलखिल,
एक सौ सोलह चाँद की रातें,
एक ये तेरे काँधे का तिल।
तू ही सुबह है तू ही शाम,
जीवन तुझसे गया है सिल,
एक सौ सोलह चाँद की रातें,
एक ये तेरे काँधे का तिल।
रात दिन ख्याल तेरा बस,
आरम्भ है तू, तू ही मंजिल,
एक सौ सोलह चाँद की रातें,
एक ये तेरे काँधे का तिल।।
Udta Punjab: No sympathy for either side
What do I think of the whole Udta Punjab Censor controversy? The Freedom of expression debate. I saw bunch of people from Bollywood holding press conference, trying to garner public support against a dictator Censor Board Chief. Where have I seen such an impassioned support from Bollywood, I thought? Oh! Yes, the whole Bollywood was behind then terrorism accused and later jailed for 5 years, Sanjay Dutt. I saw the same collective support with the “invisible driver” Salman Khan. Ah! Yes, the support was missing in the case of a certain Ms. Kangana Ranaut.
So if you ask me what do I think of the “harassment” of Bollywood by Censor Board. I say, I don’t care. When this closed group of Bollywood millionaires decided to side with Dutt and Khan, they lost any and all credibility. And now they cry wolf. I couldn’t care less. In fact I scorn with utmost disgust seeing them play victim.
Coming to Censor Board chief, the lesser said the better. Govt should get rid of him soon, as his open sycophancy is bringing Modi into disrepute. But censor board has been such a b***h always. I remember Congress appointed Censor Board blocked MSG, which was later cleared by the tribunal, while the same board cleared PK. Later the board resigned en-masse as they saw tribunal decision to clear MSG to be political but they themselves were holier than thou.
In this case also, it’s all being done for cheap publicity from both sides. Censor Board is as usual playing a pain in the back. The film people are also doing the same for free publicity. There was no buzz around this movie and it would have perished but for this hype. When makers of MSG (scorned by Bollywood family) went through the process to the tribunal and got their film cleared, what was the issue here? Also why didn’t I see the same solidarity of Bollywood cartel with the makers of MSG? Easy, MSG people were outsiders whom the elites didn’t like. So please Bollywood cartel, don’t play this victim card now.
And when these millionaires cry victim just coz they have to go through the process to earn their next millions, I just cringe. We have better issues to sympathize with, farmer suicide for one. Bunch of Sanjay Dutt/Salman Khan supporters and hypocrites are not one of them.
Bihar Topper Scam: Nitish Kumar, who are you trying to fool?
It took the TV interview by Bihar Board toppers for Nitish Govt to realize the scam. As if they didn’t knew till now. For those who don’t know, toppers in Bihar board exams were interviewed by news channels. They were asked regular questions about their study and it turned out they knew nothing. So what Nitish Sir has done? Nothing but hogwash. A dozen of toppers were made to sit for a re-exam. What did this solve? Nothing!
What about those who came 2nd/3rd and so on? What about them? The re-exam of selected dozen is nothing but fooling the public. To show how good you are to aid your PM ambitions. What did you do when videos emerged of parents scaling school walls to pass of answers to their wards? All this while you were asleep when this blatant scam was happening. And then when you acted, what an act!
But you know people are not fools. You may thing they are. But they are not. This selective action is quite funny if nothing else. Let me explain why. The Top 10 loses the merit and next 10 gets their place. What about the new Top 10 now?
I won’t even elaborate on the obvious illusion. People are watching. They will use the finger next election.
African Issue: Yes, there is racism, but this is not racism
The issue of African national getting beaten to death in Delhi, has hampered India’s diplomatic relations with said nations. This has been taken up heavily by Indian media and has been called spate of racist attacks. Indians who have always been on the receiving end of racism worldwide, don’t know how to react. Over the years we have called all white people racist, now what do we do? Most are rejecting the charge; some in opposition are blaming the Govt as usual. So what is it? Are is this racism or is it not? Are we racist or are we not?
Well, the answer lies in the question itself. Yes we are racist, but no current issue is not racism. Indians are born racist. North Indians make fun of color, accent of South Indians. South Indians make fun of North Indians brutish eating and drinking habits. Both North Indians and South Indians make fun of Indians from North east on how they look. The list is endless. It has been engrained in us. But is making fun racist? Yes and No. No in the sense that there is not physical harm, Yes in the sense that it opens up the possibilities of physical harm.
For those who know Delhi, the issue of African nationals is not racism. It is much different. The issue can be attributed to the law and order situation in Delhi. At the risk of being lambasted by PC brigade, let me lay out some facts. A lot of African students study in Delhi University. Most of them live as paying guest or on rent across Delhi. By and large, things are good. So what went wrong?
The issues lie with Delhi Police. There is a big drug racket in Delhi. Handful of African nationals are involved (mostly as drug peddlers). It is an open secret from a number of years. When locals complain to local police, what do the police do? They do nothing. They don’t even register a case. Let alone jail or deportation. Off the record this is what police say, registering a case against foreign national is not that easy. Lots of permissions, lots of follow up. And then there is pressure from ministry that arrest and deportation too harms the potential students and bilateral relations. End result is that the culprits are left with just a warning. And they continue the business unabated.
It’s not just that. When common people try to stop them forcefully, they are lambasted as racist. Which is what happened couple of years back in Malviya Nagar. This roots the hatred against African nationals. Over the years, police apathy and inaction has fueled this anger. Had action been taken against handful of drug peddlers earlier, there would have been no bad blood.
Common people know that police will do nothing. They know if they try to stop such things by force, whole national media will label them racist. So they do nothing but the hatred swells inside. People who don’t live in Delhi, have no right to judge the localites. But still everyone judge them.
The exact details of this case will tumble out in time to come. But some rotten apples among Indians prey on this hatred and take this to extreme level, which happened in this unfortunate incident. By and large I don’t see any more racism against Africans, than there is against South Indians / North East Indians in Delhi. But the inaction of Delhi police and lack of directions from Govt has blown up a simple law and order issue to hatred against African nationals in general.
The resolution is simple. Police need to take action against African nationals found involved in drug trade (there are only handful, and police know them). And also take strictest action against the perpetrators of the murder of the innocent Congolese youth in the current case. You know what, neither of the two will happen.
How low will Media go and the Khadse Blow to BJP
Minister in Maharashtra cabinet, BJP leader Eknath Khadse was forced to resign over graft charges. Maha politics is based on land grab and this is one such clear case. What happens to Khadse after this will define the tone of subsequent election campaigns by BJP. Will he be charge sheeted or will he be let off just like Ashok Chavan, of the Adarsh shame?
Amdist all this, India Today channel had a special guest dialing in to discuss this issue. The guest was none other than Ashok Chavan. And the host was none other than Rajdeep Sardesai, one of the most biased journalists in India, evidently proud of it too. Anyways, Mahamahim Ashok Chavan ji was being asked if the action is enough on Khadse or should there be an enquiry too and he be taken to task. Ashok Chavan agreed that there need to be a high level judicial enquiry etc etc.
Rajdeep who was relishing with the first wicket to fall from Modi’s “Naa Khaoonga, na khaane doonga” chant, didn’t ask Chavan that, “Do you think, Khadse’s resignation is just an eyewash, just like your resignation was?” or “Do you think Khadse is a land grabber just like you?” I mean how low will such journalists go? They call in corrupt and tainted politicians on their shows due to closeness and quid pro quo and legitimize such people. Call all you want but grill them. Not given them open audience to be a hero.
What authority does Adarsh tainted Chavan has to speak on Khadse. I mean why would you even call him? If you call him then don’t cozy up to him. Ask him tough questions.
On the issue of Khadse, it is a serious blow to Modi, but not some boon for Congress. This is a boon for regional parties. Khadse has resigned but won’t go down easily. In Maharashtra land grabbers are big politicians and Khadse is one of them. Unfortunately he has huge backing of people and a known grass root politician. He has all qualities to be a Yedurappa-2 for BJP.
Don’t be surprised if 6 months down the line, Khadse is given clean chit and he is back, either in Maharashtra or Centre. Having been so long out of power, BJP was guarded from graft charges too. With so many states and Centre under its belt, graft charges will surface regularly now. It will be a big headache to BJP as how to deal with it.
As we saw in Yedurappa case, acting against the corrupt has potential to destroy the party in that state. So what will it be five years down the line? Will Modi be able to recite, “Naa khaya, Naa Khaane diya” or will he be left wanting by BJP’s Congressmen.
Mathura violence: Guess who people blame for it?
Violence in Mathura and ensuing politics has taken center stage. It will remain in focus till 2017 elections. While BJP MP Hema Malini not even spends time in her constituency, let alone having moral decency to live there, there was hardly any opposition attack on Akhilesh Govt.
Since I was born and brought up in the city of Agra, next to Mathura, and am in constant communication with people in the area, let me give you some pulse. People are blaming Modi. Yes you heard me right, Modi. Here’s why. People have long stopped blaming SP Govt for the misrule. In 2014 they channeled their anger and gave Modi 72/80 seats. That’s the best they could have done. There is no more anger or any feeling against SP Govt. Who can the poor people blame now? The one person they thought would solve all of their problems two years ago.
SP Govt is not coming back in 2017. Past 4 years have been a missed opportunity for the young Yadav. The whole Yadav clan is more concerned about their cut in any deal that is done anywhere in UP, than about the development. Everyone knows that. Though there have been some development, but that can be attributed to time more than anything else.
If I talk about the city of Agra, only after 2014 washout did any promised infrastructure projects started. Maybe prodded by Modi, maybe out of fear. The biggest winner in 2017 is going to be Mayawati. I have said in the past and I will say it again, 72/80 was not a fluke. It was the anger of the people against SP. BJP MP’s should have been proactive and hard working at least in UP. But with people like Hema Malini who is not even there to listen to people, let alone work for them, I am afraid last 2 years have been a lost opportunity for BJP too.
I personally don’t blame Modi; he has done what he alone could do. I am disappointed by the BJP MP’s. They should have worked aggressively with people, for people; Engaged with them; Brought development to their constituency. Alas! We got nothing. The anger and exasperation that is building in the people will hurt BJP in 2017. SP is not coming back. The biggest gainer would be BSP, if BJP MP’s didn’t buckle up.
Assam win was not a fluke. Having spent 4 years in Guwahati and being in touch with people there, I can tell you, BJP and RSS worked hard since 2014 to prepare the stage for 2016. They were not just sloganeering but working for people at the grass root level. Its high time Modi takes his MP’s to task. It’s one year to go, there is still time for course correction.
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